Lobkowicz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Lobkowicz (also spelled Lobkowitz or Lobkovic) family is one of the oldest still existing Bohemian noble families dating back to the 14th century. First Lobkowiczs were mentioned as members of the gentry of north-eastern Bohemia. Mikuláš Chudý ("the poor") z Újezda (later z Lobkowicz) was an important politician of the 15th century. Bohuslav Hasištejnský z Lobkovic was an essayist and poet. His brother Jan Hasištejnský z Lobkovic was a diplomat and pilgrim to the Holy Land. Zdeněk Popel z Lobkowic was the head of the Catholic Party in early 17th century Bohemia and received Imperial as well as Bohemian princely title in 1620s. Jiří Kristián z Lobkowicz was a Bohemian politician and head of Bohemian Diet in the late 19th century.
Today, there are four main branches of family: the Roudnice Lobkowiczs, the Křimice Lobkowiczs, the Dolni Beřkovice Lobkowiczs, and the Mělník Lobkowiczs.
The laws of the Czech Republic (prev. Czechoslovakia) don't allow its citizen to use noble titles.
Well-known Lobkowiczs of today are:
- HSH Michal Lobkowicz, MP 1992-2002, 1997-1998 Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic
- HSH Jaroslav Lobkowicz, MP 1998-2006, head of Křimice branch and the whole family ("Duke of Roudnice")
- HSH František Václav Lobkowicz, O.Praem., Bishop of Ostrava and Opava
- HSH Jiří Lobkowicz, businessman and politician, head of Mělník branch
- HSH Prince Edouard Lobkowicz, businessman, in charge of charities of the Papal Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Lebanon, married to Princess Françoise of Bourbon-Parma.
