The Kinsky family of the Counts and later Princes Kinsky (formerly Wchinsky or Tynsky) are one of the oldest and most illustrious dynasties originating from Bohemia, now in the Czech Republic. The family is recorded in both the Almanach de Gotha and Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels . The first factual mention of the family is in 1237. The family were elevated to Counts in 1628 and to the rank of prince in 1747.

Kinsky Legend

According to romantic legend the Kinsky storey begins in Central Europe over 1000 years ago, when a beautiful King's daughter out hunting in the forest was attacked by a pack of wolves. Her attendants all fled the terrible scene except for one young man, he saved the princess by killing some wolves and driving the rest away. In gratitude the girl's father ennobled the young man, granting him a coat of arms featuring three wolves' teeth as an emblem of his bravery.

Kinsky Residences

Like many of the aristocratic families of the Austro-Hungarian Empire the Kinsky Family were great landowners, and patrons of the arts. They employed between 1713 and 1716 the celebrated architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt to build their residence the Palais Daun in Vienna, this remained in the family's ownership until 1987. In addition to this home, the family also owned the vast 18th century baroque Kinsky Palace in Prague. Another family home was Chocen Castle , a medieval Czechoslovakian fortress rebuilt in the gothic style in the 19th century. All of these homes were filled with priceless treasures and artefacts.

Kinsky Stud Farms

The Emperor of Austria commanded in 1723 the Kinsky family to develop their stud farms, and breed horses of such quality as to provide superior mounts for the officers of the elite cavalry regiments of the empire . In 1776 the quality of the Kinsky horses was further improved by bloodstock from England.

In 1838 Count Oktavian Kinsky expanded still further the Kinsky Studs, famous throughout Europe for the high quality of their horses. Now known throughout the world as the Kinsky horse.

It is for these, often gold coloured, horses that the family is chiefly remembered today, rather than their loyalty and valour towards the empire they served in many capacities for generations.

Members of the Kinsky Family

• Count Wilhelm Kinsky.
• Count Franz Ulrich Kinsky .
• Bertha von Suttner
• Count Oktavian Kinsky.
• Count Karel Andreas Kinsky

Kinsky Family Today

In 1948 the vast majority of the Kinsky, mid and Eastern European estates were seized by the USSR.

The Empire-style castle in Kostelec nad Orlici . which was built at the beginning of the 19th century for the Kinsky family, was confiscated by the communists, and became state property. However, today it has been returned to Frantisek Kinsky . He is restoring the house and its estate to hand on to his son, thus the history of this illustrious family will continue in the area, in which they have lived for so long.

Other branches of the family survive in Europe, and scattered around the world.