The Thienen family is the name of an ancient noble family, that origins in the Duchy of Holstein. The spelling of the name, over the centuries has changed from Tyne and Tynen to Thien, Tienen, Thinen and finally Thienen. The barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht are the only branch of this family still existing; they belong to the high nobility of Denmark.
In his 1670 published work Insignia et tabula Genealogica dominorum a Thinen, the genealogist Johann Daniel Eberus describes that the family of Thienen was expelled from Holstein in the beginning of the 9th Century by Charlemagne. As a consequence, the family fled to Brabant (today's Belgium) and there founded the city Thienen or Tienen (French: Tirlemont). However, at least one branch of the family returned around 1000 AD and stayed in Dithmarschen until 1280, when they were expelled again. Some members of the family fought against the people of Dithmarschen as knights in 1289, 1322 and 1404.
The first completely provable documentation of the family is the Knight Heneke of Thienen, born in 1270, in 1314. The barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht are among the nine extant Equites Originarii, the ancient noble families (Uradel) of Schleswig-Holstein.
Today's head of the family is Franz Baron of Thienen-Adlerflycht (born 1957).
Various castles and manor houses were built by the Thienen family over the last centuries, the following two are from special cultural importance.
The former moated castle Wahlstorf was built in the 15th century by Detlev of Thienen and his son Claus. It is one of the oldest still existing manor houses of Schleswig-Holstein. After more than 320 years in family ownership, in 1788 the Plessen family inherited it.
The castle of Güldenstein has been built in 1726 by Heinrich of Thienen. The moated castle is located on an oval island, it is well known as a main example of baroque architecture in Schleswig-Holstein. It is owned by the dukes of Oldenburg since 1839.
The only still existing branch of the family received the title of Danish barons in 1840 (as Barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht). The connection of the names Thienen and Adlerflycht arose due to the marriage of Conrad Christoph of Thienen with Luise of Adlerflycht, the last, of an ancient noble family that originated from Sweden. Conrad Christoph and Luise emigrated from Schleswig-Holstein. Their son Karl baron of Thienen-Adlerflycht was the diplomatic representative of the Danish king and several German principalities and duchies in Vienna. Since then the barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht live in Austria.
Ahretost, Gut-Augustenhof, Bienebek, Borghorst, Bülk, Bundhorst, Cronsburg, Eckhof, Ellgaard, Griesgaard, Goddersdorf, Grünholz, Klein-Grünholz, Großenbrode, Großnordsee, Güldenstein, Harzhoff, Klausdorf, Kühren, Löhrstorff, Maasleben, Marienhof, Mehlbek, Mirebüll, Nehmten, Palais Thienen in Kiel, Petersdorf, Rathmannsdorf, Rethwisch (now part of Schönwalde am Bungsberg), Schinkel, Sierhagen, Thienenhof / Prinzeßhof, Tollgaard, Tollschlag (Nieharde), Travenort, Gut Wahlstorf, Warleberg, Warleberger Hof, Gut Wensin, Wippendorf (Kappeler Harde), Gut Wittmoldt, Wulfshagen, Wulfshagenerhütten, and the Thienenhaus at the Monastery of Preetz
Neuhaus Castle in Salzburg, Katzenberg Castle in Upper Austria
Today the family owns the castles in Lomnice near Brno and Luhačovice in the Zlín Region.
Jurkino, Litkino, Sinzoro, Kislorka, Kriuscha, Marina
