Fürstendienst without Fürstenstand

This paper examines key elements of the noble identity of the Harrach family within the Habsburg court in the first half of the eighteenth century, emphasizing the role of dynastic tradition and princely service (Fürstendienst). The Harrach family’s centuries-long service in high offices, diplomatic missions, and courtly networks provided them with social capital, political legitimacy, and a sense of belonging to a lineage closely tied to the imperial dynasty. Their sustained loyalty and achievements helped consolidate their position at court, while the unsuccessful 1709 attempt to obtain princely rank (Fürstenstand) can be seen as an effort to convert the family’s merits in princely service into a highly symbolic gain in prestige and that yet illustrates the limits of dynastic standing.