He was born in Vienna on 8 August 1825. He was the son of son of Count Ludwig Károlyi de Nagykároly (1799–1863) and Countess Ferdinandine von Kaunitz-Rietberg (1805–1862).[1]
"the surest sign not only of the political but of the social divisiveness which is inherent in the internal life of the Prussian state, to wit, the passionate hatred of different estates and classes for each other. This antagonism... which places in sharp opposition the army and the nobility on one hand and all the other industrious citizens on the other is one of the most significant and darkest characteristics of the Prussian Monarchy."[5]
In 1878, Bismarck was sent in the same year to London,[4] where he represented Austria for ten years.[7]
For his diplomatic efforts, he was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece. Upon his death, his insignia of the Order was returned to the Emperor, before it was awarded to his kinsman Sándor Károlyi by Franz Joseph I, as it could only be held by one member of a family at the same time.[8]
In 1870, Károlyi remodeled Stomfa Castle, the 17th century Renaissance style castle built by the Pálffys on the site of a former moated castle.[9] Károlyi had the renowned Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl add a German renaissance style wing with towers and rebuilt the manor house in the Romantic style. Ybl connected the side buildings with the manor house with an open arcade floor. Also added was an English style garden with a central pond.[9] After his death, the castle passed to his son, Count Lajos Károlyi, who undertook his own remodel of the castle, carried out by Arthur Meinig.[9]
Personal life
Portrait of his wife (née Countess Fanny Erdődy), by Gustav Richter, 1894
Károlyi married Countess Franciska "Fanni" Gobertina Erdödy de Monyorókerék et Monoszló (1842–1927), a daughter of Count Lajos Erdõdy de Monyorókerék et Monoszló and Johanna Raymann.[10] Together, they had four children, including:
Countess Ferdinandine "Nandine" Johanna Nepomucena Károlyi de Nagykároly (1868–1955), who married Count Leopold Berchtold von und zu Ungarschitz, a son of Count Sigismund Berchtold von und zu Ungarschitz, Frättling und Püllütz, in 1893.[1]
Count Lajos Lörinc Károlyi de Nagykároly (1872–1965), who married his cousin, Countess Hanna Széchényi von Sárvár-Felsövideki, a daughter of Count Béla Széchenyi von Sárvár-Felsövidék (a "personal friend" of King Edward VII)[11] and Countess Johanna "Janka" Goberta Erdödy.[12]
Countess Zsófia "Sophie" Anna Károlyi de Nagykároly (1875–1972), who married Imre Gyorgy Károlyi de Nagykároly, a son of Count Tibor Johann Nepomucen Justin Károlyi de Nagykároly.[13]
Through his daughter Countess Nandine,[15] he was a grandfather of Count Aloys "Louis" Berchtold von und zu Ungarschitz (1894–1977),[16] and Count Sigismund "Sziga" Berchtold von und zu Ungarschitz (1900–1979), who married Eva Machan (former wife of Count Leopold zu Hardegg auf Glatz und im Machlande), Countess Etti von Wurmbrand-Stuppach (former wife of Clendenin J. Ryan, Count Paul Pálffy ab Erdöd, Count Tamás Esterházy, who after her divorce from Sigismund married William Deering Davis and then Árpád Plesch),[17] and Emilia de Gosztonyi (former wife of Michael Bankier and Robin Alexander Lyle, who after her divorce from Sigismund married Prince Vsevolod Ivanovich of Russia).[18][19]
Through his son Count Lajos, he was a grandfather of Count Sándor Béla Károlyi de Nagykároly (1904–1987), who married Baroness Martha Sennyey de Kis-Sennye, and Countess Alice Sarolta Károlyi de Nagykároly (1905–1981), who married Heinrich von Haugwitz.[20]
Through his daughter Countess Sophie, he was a grandfather of Count Ferenc Gyula Károlyi de Nagykároly (1900–1973), Count Viktor Dénes Károlyi de Nagykároly (1902–1973) (who married Ilona Krisztina Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék), Count György Kálmán Károlyi de Nagykároly (1903–1969), Countess Maria Consuela Károlyi de Nagykároly (1905–1976) (who married Miklós Horthy Jr., son of the Regent of HungaryMiklós Horthy), and Count Gyula Lipót Károlyi de Nagykároly (1907–1942).[13]
