Sponheimer, Herrschergeschlecht#

Sponheim, name of an aristocratic family from the Moselle Area, as successors of the Eppensteiner became Dukes of Carinthia 1123-1269. Engelbert I founded the Benedictine monastery of Sankt Paul in Lavanttal in 1091, Bernhard the Cistercian monastery of Viktring in 1142. Duke Hermann von Sponheim (1161-1181) acquired economically important regions and founded Klagenfurt and the market town of Sankt Veit; Ulrich II (1181-1202) continued his work. Bernhard von Sponheim (1202-1256) called himself territorial prince of Carinthia (princeps terre), set up ties with the Bohemian Přemysl royal family and brought roads and passes towards the south under his control. He secured the rule over Carniola for his son Ulrich III von Sponheim (1256-1269); the latter designated Přemysl Otakar II of Bohemia as his successor (Podiebrad legacy of December 4, 1268). The last Sponheim, Ulrich's brother Philipp von Sponheim, Archbishop of Salzburg, wanted to become Duke, but was prevented by Otakar II of Bohemia. He asked King Rudolf of Habsburg for his support, but was not allowed to enter Carinthia, and died in 1279.

Literature#