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	Seal of Carantania

by Dr. Jožko Šavli

June 14, 2010

Seals were applied to letters and parcels to indicate whether or not the item had been opened since the seal was applied. Seals were used both to seal the item to prevent tampering, as well as to provide proof that the item was actually from the sender and was not a forgery. In Carantania, in 12th century AD, seals of rulers served the same functions, they were used to authenticate documents.

In this century, apart from Carinthia, two other Carantanian provinces (marches) advanced to dukedoms: the Eastern March (Austria) in 1156, and the Carantanian March (Styria) in 1180. In this way, the ancient duchy of Carantania was divided into three duchies. In 1192, when the ducal family of Styria became extinct, their duchy was inherited by the Babenbergs, dukes of Austria. This family descended from the ancient Carantanian stock of Luitpoldinger.

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Seal of Ulric III, duke of Carinthia – Carantania (1256 – 1269).

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His shield depicts the Carantanian panther.

Anyway, in 1246 the male line of the so-called Babenbergs ended. After repeated feuds with the Bohemian king, in 1282 Austria and Styria became possession of the Habsburg family. In 1335, Carinthia passed also to the House of Habsburg. In this way they ruled the entire territory of the ancient dukedom of Carantania.

The Habsburgs adopted the well-known Babenberg shield: red - white – red, called coat of arms of Austria. In fact, it was the sign of the Eastern Command of the Carantanian army, in origin: Sable, a fess Argent, which since 1230 had the colours: Gules, a fess Argent. Anyway, they continued to bear the banner with the Carantanian panther as sign of the state (ducal) tradition.

Duke Albert I.

The first ruler of the House of Habsburg, who ruled Austria and Styria, was Duke Albert I. His consort was Elisabeth of Goerz - Tyrol. He is regarded as the beginner of the Habsburg dynasty. In 1298 he was elected Roman King. This title has its origin in the Carolingian kingdom, the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks. It was founded already in 828 and is now called for short: Germany. This kingdom was a confederation of primary dukedoms respectively nations: Bavaria, Swabia, Franconia, Saxony and Carantania.

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Albert I of Habsburg portrayed on the seal of 1287 and

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his secret seal of 1286.

As Duke of Austria and Styria, Albert I bore a seal, on which he is shown on horseback holding in one hand the banner with the Carantanian (Styrian?) panther and in the other the shield of Austria. On the horse-blanket appears the Styrian panther and the Habsburg lion; on his helmet the crest of Austria, in origin Carantanian, a tuft of peacock feathers. The seal appears on a document from 1287.

Beside this seal, Albert I of Habsburg has a secret seal respectively signet with a panther in the centre, bearing the Austrian shield. It is found on a deed from 1286.

This signet, apart from the ducal seal, was also used by the son of Albert I, Duke Rudolf III. It is found on a deed from 1305 and is imprinted in red wax.

On the seal, the colours of the panther are not visible. In general, he is considered to be Styrian, this is: Vert, a panther rampant argent. In my opinion, the colours of this panther corresponded to the so-called Austrian colours, red and white, in heraldic language: Gules, a panther rampant Argent. However, the panther does not appear in such colours on any document.

Battle of Mühdorf on the Inn, in 1322, between the Bavarian and Austrian (Carantanian) army.

Anyway, under the given circumstances an exception could be made. An illustration of the battle of Mühdorf in 1322 between Bavaria and Austria (Carantania) has been preserved. It originated in 1234. On one side are shown Bavarian troops marching under the eagle standard and on the other side Austrian troops under the gonfalon with panther. And the colours are white (argent) on red (gules) background.

Evidently, the illustrator did not see the battle himself, so he showed the panther in a reduced shape. But he knew the colours of the Austrian banner with panther. On the other side, the Bavarians bore the royal ensign, because the Bavarian duke, at that time, was already elected Roman King

After his death, in 1306, Rudolf III was succeeded by his brother Duke Frederick the Fair, who bore the same signet imprinted in red wax. He, too, bore the above mentioned signet beside the ducal seal. It is found on a deed of 1311 and is very interesting. Thus, next to the panther figure appears a star and below the panther two roses. They are the characteristic Carantanian roses with six petals.

Signets of Frederick the Fair:

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The first two from 1310 and 1313 are ducal signets,

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the third one is a royal signet.

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On all three appear the shield of Austria (Habsburg).

In 1314, Duke Frederick the Fair was elected Roman King. Thereafter, he bore the royal seal on which he is presented sitting on the throne and holding the royal insignia. Then, there is also his signet, which depicts the royal eagle even though with the Austrian shield.

Sealing with red wax was a privilege of the emperor and king. This right was granted to other princes too, but for the most part to sovereigns. Thus, in sense of this principle, the duke of Austria (Carantania) was considered a sovereign. Evidently, his status originated from Carantania, the primary dukedom of the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks.

Frederick the Fair, Duke and King, died in 1330. His successor on the ducal throne was Duke Albert II, the third brother. Under his reign, in 1335, the Habsburgs acquired Carinthia, the central Carantanian land. It was after the death of Duke Henry of Goerz – Tyrol in 1335, when all the lands of ancient Carantania were associated under the reign of the Habsburg family.

I consider it the Seal of Carantania, or also signet of Carantania. Thus, irrespective of its colours, it depicts the figure of the Carantanian panther bearing the Austrian shield as sign of the ruler. Anyway, the panther as such is the sign of the Carantanian statehood tradition.

The Great Seal of Carantania

In 1358, Duke Albert II died. His successor was his elder son Duke Rudolf IV. He still used the “Carantanian” signet with panther and Austrian shield. An example from 1361, although without legend, has been preserved.

Anyway, this duke went into history as the producer of a fake document. He wanted to be equal with the princes Electors of the Empire. Therefore he had produced a falsified charter called Privilegium maius. The significance of this charter was, that the rulers of Austria were given special privileges when the Emperor elevated the Eastern (Austrian) March to a dukedom. Among other things the charter points out that he should bear the title Archduke. The falsified charter was not acknowledged at the court of Emperor Karl IV.

Duke Rudolf IV

To the deed was a coin seal attached, showing on the adverse the “archduke” on horseback and in obverse standing him among the coat of arms of his lands, holding a sword and a scepter. In the legend (inscription) are enumerated all his titles. This seal must be considered as the first Great Seal of Carantania (Austria). And this also for the reason, because the Privilegium maius contained the rights, which in the Kingdom pertained to the primary duchy of Carantania.

The great seal is a seal that is used to symbolize the monarch's approval of important state documents. Sealing wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official.

The Great Seal is attached to the official documents of state that require the authorization of the monarch to implement the advice of the Government. It formerly constituted treason to forge the Great Seal.

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The coin seal of Duke Rudolf IV of Habsburg, Duke of Austria (Carantania).

In sense of the Privilegium maius it must be considered the first great seal of Carantania.


	In 1365, Duke Rudolf IV died. He was succeeded by his younger brothers Albert and Leopold. For several years they reigned together the lands of Austria (Carantania). In 1373, however, they split the Austrian domain with Albert III receiving Lower and Upper Austria and Leopold III receiving the so-called Inner Austria (the close Caratania).


	The brothers founded two main family lines of the House of Habsburg: the Albertinian line of Austria and the Leopoldinian line of Inner Austria. The first one reigned Lower and Upper Austria, while the Leopoldinian line ruled in Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, which together composed the so called Inner Austria.


	The division of lands is illustrated on two seals of ca. 1373, one on which Albert III is holding a standard with Austrian colours, while on the other one, Leopold III is holding the standard with panther, very probably in Styrian colours (a panther argent on a vert background).

Archduke Ernest the Iron

The Carantanian political and historical tradition was continued in visible way by the Leopoldinian line. It must be pointed out that among these rulers Archduke Ernest the Iron (reigned 1411 – 1424) was the most powerful. In the sense of the charter called Privilegium maius he adopted the title “archduke”. In 1414 he let install himself after ancient Carantanian rite on the Prince's Stone of Carantania (Carinthia).

After his death in 1424, his elder son Archduke Frederick V would succeed him on the archducal throne. He continued the Carantanian political tradition, of which his great seal bears witness. It is a coin seal, i.e., it bears the effigy front and back.

It was the second and the last Great Seal of Carantania (Inner Austria). The obverse, respectively face, shows the following significant features: the Archduke sits on horseback wearing a helmet decorated with a tuft of peacock feathers. In his right hand he is holding the standard with panther. In his left hand he is holding the shield of Austria; on the horse-blanket appears the ancient shield of Austria with five eagles; under the horse are three beaters with a greyhound, i.e., sign of the Archmaster of the Hunt; on the saddle are roses with six petals; the surrounding legend (inscription) enumerates his titles.

(Obverse)

(Reverse)

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Great Seal of Carantania of 1438

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It is a coin seal, which depicts Duke Frederick V,

since 1440 King Frederick IV and

since 1452 Emperor Frederick III.


	The reverse is maybe even more significant. The Archduke is standing on a pedestal encircled by the arms of his lands; he wears a harness, holding in his right hand a scepter and in his left hand a sword; on his head he wears the Archducal Hat of Carantania; he is surrounded by niches containing the arms of his lands.


	In 1440, Archduke Frederick V was elected King with the name Frederick IV. In 1452, he also was elected Emperor and went into history as Frederick III. In his capacity as king and emperor he used the royal and the imperial insignia. In this way, the insignia of Carantania (Inner Austria, Austria) fell into oblivion.

The main approach to my interpretation of the appurtenance of the aforesaid seals could be the circumstance, that it is about “Austrian” and not “Slovenian” signs. Anyway, such interpretation can only be valid for the time after 1918, when after the WW1 the present-day Austria (German speaking territory) and Slovenia separated. Until then, both nations had a common political history.

Moreover, this history derived from Carantania, the Slovenian Medieval duchy, mentioned in the historical sources already in 595 AD. It adopted the name Austria as early as in 13th or 14th century AD and was the origin of the later monarchy.

Sources:


	- Karl von Sava: Die Siegel der österreichischen Regenten, Vienna 1871

- Walter Kleindel: Die Chronik Österreichs, Munich 1994

- Peter Diem: Die Symbole Österreichs. Zeit und Geschichte in Zeichen, Vienna 1995

- Karl Rudolf Schnith (hg.): Mittelalterliche Herrscher in Lebensbilder. Von den Karolingern zu den Staufern, Graz 1995

- Walter Pohl: Die Welt der Babenberger, Graz 1995

- Hans Biedermann: Enciclopedia dei Simboli (translation of Knaurs Lexikon der Symbole 1989), Milan 2004