The Origin of the House of Hapsburg: An Alternate Theory

11 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by Matthew Scarince in Christendom

Tags

Carolingians, Count Raedbot of Klettgau, Counts of Hapsburg, Habsburg-Lorraine, History, House of Hapsburg, Lothar I, origins, Sacretemporal, St. Adalrich

I will preface this by saying that it is not a scholarly assertion nor the result of proven research. I do not intend to present a full academic proof, but rather to present a speculative theory which is open to refutation.

It is often stated that the most probable progenitor of the House of Hapsburg was a certain Guntramnus Dives (Guntram the Rich), perhaps identical to the third son of Hugh Count of Nordgau, of the Etichonid dynasty (the descendants of St. Adalrich of Alsace). This is based on the account of Acta Murensia written around the year 1160, stating that Lanzelin Count of Klettgau was the son of Guntramnus. There are however several problems with reconciling this account with the traditions of Hapsburg origin, particularly the traditional consensus of Carolingian descent, and the possession of Klettgau. Yet what if the genealogy could be traced not to Guntram but directly to the Carolingians?

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Is “Hapsburg” an Incorrect Spelling?

17 Thursday Nov 2016

Posted by Matthew Scarince in Christendom, HRM Archive

≈ 7 Comments

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Archduke Eduard, Count Raedbot of Klettgau, Etymology, Habsburg, Habspurg, Hapsburg, House of Austria, Imperial History, Philology

His Imperial Highness Archduke Eduard of Austria recently published an excellent article in the Catholic Herald, speaking of the recent Papal Audience with House of Austria, and including in this article a rather curious postscript;

I’d like to take this opportunity to reach out to our English-speaking friends and ask them always to write Habsburg with a “b”. The “Hapsburg” variant has been around since the 17th century, but that doesn’t make it the correct spelling. Thanks.

Now I intend no disrespect to the Archduke, but having made a thorough study of the etymology and orthography of the name of his most Noble House, I have found that the variant spelling is not only a correct spelling, but it in fact predates the Neuhochdeutsch “Habsburg” variant. This is not to say that the Imperial and Royal family ought not use the spelling “Habsburg,” but rather I intend to show through the orthographic history of the name that the spelling “Hapsburg” is in fact a correct and usable variation.

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