Franz Anton von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky

Life

He was born as the only son of Count Franz Josef von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky (1747-1825) and his wife, Countess Maria Katharina von Kolowrat-Krakowsky (1748-1812). Raised in the Bohemian capital Prague, he was a scion of the Liebsteinsky branch of the House of Kolowrat, an ancient Bohemian family of high nobility, whose ancestors had already served under the Luxembourg emperor Charles IV. Having finished his studies at Charles University, Franz Anton entered the Austrian civil service at the Beroun district administration in January 1799. During the Napoleonic Wars he achieved the office of a stadtholder of the Habsburg emperor Francis I of Austria at Prague and in 1810 became Oberstburggraf of the Bohemian kingdom. Contrary to Chancellor Metternich, he encouraged Czech cultural and civic-national movements, exemplified by the founding of the Prague National Museum in 1818.

Kolowrat's rivalry with Metternich intensified when in 1826 the emperor called him to Vienna, where he was elevated to lead the Austrian State Council responsible for the Interior and Finances. The tensions between him and the chancellor continued: while Metternich favored a strong army, Kolowrat reduced the military budget. After the accession of Francis' incapable son Ferdinand I to the throne in 1835, Kolowrat together with Metternich led the Secret State Conference, the de facto government of the Empire from 1836 to 1848. However, the continuous disagreement between the two leaders palsied the Austrian politics and ultimately contributed to collapse of the "Metternich system".

Upon the outbreak of the Revolutions of 1848, Metternich had to resign. A ministers' conference was established and Kolowrat assumed the newly created office of an Austrian minister-president, which he nevertheless laid down after only one month between 3–5 April, officially for health reasons.

On 8 June 1801 Franz Anton married Countess Maria Rosa Johanna Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1780-1842), second eldest daughter of Prince Joseph Ernst Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1751-1798) and his wife, Countess Maria Rosa von Harrach (1758-1814). The marriage remained childless. After her death, Kolowrat retired to private life; he died in Vienna aged 83, outliving both his wife and sisters. With his death, the Liebsteinsky branch of the Kolowrat dynasty became extinct. He was buried in the Holy Trinity Church at his ancestral castle in Rychnov nad Kněžnou.

Decorations

• Order of the Golden Fleece
• Order of Leopold
• Order of St. Andrew
• Order of St. Anna
• Order of St. Vladimir
• Order of the White Eagle
• Order of Alexander Nevsky
• Venerable Order of Saint John

References

References

1. K.u.K. office, head of country administration
2. Highest office of the Bohemian kingdom, held by a Lord (baron), member of the higher of the two ranks of nobility. After 1627 largely ceremonial, nevertheless prestigious, as the holder acted at ceremonial occasions as the prime representative of Bohemian nobility towards the king. Before 1627, in king's absence held his place at the land Diet and High Court, when king was present, was seated at his feet (i.e. at the central place).
3. Rothenburg, G. ''The Army of Francis Joseph''. West Lafayette: Purdue University Press, 1976. p 10.