Lož Castle
Encyclopedia
Lož Castle also known as Pusti Grad ("Waste Castle"), is a castle ruin above the settlement of Lož
in central Slovenia
's Lož Valley. The castle and its lordship are mentioned in period documents under various names, including Los, Louse, Lose, and Lösch.
, it was first held in fief by the Counts of Vovbrk. Its next inhabitants were the Vovbrk's relatives, the Counts Sternberg from Strmec na Koroškem. In 1244, the Patriarchate succeeded in regaining Lož and all its lands after the Vovbrk's were wiped out in a financial crisis. In 1269 a "gastald" or administrator was first mentioned; his functions would have been economic-administrative, supervisory and judicial, being in particular responsible for the proper collection of duties and taxes. Soon after 1296 the estate became the seat of governors.
Between 1306 and 1308, Lož was unlawfully occupied by count Henry of Gorizia. Afterward, the Patriarchate gave the fief to Carniolan provincial governor Count Meinhard of Ortenburg. In 1342, the Patriarchate gave the castle with all attendant rights and its provincial judiciary in fief to Herman and George Werdenstain, who the same year sold it all to the house of Ortenburg. After the assassination of the Patriarch Bertram of St. Genesius in 1350, the lordship passed to the Habsburgs until 1366.
In that year the Patriarch of Aquileia gave Lož to its ally, Henry, but the latter in 1368 gave John Šteberškemu, who became an ally of the Patriarch Markvarda. The Patriarch has granted Ortenburg Count Friedrich Ortnek castles in fief, Poljane, bones and Čušperk, Loka Castle, among the gifts of this hotel is not included. However, they have well over Grafschaft Ortenburg Ložem owned almost full power even when it is possessed family von der Dürr (1390–1410).
After 1418 the castle and lordship passed by inheritance to the Counts of Celje
, who retained it until the line's 1456 extinction. In an earlier war between the Ciili and the Habsburgs, the latter had twice attacked the town of Lož, taking it the second time, but did not breach the castle. The resumption of Habsburg in 1456 saw the castle retained by Ciili lesee Martin Snitzenpawmer. In 1460, he was briefly replaced as tenant by Herman Ravbar, who was in 1461 bought out by Trieste
bishop Antonio de Goppo. The following tenants of the estate were the noble families of Haller and Coraduzzi.
In the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Lož castle and lordship were held by
(from 1574) Charles George the noble Hoffer, Erasmus Börse, Franc Šajer, and the brothers Christopher and Francis Moškon. The castle's last tenant was Wolf Paradeiser. In 1635 the castle and estate were bought by Prince Janez Anton Eggenberg, who transferred the seat of the Lož lordship to the more congenial Snežnik Castle
, while Lož Castle was abandoned. Its decay accelerated after the lordships of Lož, Snežnik and Postojna were bought by Count Janez Vajkard Turjak (Auersperg) in 1669.
Lož
Lož is a settlement in the Loška dolina Municipality in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia. Originally the settlement that is now Stari trg pri Ložu was called Lož, but in 1341 a new settlement was begun around Lož Castle and the name of the older settlement as well as its market rights were...
in central Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
's Lož Valley. The castle and its lordship are mentioned in period documents under various names, including Los, Louse, Lose, and Lösch.
History
Built in the mid-12th century by the Patriarchate of AquileiaPatriarchate of Aquileia (State)
The Patriarchate of Aquileia was an Imperial State in the Friulian region of Northeastern Italy under the control of the Patriarchs of Aquileia.- Foundation :...
, it was first held in fief by the Counts of Vovbrk. Its next inhabitants were the Vovbrk's relatives, the Counts Sternberg from Strmec na Koroškem. In 1244, the Patriarchate succeeded in regaining Lož and all its lands after the Vovbrk's were wiped out in a financial crisis. In 1269 a "gastald" or administrator was first mentioned; his functions would have been economic-administrative, supervisory and judicial, being in particular responsible for the proper collection of duties and taxes. Soon after 1296 the estate became the seat of governors.
Between 1306 and 1308, Lož was unlawfully occupied by count Henry of Gorizia. Afterward, the Patriarchate gave the fief to Carniolan provincial governor Count Meinhard of Ortenburg. In 1342, the Patriarchate gave the castle with all attendant rights and its provincial judiciary in fief to Herman and George Werdenstain, who the same year sold it all to the house of Ortenburg. After the assassination of the Patriarch Bertram of St. Genesius in 1350, the lordship passed to the Habsburgs until 1366.
In that year the Patriarch of Aquileia gave Lož to its ally, Henry, but the latter in 1368 gave John Šteberškemu, who became an ally of the Patriarch Markvarda. The Patriarch has granted Ortenburg Count Friedrich Ortnek castles in fief, Poljane, bones and Čušperk, Loka Castle, among the gifts of this hotel is not included. However, they have well over Grafschaft Ortenburg Ložem owned almost full power even when it is possessed family von der Dürr (1390–1410).
After 1418 the castle and lordship passed by inheritance to the Counts of Celje
Counts of Celje
The Counts of Cilli or Celje represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day Slovenia....
, who retained it until the line's 1456 extinction. In an earlier war between the Ciili and the Habsburgs, the latter had twice attacked the town of Lož, taking it the second time, but did not breach the castle. The resumption of Habsburg in 1456 saw the castle retained by Ciili lesee Martin Snitzenpawmer. In 1460, he was briefly replaced as tenant by Herman Ravbar, who was in 1461 bought out by Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
bishop Antonio de Goppo. The following tenants of the estate were the noble families of Haller and Coraduzzi.
In the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Lož castle and lordship were held by
(from 1574) Charles George the noble Hoffer, Erasmus Börse, Franc Šajer, and the brothers Christopher and Francis Moškon. The castle's last tenant was Wolf Paradeiser. In 1635 the castle and estate were bought by Prince Janez Anton Eggenberg, who transferred the seat of the Lož lordship to the more congenial Snežnik Castle
Snežnik Castle
Snežnik Castle is a 13th-century castle located in the southwest part of the Lož Valley near the settlement of Kozarišče in the municipality of Loška dolina, Slovenia. Its name is coincidentally identical to the possessive form of the Slovene word sneg , but is actually a slovenized form of the...
, while Lož Castle was abandoned. Its decay accelerated after the lordships of Lož, Snežnik and Postojna were bought by Count Janez Vajkard Turjak (Auersperg) in 1669.