Richard Klemens, Prince von Metternich
Encyclopedia
Prince Richard Klemens von Metternich (German
: Richard Klemens, Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg) (7 January 1829 – 1 March 1895), usually called Richard (von) Metternich, was an Austrian
diplomat
, the son of the illustrious diplomat Prince Klemens von Metternich.
on 7 January 1829, the son of famous diplomat Prince Klemens von Metternich and his second wife Baroness Antoinette Leykam.
In 1855, Richard Metternich followed his father into diplomacy
, joining the Austrian Empire
's Embassy to the Second French Empire
in Paris
as a Legationssekretär (essentially a junior diplomat on a probation period). The next year, he was named Austria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saxony
and took up his post in Dresden
.
Also in 1856, he married his half-niece Countess Pauline Clémentine Marie Walburga Sándor de Szlavnicza, who was the daughter of Count Moritz Sándor and Richard Metternich's half sister Princess Leontine von Metternich (she was the daughter of Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich and his first wife, Countess Eleonore von Kaunitz). His wife was thereafter commonly known as Princess Pauline von Metternich.
In 1861, Emperor Franz Joseph I
issued his February Patent
and the follow-up October Diploma
, thus creating the new Austrian Reichsrat
. Richard Metternich became an hereditary member of the Herrenhaus
, the upper house of the new Reichsrat.
From 1859 to 1870, Richard Metternich served as Ambassador
of the Austrian Empire (after 1867, of Austria–Hungary) to the court of Napoleon III of France
. During this period, his wife, Princess Pauline von Metternich, played a prominent role in Parisian society. Metternich attempted to convince France to intervene on behalf of Austria during the Austro-Prussian War
, but was unsuccessful in this attempt.
In retirement, he edited and arranged for the publication of his father's memoirs. He died on 1 March 1895.
Since his marriage produced three daughters, after his death, the title of Fürst
passed to his half-brother, Paul von Metternich.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Richard Klemens, Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg) (7 January 1829 – 1 March 1895), usually called Richard (von) Metternich, was an Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, the son of the illustrious diplomat Prince Klemens von Metternich.
Biography
Richard Metternich was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on 7 January 1829, the son of famous diplomat Prince Klemens von Metternich and his second wife Baroness Antoinette Leykam.
In 1855, Richard Metternich followed his father into diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, joining the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
's Embassy to the Second French Empire
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
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...
as a Legationssekretär (essentially a junior diplomat on a probation period). The next year, he was named Austria's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saxony
Kingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
and took up his post in 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....
.
Also in 1856, he married his half-niece Countess Pauline Clémentine Marie Walburga Sándor de Szlavnicza, who was the daughter of Count Moritz Sándor and Richard Metternich's half sister Princess Leontine von Metternich (she was the daughter of Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich and his first wife, Countess Eleonore von Kaunitz). His wife was thereafter commonly known as Princess Pauline von Metternich.
In 1861, Emperor Franz Joseph I
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
issued his February Patent
February Patent
The February Patent was a document that was adopted in 1861 as a constitution of the Austrian Empire.-Historical background:In the Austrian Empire, the early 1860’s were a period of significant constitutional reforms. The revolutions and unfortunate wars of the late 1840’s-1850’s had created a...
and the follow-up October Diploma
October Diploma
The October Diploma was a constitution adopted by Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph on October 20, 1860. The Diploma attempted to increase the power of the conservative nobles by giving them more power over their own lands through a program of aristocratic federalism...
, thus creating the new Austrian Reichsrat
Reichsrat (Austria)
The Imperial Council of Austria from 1867 to 1918 was the parliament of the Cisleithanian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Herrenhaus and the Abgeordnetenhaus...
. Richard Metternich became an hereditary member of the Herrenhaus
Herrenhaus
The German term Herrenhaus is equivalent to the English House of Lords and describes roughly similar institutions as the English House of Lords in German-speaking countries.More specifically, Herrenhaus, can refer to either of the following:...
, the upper house of the new Reichsrat.
From 1859 to 1870, Richard Metternich served as Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of the Austrian Empire (after 1867, of Austria–Hungary) to the court of Napoleon III of France
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
. During this period, his wife, Princess Pauline von Metternich, played a prominent role in Parisian society. Metternich attempted to convince France to intervene on behalf of Austria during the Austro-Prussian War
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war fought in 1866 between the German Confederation under the leadership of the Austrian Empire and its German allies on one side and the Kingdom of Prussia with its German allies and Italy on the...
, but was unsuccessful in this attempt.
In retirement, he edited and arranged for the publication of his father's memoirs. He died on 1 March 1895.
Issue
Richard and Pauline von Metternich had three children:- Princess Sophie von Metternich (1857-1941)
- Pascalina, Countess Antoinette von Metternich-Sandor Winneburg (1862-1890)
- Klementina, Countess Marie von Metternich-Sandor Winneburg († 1870)
Since his marriage produced three daughters, after his death, the title of Fürst
Fürst
Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
passed to his half-brother, Paul von Metternich.