# House of Matsch

The House of Matsch, also written Maetsch, Mätsch, Metsch or Mazzo (Italian) is an old Swiss-Austrian noble family. Their origin is uncertain; they may have come from the Upper Valtellina from the village of Mazzo or may have been a sideline of the lords of Tarasp. The seats of the lords of Matsch were the castles of Obermatsch and Untermatsch in the Matscher Tal (Matsch Valley, Val di Mazia). Later they captured the Churburg at Schluderns in the Vinschgau (Venosta) valley and turned that into their main residence. For a time the lords of Matsch were one of the most powerful noble families in the Vinschgau and in present-day Graubünden.

## History

The Matsch were documented for the first time around the middle of the 12th century. A certain Egino I von Matsch (*c.1160) is regarded as the founder of the family. The Matsch officiated as bailiffs over the monasteries of Marienberg in Burgeis and St. John in Müstair. Later they also acquired the bailiwicks over the subjects of the bishop of Chur in Vinschgau, Münstertal, in the Lower Engadin and in Puschlav. The Matsch were almost constantly feuding with the bishops of Chur, of whom the Matsch were ministeriales.
The Matscher's own estates were in Vinschgau, Veltlin, Münstertal, Puschlav ( mines) and around Tarasp. In the 13th and 14th centuries, they came into the possession of the Lordship of Vaduz for a time as a pledge. They were also able to take possession of the castles and estates of Reichenberg, Ramosch, Ardez, Greifenstein, Alt-Süns in Domleschg and Klingenhorn near Malans. In 1338 they took over the courts of Schiers and Castels in the Prättigau. A long-standing dispute between the Counts of Toggenburg and the Matsch family over the ownership of the two courts was only resolved through the marriage of Elizabeth of Matsch to Frederick VII, Count of Toggenburg. Through the marriage, the Matsch were drawn into the Old Zurich War. In 1348 the family lost the bailiwicks of Chiavenna, Bormio and the Puschlav to the Duchy of Milan.
Like many other Graubünden noble families, the Matsch family was constantly involved in feuds and conflicts with other families and the bishops of Chur.
Ulrich IV, Lord of Matsch acquired the County of Kirchberg near Ulm, through his wife Agnes in 1366, and therefore held the title Count of Kirchberg. He was also Vogt of Matsch. From Ulrich IV onwards, some members of the family were also provincial governors of Tyrol; the last representative of the family, Gaudenz, Lord of Matsch (1436–1504), belonged to the council of Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, regent of Tyrol and Further Austria. In 1487 he fell out of favor and, as a fugitive, lost his possessions through confiscation and pledging.
Most of the Matsch possessions in today's South Tyrol fell to the Barons von Trapp .

## Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the von Matsch family has three transverse blue eagle wings in silver. On the helmet with red and silver covers a red and silver inturned hifthorn with shackles in mixed colors. It can be found under the original spelling "MAeTSCH" on the Zurich coat of arms roll.

## Lords of Matsch
### House of Matsch

| Ruler | Born | Reign | Death | Ruling part | Consort | Notes |
| Hartwig I | ? | c.1160-1167 | 1167 | Lordship of Matsch | Unknown two children | Founder of the family (and the lordship). |
| Egino I | c.1140? | 1167-1192 | 1192 | Lordship of Matsch | Matilda two children | Children of Hartwig I, ruled jointly. Ulrich's son Arnold was Bishop of Chur. |
| Ulrich I | ? | 1167-1192 | 1192 | Lordship of Matsch | Unknown one child | Children of Hartwig I, ruled jointly. Ulrich's son Arnold was Bishop of Chur. |
| Egino II | c.1180? | 1192-1238 | 25 November 1238 | Lordship of Matsch | Adelaide of Wangen two children | |
| Hartwig II | 1214 | 1238-1249 | 20 December 1249 | Lordship of Matsch | Sophia of Moosberg two children | |
| Albero | c.1240 | 1249-1280 | 10 January 1280 | Lordship of Matsch | Adelaide of Rumus no children Sophia of Velthurns (d.10 August 1308) 14 March 1263 three children | Children of Hartwig II, ruled jointly. |
| Egino III | ? | 1249-1277 | 1277 | Lordship of Matsch | Adelaide of Montfort three children | Children of Hartwig II, ruled jointly. |
| Egino IV | ? | 1280-1341 | 1341 | Lordship of Matsch | Clara of Homberg 1305 three children | Cousins, ruled jointly. Egino IV was Egino III's son, and Ulrich II was Albero's son. Ulrich II's sister Euphemia was Countess of Gorizia. |
| Ulrich II | ? | 1280-1309 | 9 July 1309 | Lordship of Matsch | Margaret of Vaz (d.1343) 29 October 1295 three children | Cousins, ruled jointly. Egino IV was Egino III's son, and Ulrich II was Albero's son. Ulrich II's sister Euphemia was Countess of Gorizia. |
| Ulrich III | c.1295 | 1341-1366 | 25 October 1366 | Lordship of Matsch | Adelaide of Werdenberg (c.1300/10-1365) 21 March 1322 one child | Cousins, ruled jointly. Ulrich III was Ulrich II's son, and Hartwig and John (who left no children) were Egino IV's children. |
| Hartwig III | c.1305 | 1341-1360 | 1 February 1360 | Lordship of Matsch | Unmarried | Cousins, ruled jointly. Ulrich III was Ulrich II's son, and Hartwig and John (who left no children) were Egino IV's children. |
| John I | c.1305 | 1341-1360 | c.1360 | Lordship of Matsch | Unmarried | Cousins, ruled jointly. Ulrich III was Ulrich II's son, and Hartwig and John (who left no children) were Egino IV's children. |
| Ulrich IV | c.1325 | 1366-1402 | 28 September 1402 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de facto until 1390, de jure from 1390) | Agnes of Kirchberg (I) (d.12 March 1401/07) six children | Since 1366 Ulrich IV acquired (by inheritance) the County of Kirchberg. However, in 1390, the family returned back the majority of the Kirchberg lands they had acquired. They kept the title Count of Kirchberg for themselves, at least until 1434. From 1390, he associated his eldest sons to the government: Ulrich V and John II, and both predeceased him. |
| Ulrich V | ? | 1390-1396 | 27 May/30 July 1396 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de jure) | Kunigunde of Montfort-Tettnang (d.1429) c.1390 four children | Since 1366 Ulrich IV acquired (by inheritance) the County of Kirchberg. However, in 1390, the family returned back the majority of the Kirchberg lands they had acquired. They kept the title Count of Kirchberg for themselves, at least until 1434. From 1390, he associated his eldest sons to the government: Ulrich V and John II, and both predeceased him. |
| John II | ? | 1390-1397 | 1397 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de jure) | Margaret of Rhazuns (d.1437) one child | Since 1366 Ulrich IV acquired (by inheritance) the County of Kirchberg. However, in 1390, the family returned back the majority of the Kirchberg lands they had acquired. They kept the title Count of Kirchberg for themselves, at least until 1434. From 1390, he associated his eldest sons to the government: Ulrich V and John II, and both predeceased him. |
| Ulrich VI | ? | 1402-1444 | 1444 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de jure until 1434) | Barbara of Starkenberg (d.1430) 1415 three children | Ruled jointly. Ulrich VI was Ulrich IV's son (and younger brother of Ulrich V and John II). He associated his nephews Ulrich VII and William (sons of his brother John) to the co-rulership, and both predeceased him. In 1434, the return of the County of Kirchberg to the original family was officialized by the Holy Roman Emperor. They probably stopped styling themselves as Counts of Kirchberg from this point onwards. During Ulrich VI's reign, his sister Elizabeth of Matsch held control, as widow, of the County of Toggenburg, increasing the influence of the family. |
| Ulrich VII | c.1390 | 1402-1431 | 1431 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de jure) | Unmarried | Ruled jointly. Ulrich VI was Ulrich IV's son (and younger brother of Ulrich V and John II). He associated his nephews Ulrich VII and William (sons of his brother John) to the co-rulership, and both predeceased him. In 1434, the return of the County of Kirchberg to the original family was officialized by the Holy Roman Emperor. They probably stopped styling themselves as Counts of Kirchberg from this point onwards. During Ulrich VI's reign, his sister Elizabeth of Matsch held control, as widow, of the County of Toggenburg, increasing the influence of the family. |
| William | c.1390 | 1402-1429 | 1429 | Lordship of Matsch (with County of Kirchberg, de jure) | Anna of Nogarelis no children | Ruled jointly. Ulrich VI was Ulrich IV's son (and younger brother of Ulrich V and John II). He associated his nephews Ulrich VII and William (sons of his brother John) to the co-rulership, and both predeceased him. In 1434, the return of the County of Kirchberg to the original family was officialized by the Holy Roman Emperor. They probably stopped styling themselves as Counts of Kirchberg from this point onwards. During Ulrich VI's reign, his sister Elizabeth of Matsch held control, as widow, of the County of Toggenburg, increasing the influence of the family. |
| Ulrich VIII | ? | 1444-1461 | 1461 | Lordship of Matsch | Teela of Freundberg no children | Son of John II, ruled alongside Ulrich IV and Ulrich VI since 1397. |
| Ulrich IX | 1419 | 1461-1489 | 1489 | Lordship of Matsch | Agnes of Kirchberg (II) (d.1472) four children | Son of Ulrich VI. Ruled with his cousin since 1444. |
| Gaudenz | 1436 | 1489-1504 | 1504 | Lordship of Matsch | Hippolyte of Simonetta three children | Left no descendants; Through his sister Barbara, the Matsch possessions fell to the Barons von Trapp. |

## Family tree

Descent (among others after Justinian Ladurner):
* 1. Hartwig I of Matsch († after 1167).
** 1. Ulrich I of Matsch (* 1161).
*** 1. Arnold von Matsch († 1221), Bishop of Chur (from 1209/10).
** 2. Egino I. Vogt von Matsch and the monastery of Marienberg (1160-1192); Heir of the Matsch bailiffs.
*** 1. Egino II Vogt von Matsch and Marienberg, (* 1189; † November 25, 1238) ∞ Adelheid von Wangen, daughter of Albero von Wangen.
**** 1. Hartwig II Vogt von Matsch and Marienberg (* 1214; † December 20, 1249) ∞ Sophie von Moosburg.
***** 1. Albero I Vogt von Matsch (* 1242; † Jan. 10, 1280) ∞ Sophie von Velturns († after Aug. 10, 1308), daughter of Hugo von Velturns and Elisabeth von Eppan († 1273); their father was Ulrich, Count of Eppan († after 1233) from the noble family of Eppan .
****** 1. Ulrich II Vogt von Matsch (1273–1328) ∞ Margaretha of Vaz († after 1343), daughter of Walter V Herr von Vaz (from the Barons von Vaz family ), and the Liukarde von Kirchberg († May 24, 1326); whose parents were Eberhard III, Count von Kirchberg († before 1283) and Uta von Neuffen (from the Neuffen family).
******* 1. Offmei Utehild von Matsch (* 1301; † after 1353) ∞ Albert II, Count of Gorizia († 1327).
******* 2. Ulrich III. Vogt von Marienberg and Chur, pledgee of Vaduz and Greifenstein († Oct. 25, 1366) ∞ Adelheid von Werdenberg († 1365) from the Alpeck side line of the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans .
******** 1. Ulrich IV Vogt von Matsch and first Count of Kirchberg (1349–1402), Governor of Tyrol 1361–1363 ∞ Agnes Countess of Kirchberg († 1401).
********* 1. Ulrich V. († 1396) ∞ Cunigunde Countess of Monfort-Tetnang.
********** 1. Ulrich VII (1396-1431), Governor of Tyrol 1410-1411 and 1429-1431.
********** 2. Wilhelm († 1429), ducal Governor of Trento 1408, governor of Tyrol 1417-1429.
********* 2. Johann II († 1397) ∞ Margareth, Baroness of Rhäzüns.
********** 1. Ulrich VIII (1396–1461), governor of Tyrol 1431–1448, 1446–1448 also steward ∞ Teela von Freundsberg († 1439).
********* 3. Elisabeth († after 1443) ∞ Frederick VII Count of Toggenburg († 1436).
********* 4. Ulrich VI Count of Matsch († 1444) ∞ Barbara von Starkenberg († 1425); Daughter of Sigmund von Starkenberg († 1401) and Osanna von Ems († after 1418) [3] († 1407), granddaughter of the knight Ulrich I von Ems from the house of the Lords of Ems and a daughter from the noble family Schellenberg .
********** 1. Ulrich IX Count of Kirchberg and Matsch (1419–1489), governor of Tyrol 1471–1476 ∞ Agnes Countess of Kirchberg-Udalriching and Werdenberg-Sargans (4th great-granddaughter of the above-mentioned Eberhard III. of Kirchberg and Uta von Neuffen).
*********** 1. Gaudenz von Matsch (1436-1504), governor of Tyrol 1478-1482, steward and general in the Venetian War of 1486; last male offspring of the Matscher.

## Important members of the family

* Egino I of Matsch (1160–1192)
* Arnold of Matsch, Bishop of Chur (1210–1221)
* Elizabeth of Matsch (died after 1443), later widow of Frederick VII, the last Count of Toggenburg
* Gaudenz of Matsch (1436–1504)