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Schwarzenberg, Felix, Fürst zu (Krumau, 1800-52, Vienna), became prominent in Austrian and German politics during the last four years of his life. A field-marshal during the revolutionary wars (see Revolutionen 1848-9), Schwarzenberg was appointed by General Windischgrätz to be Austrian chief minister in succession to Metternich. By his autocratic and reactionary policy he safeguarded the throne for Franz Joseph. He repealed liberal concessions granted under popular pressure and suppressed national claims for greater independence in Austria-Hungary. He restored the German Confederation (see Deutscher Bund) by putting pressure upon Prussia (see Olmützer Punktation).

(fā'lĭks fürst tsū shvär'tsənbĕrk) , 1800–1852, Austrian premier; nephew of Karl Philipp zu Schwarzenberg. A soldier and diplomat, he was named (Nov., 1848) premier at the urging of his brother-in-law, Prince Windischgrätz, who had crushed the revolutions of 1848 in Prague (June) and Vienna (October). Schwarzenberg persuaded Emperor Ferdinand to abdicate in favor of the young Francis Joseph and in 1849 suppressed the revolutionaries in Hungary with the aid of the Russians. At the Convention of Olmütz (1850), he humiliated Prussia by gaining recognition of a restored German Confederation under Austrian leadership.

Bibliography

See biography by A. Schwarzenberg (1946).