Castle Of Slavkov - Austerlitz
Kaunitz family line
History of the Kaunitz family line
For more than four centuries, the history of the Slavkov castle has been intertwined with the ancient Moravian aristocratic family of the Kaunitz who used the symbol of a water lily in its heraldry. In 1509, the Slavkov domain and the castle were obtained by Oldřich of Kaunitz who made it his main seat. The rule of the Kaunitz family in Slavkov brought about a great boom of architectural activities, support of the crafts, foundation of the first manufacture and a general development of business and trades. Later it was Dominik Ondřej of Kaunitz who encouraged the trading and economic development of his domain. He worked as a diplomat in the Habsburg empire and took active part in the political life then. He also initiated the majestic Baroque reconstruction of the actual castle. The most significant representative of the family line was Václav Antonín, Count of Kaunitz and Rietberg. His skills and experience obtained during his studies at universities in Vienna and Leiden as well as his frequent travels in Europe brought him to the post of state chancellor serving for four Habsburg Emperors – Maria Theresa, Joseph II, Leopold II and Francis II. Due to his advantageous marriage policy and diplomatic skills focused namely on France, he reinforced the influence of the Habsburg family line and enlarged many of their territorial possessions. He was awarded the Golden Fleece for his credits. Count Václav was buried in the Slavkov family tomb under the church of St John the Baptist. One of the last members of the family line was Václav, Count of Kaunitz. At the beginning of his professional career he worked as the member of the Imperial Council and represented the political interests of the Czech nation. He was also an important patron of students. The family tomb of the Kaunitz was built under the southern tower of the chapel by Arnošt Kryštof in 1795. In the same year, it served as the last resting place for the bodily remains of the Chancellor, Count Václav Antonín of Kaunitz and his daughter-in-law Marie Leopoldina of Oettingen-Spielberg. Today, there are seven coffins in the tomb with bodily remains of other members of the family line both from the Moravian and Czech branch of the family.
Owners of the Slavkov castle
The Kaunitz family obtained the Slavkov domain with the castle in 1509 and remained its owners for more than 400 years.
Ulrich +1519
Petr +1555
Ulrich *1539 +1570
Ulrich *1569 +1617
Lev Vilém *1614 +1655 (founder of the Moravian branch of the family)
Dominik Ulrich *1654 +1705
Maxmilián Ulrich *1679 +1746
Václav Antonín *1711 +1794
Arnošt Kryštof *1737 +1797
Dominik Ondřej *1740 +1812
Alois Václav *1774 +1848
Castle passes to the Czech branch of the family of Kaunitz
Michal Karel *1803 +1852
Albrecht *1829 +1897
Václav *1848 +1913
Eugen *1841 +1919
