Friedrich von Fürstenberg (Drost)

Friedrich von Fürstenberg (oil painting from 1561)

Detail of a votive picture from 1561

Official seat as Drost: Bilstein Castle

Friedrich von Fürstenberg (* around 1510/11 at Waterlappe Castle near Ense ; † March 11, 1567 ) was the Electorate of Cologne and Drost of the offices of Waldenburg , Fredeburg and Bilstein . He laid the foundation for the economic and social rise of his family in the centuries that followed.

Life

Friedrich was the son of Friedrich von Fürstenberg (* 1460) and his wife Mechtild von Plettenberg zu Nehlen . His uncle Johann was abbot of Siegburg Abbey . Hermann , another uncle, was a canon in Münster . Little is known about the first years of Friedrich's life. However, he at least learned to read and write, as he later, like some of his descendants, kept a diary. He was first mentioned in a document in connection with the negotiations to marry Anna von Westphalen in 1536. Linked to the marriage contract was the transfer of Castle Waterlappe from father to son.

In 1552 Friedrich is attested for the first time as a councilor in the service of the Elector of Cologne. From now on he was regularly involved in the meetings of the government of the Cologne sub-country, Duchy of Westphalia . Four years later, Elector Adolf von Schaumburg appointed him Drost of the offices of Bilstein and Waldenburg and also the administration of the office of Fredeburg . Friedrich was thus responsible for the duties of the subjects to the elector as well as for the judiciary and general administration of these areas. Friedrich kept these offices under Elector Friedrich von Wied .

He also pledged the income from the offices of Bilstein and Waldenburg to the Fürstenberger. This included grain deliveries as well as the delivery of wood, fruits and chickens by the residents. Only pigs and mutton were still to be delivered to the elector. In addition, tax revenues and court money fell to Friedrich von Fürstenberg. The reason for the pledge was an old bond for 10,000 gold guilders, which Frederick's predecessor in office had given the elector as a loan. The elector now paid off the debts to Friedrich, who had come into possession of the document, by offsetting the annual repayment amount against the income of the pledged offices. The repayment of the debts lasted until 1680, so that the heads of the von Fürstenberg family remained hereditary lenders for almost a hundred years.

By taking over the offices of Waldenburg and Bilstein, based at Bilstein Castle , the focus of the Fürstenberg family shifted from the northern to the southern part of the Duchy of Westphalia.

Friedrich was also thoroughly successful in his family policy. With his wife Anna he had a total of ten children, of whom three sons and six daughters reached adulthood. At least the male children received a good education from private tutors up to and including studying at universities. Friedrich also made sure early on to secure numerous church benefices for his descendants. The eldest son became canon and canon in Mainz , Dietrich was provost in Paderborn and dean in Wormbach - before he became prince-bishop of Paderborn . Ottilia became abbess of Oelinghausen and Neuenheerse . The daughter Anna also became abbess in Oelinghausen. Since it was by no means certain that these positions would not be abolished by the Reformation , Frederick's will provided for them to be funded from the family assets in this case. The four daughters who did not enter the clergy were married to aristocrats from Westphalia. Kaspar von Fürstenberg succeeded his father from his sons .

Friedrich was buried in the church of the Scheda monastery .

See also

• Barons von Fürstenberg

literature

• Anke Hufschmidt: Friedrich von Fürstenberg (1510 / 11–1567) . In: Michael Gosmann (Ed.): Fürstenberg sketches - forays through 700 years of Westphalian families and regional history. Arnsberg, 1995. pp. 39-43.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Archives of Baron von Fürstenberg-Herdringen, file AFH 1145, sheet 29