Herren von Graben, also named von (dem) Graben, vom Graben,[1] Grabner, Grabner zu Rosenburg, Graben zu Kornberg, Graben zu Sommeregg, Graben von (zum) Stein,[2] and ab dem Graben was the name of an old (Uradel) Austrian noble family.

Herren von Graben
noble family
Both coat of arms versions of the Von Graben
„Daß ich grabe bürgt mein Habe.“ „Ich baue, indem ich haue.“
Parent houseHouse of Meinhardin-Gorizia
Country Austria
Founded12th century
FounderKonrad and Grimoald von Graben (named in 1170)
Final rulerFelix Jakob von Graben zum Stein († 1776/1781)
Titlesknights
Style(s)Burgrave of Graz
Burgrave of Marburg
Burgrave of Lienz
Burgrave of Hohenwang
Burgrave of Heinfels
Burgrave and Lord of Gleichenberg
Burgrave and Lord of Sommeregg
Lord of Kornberg
Lord of Rosenburg
Lord of Pottenbrunn
Lord of Stein im Drautal
Lord of the high Lordship of Straß in Steiermark
Stadtholder of Lienz and East Tyrol etc
Estate(s)Schloss Kornberg
Riegersburg Castle
Rosenburg
Burg Sommeregg
Dissolution1776/1780/1781 (1776/1780/1781)
Cadet branchespaternal lines: Orsini-Rosenberg, De Graeff; maternal lines: Jörger von Tollet, Stadl zu Kornberg, Rain zu Sommeregg

History

edit

Originally from Carniola,[3] an apparent (or illegitimate) branch of the House of Meinhardin,[4][5] the family spread in neighboring countries. The earliest known members of the Graben family, Konrad and his brother Grimoald von Graben, lived around 1170.[6][7][8]


During the middle ages family went on to rule some Carinthian, Lower Austrian, Tyrolian, East Tyrols, Styrian, Gorizian and modern Italian districts as Burggrafen (a sort of viscount) and Herren (lords) from the early Middle Ages until the 16th-17th centuries. The last member was Felix Jakob von Graben zum Stein who lives in Tyrol († 1776 / 1781).

Coat of arms

edit

There are three forms of representation of the gender coat of arms, Von Graben, which have their connection to one another through the established family genealogy.[9][8] Originally, the family carried the coat of arms with the blue oblique beam to silver. From 1328 (until 1556/1564), the Von Graben family of the Kornberg line bore the coat of arms with the shovel (silver shovel on red). However, the derived line Von Graben zu Sommeregg (Andreas von Graben, d. 1463) adopted the oblique beam coat of arms (red, divided by blue and silver) at the time when it was converted into Ortenburger services came.[3] A distinction is made between the family coat of arms with the blue diagonal left bar on silver (also variant with diagonal right bar), the silver shovel on red coat of arms and the coat of arms split from red, and divided three times by blue and silver (or black).

  1. Line am Graben (Carniola): blue diagonal left bar on silver
    1. Line am Graben, Grabenhofen (Graz, Styria): blue diagonal left bar on silver (also variant with diagonal right bar)
      1. Branch at Thal: blue diagonal left bar on silver (also variant with diagonal right bar)
      2. Rosenberger branch (later House of Orsini-RosenbergI): blue diagonal right bar on silver
      3. Line Grabner zu Rosenburg (Second line in Lower Austria): blue diagonal right bar on silver
      4. Kornberg line (Styria): silver shovel on red
        1. First line in Lower Austria: silver shovel on red
        2. First Tyrolean line: silver shovel on red
          1. Swiss line: silver shovel coat on red
        3. Family Graeff / De Graeff: silver shovel on red
        4. Sommeregg line (Carinthia): split from red, and divided three times by blue and silver
          1. Line am Stein (Carinthia): split from red, and divided three times by blue and silver
          2. Second Tyrolean line: split from red, and divided three times by blue and silver

The lines of the family

edit

Originally from Carniola, a line settled in Styria around Graz. This line is named "Line Am Graben". During the later 13th century the later princely family Orsini-Rosenberg descended from a member of the family who lived at the Grazer Castle Alt-Grabenhofen, between Reinerkogel and Rosenberg.[10][11][12] During the early 14th century, the family split into four main lines, the Styrian Grabenhofen line, the Grabner (zu Rosenburg) line in Lower Austria, the Kornberg line and their Dutch offspring (De) Graeff,[13][8] and according to another unverfivied family tradition the Op den Graeff family as well,[14][15] and during the earlier 15th century in the Carynthian-Lienzer Sommeregg line.[16] In 1500, the family split into a new line, the Stein Line at Castle Stein. Two other lines of the Graben family can be found in Tyrol, and one in Switzerland. A detailed list of the lines and branches can be found here:

  1. Counts of Gorizia, Meinhardin
    1. Line Am Graben (Carniola), before 1170-13th century
      1. Line Am Graben, Grabenhofen (Graz, Styria), before 1259-1468
        1. Branch at Thal, early 14th century-after 1341
        2. Rosenberger branch (later House of Orsini-RosenbergI), after 1322
        3. Line Grabner zu Rosenburg (Second line in Lower Austria), before 1314-mid 17th century
        4. Kornberg line (Styria), before 1325-1564
          1. First line in Lower Austria, 1324-1421
          2. First Tyrolean line, 2nd half 15th century-after 1519
            1. Swiss line, unknown
          3. Graeff / De Graeff family (The Netherlands), around 1484
          4. Sommeregg line (Carinthia), before 1436-early 17th century
            1. Line am Stein (Carinthia), 1500-1664 in male line
            2. Second Tyrolean line, early 16th century-1776/80

Kornberg line

edit
 
The brothers Wolfgang, Andree and Wilhelm von Graben with his wife Magdalena von Stubenberg

The Grabner zu Kornberg came from Styria in Graz and belonged to the same tribe as the Grabner zu Rosenburg. The first important member of the family was Ulrich II von Graben (named between 1300–1361), who was elevated to the Styrian title of Burggraf of Hohenwang. The Styrian line's residence between 1328 and 1556 was at Schloss Kornberg. Between 1456 and 1564, the Kornberg line was owned the important Lordship Marburg with Obermarburg and the Marburg Castle. They were linked by marriage with the Lords of Windisch-Graetz,[17] Auersperg,[18][better source needed] Stubenberg,[19] and Guttenberg.[20] The Dutch family De Graeff claimed descent from Wolfgang von Graben, a member of the Graben family.[21] Andries de Graeff and his son Cornelis became Free Imperial knights of the Holy Roman Empire. That diploma dates from 19 July 1677:[13]

Fide digis itegur genealogistarum Amsteldamensium edocti testimoniis te Andream de Graeff [Andries de Graeff] non paternum solum ex pervetusta in Comitatu nostro Tyrolensi von Graben dicta familia originem ducere, qua olim per quendam ex ascendentibus tuis ejus nominis in Belgium traducta et in Petrum de Graeff [Pieter Graeff], abavum, Johannem [Jan Pietersz Graeff], proavum, Theodorum [Dirck Jansz Graeff], avum, ac tandem Jacobum [Jacob Dircksz de Graeff], patrem tuum, viros in civitate, Amstelodamensi continua serie consulatum scabinatus senatorii ordinis dignitabitus conspicuos et in publicum bene semper meritos propagata nobiliter et cum splendore inter suos se semper gessaerit interque alios honores praerogativasque nobilibus eo locorum proprias liberum venandi jus in Hollandia, Frisiaque occidentale ac Ultrajectina provinciis habuerit semper et exercuerit.[22]

The Kornberg line died out in 1664 with the death of Anna von Graben. The Lords of Stadl were heirs to their extensive Estate. The inheritance included the possessions of Marburg / Maribor, Kornberg, Rohrbach an der Lafnitz, Grabenhofen with Alt-Grabenhofen Castle, Liechtenberg and Krottenhofen.[23]

Members
edit

Line Grabner zu Rosenburg

edit

The Grabner zu Rosenburg came from Styria in Graz and belonged to the same tribe as the Kornberger Graben. They had extensive property with the Rosenburg and Pottenbrunn as well as in Moravia and was one of the advocates of Protestantism during the Reformation in Lower Austria. In the 16th century the Grabner Rosenburg made a center of the Austrian Reformation history.[24] During the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Grabner were among the richest and most respected families in Austria,[25] and one of the country's dominant Protestant noble families.[26]

Members
edit

Sommeregg line

edit

The Sommeregg line which came from the Kornberg line, was the most important family at the court of the Meinhardins of Gorizia in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.[27] The family was mentioned from Vom Graben instead of Von Graben only in Upper Carinthia and East Tyrol.[28] During the later Middle Ages, the success of that family arose from the steady accumulation of land, and loyalty to the Counts of Görz and later to the Habsburg Emperor. The line resided in Lienz, East Tyrol and Carinthia, and became "the most prominent of the family". Family members held the noble titles as the Burgraves of Sommeregg, Heinfels and Lienz. After the death of Leonhard of Gorizia in 1500, they became his successors as stadtholders of Lienz and East Tyrol. The Lienzer line died out in the year 1534, and the zum Stein in 1664.

They were linked by marriage with the Lords of Auersperg,[18] Saurau[29] and Breuner.[30][better source needed]

Members
edit

Line at Stein

edit

The line at Stein came from Carinthia and East Tyrol and sprang out of the Sommeregg line. The family was mentioned from Vom Graben instead of Von Graben only in Upper Carinthia and East Tyrol.[28] The family held the title Lord of Stein.


Tyrolian line

edit

The Tyrolian line came from Carinthia and East Tyrol and sprang out of the Sommeregg line.

Feudal

edit

Burgraviates

edit
 
Heinfels Castle

High Lordships

edit

Lordships

edit
 
Schloss Kornberg
 
Schloss Rosenburg

Lord of the manor

edit
  • Lord of the manor Graben near Rudolfswerth (Novo Mesto)
  • Lord of the manor Schloss Alt-Grabenhofen in the north of Graz
  • Lord of the manor Stein Castle (Carinthia)| Stein
  • Lord of the manor Herbstenburg
  • Lord of the manor Weidenburg
  • Lord of the manor Eppenstein

Castles, residences

edit

Varia

edit

In 2013 the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff (Familienverband Gräff-Graeff e.V.) was founded for the claimed Graeff lineage of Wolfgang von Graben.

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ In Upper Carynthia and East Tyrol, they are called generally vom Graben. Die Salzburger Lehen in Kärnten bis 1520
  2. ^ Lukas von Graben zum Stein changed his name from von Graben into (von) Graben von (zum) Stein in 1500
  3. ^ a b Dizionario biografico dei friulani: "Virgil von Graben", by Sergio Tavano
  4. ^ Rudolf Granichstaedten-Czerva (1948): "Brixen - Reichsfürstentum und Hofstaat".
  5. ^ Google book search: Das Land Tirol: mit einem Anhange: Vorarlberg: ein Handbuch für Reisende. Von Beda Weber
  6. ^ Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor: Die Ehre dess Hertzogthums Crain: das ist, Wahre, gründliche, und recht eigendliche Belegen- und Beschaffenheit dieses Römisch-Keyserlichen herrlichen Erblandes; Laybach (Ljubljana) 1689
  7. ^ Adalbert Sikora: Die Herren vom Graben in Zeitschrift des historischen Vereines für Steiermark. 51. Jahrgang, Graz 1960, p 43
  8. ^ a b c Von Graben Forschung (german)
  9. ^ Adalbert Sikora: Die Herren vom Graben in Zeitschrift des historischen Vereines für Steiermark. 51. Jahrgang, Graz 1960, p 55
  10. ^ Collegium Res Nobilis Austriae: Orsini und Rosenberg Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Gothaischer Hofkalender: genealogisches Taschenbuch der fürstlichen Häuser, 1942, p. 274
  12. ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels. Ostsee, C. A. Starke., 2004, p. 264, Orsini u. Rosenberg
  13. ^ a b Family De Graeff at the Nieuw Nederlandsch Biographisch Woordenboek, part II
  14. ^ US family genealogy
  15. ^ "Van Bebber Pioneers Newsletter", Doc Store. January 1988" A copied text that is not documented by extern sources says: "Made up from genuine document by Pieter de Graeff, Baron van Zuid Polsbrook (Polsbroek) Purmerland in Ilpendam, living 1661, continued by Pieter Gerritsz de Graeff and after that by Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek (Holland). In the Diploma of Nobility loaned to Andries de Graeff it was affirmed that the family de Graeff was formerly called von Graben, which is the same as de Graeff. This family today shows the same Coat of Arms as the De Graeff family." Accessed 29 sept 2011
  16. ^ Google book search: Kaiser Friedrich III. (1440-1493): Hof, Regierung und Politik
  17. ^ Roots web: Adelheid von Wolfsthal
  18. ^ a b Marek, Miroslav. "Genealogy of the House of Auersperg". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source]
  19. ^ Das Archiv des Hauses Stubenberg: Supplement
  20. ^ Genealogie der Freiherren von Guttenberg, S. 78
  21. ^ Familienverband Gräff-Graeff e. V. (german, english)
  22. ^ Google books: Der deutsche Herold: Zeitschrift für Wappen-, Siegel- u. Familienkunde, Band 3, Seite 92 Nachrichten über die Familie de Graeff (German)
  23. ^ Adalbert Sikora: Die Herren vom Graben. In: Zeitschrift des historischen Vereines für Steiermark. 51. Jg., 1960, ISSN 0437-5890, p 82–84 and 93.
  24. ^ "Wanderungen durch die Oesterreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie", p 333; by Friedrich Umlauft (1879)
  25. ^ "Allgemeine Encyclopädie der Wissenschaften und Künste", book 77, p 220–222 (Leipzig 1864)
  26. ^ www.gedaechtnisdeslandes.at - Pottenbrunn
  27. ^ "www.dolomitenstadt.at Ein Kirchlein mit Geschichte". Archived from the original on 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  28. ^ a b Die Salzburger Lehen in Kärnten bis 1520
  29. ^ Google book search: Schauplatz des landsässigen nieder-oesterreichischen Adels vom Herren- und Ritterstande. Band 1. Von Franz Karl Wissgrill und Karl von Odelga (Ulrich von Graben and Barbara von Auersperg)
  30. ^ Marek, Miroslav. "Genealogy of the House of Breuner". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source]
edit