Death shields (Hochkirchen)
Two death shields from the 17th century hang in the Steinfelderhof in Hochkirchen , Nörvenich municipality .
A death shield is a memorial plaque for a male deceased from the nobility or the bourgeoisie eligible for advice. Hanged in a church or chapel, it reminds of the dead in heraldic forms with coats of arms and inscriptions. The custom had its heyday in the 16th century and gradually disappeared over the next two hundred years.
St. Viktor was the parish church for the parish of Hochkirchen, mentioned as early as the 15th century , consisting of the places Hochkirchen, Irresheim, Eggersheim, Dorweiler, Poll and parts of Nörvenich, namely Burgstraße, Am Kreuzberg, Oberbolheimer Straße, Vogelgasse, the Marktplatz (except No. 2 and 4) and Zülpicher Straße (left side of the street from the corner of Marktplatz to the corner of Kirchgasse). The streets in Nörvenich later came to the local parish of St. Medardus. So what was then Gymnich Castle (today Nörvenich Castle ) with the address at that time Burgstr. 13, to the parish of Hochkirchen.
On August 29, 1719, Baron Johann Otto Ludwig von Gymnich, who had died two days earlier in Düsseldorf, was buried in the crypt in front of the sacristy in the parish church. A death shield was placed over the grave, bearing his coat of arms and inscribed with names, titles and awards, as well as age and date of death. Today the death shield hangs next to a death shield for his ancestor Johann Otto von Gymnich and his wife, who were buried in Hochkirchen in the 17th century. The wife of the first-mentioned Johann Otto Ludwig von Gymnich was also buried in the baronial crypt, she made generous donations to the parish:
The inscription around the death shield 1 reads:
“The bored gentleman, Mr. Johan Otto Loduich graff von Gymnich, Mr. Zur Vischell, Wald, Newrath, Laurensberg, Weyland your Churf. Dchl. To Pfalz, near Johan Wilhelm, Oberzoff Marshal, who is now governing Churf. Dchl. Churpfelscher Privy Councilor Rath, Jülich Land Marshal Ambtmann zu Waßenberg, Knight and Commander of the Order of St. Huberti, Atatis suae 53. Obilt Anna 1719, August 27 "
In today's language that means:
The high-born Mr. Johann Otto Ludwig, Freiherr von Gymnich, Mr. zu Vischell, Wald, Neurath and Laurensberg, their electoral highness of the Palatinate, Mr. Johann Wilhelm, former high court marshal, the now ruling electoral highness of the electoral highness, the secret councilor Jülicher Landmarschall, bailiff of Waßenberg, knight and commander of the Order of St. Hubertus, died on August 27, 1719 at the age of 53.
The death shield 2 is for Johann Otto Freiherr von Gymnich and his wife Countess Amelia Regina Cratz von Scharffenstein. The shield bears no life data. The couple lived in the 17th century. They are not recorded in the Hochkirchen death register. The inscription reads:
"The well-bored Mr. Johann Otto Freyherr von Giemnich and Freyfraw Amelia Regina Gebohrne Graffin Cratz von Scharffenstein Mr. and Fraw to Vieschel Wald and Newrath Amtmann and Amtfraw to Münstermeyfelth Copern and Alken."
In today's language that means:
The well-born: Mr. Johann Otto Freiherr von Gymnich and Baroness Amelia Regina Countess Cratz von Scharffenstein, Mr. and Mrs. zu Vischel, Wald and Neurath, bailiff and bailiff to Münstermaifeld, Copern and Alken.
See also
literature
- Karl Heinz Türk : St. Viktor in Hochkirchen . Ed .: Catholic parish of St. Viktor Hochkirchen. Hochkirchen 1993 (without ISBN).