Guntram the Rich ( la, Guntramnus Dives, german: Guntram der Reiche, french: Gontran le Riche; 920 – March 26, 973) was a count in

Breisgau The Breisgau () is an area in southwest Germany between the Rhine River and the foothills of the Black Forest. Part of the state of Baden-Württemberg, it centers on the city of Freiburg im Breisgau. The district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, ...

, member of the noble family of the

Etichonids The Etichonids were an important noble family, probably of Frankish, Burgundian or Visigothic origin, who ruled the Duchy of Alsace in the Early Middle Ages (7th–10th centuries). The dynasty is named for Eticho (also known as Aldarich), who r ...

, and possibly the progenitor of the

House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

History

A member of the Eberhard branch of the

noble family, one of the most influential families on both sides of

Upper Rhine The Upper Rhine (german: Oberrhein ; french: Rhin Supérieur) is the section of the Rhine between Basel in Switzerland and Bingen in Germany, surrounded by the Upper Rhine Plain. The river is marked by Rhine-kilometres 170 to 529 (the sc ...

, Guntram possessed lands in

Alsace Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...

and in

, from Vogesen to Kaiserstuhl and the

Black Forest The Black Forest (german: Schwarzwald ) is a large forested mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany, bounded by the Rhine Valley to the west and south and close to the borders with France and Switzerland. It is ...

.''Lexikon des Mittelalters''. Volume IV, p. 1795.Trillmich 1991, p. 118 Many of Guntram's possessions had been given to him by the king. In August 952 Guntram the Rich was convicted of treachery during an Imperial Diet in

Augsburg Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the ' ...

, which resulted in King

Otto the Great Otto I (23 November 912 – 7 May 973), traditionally known as Otto the Great (german: Otto der Große, it, Ottone il Grande), was East Frankish king from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death in 973. He was the oldest son of Hen ...

removing these lands from him. Guntram was however able to keep his possessions in Alsace, Breisgau, and near

Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...

and

Reuß Reuss (german: Reuß , ) was the name of several historical states located in present-day Thuringia, Germany. Several lordships of the Holy Roman Empire which arose after 1300 and became Imperial Counties from 1673 and Imperial Principalities ...

. The political influence of Guntram's family was restored by his grandsons. One of them, Radbot, a count in

Klettgau Klettgau (High Alemannic: ''Chleggau'') is a municipality in the district of Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the centre of the ''Klettgau'' historical region stretching across the Swiss border into the cantons of Aargau, Schaffhaus ...

, founded the

Muri Abbey Muri Abbey (german: Kloster Muri) is a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It flourished for over eight centuries at Muri, in the Canton of Aargau, near Zürich, Switzerland. It is currently established as Muri-Gries in Sout ...

, which became the first burial place of members of the House of Habsburg. It is possible that Radbot founded the castle Habichtsburg, the residence of the

, but another possible founder is Werner I. The chronology of the

, written in the 11th century, states that ''Guntramnus Dives'' (Guntram the Rich), was the progenitor of the

.Heimann 2001, p. 22 Many historians believe this indeed makes Guntram the progenitor of the

; however, much about him and the origins of the Habsburgs is uncertain.

Family

Guntram had the following issue: *

Lanzelin of Klettgau Lanzelin (c. 940-981/991) was a Germanic noble and was a distant ancestor of the House of Habsburg. His father, Guntram the Rich, was a powerful nobleman. He married Lutgart, countess of Nellenbourg, Liutgarda of Nellenburg (daughter of Eberhart II ...

. His son was: **

Radbot, Count of Habsburg Radbot, Count of Klettgau (c. 9851045) was (Count) of the county of Klettgau on the High Rhine in Swabia. Radbot was one of the progenitors of the Habsburg dynasty, and he chose to name his fortress Habsburg. Radbot was probably the second ...

. **Rudolf of Altenburg, buried Ottmarsheim abbey

References

Sources

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Guntram The Rich House of Habsburg Year of birth uncertain 920s births 973 deaths Medieval nobility of the Holy Roman Empire 10th-century German nobility 10th-century rulers in Europe Alsatian nobility