Khevenhüller
Encyclopedia
Khevenhüller is the name of a Carinthian
noble family documented there since 1356 which originally came from the Upper Palatinate
in Franconia
and which later had their prinicipal seat on Landskron Castle
. In the 16th century the family split into the two branches of Khevenhüller-Frankenburg, Reichsgrafen
(i.e. counts of the realm) since 1593, and Khevenhüller-Hochosterwitz (Reichsgrafen
since 1725 and, as Khevenhüller-Metsch, Fürst
en (i.e., prince
s) since 1763. In present-day Carinthia the Khevenhüllers operate the tourist attraction of Hochosterwitz Castle
, one of their Renaissance homes.
and Elisabeth von Himmelberg, both from Carinthia. Johann IV von Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg (b. ca 1420-1462) was the first to hold the family title "of Aichelberg
", yet Johann V Khevenhüller (d. 1462), son of Wilhelm II Khevenhüller and Margareta von Auersperg
, was Burgrave of Federaun
, whereas his son, Augustin Khevenhüller, who died 1516, is referred to as Herr (i.e. Lord) of Hardegg
. His mother was one "Miss" von Lindegg, who together with her grandson Sigismund III, Herr Khevenhüller in Hohen-Osterwitz (1507–1558) appears among the ancestors of Prince Charles. Her youngest grandson, Bernard von Khevenhüller (1511–1548) was "Herr auf Sternberg
and Hohenwart"; her eldest grandson, Christoph Khevenhüller (1503–1557) was Lord of Aichelberg.
of Ortenburg Castle
near Spittal an der Drau
and married a wealthy burgher's daughter, Elizabeth Mansdorfer. Her wealth enabled him to acquire a number of properties in Carinthia such as the castles of Aichelberg
, Ortenburg
, Sommeregg
, Hochosterwitz and Landskron as well as the iron mine of Eisentratten near Gmünd. Like the majority of the Carinthian Estates
Christoph Khevenhüller became a Lutheran
Protestant. Of Christoph Khevenhüller's s three sons, Hans, Moritz and Bartlmä, two were politically and economically most successful, thus furthering the rise of the family:
at the Spanish court, an office that he held for 26 years. He was appointed Imperial Chamberlain
, was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
in 1587 and a count in 1593, a rank that upon his death passed on to his brother Bartlmä.
" he made it to Burggrave und Speaker of the Estates, and managed to make the Khevenhüller family one of the wealthiest in the German Reich. He also figured as the head of the Protestants
in Carinthia.
When in the course of the counter-reformation
Emperor Ferdinand II
abolished the nobility's religious freedom in the Habsburg
lands, the Protestant members of the Khevenhüller family were forced to abandon their possessions in Carinthia and emigrated to Germany in 1628. Among these was also the great-grandmother of Nicolaus Ludwig Reichsgraf von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf
of the Moravian Church or Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine. Interrelation with the noble Saxonian
Metzsch family began that led to the Khevenhüller-Metsch branch, which later also spread to Spain where as marquesses and dukes they became Grandees of Spain.
lending Gustav Adolf 70 000 Swedish riksdaler
s to finance the war. After the king's death the Swedish state was incapable of repaying the loan and compensated the lender with the property of Julita Gård in Södermanland
, which remained the residence of his descendants late into the 19th century.
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
noble family documented there since 1356 which originally came from the Upper Palatinate
Upper Palatinate
The Upper Palatinate is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of Bavaria.- History :The region took its name first in the early 16th century, because it was by the Treaty of Pavia one of the main portions of the territory of the Wittelsbach Elector...
in Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
and which later had their prinicipal seat on Landskron Castle
Burgruine Landskron
Burgruine Landskron is a castle northeast of Villach in Carinthia, Austria.The estate near Lake Ossiach was first mentioned in a 878 deed issued by the East Frankish king Carloman of Bavaria, who granted it to the monastery of Altötting he had established shortly before...
. In the 16th century the family split into the two branches of Khevenhüller-Frankenburg, Reichsgrafen
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
(i.e. counts of the realm) since 1593, and Khevenhüller-Hochosterwitz (Reichsgrafen
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
since 1725 and, as Khevenhüller-Metsch, Fürst
Fürst
Fürst is a German title of nobility, usually translated into English as Prince.The term refers to the head of a principality and is distinguished from the son of a monarch, who is referred to as Prinz...
en (i.e., prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
s) since 1763. In present-day Carinthia the Khevenhüllers operate the tourist attraction of Hochosterwitz Castle
Hochosterwitz Castle
Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles. It is situated on a Dolomite rock near Sankt Georgen am Längsee, east of the town of Sankt Veit an der Glan in the state of Carinthia...
, one of their Renaissance homes.
History
The earliest mention of a Khevenhüller is of one Ulreich "dem Chevenhuelaer" 1330, and in Carinthia of one Johann I Khevenhüller, who died in 1356 and was the son-in-law of Richard I von KhünburgBurgruine Kühnburg
-References:This article was initially translated from the German Wikipedia....
and Elisabeth von Himmelberg, both from Carinthia. Johann IV von Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg (b. ca 1420-1462) was the first to hold the family title "of Aichelberg
Burgruine Aichelberg
Burgruine Aichelberg is a castle in Carinthia, Austria....
", yet Johann V Khevenhüller (d. 1462), son of Wilhelm II Khevenhüller and Margareta von Auersperg
Auersperg
Auersperg may refer to:* Principality of Auersperg, estates held by the princely Austrian family of Auersperg* Palais Auersperg, a large baroque palace in Vienna, build for the princely Auersperg family- Family members :...
, was Burgrave of Federaun
Burgruine Federaun
Burgruine Federaun is a castle in Carinthia, Austria....
, whereas his son, Augustin Khevenhüller, who died 1516, is referred to as Herr (i.e. Lord) of Hardegg
Burg Hardegg
Burg Hardegg is a castle in Lower Austria, Austria.-References:This article was initially translated from the German Wikipedia....
. His mother was one "Miss" von Lindegg, who together with her grandson Sigismund III, Herr Khevenhüller in Hohen-Osterwitz (1507–1558) appears among the ancestors of Prince Charles. Her youngest grandson, Bernard von Khevenhüller (1511–1548) was "Herr auf Sternberg
Burgruine Sternberg
-References:This article was initially translated from the German Wikipedia....
and Hohenwart"; her eldest grandson, Christoph Khevenhüller (1503–1557) was Lord of Aichelberg.
Christoph Khevenhüller
The steep rise of the House of Khevenhüller in Carinthia began when in 1525 Christoph Khevenhüller (1503 -1557) was appointed castellanCastellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Ortenburg Castle
Burgruine Ortenburg
Burgruine Ortenburg is a mediæval castle near Baldramsdorf in Carinthia, Austria.It was erected in the late 11th century by ministeriales of the Bavarian Prince-Bishops of Freising, who then held large possessions in the Duchy of Carinthia. Their descendants began to call themselves Counts of...
near Spittal an der Drau
Spittal an der Drau
Spittal an der Drau is located in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia and the administrative centre of the federal state's second largest district, Spittal an der Drau. It lies between the Lurnfeld area and the Lower Drava Valley. The city consists of the seven...
and married a wealthy burgher's daughter, Elizabeth Mansdorfer. Her wealth enabled him to acquire a number of properties in Carinthia such as the castles of Aichelberg
Burgruine Aichelberg
Burgruine Aichelberg is a castle in Carinthia, Austria....
, Ortenburg
Burgruine Ortenburg
Burgruine Ortenburg is a mediæval castle near Baldramsdorf in Carinthia, Austria.It was erected in the late 11th century by ministeriales of the Bavarian Prince-Bishops of Freising, who then held large possessions in the Duchy of Carinthia. Their descendants began to call themselves Counts of...
, Sommeregg
Burg Sommeregg
Burg Sommeregg is a castle in Carinthia, Austria.- History :The castle was built in 1187, and between 1442 and 1534 the residence of the Von Graben von Stein family. The held the title as Viscounts of Sommeregg.- Lords of Sommeregg :-References:...
, Hochosterwitz and Landskron as well as the iron mine of Eisentratten near Gmünd. Like the majority of the Carinthian Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
Christoph Khevenhüller became a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Protestant. Of Christoph Khevenhüller's s three sons, Hans, Moritz and Bartlmä, two were politically and economically most successful, thus furthering the rise of the family:
Hans Khevenhüller
Hans Khevenhüller (1538–1606) became the Legate of the Holy Roman EmperorHoly Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
at the Spanish court, an office that he held for 26 years. He was appointed Imperial Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
, was made a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
in 1587 and a count in 1593, a rank that upon his death passed on to his brother Bartlmä.
Bartlmä Khevenhüller
The activities of Bartlmä Khevenhüller (1539–1613) centred on Carinthia. Styling himself "Freiherr auf Landskron and WernbergWernberg
Wernberg is a town in the district of Villach-Land in Carinthia in Austria.-Neighboring municipalities:...
" he made it to Burggrave und Speaker of the Estates, and managed to make the Khevenhüller family one of the wealthiest in the German Reich. He also figured as the head of the Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in Carinthia.
When in the course of the counter-reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
abolished the nobility's religious freedom in the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
lands, the Protestant members of the Khevenhüller family were forced to abandon their possessions in Carinthia and emigrated to Germany in 1628. Among these was also the great-grandmother of Nicolaus Ludwig Reichsgraf von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf
Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf
Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf, Imperial Count of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, , German religious and social reformer and bishop of the Moravian Church, was born at Dresden....
of the Moravian Church or Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine. Interrelation with the noble Saxonian
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
Metzsch family began that led to the Khevenhüller-Metsch branch, which later also spread to Spain where as marquesses and dukes they became Grandees of Spain.
Paul Khevenhüller
Being a Protestant Paul Khevenhüller (1593–1655) sided with the Swedish king during the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
lending Gustav Adolf 70 000 Swedish riksdaler
Swedish riksdaler
The riksdaler was the name of a Swedish coin first minted in 1604. Between 1777 and 1873, it was the currency of Sweden. The daler, like the dollar, was named after the German Thaler. The similarly named Reichsthaler, rijksdaalder, and rigsdaler were used in Germany and Austria-Hungary, the...
s to finance the war. After the king's death the Swedish state was incapable of repaying the loan and compensated the lender with the property of Julita Gård in Södermanland
Södermanland
', sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanland and Uppland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea.In Swedish, the province name is...
, which remained the residence of his descendants late into the 19th century.
Notable members of the House of Khevenhüller
- Ulrich Khevenhüller (b. ca. 1430–1492), youngest son of Hans II Khevenhüller, knight
- Georg Freiherr von Khevenhüller (1533–1587), "State Captain", i.e. governor of the Duchy of CarinthiaDuchy of CarinthiaThe Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
. - Hans Graf Khevenhüller-Frankenburg (1538–1606), Imperial ambassador to the Spanish Court.
- Franz Christoph Graf von Khevenhüller-Frankenburg (1588–1650), Imperial ambassador to the Spanish Court
- Paul Khevenhüller (1593–1655), financier of the Swedish king in the Thirty Years' War
- Sigmund Friedrich von Khevenhüller (1666–1742), governor of the Duchy of Carinthia, vicegerent of the Duchy of Lower AustriaLower AustriaLower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
.
- Ludwig Andreas Khevenhüller Graf von Aichelberg-Frankenburg (1683–1744), Austrian field marshal
- Johann Joseph Fürst Khevenhüller-Metsch (1706–1776), Lord Great Chamberlain ("Oberstkämmerer") of Maria Theresa
- Johann Carl Khevenhüller (1839–1905), member of Maximilian I of MexicoMaximilian I of MexicoMaximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
's corps of volunteers
Princes of Khevenhüller-Metsch
- Siegmund Friedrich von Khevenhüller (1666–1742), 1725 Count Khevenhüller; married to I Maria Renata Countess Thannhausen, daughter of Count Ignaz; married to II Ernestina Leopoldina Countess von Orsini und Rosenberg
- Johann Joseph Khevenhüller-Metsch(1706–1776), son of the former, 1763 Prince von Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to Karolina Maria Augustina Countess von Metsch, daughter of Count Johann Adolf
- Johann Sigismund Friedrich (1732–1801), son of the former, 2nd Prince von Khevenhüller-Metsch; ∞ I Maria Amalia Susanna, Princess of Liechtenstein, daughter of Prince Emanuel; married to II Marie Josephine Henriette Barbara Countess of Strassoldo, daughter of Vinzenz
- Karl Maria Joseph Johann Baptist Clemens (1756–1823), son of the former, 3rd Prince von Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to Therese Countess Morzin, daughter of Karl Joseph
- Franz Maria Johann Joseph Hermann (1762–1837), brother of the former, 4th Prince von Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to I Maria Elisabeth Countess of Kuefstein, daughter of Johann Adam; married to II Maria Josepha Countess of Abensberg and Traun, daughter of Otto; married to III Christina Countess Zichy of Zich and Vasonykeö, daughter of Karl
- Richard Maria Johann Basil (1813–1877), son of the former, 5th Prince zu Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to Antonia Maria Countess Lichnowsky, daughter of Prince Eduard
- Johannes Franz Karl Eduard Joseph Nemesius (1839–1905), son of the former, 6th Prince zu Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to Eduardine Countess von Clam-Gallas, daughter of Eduard
- Anton Sigismund Joseph Maria (1873–1945), nephew of the former, until 1918 (abolishment of aristocracy) the 7th Prince zu Khevenhüller-Metsch; married to Gabriele Countess von Mensdorff-Pouilly
Heads of the Khevenhüller-Metsch Family
- Anton Sigismund Joseph Maria Khevenhüller-Metsch (1873–1945)
- Franz Khevenhüller-Metsch (1889–1977), grandnephew of Prince Richard; married to Anna Princess zu Fürstenberg (1894–1928), daughter of Maximilian Egon Prince zu Fürstenberg
- Maximilian Khevenhüller-Metsch (1919–2010) married to Wilhelmine Gräfin Henckel von Donnersmarck (b. 1932), daughter of Lazarus Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (1902–1991) and Franziska Gräfin von und zu Eltz (1905–1997)
- Johannes Khevenhüller-Metsch (b. 1956); married to Donna Camilla Borghese dei Principi di Nettuno (* 1962)
Spanish branch
- Don Camilo Ruspoli y Khevenhüller-Metsch, Marescotti-Capizucchi y Liechtenstein, dei Principi Ruspoli (1788–1864), married to Carlota de Godoy, 2nd Duchess of Sueca
- Don Luigi Ruspoli y Godoy, de Khevenhüller-Metsch y Borbón, dei Principi Ruspoli, 3rd Marquis of Boadilla del Monte (1828–1893),
- Don Adolfo Ruspoli y Godoy di Bassano, de Khevenhüller-Metsch y Borbón, dei Principi Ruspoli, 2nd Duke of AlcudiaAdolfo Ruspoli, 2nd Duke of AlcudiaDon Adolfo Ruspoli y Godoy , de Khevenhüller-Metsch y Borbón, dei Principi Ruspoli was an Italian and Spanish aristocrat, son of Don Camillo Ruspoli y Khevenhüller-Metsch, Marescotti-Capizucchi y Liechtenstein, dei Principi Ruspoli and wife Carlota de Godoy y Borbón, 2nd Duchess of Sueca.He was 2nd...
(1822–1914), Grandee of Spain First Class
See also: Line of succession to the British throne
- Countess Hemma von Khevenhüller-Metsch (b. 1994)
- Countess Teresa von Khevenhüller-Metsch (b. 1996)
Literature
- Bernhard Czerwenka, Die Khevenhüller, Vienna: Braumüller, 1867.
- Karl Dinklage, Kärnten um 1620. Die Bilder der Khevenhüllerchronik, Vienna: Edition Tusch, 1980.
- Franz Müllner,Johann Carl Fürst Khevenhüller-Metsch, ein Kampfgefährte Kaiser Maximilians von Mexiko. In Maximilian von Mexiko 1832-1867, Vienna: Enzenhofer, 1974.