One of the few free noble houses of Styria, as opposed to the duke's ministeriales: the lords of Peggau hold the castle and lordship of Peggau on the Mur north of Graz, where the valley narrows towards Frohnleiten and the road to Bruck.
On 1 January 1200 Ulrich I and Leutold I lead the family. Their rise to the comital title (1237) and the castle of Pfannberg (about 1280) are later.
Who he is
- Name
- Ulrich I of Peggau (on record 1175-1216) and Leutold I of Peggau (1175-1212)
- Title
- Free lords of Peggau (de Peka)
- Since
- on record from 1175
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- A high-free (not ministerial) Styrian house, named de Peka from 1136 (Rudolf I); kin of the old counts of Zeltschach (Poppo I, count of Celsach, died after 1103) and probably of the Heunburg counts' ancestor Wilhelm. Poppo III (died after 1173) gave Zeltschach to Gurk in 1160 and took it back as a fief. Ortlieb de Peka appears in 1189, Poppo IV in 1183. In the next generation Ulrich II (died 1249) is 'free lord of Peggau' in 1218, 'of Pfannberg' in 1219, the first provincial judge (Landrichter) under the Babenbergs, and a count from 1237; he married a daughter of Otto I of Lebenau (born 1191).
- Confidence
- medium
German Wikipedia (Grafen von Pfannberg).
Overlord
The duke of Styria for the land's peace; their own castle is allodial (free); some holdings are church fiefs (Zeltschach of Gurk).
What it holds
- Peggau castle and lordship on the Mur.
- Zeltschach in Carinthia, as a fief of Gurk since 1160 (if still in this line in 1200: not pinned).
- Rabenstein in the Lavanttal (after 1200: not yet).
- Undated possessions listed in the family article: Leoben, Kaisersberg, Schöneck, Badl near Peggau and others (not pinned for 1200).
How it was acquired
Ancestral.
Allies and rivals
Kin of the Heunburg; neighbours of the duke's Graz and of Rein abbey.
How things stand that morning
Ulrich I and Leutold I hold Peggau.
Wealth
The Mur road north of Graz.
Military
Peggau castle.
Places of note
- Peggau castle: The family seat.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The family article gives dated members; the extent of their lordship in 1200 is not given.
On the map: Two units for a lordship of unknown extent.
Primary sources for Styria
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.