Windischgraz (Slovenj Gradec) in the Mislinja valley between the Pohorje and the Karawanks is a castle, market and mint of the Andechs dukes of Merania inside the duchy of Carinthia.
The settlement was probably moved from the old site (Stari trg, the Roman Colatio) to the plain about 1180. It passes to Aquileia only in 1251, when Patriarch Berthold, an Andechs, gives it to his church; it is called a town in 1267.
Who he is
- Name
- Berthold IV of Andechs
- Title
- Duke of Merania, margrave of Istria and Carniola
- Since
- the lordship came to the Andechs in the twelfth century (date not pinned)
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- Andechs-Meranians (see the Northern Italy map's Margraviate of Istria and Andechs in Carniola). His daughter Agnes is the queen of France whose marriage brings the interdict; another daughter, Gertrude, marries Duke Andrew of Hungary between 1200 and 1203. Berthold dies in 1204 (later).
- Confidence
- medium
German Wikipedia (Slovenj Gradec).
Overlord
The duke of Carinthia for the ground (Windischgraz belonged to the duchy of Carinthia); the Andechs hold it as their own lordship.
What it holds
- Windischgraz castle, market and mint (market and mint rights are stated for the Andechs period without a date).
- The Mislinja valley (extent not pinned).
How it was acquired
Twelfth century (how is not stated).
Allies and rivals
The Andechs are Staufen (Berthold IV signed the Speyer protest of 28 May 1199). Neighbours: the duke of Styria's Drava march, the Heunburg counts in the Savinja valley.
How things stand that morning
Held by Berthold IV of Andechs.
Wealth
Market and mint on the road from Celje to Carinthia.
Military
The castle of Windischgraz.
Places of note
- Windischgraz: Castle, market and mint.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The town article dates the Andechs lordship to the twelfth century and the gift to Aquileia to 1251.
On the map: The lordship's edges are not pinned.
Primary sources for Carinthia
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.
- The Austrian and Salzburg annals (kept in the 12th and 13th centuries, with continuations to the late 13th century). A family of monastic annals from Austria, Styria and Salzburg, printed together. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.