Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy
| Nikolaus II | |
|---|---|
| Prince Esterházy | |
Nikolaus II as portrayed by Martin Knoller in 1793. Oil on canvas. Esterházy Privatstiftung, Burgenland.
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| Spouse(s) | Maria Josepha, Princess von und zu Liechtenstein |
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Issue
Paul Esterházy
Leopoldine Esterházy Nikolaus Esterházy |
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| Noble family | Esterházy |
| Father | Prince Anton Esterházy |
| Mother | Maria Theresia, Countess Erdödy de Monyorokerek et Monoszlo |
| Born |
12 December 1765 Vienna |
| Died | 1833 (aged 67–68) |
Nicholas II, Prince Esterházy (Hungarian: Esterházy II. Miklós, German: Nikolaus II Esterházy; 12 December 1765 – 1833) was a wealthy Hungarian prince. He served the Austrian Empire and was a member of the famous Esterházy family. He is especially remembered for his art collection and for his role as the last patron of Joseph Haydn.
Nikolaus was born in Vienna on 12 December 1765, the son of Prince Anton Esterházy and his first wife, Maria Theresia, Countess Erdödy de Monyorokerek et Monoszlo (1745–1782). His father Anton was the son of Nikolaus I, whom he succeeded as reigning prince on the latter's death in 1790. In 1783, the younger Nikolaus, aged 17, married the 15-year-old Maria Josepha, Princess von und zu Liechtenstein (1768–1845). According to Mraz (2009b), the marriage was not a happy one (see below, "debauchery"). It produced three children: Paul (1786–1866), who succeeded Nikolaus as prince, Leopoldine (1788–1846), and Nikolaus (1799–1844).
Nikolaus II became the reigning prince on the death of his father in 1794. Like many of the aristocrats of the Austrian Empire, he spent much of his time in Vienna, where his family had a palace. He also spent some time, particularly in summer, in his palace (the traditional family seat) in Eisenstadt. Like his father Anton, Nikolaus had little interest during his reign in living in or visiting Esterháza, the famous palace that Nikolaus I had built in rural Hungary.
Like most of the princes in his line, Nikolaus pursued a career as a military officer. He was promoted to major general on 13 May 1796, and to Lieutenant Field Marshal in 1803; in 1817, he was promoted to Feldzeugmeister. Like his father, he was also a Captain of the Hungarian Noble Life Guard, from December 1803 until his death in 1833.
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