An old free-lord family on the Haunsberg north of Salzburg, holding a castle that their ancestors had handed to St Peter's abbey, and, far down the Danube, the Passau fief of Linz.
Around 1200 they are being drawn into the orbit of the counts of Lebenau, who take over their lordship on the right bank of the Salzach (date not pinned), and after 1229 they will submit to the archbishop. Gottschalk will sell Linz to Duke Leopold VI in 1205-06.
Who he is
- Name
- Gottschalk (II) of Haunsberg
- Title
- Free lord (Hochfreier) of Haunsberg
- Since
- Not pinned (a Gottschalk of Haunsberg is active about 1147-1167; a Gottschalk is made steward of the upper castle in 1211; the Austria file names Gottschalk II as lord of Linz until 1205-06)
- Born
- Not pinned
- Family
- Free lords named from the Haunsberg, the wooded ridge north of Salzburg between the Salzach and the Mattsee lakes. Whether the family took its name from the castle or the reverse is unclear.
- Confidence
- low
de.wikipedia (Burgruine Haunsberg; Grafschaft Lebenau); Austria file Linz (Haunsberg).
Overlord
Not pinned: they gave the upper castle to St Peter's abbey at Salzburg; under Count Otto of Lebenau (1190-1205) the counts took over the lordship of the Haunsberg 'burgraves'; after 1229 the family had to submit to the archbishop. For Linz they are vassals of the bishop of Passau.
What it holds
- The Haunsberg castle (upper castle St Peter's property, held by the family)
- Estates on the right bank of the Salzach north of Salzburg
- Linz castle and market as a fief of the bishop of Passau (Austria file)
Allies and rivals
The counts of Lebenau (who absorb their lordship), St Peter's abbey, the bishop of Passau (Linz), Duke Leopold VI (who buys Linz).
How things stand that morning
Gottschalk holds the Haunsberg and Linz; the Lebenau counts' takeover is not dated.
Wealth
Estates; the Linz market and toll.
Military
The Haunsberg castle; Linz castle.
Threats
- The counts of Lebenau
- The archbishop
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.
- 1205-06 (beyond 1200)Gottschalk sells Linz to Leopold VI.Depends on: Leopold's money and wish to hold the Danube above Enns. Stopped by: Passau refusing consent.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The family is attested but its members and status around 1200 are uncertain; the Linz link rests on the Austria file's source (de.wikipedia, Linzer Schloss).
On the map: Drawn as two modern municipalities round the ridge; the castle site is near Nußdorf.
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
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.