Difference between revisions of "Counts of Celje" - New World Encyclopedia
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[Image:Celje-grb.svg|thumb|right|200px||The coats of arms of Ulrich II of Cilli]] | [[Image:Celje-grb.svg|thumb|right|200px||The coats of arms of Ulrich II of Cilli]] | ||
| − | The '''Counts of Cilli'''<ref>The house should be referred to in English by the original historic name "of Cilli," although the name "of Celje" is also used nowadays. [http://genealogy.euweb.cz/small/cilli.html von Cilli family.] Genealogy.eu. Retrieved October 15, 2008.</ref> or '''Celje''' represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day [[Slovenia]]. | + | The '''Counts of Cilli'''<ref>The house should be referred to in English by the original historic name "of Cilli," although the name "of Celje" is also used nowadays. [http://genealogy.euweb.cz/small/cilli.html von Cilli family.] Genealogy.eu. Retrieved October 15, 2008.</ref> or '''Celje''' represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day [[Slovenia]]. When the house died out its head held the rank of prince of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and many other titles in territories of present-day Central [[Europe]]. They ruled areas of what is now Slovenia as well as parts of surrounding countries from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, rivaling the [[Habsburg|Habsuburgs]] for some of this time. Families such as the Celje, who ruled and administered territory over a long period, helped to maintain [[politics|political]] stability while their subjects also developed a [[culture|cultural]] identity. |
| − | + | It would not be until 1992 that Slovenia would again be governed by Slovenians, when it broke away from [[Yugoslavia]] of which it had been a constituent republic since 1918. Memory that the Counts of Celje had not only governed Slovenia but other lands as well continued to inspire Slovenian's desire to reunify their territory, and to gain their [[freedom]]. The Counts of Celje's coat of arms was incorporated into Slovenia's in 1991, acknowledging their role in the [[history]] of Slovenia. Yet, conscious of belonging to a wider world, a consciousness to which the Counts of Celje may have contributed, having gained their freedom from what most Slovenian's saw as [[Serbian|Serb]] domination within Yugoslavia, they quickly joined a larger community of nations, the [[European Union]]. They did so, however, as a ''nation among nations'', not as a nation dominated by another. | |
== Name and origins == | == Name and origins == | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
For three hundred years, the Counts of Celje were among [[Europe]]'s most important and powerful ruling families.<ref>Longley, page 267.</ref> "The first drama in Slovenian is believed to | For three hundred years, the Counts of Celje were among [[Europe]]'s most important and powerful ruling families.<ref>Longley, page 267.</ref> "The first drama in Slovenian is believed to | ||
| − | have been a work written in 1817 entitled Ulrich, Count of Cilli", which again suggests that their legacy remains important for Slovenian national identity.<ref>Clark, Barrett H., and George Freedley. 1947. ''A history of modern drama.'' New York: D. Appleton-Century Co. page 538.</ref> It was during the 19th century that Slovene was codified into a literary language. After the end of Celje rule, Slovenia was governed as a province of successive [[imperialism|entities]] and was then, from 1918, a republic within | + | have been a work written in 1817 entitled Ulrich, Count of Cilli", which again suggests that their legacy remains important for Slovenian national identity.<ref>Clark, Barrett H., and George Freedley. 1947. ''A history of modern drama.'' New York: D. Appleton-Century Co. page 538.</ref> It was during the 19th century that Slovene was codified into a literary language. After the end of Celje rule, Slovenia was governed as a province of successive [[imperialism|entities]] and was then, from 1918, a republic within Yugoslavia until the 1992, when it was recognized as an independent, [[sovereignty|sovereign]] state. Yet, just as even under the Counts of Celje, the Slovenes were also consciously part of the wider [[Balkans]], so, as a sovereign nation they have identified strongly with other people in Europe, becoming a member state of the European Union in 2004. Slovenian [[nationalism]] took them "away" from "Yugoslavia"; "they wanted to reduce the bonds tying them to the other nationalities, especially the [[Serbia|Serbs]]."<ref>Crnobrnja, page 107.</ref> Centuries of political domination by others increased their desire for freedom. Yet their consciousness of being part of a wider space then led them to join the European Union, where they relate with other states on the basis of [[equality]], as a ''nation among nations''. |
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| + | * Crnobrnja, Mihailo. 1994. ''The Yugoslav drama.'' Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773512030 | ||
* Fine, John V. A. 1987. ''The late medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the late twelfth century to the Ottoman Conquest.'' Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472100798 | * Fine, John V. A. 1987. ''The late medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the late twelfth century to the Ottoman Conquest.'' Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472100798 | ||
* Longley, Norm. 2004. ''The rough guide to Slovenia.'' Rough guides (Series). New York: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531456. | * Longley, Norm. 2004. ''The rough guide to Slovenia.'' Rough guides (Series). New York: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531456. | ||
| Line 71: | Line 72: | ||
* [[http://genealogy.euweb.cz/small/cilli.html genealogy] | * [[http://genealogy.euweb.cz/small/cilli.html genealogy] | ||
* [http://revver.com/video/353977/planet-cilli Castle view Video showing the Celje Castle today]] | * [http://revver.com/video/353977/planet-cilli Castle view Video showing the Celje Castle today]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:History]] | [[Category:History]] | ||
{{Credit|226273825}} | {{Credit|226273825}} | ||
Revision as of 01:27, 16 October 2008
The Counts of Cilli[1] or Celje represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day Slovenia. When the house died out its head held the rank of prince of the Holy Roman Empire and many other titles in territories of present-day Central Europe. They ruled areas of what is now Slovenia as well as parts of surrounding countries from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, rivaling the Habsuburgs for some of this time. Families such as the Celje, who ruled and administered territory over a long period, helped to maintain political stability while their subjects also developed a cultural identity.
It would not be until 1992 that Slovenia would again be governed by Slovenians, when it broke away from Yugoslavia of which it had been a constituent republic since 1918. Memory that the Counts of Celje had not only governed Slovenia but other lands as well continued to inspire Slovenian's desire to reunify their territory, and to gain their freedom. The Counts of Celje's coat of arms was incorporated into Slovenia's in 1991, acknowledging their role in the history of Slovenia. Yet, conscious of belonging to a wider world, a consciousness to which the Counts of Celje may have contributed, having gained their freedom from what most Slovenian's saw as Serb domination within Yugoslavia, they quickly joined a larger community of nations, the European Union. They did so, however, as a nation among nations, not as a nation dominated by another.
Name and origins
The name "Counts of Cilli" was given to the Lords of Sanneck or Sannegg by Emperor Louis IV in 1341 and was derived from the medieval name Cilli of the city of Celje in Lower Styria. Celje itself became a property of the dynasty in 1333. Their rise to a powerful family started in the small castle of Sannegg or Sanneck, on the river Sann, today's Savinja river, at Braslovče in the Upper Savinja valley[2], but in a short period of time they owned more than 20 castles all over the territory of modern Slovenia and beyond through the marriages of their daughters. The dynasty began with Gebhard I de Saun in 1130.[3].
Habsburg's allies
In the 14th century they allied with the Habsburgs in their war against the counts of Gorizia-Tirol, making Cilli vassals of the Habsburgs in 1308. Zcquiring large estates in the adjoining duchies of Styria, Carinthia,and Carniola as well as in the territories of the Hungarian crown (Croatia, Slavonia) their influence rose, making them one of the most powerful families in the area.[4] They were related by marriage with rulers of Bosnia and Polish and Hungarian kings.
Savior of the king
Their rapid rise started after the Battle of Nicopolis (1396) where Hermann II of Cilli saved the life of Sigismund of Luxemburg (Hungarian king, from 1433 Holy Roman emperor). As a reward king Sigismund donated (1397-99) the city of Varaždin, the county of Zagorje, and many estates in present-day Croatia to the family. As their power grew, the Counts "minted their own money" as well as constructing "castles and churches."[5]
The House of Cilli and Sigismund became even closer through the marriage of Hermann's daughter Barbara of Cilli to king Sigismund.
In 1436 the Emperor elevated the counts to the rank of princes of the Holy Roman Empire (although they retained their title of Count). This resulted in the the Habsburg regarding them as among their strongest rivals[6] and they reacted with a war that lasted until 1443, when an agreement of mutual inheritance was signed. The Celje were the only ethnically Slovenia noble family at this time, and they competed for supremacy with the Habsburgs for two centuries.[7]
Keeper of the young king
Ulrich II of Cilli was the most powerful member of the Cilli family. He was influential in many courts, which originated from the relationships the Cilli family had made in the past. He ran the family's affairs from his grandfather's death in 1435; "his father, Frederick, seems not to have minded and lived a life of retirement in a Slavonian castle."[8] He tried to obtain the regency of Hungary, Bohemia and Austria through controlling Ladislas the Posthumous, at the time a minor. With such ambitions, he also made many enemies, such as the Hunyadi family. After an unsuccessful claim to the Bosnian crown, Cilli obtained some territories in Croatia and Slavonia and finally succeeded in forcing Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor to hand over (1452) the boy king Ladislas the Posthumous to his keeping. Practically, this made Ulrich II the ruler of Hungary.
In 1456, when his rival John Hunyadi died, Ulrich II was named Captain General of Hungary, an office that Hunyadi had previously. This prompted a plot, by the Hunyadi, family against him, and he was assassinated on November 8, in Belgrade.
Murder in Belgrade
With the death of Ulrich II the male line of the Counts of Cilli died out, and after a war of succession all of their estates and property were handed over to the Habsburgs on the basis of the inheritance agreement. The Habsburgs then "expanded their authority over the whole of Slovene ethnic territory."[9]
Legacy
Part of their coat of arms - the three golden stars on a blue background, which, as Lords of Sanneck, they had inherited from the once powerful Carinthian Counts of Heunburg upon their becoming extinct in 1322 - was incorporated into the Slovenian coat of arms in 1991. It is also the current coat of arms of Celje. Their rule " united almost the entire Slovenian territory that is known today."[10] The Celje were the "the last great medieval dynasty to have its seat on Slovene territory."[11] Under Habsburg rule, Slovenia was divided into a number of administrative units, including the Counties of Gorizia and Gradisca and Lower Styria.
For three hundred years, the Counts of Celje were among Europe's most important and powerful ruling families.[12] "The first drama in Slovenian is believed to have been a work written in 1817 entitled Ulrich, Count of Cilli", which again suggests that their legacy remains important for Slovenian national identity.[13] It was during the 19th century that Slovene was codified into a literary language. After the end of Celje rule, Slovenia was governed as a province of successive entities and was then, from 1918, a republic within Yugoslavia until the 1992, when it was recognized as an independent, sovereign state. Yet, just as even under the Counts of Celje, the Slovenes were also consciously part of the wider Balkans, so, as a sovereign nation they have identified strongly with other people in Europe, becoming a member state of the European Union in 2004. Slovenian nationalism took them "away" from "Yugoslavia"; "they wanted to reduce the bonds tying them to the other nationalities, especially the Serbs."[14] Centuries of political domination by others increased their desire for freedom. Yet their consciousness of being part of a wider space then led them to join the European Union, where they relate with other states on the basis of equality, as a nation among nations.
Counts of Cilli in the structure of the Holy Roman Empire
Counts of Cilli in the structure of the Holy Roman Empire
Sigismund and Barbara at the Council of Constance
- Coat of arms of the municipality of Celje.svg
Coat of arms of Celje
Slovenian coat of arms
The Lords of Sanneck or Barons of Soune, Counts of Cilli
.jpg)
The Lords of Sanneck (Žovnek) or Barons of Soune
- Gebhard (cca 1130-1144)
- Gebhard II (1173-1227)
- Conrad I (+ cca. 1255)
- Ulrich I (+ cca. 1265)
- Ulrich II (+ cca. 1316)
- Frederick I (+ 1360), from 1341 Count of Celje
Counts of Cilli (Celje)
- Herman I (+ 1385), wife Katarina Kotromanic
- William (+ 1392), wife Ana of Poland, daughter Anna of Cilli (+ 1416)
- Herman II (+ 1435), daughter Barbara of Cilli (+1451)
- Frederick II (+ 1454), 1.wife Elizabeth Frankopan, 2. wife Veronika of Desenice
- Ulrich II (+ 1456), wife Katarina Branković
Notes
- ↑ The house should be referred to in English by the original historic name "of Cilli," although the name "of Celje" is also used nowadays. von Cilli family. Genealogy.eu. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ Fine, page 464.
- ↑ Longley, page 267
- ↑ Plut-Pregelj, and Rogel, page 41.
- ↑ Longley, page 267.
- ↑ Vosnjak, Bogumil. 1917. A bulwark against Germany: The fight of the Slovenes,the western branch of the Jugoslavs, for national existence, Translated by Fanny S.Copeland. Grand Rapids MI: Fleming H. Revell. page 90.
- ↑ Klemenčič and Žagar, page 13.
- ↑ Fine, page 498.
- ↑ Klemenčič and Žagar, page 13.
- ↑ Slovenian coat of arms. Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ↑ The Republic of Slovenia. Slovenia House, Syndey, Australia. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ↑ Longley, page 267.
- ↑ Clark, Barrett H., and George Freedley. 1947. A history of modern drama. New York: D. Appleton-Century Co. page 538.
- ↑ Crnobrnja, page 107.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Crnobrnja, Mihailo. 1994. The Yugoslav drama. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773512030
- Fine, John V. A. 1987. The late medieval Balkans: a critical survey from the late twelfth century to the Ottoman Conquest. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. ISBN 9780472100798
- Longley, Norm. 2004. The rough guide to Slovenia. Rough guides (Series). New York: Rough Guides. ISBN 9781843531456.
- Klemencic, Matjaz, and Mitja Zagar. 2003. The former Yugoslavia's diverse peoples: a reference sourcebook. Ethnic diversity within nations of the world. Oxford: ABC-Clio. ISBN 9781576072943
- Plut-Pregelj, Leopoldina, and Carole Rogel. 1996. Historical dictionary of Slovenia. European historical dictionaries, no. 13. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810831131
External links
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
