Meinhard VI of Gorizia


Meinhard VI of Gorizia a member of the Meinhardiner dynasty, an imperial prince and a count of Gorizia.

Life

His parents were Count Albert II of Gorizia and Euphemia of Mätsch. From 1338 to 1365, he ruled Gorizia jointly with his brothers Albert III and Henry V, after inheriting the county from their uncle John Henry IV. From 1362 when Henry V of Gorizia died, he ruled alongside Albert III. From 1365, Meinhard VI ruled Gorizia alone. He failed in a claim over the County of Tyrol when his second cousin Margaret was forced to cede Tyrol to Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, in 1363. This ended the "dominium Tyrolis" which had existed since 1254.
He managed to reduce the power of the Patriarchate of Aquileia, however, the Republic of Venice became the beneficiary of the Patriarchate, which led to sharp contrasts between the parties involved. Meinhard retreated from Gorizia Castle to Burg Bruck in Lienz.
Meinhard's reign marked the beginning of the decline of the County of Gorizia. The princes of Gorizia had to mortgage and sell more and more of their possessions to salvage their worsening financial position. Meinhard was involved in power struggles with his ecclesiastical neighbours, and in disputes with the Habsburg dynasty about the succession in the Duchy of Carinthia and the County of Tyrol.

Marriages and issue

Meinhard's first marriage was with Catherine, the daughter of Count Ulrich V of Pfannberg. After her death, he married Utehild, the daughter of Vogt Ulrich IV of Mätsch.
He had the following children: