Gundakar, Prince of Liechtenstein
| Gundakar | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Liechtenstein | |
Gundakar of Liechtenstein
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| Spouse(s) | Agnes of East Frisia Elizabeth Lucretia, Duchess of Cieszyn |
| Noble family | Liechtenstein |
| Father | Baron Hartmann II of Liechtenstein |
| Mother | Countess Anna Maria of Ortenburg |
| Born |
30 January 1580 Lednice |
| Died | 5 August 1658 (aged 78) Wilfersdorf Castle |
Gundakar of Liechtenstein (30 January 1580 – 5 August 1658) (Prince from 1623) was a member of the House of Liechtenstein and as such the owner of a large estate. He also served the Habsburg dynasty.
He was the youngest son of Baron Hartmann II of Liechtenstein (1544–1585). His mother was Anna Maria (née Countess of Ortenburg). His brothers were Karl I and Maximilian. He received a careful education.
He himself was married twice. In the first marriage, he married Agnes, a daughter of Count Enno III of East Frisia and in the second marriage Elizabeth Lucretia, a daughter of Duke Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn and herself a ruling Duchess of Cieszyn. He was the founder of the so-called Gundakar line of the House of Liechtenstein. In 1606, the brothers signed a famility treaty stipulating that the first-born of the eldest surviving line would be head of the House of Liechtenstein.
His father was a Lutheran and he had raised his children as Lutherans. At the beginning of the 17th century, Gundakar and his brothers converted to Catholicism. Gundakar wrote a vindication, entitled "Motives that moved me to accept the Catholic faith".
His conversion facilitated his ascent at the imperial court. He served under Emperors Matthias, Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III. He began his career at court in 1599 as chamberlain. In the following years he accompanied Archduke Matthias on military expeditions to Hungary and was present at the siege of Buda. In 1606, he served several times as an ambassador and in 1608, he accompanied Matthias on his campaign in Bohemia against Rudolf II. He became a councillor at the Exchequer in 1606 and he led the department from 1613. As early as 1608, he appears to have acted as Vice Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was also a councillor in the Chamber of Lower Austria. Between 1614 and 1617, he held various positions, including Land Marshal of Lower Austria, Chief Hofmeister to Archduke Charles John and Chief Hofmeister to the Empress Consort Anna of Tyrol.
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