The House of Starhemberg (German pronunciation: [ˈʃtaːʁəmbɛʁk]) is the name of an old and distinguished Austrian noble family originating from Upper Austria, specifically Steyr and Steinbach.
The Starhembergs are one of the 12 so-called "Apostle Houses", i.e. the families which had already played a historical role during the period of Babenberg rule of Austria (976 to 1246).
The first known member Gundaker I von Steyr was mentioned in the 12th century, as a ministerial of the Otakar dynasty that ruled over the Duchy of Styria.
In 1806, the Princes of Starhemberg lost their sovereign independence through the mediatisation initiated by Napoleon, but were allowed to retain equality of birth with other reigning families, important for marriage purposes.
The family belongs to the small circle of high nobility,[2] and their Starhemberg Palace (German: Schloss Starhemberg) in Eferding, Upper Austria, includes a museum about the family's history.