Johann Rudolf, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin

Johann Rudolf, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (; 18 May 174826 August 1824) was an Austrian finance minister and government president (Gubernialpräsident) in the Kingdom of Bohemia.

Early life

Johann Rudolf was born at Vienna, Habsburg monarchy, the only son of Johann Karl, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1704–1787) and Countess Anna Maria Kottulinsky of Kottulin and Krzizkowitz (1711–1798).

Career In 1770, he served in the Lower Austrian government, and in 1776 he was Councilor at the chancellery. In 1788, he allegedly resigned on account of his health, but in fact did so because of his poor relationship with the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II.

Under the reign of Joseph II's successor Leopold II, in 1790 he was appointed president of the newly-constituted Finanzhofstelle. In 1793 he was dismissed, but in 1802 was elevated to Minister of State and Supreme Burgrave of Bohemia. He particularly superintended road construction, and established factories with English looms and spinning machines. From 1805 to 1809 he was a member of the ministry conference after the Treaty of Schönbrunn, President of the normal political Hofkommission in legislative matters.

In 1808, he was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Personal life On 18 May 1772 in Vienna, Johann Rudolf married Countess Maria Sidonia of Clary and Aldringen (1748–1824), second daughter of Franz Wenzel, 1st Prince of Clary and Aldringen, and his wife, Countess Josepha of Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Together, they had eight children:

Count Johann Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1773–1824), who married Countess Maria Isabella of Rottenhan in 1779. Count Josef Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1776–1809), who married Princess Maria Sophie of Auersperg in 1802. Countess Louise Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1777–1864), who married Carl Joseph, 3rd Prince of Clary-Aldringen in 1802. Count Wenzel Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (d. 1807) Count Ferdinand Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1781–1836), Prince-Archbishop and Duke of Olmütz. Karl, Count Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1783–1868), who married Countess Marie Berchtold, Baroness of Ungarschitz in 1817. Countess Theresa Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (b. 1785) Count Heřman Chotek of Chotkow and Wognin (1786–1822), who married Countess Henrietta Brunswick of Korompa.

After his death in 1824, the family split into four main branches created by his surviving sons.

Ancestry