Khevenhüller Family
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The House of Khevenhüller is an old and prominent Austrian noble family, documented in Carinthia since 1356, with its ancestral seat at Landskron Castle. In the 16th century, the family split into the two branches of ''Khevenhüller-Frankenburg'',
Imperial Count Imperial Count (, ) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. During the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from a prince wh ...
s (i.e. immediate counts of the
Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...
) from 1593, and ''Khevenhüller-Hochosterwitz'', raised to Imperial Counts in 1725 and, as ''Khevenhüller-Metsch'', to
princely A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The fema ...
rank (''
Fürst ' (, female form ', plural '; from Old High German ', "the first", a translation of the Latin ') is a German language, German word for a ruler as well as a princely title. ' were, starting in the Middle Ages, members of the highest nobility who ...
en'') in 1763. The family was mediatised in 1806 and therefore belongs to
high nobility Traditional rank amongst European imperiality, royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to anothe ...
. In the present-day
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
n state of
Carinthia Carinthia ( ; ; ) is the southernmost and least densely populated States of Austria, Austrian state, in the Eastern Alps, and is noted for its mountains and lakes. The Lake Wolayer is a mountain lake on the Carinthian side of the Carnic Main ...
, the princely family of Khevenhüller-Metsch owns the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
castle of Hochosterwitz, a significant edifice and major tourist attraction.


History

The noble family originally possibly originated in Kevenhüll (today part of
Beilngries Beilngries (; ) is a town in the district of Eichstätt, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Altmühl and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, 30 km north of Ingolstadt. Sons and daughters of the city * Rosa Aschenbrenner (1885-19 ...
) in
Franconia Franconia ( ; ; ) is a geographical region of Germany, characterised by its culture and East Franconian dialect (). Franconia is made up of the three (governmental districts) of Lower Franconia, Lower, Middle Franconia, Middle and Upper Franco ...
; they were vassals of the Bishops of Bamberg, who had received large estates in Carinthia from the hands of King
Henry II of Germany Henry II (; ; ; 6 May 973 – 13 July 1024 AD), also known as Saint Henry, Order of Saint Benedict, Obl. S. B., was Holy Roman Emperor ("Romanorum Imperator") from 1014. He died without an heir in 1024, and was the last ruler of the Ottonian dy ...
in 1007. The earliest mention refers to one ''Ulreich dem Chevenhuelaer'' in a 1330 deed. In Carinthia, a continuous line descends from one Johann I (Hans) Khevenhüller, who died in 1356 and was the son-in-law of Richard I von Khünburg and Elisabeth von
Himmelberg Himmelberg is a municipality with 2273 inhabitants in the district of Feldkirchen in the Austrian state of Carinthia in Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Al ...
, both from Carinthia. Johann IV von Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg (born ca 1420-1462) was the first to hold the family lordship of
Aichelberg Aichelberg () is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Göppingen (district), Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. Aichelberg is between Stuttgart and Ulm at the ''Albaufstieg'', the slope of the Swabian J ...
. His son, Johann V Khevenhüller (died 1462), son of Wilhelm II Khevenhüller and Margareta von Auersperg, was Burgrave of Federaun, and ''his'' son, Augustin Khevenhüller, who died 1516, was the Lord of
Hardegg Hardegg () is a town in the district of Hollabrunn in Lower Austria, Austria. It is situated in the Waldviertel region on the river Thaya, directly on the border with the Czech Republic. The Thaya valley is protected as the Thayatal National Par ...
. 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
King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...
. Her youngest grandson, Bernard von Khevenhüller (1511–1548) was the Lord of Sternberg 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 (1503–57) was appointed
castellan A castellan, or constable, was the governor of a castle in medieval Europe. Its surrounding territory was referred to as the castellany. The word stems from . A castellan was almost always male, but could occasionally be female, as when, in 1 ...
of Ortenburg Castle near
Spittal an der Drau Spittal an der Drau is a town in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia (state), Carinthia. It is the administrative centre of Spittal an der Drau District, Austria's second largest district (''Districts of Austria, Bezirk'') b ...
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 Aichelberg () is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Göppingen (district), Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. Aichelberg is between Stuttgart and Ulm at the ''Albaufstieg'', the slope of the Swabian J ...
, 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 Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...
Protestant. Of Christoph Khevenhüller's three sons, Hans, Moritz and Bartlmäus, 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 Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, originally and officially the Emperor of the Romans (disambiguation), Emperor of the Romans (; ) during the Middle Ages, and also known as the Roman-German Emperor since the early modern period (; ), was the ruler and h ...
at the Spanish court, an office that he held for 26 years. Educated at the University of Padua, he knew Latin and Italian. He was appointed Imperial Chamberlain, was made a Knight of the
Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (, ) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in 1430 in Brugge by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal. T ...
in 1587 and a count in 1593, a rank that upon his death passed on to his brother Bartlmäus. During his lifetime, he sought and collected animals and plants of economic importance from many parts of the world.


Bartlmäus Khevenhüller

The activities of Bartlmäus Khevenhüller (1539–1613) centred on Carinthia. Styling himself "Freiherr auf Landskron and
Wernberg Wernberg () is a municipality in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Geography Wernberg lies on the Drava River at the foot of the Ossiach Tauern range, east of Villach, and between Lake Ossiach on the north, Wörthe ...
" he made it to
Burggrave Burgrave, also rendered as burggrave (from , ), was since the medieval period in Europe (mainly Germany) the official title for the ruler of a castle, especially a royal or episcopal castle, and its territory called a ''Burgraviate'' or ''Burgra ...
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 is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
in Carinthia. When in the course of the
Counter-Reformation The Counter-Reformation (), also sometimes called the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to, and as an alternative to or from similar insights as, the Protestant Reformations at the time. It w ...
Emperor Ferdinand II abolished the nobility's religious freedom in the
Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...
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 The Moravian Church, or the Moravian Brethren ( or ), formally the (Latin: "Unity of the Brethren"), is one of the oldest Protestant denominations in Christianity, dating back to the Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century and the original ...
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 Grandees of Spain () are the highest-ranking members of the Spanish nobility. They comprise nobles who hold the most important historical landed titles in Spain or its Spanish Empire, former colonies. Many such hereditary titles are held by extend ...
.


Paul Khevenhüller

A Protestant, Paul Khevenhüller (1593–1655) sided with the Swedish king during the
Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...
lending Gustav Adolf 70,000
Swedish riksdaler The Svenska 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,''National Geographic''. June 2002. p. 1. ''Ask Us''. was named after the German Thal ...
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 GÃ¥rd in
Södermanland Södermanland ( ), locally Sörmland, sometimes referred to under its Latinisation of names, Latinized form Sudermannia or Sudermania, is a Provinces of Sweden, historical province (or ) on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergà ...
, 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 *
George Khevenhüller Georg von Khevenhüller (, also spelled as Gjuro or George Khevenhiller; 22 April 1533 – 9 September 1587) was a Carinthian nobleman of the Khevenhüller dynasty. Though a dedicated Protestant by faith, he served as a governor of the Catholic ...
(1533–1587), "State Captain", i.e. governor of the
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, and was the first newly created Imperial State after the original German stem duchies. Car ...
. * 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 Austria Lower Austria ( , , abbreviated LA or NÖ) is one of the nine states of Austria, located in the northeastern corner of the country. Major cities are Amstetten, Lower Austria, Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt and Sankt Pölten, which ...
. * Ludwig Andreas Khevenhüller Graf von Aichelberg-Frankenburg (1683–1744), Austrian field marshal * Johann Joseph von Khevenhüller-Metsch (1706–1776),
Lord Great Chamberlain The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal but above the Lord High Constable of England, Lord High Constable. The office of Lo ...
("Oberstkämmerer") of
Maria Theresa Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position suo jure, in her own right. She was the ...
* Johann Carl Khevenhüller (1839–1905), member of
Maximilian I of Mexico Maximilian I (; ; 6 July 1832 – 19 June 1867) was an Austrian Empire, Austrian archduke who became Emperor of Mexico, emperor of the Second Mexican Empire from 10 April 1864 until his execution by the Restored Republic (Mexico), Mexican Republ ...
's corps of volunteers


Princes of Khevenhüller-Metsch (''Fürst von Khevenhüller-Metsch'')

* Johann Joseph (1706–1776), son of the former, created 1st Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch in 1763; married Countess Karolina Maria Augustina von Metsch (daughter of Count Johann Adolf von Metsch). * Johann Sigismund Friedrich (1732–1801), son of the former, 2nd Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married (1) Princess Maria Amalia Susanna of
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a Landlocked country#Doubly landlocked, doubly landlocked Swiss Standard German, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east ...
(daughter of Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein); married (2) Countess Marie Josephine Henriette Barbara Strassoldo (daughter of Count Vinzenz Strassoldo). * Karl Maria Joseph Johann Baptist Clemens (1756–1823), son of the former, 3rd Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Countess Therese of Morzin (daughter of Count Karl Joseph of Morzin). * Franz Maria Johann Joseph Hermann (1762–1837), brother of the former, 4th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married (1) Countess Maria Elisabeth von Kuefstein (daughter of Count Johann Adam von Kuefstein); married (2) Coutness Maria Josepha von Abensberg and Traun (daughter of Count Otto von Abensberg and Traun); married (3) Countess Krisztina "Christina" Zichy de Zich et Vásonkeő (daughter of Count Károly Zichy de Zich et Vásonkeő). * Richard Maria Johann Basil (1813–1877), son of the former, 5th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Countess Antonia Maria
Lichnowsky The House of Lichnowsky or House of Lichnovský is the name of an influential Czech aristocratic family of Silesian and Moravian origin, documented since the 14th century. History The noble family first appeared in the Duchy of Pless (Pszczyna) ...
(daughter of Prince Eduard Lichnowsky von Woschütz). * Johann Franz Karl Eduard Joseph Nemesius (1839–1905), son of the former, 6th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Countess Eduardine von Clam-Gallas (daughter of Count Eduard von Clam-Gallas). * Anton Sigismund Joseph Maria (1873–1945), nephew of the former, until 1919 (abolition of aristocratic titles) the 7th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Countess Gabriele von
Mensdorff-Pouilly The Mensdorff-Pouilly family is an old Nobility, aristocratic family originally from Duchy of Lorraine, Lorraine, whose members can trace back their noble lineage back to 1397.Régis Valette, ''Catalogue de la noblesse française subsistante'', p ...
(daughter of Count Alphons von Mensdorff-Pouilly). * Franz Eduard Joseph Adam Othmar Leopold Hubertus Maria (1889–1977), ''hereditary'' 8th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Princess Anna von
Fürstenberg Fürstenberg (also Fuerstenberg and Furstenberg) may refer to: Historical states * Fürstenberg-Baar, county (1441–1559) * Fürstenberg-Blumberg, county (1559–1614) * Fürstenberg-Donaueschingen, county (1617–1698) * Fürstenberg-Fürst ...
(daughter of
Maximilian Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg Maximilian Egon II, Prince of Fürstenberg (13 October 1863 – 11 August 1941) was a German landowner, investor and nobleman who was the head of the House of Fürstenberg from 1896 to 1941. Early life Born as Prince Maximilian Egon Christian Ka ...
). * Maximilian Alfred Bartholomäus Friedrich Anton Franz Eduard Joachim Anna Maria Schnee Oswald Hubertus (1919–2010), ''hereditary'' 9th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married Countess Wilhelmine
Henckel von Donnersmarck The Henckel von Donnersmarck family is an Austro-German noble family that originated in the former region of Spiš in Upper Hungary (now in Slovakia). The founder of the family was Henckel de Quintoforo in the 14th century. The original seat of th ...
(daughter of Count Lazarus Henckel von Donnersmarck and Countess Franziska von und zu
Eltz The House of Eltz is a noted German noble family, belonging to the ''Uradel''. The Rhenish dynasty has had close ties to the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia since 1736. History Though older sources mentioned one Eberhard zu Eltz, a Frankish citize ...
). *
Johannes Johannes is a Medieval Latin form of the personal name that usually appears as " John" in English language contexts. It is a variant of the Greek and Classical Latin variants (Ιωάννης, '' Ioannes''), itself derived from the Hebrew name '' Y ...
(1956–2020), ''hereditary'' 10th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married ''
Doña The terms Don (in Spanish and Italian), Dom (in Portuguese), and Domn (in Romanian), are honorific prefixes derived from the Latin ''Dominus'', meaning "lord" or "owner". The honorific is commonly used in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as well ...
'' Camilla Borghese dei Principi di Nettuno (daughter of '' Don'' Giovanni-Angelo Borghese dei Principi di Nettuno and ''Doña'' Lydia dei Conti Cremisini). They have only daughters but no sons.


Current head of the Khevenhüller-Metsch family

* Bartolomäus (born as Maria Bartolomäus Lazarus Maximilian Hubertus Graf von Khevenhüller-Metsch; 1958), ''hereditary'' 11th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch; married ''
Doña The terms Don (in Spanish and Italian), Dom (in Portuguese), and Domn (in Romanian), are honorific prefixes derived from the Latin ''Dominus'', meaning "lord" or "owner". The honorific is commonly used in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as well ...
'' Cristina Sanchez de Movellán y Garcia Ogara (second daughter of ''Don'' Manuel Sánchez de Movellán Hupfel, Marqués de Movellán). *
Maximilian Maximilian or Maximillian (Maximiliaan in Dutch and Maximilien in French) is a male name. The name "Max" is considered a shortening of "Maximilian" as well as of several other names. List of people Monarchs *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1 ...
, 9th Prince 1977-2010 (1919-2010) **
Johannes Johannes is a Medieval Latin form of the personal name that usually appears as " John" in English language contexts. It is a variant of the Greek and Classical Latin variants (Ιωάννης, '' Ioannes''), itself derived from the Hebrew name '' Y ...
, 10th Prince 2010-2020 (1956-2020) ** Bartolomäus, 11th Prince 2020–present (b. 1958) *** Graf Ludwig Andreas (b. 1988) *** Graf Philipp (b. 1998) ** Graf Karl Maximilian (b. 1959) *** Graf Maximilian (b. 1993) *** Graf Franz Christoph (b. 1995) *** Graf Sigismund (b. 1997) ** Graf Georg (b. 1960)


Spanish descendants

*''Don'' Camillo Ruspoli y Khevenhüller-Metsch, Duke of Sueca (1788–1864), married Carlota de Godoy, 2nd Duchess of Sueca *''Don'' Adolfo Ruspoli, 2nd Duke of Alcudia (1822–1914),
Grandee of Spain Grandee (; , ) is an official royal and noble ranks, aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ha ...
First Class *''Don'' Luigi Ruspoli, 3rd Marquis of Boadilla del Monte (1828–1893)


Notes


References

* 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. * Peter Thaler, ''Von Kärnten nach Schweden: Die evangelischen Glaubensflüchtlinge der Familien Khevenhüller und Paul''. Klagenfurt: Verlag des Kärntner Landesarchivs, 2010. ISBN 9783900531751.


External links


Burg HochosterwitzWebsite of Hochosterwitz Castle
(owned by the princely family of Khevenhüller-Metsch)

*

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Khevenhuller Austrian noble families Lists of princes German families Khevenhüller Carinthia People from Carinthia Spanish noble families