!!!Esterházy, Nikolaus I. Joseph Fürst

b. Vienna, Dec. 18, 1714, 
d. Vienna, Sept. 28, 1790, field marshal, grand-son of Prince 
Paul I  Esterházy, brother of Prince Paul II Anton  
Esterházy and grandfather of Prince Nikolaus II  
Esterházy. In 1762 succeeded as head of the  Esterházy 
family after the death of his brother. Studied in Vienna and Leiden. 
Like his brother Paul II Anton made an important contribution to 
the  War of the Austrian Succession (was major general in 1747) and in 
the  Seven Years´ War (leader of a regiment from 1753) was 
regarded as a hero because of his bravery at the battle of  Kolin, for 
which he was awarded the  Order of Maria Theresia. Lieutenant 
field-marshal in 1759. In 1763 he began to extend Esterháza 
Palace on the southern shore of lake Neusiedl with the aim of creating 
an "Hungarian Versailles". In 1764 made captain of the Hungarian 
bodyguard and plenipotentiary at the coronation of Emperor  
Joseph II. In 1776 made J.  Haydn first kapellmeister of his 
court orchestra; he acquired the nickname "lover of grandeur" on 
account of his patronage and love of the arts, and especially after 
completion of the extensions to Esterháza Palace in 1768. His 
court and entourage became known as the "Esterházy Fairy 
Kingdom". In 1782 the title of Prince was accorded to all his 
descendants.

!Literature
M. Horanyi, Das Esterházysche Feenreich, 1959; J. 
Haydn in seiner Zeit, exhibition catalogue, Eisenstadt 1982; Bollwerk 
Forchtenstein, exhibition catalogue, Forchtenstein 1993; Die Fuersten 
Esterházy, exhibition catalogue, Eisenstadt 1995.



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