The Chotek family was an aristocratic family from Bohemia. When this and other Bohemian noble families' surnames and/or territorial suffixes are translated from the Czech language, particules and conjunctions are usually translated into German, rather than into English.
The family is first documented in the 14th century when Miloslav, his wife Wele and their son Wenlynus are mentioned as masters of the Chockov estate near Radnice in the Plzeň Region. The uninterrupted lineage of the family starts with Otto Chotek of Chockov and Liblín.
In the late 16th century, Václav Chotek took the name of Chotkov and Vojnín, while his older brother Adam Chotek retained the name of Chockov and Liblín.
In 1685 the coat of arms of the Chotek family was joined with the coat of arms of the extinct Charwat von Bärnstein family.
On February 6, 1702, Václav Antonín Chotek of Chotkov and Vojnín was elevated rank of lords in Bohemia. On 13 May 1743, in Laxenburg he was awarded the title Count in Bohemia and on 4 October 1745 in Frankfurt am Main he was elevated to the rank of Reichsgraf.
After the death of Jan Nepomuk Rudolf Chotek von Chotkov und Vojnín, the family split into four main branches created by his surviving sons:
- Branch of the descendants of Jan Nepomuk Josef Chotek
- Branch of the descendants of Josef Chotek
- Branch of the descendants of Karel Chotek von Chotkov und Vojnín
- Branch of the descendants of Heřman Chotek von Chotkov und Vojnín
The best known member of the family was Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, the morganatic wife of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, as his and her assassination sparked World War I.
Read more about Chotek Family: Branch Chotek Von Chockov Und Liblín, Branch Chotek of Chotkov Und Vojnín
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