Counts of Celje

In Savinja region, which was a part of Carniola from 1100 until 1311, von Sannegg were already mentioned in 1173, between years 1341 and 1436 Counts of Cilli, and in years 1436 and 56 Princes of state (with establishment of principality of Celje, they were exalted by emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg). They were reigning family with important European connections. They were controlling a big part of Slovenian region and had their headquarters in Celje. After the year of 1436 they became the most significant rivals of Counts of Habsburg. Since the 12th century they were spreading their estates and connections, especially by weddings (for example with the daughters of Bosnian Ban and Polish King), but at the same time they were sustaining their own culture and founding towns and cloisters. Interfering in European governmental affairs was fatal for them. In 14th century their sudden ascent began (annexation of Savinja region to Syria in 1311 was very important).

In 1322 they gained some land of Count of Vovberg with headqurters in Celje, they bought land in Carniola and in year 1341 they became Counts. They fought under more rulers, but achieved the highest point with Herman II. Count of Celje (1392 – 1435). He saved emperor Sigismund's life in the battle with Turks. He became Slavonic and Dalmatian Ban and in this way extremely enlarged his estates; he assured his sons a title Prince, which equalized them wit Counts of Habsburg. Both Counts entangled themselves in land and strategic battles that ended with mutual hereditary contract for inner-Austrian estates. When Ulrick II. tried to intervene in European dynastic politics (he proclaimed himself king's regent in Hungary), they coined conspiracy against him. It ended with his homicide in 1456 in Belgrade. That is how estates and authority of Counts Of Celje were passed over to Counts of Habsburg; Hungary was than taken over by Matthias Corvinus, and from present Slovenian land vanished the last important centre of authority.

Grofje Celjski

V Savinjski krajini, ki je bila leta 1100 – 1311 del Krajnske, so že leta 1173 omenjeni Žovneški, od leta 1341 – 1436 Celjski grofje in v letih 1436 – 56 državni knezi (z ustanovitvijo Celjske kneževine jih je povzdignil cesar Sigismund Luksemburški). Celjani so bili vladarska družina s pomembnimi evropskimi zvezami. Obvladovali so znaten del slovenskega ozemlja in imeli svoj sedež v Celju, po letu 1436 so bili tudi najresnejši tekmec Habsburžanov. Od 12. stol. so zlasti s porokami (napr. s hčerama bosanskega bana in poljskega kralja) in vojaškimi službami širili svojo posest in zveze, hkrati pa so podpirali tudi kulturo ter ustanavljali mesta in samostane. Vpletanje v evropske vladarske zadeve je bilo za njih tudi usodno. Njihov skokovit vzpon se je začel v 14. stol. (pri tem je pomembna priključitev Savinjske krajine k Štajerski 1311). Leta 1322 so si pridobili posesti Vovberžanov s sedežem v Celju, kupovali so posesti na Kranjskem in leta 1341 postali grofje. Vojaško so služili več vladarjem, vrhunec so dosegli pod Hermanom II. Celjskim (1392 - 1435). Ta je v bitki s Turki pri Nikopolju leta 1396 cesarju Sigismundu Luksemburškemu rešil življenje. Postal slavonski in dalmatinski ban in silno je povečal posesti, sinovoma je zagotovil knežji naslov, s čimer so se Celjski izenačili s Habsburžani. Z njimi so se zapletli v posestne in strateške boje, ki so se končali z medsebojno dedno pogodbo za notranjeavstrijske posesti. Ko je Urlik II. poskušal še dejavneje poseči v evropsko dinastično politiko (oklical se je za kraljevega namestnika na Ogrskem), so proti njemu skovali zaroto, ki se je končala z njegovim ubojem leta 1456 v Beogradu. Tako so posesti in oblast Celjskih prišle v roke Habsburžanov, Ogrsko pa prevzame Matija Korvin, Z današnjega slovenskega ozemlja je izginilo zadnje pomembno središče oblasti.