Klebercz family

The Klebercz family, also known in historical records as Klebersz, Klebecz, Kelepecz, and Kelepcsics, was a Hungarian noble family whose principal branches developed in the counties of Pozsony, Nyitra, and Zemplén. The family’s documented rise into the Hungarian nobility is associated with the confirmation of Peter Klebersz-Kelepcsics and his brothers John and Paul by Emperor Ferdinand II on 21 June 1633. A related figure, Andrew Klebecz, was also confirmed in noble status in the same year and became the ancestor of the Zemplén branch. The family’s early history was closely linked to the administrative, fiscal, military, and ecclesiastical institutions of Upper Hungary. Peter Klebersz was probably born in Trnava and received a Jesuit education there. He later entered the service of Nikolaus Esterházy of Galantha, Palatine of Hungary, becoming an official of the Hungarian Royal Chamber in Pressburg, now Bratislava. He also served as ispán of the Palatine’s estates centered on Senec. From 1655 until his death in 1665, Peter was tax comptroller of the Senec tax authority, an important fiscal center because of the large cattle trade moving from southern Hungary and the Balkans toward Austria. The revenue handled there reportedly exceeded that of Pressburg’s own tax office. Peter owned a noble manor in Senec and married Katalin Bellussy, whose father had served as burgrave of Trnava. Through his testament of 1650, Peter arranged for his estate on Grosslingen Island to pass to the Jesuits after his death. The property lay in the area of present-day central Bratislava, including the vicinity of today’s Hviezdoslavovo Square. This bequest is presented as an important contribution to the Jesuits’ continuing position in Pressburg and as the first recorded land grant to the order by a nobleman of that city. Peter’s descendants maintained the Pressburg line, which later expanded from Senec to nearby Reca. His daughter’s marriage into the Fodor family also connected the Klebercz lineage with the later Fodors of Puste Ulany. Peter’s brothers John and Paul moved away from Pressburg and established the Nyitra branch. The family’s political and military associations continued into the eighteenth century. At least one member of the Pressburg line is associated with the noble uprising led by Francis II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania. A local tradition claims that this Klebercz relative, together with two companions, captured Imperial commander Count Heister during a mounted raid near Senec. The account is a local legend rather than a fully documented family event. The Zemplén line developed from Andrew Klebecz, probably Peter’s half-brother. Andrew’s son Stephen married Judith Csenkey of Csenke, thereby acquiring part of a medieval estate in Pozsony County. The branch subsequently used the designation “Kelepecz of Csenke.” Stephen joined the uprising of Emeric Thököly, Prince of Transylvania, and relocated toward Thököly-controlled strongholds in Zemplén County. From 1675, he served as castellan of Nagytárkány Castle, now Velke Trakany in Slovakia, while it was under Thököly’s control. In the nineteenth century, members of the Csenke branch participated in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848–1849. Ferenc Kelepecz de Csenke, born in 1826 and deceased in 1890, served first as a volunteer lieutenant and later as a captain. His brother Gusztáv Kelepecz de Csenke, born in 1830 and deceased in 1869, also served as a lieutenant during the revolution. Gusztáv was captured at the Battle of Piski, released in March 1849, and later joined Józef Bem’s Transylvanian campaign. He became captain of the 74th Patriotic Battalion in June 1849. The available material presents the Klebercz family as a historical noble house rather than as a commercial brand, corporation, or operating organization.

The House of Klebercz was a noble family of the Kingdom of Hungary whose members appear in records under several orthographic forms, including Klebersz, Klebecz, Kelepecz, and Kelepcsics. Its principal branches were associated with Pozsony, Nyitra, and Zemplén counties. The family’s documented ennoblement dates to 21 June 1633, when Emperor Ferdinand II confirmed Peter Klebersz-Kelepcsics and his brothers John and Paul in the Hungarian nobility. Andrew Klebecz, probably a half-brother of Peter, received a comparable confirmation in the same year. Peter became the most prominent early representative of the Pressburg branch. Probably born in Trnava, he was educated by the Jesuits and later served in the Hungarian Royal Chamber at Pressburg. He belonged to the trusted circle surrounding Nikolaus Esterházy of Galantha, Palatine of Hungary, and acted as ispán of Esterházy lands administered from Senec. Senec was then a major tax-collection center because of the cattle trade from southern Hungary and the Balkans toward Austria. Peter served as tax comptroller there from 1655 until his death in 1665 and held a noble manor in the locality. Peter’s family connections included his marriage to Katalin Bellussy, daughter of the burgrave of Trnava. His 1650 testament directed that his Grosslingen Island estate should pass to the Jesuits after his death. The property was situated in what is now central Bratislava, around the area of Hviezdoslavovo Square. The bequest strengthened the Jesuit presence in Pressburg and is described in the reference material as the first land grant to the order by a nobleman of the city. Peter’s sons continued the Bratislava line, which subsequently spread from Senec to Reca. His daughter married George Fodor, linking the family with the later Fodors of Puste Ulany. Peter’s brothers John and Paul left Pressburg and established the Nyitra branch. The family’s later political role included participation by a member of the Pressburg line in the uprising of Francis II Rákóczi. A local tradition further claims that this person and two companions captured Count Heister, generalissimo of the Imperial armies, during a mounted raid near Senec. The tradition is retained as part of the family’s local historical memory, although it is not presented as conclusively documented. Andrew Klebecz’s descendants formed the Zemplén branch. His son Stephen married Judith Csenkey of Csenke and acquired a share of the medieval Csenke estate in Pozsony County. The family thereafter used the territorial designation Kelepecz of Csenke. Stephen joined the uprising of Emeric Thököly and moved to Zemplén County, where he served from 1675 as castellan of Nagytárkány Castle while the fortress was under Thököly’s control. The family remained represented in military history during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848–1849. Ferenc Kelepecz de Csenke served as a volunteer lieutenant and captain and later married Amália Holnapy de Pozsony. His brother Gusztáv also served as a lieutenant, was captured at the Battle of Piski, and was released in March 1849. He then joined Józef Bem’s campaign in Transylvania in April and May, and in June became captain of the 74th Patriotic Battalion. The available sources describe the Klebercz family as a historical aristocratic lineage, not as a modern commercial brand or corporate entity.

• 1849

  Gusztáv Kelepecz returns to the campaign

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  After being captured at Piski and released in March, Gusztáv Kelepecz joined Józef Bem’s Transylvanian campaign and was later promoted to captain of the 74th Patriotic Battalion.

• 1848

  Family participation in the Hungarian Revolution

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Ferenc and Gusztáv Kelepecz de Csenke served with revolutionary Hungarian forces during the 1848–1849 conflict.

• 1675

  Stephen Kelepecz becomes castellan of Nagytárkány

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Stephen Kelepecz of Csenke served as castellan of Nagytárkány Castle after joining Emeric Thököly’s uprising and moving to the Zemplén strongholds.

• 1665

  Death of Peter Klebersz

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Klebersz died after a career in royal administration and Esterházy estate management.

• 1655

  Peter Klebersz becomes Senec tax comptroller

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Klebersz began serving as tax comptroller of the Senec tax authority, a major fiscal center for cattle traffic into Austria.

• 1650

  Bequest to the Jesuits

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Klebersz’s testament provided for his Grosslingen Island estate near Pressburg to pass to the Jesuits after his death.

• 1633

  Imperial confirmation of nobility

  [1]Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org

  Emperor Ferdinand II confirmed Peter Klebersz-Kelepcsics and his brothers John and Paul in the Hungarian nobility on 21 June. Andrew Klebecz, associated with the later Zemplén branch, also received confirmation in the same year.

Historical Hungarian noble family and lineage, associated with public administration, estate ownership, military service, and participation in early-modern and nineteenth-century Hungarian political conflicts.

1. 1Klebercz familyen.wikipedia.org