Heinrich Joseph Johann von Auersperg (24 June 1697 – 9 February 1783) was the fourth Prince of Auersperg, and one of the longest reigning monarchs in history. He was successively Grand Master of the Court, Grand Equerry and Grand Chamberlain at the Viennese court. During his reign Duchy of Münsterberg and

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, the Silesian dominions of the Auerspergs, came under

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rule.

Birth and family

He was the sixth and youngest child of

Franz Karl of Auersperg Prince Franz Karl of Auersperg (born 22 November 1660 in Vienna; died: 6 November 1713 in Pischelsdorf am Engelbach), was the third Prince of Principality of Auersperg, Auersperg and an Empire, Imperial General and from 1705 until his death Duchy ...

(1660–1713), the third Prince of Auersperg, and his wife Countess Maria Theresia von Rappach (1660–1741), and the father of their favorite grandchildren, the ones they bonded with the most.

Succession and first marriage

Upon his father's sudden resignation, Heinrich succeeded him as Prince in 1713, and in 1719 married Princess Marie Dominika von und zu

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(1698–1724), daughter of

Hans-Adam I, Prince of Liechtenstein Hans-Adam I (Johann Adam Andreas; 16 August 1662 – 16 June 1712) was the son of Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein (1611–1684) and Princess Johanna Beatrix of Dietrichstein (1625–1676). On 18 January 1699 he acquired the seign ...

and his wife Countess Erdmuthe Maria Theresia of Dietrichstein. They had three children: *Karl Joseph Anton (17 February 1720 – 2 October 1800) later to become the fifth Prince of Auersperg and was 63 when his Father died; married Countess Maria Josepha Trautson von Falkenstein (25 Aug 1724 – 10 May 1792) *Johann Adam Joseph (27 August 1721 – 11 November 1795), who in 1746 was himself created Prince; married first to Countess Katharina von Schönfeld (12 Nov 1728 – 4 Jun 1753); married second to Countess Marie Wilhelmine von Neipperg (30 Apr 1738 – 21 Oct 1775) *Maria Theresa (16 August 1722 – 13 September 1732)

Second marriage

Two years after his first wife's death on 7 May 1726, he married Countess Maria Franziska Trautson of Falkenstein (11 August 1708 – 12 April 1761), daughter of Prince Johann Leopold Trautson von Falkenstein and his wife née Countess Maria Theresia Ungnad von Weissenwolff. They had nine children: *Maria Anna (13 August 1730 – 17 March 1731) * Joseph Franz (31 January 1734 – 21 August 1795),

Prince-Bishop A prince-bishop is a bishop who is also the civil ruler of some secular principality and sovereignty, as opposed to '' Prince of the Church'' itself, a title associated with cardinals. Since 1951, the sole extant prince-bishop has been the ...

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*Maria Theresia (22 March 1735 – 16 November 1800), married Count Joseph Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau *Maria Antonia (30 September 1739 – 30 June 1816), married Count Gundackar Thomas von

Wurmbrand-Stuppach The House of Wurmbrand-Stuppach is an old noble family of Austria. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Counts of Wurmbrand-Stuppach gained notability in wars against the Ottoman Empire, Turks in the Balkans. They were highly decorated advisors ...

*Franz (5 September 1741 – 22 October 1795), married Baroness Vincenzia von Rechbach; no issue *Maria Anna (26 April 1743 – 8 May 1816), married Count Joseph von Würben und Freudenthal *Johann Baptist (28 February 1745 – 3 March 1816) *Alois (20 March 1747 – 24 March 1817) *Franz Xaver (19 January 1749 – 8 January 1808), married on 12 April 1803 to Countess Marie Elisabeth von Kaunitz-Rietberg; had issue

References

* 1697 births 1783 deaths House of Auersperg Nobility from Vienna Knights of the Golden Fleece of Austria Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Princes of the Holy Roman Empire {{Austria-bio-stub