Adam Franz und Eleonore Amalia von Schwarzenberg. Ursachen und Verlauf ihrer ehelichen Krise in den Jahren 1710–1722

Abstract

This study reconstructs the progress of Adam Franz and Eleonore Amalia of Schwarzenberg’s mariage crisis from 1710–1722. Combining sources of a personal nature and some so far rather neglected sources of official nature sheds light upon the causes of the prolonged dispute which represented a real threat to the Schwarzenbergs’ of having no male progeny and attempts to present a more realistic account of the solution to this crisis, which has so far been traditionally ascribed to a chance meeting of both disunited spouses over the grave of St. John of Nepomuk. It touches not only upon the noble family’s life which is set in broader social coordinates, but also the origination of the family’s legend.