A contribution to the history of the Osterberg seigneury

Abstract

A critical review of literature on the history of the Osterberg seigneury in Podgrad near Ljubljana is given with a special emphasis on two castles that stand on its territory. Ascertained are several inaccuracies in regard of the so far existing descriptions of the origin and the history of the both buildings, their function and naming that are being repeated and preserved in non-critical quotations. Although the exact time of the coming into existence and of the builders of the castles is still difficult to determine, a rounded up suggestion of the history of the treated seigneury is given – based on a complex survey of written sources and material remains, and considering analogies with origins of other similar castles. Also presented are numerous names with which the treated castles are denoted, analysed are their origins, and a proposal for their unified designation in the future is given.