Pettau on the Drava is Salzburg's frontier town towards Hungary, held for the archbishop by his richest ministerial family, the lords of Pettau, as a fief with castle, town and tolls.
By the family's tradition, Friedrich of Pettau beat the Hungarians on the Pettau field on Easter Sunday 1199 and won Friedau (Ormož) and Polstrau (Središče), also held of Salzburg; the frontier was then fixed from Polstrau to Luttenberg (Ljutomer), with the Teutonic Order given a border post at Großsonntag (Velika Nedelja). On 1 January 1200 that frontier is months old.
Who he is
- Name
- Friedrich (III) of Pettau (died 1222), with his kinsmen Otto (died 1241), Heinrich (a cleric, provost of Maria Saal) and Arnold (a priest, attested 1201)
- Title
- Lords of Pettau, ministeriales of Salzburg, holding Pettau as a Salzburg fief
- Since
- Not pinned (Friedrich II died 1174, Hartnid 1189)
- Born
- Not pinned
- Family
- A rich Salzburg ministerial family attested from 1132 (Friedrich I, died 1137). A daughter of Friedrich II married Lantfried of Eppenstein; Hartnid (died 1189) married a Wildon. Heinrich becomes bishop of Gurk in 1214; Otto founds the Königsberg line (from 1217). Friedrich III's widow Mathilde founds the Dominican house at Pettau about 1230.
- Confidence
- medium
de.wikipedia (Herren von Pettau).
Overlord
The archbishop of Salzburg (lord of Pettau since the 9th century); the duke of Styria has been advocate of Salzburg's Styrian lands since 1147.
What it holds
- Pettau castle, town and tolls (Salzburg fief; the hereditary burgraviate over both castles is first recorded as granted in 1280)
- Friedau (Ormož) and Polstrau (Središče ob Dravi), won from Hungary in 1199 by tradition, as Salzburg fiefs
- Luttenberg (Ljutomer), named with them as a Salzburg fief held by the family 'in this period' (not pinned for 1200)
- Königsberg (Kunšperk) on the Sotla, a Gurk fief gained about 1190 by one branch (not drawn)
How it was acquired
Salzburg's lordship from the late 9th century (874-890 or 977 in different accounts); the family's fief from the 12th century (castle rebuilt under Archbishop Konrad I).
Allies and rivals
The archbishop, their lord; the Styrian duke, advocate; the Wildon and Eppenstein kin; the Hungarians across the Drava and the Mur; the Teutonic Order as frontier guards.
How things stand that morning
Friedrich holds Pettau for Salzburg. The ground east to Friedau and Polstrau was taken in 1199 by tradition and is still a raw frontier; the Hungarian king Emeric, at war with his brother Andrew (who by general reference fled to Austria after his defeat in 1199), has not won it back.
Wealth
The Drava crossing and the road from Hungary to Venice; tolls; vineyards of the Slovene hills; the frontier's new estates.
Military
Pettau castle; the family's vassals; record: the Easter 1199 victory (tradition).
Threats
- Hungarian return across the Drava and the Mur
- Quarrels with Salzburg over the fiefs (they lose the burgraviate in 1285)
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.
- 1200 (not pinned)The frontier settles between Polstrau and Luttenberg; the Teutonic Order's house at Großsonntag takes shape (its founding date is not pinned).Depends on: No Hungarian counter-stroke while Emeric and Andrew are reconciling. Stopped by: A Hungarian campaign across the Drava.
Places of note
- Großsonntag (Velika Nedelja): Teutonic Order frontier post (date not pinned)
Where the sources disagree
- The 1199 battle rests on the family's history as summarised by de.wikipedia; the English and Slovene articles on Ptuj and Ormož do not mention it, and Ormož is first recorded only in 1273. Treat the date as tradition.
Evidence: The family and its fiefs are fair; the 1199 victory and the Teutonic Order's post are tradition without a dated charter in the sources consulted.
On the map: The Pettau field and the frontier are drawn by modern Slovene municipalities; the frontier line of 1200 is not known exactly. The Styria file draws the raided frontier zone as the belt Pettau frontier. de.wikipedia (Ormož) knows no 1199 battle: Friedau castle was built by a Friedrich of Pettau as a border fortress but is first named only in 1278.
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.