Anselm Franz, 2nd Prince of Thurn and Taxis
| Anselm Franz | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Thurn and Taxis | |||||
 | |||||
| Prince of Thurn and Taxis | |||||
| Period | 21 February 1714 – 8 November 1739 | ||||
| Predecessor | Eugen Alexander Franz | ||||
| Successor | Alexander Ferdinand | ||||
| Born |
30 January 1681 (date of baptism) Brussels, Spanish Netherlands (place of baptism) | ||||
| Died |
8 November 1739 (aged 58) Brussels, Austrian Netherlands | ||||
| Spouse | Maria Ludovika Anna Franziska, Princess of Lobkowicz | ||||
| Issue |
Alexander Ferdinand, 3rd Prince of Thurn and Taxis Princess Maria Philippine Eleonore Maria Augusta, Duchess of Württemberg Prince Christian Adam Egon | ||||
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| House | Thurn and Taxis | ||||
| Father | Eugen Alexander Franz, 1st Prince of Thurn and Taxis | ||||
| Mother | Princess Anna Adelheid of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
Anselm Franz, Prince of Thurn and Taxis,[1] full German name: Anselm Franz Fürst von Thurn und Taxis[1] (30 January 1681, Brussels, Spanish Netherlands[1] – 8 November 1739, Brussels, Austrian Netherlands[1]) was the second Prince of Thurn and Taxis, Postmaster General of the Imperial Reichspost, and Head of the House of Thurn and Taxis from 21 February 1714 until his death on 8 November 1739.[1]
Early life
Anselm Franz was the eldest child and son of Eugen Alexander Franz, 1st Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Princess Anna Adelheid of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg.[1] The date of his birth is unknown, but Anselm Franz was baptised on 30 January 1681 at the Our Blessed Lady of Zavel Church in Brussels.
Postmaster General
Under his father, at the beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession the administration of the Imperial Reichspost was moved from Brussels to Frankfurt am Main. When his father died, Anselm Franz was appointed Postmaster General by Charles VI in 1715, and returned to the family's home in Brussels, but the city now had no significance for the Reichspost. He therefore moved back to Frankfurt am Main in 1724, where he bought a plot of land on which he later started construction of the Baroque Palais Thurn und Taxis in 1729. In 1725, he was able to lease the postal system of the Austrian Netherlands as a Habsburg fief. His move to Frankfurt was drawn out over several years, as the city council had some objections and in any case the construction of his palace took its time. From 1737 he lived in the still unfinished palace in Frankfurt, but then returned in 1739 to Brussels, where he died unexpectedly.
Marriages and family
Anselm Franz married Maria Ludovika Anna Franziska, Princess of Lobkowicz, daughter of Ferdinand August Leopold, Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Sagan and his wife Margravine Maria Anna Wilhelmine of Baden-Baden, on 10 January 1703.[1] Franz Anselm and Maria Ludovika had four children:[1]
- Alexander Ferdinand, 3rd Prince of Thurn and Taxis (1704–1773)[1]
- Princess Philippine Eleonore Maria of Thurn and Taxis (1705–1706)
- Princess Maria Augusta of Thurn and Taxis (1706–1756)[1]
- Prince Christian Adam Egon of Thurn and Taxis (1710–1745)
Titles, styles, honours and arms
| Styles of Anselm Franz, Prince of Thurn and Taxis | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | His Serene Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Serene Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
Titles and styles
- 1681–1695: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Count of Thurn and Taxis
- 1695 – 21 February 1714: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis
- 21 February 1714 – 8 November 1739: His Serene Highness The Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Honours
Ancestry
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References
Sources
- Wolfgang Behringer (1990) (in German), Thurn und Taxis, Die Geschichte ihrer Post und ihrer Unternehmen, München, Zürich: Piper, ISBN 3-492-03336-9
- Martin Dallmeier; Martha Schad (1996) (in German), Das Fürstliche Haus Thurn und Taxis, 300 Jahre Geschichte in Bildern, Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet, ISBN 3-7917-1492-9
- Europäische Stammtafeln Band V
| Anselm Franz, 2nd Prince of Thurn and Taxis Cadet branch of the House of Tassis Born: 1681 Died: 8 November 1739 | ||
| German nobility | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Eugen Alexander Franz |
Prince of Thurn and Taxis 21 February 1714 – 8 November 1739 |
Succeeded by Alexander Ferdinand |
| Postal offices | ||
| Preceded by Eugen Alexander Franz |
Postmaster General of the Holy Roman Empire 21 February 1714 – 8 November 1739 |
Succeeded by Alexander Ferdinand |