Dietrichstein, Franz, Prince of

Dietrichstein, Franz, prince of a Roman Catholic prelate of Germany, was born at Madrid, August 22, 1570. After studying philosophy at Prague and theology at Rome, he became successively canon of Olmiitz, camerarius of pope Clement VIII, and legate a latere at several marriage ceremonies of royal families. While president of the imperial council of state, he opposed the enforcement of the royal letters in Moravia, which were of a tolerant character; and after he had expelled Boeskay, a Hungarian rebel, he was himself driven away by the Moravian insurgents; but after Bohemia was pacified he brought back into the bosom of the Church of Rome the Protestants of Moravia, and instituted the order of the Piarists. Ferdinand II nominated him prince, in 1631, in return for the services which he had rendered both to the State and the Church. He died at Brtnn, in Moravia, September 19, 1636, leaving discourses on the saints, some statutes upon the reform of the clergy and the people, a treatise on controversy, and some poems, sacred and profane. His Life, written by Voigt, was published, with notes and a supplement, by Schwalbe (Leipsic, 1792). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.