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

Coat of Arms of the Harrach family
Original arms of the family

History

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Arms of the Counts of Harrach zu Rohrau und Thannhausen

The family first appeared in 1195 in the documents found in Ranshofen Abbey, Duchy of Bavaria. There are two main family branches — the Rohrau branch in Austria (until 1886) and the Jilemnice branch in Bohemia. They were formed by 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

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The family owned the following properties at various times:

Notable family members

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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

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Notes

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  1. ^ Possibly from the 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. ^ https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/MGSL_119_0231-0259.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ "The Collection Of Count Von Harrach". Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  5. ^ "A Brief Introduction to Harrach Glass". Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2019.

References

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