Monarch Joseph II Name Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff Succeeded by Philipp von Cobenzl Died August 27, 1827 | Nationality Austrian Education University of Vienna Alma mater University of Vienna | |
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Preceded by Count Joseph Murray (acting) Born 12 January 1749
Vienna ( 1749-01-12 ) Spouse(s) Marie Caroline von Colloredo | ||
Ferdinand von Trauttsmandorff (1749–1827) was an Austrian diplomat and statesman. From 1787 to 1789 he was Minister plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands, ruling on behalf of Emperor Joseph II.
Contents
Life
Ferdinand was born in Vienna on 12 January 1749, a member of the noble family of Trauttsmandorff. He studied at the University of Vienna and served in the Reichskammergericht in Wetzlar. In 1772 he married Marie Caroline von Colloredo (1752–1832). At his brother's death in 1774 he became the head of the family, and count and prince of Trauttmansdorff.
In 1780 he was appointed Austrian minister in Regensburg, and in 1785 imperial ambassador to the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz. In 1787 he was appointed the emperor's minister plenipotentiary in the Austrian Netherlands, effectively head of the government.
He arrived in Brussels in October 1787. His brief was to push through the innovations that Joseph II had determined on and that the previous minister plenipotentiary, Ludovico, Count di Belgiojoso, had been forced to dial back. In his zeal to execute imperial policy, Trauttmansdorff on 18 June 1789 carried out a government coup, rescinding the ancient privileges of the county of Hainaut, decreeing the abolition of the Council of Brabant, and arbitrarily imprisoning many of the opponents of government policy. His dictatorial behaviour precipitated the Brabant Revolution. In November he began to offer concessions and recognise ancient liberties, but too late to stem revolutionary rejection of Austrian authority. On 14 December 1789, Trauttmansdorff fled Brussels for Luxembourg. His secret correspondence with Joseph II while minister plenipotentiary was published in 1902.
He re-entered imperial service in 1793, being appointed to the Chancery for the Netherlands in Vienna. He accompanied the Emperor Francis II to Brussels for his reception as ruler during the short-lived Austrian restoration of 1793–1794.