Meinhard I, Count of Gorizia-Tyrol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meinhard I |
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| Count of Tyrol | |
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| 18th century depiction | |
| Count | 1253–1258 |
| Predecessor | Albert IV |
| Successor | Meinhard II Albert I of Gorizia |
| Spouse(s) | Adelaide of Tyrol |
| Issue | |
| Meinhard, Duke of Carinthia Albert I of Gorizia |
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| Noble family | House of Gorizia |
| Father | Engelbert III of Gorizia |
| Mother | Matilda of Andechs |
| Born | c. 1200/1205 |
| Died | 22 July 1258 |
| Burial | Tirol Castle |
Meinhard I (born around 1200/1205 – died 22 July 1258) was an important ruler from the House of Gorizia. He was the Count of Gorizia starting in 1231 and later also became the Count of Tyrol in 1253. He held these titles until he passed away.
Contents
Meinhard's Early Life and Family
Meinhard was the son of Count Engelbert III of Gorizia. His mother was Matilda. She was the daughter of Berthold I of Istria. Matilda was also the sister of the powerful Duke Berthold IV of Merania.
Through his mother, Meinhard inherited the County of Mittelburg. This area was located in central Istria. His father died in 1220. Meinhard took control of his family's lands around Lienz and Gorizia after his uncle, Count Meinhard the Elder, died. Around 1237, Meinhard married Adelaide (Adelheid). She was one of two daughters of Count Albert IV of Tyrol. This marriage gave him good chances to inherit lands in Tyrol.
Political Struggles and Defeats
Meinhard strongly supported Emperor Frederick II. The Emperor was part of the House of Hohenstaufen. Frederick II was in a big fight with Pope Innocent IV. Because of Meinhard's support, the Emperor made him a special governor. He became governor of the Duchy of Styria and the March of Carniola. This happened after the last duke from the House of Babenberg, Frederick the Warlike, died without children in 1246.
From 1250, Meinhard also governed the Duchy of Austria. However, the Hohenstaufen family lost power. Meinhard could not keep his control. His rule in Carniola was challenged by the Carinthian ducal House of Sponheim. In Austria and Styria, he was forced out by Prince Ottokar II Přemysl of Bohemia in 1251.
After Emperor Frederick II died, there was a lot of confusion. Count Meinhard, with help from his father-in-law Albert IV of Tyrol, tried to take control of the Duchy of Carinthia. But he failed. He lost a battle against Duke Bernhard von Spanheim and his son Philip. Philip was also the elected Archbishop of Salzburg.
On 8 September 1252, Meinhard was defeated and captured at Greifenburg. A peace agreement was made on 27 December 1252. It was called the Peace of Lieserhofen. According to this agreement, Meinhard had to give his sons, Meinhard IV and Albert, as hostages to Archbishop Philip. Both sons were held prisoner at Hohenwerfen Castle in Salzburg. They were not set free until 1258. Meinhard and Albert IV of Tyrol also had to pay money. They had to give up some lands, including Mittersill, Virgen, Matrei, and Oberdrauburg.
Becoming Count of Tyrol
When Count Albert IV of Tyrol died in 1253, Meinhard and his brother-in-law, Count Gebhard of Hirschberg, divided Tyrol. Meinhard took the southern part, which included Meran. He often had disagreements with the Trento bishops over these lands.
Later, Meinhard's son, Meinhard II, also gained the Hirschberg lands from Gebhard's heirs in 1284. Two years after that, Meinhard II even received Carinthia from King Rudolf I of Germany of the House of Habsburg.
Meinhard I died in 1258. He is buried at Tirol Castle.
Marriage and Children
Around 1237, Meinhard married Adelaide. She was the daughter of Albert IV, Count of Tyrol. They had four children:
- Adelheid († 1291), who married Count Frederick I of Ortenburg.
- Meinhard II (1238–1295), who became Count of Gorizia and Tyrol, and later Duke of Carinthia.
- Albert I († 1304), who became Count of Gorizia.
- Bertha († 1267), who married Conrad, Count of Wullenstetten.
