Boris von Delanoringen

### Residence(s)

* Delanoringen Palais, Vienna, Austria-Hungary (Primary and Ancestral Residence)
* Delanoringen Lodge, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire

### Title(s)

* Erbherzog von Delanoringen (Primary Title; Until his death 1898)

## Family information

### Immediate

* Marcella Delanoringen (wife)
* Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen (son)
* Walter Francis von Delanoringen (son)
* Edward von Delanoringen (father)
* Caroline von Delanoringen (mother) †
* Karl von Delanoringen (brother)

### Extended

* Marie Josephine von Delanoringen (daughter-in-law)
* Roger William von Delanoringen (grandson)
* Hamilton Lee von Delanoringen (grandson)
* Justin Henry von Delanoringen (grandson)
* Ava Elisabeth von Delanoringen (granddaughter)
* Frank von Delanoringen (grandson)
* Rosaline Clara von Delanoringen (niece)

## Affiliation

### Loyalty

* House of Delanoringen

**Boris Edward Leopold von Delanoringen** (b. 17 August 1848 - 15 October 1898) was an Austrian businessman, banker, financer, yachtsman, politician, racehorse owner/breeder, and member of the prominent Delanoringen family, a noble, political, and banking family with roots in Tyrol. He was the eldest son of Edward von Delanoringen and his wife Caroline von Delanoringen. Born into the aristocratic House of Delanoringen, Boris was tailored to be the successor to his elderly father Edward von Delanoringen and he developed a firm, decisive, and assertive personality. However, he is best known for greatly expanding the Delanoringen family businesses and banks through his exceptional abilities alone, advancing his family's already wealthy fortune through pure skill and effort alone.

Brought into this world from the Delanoringen Palais, in Vienna, Austrian Empire. Boris was seemingly firm, exceptional, and aggressive starting immediately from birth, and was recognized by his parents to be immensely self-sufficient and intelligent. Boris received an excellent education consisting of literature, mathematics, science, geography, languages, (primarily English, French, and Russian) and history at the Theresianum in Vienna, he later attended the University of Vienna and majored in Business and Finance, helping him develop skills that would assist him in expanding the Delanoringen business empire solely. After graduating in 1869 with honours at the University of Vienna he took some time off to undertake a grand tour of Europe; not only for recreation alone, but also to record and document business strategies and methods used by other European nations such as England and the Second French Empire. He also served briefly as an Austrian attaché to the Russian Empire to restore diplomatic relations after the horrifying war in Crimea and the recent Russo-Turkish War of 1877 where he became fully fluent in Russian and was able to form connections in Russian High Society. During his tenure as an attaché in the Russian Empire he became a favoured figure at the Russian Court at Saint Petersburg and was gifted a medallion from the Imperial Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky for his efforts in restoring relations by the Tsar Alexander II. Upon his return to Austria-Hungary, he continued to expand his numerous businesses, banks, and industries owned by the House of Delanoringen using his personal observations from his grand tours of Europe, and advice from marketing professionals that he met during his tour; resulted in his business empire opening to many markets across Europe, and after the destructive 1873 Market Crash was over, his fortune advanced to its greatest extent since 1860, due to Boris's expertise in risk management allowing Boris and his family to live a greater lavish lifestyle than the usual luxurious lifestyle they already were accustomed to. In his free time, he also became a renowned yachtsman owning multiple luxury ships in Croatia, Dalmatia, and Littoral.

During a visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1869-1870, he met Marcella van der Bijlandt; an Anglo-Dutch heiress from the House van der Bijlandt. Boris fell in love with her instantly and courted her throughout the year formally and decisively with Marcella reciprocating his feelings. He bought expensive gifts for Marcella, took her to renowned restaurants, and even invited her to join him on his yacht trips through the Mediterranean. Boris asked permission from Marcella's uncle to marry her, and he kind-heartedly accepted. He proposed to her in December 1870, where Marcella joyfully accepted. The two got married the following year at Boris's ancestral estate the Delanoringen Palais, Vienna, Austria-Hungary, with many members of Austrian High Society attending the marriage including Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth being in attendance. Marcella and Boris had a lovely relationship and their close smitten bond produced two sons, the first son being Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen who was born in December 1872. The birth was rejoiced largely by the Delanoringen family as the heir to the family and the various assets owned by the Delanoringen family. Two years later, another son named Walter Francis von Delanoringen was born in August 1874, his birth was also largely rejoiced as another heir to the family. Boris attempted to navigate his work-family life with decent success, even though it was (at times) not usually balanced. Despite his love and affection for his wife, he had an extremely complicated relationship with his children (especially Nicholas). He was usually harsh, brutal, or straight right abusive to his eldest son and never disciplined his younger son Walter Francis von Delanoringen the same way. Even though his intentions were to secure the family's future in his methods, his behaviour was still seen as unacceptable by his wife and his own father Edward von Delanoringen. Nevertheless, Boris continued to share a close relationship with his wife, and he continued to invest himself in his business empire, investing in railroads, infrastructure, shipping, steel, and various other industries. His various investments advanced the Delanoringen fortune to its greatest extent since 1860. Initially, Boris disapproved of his eldest son's courtship of the renowned French dancer and actress Marie Josephine Dubois, whom he saw as a "waste of time, resources, and money". However, wanting his son to be happy despite his previous anger, he spent most of the year of 1891 getting the Austrian nobility (who would not accept a morganatic marriage) to quickly agree to the prospect of a marriage between them through negotiations, bribes, and lobbying and utilizing the status of Marie's mother Juliette Elise Dubois noble heritage to make his argument. The Austrian nobility agreed after his constant endeavours, and his son Nicholas got married to Marie Josephine Dubois in 1891 at Schloss Delanoringen in Graz, Austria-Hungary. The marriage between them produced four children and resulted in Boris and his wife becoming grandparents. He especially rejoiced at the birth of Roger William von Delanoringen a son and the heir apparent after Nicholas. Contrastingly, Boris treated his grandchildren better than his own children and rejoiced at the birth of two more grandsons and finally a granddaughter in the following years reflecting a chance in his attitude as he aged.

Boris was shockingly assassinated in Prague, Austria-Hungary on 8 October 1898, by an Italian anarchist while attending a lavish ball in the city. The anarchist shot him three times with the final shot piercing through his chest and proving fatal. Boris died in his estate in Prague seven days later on 15 October 1898 in the presence of his wife Marcella van der Bijlandt, and their sons Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen and Walter Francis von Delanoringen. His death made headlines in Austria-Hungary and various other European countries and caused the Delanoringen family to go into a deep mourning period. Marcella, especially, mourned deeply for the demise of her loving husband who had brought her so much joy and happiness in her life. However, Marcella was comforted largely from the prospect of his death by her sons Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen and Walter Francis von Delanoringen who helped her out of mourning.

## Biography

### **Early Life**

#### **Birth**

Boris Edward Leopold von Delanoringen, was the firstborn son of Edward von Delanoringen and his wife Caroline von Delanoringen and was born on 17 August 1848 in the Delanoringen Palais, the ancestral baroque estate and residence of the Delanoringen family, located on the outskirts of Vienna, of the Austrian Empire. He was born a member of the Delanoringen family, a prominent family of nobles, politicians, and bankers with its origins in the Tyrol region of Austria. His father and his mother rejoiced at his birth, as he secured the direct succession of the Delanoringen family and he was baptised into the Catholic faith a few days after his birth at St. Stephen's Cathedral. However, his birth corresponded with the destructive Revolutions of 1848, a series of uprising, revolts, and revolutions that swarmed throughout Europe and particularly challenge the authority of the conservative Austrian Empire. The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also called the "Hungarian Revolt" in Vienna was especially devastating to the Delanoringen family, and the Habsburg monarchy with high casualties for the Habsburgs. Edward sent his son and his wife to one of his numerous luxurious estates located in Prague until the revolution was suppressed, while he served as a distinguished military commander during the Revolt, particularly at the destructive battles of Schwechat, Vác, and Káty earning him applause from the newly christened Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Boris and his mother Caroline returned to the Delanoringen Palais in early 1850 after the Revolt was suppressed by the Habsburgs and the Russians with then reuniting with Boris's father. Edward: his father boasted to many of his servants or foreign visitors that his eldest son Boris never cried, and was a self-sufficient, sharp, individual with a keen mind at exploring new ideas and perspectives. Nevertheless, he was raised in a conservative household and was raised in his first few years by a nanny which Boris later gifted a mansion in Vienna as gratitude for her service. As an infant, and a young pupil he was told stories about Greek mythology by his parents and nanny which fascinated him.

Boris grew up at the Delanoringen Palais on the outskirts of Vienna. He was noted to be a bright and brilliant child, while also being contrastingly stern, decisive, and assertive in his personality. He displayed an interest in history and politics and was naturally gifted in geography being able to name all the states and coat of arms of the incumbent members of the German Confederation by the age of four through pure skill and discipline alone. He also showed interest in science, biology, alchemy, and literature. Boris was also a curious and courageous child, and often asked his servants and father Edward many questions about the world ranging from mechanical devices to the natural world. He also liked to explore the outskirts of the estate and the various forests surrounding it, (with his father Edward) and record the various things that he saw in a small notebook. He also liked playing with his Italian Greyhound nicknamed "Grau" due to the grey colour of its fur. He was known to be kind, but also assertive and curious to foreign visitors, visiting the Delanoringen Palais. Boris was described by contemporaries as "Bright, bold, lives up to the reputation of the Delanoringens...", which his father Edward and his mother Caroline took pride in. He began learning German and French at age five, becoming quickly fluent in his native German and intermediate in French. Boris was also particularly interested in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea, often remembering a faint childhood memory of watching naval ships depart Dalmatia while on a trip with his father. He was also interested in horses, often seeing his father Edward and his mother Caroline returning to the Delanoringen Palais on horse, an interest that he would develop fully into adulthood. Boris was named after one of Edward's friends who was of Russian descent, and passed away in 1848; the year of his birth.

#### **Early Childhood & Education**

Unlike most children of his time and social class, Boris was not raised by a governess but instead by his parents at the Delanoringen Palais. His parents, Edward von Delanoringen and Caroline von Delanoringen wanted him to grow up to be close to them rather than distant to them, which is why they chose not to hire a governess. However, this also sadly meant that Boris had to endure his father Edward's angry temper and physical abuse, as Edward often punished or coldly treated his eldest son, for the most minor of actions. Nevertheless, Boris continued his various early studies under the guidance of various tutors, and mentors. He continued to advance his studies in geography, science, mathematics, literature, and languages. Boris became particularly interested in the history and politics of Austria and the vast ancient lineage of his family. In addition to his academia education, Boris indirectly received a cultural education through his various travels across Europe with his mother and father where he was exposed to different cultures, cuisines, and languages. In early 1852, he went on a grand trip of Europe with his parents, visiting England, France, and various states of the German Confederation such as Prussia, Saxony, and Bavaria. Ever since his original trip of Europe, Boris developed an admiration and affinity for travel, and this would remain with him as he matured. Upon returning to the Delanoringen Palais in Vienna later that year, his mother Caroline gave birth to a daughter named Sophie von Delanoringen. One more son was added to the family, namely his younger brother Karl von Delanoringen. As the eldest son in his family, Boris was often responsible for his younger siblings, and he often unknowingly took the blame for their actions, especially for his sister and his brother.

In late 1855, Boris was taught how to ride a horse, as an unwritten requirement for being a part of the Austrian nobility. He was taught by his parents Edward von Delanoringen and Caroline von Delanoringen who wanted him to learn as quickly as possible. His horse was a black stallion with a white star on its forehead and a long mane and tail. The horse was a gift from Boris's father, Edward who bought it from a breeder of Spanish horses in Andalusia. Boris quickly learned by December 1855, and often rode his horse throughout the Delanoringen Palais and the countryside of the vast Austrian Empire. He also developed an admiration for horses and often ordered the Delanoringen Palais servants to take care of his horse with proper sanitary, food, and water. Riding horses was one of Boris's favourite hobbies and passions, and be quickly became a skilled, confident, and professional rider by the end of the 1850s. His siblings also learned how to ride horses around this time, but Boris learnt the quickest than his siblings. In one particular incident in 1859, when Boris was eleven years old: he and his horse trainer rode throughout the Austrian countryside, following the Danube into Belgrade before accidentally entering Ottoman occupied Serbia, if Boris was arrested for crossing the border into Ottoman occupied Serbia it would have caused an international incident between Austria and the Ottoman Empire. Luckily, however, Boris was able to depart the Ottoman occupied parts of Serbia unharmed and was able to ride back to Vienna. After the accidental travel to Serbia, he noted the underdeveloped and agricultural conditions of Belgrade and the Italian countryside.

### Adolescence

#### **Secondary Education**

Boris von Delanoringen attended the prestigious Theresianum from 1859 to 1866, by request from his father Edward. The school was originally founded in 1746 by the famous Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, who founded the school to prepare talented young men for civil and political service. The school offered a high-quality education for Boris, and he excelled in various subjects, such as languages, (mostly French, English, Russian, Greek and Latin), history, mathematics, science, philosophy, religion, literature, and most importantly business and economics which proved extremely beneficial during his lifetime. He learned how to manage finances, trade stocks, negotiate contracts, analyse markets, and invest and speculate wisely. He also learned about politics and history, such as diplomacy, law, ethics, and quickly adapted to the strict Austrian etiquette. He developed a sharp sense of observation and critical thinking, as well as a strong work ethic, ambition, and learned how to utilize his natural assertiveness. Boris was a reserved student, however, but he also impressed his teachers and his contemporaries with high achievements and grades in nearly all of his vast array of subjects. He had some memorable events and experiences during his time at the Theresianum, and a circle of friends. For instance, he participated in various extracurricular activities to boost his standing such as sports, music, art, and clubs. He excelled at chess, being considered an above-average player and participated in chess tournaments. He also went on various field trips throughout Austria, and cultural visits to museums, theatres, and opera throughout the Austrian Empire and joined the debate team. He also met some influential people during his time at the Theresianum, such as politicians, scholars, artists and nobles and identified with his contemporaries as a conservative.

After graduating from the prestigious Theresianum in 1866 with honours, Boris von Delanoringen enrolled immediately into the University of Vienna, where he majored in business and economics and studied finances. He wanted to advance his family's fortune and standing in High Society by acquiring the latest knowledge, and skills in business. However, he soon found the lectures at the University boring, unorganised, strict, and the professors snobby and self-centred. The rapid outbreak of the Austro-Prussian War in the summer of that year, also greatly affected his studies. Boris was particularly criticised for not joining the Austrian Army during the outbreak of the short but destructive Austro-Prussian War, which affected the reputation of his family which only rose to prominence via military service to the House of Habsburg. Nevertheless, Boris continued his studies at the University where he preferred to learn visually rather than academically, and instead decided that the best course of action to advance his education was to prepare for a grand trip of Europe in July 1866, concurrent with the end of the Austro-Prussian War where he hoped to meet with business and economic figures, scholars, and intellectuals throughout the continent and possibly even beyond. Also, around this time, he proposed to an acquittance named Elisabeth von Ludenhof, a young Austrian noblewoman who was two years his junior who belonged to one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the Austrian Empire that had a lineage going further back than the Delanoringens. However, Elisabeth rejected his proposal as she largely did not share his interests or ambitions regarding finance, and she had already accepted another wealthy suitor. Boris was largely disappointed and struck by the rejection, but he did not let it deter him from pursuing his goals and advancing his various businesses under his family. He instead used it as motivation to continue to make the best of himself and advance his family's high standing in High Society. Boris prepared for his trip in Autumn 1866, where he was financially supported by his father Edward von Delanoringen (although not without criticism) who wanted the best for his young son. The youthful Boris was interested in travelling to England and the Second French Empire which were countries renowned for their financial and economic status. However, he was also pressured by his family (particularly his father) to find a wealthy heiress to temporarily solve the financial problems for his family that particularly arose after the disruptive Austro-Prussian War. Boris did not give into the pressure from his parents, and instead worked to advance himself, and his various family businesses in general, instead of listening to just one single objective. He also had to cope with ridicule from his contemporary nobles in the Austrian Empire, who ridiculed/insulted him for his family's lack of wealth, and his refusal to serve during the Austro-Prussian War. Boris, however, mostly ignored their ridicule and instead focused on himself and his own personal endeavours rather than his contemporary ridicule.

#### **Early Travels**

After many months of planning, and various preparations Boris von Delanoringen finally decided to embark on his grand tour of the continent in 1866. His first object was to advance his personal knowledge and wisdom in business, economics, finance, and banking further using visual methods rather than academic methods. His second method was to generally see the beauty of the continent, and the various landmarks, infrastructure, landscapes, and other noteworthy places. His first stop was in the city of lights; Paris, in the Second French Empire. During his tenure at Paris, he visited many landmarks, studied the newly built infrastructure, roads, gardens, sewer systems, and other architectural designs implemented on the orders of Emperor Napoleon III with Boris particularly recording various architectural styles and methods in his private journal of the "Napoleon III Style". Boris also enjoyed fine dining in many lavish and luxurious restaurants, and enjoyed opera, theatre, and symphonies in the city. He also completed his goal of advancing his knowledge in business, economics, and finance by meeting with many scholars, tutors, and professors who gave him advice, tips, tricks, and general wisdom. They were impressed by Boris's mature personality in tempt of his young age. Boris left France in early spring and visited London, England continuing his pursuit in meeting various scholars and renowned intellectuals of the time, he also visited many landmarks in England and attended lavish balls that were being hosted in the city. He partook in additional trips to Scotland, Wales, and Ireland with him enjoying the simple countryside. Departing in the early months of summer, through Calais in France he then proceeded to visit Brussels, Belgium seeing the various landmarks, museums, (particularly art and history museums), enjoyed fine dining, and continued to meet with business professors and intellectuals and took advantage of the many public libraries located in the city. Leaving Belgium, he then proceeded to visit The Hague, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam in the Netherlands advancing his objectives. He particularly enjoyed the art produced during the tenure of the Dutch Golden Age through the Baroque age and marvelled at the respective works of Rembrandt van Rijn, Anthony van Dyke, and Peter Paul Ruebens. He took a train to Bremen, and then to Hanover in the German Confederation, enjoying the busy port city of Bremen and savouring the rural architectural style in Hanover. Continuing, he visited Berlin before taking a train to the Swiss Republic where he visited Bern, Zürich, Basel, and finally Geneva enjoying the Swiss architecture, and simple traditionalist life many Swiss citizens lived. Going on a train during his pursuits, he stopped at Milan and viewing the lavish fashion, markets, and marvelled at the Italian architecture and renaissance paintings in the newly formed Kingdom of Italy. He also visited Florence, Rome and finally visiting Venice before returning to his native Austria, returning in Viennaby Autumn. After a few days of staying in Vienna, he visited Budapest in Hungary, and then Belgrade in Serbia enjoying the cultures there respectively. Finally in the waning days of September, Boris completed his trip with his visit to Bucharest, and Sofia before finally returning to the Delanoringen Palais where he was greeted warmly by his mother and siblings.

Throughout his trip, Boris learned a lot. He advanced his knowledge, wisdom, and intuition in business, finance, economics, stocks, marketing, and funding learning tips and tricks from various intellectuals of the time he impressed through his formal etiquette and his tough, stern, demeanour. With the advice of French bankers, and financers he invested heavily into the Suez Canal Company with his familial wealth, buying many shares. However, Boris's investments were temporarily disrupted by the Austro-Prussian War which particularly devastated the Austrian Empire's economy. Using advice from some of his finance ministers, he diversified his portfolio by buying multiple shares in mining, railroads, shipping, and commerce, and also continued to innovate and advance his family's holdings into multiple markets throughout Europe, he also ensured that he had a risk management strategy in case his investments failed. He especially did away with competition by buying shares or stocks in multiple smaller companies to the point that he acquired them under his small business empire. In late 1867 and early 1868 he invested heavily into shipping and railroads viewing it as a booming industry, he also expanded his familial bank through his agents across Europe, using his skills in marketing to favourable advertise his family's bank.

## Issue

Boris and his wife Marcella van der Bijlandt, were married in 1871. They had two sons:

* Nicholas Augustus von Delanoringen (7 December 1872 - Present), Herzog von Delanoringen, married Marie Josephine von Delanoringen, had issue.
* Walter Francis von Delanoringen (22 August 1874 - Present), married Isabella von Delanoringen, had issue.