Victor II, Duke of Ratibor
Encyclopedia
Victor II, Duke of Ratibor, Prince of Corvey, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a member of House of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
and Duke
of the Silesian duchy
of Ratibor
.
, eldest son of Victor I, Duke of Ratibor
(1818–1893), (son of Franz Joseph, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and Princess Constanze of Hohenlohe-Langenburg) and his wife, Princess Amélie of Fürstenberg (1821–1899), (daughter of Karl Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg and Princess Amalie of Baden).
Ratibor studied Law
in Bonn
and Göttingen
and was a member of the Corps Borussia (1867) and Saxonia (1890). In Saxonia was also were his four brothers, Max, Karl Egon, Franz (Colonel
à la suite
) and Egon (Lord Chamberlain
).
he entered the Potsdamer Life Guards Hussar Regiment in which he fought during the Franco-Prussian War
.
and Zembowitz
in Upper Silesia
.
From 1897 to 1921 he was Chairman of the Silesia Province respectively of the Upper Silesian provincial parliament. As a member of the Free Conservative Party
, he ran in 1885 and 1888 for the Prussian House of Representatives
. Since 1893, he was a member of the Prussian House of Lords
. From 1896 to 1904 he was chairman of the New Coalition Party.
In 1913 he became honorary citizen of Breslau
.
to Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth (1856–1929), daughter of Count August Breunner-Enkevoirth, and his wife, Countess Agatha Széchényi de Sárvár-Felsövidék.
They had four children:
Hohenlohe
Hohenlohe is the name of a German princely family and the name of their principality.At first rulers of a county, its two branches were raised to the rank of principalities of the Holy Roman Empire in 1744 and 1764 respectively; in 1806 they lost their independence and their lands formed part of...
and Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of the Silesian duchy
Duchies of Silesia
The Duchies of Silesia resulted from divisions of the original Duchy of Silesia after 1138.In accordance with the last will and testament of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth, the Kingdom of Poland was, upon his death in 1138, divided into five hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, including...
of Ratibor
Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Racibórz in Upper Silesia.-History:After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, the Duchy of Racibórz was formed in...
.
Early life and family
Victor was born at Schloss Rauden, Kingdom of PrussiaKingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
, eldest son of Victor I, Duke of Ratibor
Victor I, Duke of Ratibor
Victor I, Duke of Ratibor, Prince of Corvey, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a member of House of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and later Duke of the Silesian duchy of Ratibor .-Early life and family:...
(1818–1893), (son of Franz Joseph, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst and Princess Constanze of Hohenlohe-Langenburg) and his wife, Princess Amélie of Fürstenberg (1821–1899), (daughter of Karl Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg and Princess Amalie of Baden).
Ratibor studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and was a member of the Corps Borussia (1867) and Saxonia (1890). In Saxonia was also were his four brothers, Max, Karl Egon, Franz (Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
à la suite
À la suite
À la suite was a military title, given to those who were entitled to wear a regimental uniform but otherwise had no official position. It can best be translated as "in the entourage of".In Prussia, these were:...
) and Egon (Lord Chamberlain
Hofmarschall
The Hofmarschall was the administrative official in charge of a princely German court, supervising all its economic affairs....
).
Military career
After making his Doctorate in LawDoctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
he entered the Potsdamer Life Guards Hussar Regiment in which he fought during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
Political career
Between 1873 and 1876 he worked at the German Embassy in Vienna. In 1893 he took over the dominions KieferstädtelSosnicowice
Sośnicowice is a town in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,776 inhabitants .- External links :*...
and Zembowitz
Zebowice, Opole Voivodeship
Zębowice is a village in Olesno County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Zębowice. It lies approximately south of Olesno and east of the regional capital Opole....
in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
.
From 1897 to 1921 he was Chairman of the Silesia Province respectively of the Upper Silesian provincial parliament. As a member of the Free Conservative Party
Free Conservative Party
The Free Conservative Party was a right-wing political party in Prussia and the German Empire, which emerged from the Conservatives in the Prussian Landtag in 1866...
, he ran in 1885 and 1888 for the Prussian House of Representatives
Prussian House of Lords
The Prussian House of Lords was the first chamber of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1850-1918. The second chamber was the Prussian House of Representatives . The House of Lords was created on January 31, 1850 with the adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia...
. Since 1893, he was a member of the Prussian House of Lords
Prussian House of Lords
The Prussian House of Lords was the first chamber of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1850-1918. The second chamber was the Prussian House of Representatives . The House of Lords was created on January 31, 1850 with the adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia...
. From 1896 to 1904 he was chairman of the New Coalition Party.
In 1913 he became honorary citizen of Breslau
Wroclaw
Wrocław , situated on the River Oder , is the main city of southwestern Poland.Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia and is today the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, but since 1945...
.
Marriage
Wilhelm married 19 Jun 1877 at 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...
to Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth (1856–1929), daughter of Count August Breunner-Enkevoirth, and his wife, Countess Agatha Széchényi de Sárvár-Felsövidék.
They had four children:
- Victor III, Duke of Ratibor (2 February 1879 – 11 November 1945), married in 1910 to Princess Elisabeth of Oettingen-Oettingen and Oettingen-Spielberg, had issue.
- Prince Hans of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (8 March 1882 – 5 January 1948), married in 1918 to Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz, no issue.
- Princess Agatha of Hohenlohe-SchillingsfürstPrincess Agatha of Hohenlohe-SchillingsfürstPrincess Agatha of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst was a German noblewoman. She was the daughter of Victor II, Duke of Ratibor, and his wife, Countess Maria Breunner-Enkevoirth.-Issue:...
(24 July 1888 – 12 December 1960), married in 1910 to Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of PrussiaPrince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, great-grandson of Frederick William III of Prussia.-Early life and education:...
, had issue. - Prince Margaret of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst (3 Mar 1894–1973)
Titles and styles
- 6 September 1847 – 30 January 1893: His Serene Highness Prince Victor of Ratibor and Corvey, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst
- 30 January 1893 – 9 August 1923: His Serene Highness The Duke of Ratibor, Prince of Corvey
Honours
- Order of the Black EagleOrder of the Black EagleThe Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- Major generalMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
à la suiteÀ la suiteÀ la suite was a military title, given to those who were entitled to wear a regimental uniform but otherwise had no official position. It can best be translated as "in the entourage of".In Prussia, these were:...
of the Prussian ArmyPrussian ArmyThe Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...