The new rebuilding of Gottschee that was begun by Count Wolf Engelbrecht continued without interruption in the eighteenth century. The "Ländchen" even achieved a small degree of prosperity during the five decades in which Maria Theresa (1740-1780) and her son Joseph II, the reform-emperor, reigned. This was also partly due to the peddling trade, which had become more profitable. In the entire monarchy, agriculture, in particular, experienced an advance that had never before been witnessed. A branch of the "agricultural society for Carniola" was also established in Gottschee in the 1780's; it was the first attempt to introduce improved methods of agricultural production.
The Jahrhundertbuch cannot record any profound events that would once again have changed the fate of the Gottscheers for the worse. Indeed, one must emphasize that the introduction and propagation of corn and potatoes was a decisive economic and nutritional advance for all of Europe.
The years 1770 and 1791 are two important historical dates in the eighteenth century. We already mentioned the year 1770 during the inner colonization period. In this year, Maria Theresa ordered that all males of every age group and all urban and rural dwellings be counted and recorded. Thus, we have an accurate count of the houses in the Gottscheer villages and hamlets, but unfortunately, however, not of the inhabitants. (See Register of Villages.)
The drafting of most young men into the military created another bridge to the outside for the "Ländchen" - a bridge that was now crossed by many more recruits and soldiers than by peddlers previously. In addition, those in the military also learned to read and write, at least minimally, during their service. Only a few of them had seen a larger city prior to being drafted. Usually that was Laibach. Their view of the world expanded considerably. The time spent in the military remained a lifelong echo in all of them - as is the case in all soldiers of other nations as well. Only in rare cases, however, did the young Gottscheer woman have the opportunity to glimpse the world beyond her little city and her land.
Auersperg, Prince Carl Joseph Anton of, Duke of Gottschee, 1820 -1900
We recall that the title of Duke of Münsterberg in Austria-Silesia had been bestowed upon Prince Johann Weikard of Auersperg at the height of his power. When Frederick the Great defeated Maria Theresa in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the little dukedom fell to Prussia. Thus, the ducal title of Auersperg was lost. For twenty-five years, the princes of Auersperg tried to regain it. They even negotiated with Frederick the Great. He would indeed have been willing to bestow on them anew the honorary title under certain conditions. Finally, the Auerspergers ceased their efforts, since they did not wish to be indebted to the Prussian king for this favor. The end result: They succeeded in having Emperor Leopold II (1790-1792) create the title "Duke of Gottschee" and tie it by inheritance to the title of Prince of Auersperg. The first to bear this title was the prince and owner of the entailed estate, Carl Joseph Anton of Auersperg (1820-1900). The title was always passed on to the oldest son of the title-holder.
("Jahrhundertbuch der Gottscheer", Dr. Erich Petschauer)
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