Burggraf von Saldenhofen

The Graben zu Kornberg family held the title of Burggraf von (auf) Saldenhofen (Burgrave of Saldenhofen) between 1494 and 1509. It started in 1494, when Wolfgang von Graben and his two brothers Wilhelm and Andree von Graben. They negotiated with the Roman-German King Maximilian I about the Glauning forest (municipality of Sankt Peter am Ottersbach). That including villages, farmers and two ponds. In return, they became owners of the lordship and the castle of Saldenhofen.^[1] In 1498 Wolfgang was named imperial burggraf of Saldenhofen.^[2] In 1509 Sigmund von Eibiswald became the new lord.

The Graben-titles Burggraf von (auf) Saldenhofen, Herr von Kornberg, Marburg, Obermarburg, Radkersburg, Neudenstein, Weinberg und Graben, were not passed on from Wolfgang von Graben zu Kornberg († 1521) to his son Peter von Graben "Graeff" (* 1450/60). In 1476, Wolfgang and young Peter went to Holland in the entourage of Archduke Maximilian of Austria (the later Holy Roman Emperor).^[3] Peter stayed in Holland and took the name (Pieter) Graeff. In the 15th century that was the dutch translation of the german name Graben.^[4] For certain reasons (illegitimate, renunciation?), Pieter was not entitled to inherit. The titles and honors passed to Wolfgang's younger brothers Andree von Graben († 1521), possibly Georg von Graben († 1522), and Wilhelm von Graben († 1523).^[5]

Burggrafen Von Graben

Portrait	Name	Titles	State	Start term	End term
	Wolfgang von Graben († 1521)	lord of Graben, Kornberg, the lordship Marburg with Obermarburg and Maribor Castle, Radkersburg, Neudenstein, Weinberg and burggrave (viscount) of Saldenhofen	Austria	1494	1509
	Andree von Graben († 1521)	lord of Kornberg, burggrave (viscount) of Saldenhofen	Austria	1494	1498
	Wilhelm von Graben († 1523)	lord of Graben, Kornberg, the lordship Marburg with Obermarburg and Maribor Castle and burggrave (viscount) of Saldenhofen	Austria	1494	1498

Pieter Graeff had one son, Jan Pietersz Graeff (before 1500 - 1553).^[6][7] Hw founded various lines of the family De Graeff:

• De Graaff (Holland; later also in Prussia)
• Graeff / De Graeff / De Graeff van Polsbroek (mainly in Amsterdam; later also in South Africa)
• (De) Graeff / Gräff (Holland; later also in Saxony, Austria)

The members of the two older family lines had no claim to the titles of Wolfgang von Graben. The line to Amsterdam itself had various titles: Vrijheer van Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland en Ilpendam. The situation is different with the younger Austrian Gräff line, which has claimed the following titles and honors since at least the early 19th century: Burggraf von (auf) Saldenhofen (Vuzenica), Herr von Kornberg, Marburg (Maribor/Marburg an der Drau), Obermarburg, Radkersburg, Neudenstein, Weinberg und Graben, Patrizier von Amsterdam.^[8]

The austrian Gräff family held the title of Burggraf von (auf) Saldenhofen (Burgrave of Saldenhofen) since the late 19th century. The claim goes back to Lambert Gräf, OSB (1848-1933).^[9] Lambert was childless. He gave this title to his greatnephew Josef Gräff (1886-1950).^[10] Josef later gave it to his son Rudolf Gräff (1919-2006).^[11] He never claimed the title during his lifetime. His descendants also never used the title.