Diest (Brabant noble family)

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Coat of arms of the Lords of Diest (Brabant)

The Lords of Diest were an ancient Brabant noble family. The heads of the house were also burgraves (viscounts) of Antwerp for a longer period of time . After the family died out, the Diest reign came into the possession of the House of Nassau via detours . The family should not be confused with the noble family von Diest, who still exist today .

history

The Barons von Diest had their headquarters in the town of the same name in Diest in Brabant. An Otto von Diest was mentioned around 1099. His son Arnulf or Arnold I participated in the foundation of Averbode Abbey in 1135 together with Count Arnulf von Looz and others . Arnold II and Arnold III followed. He gave the Teutonic Order an allod at Bekkevoort in 1229 . A commandery of the order was established there. He also founded a Cistercian convent in Diest. Since his marriage remained childless, the nephews Arnold IV, Gerhard and Erhard became heirs. A son of Gerhard († 1234), who fell in the battle of Altenesch against the Stedinger , was the later Bishop of Münster Everhard von Diest .

Arnold IV distinguished himself as a benefactor of various monasteries and founded a beguinage . In 1254 he got into a feud with the Duke of Brabant after joining his opponents, the Counts of Jülich , Mark , Arnsberg and Isenburg . He was then driven from his property. A short time later there was reconciliation. Through his marriage he is said to have acquired the right to the Burgraviate of Antwerp.

In any case, his son Arnold V was Lord von Diest and Burgrave of Antwerp. He founded the Minorite Monastery in Diest in 1270 and fought in the Battle of Worringen . He had several sons who initially assumed the inheritance together before an inheritance was divided. Johann von Diest , although a clergyman, ultimately became the main heir. In 1322 he also became Bishop of Utrecht . After the death of the bishop and the other brothers, Thomas von Diest inherited the property. He was followed by Heinrich, who in 1363 received the burgraviate of Antwerp as a fief from the Duchess Margaret of Burgundy. He was followed by Thomas II. Another son was Wilhelm , bishop of Strasbourg from 1393 to 1439 . Thomas acquired the city and rule of Shechem and took part in the Battle of Roosebeke on November 26, 1382 . His son Johann the Younger died before he could take over the inheritance.

The daughter Johanna († April 8, 1472) was married to Count Johann IV. Heinsberg († January 27, 1448) and in 1461 for the second time with Hermann von Generos . The daughter was to inherit the property after the death of her grandfather and mother. She died in 1472. She only had the daughter Johanna von Loon-Heinsberg († 1469). This brought the entire property, but also the debts on them, into her marriage to Count Johann von Nassau-Saarbrücken . This marriage also resulted in two daughters: Elisabeth (1459–1479) and Johanna (1464–1521). The property initially fell to Duke Wilhelm von Jülich, Elisabeth's husband; he exchanged it for other possessions with Count Engelbert II of Nassau . As a result, the property came to the House of Orange. After the death of Wilhelm III. Prussia claimed the area. In 1708 it was awarded to the Nassau-Diez family .

coat of arms

Two black crossbars in gold. On the helmet an open flight , as indicated on the shield .

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