the primogeniture property of the Schwarzenberg family based on the Lex Schwarzenberg Act of 1947). The Liechtenstein family is still suing the Czech Republic for seized property, as well as several other families labeled as Germans after the war. In 1948, there was a communist coup in Czechoslovakia. Subsequently, the property of all noble families was confiscated. A large part of the Czech nobility therefore emigrated (for example, the Schwarzenberg, Colloredo-Mannsfelds, Kolowrat, Hildprand, some Lobkowitz or Sternberg). The nobles who stayed at home (such as the Kinsky, Wratislav, Czernin, some Sternberg and Lobkowitz) were variously persecuted, for example they were prevented from studying, usually they were also evicted to unsuitable dwellings. Some members of the Czech nobility were imprisoned. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, properties seized by the communist regime were returned to their original owners. Members of the Czech nobility who emigrated abroad returned to their estates. Some subsequently returned to public life (for example, Karel Schwarzenberg as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament and Senator, Michal Lobkowitz as Minister of Defense and Member of Parliament, Tomáš Czernin as Senator). Other Czech nobles devote themselves, for example, to business, culture, science, the church, or knightly orders. List of important noble families Bavor of Strakonice Belcredi Bibra Boskowicz Bořek-Dohalský Bruntálský of Vrbno Bubna of Litice Chorinský of Ledská Clary-Aldringen Colloredo-Mannsfeld Czernin Chotek Deym of Střítež Dobřenský of Dobřenice Dubá Berka of Dubá Jelení Hildprandt Harrach Hradec Hohenberg Kamenický of Kamenice Kinsky Colditz Kolowrat Kaunitz Krajíř of Krajek Kravaře Kunštát Lichtenburg Liechtenstein Lanna Larisch Lichnowsky Lipá Lobkowicz Martinic Nostitz Paar Parish Pernštejn Piccolomini Poděbrady Přemyslid Rohan Ronovci Rosenberg Švihovský of Rýzmberk Slavata of Chlum Slavník Smiřický of Smiřice Schlick Schwarzenberg Sporck Sternberg Schwamberg Thun-Hohenstein Trčka of Lípa Tunkl of Brníčko Vítkovci Vlašim Vršovci Waldstein Wratislaw of Mitrovice Zajíc of Hazmburk Zedtwitz Zierotin Gallery Notes Further reading