Karl von Saurau

Karl Graf von Saurau , Freiherr auf Ligist and Hornegg (* 1587 ; † June 9, 1648 in Graz ) was Hereditary Marshal and from 1635 to 1648 was Governor of Styria . He came from the Hornegg-Ligister line of the noble family von Saurau .

Life

origin

Coat of arms of Baron Ehrenreich von Saurau († 1618)

Ligist castle ruins

The ruins of the former Saurau Castle in the upper Mur Valley had been the ancestral seat of the knightly family since the 13th century. Karl was born in 1587 as the son of Wolf Freiherr von Saurau († October 28, 1620) and Elisabeth von Gera, probably to Ligist in western Styria , and raised in the Evangelical Augsburg denomination. Wolf von Saurau was the heir of his father Franz († 1585), who was raised to the baron status in 1555, as lord of Ligist and Hornegg , and since February 28, 1619 he was imperial colonel and hereditary marshal of the Duchy of Styria , an honorary title that had been promised to the family for over 100 years .

Political rise and expansion of domestic power

Karl's parents had joined the new faith of Protestantism under the influence of the head of the older Groß-Lobminger line, Gilg von Saurau († July 24, 1563) and his successor Erasmus von Saurau († September 11, 1592) . After his father's death in 1620, Karl quickly switched back to the Catholic faith, although his wife, Baroness zu Teuffenbach , remained an ardent Lutheran . His position as cupbearer of the previous patron, the Catholic Archduke Ferdinand , who rose to become emperor at this time, certainly played a decisive role. As a result, Karl became one of the most successful lords of Saurau, both politically and economically. From 1619 to 1628 he negotiated successfully with the daughters of Ehrenreich von Saurau, who died in 1618, because his heir, Hans Wilhelm von Saurau, contented himself with possession of the Großlobming property and Karl ceded the inheritance rights for the Laubegg and Premstätten property . On April 26, 1619, these lords fell to the Ligist-Hornegg line, which became the main line of the house.

On March 22, 1625 Karl von Saurau was enfeoffed by Emperor Ferdinand II with the office of Hereditary Marshal of Styria and in 1628 elevated to the rank of count . After the victory of the Counter-Reformation in Styria, he acquired some property from his aristocratic comrades who were forced to emigrate , so that he came to ten rulers and the associated income. Around 1630, the emperor, who was looking for funds, also bought the Selva Lordship with the offices of Irdning , Unterburg and Schladming . On May 4, 1635, the Count was appointed Governor of Styria, an office he held until his death. With his wife Susanna Catherina von Teuffenbach, he moved to Graz, where he had bought the Windischgrätz Bürgershaus on Sporgasse , which was converted into the Saurau Palace .

Saurau-Teuffenbach coat of arms on the portal of the palace in Grazer Sporgasse

End of life

In 1647 Karl von Saurau, who was ex officio responsible for the prosecution of witches and wizards, was involved in such a process himself . His relative, Count Christoph Alban (1605–1656), the heireless boss of the Groß-Lobminger line of the Saurau, was denounced. The indictment of adultery, sorcery and incest by the distant relatives Wolf Rudolf and Erasmus Wilhelm, who hoped for chances on his property. At the instigation of the governor responsible, Christoph Alban was arrested and imprisoned at the Graz Schloßberg . The accused was sentenced to death, but pardoned by the emperor to life imprisonment. Affirming his innocence until his death, Count Christoph Alban died in prison on July 23, 1656.

The incumbent governor Karl died during the trial on June 9, 1648, the burial took place on June 15, the Styrian estates elected Count Johann Maximilian I von Herberstein (1601–1679) as his successor in office . According to the father's will drawn up in 1642, the eldest sons became the universal heirs of the state estates, which were divided up in an inheritance contract in Graz of August 9, 1659.

family

His marriage to Susanna Catharina Freiin zu Teuffenbach and Maßweg († November 24, 1647) on June 29, 1615 resulted in eight children, of which the eldest son continued the older Styrian main line, while the youngest established the younger Austrian line.

• Wolf Rudolph († April 24, 1664), head of the Styrian main line
• Georg Christian von Saurau († November 1, 1686), Styrian Governor 1680–1686
• Julius Ernst
• Siegmund Friedrich
• Catherine Elisabeth
• Maria Barbara
• Magdalena
• Barbara

literature

• Hannes P. Naschenweng: The governors of Styria. 1236-2002. Styria Verlag, Graz 2002, p. 142 f, ISBN 3-222-12996-7 .
• Dr. Walter Brunner: Premstätten Castle . Styria Verlag, Graz 1989, p. 133 f.