Valtice Castle, then part of
Duchy of Austria and called Feldsberg, was probably founded in the 11th century. The first written mention of the village of Feldsberg is in a 1192 deed (as
Veldesperch); held by the Lords of
Seefeld, it was located close to the border with
Moravia. Probably between 1192 and 1227, Feldsberg became a town. In 1270, lords of Seefeld died out and the estate, divided into six parts with different owners, changed hands several times. Between 1387 and 1395, the
House of Liechtenstein gradually acquired the entire estate. During the
Hussite Wars, the Liechtenstein were on the side of
Sigismund. In 1426, the town was burned out by the
Hussites. In the mid 16th century, the citizens converted to
Protestantism; however they were subjected to the measures of the
Counter-Reformation under the rule of
Karl I of Liechtenstein, who himself had converted to
Catholicism in 1599. During the
Thirty Years' War, the town was again plundered by the troops under the command of
Gabriel Bethlen in 1619, by the troops of
Henri Duval Dampierre in the same year, and later conquered by
Swedish forces under General
Lennart Torstensson. ==Demographics==