Kuenringer, Ministerialengeschlecht

Kuenringer; lived during the Middle Ages and the early 16th century, family members were estate officials and ruled territories in Lower Austria. Azzo, the founder of the family, came to Austria from Saxony or the Rhineland (Trier) in the 11th century; there is evidence that the family lived in Kühnring (Lower Austria) around 1130/1140. Hadmar I founded the monastery at Zwettl in 1137. The family split into two lines (Weitra/Dürnstein), and settled large parts of the Waldviertel north of the River Kamp. As leading estate officials, they reached the zenith of their power in the 13th century; led a feud against the Babenberg Duke Friedrich II and considerably influenced the rise of Otakar II of Bohemia. Under the Habsburgs, their influence dwindled. Became Protestants in the 16th century and died out in 1594. Their documents of title are kept at the monastery at Zwettl ("Bärenhaut").

Literature: K. Brunner, Die K., 1980; Die K., exhibition catalogue, Zwettl 1981; NDB.