View source for Czech nobility

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
'''Czech nobility''' (also '''Bohemian nobility'''; {{langx|cs|česká šlechta}}) consists of the [[nobility|noble families]] from historical [[Czech lands]], especially in their narrow sense, i.e. nobility of [[Bohemia proper]], [[Moravia]] and [[Austrian Silesia]] – whether these families originated from those countries or moved into them through the centuries. These are connected with the history of [[Great Moravia]], [[Duchy of Bohemia]], later [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], [[Margraviate of Moravia]], the [[Duchies of Silesia]] and the [[lands of the Bohemian Crown|Crown of Bohemia]], the constitutional predecessor state of the modern-day [[Czech Republic]].

Noble titles were abolished by law (No. 61/1918 Sb. z. a n.)<ref>Exact wording of this "Law of 10 December 1918, which abolished the nobility, medals and titles" is available on the [http://cs.wikisource.org/wiki/Z%C3%A1kon_ze_dne_10._prosince_1918,_j%C3%ADm%C5%BE_zru%C5%A1uj%C3%AD_se_%C5%A1lechtictv%C3%AD,_%C5%99%C3%A1dy_a_tituly Czech Wikisource]</ref> in December 1918, shortly after the establishment of the independent [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovak Republic]]. The public use of noble titles could be punished by a fine or imprisonment. During the period of [[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia|Nazi occupation]] some sections of the law No. 61/1918 were abolished and the public use of noble titles was no longer punishable as a misdemeanor.<ref name="220/1939">{{cite web |title=Nařízení vlády č. 220/1939 Sb., kterým se mění zákon ze dne 10. prosince 1918, č. 61 Sb. z. a n., jímž se zrušují šlechtictví, řády a tituly [Government Regulation No. 220/1939 Coll., amending the Act of 10 December 1918, No. 61 Coll., and subsequent amendments, abolishing nobility, orders and titles] |url=https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1939-220 |website=Zákony pro lidi |access-date=11 October 2025}}</ref> This did not last long, as the regulations from the Nazi period were abolished again after the [[liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945]]. However shortly after the [[1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état|communist takeover]] the par of the law which made the public use of noble titles punishable was abolished again and the new law concerning the titles completely ignored the issue of noble titles, thus made their use possible at least in theory.<ref name="247/1949">{{cite web |title=Zákon č. 247/1949 Sb. o vyznamenáních a čestných uznáních [Act No. 247/1949 Coll. on decorations and honorary recognitions] |url=https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1949-247 |website=Zákony pro lidi |access-date=11 October 2025}}</ref> However, during the Nazi period, as well as the communist one, some individual representatives of Czech noble families were persecuted. After the [[Velvet Revolution]] in 1989, the property confiscated by the communists was returned to the families of former nobility or their relatives.

== History ==
The beginnings of the Czech nobility can be seen in the time of the first [[Přemyslid dynasty|Přemyslid]] princes and kings, i.e. in the 9th century. As a legally defined state of nobility in the [[Czech lands]], it arose in the course of the 13th century, when members of noble families began to own newly built stone [[castle]]s. The influence of the nobility rose rapidly, which became the cause of a strained relationship between the king and the nobility during the last [[Přemyslid dynasty|Přemyslid]] kings and especially during the reign of [[John of Bohemia]] and his grandson, [[Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia|Wenceslaus IV]] at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loužecký |first=Jan Drocár a Pavel |title=Historická šlechta – život po meči a po přeslici |url=https://www.historickaslechta.cz/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=historickaslechta.cz |language=cs}}</ref>
After the burning of [[Jan Hus]] in 1415, Czech society and therefore the Czech nobility was divided into two groups - Catholic and Hussite (later Protestant). Both groups were at war with each other both during the [[Hussite Wars]] and long after them. After the end of the Hussite Wars and the rule of the [[House of Luxembourg|Luxembourgers]] in the 1530s, the country was controlled by various noble associations. In 1452, they agreed on a land administrator, who became the noble [[George of Poděbrady]]. Five years later he was elected King of Bohemia, but disputes between the Catholic and Protestant nobility continued until the outbreak of the [[Thirty Years' War]] in 1618.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mezník |first=Jaroslav |title=Česká a moravská šlechta ve 14. a 15. století |publisher=Historický ústav ČSAV |year=1990 |location=Prague |language=cs}}</ref>
[[File:Prager.Fenstersturz.1618.jpg|left|thumb|[[Defenestrations of Prague|Defenestration of Prague]], 1618]]
The status of the nobility further increased in 1500, when the Vladislav land constitution was issued. In 1526, [[Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor|Ferdinand I of Habsburg]] was elected King of Bohemia. He, along with his successors, tried to reduce the influence of the nobility. This process was interrupted during the reign of [[Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor|Rudolf II]] in the years 1576-1611. In 1618, the Protestant part of the Czech estates started the [[Bohemian Revolt]] by throwing imperial officials out of the windows of [[Prague Castle]]. Czech Protestants were defeated in the [[Battle of White Mountain]] in 1620, and the following year 27 leaders of this rebellion were executed. Thus, the Catholic aristocracy definitively won over the Protestant aristocracy in Bohemia, but at the same time the [[Absolute monarchy|absolutist monarchy]] won over the [[The Estates|estate monarchy]].

During the [[Thirty Years' War]] after the Battle of White Mountain, a large part of the Protestant nobility had their property confiscated. Many new noble families came to the Czech lands at this time, originally usually from [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Austria]] or [[Scotland]]. Of the old Czech noble families, for example, the [[Kinsky]], Sternberg, [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrat]], [[Czernin family|Czernin]], [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]], [[Pernštejn family|Pernštejn]] or [[House of Lichtenstein|Lichtenstein]] families remained in Bohemia, while the [[Eggenberg family|Eggenberg]], [[Lords of Bucquoy|Bucquoy]], [[Colloredo-Mansfeld|Colloredo-Mannsfeld]], Gallas, [[Piccolomini]], [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]] and others arrived.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vokáčová |first=Petra |title=Příběhy o hrdé pokoře: aristokracie českých zemí v době baroka |publisher=Academia |year=2014 |isbn=978-80-200-2364-3 |location=Prague |language=czech}}</ref>
[[File:Museum, Prague, Bohemia, Austro-Hungary WDL2629.png|left|thumb|Many members of the Czech nobility participated in the creation of the [[National Museum (Prague)|National Museum in Prague]] (founded in 1818)]]
From the 17th century, only the Catholic Czech nobility significantly participated in the functioning of the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Monarchy]]. Newly arrived families gradually identified with the Czech lands and often also with the Czech language. At the end of the 18th century, a period called [[Josephinism]] began. His representative, the Emperor and King [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]] (1780-1790), initiated extensive reforms that significantly changed the position of the nobility and reduced the number of aristocratic privileges. Part of the modernization of the country was also the prioritization of [[German language|German]] at the expense of [[Czech language|Czech]] (the purpose was more efficient state administration).
[[File:Prague horse races Kuchlbad.JPG|thumb|A snapshot showing members of the Czech nobility during a horse race in Prague, 1900]]
During the 19th century, the Czech nobility was significantly involved in the process of [[Czech National Revival|national revival]], the promotion of the [[Czech language]] and the emergence of modern Czech culture and society. Prominent representatives of the patriotic nobility were especially the Sternberg, [[Chotek family|Chotek]], [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]], [[Czernin family|Czernin]], [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrat]], [[Kinsky]] and [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]]. In the second half of the 19th century, representatives of these and other families became involved in emerging parliamentary activity. The patriotically oriented nobles founded the Party of the Conservative Estate, cooperating with the [[Old Czech Party]], another aristocratic political force was the Party of the Constitutionalist Estate. In the second half of the 19th century, the ranks of the Czech nobility were expanded by successful businessmen, politicians and artists, for example the Bartoň family, the founder of the [[Škoda Works]] [[Emil Škoda]], the industrialist František Rienghoffer, the leader of the [[Old Czech Party]] [[František Ladislav Rieger]], the composer [[Antonín Dvořák]] and the writer [[Jaroslav Vrchlický]]. The representatives of this so-called new nobility, however, usually remained outside the Czech aristocracy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Županič |first=Jan |title=Nová šlechta rakouského císařství |publisher=Agentura Pankrác |year=2006 |isbn=80-86781-08-9 |location=Prague |language=cs}}</ref>

After the [[World War I|First World War]], the monarchy disappeared in the Czech lands and a republic was established. Most of the Czech nobility held monarchist positions, but remained loyal to the newly established [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovak Republic]]. Some nobles even entered the service of the Czechoslovak Republic and worked in diplomacy (for example, representatives of the [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]], [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]] and others). The Czechoslovak Republic confiscated the property of the Habsburgs and Hohenbergs, and the [[Clam-Martinic family]] also lost their property. During the following years, the property was sold off and the Fürstenbergs, for example, left the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pár slov o české šlechtě v éře První republiky - Blog iDNES.cz |url=https://bezecny.blog.idnes.cz/blog.aspx?c=119756 |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=iDNES.cz |language=cs}}</ref>
[[File:Zdenko Radslav Kinský.jpg|left|thumb|148x148px|[[File:Karl VI zu Schwarzenberg.jpg|194x194px]]Count Zdenko Radslav [[Kinsky|Kinský]] (above), author of the idea of the Declaration of the Czech Nobility and Prince Karel VI. [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]], author of the text of the Declaration]]
The turning point occurred in 1938. In response to the direct threat to the democratic state by [[Nazi Germany]], the most important noble families issued a Declaration of the members of the old Czech families on the inviolability of the territory of the Czech state. During the audience with President [[Edvard Beneš]], members of the [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]], [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]], [[Kinsky]], [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrat]], [[Czernin family|Czernin]], Sternberg, [[Colloredo-Mansfeld|Colloredo-Mannsfeld]], Parish, Dobrzenský, Strachwitz, and Belcredi publicly joined him. A similar statement was issued a year later, already in the occupied [[Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia]]. In September 1939, the National Declaration of the Czech Nobility was drawn up, in which 85 of the most important Czech noblemen from 33 noble families declared their Czech nationality. The Nazis subsequently confiscated the property of these nobles, and some then lived through the war in house internment or in concentration camps. Some nobles managed to emigrate. Part of the nobles actively participated in the domestic resistance, for example the Bořek-Dohalský brothers were murdered in a concentration camp, Karel VI Schwarzenberg or Václav Norbert Kinský participated in the anti-Nazi uprising in 1945.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jelínková Homolová |first=Dita |title=Šlechta v proměnách: osudy aristokracie v Československu v letech 1918–1948 |publisher=Lidové noviny |year=2018 |isbn=978-80-7422-520-8 |location=Prague |language=cs}}</ref>

In 1945, the properties of most Czech noble families were returned. However, there was a deportation of the majority of the population of German nationality, in which both the nobles who collaborated with the Nazis and the nobles who did not collaborate with the Nazis, but only claimed German nationality before the war, lost their property. For example, Trauttmansdorff, [[Windisch-Graetz|Windischgrätz]], Clam-Gallas, [[House of Thurn und Taxis|Thurn-Taxis]], [[Desfours family|Desfours]], or one branch of the [[Kinsky]], [[Czernin family|Czernin]] and [[House of Rohan|Rohan]] families had to leave the Czech lands. Due to the growing influence of the communists in [[Third Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovakia]] in the years 1945-1948, the return of some property was also withheld (the [[Colloredo-Mansfeld|Colloredo-Mannsfeld]] case), or the unjust confiscation of the primogeniture property of the [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]] family (based on the Lex Schwarzenberg Act of 1947<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ústavodárné NS RČS 1946-1948, 65. schůze, část 2/5 (10. 7. 1947) |url=https://www.psp.cz/eknih/1946uns/stenprot/065schuz/s065002.htm |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=www.psp.cz}}</ref>). [[House of Liechtenstein|The Liechtenstein family]] is still suing the [[Czech Republic]] for seized property, as well as several other families labeled as Germans after the war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kalenská |first=Renata |title=Připraven sloužit : rozhovor s Karlem Schwarzenbergem |publisher=N media |isbn=978-80-88433-02-6 |location=Prague |language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dědic Lichtenštejnska: Morava je náš druhý domov, majetkové spory překonáme - Seznam Zprávy |url=https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/dedic-lichtenstejnska-morava-je-nas-druhy-domov-majetkove-spory-prekoname-83222 |access-date=23 July 2022 |website=seznamzpravy.cz|date=23 November 2019 }}</ref>

In 1948, there was a [[Communist Czechoslovakia|communist coup in Czechoslovakia]]. Subsequently, the property of all noble families was confiscated. A large part of the Czech nobility therefore emigrated (for example, the [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]], [[Colloredo-Mansfeld|Colloredo-Mannsfelds]], [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrat]], Hildprand, some [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]] or Sternberg). The nobles who stayed at home (such as the [[Kinsky]], [[Wratislaw of Mitrovice|Wratislav]], [[Czernin family|Czernin]], some Sternberg and [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]]) were variously persecuted, for example they were prevented from studying, usually they were also evicted to unsuitable dwellings. Some members of the Czech nobility were imprisoned.
[[File:VH 2008.JPG|thumb|Prince [[Karel Schwarzenberg|Karel VII. Schwarzenberg]] and Czech President [[Václav Havel]] in 2008]]
After the [[Velvet Revolution]] in 1989, properties seized by the communist regime were returned to their original owners. Members of the Czech nobility who emigrated abroad returned to their estates. Some subsequently returned to public life (for example, [[Karel Schwarzenberg]] as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament and Senator, [[Michal Lobkowicz]] as Minister of Defense and Member of Parliament, [[Tomáš Czernin]] as Senator). Other Czech nobles devote themselves, for example, to business, culture, science, the church, or knightly orders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modrá krev|url=https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/11453913494-modra-krev/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |publisher=[[Czech Television]]|language=cs}}</ref>

==Oldest noble families==
The oldest founding families (numbering around twenty) of the Czech and Moravian nobility include:

* '''[[Buzici]]''' 
** [[Zajícové z Hazmburka|Zajícové z Házmburka]]
** [[Šelmberkové]]
* '''[[Benešovici]]'''
** [[Lords of Dubé]]
** [[Lords of Kravař]]
** [[Lords of Bechyně]]
* '''[[Drslavici]]'''
** [[Švihovští z Rýzmberka]]
** [[Czernin family]]
* '''[[Hrabišici]]'''
* '''[[Hroznatovci]]'''
* '''[[Janovici]]'''
** [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrats]]
* '''[[Markvartici]]'''
** [[Lemberkové]]
** [[Vartenberkové]]
** [[Waldstein family|Waldstein]]
* '''[[Ronovci]]'''
** [[Lichtenburkové]]
** [[Lords of Klinštejn|Klinštejns]]
** [[Lords of Lipé]]
** [[Lords of Dubé]]
* '''[[Vítkovci]]'''
** [[Lords of Hradce]]
** [[Lords of Krumlova]]
** [[Rosenberg family|Rosenbergs]]
** Lords of [[Landštejn Castle|Landštejn]]
** [[Lords of Stráže]]
* '''[[Zierotin]]s''' and others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historicka Slechta|language=cs|url=http://www.historickaslechta.cz/drslavic-id2009090063-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504120645/http://www.historickaslechta.cz/drslavic-id2009090063-6|archive-date=4 May 2010|date=n.d.}}</ref>

==List of important noble families==
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bavors of Strakonice|Bavor of Strakonice]]
* [[Belcredi]]
* [[Friedrich von Berchtold|Berchtold of Ungarschitz]]
* [[Bibra family|Bibra]]
* [[Boskowicz]]
* [[Bořek-Dohalský]]
* [[Bruntálský of Vrbno]]
* [[Bubna of Litice]]
* [[Chorinský of Ledská]]
* [[Clary-Aldringen]]
* [[Colloredo-Mannsfeld]]
* [[Czernin]]
* [[Chotek family|Chotek]]
* [[Deym of Střítež]]
* [[Dobřenský of Dobřenice]]
* [[Dubá family|Dubá]]
* [[Berka of Dubá]]
* [[Lords of Jelení|Jelení]]
* [[Hildprandt family|Hildprandt]]
* [[Harrach]]
* [[Lords of Hradec|Hradec]]
* [[Hohenberg family|Hohenberg]]
* [[Kamenický of Kamenice]]
* [[House of Kinsky|Kinsky]]
* [[Colditz family|Colditz]]
* [[Kolowrat family|Kolowrat]]
* [[Kaunitz family|Kaunitz]]
* [[Krajíř of Krajek]]
* [[Lords of Kravaře|Kravaře]]
* [[Kunštát family|Kunštát]]
* [[Lažanský family|Lažanský of Buková]]
* [[Lichtenburg family|Lichtenburg]]
* [[House of Liechtenstein|Liechtenstein]]
* [[Adalbert Lanna the Elder|Lanna]]
* [[:de:Larisch (Adelsgeschlecht)|Larisch-Moennich]]
* [[Lichnowsky]]
* [[Henry of Lipá|Lipá]]
* [[Lobkowicz family|Lobkowicz]]
* [[Martinic family|Martinic]]
* [[Nostitz family|Nostitz]]
* [[House of Paar|Paar]]
* [[Pernštejn family|Pernštejn]]
* [[Pruskowski]]
* [[Piccolomini]]
* [[Podiebrad family|Poděbrady]]
* [[Přemyslid dynasty|Přemyslid]]
* [[House of Rohan|Rohan]]
* [[Ronovci]]
* [[Rosenberg family|Rosenberg]]
* [[Švihovský of Rýzmberk]]
* [[Slavata of Chlum]]
* [[Slavník dynasty|Slavník]]
* [[Smiřický of Smiřice]]
* [[Schlick family|Schlick]]
* [[House of Schwarzenberg|Schwarzenberg]]
* [[Sporck family|Sporck]]
* [[Sternberg family|Sternberg]]
* [[Schwamberg family|Schwamberg]]
* [[Thun-Hohenstein]]
* [[Trčka of Lípa]]
* [[Tunkl of Brníčko]]
* [[Vítkovci]]
* [[Vlašim family|Vlašim]]
* [[Vršovci]]
* [[Waldstein family|Waldstein]]
* [[Wratislaw of Mitrovice]]
* [[Zajíc of Hazmburk]]
* [[Zedtwitz]]
* [[Zierotin]]
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Votivni obraz Ocko - Vojtech inverse.jpg|[[Adalbert of Prague|Saint Adalbert]] (c. 956–997), the second [[bishop of Prague]] and later a missionary among the [[Old Prussians|Prussians]] is for his life and deeds honoured as a patron saint of three countries
File:Petr z Rožmberka.jpg|[[Peter I of Rosenberg]] (?–1347), important politician and philanthropist, associated with the Book of Rosenberg, the oldest legal publication written in Czech
File:Jensky kodex Zizka.jpg|[[Jan Žižka|Jan Žižka of Trocnov and Kalich]] (c. 1360–1424), a small yeoman, later main commander of [[Hussites|Hussite troops]] who thanks to his [[Hussite Wagenburg|innovative tactics]], although blind, didn't lose a single battle
File:Martin Kuthen-George of Podebrady.jpg|[[George of Poděbrady|George of Kunštát and Poděbrady]] (1420–1471), the only Bohemian lord who managed to gain the royal rank (via election), remembered especially for his proposal to create [[Treaty on the Establishment of Peace throughout Christendom|peaceful all-European union of Christian states]]
File:Vojtěch z Pernštejna.JPG|[[Vojtěch I of Pernštejn]] (1490–1534), aristocratic magnate and supreme court master
File:Vilém z Rožmberka, obraz.jpg|[[William of Rosenberg]] (1535–1592), an important statesman and philanthropist, a moderate representative of the Catholic nobility in the period before the Thirty Years' War
File:Hajek.jpg|[[Tadeáš Hájek|Hagecius]] (1525–1600), astronomer, [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalist]] and personal physician of Emperor [[Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor|Rudolph II]], who invited [[Tycho Brahe|Brahe]] and [[Johannes Kepler|Kepler]] at [[Prague]] to scientific collaboration
File:Vok.jpg|[[Peter Vok of Rosenberg|Petr Vok of Rosenberg]] (1539–1611), the last descendant of powerful and wealth "viceroyal" [[Rosenberg family]], benefactor of the oldest Protestant church [[Unity of the Brethren (Czech Republic)|Unity of the Brethren]]
File:Kryštof Harant.jpg|[[Kryštof Harant|Kryštof Harant of Polžice and Bezdružice]] (1564–1621), writer, military leader, diplomat, traveler and composer, one of the leaders of the Estates Protestant uprising of 1618, executed after the Catholic victory in the [[Battle of White Mountain]]
File:Aegidius Sadeler - Albrecht Jan Smiřický on deathbed.jpg|[[Albrecht Jan Smiřický of Smiřice]] (1594–1618), the wealthiest lord of its era, possible candidate to the Bohemian throne and one of main heads of the anti-[[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] [[Bohemian Revolt]]
File:Heřman Černín.jpg|[[Czernin family|Heřman Czernin of Chudenice]] (1576–1651), traveler, diplomat and politician, highest provincial court master and chamberlain
File:Wallenstein Reiterbild.JPG|[[Albrecht von Wallenstein|Albrecht Václav von Wallenstein]] (1583–1634), famous military leader and politician during the [[Thirty Years War]], the first holder of title ''[[generalissimo]]'' in history
File:Polyxena Pernstejn (cropped).jpg|[[Polyxena of Lobkowicz]] (1566–1642), née Pernštejn, most powerful and influential noblewoman of Early Modern Age in [[Czech history]], her political engagement and intrigues have greatly helped forcible [[Counter-Reformation#Bohemia and Austria|re-Catholization of Bohemia after 1620]]
File:Brandl, Petr - Špork.jpg|[[Franz Anton von Sporck|František Antonín Sporck]] (1662–1738), important benefactor and visionary, founder of the [[Kuks|hospital in Kuks]]
File:Wenzel Anton Graf von Kaunitz-Riethberg.jpg|[[Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg|Václav Antonín of Kaunitz-Rietberg]] (1711–1794), statesman and diplomat, state chancellor of the [[Habsburg Monarchy]], initiator of the [[Diplomatic Revolution]]
File:Schwarzenberg, Joseph Adam.jpg|[[Joseph I Adam of Schwarzenberg|Josef I. Schwarzenberg]] (1722–1782), politician and philanthropist, founder of the Schwarzenberg Pension Institute for Employees
File:Giovanni Battista Lampi Johann Rudolf Graf Czernin-Chudenitz.jpg|Jan Rudolf Czernin of Chudenice (1757–1845), patron and art collector, president of the Academy of Sciences, supreme chamber and hofmeister
File:Kaspar Maria Sternberg Litho.JPG|[[Kaspar Maria von Sternberg|Kašpar Maria of Sternberg]] (1761–1838), botanist, geologist, paleobotanist and founder of the [[National Museum (Prague)|Bohemian National Museum in Prague]] (1818)
File:Radetzky Dauthage Litho 01.jpg|[[Joseph Radetzky von Radetz|Josef Václav Radetzky von Radetz]] (1766–1858), Austrian field marshal and viceroy of [[Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia|Lombardy–Venetia]], called the "Saviour of the House of Habsburg" during the [[Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states|revolution year of 1848 in Italy]]
File:Karel Filip Schwarzenberg.jpg|[[Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg|Karl Filip Schwarzenberg]] (1771–1820), diplomat and military leader, victor over [[Napoleon]] in the [[Battle of Leipzig]]
File:Jiří Buquoy de Longeval-Georg Franz August de Longeval (1771–1851).jpg|[[Jiří Buquoy|Jiří Buquoy de Longueval]] (1781–1851), economist, writer, politician, businessman, inventor, founder of the first nature reserve in Bohemia
File:Franz Anton von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky (1778–1861) engraving crop.jpg|[[Franz Anton von Kolowrat-Liebsteinsky|František Antonín Kolovrat]] (1778–1861), politician, prime minister
File:Wilhelmine von Sagan.jpg|[[Wilhelmine von Sagan|Vilemína Zaháňská von Sagan]] (1781–1839), salon owner, writer, supporter of the writer Božena Němcová
File:Schwarzenberg.jpg|Cardinal Bedřich Schwarzenberg (1809–1885), Archbishop of Salzburg and Prague, theologian, mountaineer, public figure, initiator of the completion of the [[St. Vitus Cathedral|St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle]]
File:František L Rieger.jpg|[[František Ladislav Rieger]] (1818–1903), politician, co-founder of the National Party, knighted for his merits{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
File:Emil Skoda.jpg|[[Emil Škoda]] (1839–1900), entrepreneur and engineer, founder of [[Škoda Works]] – one of the largest European industrial conglomerates of the 20th c., knighted for his merits{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
File:Dvorak.jpg|[[Antonín Dvořák]] (1841–1904), one of the most important Czech and European music composers, knighted for his merits{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}
File:Bertha von Suttner 1860s.jpg|[[Bertha von Suttner]] (1843–1914), née Kinsky, peace activist and writer, the first woman awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] (1905) and probably the most known noblewoman of Bohemian origin
File:Sophiechotek1868-2.jpg|[[Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg|Žofie Chotková (Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg)]] (1868–1914), wife of the heir to the Austrian throne [[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria]], assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914
File:Sascha Kolowrat-Krakowsky (1886–1927).jpg|[[Alexander Kolowrat|Alexander Kolowrat - Krakowský]] (1886–1927), car racer, aviator, owner of film studios and co-owner of the [[Laurin & Klement]] car company
File:Adolf Schwarzenberg.jpg|[[Adolph Schwarzenberg|Adolf Schwarzenberg]] (1890–1950), businessman, anti-Nazi
File:187-b. Jindřich Vilém Albrecht Pavel hrabě Krakowský z Kolowrat.jpg|Jindřich Kolowrat-Krakowský (1897–1996), diplomat, politician, philanthropist, anti-Nazi
File:Zdeněk Bořek Dohalský (1900-1945).jpg|Zdeněk Bořek Dohalský (1900–1945), journalist and anti-Nazi resistance fighter, executed by the Nazis in 1945
File:Jiří Stránský (2015).jpg|[[Jiří Stránský]] (1931–2019),{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} writer, screenwriter, translator
File:Karel Schwarzenberg 2019.jpg|[[Karel Schwarzenberg]] (1937–2023), politician, businessman, philanthropist and fighter for human rights
File:Kinsky Frantisek 16778v.jpg|František Kinský (born 1947), producer, moderator and regional politician
File:Biskup František Václav Lobkowicz.jpg|[[František Václav Lobkowicz]] (1948–2022), Roman Catholic priest, bishop of Ostrava-Opava
File:Tomáš Czernin in 2016.jpg|Tomáš Czernin (born 1962), businessman and politician, senator
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title= Der Adel von Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien|trans-title=Aristocracy of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia|last1= von Dobrá Voda|first1= Adalbert Král|publisher= I. Taussig|location= Prag|year= 1904|language= de|access-date=14 February 2016 |url=http://www.historie.hranet.cz/heraldika/pdf/kral1904.pdf}}
* {{cite book |title= Der böhmische Adel|trans-title=Bohemian Aristocracy|first= Rudolf Johann|last= von Meraviglia-Crivelli|publisher= Bauer und Raspe|location= Nürnberg|year= 1886|language= de|access-date=14 February 2016 |url=http://www.historie.hranet.cz/heraldika/pdf/meraviglia1886.pdf}}
* {{cite book |title= Der mährische Adel|trans-title=Moravian Aristocracy|last1= von Kadich|first1= Heinrich Edlen|last2= Blažek|first2= Conrad|publisher= Bauer und Raspe|location= Nürnberg|year= 1899|language= de|access-date=14 February 2016 |url=http://www.historie.hranet.cz/heraldika/pdf/kadich-blazek1899.pdf}}
* {{cite book |title= Der abgestorbene Adel der Provinz Schlesien und der O. Lausitz|trans-title=Extinct Aristocracy of the Province of Silesia and Upper Lusatia|volume= I–III|last1= Blažek|first1= Conrad|publisher= Bauer und Raspe|location= Nürnberg|year= 1887–1894|language= de}}
* {{cite book |title= Rody starého Slezska|trans-title=Families of Ancient Silesia|last1= Pilnáček|first1= Josef|edition=3rd |publisher= Ivo Sperát|location= Brno|year= 2010|language= cs|isbn= 978-80-904312-3-2}}

{{European nobility}}
{{Nobility by nation}}

[[Category:Czech nobility| ]]