Ulrich III von Graben


Ulrich III von Graben was a member of the Austrian nobility and an important member of the court of emperor Frederick III of Austria.

Biography

Ulrich's parents were Friedrich II von Graben and a Lady von Plankenwarth or Adelheid Hoffer. He was a descendant of the dynastic House of Graben von Stein, originating from the dynasty Meinhardiner. He was related to the Lords Philipp Breuner and Ruprecht I von Windischgraetz. His uncle was Lord Andreas von Graben zu Sommeregg, the founder of the Carinthian line of the family.
Ulrich von Graben married in 1464 Agnes Närringer, daughter of Mert Närringer and widow of Lord Hans Breuner. The couple had seven children.
Ulrich was first named in 1452 as member at the Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor of Frederick III of Austria. In 1456 he elected, together with his father Friedrich, Lord of the Herrschaft Obermarburg. In the same year Ulrich was elected imperial Burggraf of Maribor. In 1462 he succeeded Lord Eberhard VIII von Walsee as Landeshauptmann of the Duchy of Styria. In 1469 he was succeeded by Count Wilhelm von Dirnstein. In the same year Ulrich became imperial Seneschal and emperor Friedrich III pledged him with the castle of Maribor. In 1483 Ulrich was elected imperial Burggraf of Graz. As burggraf of Graz he was deeply involved in the war against Matthias Corvinus. In this time he was the emperors deputy.