Counts of Cilli

In the Middle Ages, the town of Celje was the property of the Counts of Celje (Slovene Celjski grofje, German Grafen von Cilli). They are often still referred to in English as Counts of Cilli. They were a well-known noble family of Slovenia and the only true counts of Slovene ethnicity. They began their glory in a small castle in Žovnek (German Sannegg), Braslovce (Upper Savinja valley), but in a short period of time they owned more than 20 castles all over Slovenia and beyond through the marriages of their daughters.

When the last count of Celje died without an heir, all of their domains were passed on to the Habsburgs, their biggest rivals (the Counts of Celje and the Habsburgs had an agreement, that the family which died out first, would leave all its' possessions to the other one). Their coat of arms (three yellow stars on a blue background) was incorporated into the Slovenian national flag in 1991. It is also the current coat of arms of Celje. ... more

Counts of Cilli coat-of-arms

• A1 .. Gebhardus de Soune, d:1154;
  • B1 .. Gebhardus von Sanegg, d:1173;
    • C1 .. Gebhard von Sanegg, d: 1224;
      • D1 .. Konrad, d:1255; m. Sophia von Pfannberg-Peggau;
        • E1 .. Graf Ulrich I von Cilli, d:1312; m. Anna von Sternberg;
          • F1 .. Graf Friedrich I von Cilli, lvd:1300/1360; m. Diemut von Wallsee;
            • G1 .. Graf Hermann I von Cilli, lvd:1332/1385; m. Katarina Kotromanic;
              • H1 .. Graf Hermann II von Cilli, lvd:1365/1435; m. Anna von Schauenberg;
                • I1 .. Graf Friedrich II von Cilli, Ban of Slavonia, d:1454; m. Elizabeth Frangepan;
                  • J1 .. Graf Ulrich III von Cilli, Ban of Slavonia, lvd:1407/1456; m. Katalin Brankovic;
                    • K1 .. Elisabeth von Cilli, lvd:1441/1455; m. László Hunyadi;
                • I2 .. Elisabeth von Cilli; m. Heinrich von Görz;
                • I3 .. Anna von Cilli; m. Garai Miklós;  <==  Garai family
                • I4 .. Barbara von Cilli; d:1451, m. Emperor Sigismund, King of Bohemia and Hungary;