Town Charter and Administration
Reading Time: 1:05 min
From Market to Town
Originating from a market community jointly governed by Salzburg and Gurk 1016 onwards, Friesach gradually developed into a town over the following eighty years – remarkably, without any formal act of elevation.
As early as 1202, the inhabitants of Friesach were referred to as cives (citizens), and by 1215, the settlement itself appeared in documents as civitas. This makes Friesach the oldest town in Carinthia.
The Town Seal
A town seal was first mentioned in 1261, and the oldest surviving example, dating from 1265, reflects the defensive nature of the settlement: it shows a fortified wall flanked by three towers. The seal symbolises Friesach’s medieval strength and civic identity.
The Town Charter
The Friesach town charter, granted in 1339 by Archbishop Friedrich III of Salzburg, laid the foundations for civic law and local governance.
Its influence extended beyond Friesach: the same privileges were later granted to other Carinthian towns, such as Gmünd in 1346.
Early Civic Self-Government
The first steps towards self-administration emerged during the disputes over the episcopal seat of Gurk, when the archbishop, as lord of the town, relied on the support of the citizens and, in return, was obliged to grant them rights and freedoms.
Until the 15th century, the town judge was appointed directly by the archbishop, but later the sworn town council gained the right to elect its own judge, marking a significant step in civic independence.
Ecclesiastical Authority
Despite growing civic autonomy, ecclesiastical administration remained under the Vicedom, the Salzburg representative in Friesach, until the end of Salzburg’s rule in 1803.