Background
He was a descendant of the elder line of the Auersperg family from Carniola.
He was a descendant of the elder line of the Auersperg family from Carniola.
He was the first Prince of Auersperg, and also Imperial Prince of Tengen and Duke of Münsterberg. Johann Weikhard held several positions at the Austrian court. In 1653, Emperor Ferdinand III raised him to Imperial Prince.
In 1654, Ferdinand III, in his capacity as King of Bohemia, enfeofed him with the Duchy of Münsterberg and the City of Ząbkowice Śląskie.
He then styled himself Duke of Münsterberg. He held great political influence during the first decade of the fule of Emperor Leopold I. As prime minister of Austria, he concluded a secret treaty with France on 19 January 1668 about the division of the Spanish monarchy and worked towards a Catholic triple alliance between Austria, France and Spain.
He was, however, suspected of having had secret talks with king Louis XIV of France, who was alleged to have promised him a post as Cardinal and was suddenly relieved of his duties on 10 December 1669 and banished from the court. He was sentenced to death, however, this sentence was never effectuated.
He lived the rest of his life on his estates in Carniola.