Khuen von Belasi
The Khuen Belasi family, in its various lines, established itself after the 15th century as one of the richest and most powerful in the Austrian Empire, counting among its ranks bishops, canons, politicians and military captains who brought prestige to the house in the region, Austria, Bavaria and Bohemia.
Their son was Dominik Marquard zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, husband of Princess Christina Francisca von Hessen-Wanfried.
Several members of the family held high positions in the Habsburg administration (e.g., Rudolph Khuen von Belasy and Lichtenberg, Baron in Neuen Lenbach, was ambassador to the French court), as well as bishops and prince-bishops.
This election inaugurated an era of South Tyrolean nobility dominating the Salzburg cathedral chapter for almost two centuries (e.g., Khuen of Belasy, Welsperg-Raitenau, Selva, Lichtenstein, Lodron, Spaur, Thun-Hohenstein, Firmian and others).
[3] The verified lineage of the Khuen family (also spelled Khuon, Khun, and others) begins with Egeno in the Grube of Tramin, who is recorded in sources between 1209 and 1229.
In 1422, Hans Jakob, governor of the Etsch region, married Margarethe von Niederthor, an heiress from a Bolzano noble family that resided, among other places, at Neuhaus Castle.
[8] His male line ended, as his sole descendant, Maria Franziska, married Count Paul Pálffy von Erdöd.
[9] The family established itself in Bohemia in 1378, when Emperor Charles IV pledged a portion of the South Bohemian Frauenberg estate, including the town of Lišov, Oselno, and other surrounding villages, to Johann Khuen.
In the Salzburg region, the family also temporarily held extensive properties, thanks to Archbishop Johann Jakob Khuen von Belasi and his brother.
Blasius, born around 1525, son of the Chancellor of Tyrol Matthias von Khuen and Susanna née Firmian, was an administrator of King Ferdinand I, from 13 June 1541 an advisor to the government of Lower Austria until October 1647.
The southern wall of the chapel of the St. Paul's cemetery is covered with sixteen tombstones of Khuen ancestors, men and women from the year 1593, as a mural.
Rudolph Khuen von Belasy and Lichtenberg, Baron in Neuen Lenbach (Lengbach), eldest son of Jakob Khuen senior and Magdalenen Fuchs von Fuchsberg, in 1559 was already an escort of Ferdinand I, then chamberlain, private councillor to Emperors Maximilian II and Rudolph II, colonel of the stables.
Rudolf died in Vienna on 29 June 1581 and was buried in the collegiate church of St Dorothea's Convent where he had prepared the grave for himself and his descendants.
The inscription on the tomb is: Here lies buried the noble Lord Rudolph Khuen von Belasy and Litchtenberg and Gandegg, Baron of Neu Lengbach, who during his life was administrator, treasurer and colonel of the stables of Maximilian II, and lately private councillor to his majesty Emperor Rudolf II, here on 9 June 1581 he fell asleep in God's good grace.
Johann Eusebius Khuen von Belasy in Lichtenberg and Gandegg, baron of Neuen Lenbach, lord in Paumgarten, Rainpollenbach, Waasen und Judeman, knight of the Spanish Order of St James, was imperial treasurer and chief official.
He was solemnly married, letter of invitation dated 26 October 1595, to Maria Baroness von Berkha, posthumous daughter of Zdenko Lord of Berkha Baron of Duba and Leippa, formerly imperial secret councillor and chief chamberlain of the Bohemian crown, and Veronika Poplin Lady von Lobkowiz, and was married to her the following Sunday, 12 November 1595 in Vienna.
He drew up his will on 22 April 1622 and ordered in it, among other things, the foundation of a Franciscan monastery in Neu-Lengbach and left his domains and property in Neu-Lenbach, Paumgarten etc.
Her only daughter and heiress, Baroness Maria Franziska married Count Paul Palffy Erdöd, heir to the estates in Bibersburg, Stamfen and Marchegg, imperial privy councillor, judex curiae and in 1649 Palatinus of the Kingdom of Hungary, and in a will of 1656 bequeathed her possessions in Neuenlenbach to her son Count Johann Karl von Pailfy.
Another important member of the family is Hans Jacob (Johann Jakob III) Khuen von Belasi and Naudersberg Baron in Lichtenberg und Gandegg, etc.
She brought him as a dowry her father's domains and the fort of Neuhauß near Terlan in Tirol, as well as other small businesses and more than 30,000 gulden of gold in cash, and most of her possessions.
Then Jakob Freiherr Khuen von Belasy zu Liechtenberg und Gandegg, son of Johann Jakobs und Margaretha von Niederthor, lord of Liechtenberg, Gandegg, Teutschen, Offen, Eläß, Paumgarten, as well as Landstein in Bohemia, was at first advisor to the regiment in Innsbruck, then special chamberlain to Emperor Matthias and Ferdinand II, also advisor to the royal stable in Bohemia, finally secret advisor and ambassador to the court of Chur in Bavaria.
He married Siguna Margaretha von Annenberg, daughter of Mathias and Maximiliana Lamberg, court maid to Empress Anne, wife of Emperor Matthias.
With her he contracted marriage in the Annenberg village of Lätsch in the Tyrol on 31 August 1614, where Jakob Andreas Freiherr von Brandis, representative of both imperial majesties, brought the wedding gift.
Count Joseph Anton Johann Nepomuk Khuen von Belasi zu Lichtenberg und Gandegg, Herr zu Nemilkan , Chamutiz und Lautschowa in Bohemia, the eldest son of Joseph Karl Ferdinand Imperial Bavarian Chamberlain in Chur - Pfalz, was in the Bavarian war services, became a lieutenant major, colonel and eventually a battlefield instructor; in 1789 he fell in the Turkish wars at Sabacs.
In 1809, Count Josef Khuen played an unclear role in Andreas Hofer's fight against the Bavarians for the freedom of the Tyrol.
The Austrian major, Baron von Walterkirchen, who had recently entered Bozen with his dragoons, had the Count taken to his lodgings ‘Zum goldenen Schlüssel’ and treated him well there.
But Khuen's ordeal soon began, because the Austrian intendant, Josef Baron von Hormayr, who arrived in Bozen the same evening at his lodgings in the house of Josef von Giovanelli Senator at Erzherzog-Rainer-Straße 11, near ‘Keiserkron’ (today's Piazza della Mostra) accused the count of being a spy and, although an Austrian veteran, of having kept friendly relations with Bavarian officials and agents.
1809), Hormayr drove Count Khuen to Brixen on the front of a wagon protected by a heavy escort; the excited crowd still hurled curses at him during this involuntary journey.
The journey continued on 25 4 via Klagenfurt, Graz, (Agram) Zagreb to Pecs (Fünfkirchen) in Hungary, where Khuen was treated as a hostage.
