Odilia from Harff

Odilia von Harff (* before 1610 ; † 1652 ) was the administrator of the Stolberg glory and Stolberg Castle .

The wife of Adam von Efferen and mother of Adolf and Johann Dietrich von Efferen was appointed by the Duke of Jülich as the administrator of the Stolberg glory and Stolberg Castle until their sons came of age . Her brother-in-law (brother of her husband) was the Worms Prince-Bishop Wilhelm von Efferen († 1616).

Shortly after taking over the administration, her behavior caused a stir among the people of Stolberg. She drove the Lutheran priests out of the castle chapel and gave the chapel back to the Catholics for mass celebrations.

Documents from 1610 prove that Odilia accepted the oath of homage from the people of Stolberg on February 4th.

In the years 1614–1618 Spanish troops occupied Stolberg and the lady of the castle complained that the houses including the castle were badly damaged. She offered the troops money, but this did not lead to a withdrawal. In the first four years, the population of Stolberg was obliged to pay the troops 400 Königstaler annually, and 150 Königstaler annually in the years until 1622. Odilia complained that Stolberg could hardly raise the amounts.

It is not known when Odilia gave up representing her sons. All that is documented is that his son Wilhelm Adolf died in 1622 and that Johann Dietrich von Efferen became the sole subordinate of Stolberg. It is certain that the handover took place before 1629, as it was at this point in time that Johann Dietrich first signed as lord of the castle in Stolberg.

literature

• Helmut Schreiber (Ed.): Stolberger Burgherren and Burgfrauen 1118 - 1909. Contributions to the Stolberg history, volume 25. Burg Verlag Gastinger 2001, ISBN 3-926830-16-6