Johann Weikhard of Auersperg

Prince Johann Weikhard of Auersperg (also spelled Johann Weichard von Auersperg; 11 March 1615 at Žužemberk Castle – 11 November 1677 in Ljubljana) was Prime Minister of Austria and Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. He was the first Prince of Auersperg, and also Imperial Prince of Tengen and Duke of Münsterberg. Life He was a descendant of the elder line of the Auersperg family from Carniola. His parents were Dietrich II of Auersperg and Sidonia Gall von Gallenstein. Johann Weikhard held several positions at the Austrian court. From 1640, he was Obersthofmeister (Lord Chamberlain) and teacher of Ferdinand IV, who was King of the Romans at the time. In 1641 he was sent to The Hague and later he took part in peace negotiations at Osnabrück, which ultimately ended the Thirty Years’ War with the Peace of Westphalia (1648). In 1653, Emperor Ferdinand III raised him to Imperial Prince and in 1654, in his capacity as King of Bohemia, enfeofed him with the Duchy of Münsterberg and the City of Frankenstein. He then styled himself Duke of Münsterberg.