Rappoltstein (noble family)

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Family coat of arms of the Lords of Rappoltstein

The Lords of Rappoltstein (also called Rabenstein ) were a lower noble family that ruled in Alsace from 1038 to 1673 in and around Rappoltsweiler , today's Ribeauvillé . The last Rappoltsteiner in the male line, Johann Jacob (1598–1673), was raised to the rank of count. After his death his property fell to the house of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler-Pfalz-Zweibrücken . After the Wittelsbachers withdrew from the Palatinate and Alsace, the princes of Waldeck-Pyrmont took on the additional title of " Count of Rappoltstein " due to vague claims to inheritance .

Beginnings of the Rappoltstein rule

Johann Daniel Schöpflin describes in his work: Alsatia Diplomatica that the area around Rappoltsweiler belonged to the Counts of Egisheim before 1084 and that Adelheid von Egisheim was a sister of Count Gerhard I of Egisheim and came from the House of Matfriede . However, this information is considered uncertain. However, they would have serious consequences, since they meant a relationship between the Rappoltsteiners and the Hohenstaufen dynasty.

Some historians referred to Adelheid, the mother of the later Emperor Konrad II , also as "Adelheid of Alsace", which supports the above theory. She was married to Heinrich, Count von Speyer and bequeathed (after Schöpflin) the County of Egisheim to her son, whereby the area came into the possession of the Salier emperors.

A grandson of Emperor Conrad II was Emperor Heinrich IV , who transferred the area to the diocese of Basel as property in 1084 because Bishop Burkhard von Fenis had faithfully accompanied him on his journey to Canossa . With this donation, the history of the Rappoltstein rule and the Hohrappoltstein Castle began , because the Basel bishops gave this territory to the Lords of Rappoltstein as a fief . Emperor Heinrich V took this donation back in 1114, but this decision was revised by Friedrich I in 1162 and the area remained in the possession of the diocese.

I. Heinrich Graf von Speyer * around 970 † around 1000 ⚭ Adelheid von Egisheim * around 970 † 1040? 2 children: (1.) Konrad II. (See II)
II Emperor Konrad II. * Around 990 † June 4, 1039 ⚭ Gisela from Swabia 3 children: (1.) Heinrich III. (see III)
III Emperor Heinrich III. * 1017 † 1056 ⚭ Agnes of Poitou 5 children: (4th) Heinrich IV. (See IV)
IV Emperor Heinrich IV. * 1050 † 1106 ⚭ Bertha of Turin 5 children: (5th) Heinrich V.

History of the Rappoltstein House

The Rappoltstein rule: older line (1022–1157)

The name "Herr zu Rappoltstein" is older than the transfer of the fiefdom by the diocese of Basel in 1084. According to the tournament book, Georg Rüxner - the historian denies any truthfulness - dates back to the year 942 when his Porter participated in tournaments in Rot (h) enburg , Trier and Augsburg . The participation of other "Herren zu Rappoltstein" in such tournaments is also documented for the years 1019 and 1080. It is recorded from the year 1038 that Re (g) inbold von Rappoltstein killed Gerhard I von Egisheim in a feud .

Kuno von Rappoltstein took in 1148 under Conrad III. participated in the Second Crusade . It is said that, in addition to Kuno himself, three other Rappoltsteiners and Kuno's nephews died. This meant that the Rappoltstein family had no direct male heirs. In 1157 , the male line finally died out with Rainardus von Rappoltstein, who lived as a clergyman in Strasbourg . The only heiress was Emma (possibly also "Hemma"), daughter of Adalbert II. Zu Rappoltstein.

Larger gaps in the records allow hardly any concrete information about the older line of the Rappoltsteiner. The following are documented:

A. NN from Rappoltstein ⚭ Bilitrud † around 1022 1 son: Re (g) inbold I (s. B )
B. Reinbold I. (or Reginbold ) von Rappoltstein, ext. 1022-1038 ⚭ NN Children not known
C. Adalbert I. (?) Von Rappoltstein ⚭ NN 3 children: (1.) Adalbert II. (See D )
D. Adalbert II. Von Rappoltstein † after 1147 ⚭ Adelheid 4 children: (4th) (H) Emma (s. E )
E. Emma (or Hemma ) von Rappoltstein † 1156 ⚭ Egenolf von Urslingen 3 children: (2.) Ulrich I. (see 1.2 )

The Rappoltstein rule: younger line (1157-1651)

Through Felix Hemmerlin (Malleolus) from Zurich , the following story is passed down in a script called “ Dialogus de nobilitate ” from around 1446 : During the time of Konrad III. (1138–1152) two brothers expelled by the Romans, the dukes of Spoleto , came to Germany. One had built Urslingen Castle near Rottweil - because he came from the Roman Ursine dynasty - and was called Duke of Urslingen and later von Schiltach, the other moved to Alsace and acquired the rule of Rappoltstein there, and given up the title of duke and henceforth called "Herr von Rappoltstein". Both branches of the family would still have the same coat of arms. According to Karl Albrecht, Hemmerlin's information is based on a legend of ancestry. In any case, Maximin I. Smassmann (1484/85) and later Wilhelm II. Von Rappoltstein (1514) claimed that their ancestors were dukes of Spoleto.

Konrad von Schwaben , whose ancestral seat was Urslingen and who lived there as Duke of Spoleto from 1177 to 1198, returned to Urslingen after being forced to renounce his duchy by Pope Innocent III . Almost at the same time Egenolf von Urslingen was mentioned in a large number of documents (1162–1188) relating to Alsace. It could have been a relative of Conrad II of Swabia, Duke of Spoleto. This Egenolf married Emma, ​​the heiress of the Rappoltstein rule, and became the progenitor of the younger Rappoltstein line. Egenolf von Urslingen was a highly respected figure in the Holy Roman Empire . 1162 he was appointed mayor of Piacenza appointed and repeatedly in writings from the years 1162-1185 as a witness of decisions and certifications Emperor Frederick I called.

The documented history of the Lords of Rappoltstein begins in 1219 with documents in which Anselm I and Egenolf II, the sons of Ulrich I von Urslingen, are first named "von Rappoltstein". Said Anselm I committed himself to Duke Theobald von Lorraine in 1219 to support him with his castles and people. But if his brother Egenolf, who was on a crusade at the time, should not agree to this, Anselm promised to share the property with Egenolf and to keep the promise for his part.

In 1227 Anselm I and his nephew Ulrich II sold their rights to the Castle Kaiserberg to the Sicilian King Henry VII. In 1293 King Adolf von Nassau began the siege of Rappoltsweiler (September 16), the "castris Rapolzstein" Rappoltstein Castle, (September 24th) and the city of Colmar (October 6th, 1293), which ended with the capture of Anselm II.

1.1 1156-1188 Egenolf I., Lord of Urslingen
1.2 1188-1193 Ulrich I., Lord of Urslingen
1.3 1193-1221 Egenolf II, Lord of Rappoltstein
1.4 1193-1236 Anselm I., Herr von Rappoltstein
1.5 1221-1242 ( Son NN )
1.6 1221-1262 Ulrich II., Lord of Rappoltstein
1.7 1236-1242 Heinrich II., Lord of Rappoltstein
1.8 1262-1283 Ulrich III., Lord of Rappoltstein
1.9 1262-1279 Heinrich III., Lord of Rappoltstein
1.10 1279-1283 Ulrich IV., Lord of Rappoltstein
1.11 1279-1293 Anselm II, Herr von Rappoltstein

First division in 1293 and 1298

Ulrichsburg , Girsberg and Hohrappoltstein
The Ulrichsburg in today's Ribeauvillé

Apparently the rule of Rappoltstein was jointly a fiefdom for the Rappoltstein lords until 1293 , because in 1293 King Adolf confiscated the castles (castris Rapolstein) as a result of the capture of Anselm II. This means that Anselm II as the firstborn had the power of disposal over Hoh-Rappoltstein , Girsberg and owned the Ulrichsburg . Then the territory was divided into thirds.

The third division of the territory happened in such a way that one third was given to Anselm II, the brother of Henry IV, one third went to Henry V, the son of his brother Ulrich IV, who died in 1283, and King Adolf kept the last third to himself. Which castle (s) and which parts of the territory Heinrich IV. And Heinrich V were granted, is not clear from the documents. King Adolf probably kept the area around Gemar to himself. In 1296 Anselm II was finally released from captivity and King Adolf gave his third back to the Rappoltsteiners, with the result that in 1298 the rule of Rappoltstein between Anselm II, his brother Heinrich IV and his nephew Heinrich V. was redistributed. The part assigned to Anselm II comprised the Ulrichsburg, the Stein (Girsberg) and the 'Neue Stadt' (Upper Town), the part allocated to Heinrich IV comprised the Altenkasten (Hohrappoltstein) and the 'Alte Stadt' (Lower Town). The third part, which fell to the nephew Heinrich V, consisted mainly of Hohnack Castle .

The years of division until 1338

In 1298 and in the following years, Hohen-Rappoltstein Castle and the lower town of Rappoltsweiler were seen as a unified fiefdom. In parallel, the Ulrichsburg with the upper town of Rappoltsweiler, and in some cases the “stone”, was another unified fiefdom.

As a result, the Rappoltsteiners waged violent feuds for decades with the Lords of Giersberg , who owned a castle in the Münstertal ( Weier-im-Tal area ). This permanent conflict with the Rappoltsteiners and simultaneous disputes among themselves led to a weakening of the Giersbergers. This found its expression in the fact that

  • 1303 Heinrich V, the Lord of Hohenack, began building a new fortress in the Giersberg rulership
  • 1304 The Giersbergers handed over their ancestral castle (in the Münstertal) to Heinrich V and took up residence in the "stone" that belonged to the Ulrichsburg-Stein-Oberstadt fief. From then on, the “stone” bore the name Giersberg.

It is assumed that the Rappoltsteiners pursued a double strategy with this acquisition: on the one hand they were able to round off their territory to the south, on the other hand they got the Giersbergers, who had been their husbands since the end of the 13th century , but were in constant dispute with the Rappoltsteiners, in the heart of their territory better under control. The fact that the "stone" did not become the property of the Giersbergers is evident from documents from the years 1368, 1379 and 1392, which testify that Giersberg Castle continued to belong to the fief of the Lords of Rappoltstein.

  • 1309 King Henry VII confirmed their rule to the brothers Anselm II and Heinrich IV
  • 1311 Anselm II. Sealed a sales deed for the Marien-Kapelle "in den Thusenbach"
  • 1316 Otto and Wilhelm von Giersberg confirmed that they would give their ancestral castle in the Münstertal to the brothers Johannes III. and Heinrich VII. von Rappoltstein and gave the Rappoltsteiners the right of first refusal to purchase the "stone".
  • 1317 In the event that he remained childless, Heinrich V, Lord of Hohenack, promised his cousin Johannes III. d. J. the Pfirt'schen fiefs Hohenack and Judenburg
  • 1318 John III. d. J. replaced a soul mass foundation of his late brother Heinrich VII. In “vnserre frouwen capellen in dem Tussenbache”
  • 1321 Heinrich V, Lord of Hohenack, certified that Count Ulrich von Pfirt him and his cousin Johannes III. gave the Hohenack and Judenburg castles along with all goods as a communal fief.
  • 1331 Emperor Ludwig sold his and the empire's Jews from the Upper and Lower Towns for 400 silver marks to Johannes II. Ä.
  • 1337 Katharina, the sister of the “young men” Johannes V and Anselm IV, renounced all inheritance claims, unless their brothers remained childless
  • 1338 Johannes V. and Anselm IV. Transferred all fiefs to their cousin canon Ulrich VI in the event of their unherited death. of Strasbourg and the children of their cousin John II.
  • 1338 Heinrich V, Lord of Hohenack, gave the Judenburg to the knight Albrecht von Awelin as a fief
Gentlemen of Hohen-Rappoltstein   Gentlemen from Groß-Rappoltstein and Hohenack
2.1a 1293-1313 Henry IV. 2.1b 1293-1351 Henry V.
2.2a 1313-1318 Henry VII 2.2b 1298-1311 Anselm II.
2.3a 1313-1335 John III 2.3b 1311-1351 John II
2.4a 1335-1338 John V.
2.5a 1335-1338 Anselm IV.

The time from the merging 1338 to 1368

Gentlemen to Rappoltstein
  3.1     1338-1377     Ulrich VI.
  3.2     1338-1368     John IV
  3.3     1338–?     Ulrich VII.
  3.4     1338-1368     Bruno I.
  3.5     1341-1342     Ulrich V.
  3.6     1351-1362     John II

Second division 1368

Gentlemen of Hohen-Rappoltstein

  • 1368–1398 Bruno I.
  • 1398–1431 Ulrich VIII.
  • 1398-1436 Maximin I. Smassmann

Gentlemen from Groß-Rappoltstein and Hohenack

  • 1368–1377 Ulrich VII.
  • 1377–1397 Herzlaude von Groß-Rappoltstein ⚭ 1. Count Heinrich III. von Saar Werden († 1397); 2. (1398) Count Johann von Lupfen († 1436)
  • 1398–1419 Johann Graf von Lupfen
  • 1419–1436 Johann Graf von Lupfen (only) Lord of Hohenack

Reunification 1436

Eberhard zu Rappoltstein, Hohenack and Geroldseck am Wasichen , Chamberlain to Emperor Matthias , copper engraving by Jacob van der Heyden

Gentlemen from Rappoltstein and Hohenack

  • 1436-1451 Maximin I. Smassmann
  • 1451-1456 Kaspar
  • 1451–1484 Wilhelm I.
  • 1456-1484 Maximin II. Smassmann
  • 1469–1484 Bruno II.

Gentlemen from Rappoltstein, Hohenack and Geroldseck am Wasichen

  • 1484–1507 Wilhelm I.
  • 1484-1517 Maximin II. Smassmann
  • 1484–1513 Bruno II.
  • 1507–1547 Wilhelm II.
  • 1547–1585 Egenolf III.
  • 1585–1637 Eberhard Georg Friedrich
  • 1637–1651 Georg Friedrich

The first (and last) Count of Rappoltstein 1651–1673

Johann Jacob von Rappoltstein (1598–1673)

The last male heir of the sex was Johann Jacob (born February 2, 1598 in Rappoltsweiler, † July 18, 1673 ibid). He was also the first and the last Rappoltsteiner in the male line to bear the title of count , which was given to him by Emperor Ferdinand III. had been awarded. His full title was Graf zu Rappoltstein, Herr zu Hohenack and Geroldseck am Wasichen.

Heiress Catharina Agathe von Rappoltstein, married von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld

Although three of his children were sons, all three died shortly after they were born. However, due to an old imperial privilege , the Rappoltsteiners were allowed to pass on their title to female descendants, should no male descendants be able to inherit. The eldest of Johann Jacobs' two daughters, Catharina Agathe, became Countess zu Rappoltstein, mistress of Hohenack and Geroldseck am Wasichen after the death of her father. In 1667 she married Christian II , Count Palatine near Rhine , Duke of Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler , who also took on the Rappoltsteiner title in 1673.

The house of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler-Pfalz-Zweibrücken 1673–1793

now also counts of Rappoltstein, gentlemen of Hohenack and Geroldseck am Wasichen

Since Friedrich Michael's two sons were not of legal age when he died, the title reverted to Christian IV.

After Christian IV died without descendants in line with his status, Friedrich Michael's eldest son, Karl II August, became the title holder, but in the following year left the county of Rappoltstein to his younger brother Maximilian Joseph, who later became King Max I Joseph of Bavaria.

Maximilian Joseph lost Rappoltstein due to the French Revolution , as the possessions around Rappoltstein had been under French sovereignty since 1680/81. The contractually guaranteed quasi-sovereign rights were lost when the feudal rights were abolished by a resolution of the French National Assembly on August 4, 1789. Since then there has actually been no “Grafschaft Rappoltstein” any more. Although Max Joseph was initially able to keep the land owned by the counts as a simple landowner, the revolutionary expropriation of the emigrant estates meant that this too was de facto lost in 1793 at the latest. These measures by revolutionary France only found their sanctions under international law through the Peace of Lunéville of 1801.

The 'claim title' of the Waldeck-Pyrmont house (1793 – today)

The family relations to the house of Birkenfeld-Pfalz-Zweibrücken

Anna Elisabeth, a daughter of Georg Friedrich (1594–1651), married Christian Ludwig zu Waldeck in 1658 , with whom she had 14 children. The eleventh child, Friedrich Anton Ulrich , married Luise von Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler , a sister of Christian III , in 1700 . The fourth child from this marriage was Georg, who later received the Rappoltstein title of count.

The Waldeck-Pyrmonter "Counts of Rappoltstein"

The Counts or Princes of Waldeck were never owned by the County of Rappoltstein. The title they used, "Graf von Rappoltstein", was always just a claim title due to their descent from a daughter of an older brother, Count Johann Jakob von Rappoltstein. The princes of Waldeck were never able to realize this claim.

coat of arms

The family coat of arms shows three (2: 1) red shields in silver. On the helmet , the Zurich coat of arms shows a red clad woman's torso , the Ingeram Codex shows a silver-clad man's torso with a silver-bordered red pointed hat, marked with red shields.

  • Family coat of arms of the Rappoltstein (Rabenstein) in the Zurich coat of arms roll , approx. 1340

  • Family coat of arms in the Ingeram Codex from 1459

  • Rappoltstein coat of arms:
    top left / bottom right: coat of arms of the Hoheneck rulership
    top right / bottom left: coat of arms of the Geroldseck rulership,
    middle: Rappoltstein coat of arms

  • The coat of arms of Rappoltstein can be found in the coat of arms of the House of Waldeck and Pyrmont

  • Coat of arms of the Count Palatine and Dukes of Birkenfeld after the inheritance of the County of Rappoltstein

literature

Web links

Commons : Rappoltstein family  - collection of images, videos and audio files
  • / "The gentlemen of Rappoltstein"; Author: Friedrich J. Ortwein

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Felix Hemmerlin : De nobilitate et rusticitate dialogus et alia opuscula. , [Strasbourg: Johann Prüss], [approx. 1500], fol. 50v.
  2. ^ Karl Albrecht: Rappoltsteinisches Urkundenbuch 759-1500. , Vol. 1, p. 25, note 5
  3. ^ Karl Albrecht: Rappoltsteinisches Urkundenbuch 759-1500. , Vol. 1, p. 22
  4. ^ Karl Albrecht: Rappoltsteinisches Urkundenbuch 759-1500. , Vol. 1, p. 25
  5. ^ Karl Albrecht: Rappoltsteinisches Urkundenbuch 759-1500. , Vol. 1, pp. 63ff.
  6. ^ Karl Albrecht: Rappoltsteinisches Urkundenbuch 759-1500. , Vol. 1, p. 64
  7. ↑ Geroldseck am Wasichen is Grand-Geroldseck or Groß-Geroldseck near Haegen in Alsace (Arrondissement Saverne), not Hohengeroldseck near Seelbach in the Ortenau district.