Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein


Karl I was the first member of the House of Liechtenstein to become Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, but only as an honorary title, since the Liechtenstein family did not yet possess any territory with semi-sovereignty within the Holy Roman Empire.
Karl was the elder son of Hartmann II, Baron of Liechtenstein and his wife, Countess Anna Maria of Ortenburg. Emperor Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire appointed Karl as chief intendant, an important position at his court. Karl held this position until 1607. He became a Catholic in 1599.
In a dispute over land between Rudolf II and the heir presumptive to the throne, Archduke Matthias, Karl sided with Matthias. Liechtenstein played a leading role as adviser and supporter of Matthias in the coup against Emperor Rudolf II. Now-Hungarian King Matthias made him a hereditary prince in 1608, in thanks for Karl's aid. In his politics and assertiveness as advisor to Matthias, he rivaled Melchior Khlesl, Bishop of Vienna, who ultimately prevailed over Karl of Liechtenstein and became the new minister-favourite of King and later Emperor Matthias.
In 1614, Karl added the Duchy of Troppau to his possessions. In 1619, Matthias was succeeded by Emperor Ferdinand II, the arch-Catholic monarch who triggered the Thirty Years' War for religious reasons; Charles's reconversion now proved advantageous. In thanks for further aid at the Battle of White Mountain, Karl was appointed to the positions of proconsul and vice-regent of Bohemia in 1622, and he was bestowed with the Order of the Golden Fleece.
He gained the Duchy of Troppau on 28 December 1613 and the Silesian Duchy of Jägerndorf on 15 March 1622, along with much confiscated protestant "rebel property", and he commissioned the ducal hat of Liechtenstein.
In 1605, Karl established the first branch north of the Alps of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, at Feldsberg in Lower Austria.
He was the 352nd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria. He died in Prague.

Marriage and issue

In 1600, Karl married Anna Maria Šemberová, Baroness of and Černá Hora and Lady of Aussee. They had at least four children: