Waldstein family

The house was founded by Jaroslav of Hruštice (1234–1269) and named after Valdštejn Castle near Turnov in northern Bohemia.

The Waldstein noble family originated from the medieval Markvartici clan,[1] which gained influence at the Přemyslid court in Prague under King Ottokar II of Bohemia.

His son Zdeněk was the first documented "Lord of Waldštejn"; allegedly he accompanied King Ottokar II on his Prussian crusade.

After World War II, the Waldsteins, then almost completely Germanized, were expelled from Czechoslovakia and their possessions were seized.

They then moved to Salzburg and Vienna in Austria, where parts of the family live to this day, but others returned to Bohemia.

Coat of arms of the Albrecht von Wallenstein , Duke of Friedland
The current Waldstein coat of arms
Family arms (13th century)
Albrecht von Waldstein (Wallenstein)
Portrait of Franz Augustin von Waldstein by Jan de Herdt