Ludovico, Count di Belgiojoso facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ludovico Count of Belgiojoso Ludwig Karl Maria Graf von Belgiojoso
Ludovico Luigi Carlo Maria di Barbiano di Belgiojoso
Authorized minister in the Austrian Netherlands (plenipotentiary of the Austrian Netherlands)
In office 1783–1787
Preceded by	Georg Adam, Prince of Starhemberg
Succeeded by	Joseph, Count Murray (ad interim)
Personal details
Born	2 January 1728
Died	15 May 1801

Ludovico Luigi Carlo Maria di Barbiano di Belgiojoso (born January 2, 1728 – died May 15, 1801) was an important Austrian diplomat and military leader. He served the Habsburg monarchy, a powerful European royal family, during the second half of the 1700s. He was also a Lieutenant Field Marshal, which is a high military rank.

Life of Ludovico Belgiojoso

Early Life and Family Background

Ludovico di Belgiojoso was born in a town called Belgioioso in Italy. He was the second son of Count Don Antonio Barbiano di Belgioioso and Barbara Luigia Elisabetta D'Adda. The Belgiojoso family had lived in the medieval castle of Belgioioso for many centuries. At that time, Belgioioso was part of the Duchy of Milan, which was itself part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Ludovico's father, Count Antonio, had a long career serving the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa. He was an Imperial ambassador and later a personal advisor. In 1763, he received a special honor, becoming a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1769, his father was given an even higher title: 'Prince of the Empire and of Belgioioso'. This important title even allowed him to make his own coins!

When Ludovico was just seven years old in 1735, he became a Knight of Malta. This was a religious and military order.

A Career in Diplomacy

Following in his father's footsteps, Ludovico began a successful career serving the Emperor. First, he became an Imperial Chamberlain, which was an important position in the royal court. In 1757, he was made a captain in the Imperial army.

From 1764 to 1769, Ludovico served as the Habsburg ambassador to Sweden. Empress Maria Theresia was very happy with his work. Because of this, in 1769, she gave him the important job of the Emperor's special envoy and representative in London, at the Court of St James's.

In the years that followed, he also traveled with Maria Theresia's son, Joseph, to different European courts and cities. On May 3, 1781, Belgiojoso became a Fellow of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists in London. He stayed in London until 1782.

Count Belgiojoso was promoted to 'Lieutenant Field Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire' on April 26, 1783. This was a very high military rank.

Serving in Brussels

On May 9, 1783, Emperor Joseph II appointed Ludovico as the 'authorised minister' (or plenipotentiary) in the Austrian Netherlands. This meant he was the Emperor's main representative there. He was sent to Brussels to take over from Georg Adam, Prince of Starhemberg.

Belgiojoso arrived in Brussels on June 3, 1783, and started his new job a few days later. He remained in this important role for four years, until 1787. During this time, Emperor Joseph II tried to introduce many changes, especially in education. These changes caused a lot of problems and resistance from the local people.

When Joseph II changed the government structure and removed some local councils, it led to widespread protests in Brussels. This event was known as the "Small Revolution" in May 1787. The government in Brussels tried to calm things down by stopping the new rules that had caused the trouble.

However, Emperor Joseph II was very angry about this. On June 24, 1787, he ordered Count Belgiojoso and the governor-general to return to Vienna. They left Brussels in mid-July. They were temporarily replaced by Joseph Count Murray de Melgum.

A group from the local government traveled to Vienna to meet the Emperor. Even though Joseph felt a bit better about this, the problems were not solved. Count Murray later tried to calm tensions by suspending the new rules again. As a result, he was also removed from his post. The Emperor then appointed Ferdinand von Trauttmansdorff as the new 'authorised minister'.

Later Life

After his political career ended, Count Belgiojoso returned to Milan. Between 1790 and 1796, he worked with an architect named Leopold Pollack to redesign his family home. This building is now known as the Royal Villa of Milan.

Ludovico Count of Belgiojoso passed away in Milan on May 15, 1801.

Further Reading

• Joseph II., in deutsche-biographie.de (in German)
• Trauttmansdorff, Ferdinand Fürst zu, in deutsche-biographie.de (in German)