Hohenwerfen, built in 1075-1078 by Archbishop Gebhard and enlarged by Konrad I, closes the Salzach valley at the Pass Lueg and is the archbishop's southern bulwark and refuge.
Its burgrave Kuno, a ministerial, was commissioned by Adalbert III to build Gutrat castle above the Hallein salt pans to guard the salt and to settle the disputed rights with Berchtesgaden in Salzburg's favour. In 1198 Adalbert's ministeriales held him besieged at Werfen for fourteen days: the burgrave's part in that is not recorded.
Who he is
- Name
- Kuno (Chuno) of Werfen-Schnaitsee, from 1209 'of Gutrat'
- Title
- Burgrave of Hohenwerfen, ministerial of the archbishop
- Since
- Not pinned; burgrave in Adalbert's time
- Born
- Not pinned
- Family
- A Salzburg ministerial house with a seat at Schnaitsee in the Chiemgau; the Gutrat line ends in 1304.
- Confidence
- medium
de.wikipedia (Burgruine Gutrat; Burg Hohenwerfen).
Overlord
The archbishop of Salzburg.
What it holds
- Custody of Hohenwerfen and the Pass Lueg road
- Gutrat castle above Hallein, being built for the archbishop (finished by 1209 at the latest; whether it stands on 1 January 1200 is not pinned)
- The family seat at Schnaitsee (Bavaria)
How it was acquired
Office of the archbishop.
Allies and rivals
The archbishop; the provost of Berchtesgaden over salt rights.
How things stand that morning
Kuno keeps Hohenwerfen for the archbishop.
Wealth
Office revenues; fiefs; the castle at the salt works.
Military
Hohenwerfen, the strongest castle of the archbishopric, with defensive works added about 1200.
Threats
- The ministeriales' quarrel with the archbishop (1198)
- Berchtesgaden
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.
- 1209 (beyond 1200)Kuno first calls himself 'of Gutrat', the castle having become his.Depends on: Gutrat finished. Stopped by: Not applicable in 1200.
Places of note
- Gutrat castle: Built under Adalbert III to guard the salt works
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: One article on Gutrat names him; his office in January 1200 is inferred from his commission under Adalbert.
On the map: A disc round the castle; the burgrave's district is not known.
Primary sources for Salzburg (Adalbert III)
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.
- Annals of Schäftlarn and the Bavarian annals (12th and 13th centuries). Brief Bavarian annals. Read online
- 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
- Bavarian monuments: the charters of the Bavarian monasteries and bishoprics (charters from the 8th century onward, published 1763 to 1916). The great charter series of Bavaria, arranged by monastery and bishopric. Read online
Sources and studies
- Burgruine Gutrat (de.wikipedia)
- Burg Hohenwerfen (de.wikipedia)
- Adalbert III. von Böhmen (de.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.