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Counts of Andechs
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>The noble family originally resided in southwestern <a href="/facts/History_of_Bavaria/kRBPogWd">Bavaria</a> at the castle of <a href="/facts/Ambras_Castle/g8IF1MuM">Ambras</a> near <a href="/facts/Innsbruck/KcMtPF7D">Innsbruck</a>, controlling the road to the <a href="/facts/March_of_Verona/yukWVvYf">March of Verona</a> across the <a href="/facts/Brenner_Pass/4hnwaom3">Brenner Pass</a>, at <a href="/facts/Die%25C3%259Fen_am_Ammersee/9cS14aNu">Dießen am Ammersee</a> and <a href="/facts/Wolfratshausen/n5P54WAE">Wolfratshausen</a>. One Count <a href="/facts/Rasso/stsGg0Po">Rasso</a> (<i>Rath</i>) is documented in Dießen, who allegedly fought against the invading <a href="/facts/Magyars/Aqot45Va">Magyars</a> in the early 10th century and established the monastery of <a href="/facts/Grafrath/n2mpFm1A">Grafrath</a>. By their ancestor Count Palatine Berthold of <a href="/facts/G%25C3%25BCnzburg/wFoxQ1yS">Reisensburg</a>, a grandson of the Bavarian duke <a href="/facts/Arnulf_the_Bad/vgvAk9s6">Arnulf the Bad</a>, the Andechser may be affiliated with the <a href="/facts/Luitpolding/gaS23cGX">Luitpolding</a> dynasty. Berthold appears a fierce enemy of King <a href="/facts/Otto_I_of_Germany/W4EfIxXd">Otto I of Germany</a> and was blamed as a traitor at the 955 <a href="/facts/Battle_of_Lechfeld/a6T0JfaN">Battle of Lechfeld</a> against the Hungarians. He probably married a daughter of Duke <a href="/facts/Frederick_I%2c_Duke_of_Upper_Lorraine/uAjlWegP">Frederick I of Upper Lorraine</a>; his descendant Count <a href="/facts/Berthold_II%2c_Count_of_Andechs/9Gc4b1Kl">Berthold II</a> (d. 1151), from about 1100 residing at <a href="/facts/Andechs/xgcCfWRn">Andechs</a>, is credited as the progenitor of the comital dynasty. </p><p>Berthold II had inherited the family's Bavarian territories but also acquired possessions in the adjacent <a href="/facts/Franconia/1VSFAoUv">Franconian</a> region, where about 1135 he had the <a href="/facts/Plassenburg/hDAKvsUk">Plassenburg</a> built near <a href="/facts/Bayreuth/YtaWvrgl">Bayreuth</a> and established the town of <a href="/facts/Kulmbach/5Ij2S1t1">Kulmbach</a>. He served as <i><a href="/facts/Vogt/EWVEhHtJ">vogt</a></i> of <a href="/facts/Benediktbeuern_Abbey/Bu8QAIh2">Benediktbeuern Abbey</a> and by marriage with Sophie, daughter of Margrave <a href="/facts/Poppo_II%2c_Margrave_of_Carniola/Etg2Yg2T">Poppo II</a>, came into property of lands in the <a href="/facts/March_of_Istria/rooDBN2B">March of Istria</a> and <a href="/facts/March_of_Carniola/KW1vbKS0">Carniola</a>. </p><p>In the year 1180, the County of Andechs acquired the town of Innsbruck.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p><p>Otto II of Andechs was bishop of Bamberg from 1177 to 1196. In 1208, when <a href="/facts/Philip_of_Swabia/thsyzred">Philip of Swabia</a>, King of the Germans, was assassinated at Bamberg by Otto VIII of <a href="/facts/Wittelsbach/Mv1z57dI">Wittelsbach</a>, members of the House of Andechs were implicated. </p><p>Saint <a href="/facts/Hedwig_of_Andechs/rGFLgIyE">Hedwig of Andechs</a> (c. 1174 – October 1243) was one of eight children born to <a href="/facts/Berthold_IV%2c_Duke_of_Merania/lybfLnM2">Berthold IV, Duke of Merania</a>, Count of Dießen-Andechs and <a href="/facts/Margrave_of_Istria/rooDBN2B">Margrave of Istria</a>. Of her four brothers, two became bishops: Ekbert of <a href="/facts/Prince-Bishopric_of_Bamberg/5nszdvwy">Bamberg</a> (1203–1231), and <a href="/facts/Berthold_(patriarch_of_Aquileia)/KBPkF68M">Berthold</a>, <a href="/facts/Patriarch_of_Aquileia/uMjX0oIU">Patriarch of Aquileia</a>. </p><p>Otto succeeded his father as Duke of Dalmatia, and Henry became Margrave of Istria. Of her three sisters, <a href="/facts/Gertrude_of_Merania/gnKy3PmY">Gertrude of Andechs-Merania</a> (1185 – 28 September 1213) was the first wife of <a href="/facts/Andrew_II_of_Hungary/b8py9bhM">Andrew II of Hungary</a> and the mother of St <a href="/facts/Elizabeth_of_Hungary/Xklvt7RF">Elizabeth of Hungary</a>; Mechtilde became Abbess of Kitzingen; while Agnes, a famous beauty, was made the illegitimate third wife of <a href="/facts/Philip_II_of_France/c6UKr6bu">Philip II of France</a> in 1196, on the repudiation of his lawful wife, Ingeborg, but was dismissed in 1200, after <a href="/facts/Pope_Innocent_III/GrWh740f">Pope Innocent III</a> laid France under an interdict. </p> <h2 id="genealogy">Genealogy</h2> <ol><li>Arnold IV, Count of <a href="/facts/Die%25C3%259Fen_am_Ammersee/9cS14aNu">Dießen</a> (d. 1098), married to Gisela of <a href="/facts/Schweinfurt/wGUT02pU">Schweinfurt</a>, daughter of Duke <a href="/facts/Otto_III_of_Swabia/RfmVY5Su">Otto III of Swabia</a> <ol><li><a href="/facts/Berthold_II%2c_Count_of_Andechs/9Gc4b1Kl">Berthold II</a> (d.1151), Count of Dießen and <a href="/facts/Andechs/xgcCfWRn">Andechs</a> in <a href="/facts/Duchy_of_Bavaria/BvwbquML">Bavaria</a>, Count of <a href="/facts/Plassenburg/hDAKvsUk">Plassenburg</a> and <a href="/facts/Kulmbach/5Ij2S1t1">Kulmbach</a> in <a href="/facts/Franconia/1VSFAoUv">Franconia</a>, <i><a href="/facts/Vogt/EWVEhHtJ">Vogt</a></i> of <a href="/facts/Benediktbeuern_Abbey/Bu8QAIh2">Benediktbeuern Abbey</a>, married Sophia, daughter of Margrave <a href="/facts/Poppo_II%2c_Margrave_of_Carniola/Etg2Yg2T">Poppo II of Istria</a>, secondly married to Kunigunde of <a href="/facts/Vornbach_Abbey/rYAVlJSl">Vornbach</a> <ol><li>Poppo (d. Constantinople 11 December 1148), married to Kuniza of Giech, divorced 1142 <ol><li>Henry, Abbot of <a href="/facts/Millstatt_Abbey/G70XKdox">Millstatt</a></li></ol></li> <li>Margrave <a href="/facts/Berthold_I_of_Istria/5T3xWew9">Berthold I of Istria</a> (c. 1110/15 – 14 December 1188), married to Hedwig, daughter of Count <a href="/facts/Otto_IV%2c_Count_of_Scheyern/9mcDeIrj">Otto V of Wittelsbach</a>, secondly to Luitgard, daughter of King <a href="/facts/Sweyn_III_of_Denmark/SsYH3SmA">Sweyn III of Denmark</a> <ol><li><a href="/facts/Berthold_IV%2c_Duke_of_Merania/lybfLnM2">Berthold IV, Duke of Merania</a> (d. 12 August 1204), married to <a href="/facts/Agnes_of_Rochlitz/CPjMmLCb">Agnes of Wettin</a>, daughter of Margrave <a href="/facts/Dedi_III_of_Lusatia/sxmX8AYw">Dedi III of Lusatia</a> <ol><li><a href="/facts/Otto_I%2c_Duke_of_Merania/0v69nR7z">Otto I, Duke of Merania</a> (d. 7 May 1234), <a href="/facts/Count_Palatine_of_Burgundy/dBhbVxQa">Count Palatine of Burgundy</a>, Margrave of <a href="/facts/March_of_Istria/rooDBN2B">Istria</a>, married to Beatrice of <a href="/facts/Hohenstaufen/zcy1ntA6">Hohenstaufen</a>, daughter of Count <a href="/facts/Otto_I_of_Burgundy/EfLXtVCm">Otto I of Burgundy</a>, secondly to Sophia of <a href="/facts/House_of_Ascania/lquY4ut2">Ascania</a>, daughter of Count <a href="/facts/Henry_I_of_Anhalt/5J4vJNCc">Henry I of Anhalt</a> <ol><li><a href="/facts/Otto_III%2c_Count_of_Burgundy/eP9RAQcC">Otto III, Count of Burgundy</a> (c. 1226 – 19 June 1248), <a href="/facts/Duke_of_Merania/xYbTkrIu">Duke of Merania</a>, married to Elizabeth, daughter of Count <a href="/facts/Albert_IV_of_Tyrol/s0raRMP7">Adalbert IV of Tyrol</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Agnes_of_Merania_(1215%25E2%2580%25931263)/uNvynp0T">Agnes</a> (d. 1263), married to the last <a href="/facts/Babenberg/aTmf41CE">Babenberg</a> duke <a href="/facts/Frederick_II_of_Austria/GD9fcusA">Frederick II of Austria</a> (divorced); secondly, to the last <a href="/facts/Sponheim_family/6vpl79wJ">Sponheim</a> duke, Ulric III of <a href="/facts/Duchy_of_Carinthia/DAWeLaGR">Carinthia</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Beatrix_of_Andechs-Merania/tYIWhfvu">Beatrix</a> (d. after 1265), married to the <a href="/facts/House_of_Ascania/lquY4ut2">Ascanian</a> count <a href="/facts/Herman_II%2c_Count_of_Weimar-Orlam%25C3%25BCnde/aq7rAkWk">Herman II of Weimar-Orlamünde</a></li> <li>Margaret (d. 18 October 1271), married to Přemysl of <a href="/facts/Margraviate_of_Moravia/g1vfbqL3">Moravia</a>, son of King <a href="/facts/Ottokar_I_of_Bohemia/GIIo7KNK">Ottokar I of Bohemia</a>; secondly, to Count Frederick of <a href="/facts/Wassertr%25C3%25BCdingen/uSGzIGfB">Truhendingen</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Adelaide%2c_Countess_of_Burgundy/qaFXjShx">Adelaide</a> (d. 8 March 1279), married to Count <a href="/facts/Hugh_III_of_Burgundy/jvbk8TwF">Hugh III of Burgundy</a>, secondly to Count <a href="/facts/Philip_I_of_Savoy/e6EsJyzc">Philip I of Savoy</a></li> <li>Elizabeth (d. 18 December 1272), married to the <a href="/facts/House_of_Hohenzollern/2KwG1rYf">Hohenzollern</a> burgrave <a href="/facts/Frederick_III_of_Nuremberg/hjeDKPQP">Frederick III of Nuremberg</a></li></ol></li> <li><a href="/facts/Henry_II%2c_Margrave_of_Istria/M4gNdIfy">Henry</a> (d. 18 July 1228), Margrave of Istria, married to Sophia of <a href="/facts/Vi%25C5%25A1nja_Gora/gIYqG9cb">Weichselburg</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Ekbert_of_Bamberg/d7NmlnHR">Ekbert</a> (d. 6 June 1237) <a href="/facts/Bishop_of_Bamberg/ITRwJ0vk">Bishop of Bamberg</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Berthold_(patriarch_of_Aquileia)/KBPkF68M">Berthold</a> (d. 23 May 1251), <a href="/facts/Archbishop_of_Kalocsa/K6336PVn">Archbishop of Kalocsa</a>, <a href="/facts/Patriarch_of_Aquileia/uMjX0oIU">Patriarch of Aquileia</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Agnes_of_Merania/9wK1JPfX">Agnes</a> (c. 1180 – 29 July 1201), married to King <a href="/facts/Philip_II_of_France/c6UKr6bu">Philip II of France</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Gertrude_of_Merania/gnKy3PmY">Gertrude</a> (<a href="/facts/Assassination_of_Gertrude_of_Merania/a07GG4cS">assassinated</a> 28 September 1213), married to King <a href="/facts/Andrew_II_of_Hungary/b8py9bhM">Andrew II of Hungary</a></li> <li>Saint <a href="/facts/Hedwig_of_Silesia/rGFLgIyE">Hedwig</a> (c. 1176/80 – 14 May 1243, Abbess of <a href="/facts/Sanctuary_of_St._Jadwiga%2c_Trzebnica/3xdMAYx5">Trzebnica</a>, married to <a href="/facts/Henry_I_the_Bearded/ypGTAnfL">Henry I the Bearded</a>, <a href="/facts/Duke_of_Silesia/0e8VCJLF">Duke of Silesia</a></li> <li>Mathilde (d. 1 December 1254), Abbess of <a href="/facts/Kitzingen/RulxgC3b">Kitzingen</a></li> <li>unnamed daughter, married into the royal <a href="/facts/Nemanjic/myhByJs8">Nemanjic</a> family of <a href="/facts/List_of_Serbian_monarchs/180t8I0a">Serbia</a></li></ol></li> <li>Sophia (d.1218), married to Count Poppo VI of <a href="/facts/House_of_Henneberg/apcQkSUH">Henneberg</a></li> <li>Kunigunde (d.1207), married to Count Eberhard III of <a href="/facts/County_of_Eberstein/LoGz7ez4">Eberstein</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Matilda_of_Andechs/j0RngVSX">Mechtild</a> (d.1245), married to Count Frederick I of Hohenburg, secondly to Count <a href="/facts/Engelbert_III%2c_Count_of_Gorizia/9aT6AIQS">Engelbert III of Görz</a></li> <li>Poppo (1175 – Dezember 1245), <a href="/facts/Bishop_of_Bamberg/ITRwJ0vk">Bishop of Bamberg</a></li> <li>Bertha, Abbess of <a href="/facts/Gerbstedt/XfBLqGlh">Gerbstedt</a></li></ol></li> <li>Otto (c. 1132 – 1196), Bishop of <a href="/facts/Prince-Bishopric_of_Brixen/ddhYHPh9">Brixen</a> and <a href="/facts/Prince-Bishopric_of_Bamberg/5nszdvwy">Bamberg</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Mechtildis_of_Edelstetten/VD2p61G8">Mechtildis of Edelstetten</a> (d.1160)</li> <li>Euphemia (d.1180), Abbess of <a href="/facts/Altom%25C3%25BCnster/x9cGCGBt">Altomünster</a></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li>Kunigunde (d.1139), nun in <a href="/facts/Admont_Abbey/6HlfrBLQ">Admont Abbey</a></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li> <li></li></ol></li></ol></li></ol> <p>A history of the House of Andechs was written by the statesman and historian <a href="/facts/Joseph_Hormayr%2c_Baron_zu_Hortenburg/LVvHGkUB">Joseph Hormayr, Baron zu Hortenburg</a>, and published in 1796. </p> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Chizzali. Tyrol: Impressions of Tyrol. (Innsbruck: Alpina Printers and Publishers) p. 5 <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>