John de Cillia

John de Cillia is the illegitimate son of Frederic II, count of Celje. We know of his pedigree through the legitimatization document issued by pope Nicolas V. The papal document has the following reference: Romae ad S. Petrum XVII, Kalend. Decembris an. 1447.

We know little about his life other than that he moved to Treppo Carnico in Italy and founded the de Zilia (de Cillia) dynasty there. This male-line dynasty has survived to the present day.

We do not know the precise reason why John de Cillia moved to TreppoCarnico, but what we do know that he had family nearby. Elizabeth de Cillia, daughter of Count Hermann II de Cillia, together with her husband count Heinrich IV of Goertz, were owners of the town Civita d'Austria in Friuli. Civita d'Austria is now called Cividale del Friuli and is located only around 50 miles from Treppo Carnico (see sources).