Leopold Josepha Maria von Daun

## Leopold Joseph Maria von Daun

Leopold Joseph Maria von Daun

Feldmarschall

(1746 - present)

Graf von Daun

(1705 - 1734)

### Spouse

Principessa di Teano, Maria Josepha Theresia von Fuchs vom Bimbach und Dornheim (b. 1711)

### Issues

Fräulein von Daun, Maria Theresia(b. 1745)

Graf von Daun, Franz Karl

(b. 1746)

### Religion

Roman Catholicism

**Principe Leopold Joseph Maria von Daun** (24th October 1705 - present) is an Austrian nobleman and the Principe di Teano. He is of Italian origin and the current head of the House of Daun as the ruler of the principality of Teano.

He married Maria Josepha Theresia von Fuchs vom Bimbach und Dornheim, a woman of Austrian origin. She bore him two children; first a daughter; Fräulein von Daun, Maria Theresia as well as a son and heir; Graf von Daun, Franz Karl. He named his daughter in honor of the Kaserin Maria Theresia.

Leopold Joseph Maria von Daun took upon the role of a Feldmarschall within the Austrian Imperial military. He is most known for his great love to his wife as well as his fairness and effeminate poise, as well as a sense of peacefulness revolved around him. He is said to be a devout Roman Catholic and a faithful husband as well as his loyalty to the Imperial family. The Principe di Teano is observed as often being odd and unusual with the Austrian Court as well, many observations of which his nature is abnormal.

## **Biography**

### **Birth**

Leopold Joseph Maria von Daun was born in the autumn of 1705 on the 24th October, he was honored and received the title of Graf von Daun upon his birth and declared the heir of the principality of Teano.

He also had a brother, notably married and had a child of his own who would be a male; Freiherr von Daun, Carl Joseph von Daun. However unfortunately his brother and his brother's wife both passed away into the adobe of heaven, leaving the young Carl Joseph into the custody of Leopold Joseph Maria - whom he considered his own son.

Leopold Joseph Maria had developed at a slower rate than other children, having walked late - spoken late as well as the fact that he couldn't perform many activities for children his age, in which he was observed as "an unnatural and slow" child. Speculations of which he may have had learning disabilities.

### **Early Life as Graf von Daun**

Being born the heir to the principality of Teano, alongside his younger brother. His parents were the Prince and Princess of Teano - his education and lifestyle was very much scheduled and consistently planned.

#### **Education**

Although sources speculated that Leopold Joseph Maria had learning disabilities which appeared as early as twelve months, he was said to be very well-educated and well-mannered. Having learnt what he desired over what was expected of an average nobleman of a state aristocracy, history and literature were said to be two subjects of which interested Leopold Joseph Maria from an early age.

His tutor's speculated that the Prince "hated what subjects he failed in and enjoyed what subjects he succeeded in." Despite this it is said that the Prince could speak several languages, although he had lost memory of them all - having only learnt German and Italian and his vocabulary advanced a lot slower than other nobles his age.

Leopold Joseph Maria was observed to have been poor in mathematics and disliked science, although held religion in high esteem and also questioned about religion rather often with his tutors. He made it rather clear what subjects he did and did not hold in his favor and neglected studying the subjects he failed in.

He had a strong interest in history however and was said to have had developed good knowledge in international affairs, having done so continued private study and research on the topics he desired exclusively; while also ignoring the advice of his tutors to study and research more on the topics he was failing at.

#### **Childhood**

As an infant, he was said to have expressed meaningless hand gestures which indicated abnormality and as a young child he often enjoyed reading and writing as well as the arts of literature. He enjoyed riding horseback and was often very hyperactive with several mood swings. He was observed as "A very cheerful yet unusual child with a pleasant nature and polite nonetheless but a strange child," he also didn't respond to gestures of which would be usual. Leopold Joseph Maria disliked loud sounds and therefore his family residence in Italy was beautiful yet quiet to fit the standards of the Graf von Daun.

Leopold Joseph Maria was described as a child in his own world, although an artistic and joyful individual he had enjoyed speaking of his interests rather excessively with other peers. His brother was a lot more interactive with other boys his age whereas Leopold was rather reserved and often enjoyed living in solitude, although enjoyed being accompanied at times and due to his status obtained his necessities. He failed at social interaction and was often very misunderstood, until he had learnt from peers around him how to communicate well with others, as it did not come to him naturally and struggled to make friends.

He was a physically healthy child, yet a small friendship group and his mother, the Princess consort of Teano often worried about him although due to protocol she rarely had the chance to visit Italy. There was one occasion where the Princess stayed with her son and he had been unusually attached to his mother, often crying when she did not give him any motherly attention. When the Princess finally departed Italy for Austrian court - the Graf von Daun taught himself how to write and engaged in exchanging letters with the Princess. Due to her influence on the Graf von Daun, often from afar visiting only a few times a year her tutors often sought refuge with his mother the Principessa di Teano as the Graf von Daun did not usually obey others.

Leopold Joseph Maria was admired by all who met him however, often he was there for friends a lot more lower in social standing than he was while others, not so much - friends of his father's employee's and so forth often befriended the Graf von Daun.

### **Court of Charles VI**

#### **Arrival at Austrian Court and birth of Maria Anna in 1718**

Leopold Joseph Maria arrived at the Austrian court at the Palace of Hofburg in 1718 as the Graf von Daun, his father was elderly when he had arrived and his brother. Him and his brother were rather close as with their mother, while his father misunderstood his behavioral abnormalities and his speech. His mother on the other hand was constantly with him, she rarely left his side at Court unless she had to leave and his father found his son and heir rather enjoyable and his presence rather admired, although court etiquette was something the Graf von Daun was not entirely aware of until later on within his early youth. He was rather reserved at court, although his modesty and silence was viewed as respect in the eyes of pious courtiers.

As the Graf von Daun, he received many attention his father was the Prince of Teano. He had met Francis I and Maria Theresa as well later on during the reign of Charles IV, although on rare occasions he had intermingled with the court as the Graf von Daun was not exactly involved at all within his father's state matters. He had felt sorry for the Kaserin Maria Christine due to the fact that she failed to produce a male heir, and did not understand the tension at Austrian court until understanding the social significance of a male heir. Tensions significantly rose in 1718 when Maria Anna was born, a female instead of a male. It is said that the Graf von Daun did not enjoy the tension at court as he often failed to express similar perspectives so therefore left Austrian Court with permission to Teano.

#### **Return to Austrian Court in 1720**

In 1720, the Graf von Daun returned to Austrian Court at the Hofburg, he had received personal tutoring by his father and spent those two years away from court continuing his education privately while the Prince and Princess of Teano stated that their son was away dealing with internal affairs of the principality.

#### **Marriage to Maria Josepha Theresia in 1721 and death of the Principissi di Teano**

In 1721, the Graf von Daun was arranged to marry Maria Josepha Theresia von Fuchs vom Bimbach und Dornheim, a noblewoman from the House of Fuchs vom Bimbach und Dornheim and daughter of the friend of his father. The couple did not know each other too well at all - having been mere acquaintances however the first few years of their relationship was on formal grounds, unfortunately due to Leopold Joseph Maria having social interaction issues it was difficult for him to understand marriage.

The marriage of the couple was consummated in 1744 upon the birth of their firstborn child and daughter and later a son. Maria Josepha Theresia was in her mid thirties when she had their first two children and after much distress during the first few years of his marriage with Josepha Theresia. When the Principissi di Teano died in 1726, Leopold's wife, Maria Josepha Theresia had comforted him and replaced what had been lost in his heart. According to several sources their marriage was reportedly happy yet childless for a long time.

### **Court of Maria Theresia & Francis I**

#### **Death of Charles IV in 1740 and succession of Maria Theresa & Francis I in 1745**

After much shame of bearing three daughters during the first few years of their marriage, Francis I and Maria Theresa had left the Austrian court to another residence, in the meantime the Pragmatic Sanction was created in 1713 in order to secure the throne for Maria Theresa. Shall Charles IV die childless and even though his father was one of the closest companions of Charles IV, Leopold was the last to know about it, having had a somewhat secluded life away from the affairs of the Imperial court.

Charles IV died at the age of 55 in 1740, he was originally succeeded by Charles VII who lay a claim to the Archduchy of Austria due to his marriage to Maria Amalia. However, after reigning for a few years he was succeeded by Maria Theresa and Francis I.

#### **Becoming Principie di Teano in 1746**

In the year 1746, the Principie had died and Leopold Joseph Maria had become the new Principie de Teano. His wife, Principessa di Teano the Maria Josepha Theresia had not yet bore an heir for the Principality of Teano causing tensions in Italy as well as the Empire itself.

However, the Austrian court could not figure out the issue as to why the couple did not bear children earlier in their marriage. Many sources proclaimed that Maria Josepha Theresia had fertility issues, while there is no solid evidence for this there does not seem to much of another understanding behind it. Leopold Joseph Maria himself was very close to his wife and she was very kind to him in exchange.

Upon becoming the Principie di Teano, many at court congratulated him but also conveyed their condolences which contradicted his feelings rather well. Leopold Joseph Maria himself was not close to his father at all, barely having any form of sadness expressed in his emotions and was observed as "oddly joyful," leading to some speculations that Leopold was behind his father's death.

#### **As the Principie di Teano and succeeding his father's role as Feldmarschall in 1746 and securing the reign of the House of Daun**

Later in 1746, the Principie di Teano had succeeded his father's post officially as a Feldmarschall of the Austrian Imperial military. Leopold himself was encouraged by his wife, Maria Josephia Theresia to ensure that the position is inherited throughout the family as with all other aristocratic families within the Empire.

In exchange, Maria Theresa and Francis I had received the personal friendship of Leopold in his own way, at this point the stability of their marriage was no longer in question as Maria Josepha Theresia had given birth to a daughter Maria Theresia named after Empress Maria Theresa which was announced at the Austrian Imperial court upon the birth of his daughter which was in 1745, alongside a son in 1746 which had secured the line of succession for the House of Daun within the Principality of Teano upon bearing a male heir.

## **Issue**

#### **Sons**

* **Graf von Daun**, Franz Karl (b. 1746 - present)

#### **Daughters**

* **Fräulein von Daun**, Maria Theresia (b. 1745 - present)

## **Titles & Styles**

#### **Titles**

* Principe di Teano (1746 - present)
* Feldmarschall (1746 - present)

#### **Styles**

* **Principe di Teano**, Leopold Joseph Maria