House of Arnstein explained

The Arnstein family was a noble family from the Saxony-Anhalt region in Germany.

History

The Lords (or Counts) of Arnstein descended from the Swabian von Steusslingen family; their first known member was Walter of Steusslingen (died 1056).[1] Walter was the father of Adalbero,[2] who was in turn father of Werner, Bishop of Münster, and also of Walter I, the first lord of Arnstein in Saxony. Their family name was originally spelled Arnstedt, but were later called Arnstein,[3] [4] this last name possibly deriving from the castle they owned, or the land they ruled.

Arnstein Castle and land

In 1135 they moved to Saxony and built their first known residence: Arnstein Castle, near Aschersleben on the Eastern Harz river.[5] The use of the title Count of Arnstein goes back to the end of the 12th century. In 1289, Walter von Arnstein was burgrave of Freckleben.

The Arnstein dynasty owned land in Mühlingen, in the County of Mansfeld, in the Archbishopric of Magdeburg and in Quedlinburg Abbey (of which they were sub-bailiffs). The Counts of Mühlingen and probably also the Counts of Falkenstein are said to have descended from the family.

Feudal divisions of Arnstein

See also: Lordship of Ruppin. In 1196, the three children of Walter III (1150–1196) and his wife Gertrude of Ballenstedt (granddaughter of Albert the Bear, divided their patrimony:

This line was the last to be extinct. After the death of August Louis in 1659, the family's main possessions were inherited by Saxe-Weissenfels[10] and Anhalt-Zerbst.

Coats of arms

The coat of arms of the main line of the family shows a silver, gold-armored eagle in black or red.

Rulers of Arnstein and its successor states

House of Arnstein

Partitions of Arnstein under Arnstein rule

      <---Arnstein--->

Lordship of
Lindow-Ruppin

(1196–1524)

Lordship of
Arnstein

(1107–1296)

Lordship of
Barby-Mühlingen

(1196–1497)
Raised to:
County of
Barby-Mühlingen

(1497–1659)
Annexed to
Falkenstein
Annexed to
Brandenburg
Annexed to
Saxe-Weissenfels
and Anhalt

Table of rulers

(Note: The rulers in the table follow a single counting (as costumary in sources that call Albert X to the count of Barby who died in 1588), in spite of the different parts from where they ruled. This is not, however, a unanimous point of view; some authors choose to individualize the numberings according to the part; that's why, for example, Albert VII of Barby can be also called by some as Albert III).

RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
c.1060?
Son of Adalbero of Steusslingen and Judith
c.1090 – 16 February 1126County of ArnsteinUnknown
at least one child
16 February 1126
Kulm
aged 65–66?
Probably the founder of the family.
c.1110?
Son of Walter I
16 February 1126 – 18 April 1176County of ArnsteinIrmgard of Plotzkau
(d.1 September 1161)
at least one child
18 April 1176
aged 65–66?
c.1140?
Son of Walter II and Irmgard of Plotzkau
18 April 1176 – 1196County of ArnsteinGertrude of Ballenstedt
(d.1194)
seven children
1196
aged 55–56?
c.1180?
First son of Walter III and Gertrude of Ballenstedt
1196 – 1240County of ArnsteinMatilda of Blankenburg-Regenstein
(d.1267)
seven children
1240
aged 59–60?
Sons of Walter III, divided their inheritance.
c.1180?
Second son of Walter III and Gertrude of Ballenstedt
1196 – 9 March 1256Lordship of Lindow-RuppinHedwig of Hirscher-Siebenburgen
(1225–1271)
1211
three children
9 March 1256
aged 75–76?
c.1180?
Third son of Walter III and Gertrude of Ballenstedt
18 April 1176 – 1259Lordship of Barby-MühlingenLuitgard of Querfurt-Magdeburg
(d.6 May 1293)
seven children
c.1255
aged 74–75?
1219
Son of Albert I and Matilda of Blankenburg-Regenstein
1240 – 27 October 1268County of ArnsteinMargaret of Kranichfeld
(d.1290)
three children
27 October 1268
aged 48–49
1212[11]
First son of Gebhard and Hedwig of Hirscher-Siebenburgen
9 March 1256 – 1284Lordship of Lindow-RuppinEuphemia of Rügen
(1216-?)
three children
1284
aged 71–72
Children of Gebhard, ruled jointly.
c.1215?
Second son of Gebhard and Hedwig of Hirscher-Siebenburgen
9 March 1256 – 1279Lordship of Lindow-RuppinUnmarried1279
aged 63–64?
c.1220?
First son of Walter IV and Luitgard of Querfurt-Magdeburg
1259 – 1271Lordship of Barby-MühlingenUnknown
three children
1271
aged 50–51?
Children of Walter IV, ruled jointly.
c.1220?
Second son of Walter IV and Luitgard of Querfurt-Magdeburg
1259 – 6 November 1285Unmarried6 November 1285
aged 64–65?
c.1220?
Third son of Walter IV and Luitgard of Querfurt-Magdeburg
1259 – 24 November 1271Sophia of Woldenburg
four children
24 November 1271
aged 50–51?
c.1220?
Fourth son of Walter IV and Luitgard of Querfurt-Magdeburg
1259 – 1285Luitgard of Werberg
(d.23 October ?)
no children
1285
aged 64–65?
1240
Son of Walter V and Margaret of Kranichfeld
27 October 1268 – 1279County of ArnsteinMatilda of Mansfeld-Querfurt
(1235–1289)
seven children
1279
aged 38–39
c.1260?
First son of Albert II and Matilda of Mansfeld-Querfurt
1279 – 1296County of ArnsteinUnmarried1310
aged 49–50?
Children of Albert II, ruled jointly. In 1296, Walter abdicated to join the Teutonic Order.
c.1260?
Second son of Albert II and Matilda of Mansfeld-Querfurt
1279 – 12841284
aged 23–24?
1260
First son of Günther I and Euphemia of Rügen
1284 – 1316Lordship of Lindow-RuppinAdelaide of Schladen
(d.1322)
four children
1316
aged 55–56
Children of Günther I, ruled jointly.
c.1260
Second son of Günther I and Euphemia of Rügen
1284 – 1311Elisabeth of Holstein[12]
(d.1318)
c.1305
three children
1311
aged 50–51
c.1250?
Son of Walter VII
6 November 1285 – 1312Lordship of Barby-MühlingenLuitgard of Hohnstein
(d.1279)
four children
1312
aged 50–51?
Cousins, ruled jointly.
Burkhard III[13] c.1250?
First son of Burkhard II and Sophia of Woldenburg
6 Novembre 1285 – 10 December 1308Clementia of Dassel-Ninofer
(d.1321)
four children
10 DEcember 1308
aged 34–35?
c.1250?
Second son of Burkhard II and Sophia of Woldenburg
6 November 1285 – 19 September 1313Elisabeth of Henneberg-Coburg
(1291–1307)
1303
Coburg
no children
19 September 1313
aged 50–51?
c.1260?
Daughter of Albert II and Matilda of Mansfeld-Querfurt
1296 – 1332County of ArnsteinOtto IV, Count of Falkenstein
(d.1328)
29 June 1281
six children
1332
aged 71–72?
Through her marriage, her inheritance fell to the House of Falkenstein.
Arnstein annexed to Falkenstein
1271
Son of Albert IV and Luitgard of Hohnstein
19 September 1313 – August 1332Lordship of Barby-MühlingenJudith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
(1306-11 September 1352)
four children
18 July[14] or August 1332
aged 61–62
1315
First son of Ulrich I and Adelaide of Schladen
1316 – 3 February 1356Lordship of Lindow-RuppinAgnes of Anhalt-Zerbst
(d.1352)
1324
five children
3 February 1356
aged 40–41
Children of Ulrich I, ruled jointly. It's possible that Burkhard IV's son, Burkhard, ascended with his cousins as Burkhard V, and then abdicated when he became Bishop of Havelberg. Proving this is the fact that, as Bishop, he was still titled Count of Lindow-Ruppin, which opens the possibility that he kept the co-rulership even after becoming Bishop.
c.1315?
Second son of Ulrich I and Adelaide of Schladen
1316 – 1343Luitgard of Mecklenburg
1318
no children
1343
aged 27–28?
c.1310?
Son of Burkhard IV and Elisabeth of Holstein
1316 – 1348Unmarried30 January 1370
aged 59–60?
Albert VII[15] 20 January 1320
First son of Albert V and Judith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
August 1332 – 16 February 1358Lordship of Barby-MühlingenJudith of Anhalt-Zerbst
(d.11 September 1352)
four children
16 February 1358
aged 38
Children of Albert V, ruled jointly.
c.1320?
Second son of Albert V and Judith of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
August 1332 – 18 August 1404Constance
(d.25 April 1372)
two children

Dorothea of Gleichen
(d.13 December 1385)
4 August 1393
one child
18 August 1404
aged 83–84?
1330
[16] First son of Ulrich II and Agnes of Anhalt-Zerbst
3 February 1356 – 29 April 1391Lordship of Lindow-RuppinSophia of Werle-Goldberg
(1333–1384)
1324
five children
29 April 1391
aged 60–61
Children of Ulrich I, ruled jointly.
c.1330?
Second son of Ulrich I and Adelaide of Schladen
3 February 1356 – 2 April 1359Unmarried2 April 1359
aged 28–29?
c.1330?
[17] Third son of Ulrich I and Adelaide of Schladen
3 February 1356 – 13561356
aged 25–26?
c.1330?
Fourth son of Ulrich I and Adelaide of Schladen
3 February 1356 – 13581358
aged 27–28?
c.1370?
First son of Albert VI and Sophia of Werle-Goldberg
29 April 1391 – 7 September 1416Lordship of Lindow-RuppinCordula of Wernigerode
(1386-11 September 1419)
one child
7 September 1416
aged 45–46?
Children of Albert VI, ruled jointly.
c.1370?
Second son of Albert VI and Sophia of Werle-Goldberg
29 April 1391 – c.1400?Unmarriedc.1400?
aged 29–30?
c.1370?
Third son of Albert VI and Sophia of Werle-Goldberg
c.1400?
aged 29–30?
John IIc.1380
Son of Günther IV and Constance
18 August 1404 – 1407Lordship of Barby-MühlingenJudith of Anhalt-Zerbst
(d.11 September 1352)
four children
1407
aged 38
Children of Günther IV, ruled jointly.
c.1395
Second son of Günther IV and Dorothea of Gleichen
18 August 1404 – 1 April 1420Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst
(d.1419)
1415
one child
1 April 1420
near Magdeburg
aged 24–25
Regency of Cordula of Wernigerode (1416-1420)
1406
Son of Günther V and Cordula of Wernigerode
7 September 1416 – June 1460Lordship of Lindow-RuppinCatharina of Lubin
(1400-11 JUne 1424)
1 August 1423
no children

Anna of Zagan
(1408-4 November 1437)
1424/34
five children

Margaret of Pomerania-Stettin
26 May 1439
one child
June 1460
aged 53–54
Regency of George I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1420-1435)Ascended as a minor. From 1460, he associated his sons in co-rulership.
1417
Son of Burkhard VI and Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst[18]
1 April 1420 – 19 November 1493Lordship of Barby-MühlingenCatharina of Regenstein-Blankenburg
(d.20 January 1455)
1441
five children

Sophia of Anhalt-Köthen
(c.1420-after 1470)
c.1455
seven children
19 November 1493
aged 75–76
John IV[19] 1444
Second son of Günther VI and Catharina of Regenstein-Blankenburg
1460 – 1481Unmarried1481
Vienna
aged 36–37
1446
Third son of Günther VI and Catharina of Regenstein-Blankenburg
1460 – 7 November 14817 November 1481
aged 34–35
c.1440?
First son of Albert VIII and Anna of Zagan
June 1460 – 1 May 1499Lordship of Lindow-RuppinAnna of Stolberg
(21 August 1458 – 26 October 1526)
no children
7 September 1416
aged 45–46?
Children of Albert VIII, ruled jointly.
c.1445?
Second son of Albert VIII and Anna of Zagan
June 1460 – 14 June 1500Ursula of Barby-Mühlingen
(1457–1484)
1472
two children

Anna of Saxe-Lauenburg
(d. 9 August 1504)
February 1490
no children
14 June 1500
aged 54–55?
Burkhard VII1442
First son of Günther VI and Catharina of Regenstein-Blankenburg
19 November 1493 – 3 November 1505Lordship of Barby-Mühlingen
(until 1497)

County of Barby-Mühlingen
(from 1497)
Magdalena of Mecklenburg-Stargard
14 July 1482
twelve children
3 November 1505
aged 75–76
Ruled with his father and brothers probably since c.1460.
1474
[20] Son of John II and Ursula of Barby-Mühlingen
14 June 1500 – 14 February 1507Lordship of Lindow-RuppinMargaret of Hohnstein
(d.15 October 1508)
one child
14 February 1507
aged 26–27
1484
First son of Burkhard V and Magdalena of Mecklenburg-Stargard
3 November 1505 –3 December 1515County of Barby-MühlingenUnmarried3 December 1515
aged 30–31
Children of Burkhard V, ruled jointly.
1486
Second son of Burkhard V and Magdalena of Mecklenburg-Stargard
3 November 1505 – 27 October 153527 October 1535
aged 48–49
1496
Seventh son of Burkhard V and Magdalena of Mecklenburg-Stargard
3 November 1505 – 13 April 152313 April 1523
Magdeburg
aged 38–39
Wolfgang I1502
Barby
Tenth son of Burkhard V and Magdalena of Mecklenburg-Stargard
3 November 1505 – 24 January 1564Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
23/27 January 1526
Seeburg
sixteen children
24 January 1564
Barby
aged 61–62
Regency of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg (1507-1520)Left no descendants. After his death, his inheritance was absorbed by the Margraviate of Brandenburg.
c.1500
[21] Son of Joachim and Margaret of Hohnstein
14 February 1507 – 28 March 1524Lordship of Lindow-RuppinUnmarried28 March 1524
aged 23–24
Lindow-Ruppin annexed to Brandenburg
Wolfgang II21 December 1531
Barby
Second son of Wolfgang I and Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
24 January 1564 – 23 March 1615County of Barby-MühlingenElisabeth of Anhalt-Zerbst
19 July 1570
Bernburg
one child

Anna of Mansfeld-Hinterort
(1555-30 July 1575)
1 July 1575
Schleiz
no children

Marie Jacqueline of Baden-Durlach
(October 1514 – 1592)
9 February 1577
Weimar
no children

Elisabeth of Kummerstedt
(d.21 June 1621)
25 March 1593
no children
23 March 1615
Barby
aged 83
Children of Wolfgang I, ruled jointly.
Albert X15 February 1534
Barby
Fourth son of Wolfgang I and Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
24 January 1564 – 28 May 1588Maria of Anhalt-Zerbst
25 August 1559
two children
28 May 1588
Barby
aged 54
7 February 1536
Barby
Fifth son of Wolfgang I and Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
24 January 1564 – 28 May 1588Unmarried2 June 1586
Barby
aged 50
Günther VII17 October 1541
Barby
Eighth son of Wolfgang I and Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
24 January 1564 – 25 September 157225 September 1572
Copenhagen
aged 30
Jobst II8 May 1544
Barby
Tenth son of Wolfgang I and Agnes of Mansfeld-Mittelort
24 January 1564 – 9 August 1609Anna of Pomerania-Stettin
23 September 1576
no children

Anna of Pomerania-Stettin
23 September 1576
no children

Sophia of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
30 March 1595
Rudolstadt
three children
9 August 1609
Rosenburg
aged 65
Albert Frederick28 February 1597
Rosenburg
First son of Jobst II and Sophia of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
23 March 1615 – 7 December 1641County of Barby-Mühlingen
(at Rosenburg and Mühlingen)
Sophia Ursula of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst
17 March 1633
five children
7 December 1641
Rosenburg
aged 44
Children of Jobst II, divided their inheritance.
Jobst Günther15 October 1598
Mühlingen
Second son of Jobst II and Sophia of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt
23 March 1615 – 19 April 1651County of Barby-Mühlingen
(at Barby)
Unmarried19 April 1651
Walternienburg
aged 52
Barby reattached to Mühlingen
August Louis5 August 1639
Rosenburg
Son of Albert Frederick and Sophia Ursula of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst
7 December 1641 – 17 October 1659County of Barby-Mühlingen
(at Rosenburg and Mühlingen)
Unmarried17 October 1659
Wolfenbüttel
aged 20
Barby-Mühlingen divided between Anhalt-Zerbst and Saxe-Weissenfels

Literature

Specific sources

General sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://ww-person.com/cgi-bin/l1/LANG=germ/INDEX=I433843 Walter v. Steusslingen?
  2. http://www.our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p1213.htm#i36424 Adelbero von Steusslingen
  3. Heine, 1900.
  4. It is worth noting that the Arnstedt is today part of the town of Arnstein.
  5. http://www.harz-saale.de/wordpress/harkerode-die-burgruine-arnstein-im-unterharz/ Burg Arnstein
  6. Web site: Siebmachers Wappenbuch - Welt der Wappen . 2023-03-29.
  7. Web site: Die Grafschaft Ruppin in historischer, statistischer und geographischer Hinsicht : Ein Beitrag zur Kunde der Mark Brandenburg. 1799.
  8. http://www.tourismusprojekt-grafschaft-barby.de/sehensw%C3%BCrdigkeiten/grafschaft-barby/ Die Geschichte der Grafschaft Barby.
  9. http://recherche.lha.sachsen-anhalt.de/Query/detail.aspx?ID=4373 Die Grafschaft Barby.
  10. http://www.weissenfels1745.de/aktuelles.htm Die Grafschaft Barby mit ihren Teilen auf Weißenfels 1745
  11. Book: Martin Dieterich . Historische Nachricht Von denen Grafen zu Lindow und Ruppin . Rüdiger . Frankfurt (Oder). 1725. 36.
  12. https://www.manfred-hiebl.de/genealogie-mittelalter/arnstein_barby_lindow/burchard_3_graf_von_lindow_ruppin_1311_steusslingen/burchard_3_graf_von_lindow_ruppin_1311.html Burchard III. Graf von Lindow-Ruppin (1284-1311)
  13. Despite ascending a year later than his cousin Burchard IV, Burchard III was older than him, and that's possibly the reason why he is numbered lower.
  14. https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN68288510X&DMDID=DMDLOG_0006&PHYSID=PHYS_0022 Geschichte der Grafschaft Mühlingen mit Barby.
  15. Albert VI from Lindow-Ruppin is counted lower, despite being younger and having succeeded in his lordship later than Albert VII from Barby-Muhlingen. This could point to an earlier co-rulership of Albert VI and his brothers with their father.
  16. Book: Martin Dieterich . Historische Nachricht Von denen Grafen zu Lindow und Ruppin . Rüdiger . Frankfurt (Oder). 1725. 68.
  17. Book: Martin Dieterich . Historische Nachricht Von denen Grafen zu Lindow und Ruppin Aus bewehrten Uhrkunden und Geschicht-Schreibern gesammlet, Und nebst einem Anhang von denen Inspectoribus und Predigern, welche in der Haupt-Stadt Neuen-Ruppin, seit der Reformation das Lehr-Amt geführet haben. Jmgleichen einigen andern Gelehrten, welche aus selbiger Grafschafft bürtig gewesen, oder daselbst eine Zeitlang in Bedienung gestanden. . Rüdiger . Frankfurt (Oder). 1725. 82.
  18. Some sources place Gunther VI as brother of John II and Burkhard IV
  19. John IV is presented here first than John III exclusively because he reigned under his father. Note that he started his reign in the same year as John III did in Lindow-Ruppin.
  20. Book: Martin Dieterich . Historische Nachricht Von denen Grafen zu Lindow und Ruppin Aus bewehrten Uhrkunden und Geschicht-Schreibern gesammlet, Und nebst einem Anhang von denen Inspectoribus und Predigern, welche in der Haupt-Stadt Neuen-Ruppin, seit der Reformation das Lehr-Amt geführet haben. Jmgleichen einigen andern Gelehrten, welche aus selbiger Grafschafft bürtig gewesen, oder daselbst eine Zeitlang in Bedienung gestanden. . Rüdiger . Frankfurt (Oder). 1725. 125.
  21. Book: Martin Dieterich . Historische Nachricht Von denen Grafen zu Lindow und Ruppin Aus bewehrten Uhrkunden und Geschicht-Schreibern gesammlet, Und nebst einem Anhang von denen Inspectoribus und Predigern, welche in der Haupt-Stadt Neuen-Ruppin, seit der Reformation das Lehr-Amt geführet haben. Jmgleichen einigen andern Gelehrten, welche aus selbiger Grafschafft bürtig gewesen, oder daselbst eine Zeitlang in Bedienung gestanden. . Rüdiger . Frankfurt (Oder). 1725. 130.