Tiroler Grafen

Tiroler Grafen (Tyrolean Counts), named after a castle in the Southern Tyrol (today: "Schloß Tirol"). Albert and Berthold von Tyrol are first mentioned in a document from around 1140. Around 1150, ruled over the territory that surrounded their family castle near Meran/Merano as well as over Freising in Bavaria and areas in the Jaun valley in Carinthia. From the first half of the 12th century onwards, the family exercised their rights as counts in the Vintschgau (fiefs of the bishops of Trento) and were Vogts of Trento and acquired half of the county around Bozen/Bolzano in 1170. After the fall of Heinrich von Andechs, Albert III of the Tyrol (d. 1253) became Vogt of Brixen/Bressanone and acquired territories in the Inn, Puster and Eisack valleys in 1210. His daughter Elisabeth married Otto II von Andechs-Meranien, his daughter Adelheid became the wife of Meinhard III of Gorizia; consequently the inheritance of the Tyrolean Counts was passed on to the Meinhardiner family because there were no male successors.

Literature: J. Riedmann, in: J. Fontana et al., Geschichte Ti., vol. 1, 1985; Eines Fürsten Traum. Meinhard II. - Das Werden Ti., exhibition catalogue, Tirol Palace/Stams 1995.