Balthasar von Thannhausen

Last updated
Balthasar von Thannhausen
Graf von Thannhausen
Balthasar von Thonhausen.jpg
Engraved portrait inscribed “Balthasar Graff von Thanhausen”
Born(unknown, late 16th century)
Diedc. 1645 (before 1646 estate settlement)
Noble family Thannhausen
Spouse Ursula Gräfin von Harrach

Balthasar von Thannhausen (also styled Graf Balthasar von Thannhausen or Balthasar Thanhauser) was a nobleman and senior official in the Habsburg monarchy during the early 17th century. He served as *Hauptmann* (provincial captain) in Gorizia from 1606 to 1609, where he was involved in judicial reforms. Thannhausen maintained prolonged correspondence with key members of the imperial family, including Emperor Ferdinand II, Empress Eleonore, and various Habsburg archduchesses. He married Ursula Gräfin von Harrach, a member of the prominent Harrach family, whose archives preserve extensive documentation of his noble rank, estate, and political involvement.

Contents

Life and career

Early service and judicial reform in Görz (1606–1609)

Between 1606 and 1609, Balthasar von Thannhausen was commissioned to reform the judicial system in the County of Görz, present-day Gorizia in northeastern Italy. In archival documents titled Verhandlungsakten betreffend die dem Hauptmann Georg Balthasar von Thannhausen übertragene Reform des Justizwesens in Görz, he is designated *Hauptmann* and tasked with restructuring or overseeing the administration of justice under Habsburg rule. [1] This role illustrates his administrative competence and the confidence placed in him by the archducal authorities.

Imperial and court correspondence (1610–1630s)

Following his service in Görz, Thannhausen remained active within Habsburg political and courtly circles.

He maintained extensive correspondence with Emperor Ferdinand II from 1610 to 1636, reflecting sustained trust and influence. [2]

From 1625 to 1631, he and his wife Ursula corresponded with Empress Eleonore Gonzaga, underscoring their standing at court. [3]

In 1610, he corresponded with Archduchess Maria Christina, reinforcing his integration into Habsburg dynastic networks. [4]

In 1635, he is recorded corresponding with Archduchess Maria Magdalena, sister of Emperor Ferdinand II. [5]

These exchanges attest to his enduring political relevance within the inner circle of Habsburg governance.

Noble status and title

Earlier documents refer to Thannhausen as *Freiherr* (Baron), but later sources from the Harrach family archives designate him as *Graf* (Count):

A genealogical chart, Stammbaum auf 16 Ahnen, names him **Graf Balthasar von Thannhausen**. [6]

A collection titled Thannhausen, Freiherr Balthasar und Konrad, Gräfin Ursula, Graf Johann Anton, Johannes Josef Ignaz, Biographica und Finanzielles (1574–1687) affirms the comital status of the family. [7]

Contemporary correspondence from 1625 to 1631 already refers to him as *Graf Balthasar*. [8]

His 1646 estate settlement document refers to him as *Count*, confirming the title at the time of his death. [9]

These documents confirm Thannhausen's recognition as a Count by the mid-17th century.

Marriage, widowhood, and estate settlement

Balthasar married Ursula Gräfin von Harrach, linking him to one of the most influential aristocratic houses in Austria. Their correspondence and co-appearance in estate and family records highlight their shared participation in imperial court life.

After Balthasar's death—likely shortly before 1646—Ursula appears in the 1646 *Vergleich* (settlement) as his widow, legally resolving the inheritance and reaffirming his comital status. [10]

Legacy and genealogy

Among his descendants are Johann Anton von Thannhausen and Johannes Josef Ignaz von Thannhausen, both recorded in the Harrach family's biographical and financial records from 1574 to 1687. [11]

Balthasar von Thannhausen's life reflects the ascent of the Thanhauser-Thannhausen Family from regional Bavarian nobility to the highest levels of Habsburg administration and court society. His career exemplifies how provincial governance, dynastic marriage, and imperial favor facilitated noble elevation in early modern Central Europe.

References

  1. ↑ Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, HHStA LA ÖA Görz, Gradisca, Friaul 1-2-63 (1606–1609). Link
  2. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.14, “Thannhausen, Freiherr (Graf) Balthasar … Korrespondenz mit Kaiser Ferdinand II.” Link
  3. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.15, “Thannhausen, Graf Balthasar und Gräfin Ursula … Korrespondenz mit Kaiserin Eleonore” Link
  4. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.16, “Thannhausen, Freiherr Balthasar, Korrespondenz mit Erzherzogin Maria Christine” Link
  5. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.16a, “Thannhausen, Freiherr Balthasar, Korrespondenz mit Erzherzogin Maria Magdalena” Link
  6. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach R 87, “Graf Balthasar Thannhausen, Stammbaum auf 16 Ahnen, auf Pergament in Farben” (18th century). Link
  7. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.18. Link
  8. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.15 (see above)
  9. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.19, “Thannhausen, Vergleich Balthasar und Ursula, Witwe” (1646). Link
  10. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.19 (see above)
  11. ↑ ÖStA, Harrach Fam. in spec 845.18 (see above)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.