Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg

Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz
Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg
Portrait by Jean-Étienne Liotard, 1762. He wears the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
State Chancellor of the Habsburg monarchy
In office
13 May 1753 – 19 August 1792
MonarchsMaria Theresa (1753–1780)
Joseph II (1780–1790)
Leopold II (1790–1792)
Francis II (1792)
Preceded byCount Anton Corfiz Ulfeldt
Succeeded byPhilipp von Cobenzl
Personal details
Born(1711-02-02)2 February 1711
Vienna, Austria,
Holy Roman Empire
Died27 June 1794(1794-06-27) (aged 83)
Vienna, Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Parents

Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg (German: Wenzel Anton Reichsfürst von Kaunitz-Rietberg, Czech: Václav Antonín z Kounic a Rietbergu; 2 February 1711 – 27 June 1794) was an Austrian and Czech diplomat and statesman in the Habsburg monarchy. A proponent of enlightened absolutism, he held the office of State Chancellor for about four decades and was responsible for the foreign policies during the reigns of Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and Leopold II. In 1764, he was elevated to the noble rank of a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichfürst).