Andechs in Carniola

Who he is

Name

Berthold IV of Andechs

Title

Margrave of Istria and Carniola, duke of Merania

Since

1188 at the latest

Born

not pinned

Family

Andechs (see Margraviate of Istria for his children)

Confidence

medium

German Wikipedia (Kamnik; Berthold IV.; Markgrafschaft Istrien); English Wikipedia (March of Carniola).

Overlord

The Empire

What it holds

• Kamnik (Stein) with the Mali grad and the Stari grad (Oberstein, first dated 1202) and the market settlement below; a mint (first date not pinned).
• Kranj (Krainburg), the old seat of the counts and margraves of Carniola, first named in 1060; its residents are called citizens in 1221 and it is first called a town in 1256.
• Motnik and Trojane on the road east towards Celje, and the land up to the Kokra (since about 1100).
• Preddvor (Höflein) and Thurn unter Neuburg (listed as Andechs holdings in 1156).
• Whatever margravial rights the house exercises in Carniola (thin).

How it was acquired

Parts of the Weimar-Orlamünde inheritance passed to the Andechs about 1100: Motnik and Trojane, the land up to the Kokra and Kranj, and the Kamnik district as their centre; Preddvor and Thurn unter Neuburg are theirs by 1156 (German Wikipedia, Herzogtum Krain).

Allies and rivals

Neighbours: the Spanheim dukes of Carinthia round Ljubljana, the bishops of Freising (Škofja Loka) and Brixen (Bled), and the patriarch, who claims the march. Staufen party.

How things stand that morning

On 1 January 1200 Kranj and Kamnik are the Andechs' castles and the seat of the march's authority in Carniola. Across their borders: the Spanheim lands round Ljubljana to the south, Freising's Loka lordship to the west, Brixen's Bled to the north-west, and the Carinthian and Styrian lands beyond the Karawanks and the Kamnik Alps (later sheet).

Wealth

The road from Ljubljana to Celje and the Sava crossings; the Kamnik market and mint; the rents of Upper Carniola.

Military

Castles at Kamnik and Kranj and their ministeriales (not pinned). No numbers.

Threats

• The patriarch's dormant claim to the march.
• The Spanheims next door at Ljubljana.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

1. before 1207Henry of Andechs marries Sophie of Weichselburg, bringing the Weichselburg lands of Lower Carniola to the house.Depends on: The match being made. Stopped by: Another match for either party.

Places of note

• Kamnik castles (Mali grad, Stari grad): The Andechs' centre in Carniola.
• Kranj castle: The old seat of the march.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: German Wikipedia (Herzogtum Krain; Kamnik; Kranj) gives the Andechs holdings and their dates; whether Berthold IV is margrave of Carniola in law or the patriarch remains the nominal margrave is disputed between the sources.

On the map: Rough blocks round the two castles; the villages that answered to them in 1200 are not known one by one.

Primary sources for Margraviate of Istria

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

• History of the doges of Venice (about 1229, with a continuation). The earliest surviving Venetian narrative close to the events. Read online
• Documents on the older commercial and political history of the Republic of Venice, part 1, 814 to 1205 (documents of 814 to 1205, edited 1856). Venice's treaties and privileges in full text. Read online