Cobenzls

On 300th anniversary of Johann Karl Philip Cobenzl’s birth in Ljubljana

Abstract

The path per aspera ad astra of Carniola-Gorizia family Cobenzl is described with a special attention put on their next to last generation headed by the minister plenipotentiary for Habsburg Netherlands Johann Karl Philip Cobenzl. The role of Johann Karl Philip Cobenzl’s first rate Brussels library and the art collection proved to be decisive for the success of his family inside the freemasonic freethinkers of europe of his era. Although Johann Karl Philip Cobenzl never read his books but preferred his secretaries to read and comment them for him, the new books and journals helped his work in the modern times when the quick circulation of news paves the path for the right political or economic activities.