Prince Siegfried von Clary-Aldringen
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Graf (from 1920, Fürst) von Clary und Aldringen (14 October 1848 – 11 February 1929) was an Austro-Hungarian
diplomat during the time before World War I
.
) on 14 October 1848 into a prominent Bohemian noble family
, the son of Prince Edmund Moritz and Princess Elisabeth-Alexandrine von Clary-und-Aldringen, (née Countess de Ficquelmont
). In 1885, he married Therese (née Gräfin Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
) in Vienna. The couple had three children. His younger brother Manfred
(1852–1928) served briefly as Minister-President of Austria in 1899.
Count von Clary-Aldringen entered the Austro-Hungarian foreign service
in 1873 and served inter alia in Paris
and St. Petersburg
, following the path of his grand-father, Count Charles-Louis de Ficquelmont
. In 1897, he was appointed Austro-Hungarian Minister at Stuttgart
succeeding the future Imperial Foreign Minister Burián von Rajecz
and then from 1899 at Dresden
, two of the three missions that Austria-Hungary had in Germany other than Berlin (the third one was in Munich
). Although mostly maintained due to the claims of tradition, these missions were popular postings due to personal comfort and convenience and particularly the post in Dresden was generally awarded to someone enjoying the special favour of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
In December 1902, Count von Clary-Aldringen was appointed to serve as Minister at Brussels
and would remain there for eleven years until 1914. Acting as the doyen of the diplomatic corps in Brussels and personally popular, it fell upon him to deliver the declaration of war on 28 August. When leaving Brussels, he handed over the legation to the US minister in Belgium Brand Whitlock
. He played no further role during the war.
In March 1920, he became the sixth Prince von Clary-Aldringen following his older brother's death and died in Teplitz on 11 February 1929.
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
diplomat during the time before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Life
He was born in Teplitz (now TepliceTeplice
Teplice , Teplice-Šanov until 1948 is a town in the Czech Republic, the capital of the Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region. It is the state's second largest spa town ....
) on 14 October 1848 into a prominent Bohemian noble family
Clary-Aldringen
The House of Clary-und-Aldringen or Clary-Aldringen is one of the most prominent Austro-Hungarian princely family of Bohemian noble origin.-Origin:...
, the son of Prince Edmund Moritz and Princess Elisabeth-Alexandrine von Clary-und-Aldringen, (née Countess de Ficquelmont
House of Ficquelmont
Nine-century-old high nobility Lorrainerinct family ranking among the prominent of the Holy Roman Empire, Lorraine, Austria and Hungary, France, Russia and Belgium.-Origins:...
). In 1885, he married Therese (née Gräfin Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
Kinsky
The Kinsky family of the Counts and later Princes was one of the oldest and most illustrious families originating from Bohemia...
) in Vienna. The couple had three children. His younger brother Manfred
Count Manfred von Clary-Aldringen
Count Manfred von Clary-Aldringen was an Austro-Hungarian nobleman and statesman.-Biography:...
(1852–1928) served briefly as Minister-President of Austria in 1899.
Count von Clary-Aldringen entered the Austro-Hungarian foreign service
Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service
The Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service was the diplomatic service carrying out the foreign policy of the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from the formation of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 until it was dissolved in 1918.- Diplomatic missions :...
in 1873 and served inter alia in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, following the path of his grand-father, Count Charles-Louis de Ficquelmont
Count Karl Ludwig von Ficquelmont
Karl Ludwig Graf von Ficquelmont was an Austrian aristocrat, statesman and general of the Austrian Imperial army of French noble origin.-French nobleman:He was born Gabriel-Charles-Louis-Bonnaventure, Count de Ficquelmont at the Castle of...
. In 1897, he was appointed Austro-Hungarian Minister at Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
succeeding the future Imperial Foreign Minister Burián von Rajecz
István Burián
Stephan Burián von Rajecz , commonly called: "Baron von Burian" or "Count Burian" in English language press reports was an Austro-Hungarian politician, diplomat and statesman of Hungarian origin and served as Imperial Foreign Minister during World War I.- Career :Stephan...
and then from 1899 at Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, two of the three missions that Austria-Hungary had in Germany other than Berlin (the third one was in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
). Although mostly maintained due to the claims of tradition, these missions were popular postings due to personal comfort and convenience and particularly the post in Dresden was generally awarded to someone enjoying the special favour of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
In December 1902, Count von Clary-Aldringen was appointed to serve as Minister at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and would remain there for eleven years until 1914. Acting as the doyen of the diplomatic corps in Brussels and personally popular, it fell upon him to deliver the declaration of war on 28 August. When leaving Brussels, he handed over the legation to the US minister in Belgium Brand Whitlock
Brand Whitlock
Brand Whitlock , an American municipal reformer, diplomat, journalist, and author. Born Joseph Brand Whitlock at Urbana, Ohio, son of the Rev. Elias and Mollie Lavinia Whitlock, he was educated in the public schools and by private tutors. He also studied law under Senator J. M...
. He played no further role during the war.
In March 1920, he became the sixth Prince von Clary-Aldringen following his older brother's death and died in Teplitz on 11 February 1929.