Franz Coronini von Cronberg


Count Franz Coronini von Cronberg was an Austrian politician from the House of Coronini von Cronberg.

Life

Franz Coronini von Cronberg was educated alongside Eduard von Taaffe and Emperor Franz Joseph. He initially studied philosophy and law. He joined a dragoon regiment in 1850, became a major in the Auxiliary Corps in 1859, a lieutenant colonel in the 2nd Cuirassier Regiment in 1865, distinguished himself in the Battle of Königgrätz, and retired as a colonel in 1867.
He moved back to Gorizia, where he was appointed Governor of the Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca in 1870 and held this office until 1899. He was elected a member of the provincial parliament and, in 1871, a member of the House of Deputies. He initially belonged to Johann Nepomuk Berger's Club of the Left, but during negotiations on the second Compromise, he joined the Progressive Club, which elected him as its chairman. He separated from it in 1878, as he was an ardent annexationist and firmly approved of Andrássy's Balkan policy, in particular the occupation of Bosnia, and also supported it as president of the delegation.
He was elected President of the House of Deputies on 14 October 1879, but resigned in March 1881 due to disagreements with the Constitutional Party. He formed a pro-government Liberal Center Club in the House of Deputies. In 1895 he resigned his seat in the House of Deputies and in 1897 he was appointed a member of the House of Lords.

Family

He married Anselma Sophie, Countess of Christalnigg von und zu Gillitzstein. The couple had five children:
  • Rudolf Maria Johannes Alexius, Count Coronini von Cronberg, Baron of Oelberg ⚭ Marianne Irene Elisabeth Philomena Liberta, Countess of Oppersdorff
  • Anna Maria Sofia Alessandra
  • Anselma
  • Alberto
  • Gisella