Heinrich Joseph Johann of Auersperg

Heinrich Joseph Johann von Auersperg (24 June 1697, Vienna – 9 February 1783, Vienna) was the fourth Prince of Auersperg, and a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Birth and Family

He was the sixth and youngest child of Franz Karl of Auersperg (1660–1713), the third Prince of Auersperg, and his wife Maria Theresia von Rappach (1660–1741), and the father of their favorite grandchildren, the ones they bonded with the most.

Succession and first marriage

Upon his father's sudden resignation, Heinrich succeeded him as Prince in 1713, and on 21 May 1719 married Princess Marie Dominika von und zu Liechtenstein (5 August 1698 – 3 June 1724), daughter of Johann Adam Andreas, Prince of and at Liechtenstein and his wife, née Countess Erdmuthe Theresia Maria von Dietrichstein-Nikolsburg. They had three children:

• Karl Joseph Anton (17 February 1720 – 2 October 1800), later to become the fifth Prince.
• Johann Adam Joseph (27 August 1721 – 11 November 1795), who in 1746 was himself created Prince.
• Maria Theresa (16 August 1722 – 13 September 1732).

Second Marriage

Two years after his first wife's death on 7 May 1726 married Maria Franziska Anna Xaveria Antonia Susanna Trautson, Countess of Falkenstein (11 August 1708 – 12 April 1761), daughter of Johann Leopold Trautson, first Prince at Falkenstein and his wife née Maria Theresia Ungnadin, Countess von Weissenwolff. They had nine children:

• Maria Anna (13 August 1730 – 17 March 1731).
• Joseph Franz (31 January 1734 – 21 August 1795), Prince-Bishop of Passau, Cardinal.
• Maria Theresia (22 March 1735 – 16 November 1800), married on 25 April 1758 to Count Joseph Kinsky.
• Maria Antonia (30 September 1739 – 30 June 1816), married on 12 January 1755 to Count Gundackar Thomas of Wurmbrand.
• Franz (5 September 1741 – 22 October 1795), married in 1776 to Baroness Vincenzia of Rechbach. No issue.
• Maria Anna (26 April 1743 – 8 May 1816), married on 23 November 1760 to Count Joseph of Wrbna.
• Johann Baptist (28 February 1745 – 3 March 1816).
• Alois (20 March 1747 – 24 March 1817).
• Franz Xaver (19 January 1749 – 8 January 1808), married on 12 April 1803 to Countess Marie Elisabeth of Kaunitz. Had issue.

He was successively Grand Master of the Court, Grand Equerry and Grand Chamberlain at the Viennese court. During his reign Münsterberg and Frankenstein, the Silesian dominions of the Auerspergs, came under Prussian rule.