("The legacy of the Guldenburgs") is a German television series that originally aired on ZDF from 1987 to 1990 and revolves around the destiny of the Guldenburgs, a wealthy aristocratic family, and their nouveau riche enemies, the Balbecks.
| Genre: | Family drama |
| Creator: | Michael Baier |
| Starring: | Christiane Hörbiger Brigitte Horney Wolf Roth Iris Berben Wilfried Baasner Jochen Horst Katharina Böhm Ruth Maria Kubitschek Sigmar Solbach Susanne Uhlen Sydne Rome |
| Company: | Neue Deutsche Filmgesellschaft |
| Country: | West Germany |
| Network: | ZDF |
| Num Seasons: | 3 |
| Num Episodes: | 39 |
While panned by critics during its original run, the show was very popular with the audience.However, reviews have been more positive in recent years, acknowledging its strong female characters and juicy dialogues.
Martin Count von Guldenburg, head of an old aristocratic and seemingly wealthy dynasty known for its brewery, celebrates his 60th birthday on the family's estate north of Hamburg.
Shortly after, he dies in a car accident however, leaving behind his wife Christine with huge debts and the bitter realization that he had betrayed her with his Italian mistress Carina di Angeli for years. That relationship even produced an illegitimate son.
While Christine tries to save the family empire, she not only has to fight its worst enemies, the Balbecks, a nouveau riche clan owning a big brewery in Hamburg, but also her stubborn mother-in-law Hertha, the dowager countess; her estranged stepson Thomas; and Achim Lauritzen, her dysfunctional stepdaughter Evelyn's shady husband.