Ulrich of Hardegg

Ulrich of Hardegg ( or or ; after 1483 – 1535) was an Austrian nobleman from the Prüschenk family of Count of Hardegg. He was "Cup-bearer" of Austria, which, by this time, was a title of nobility and no longer involved looking after the arch-duke's wine cellar. He was also steward in Styria. Origin and family Ulrich's father, Count Henry of Hardegg (formerly: Henry Prüschenk, Baron zu Stettenberg; ; died: 1513) served in the imperial army, and was temporarily Imperial Captain in Italy. Since 1495, he held the title of Count of Hardegg, and in 1499 he was elevated to the imperial count as Count Hardegg and in the Marches. Ulrich's mother was Elizabeth (b. 1466), a daughter of the Bohemian noble and Governor of Silesia John II of Rosenberg. Ulrich had two brothers: Julius I (d. 1557) and John (d. 1539?). In 1515 Ulrich married Sidonie, the youngest daughter of Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels and granddaughter of King George of Poděbrady of Bohemia. Life In 1501 Ulrich bought for the County of Glatz from his future brothers-in-law Albert I, George I and Charles I which at the time was an immediate fief of Bohemia. It had been raised to county status by George of Poděbrady, with the intention that it would serve as a territory for his descendants. George's son Henry the Elder had lived on Glatz Castle as the first Count of Glatz. At his death, however, he left huge debts to his sons and they saw themselves forced to sell the county to Ulrich.