Wenzel Anton Count of Kaunitz-Rietberg (part of the Maria Theresa monument in Vienna)

Wenzel Anton Graf Kaunitz (en: Count Wenceslaus Anthony von Kaunitz, cz: Václav Antonín hrabě Kounic-Rietberg) (Vienna, February 2, 1711 – Vienna, June 27, 1794), born into an old Bohemian noble family settled in Moravia, was an Austrian statesman. In 1764 he was styled Reichsfürst von Kaunitz-Rietberg (Imperial Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg), his father having been Maximilian Ulrich von Kaunitz, and his mother having been Marie Ernestine von Ostfriesland-Rietberg. Photograph of a statue of Graf Kaunitz. ... Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress, Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia The worlds most famous coin, a silver thaler of Maria Theresa, dated 1780 Maria Theresa (German: ; May 13, 1717–November 29, 1780) was (reigning) Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Czech (čeÅ¡tina []) is one of the West Slavic languages, along with Slovak, Polish, Pomeranian (Kashubian), and Lusatian Sorbian. ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1711 (MDCCXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Flag of Bohemia Bohemia (Czech: ; German: ) is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western and middle thirds of the Czech Republic. ... Flag of Moravia Moravia (Czech and Slovak: Morava; German: ; Hungarian: ; Polish: ) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic. ... Fürst (plural Fürsten) is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince. The female form is Fürstin (plural Fürstinnen). ...

It was intended that Kaunitz should become a clergyman when he was a boy, but he soon decided otherwise and studied law instead. During his career, he was Austria's ambassador in Turin, minister in the Austrian Netherlands during the absence of its ruler Prince Charles of Lorraine; he represented Austria at the Congress of Aachen at the close of the War of the Austrian Succession (1748) and was ambassador in Paris. Torino redirects here. ... Originally the term Netherlands referred to a much larger entity than the current Kingdom of the Netherlands. ... The name Charles of Lorraine may refer to: Charles I, Duke of Lorraine Charles II, Duke of Lorraine Charles III, Duke of Lorraine Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine Prince Charles of Lorraine Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that... Oche redirects here; in darts the oche is the line from which players must throw. ... The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) became inevitable after Maria Theresa of Austria had succeeded her father Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor in his Habsburg dominions in 1740, namely becoming Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, and Duchess of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

His most important and extremely influential office was that of the chancellor of state and minister of foreign affairs, where he had Maria Theresa's full trust. Thanks in large part to him, Habsburg Austria entered a treaty with her old enemy France (and later Russia and Sweden) against Prussia to win back Silesia, which Austria lost to Prussia in 1748 as a consequence of the Congress of Aachen. Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress, Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia The worlds most famous coin, a silver thaler of Maria Theresa, dated 1780 Maria Theresa (German: ; May 13, 1717–November 29, 1780) was (reigning) Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. ... Motto: Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Political structure Duchy, Kingdom, Republic Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I  - 1688–1701 Frederick III King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I  - 1888–1918 William II Prime Minister1,2... Silesia (Czech: ; German: ; Latin: ; Polish: ; Silesian: Åšlónsk) is a historical region in central Europe. ...

He founded the Austrian Staatsrat ("Council of State") and worked towards the goal of subjecting the church to the state. He followed the thoughts of the Enlightenment and among his aims was also the better education of the commoners. ...

Although Joseph II generally shared such ideas, Kaunitz' influence grew less during Joseph's reign (1765–90), and even less when Joseph's brother Leopold II reigned; he resigned his office at the accession of Francis II. Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II Joseph II (Joseph Benedict August Johannes Anton Michel Adam) (March 13, 1741 – February 20, 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. ... Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. Leopold II (born Peter Leopold Joseph) (May 5, 1747 – March 1, 1792) was the penultimate Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792 and Grand Duke of Tuscany. ... Francis I in Austrian coronation regalia, 1832 Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (German language: Franz II, Heiliger Römischer Kaiser) also referred to as Franz I, Emperor of Austria (February 12, 1768 – March 2, 1835) was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until August 6, 1806, when the...

Notes

• Note regarding personal names: Graf is a title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name. The female form is Gräfin.
• Note regarding personal names: Fürst is a title, translated as Prince, not a first or middle name. The female form is Fürstin.