George Khevenhüller

George of Khevenhüller (* April 22, 1533; † September 9, 1587 ) was a Carinthian aristocrat of the family of Khevenhüller. Although a Protestant, he was in a range of functions for decades in the service of the Habsburgs, including from 1565 to 1587 as governor of Carinthia.

Life and work

Georg Khevenhüller was one of the most striking personalities of Carinthia in the 16th century. He was the nephew of the Governor Christopher Khevenhüller and was provided at an early age with high honors. He was initially Council and Treasurer of the two emperors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II. Age of 31, he was appointed Governor of Carinthia. Later he also received the office and title of Privy Council, Colonel Chamberlain and the President of the Graz Court Chamber. He was also High Steward of Archduke Charles II. As an officer, he distinguished himself repeatedly in Croatia against the Turks.

George's two wives, and Anna Sibylla Weitmoser of Thurzos, came from families who had become rich with mining. George must have substantial financial means. So he acquired Hochosterwitz and Castle Wernberg and extended it to its present form. For his second wife Anna he built around 1582 Castle Annabichl. In Villach he built in 1570 a city palace, the so-called Venetianerhaus. The three-storey, eight-axle on the main facade building with courtyard arcades was later used as the town hall and destroyed in the Second World War up to the diamantquaderumrahmte portal. Khevenhüller is the preeminent owner and client in Carinthia, the second half of the 16th century.

George was a staunch Protestant Khevenhüller. However, he enjoyed at the court of Archduke Karl high reputation. He was involved in the negotiations on the Religionspazifikation 1578, as the nobility in the face of the Turkish threat to religious freedom was promised. On Khevenhiiller Hochosterwitz the Protestant preacher Michael Gothard Christalnick worked.

Khevenhüller was more than 30 years in government service working for a long time outside Carinthia. In his capacity as Governor, he was represented at this time by a Landesverweser. It was not until he spent his last years again primarily in Carinthia. So he headed from 1582 the supervision of the Assembly in Klagenfurt.

Georg Khevenhüller died on September 9, 1587th He is like his uncle Christoph in the parish church of St. Jacob was buried in Villach.