The House of Harrach[1] is the name of an old and influential Austro-German noble family, which was also part of Bohemian nobility. The Grafen (Counts) of Harrach were among the most prominent families in the Habsburg Empire. As one of few mediatized families, it belongs to high nobility.

History

Coat of arms of the family

The family first appeared in 1195 in the documents found in Ranshofen Abbey, Duchy of Bavaria. There are two main family branches — Rohrau branch in Austria (until 1886) and Jilemnice branch in Bohemia. They were formed from two sons of Count Karl von Harrach (1570–1628). Two branches were later founded by grandsons of Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau — Ernest Christopher Joseph (d. 1838) and Ferdinand Joseph (d. 1841).[2]

Residences

The family owned the following properties at various times:

  • Rohrau Castle, Rohrau, Austria: formerly the seat of the elder branch; with notable private collection of paintings known as Graf Harrach’sche Familiensammlung[3] (from 1870–1970 kept in Palais Harrach). Rohrau has meanwhile been inherited by the counts of Waldburg-Zeil.
  • Prugg Castle, Bruck an der Leitha, Austria: still the seat of the younger branch.
  • Palais Harrach an der Freyung, Vienna, Austria (sold to the city in 1975).
  • Palais Harrach in der Ungargasse, Vienna, Austria.
  • Palais Harrach, Prague, Czech Republic.
  • Harrachov (Harrachsdorf): town in Czech Republic with family's glass manufactory (since 1712), well known as Harrachglas brand.[4]
  • Hrádek u Nechanic, Czech Republic.
  • Jilemnice, Czech Republic.
  • Konárovice, Czech Republic.
  • Kunín, Czech Republic.
  • Lodín, Czech Republic
  • Náměšť na Hané, Czech Republic.
  • Strkov, Czech Republic.
  • Krzeczyn Mały, Poland.

Notable family members

Aloys Thomas Raimund Graf Harrach (1669–1742), viceroy of Naples
Auguste von Harrach, princess of Liegnitz (1800–1873), second wife of king Frederick William III of Prussia

Many of its members bear the title of Graf (count/earl) or Gräfin (countess). Notable members of the family are, among others:

See also

Notes

  1. Possibly from Czech word hrách ("pea"). First known member of the family owned definitely Slavonic name Przibislaus. Indirect evidence of pea's theory — Harrach's coat of arms with an element described in heraldry as "golden ball".
  2. "Śląska szlachta i arystokracja". www.arekkp.pl. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  3. "The Collection Of Count Von Harrach". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  4. "A Brief Introduction to Harrach Glass". Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2019.

References

  • Reichenberger, Arnold G., The Counts Harrach and the Spanish Theater
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