Hermann von Velen the Elder

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Hermann von Velen the Elder (born October 1, 1516 , † September 12, 1584 ) was the imperial court marshal and official droste in Meppen.

Life

Origin and family

Hermann von Velen came from the Westphalian noble family von Velen , from which numerous well-known personalities emerged. He was the son of Hermann von Velen († 1521) and his wife Margaretha von Raesfeld . His brother Reiner († 1537) was a canon in Münster . On April 1, 1539 he married Maria (Margaretha) von Morrien (1523–1596, daughter of Hereditary Marshal Gerhard Morrien ). The marriage had thirteen children, including

  • Adrian (Canon in Münster and Osnabrück)
  • Johannes (1556–1616, canon in Münster and district administrator)
  • Hermann (1544–1611, imperial colonel, official coroner)
  • Alexander (1556–1630, court marshal and official drove)
  • and Reiner († 1575, cathedral vicar) as well as canons Elisabeth, Anna, Agnes and Sophia.

From the inheritance claims from his mother Margareta von Raesfeld, Hermann succeeded in acquiring the Raesfeld house, thereby creating the conditions for the establishment of a second line of the von Velen family. While his son Hermann received the old family seat in Velen, Raesfeld fell to his son Alexander, who was able to distinguish himself in the service of the emperor in the Turkish wars and played a major role in the fact that the family was awarded the title of baron by the emperor. It was also Alexander who succeeded his father in political offices. His son of the same name, Alexander , military leader in the Thirty Years' War , then succeeded in advancing to the rank of count.

Political activity

Hermann played an important role in the history of the Münster diocese in the 16th century. He created the basis for his career through the use of his fortune. This happened, among other things, that he vouched for the Bishop of Waldeck, who was always in need of money. In return, he received on December 11, 1547 the right to transfer the Drosten office in Emsland and on October 11, 1548 the final appointment as Drosten. In the same year Hermann committed himself to take over the due pension payments for the former Bishop Friedrich von Wied from the income in the Emsland. For this, the bishop had to undertake to keep Hermann in the Drostenamt until the sum was repaid. Because of his services to the diocese, Bishop von Hoya assured him in 1569 that he would leave the Drostenamt for life and transfer this to his son after his death. A few years later he was also given the Drostenamt to Rheine and Bevergern. In 1560 Hermann was appointed court marshal by Bishop Bernhard von Raesfeld . In this function he enjoyed the special trust of the bishop and supported his policy. Using his private fortune, he campaigned, especially during the time of Bishop Ernst of Bavaria, for the formation of troops to fend off attacks by Spanish and Dutch soldiers from the Netherlands invading the Münsterland.

Others

In 1584 Hermann von Velen wrote that his family was almost the only noble family, "still completely preserved by God's blessing in terms of house and name in the Münster monastery". He wanted to express that his family's place of residence and name were still identical.

swell

  • Manfred Wolf: Dietrich von Velen (1591–1657), Westfälische Lebensbilder, Vol. 14, Münster 1987, pp. 63–77.

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personal data
SURNAME Velen, Hermann the Elder of
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Imperial Court Marshal and Landdrost in Meppen
DATE OF BIRTH October 1, 1516
DATE OF DEATH September 12, 1584