Lichnowsky
The House of Lichnowsky or House of Lichnovský is the name of an influential Czech aristocratic family of Silesian and Moravian origin, documented since the 14th century.
History
The noble family first appeared in the Duchy of Pless in Upper Silesia, when one Estepan de Woszyczyki, probably from Woszczyce near Orzesze, on 17 March 1377 obtained the office of a Schultheiß reeve in Lędziny from the Přemyslid duke John of Opava. His descendant Hanuš of Woszczyki, judge in the Upper Silesian Duchy of Krnov from 1498 to 1507, by marriage acquired the estates of Lichnov in Moravia. He is first mentioned with his surname Lichnovský in a 1494 deed.Ennoblements
- Franz Bernhard Lichnowsky : Bohemian Freiherr with the nobiliary particle of an Edler von Woschtitz in 1702
- Karl Franz Leopold Bernhard Lichnowsky, son: Bohemian Graf on 1 January 1721, Imperial Count on 27 May 1727
- Geheimrat Friedrich Carl Johann Amadeus Lichnowsky, son: Fürst in Prussia on 30 January 1773; the princely title was not recognised in Austria until 30 December 1846
Notable members
- Karl Alois, Prince Lichnowsky, patron of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven
- Moritz Lichnowsky, younger brother of Karl Alois and a faithful friend of Ludwig van Beethoven
- Eduard Lichnowsky, writer
- Felix, Prince Lichnowsky, politician
- Karl Max, Prince Lichnowsky, German ambassador in London
- Mechtilde Lichnowsky, his wife
- Margarethe von Lichnowsky, wife of Count Karol Lanckoroński