House of Kinsky

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The Kinsky family (formerly Vchynští (Vchynské according the medieval orthography) or Chynští in Czech; later (in modern Czech) Kinští, sg. Kinský) of the Counts and later Princes was one of the oldest and most illustrious dynasties originating from Bohemia, now the Czech Republic. The family is recorded in the Almanach de Gotha. The first factual mention of the family is in 1237. The family were elevated to Counts in 1628 and to the rank of prince in 1747. Many members of the family served in high diplomatic and military positions of the Austrian Empire.

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[edit] Legend

According to romantic legend, the Kinsky story begins in Central Europe over 1000 years ago, when a beautiful King's daughter out hunting in the forest was attacked by a pack of wolves. Her attendants all fled the terrible scene except for one young man, who saved the princess by killing some wolves and driving the rest away. In gratitude, the girl's father ennobled the young man, granting him a coat of arms featuring three wolves' teeth as an emblem of his bravery.

[edit] Residences

Like many of the aristocratic families of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Kinsky family were great landowners, and patrons of the arts. They employed between 1713 and 1716 the celebrated architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt to build their residence the Palais Kinsky in Vienna, which remained in the family's ownership until 1987. In addition to this home, the family also owned the vast 18th century baroque Kinsky Palace in Prague. Another family home was Choceň Castle, a medieval Bohemian fortress rebuilt in the gothic style in the 19th century. All of these homes were filled with priceless treasures and artifacts.

[edit] Stud farms

In 1723, the Emperor of Austria ordered the Kinsky family to develop their stud farms, and breed horses of such quality as to provide superior mounts for the officers of the elite cavalry regiments of the empire. In 1776, the quality of the Kinsky horses was further improved by bloodstock from England.

In 1838, Count Oktavian Kinsky expanded still further the Kinsky Studs, famous throughout Europe for the high quality of their horses, known as the Kinsky horse.

[edit] Current

In 1945, estates of the princely (Choceň) branch of the family were confiscated under Beneš decrees due to their declared German nationality and active collaboration with Nazis. Estates of the other branches (Kostelec and Chlumec), confiscated by the Nazis during the occupation and returned in 1945, were confiscated again, this time by the Communists in 1948. After the fall of Communism, these possessions were restituted; for example the castle in Kostelec nad Orlicí. Oldest member of the princely branch, Franz Ulrich Kinsky, is suing the Czech Republic to return the properties confiscated in 1945 under Beneš decrees.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Aleš Valenta, Dějiny rodu Kinských (History of Family Kinsky), Veduta 2004, Prague, ISBN 80-86829-05-7

[edit] External links

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