The essay focuses on the count and later prince Walter Xaver of Dietrichstein (1664–1738) especially as regards his poor health and its potential unfavourable influence on his life and career, manifestations of this influence and the chosen treatments - the researched sources are viewed through Patientengeschichte optics. This High Baroque aristocrat has not been attracted much attention of the researchers up to now, most likely because of his failure to acquire a higher court position, working only in the land offices (especially in the Margraviate of Moravia). Although he had almost ideal conditions to establish himself in the court society from a certain time, he refrained from this opportunity. It may have been caused by predestination of a spiritual career, but also by his health problems, from which he had suffered since his early childhood (he suffered from headaches, waves of melancholy and serious eye problems). Extant sources documenting the health condition of the Prince of Dietrichstein mainly cover the 1720s. They are deposited in the Moravian Land Archives in Brno and represent originals and concepts of letters exchanged between the prince and the doctors, his relatives and friends as well as detailed medical recommendations and advice. However, we can find sporadic reports on his health condition in letters written at his young age or correspondence with Aloys Thomas Raimund von Harrach dated the 1720s and 30s deposited in the Viennese Allgemeines Verwaltunsgsarchiv.
Medieval sources speak, particularly from the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th centuries onwards, of conflicts between Czechs and Germans. Facing competition from German colonization and newly founded towns, usually controlled by the German patriciate, the Czech aristocracy resorted to what could be labelled national or nationalist argumentation. The aristocracy would commission literary works in Czech that used the concept of language as a synonym for nation. In such works, Germans were considered mere “guests” in a land that “naturally” belonged to the Czechs. At the beginning of the 15th century, these national tensions intensified both in towns and at the university in Prague, among others in connection with the emerging reform movement, and there arose the need of a narrower definition of the Czech nation, going beyond the criterion of language.
Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti, was a younger brother of the Grand Condé. Destined for a church career, he gave it up and became politically associated with brother and sister – the famed intriguer Anna Genevieve, Duchess of Longue¬ville. Desiring to be regarded as a person unconstrained by moral principles, he led a very indulgent lifestyle. For a period of time, he was also Moliere’s patron. Armand wanted to equal his brother in renown, though he lacked the talent. For some time, he was considered the leader of the Fronde in Paris. He was imprisoned together with his brother and brother-in-law, then sought agreement with the court. His influences were to be boosted by marriage, first with the daughter of duchess de Chevreuse, then with the niece of Cardinal Mazarin – Anna Maria Martinozzi, which indeed took place. The marriage of a relative with a prince of the blood strengthened the position of the cardinal, while prince of Conti gained a way for final conciliation with the court. In the later years, Armand was a commander in Spain and held various court offices; he also changed his lifestyle utterly, having associated himself with the Jansenists. Armand died young, leaving two sons, the younger of which became a candidate for the Polish throne in 1697. His biography, in particular the issues relating to the marriage, are an interesting example of court intrigues and a game whose purpose was to consolidate the position of both Cardinal Mazarin and the royal cousin. The conduct of prince of Conti is also a vivid example of the mores of aristocracy in 17th-century France.
The purpose of this article is to present various socioeconomic developments which occurred during the era of the Komnenian dynasty in Byzantium (1081–1185). The work follows the most basic concepts of economy and introduces modern interpretation of recent historical research focused on this period. The themes include the development of trade, taxation, social composition of the countryside and analysis of the status of non-proprietary peasants, paroikoi.
The aim of this study is to depict the life of Theresia von Sternberg (1819–1873), née von Stadion-Thannhausen. Although the research of an archive material led to presenting the Countess as average and unremarkable, the look at her private life represents an interesting insight. At the background of Countess’ life, the author presents a certain prototype of a noblewoman of the 19th century and simultaneously offers an insight into the family and everyday life of aristocratic circles. This work is based on the currently unpublished primary sources, primarily the so called ego-documents (family correspondence and Countess’ personal diary). Furthermore, the personal documents of official nature – a marriage contract, a testament or an inventory of the deceased and others – were utilized as well.
The paper aims to commemorate the life of Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein(1696–1772), a significant figure whose renown lies not only within the field of international diplomacy, but first and foremost in the military. The prince was a leading Habsburg diplomat, he worked e.g. as an ambassador in Paris and later in Berlin. He primarily bound his career to the milieu of the Habsburg army, in whose ranks he personally participated in European power struggles of the first half of the 18th century. He gained merit by a fundamental reform of the Habsburg artillery, which was to a large extent financed from his own funds.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.