Khevenhüller

Khevenhüller is the name of a Carinthian noble family documented there since 1356 which originally came from the Upper Palatinate in Franconia and which later had their principal seat in Landskron Castle. In the 16th century the family split into the two branches of Khevenhüller-Frankenburg, Reichsgrafen (i.e. counts of the realm) since 1593, and Khevenhüller-Hochosterwitz (Reichsgrafen since 1725 and, as Khevenhüller-Metsch, Fürsten (i.e., princes) since 1763. In present-day Carinthia the Khevenhüllers operate the tourist attraction of Hochosterwitz Castle, one of their Renaissance homes.
History
The earliest mention of a Khevenhüller is of one Ulreich "dem Chevenhuelaer" 1330, and in Carinthia of one Johann I Khevenhüller, who died in 1356 and was the son-in-law of Richard I von Khünburg and Elisabeth von Himmelberg, both from Carinthia. Johann IV von Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg (b. ca 1420-1462) was the first to hold the family title...