This page lists princely families in the territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, whether extant or extinct. The style of address was Durchlaucht (Serene Highness); also used was Fürstliche Gnaden (Princely Grace). The Austrian princely title (Fürst) was the most prestigious title of the Austrian nobility, forming the higher nobility (hoher Adel) alongside the counts (Grafen). This close inner circle, called the 100 Familien (100 families), possessed enormous riches and lands. They also had great influence at the court and thus played an important role in politics and diplomacy.
PrepositionWhere this section is blank, it is possible that the preposition is unknown or did not exist.Original nameMost calledNotes von Auersperg Auersperg head of this family also carries the titles of Duke of Gottschee, Princely Count of Wels. All members of the princely line are Serene Highnesses, Princes(ses) of Auersperg. Also several comital lines. Batthyány-Strattmann junior members were counts von Clary und Aldringen Clary-AldringenAlmanach českých šlechtických rodů 2001, Praha 2001 junior members were counts von Collalto und San Salvatore Collalto junior members were counts von Colloredo-MansfeldAlmanach českých šlechtických rodů 2005, Praha 2005 Colloredo-Mansfeld junior members were counts; eldest son of the prince was titled Count of Mansfeld; see also House of Mansfeld von Croÿ Croÿ-(subline) also known as Croÿ-Dülmen, three branches exist. Heads of this family were dukes; also used the preposition de. von Dietrichstein became extinct firstly in male line, recreated for husband of heiress; junior members of this family were counts of Dietrichstein & Proskau-Leslie (first family) then Dietrichstein-Mensdorff-Pouilly (second family) von Eggenberg became extinct firstly in male line, Bohemian possessions passed to the nearest male relatives via marriage, the Schwarzenberg family, and Styrian possessions likewise to the Herberstein family.Schloss Eggenberg. By Barbara Kaiser. Graz: Christian Brandstätter Verlag, 2006. p. 204. (English Edition) or (German Edition)Die Fürsten und Freiherren zu Eggenberg und ihre Vorfahren. By Walther Ernest Heydendorff. Graz: Verlag Styria, 1965. pp. 187-8.Hans Ulrich Fürst von Eggenberg: Freund und Erster Minister Kaiser Ferdinand II.. By Hans von Zwiedineck-Südenhorst. Vienna: Wilhelm Braumüller K. K. Hof- und Universitätsbuchhändler, 1880. p. 123.Ein Staat in Alt-Österreich: Besitzungen der Eggenberger. By Franz Kammerhofer. Graz: Franz Kammerhofer, 1998. p. 172. Esterházy von Galántha Esterházy also comital; also used the preposition de Festetics von Tolna Festetics also comital; also used the preposition de zu Fürstenberg Fürstenberg members use titles outside of Austria; some use the preposition von von Grassalkovics Grassalkovics became extinct von Hohenberg Hohenberg title of Fürst for all members (see here); elevated to ducal status by primogeniture in 1917; the head of this house is titled Herzog von Hohenberg (Duke of Hohenberg) zu Hohenlohe Hohenlohe-(subline) this family had multiple branches von Khevenhüller-Metsch Khevenhüller-Metsch junior members were counts Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau Kinsky junior members were counts; also comital von Koháry Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry also comital; became extinct firstly in male line, possessions passed to the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha branch of the family via marriage to the heiress of the last prince von Lichnowsky Lichnowsky von Lobkowicz Lobkowicz Lónyay de Nagy-Lónya et Vásáros-Namény Lónyay also comital; also used the preposition de von und zu Liechtenstein Liechtenstein sovereign since 1719 von Metternich-Winneburg Metternich also used the preposition de von Montenuovo Montenuovo see also House of Neipperg zu Oettingen-Oettingen this family had multiple branches (Oettingen, Wallerstein & Spielberg) von Orsini und Rosenberg Orsini-Rosenberg junior members were counts von Paar Paar auf Hartberg und Krottenstein junior members were counts von Porcia Porcia junior members were counts von Rohan Rohan a line of this family was ducal; also used the preposition de zu Sayn-Wittgenstein Sayn-Wittgenstein-(subline) this family had multiple branches von Schönburg Schönburg-(subline) this family had multiple branches (Hartenstein & Waldenburg); also comital von Starhemberg Starhemberg junior members were counts zu Schwarzenberg Schwarzenberg the head of this house is also Duke of Krumlov, Princely Landgrave in Klettgau, and Count of Sulz von Thun-Hohenstein Thun-Hohenstein also comital von und zu Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg also comital von Waldburg Waldburg-(subline) this family had multiple branches; junior members were counts von Weikersheim Hohenlohe-Langenburg-(morganatic branch) junior members were counts zu Windisch-Graetz Windisch-Graetz also Windisch-Grätz
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