Karl I, Prince of Liechtenstein

Karl I (30 July 1569 – 12 February 1627), was the first member of the Liechtenstein family to become a Monarch of Liechtenstein, thus he was the founder of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein.

Karl I
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign	20 December 1608 – 12 February 1627
Successor	Karl Eusebius
Born	(1569-07-30)30 July 1569
Died	12 February 1627(1627-02-12) (aged 57) Prague
Burial	Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Brno
Spouse	Baroness Anna Maria Šemberová of Boskovice and Černá Hora
House	Liechtenstein (Founder)
Father	Baron Hartmann II of Liechtenstein
Mother	Countess Anna Maria of Ortenburg
Religion	Roman Catholic (1599-1627) prev. Lutheran (1569-1599)

Karl was the elder son of Hartmann II, Baron of Liechtenstein (1544–1585) and his wife Countess Anna Maria of Ortenburg (1547–1601). Emperor Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire appointed Karl as chief intendant (Obersthofmeister), an important position at his court. Karl held this position until 1607. In a dispute over land between Rudolf II and the heir presumptive to the throne, Archduke Mathias, Karl sided with Mathias. Liechtenstein played a leading role as adviser and supporter of Matthias in the coup against Emperor Rudolf II.[1] Now Hungarian King Mathias made him a hereditary prince in 1608, in thanks for Karl's aid. In his politics and assertiveness as advisor to Mathias, he rivaled Melchior Khlesl, Bishop of Vienna, who ultimately prevailed over Liechtenstein and became the new minister-favourite of King and later Empereror Mathias.[1]^{: 275, 333}

In 1614, Karl added the Duchy of Troppau to his possessions. In thanks for further aid at the Battle of White Mountain, Karl was appointed to the positions of proconsul and vice-regent of Bohemia in 1622, and he was bestowed with the Order of the Golden Fleece.

He gained the Duchy of Troppau on 28 December 1613 and the Silesian Duchy of Jägerndorf on 15 March 1622, along with much confiscated "rebel property", and he commissioned the ducal hat of Liechtenstein.[2]

He became a Catholic in 1599. In 1605, Karl established the first branch north of the Alps of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, at Feldsberg in Lower Austria (now Valtice, Czech Republic).

He was the 352nd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria. He died in Prague.