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Counts of Cilli, also Counts of Celje (Slovene Celjski grofje, German Grafen von Cilli) represent the most important medieval aristocratic and ruling house with roots and territory in present-day Slovenia.
At the time the house died out they held the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and many other titles in territories of present-day Central Europe. The family is referred to in historical science as Counts of Cilli.
Name, origins

Celje upper castleThe name "Counts of Cilli" was given to the house by emperor Louis IV of Bavaria in 1341 and derived from the medieval name Cilli of town Celje at Savinja river in present Slovenia. Celje itself became property of the dynasty in 1333.

Their rise to powerful family started in a small castle in Žovnek (Sannegg), Braslovče (Upper Savinja valley), but in a short period of time they owned more than 20 castles all over territory of modern Slovenia and beyond through the marriages of their daughters.


Habsburg's allies
In 14. cent. they allied with Habsburgs in war against counts of Gorizia-Tirol, making Cilli vassals of Habsburgs in 1308. With acquiring large estates in Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and in the territories of the Hungarian crown (Croatia, Slavonia) their influence rose and they became one of the most powerful families in area. They were related by marriage with rulers of Bosnia and Polish and Hungarian kings.


Savior of the king
Their rapid rise started after the Battle of Nicopolis (1396) where Hermann II of Cilli saved the life of Sigismund of Luxemburg (Hungarian king, from 1433 Holy Roman emperor). As a reward king Sigismund donated (1397-99) the city of Varaždin, the county of Zagorje, and many estates in present-day Croatia to the family.The House of Cilli and Sigismund became even more strongly related with the marriage of Hermanns' daughter Barbara of Cilli with king Sigismund. In 1436 the Emperor elevated the counts to the rank of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. That caused a war with the Habsburgs that lasted until 1443, when an agreement of mutual inheritance was signed.


Keeper of the young king
Ulrich II of Cilli was the most powerful member of the Cilli family. He held a large influence in many courts, that originated from the relationships the Cilli family made in the past. He tried to get regency of Hungary, Bohemia and Austria through control over Ladislas the Posthumous, at the time a minor. With such ambitions he got many opponents and rivals, such as Hunyadi family. After unsuccessful claim of the Bosnian crown, Cilli received some territories in Croatia and Slavonia but finally succeeded to force Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor to hand over (1452) the boy king Ladislas the Posthumous to his keeping. Ulrich II became practically the ruler of Hungary. In 1456 after the death of his rival John Hunyadi, Ulrich II was named Captain General of Hungary, an office previously held by John Hunyadi. That initiated a plot by the Hunyadi family against Ulrich II, killing him on the 8th of November, in Belgrade.


Murder in Belgrade
With the death of Ulrich II the male line of the Counts of Cilli died out, and after the war of succession all of their estates and property were handed over to the Habsburgs on the basis of the inheritance agreement (Wiki).