European Kingdoms

Duchy of Carinthia (Spontheim / Spanheim) (Austria) (Central Europe)
AD 1122 - 1269

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Situated in the south of Austria, close to modern Slovenia, the medieval region of Carinthia emerged out of Roman domination. The Hunnic empire and then the Ostrogoths ruled for a time before it was settled by Slav groups. In the early seventh century many of these Central European Slavs were organised into a 'Slav Kingdom'.

Following the death of its founder in AD 658 the kingdom fragmented. The Carinthian section became known by its Slav name of Khorushka. In time it was absorbed by the Eastern Franks and, when Carloman of the Eastern Franks suffered a debilitating stroke, he divided his holdings to create a duchy of Carinthia. This enjoyed a series of 'Non-Dynastic Dukes' until the death of the ruling Eppensteiners meant a change of governance after three generations under them.

The county of Spanheim, known also as Spontheim or Sponheim, was located in Rhenish Franconia, a region which had been heavily settled by Franks from the seventh century onwards. Like a number of important Frankish-German noble families, the Spanheimers saw opportunities to be won in the disputed border lands on the eastern edge of Germany.

Count Siegfried I (1010-1065) served with distinction in 1035 under Emperor Conrad II ('the Salian') against Adalberon of Eppenstein, duke of Carinthia. Siegfried also married one Richgard, daughter of Count Engelbert of the Sieghardingers of Bavaria. Through this he inherited large tracts of territory in Carinthia and Tyrol and, in 1045, was appointed margrave of the Hungarian march. His son Engelbert I became margrave of Istria in 1090.

By 1122 the Spanheimers of Carinthia formed what was possibly the senior branch of the family while the junior branch continued to govern the family county in Rhenish-Franconia. The young Count Henry of Spanheim in Carinthia was the son of Hedwig, sister of Henry II of Eppenstein and the previous ruling duke of Carinthia as Henry III (who also happened to be the younger Henry's godfather).

(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 Die Grafen zu Ortenburg und ihre Vorfahren im Mannesstamm, die Spanheimer in Kärnten, Sachsen und Bayern, sowie deren Nebenlinien, Friedrich Hausmann (Ostbairische Grenzmarken - Passauer Jahrbuch für Geschichte Kunst und Volkskunde series, Vol 36, Passau, 1994, 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: 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).)

1122 - 1123

Count of Spanheim. Margrave of Verona. Died young.

1124 - 1125

Having succeeded the Eppensteiner 'Dukes of Carinthia', the somewhat unexpected death of the young Henry IV means that his brother, Engelbert II of Spanheim, now succeeds him in Carinthia.

The Benedictine St Paul's Abbey in the Lavanttal (Benediktinerstift Sankt Paul im Lavanttal) was founded in Carinthia in 1091 by Count Engelbert I of Spanheim-Ortenburg, margrave of Istria and father to dukes Henry IV and Engelbert of Carinthia, and now lies in eastern Austria of which Carinthia is a part

Engelbert has already been appointed by Pope Urban II in 1098 as the reeve (in German, 'vogt') of St Paul's Abbey which had been founded by Engelbert I. About two years later he had created the county of Kraiburg from the estates of his wife, Uta.

Then in 1103 he had been granted the margraviate of Istria in place of Ulrich II of Weimar. Now he becomes duke of Carinthia and margrave of Verona. In 1125 he passes Istria to his son, Engelbert III of Spanheim-Ortenburg.

1124 - 1134

Brother. Engelbert II of Spanheim. In Istria. Abdicated d.1141.

1134 - 1144

Son. Margrave of Verona.

1144 - 1161

Son. Lost Verona. Drowned. Died childless.

1151

Despite being a firm supporter of Holy Roman Emperor Conrad III, Henry loses the margraviate of Verona to his own uncle, Herman III of Baden. Perhaps this is fortunate as, in 1164, the most important of the Veronese cities band together into the Veronese League to counteract the Italian policies of the emperor's nephew, Duke Frederick Barbarossa of Swabia.

The Hohenstaufen family of Swabia gained a strong foothold on power in the late eleventh century and went on to supply an entire dynasty of German emperors which included Frederick Barbarossa

1161 - 1181

Brother.

1162

Supported as always by his brother-in-law, Louis 'the Iron' of Thuringia, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had already claimed direct imperial control of Italy at the Diet of Roncaglia in 1158. Frederick is attempting to restore his rights over the increasingly independent trading cities there.

The diet finds in his favour so the cities of northern Italy refuse to accept the decision (led by the Veronese League). Frederick imposes his will by force of arms, and in 1162 razes Milan to the ground (supported on campaign by Herman of Carinthia). The Italian response is to unite under the Lombard League.

1181 - 1202

Son. Took part in the German Crusade. Died childless.

1197 - 1198

Philip Hohenstaufen, youngest brother of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI and a former bishop of Würzburg, has already been made duke of Tuscany in 1195. In 1196 he had become duke of Swabia on the death of his brother Conrad, and now appears to be the guardian of Henry's son, the infant Frederick (II).

Lothar III of Supplinberg became duke of Saxony through his marriage to Richenza, daughter of Count Henry of Northeim, his inheritance of that title and of the domains of the Billungs, and his initial support for Emperor Henry V

In 1197, Philip sets out to fetch Frederick from Sicily for his coronation as king of the Germans when he hears of the emperor's death and returns at once to Germany. Many other members of the German nobility also hurry back to their seats in order to protect their interests during the coming struggle.

They have been involved in the short-lived German Crusade (otherwise known as the Crusade of 1197 or the Crusade of Henry VI), including Ulrich II of Carinthia. Henry VI had been determined to complete the work of his father in the Holy Land with a fresh expedition, but he himself had died before even embarking. The campaign continues, reconquering some lost territory for Jerusalem.

1202 - 1256

Brother. Regent from 1199. 'Prince of the land'.

1204 - 1208

The war between rival Holy Roman emperors, Philip Hohenstaufen of Swabia and Otto of Brunswick, lasts with varying fortunes until Hermann of Thuringia submits in 1204. Adolph of Cologne and Henry I, duke of Brabant soon follow suit, but Philip is murdered before the final peace can be agreed.

Bernard became Carinthia's most influential Spanheim duke thanks to his marriage to Judith, daughter of the extremely powerful - and feared - King Przemysl II Ottokar 'the Great' of Bohemia

Otto secures the throne for himself (and also Swabia) until 1215 when the young Frederick can finally succeed his father, Henry VI. More opportunistically perhaps, Duke Bernard of Carinthia supports Philip until his death, then Otto at his coronation, and then switches to Frederick II after 1212.

1213

Under Bernard the duchy reaches the height of its power and influence. He now marries Judith, daughter of Ottokar I of Bohemia, thereby allying the Spanheimers to the powerful Czech Przemysls.

1256 - 1269

Son. Margraviate of Carniola (1248).

1269

Ulrich has outlived his own children so, upon his death and based upon his marriage to Judith of Bohemia and a secret agreement of 1268, King Ottokar II takes the duchy as its one and only 'Przemyslid Duke'. This is despite Ulrich having also formally agreed to be succeeded by his brother, Philip, the deposed archbishop of Salzburg (Philip returns in 1276).

King Przemysl II Ottokar the Great, the 'Golden and Iron', was an inspirational empire-builder for his Czech kingdom of Bohemia-Moravia - he was also a capable politician, who managed to bring the state out of crisis and greatly strengthen it