The Correspondence between Emperor Leopold I and Johann Adolf of Schwarzenberg (1662-1683). Outline of an Edition Project

The present study outlines the basic theses of an edition project. The main aim of the project is to publish about 150 handwritten letters that were sent between 1662 and 1683 by Emperor Leopold I. to Johann Adolf of Schwarzenberg, as a member of the Privy Council and later also as the President of the Imperial Privy Council. The letters reveal interesting new facts about the Emperor's intellectual world and his personality. Furthermore, the letters also discuss his advisory bodies (e. g. the Privy Council and Privy Conference). Many letters reflect the structure of the decision-making processes within these advisory bodies, opinions on appointments to particular offices, the central administrative authorities, and the relationship between the various administrative bodies and particular noblemen or individuals of low birth.