Ulrich's father, Count Henry of Hardegg (formerly: Henry Prüschenk, Baron zu Stettenberg; German: Heinrich Prüschenk, Freiherr zu Stettenberg; died: 1513) served in the imperial army, and was temporarily Imperial Captain in Italy.
In 1515 Ulrich married Sidonie (Czech: Zdeňka), the youngest daughter of Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels and granddaughter of King George of Poděbrady of Bohemia.
In 1501 Ulrich bought for 70000Rhenish guilders the County of Glatz from his future brothers-in-law Albert I, George I and Charles I which at the time was an immediate fief of Bohemia.
Henry the Elder's widow, Ursula of Brandenburg, who had received the county as her dower on the occasion of her marriage, also agreed.
In 1507 Emperor Maximilian I, in his capacity as king of Bohemia, granted Ulrich the right to mint money.