Johann Georg of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (born 1577 in Hechingen; died 28 September 1623 in Hechingen) was the first Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen.
Contents
Early life
Johann Georg was the only surviving son of Count Eitel Friedrich IV of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1545–1605) from his second marriage with Countess Sibylle von Zimmern (1558–1599), daughter of Count Froben Christoph of Zimmern. Johann Georg was raised by his relatives in Berlin at the court of Brandenburg.
Biography
Johann Georg was a Catholic and loyal to the Emperor's side. From 1603 to 1605, he was president of the Reichskammergericht and later he was president of the Aulic Council. The latter post proved helpful when during a military confrontation with Georg Dietrich of Westerstetten, Johann Georg's army had inadvertently strayed into Württemberg territory.
He represented Austria at the Imperial Diet. Together with Johann Pistorius, the tried, in vain, to persuade margrave Georg Friedrich of Baden-Durlach to revert to Catholicism. In 1609, the emperor sent him as a special envoy to the French court. On his return, he met Archduke Albrecht VII in Brussels. He would correspond with the Archduke ever after.
Because of the low pay and several disputes with Melchior Klesl, he tried to resign three times in 1612 and 1613. The Emperor, however, did not accept his resignation. In 1614, he was again sent on a successful mission to France.