Lamoral II Claudius Franz, Count of Thurn and Taxis

Who was Lamoral II Claudius Franz, Count of Thurn and Taxis?

Count Lamoral II Claudius Franz of Thurn and Taxis was a German nobleman and Imperial Postmaster. He took over the post of Imperial Postmaster General from his mother when he came of age in 1646. In 1650, he obtained permission from the Emperor to change his family name into of Thurn, Valsassina and Taxis, but then opted for the shorter of Thurn and Taxis or, in French, de la Tour et Tassis. He and his mother were instrumental in the organization of the Imperial postal system. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, he successfully competed against the many postal systems of the German states. He was, however, unable to regain a legal monopoly. He also participated in the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Westphalia.