European Kingdoms

Duchy of Carinthia (Non-Dynastic) (Austria) (Central Europe)
AD 879 - 889? & 976 - 1122

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Situated in the south of Austria, close to modern Slovenia, the medieval region of Carinthia was home to various Celtic tribes when it was conquered by the Roman empire. Then the Hunnic empire and the Ostrogoths ruled here before it became an ill-defined border region into which settled Slav groups for about a century and-a-half.

In the early seventh century many of these Slavs in Central Europe were organised into a 'Slav Kingdom' by a Franconian. Following his death the kingdom fragmented after having survived years of concerted Frankish efforts to destroy it. The state which succeeded it in Carinthia was known by its Slav name of Khorushka. In time that was absorbed by the Eastern Franks.

Carloman of the Eastern Franks suffered a debilitating stroke in AD 879 just two years after gaining Italy. Unable to rule in anything but name and having no legitimate offspring, he divided his holdings between his brothers. Louis 'the Younger' gained Bavaria while Charles 'the Fat' gained Italy. Carloman's illegitimate son, Arnulf, became duke of Carinthia, a new title which was created out of the former principality of Khorushka.

This title seems only to have been a personal one, in existence for Arnulf's lifetime only. As he became Germanic Roman emperor in 896 the title went with him. One of his subsidiary commands, Lower Pannonia in the former Avar lands, passed to the vassal Slavic Duke Braslav to command.

As German control over the eastern lands strengthened and was expanded, various changes took place in the administrative organisation. These frontier duchies soon became too big for one man to govern so they were sub-divided into smaller pockets, which had the added benefit of allowing the German emperor to grant more titles to his supporters.

The formal creation of Carinthia as a duchy in its own right and not as a personal title took place in 976. Henry 'the Quarrelsome', grandson of Henry I of Germany, rebelled against Holy Roman Emperor Otto II. As a result, Henry was deprived of his Bavarian title and possessions. Otto I, duke of Swabia was created duke of Bavaria in his place, easily done as Swabia and Bavaria neighboured each other. At the same time, Carinthia was formally separated from Bavaria by Otto II - one of many large-scale reorganisations of German lands which also involved the creation of the stem duchies.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Geschichte Kärntens bis 1335 (Vols 1 & 2), A Jaksch (Klagenfurt, 1928-29), from Geschichte Kärntens (Vols 1 & 2), C Fräss-Ehrfeld (Klagenfurt, 1984-94), from Dynasties of the World, John E Morby, from Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800-1056, Timothy Reuter, from The New Cambridge Medieval History: Volume 3, c.900-c.1024, Timothy Reuter & Rosamond McKitterick (Eds), from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, and from External Links: the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and Encyclopaedia.com, and The Holy Roman Empire (Heraldica), and The Holy Roman Empire, Christopher Brooks (Portland Community College via LibreTexts Humanities).)

879 - 889?

Son of Carloman of the East Franks. GRE (896-899).

889 - 947

The region of Carinthia (Carantania) comes more or less under the control of Bavaria as the 'Carinthian March' (a border territory). Following this, a duchy is gradually formed during the tenth century, although it is not formally established until 976. Count Berthold of the Bavarian Luitpoldings is granted ducal rights over Carinthia in 927, by King Henry 'the Fowler' of Germany.

Arnulf, duke of Carinthia, overthrew his uncle, Emperor Charles 'the Fat', to become Carolingian king of East Francia from 887, disputed king of Italy from 894, and disputed Germanic emperor from 22 February 896 until his death at Ratisbon in Bavaria in 899

896

Berengar of Friuli agrees on the formal division of Italy with the Germanic Roman Emperor Lambert. Berengar controls the eastern section, covering the Adda to the Po, while Bergamo is shared. Lambert agrees to marry Berengar's daughter to seal the deal.

The peace quickly falls apart when Berengar, perhaps retaining illusions of imperial greatness, is defeated by Lambert while advancing on Pavia. Fortunately for him, Lambert dies just days later. Berengar immediately secures Pavia and is established as sole ruler of Italy (although he is still a vassal of Arnulf, king of Germany, duke of Carinthia, and now Germanic Roman emperor himself).

899 - 901

As part of their initial invasion of Europe, the Magyars invade Italy, possibly at the prompting of Arnulf, king of Germany. Berengar refuses a request by them for an armistice but his army is surprised and routed at the Battle of the Brenta on 24 September 899. The Magyar invasion is subsequently blocked by the Venetians at Pellestrina in 900, but they still ravage Carinthia in the following year.

The determined Berengar of Friuli not only controlled the march territory between Italy proper and the Avars and Magyars to the east, but also claimed the Italian throne no less than three times during his eventful life

927 - 947

Brother of Arnulf. Duke of Bavaria (938).

947 - 955

Son. Duke of Bavaria (947-955).

953

Feeling that his position is threatened by the marriage of his father, Otto I of Saxony, to Adelaide, heiress of Italy, Ludolph of Swabia joins forces with his brother-in-law, Conrad 'the Red', duke of Lorraine, in revolt. Ludolph is supported by the Swabians, but Conrad fails to gain the same support from his own subjects. Otto I and Henry I of Bavaria (and Carinthia) defeat the rebellion.

955 - 976

Duke of Bavaria (955-976 & 985-995). Rebelled and deposed.

c.960

The 'March of Austria', created from former Bavarian territory which has already been captured (in 955) from the early formation of Hungary, is recognised around this date as a margraviate. It sits on Bavaria's north-eastern border, immediately above Carinthia.

962

With the accession of the Saxon king, Otto I, the power of the Germanic Roman empire is confirmed. Otto is quite vigorous in establishing new counties and border areas within and without the empire's borders.

Germany in AD 962 may have had its new emperor to govern those territories which are shown within the dark black line, but it was still a patchwork of competing interests and power bases (click or tap on map to view full sized)

The county of Ardennes under Sigfried gains the stronghold of Lucilinburhuc (the later Luxemburg), Arnulf I 'the Elder' is restored in Flanders, and the 'March of Austria' is formed (or confirmed) from territory already captured from early Hungary (around 960).

At the same time, Saxony gains Hermann Billung as its duke, charged with maintaining the duchy's eastern borders and expanding them further to the east, alongside the recently-created North March. Perhaps as a reaction to this or as the culmination of a process that is already heading that way, the duchy of Poland is formed around the same time.

976

Henry 'the Quarrelsome', grandson of Henry I of Germany, rebels against Holy Roman Emperor Otto II. As a result, Henry is deprived of his Bavarian title and possessions. Otto I, duke of Swabia is created duke of Bavaria in his place, easily done as Swabia and Bavaria neighbour each other.

Otto I accepts the surrender of Berengar of Ivrea in 961 to become undisputed German emperor, shown in this early thirteenth century text called the Manuscriptum Medioalense

Carinthia is formally separated from Bavaria by Otto II and made a duchy in its own right - one of many large-scale reorganisations of German lands which also involves the creation of the stem duchies.

The border area along Carinthia's eastern edge now becomes the new 'Carinthian March' or 'Hungarian March' until it is re-categorised as the 'March of Styria'.

976 - 978

Restored in Carinthia alone.

978 - 995

Bavaria rules again over Carinthia, first under Otto I, duke of Bavaria and Swabia, and then successively under Henry III and Henry II. Otto seems not to hold the title of duke of Carinthia himself. Instead Henry III fills the position, although some modern sources show it as being Otto. The Luitpoldings are involved in a long-running dispute about the Bavarian duchy, and Carinthia is quite naturally involved.

Duke Otto I, grandson of Otto I the Great of Saxony, and duke of Bavaria and Carinthia, as well as Swabia, is seen here on the right with his sister, Abbess Mathilda

978 - 985

In Carinthia in the name of Otto. Duke of Bavaria (983-985).

985 - 989

Restored for a second time.

989 - 995

Restored. Duke of Bavaria (955-976 & 985-995).

995 - 1004

Son of Conrad 'the Red' of Lotharingia. Margrave of Verona.

1004 - 1011

Son. Duke Conrad VI of Franconia (1024-1039). In Verona too.

1011 - 1035

Deposed, possibly due to a rebellion. Died 1039.

1024

The future Conrad II 'the Younger' of Carinthia is a cousin of Conrad 'the Salian', otherwise Conrad I of Carinthia (1004-1011) and Conrad VI of Franconia, and should not be confused with him, although both are candidates for the imperial throne in this year. Conrad VI wins, and is crowned Conrad II of the Holy Roman empire.

1035

Count Siegfried I of Spanheim (1010-1065) serves with distinction under Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II ('the Salian') against Adalberon of Eppenstein, duke of Carinthia. He also soon marries one Richgard, daughter of Count Engelbert of the Sieghardingers of Bavaria.

The Conradine success at the Battle of Fritzlar in Frankish Hessengau in AD 906 saw them reach the peak of their power, although this depiction of Fritzlar dates from the seventeenth century

Through this he inherits large tracts of territory in Carinthia and Tyrol and, in 1045, is appointed margrave of the Hungarian march. His son Engelbert becomes margrave of Istria in 1090 and a descendant becomes duke of 'Spontheim Carinthia' in 1122.

1035 - 1039

Son of Conrad I. A cousin of HRE Conrad II 'the Salian'.

1038

Duke Herman IV of Swabia, still a minor at the time of his accession, is campaigning in southern Italy alongside HRE Conrad II. When the young duke is struck down by an epidemic, Conrad ignores the rights to the duchy which are held by Gebhard, son of Herman, and instead transfers it to his own son, Henry 'the Black'. Gebhard retains the county of Sulzbach, whilst his younger brother remains Adalbert I, count of Windberg. Henry also gains Burgundy.

1039 - 1047

Duke of Bavaria, Carinthia, Franconia, Swabia, & HRE Henry III.

1040

It is Henry who, as HRE Henry III, divides the march of Verona from Carinthia and creates two new marches from it - Carniola and Istria. Thanks to ties forged through marriage, Poppo, count of Weimar-Orlamünde in Thuringia, is appointed margrave of both marches.

The city of Krainburg (with 'krain' being the German version of the Anglicised 'carn' of Carniola) served as the margraviate's capital, and today is Kranj, fourth-largest city in Slovenia

1047 - 1055

Numbering follows the Bavarian Welfs. Also in Verona.

1055

Welf III dies without having produced an heir. He bequeaths his property to Weingarten Abbey in Altdorf, where his mother is abbess. She in turn passes it to Welf, soon to be Duke Welf I of Bavaria. This does not include the fief of Carinthia, however, which is assigned to Conrad of Zulpichgau along with the margraviate of Verona (the territory from which Carniola and Istria had been drawn).

1055 - 1061

Son of Hezzelin I of Zulpichgau. Margrave of Verona.

1061 - 1073

Margrave of Verona. Deposed. Died 1078.

1062

The Carinthian province of Istria is restored as a margraviate in its own right. This separation is probably disputed by Berthold who eventually rebels by supporting the rival Holy Roman emperor, Rudolf of Rheinfelden. By this time Berthold has already been removed from Carinthia, an act which he also disputes.

Berthold II of Zahringen gained the duchy of Carinthia and the margraviate of Verona in 1061, but he could do little more than argue ineffectively against the removal of these titles in 1073, five years before his death

1073 - 1076

Son of Adalberon. Duke while Berthold maintained his claim.

1076 - 1090

Son. Margrave of Verona. Died without issue.

1090

Count Siegfried I of Spanheim (1010-1065) had served with distinction under Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II ('the Salian') against Adalberon of Eppenstein, duke of Carinthia, in a campaign in 1035. He had also soon married one Richgard, daughter of Count Engelbert of the Sieghardingers of Bavaria.

Through this he had inherited large tracts of territory in Carinthia and Tyrol and, in 1045, had been appointed margrave of the Hungarian march. His son is Engelbert, who now becomes margrave of Istria while a descendant becomes duke of Carinthia in 1122.

However, this success is at the expense of Henry I of Eppenstein, the former margrave of Istria, while the Eppenstein family is also about to lose Carinthia to another ducal house.

Conrad (or Konrad) II 'the Salian' of Rhenish Franconia was also Duke Conrad VI of Franconia, and was married to Gisela, daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia

1090 - 1122

Brother. Henry II of Eppenstein. Last male Eppensteiner.

1122

Henry II of Carinthia, also Henry II of Eppenstein, dies without having produced an heir. With him dies the family of Eppenstein in the male line. Only his sister, Hedwig, survives him.

Through this relationship her son, Henry, becomes the next ruling duke of 'Spontheim Carinthia' whilst also holding the title of count of Spanheim thanks to his father, Count Engelbert I.