Edmund von Schwarzenberg

Edmund Joseph von Schwarzenberg (1842 - 1885) was a German military officer, most commonly known for the Löwekomitee Scandal. From 1862 to 1870, Edmund was a member of the Partei für wirtschaftlichen und kolonialen Wohlstand und Entwicklung. He died in 1885 while locked up in the psych ward of an asylum.

Biography
Edmund Joseph von Schwarzenberg was born in 1842 in Klettgau. He inherited the Landgraviate of Klettgau from his father at age 19, in the year 1861. His father was a business tycoon, crediting all of his wealth to a successful steel factory built in the Rhineland. When Edmund was 10, he was sent to a boarding school in Berlin meant for German aristocracy. There he studied the basics of history, mathematics, sciences, literature, and languages - becoming nearly fluent in Czech, English, and French by age 17. He also took a deep interest in diplomacy between nations and military strategy. At the age of 17, Edmund studied for 2 years in the inaugural class at the Britannia Royal Naval College located in Dartmouth, United Kingdom. Following that, he spent two years observing the Royal Navy’s battles, gaining a deep understanding of both their techniques and strategies. He returned from observing a battle off the coast of Egypt after hearing the news that his father passed away in his sleep at the age of 46. Despite this, the young man hoped to one day apply what he has learned to improve the newly-united German Navy.

In 1862, Edmund joined the PKW while simultaneously applying for a position in the Imperial navy. He was assigned as an Oberdeckoffizier to the I. Flotte under Admiral Jan Staudenmaier, who was stationed in German Nigeria at the time. In 1865, while Edmund was off his shift and sleeping, African fishermen attempted to capture his vessel in the night. No crewmen were harmed and all the perpetrators were captured, however this led to tension between von Schwarzenberg and Staudenmaier. The fishermen were eventually released. That same year, Edmund wrote a letter to the Kaiser, stating his interest in Princess Charlotte. His advances were promptly shot down by the Kaiser. Later on in 1865, he proposed to Emelie Madeleine von Hessen und bei Rhein, the daughter of Großherzog Ludwig III von Hessen while on shore leave in Germany. Despite her father's disapproval, Emelie Madeleine married Edmund in the spring of 1865. In 1870, Edmund von Schwarzenberg founded a club called the Eroberter Löwenkomitee (English: Conquered Lion Committee). The Löwenkomitee was intended as a social club where colonialism and imperialism could be discussed, but for many within the PKW, it was seen as an attempt to undermine the party leadership. To facilitate his gentleman's club, Edmund acquired a manor in Berlin and called it the Adler Herrenhaus. The club would soon be the center of national attention as it was involved in the Löwenkomitee Scandal.

As a local police officer of the Berlin police department strolled down his usual patrol route, he witnessed several young men destroying the fence and the windows of an old lady who is living there. He quickly arrested them and after a short interrogation they revealed that they were members of the Eroberter Löwekomitee and were ordered by their leader, Edmund Joseph von Schwarzenberg to destroy the damage and yell at the lady they were sent by Wilhelm Henckel von Donnersmarck. The end goal of this conspiracy was to get von Donnersmarck arrested and tried for the property damage. The police thereafter arrested Edmund Joseph von Schwarzenberg and turned the case over to the prosecution.

In the trial that followed, Edmund was sentenced to 2 years in jail as he did not show signs of remorse. Furthermore he lost all rights of honor, including his military rank, which was revoked. He was dishonorly discharged, but also lost his ability to serve in public office. In regards to his claimed instability the court sent a physician to him in prison to determine any mental illnesses. They determined to institutionilize him in a mental asylum near Berlin. Edmund's wife, Emelie Madeleine, divorced him as a result. Edmund spent the remainder of his life in the psych ward, until he died of an infection in 1885.