1772 - 1781 Since
Prince Josef Wenzel died without leaving a male heir, his
uncle assumed the government of the House. Franz Josef I (born 1726, died 1781) was heavily promoted
by his uncle. At the age of 20, he accompanied him to theaters of war in Northern Italy and fought at
his side in the victorious Battle of Piacenza. He was
also among the participants in
the journey of Josef Wenzel to Parma in 1760. The following year, he traveled as Chief Treasurer with
Duke Karl of Lothringen to his election as High Master of the German Order to Mergentheim. In
1763, Franz Joseph took on a diplomatic function and traveled on behalf of the Imperial House to Spain,
in order to bring the bride of Archduke Leopold the portrait of her groom.
In
1767, he
became Privy Councillor, and in 1771, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece. He appeared in a public
function for the last time in 1778 as president of the Lower Austrian Estate of Lords. The
Prince was however primarily concerned with the administration of his extensive properties, which were
considerably expanded in 1772 through the majorat properties and the rich inheritance of a relative,
Duchess Maria Theresia of Savoy. |
