Brockdorff is a name of a

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sch ...

er ancient noble house that belonged to

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...

History

It first appeared in a document from 1167 where Eilwardus de Bruchthorp was mentioned by Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony. Members of the family founded

Brokdorf Brokdorf is a municipality in the district of Steinburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located on the bank of the Elbe river, approx. 20 km east before the river flows into the North Sea. As of December 2019, the total population ...

Holstein Holstein (; nds, label=Northern Low Saxon, Holsteen; da, Holsten; Latin and historical en, Holsatia, italic=yes) is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is the southern half of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of German ...

, now part of

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, from where the family originated.

Titles

On 24.5.1672 the family was granted the title of

Lensgreve Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

by King Christian V of Denmark heritable by masculine primogeniture, while on 03.6.1706 the family was awarded with the title of

Imperial Count Imperial Count (german: Reichsgraf) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. In the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from ...

Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor , father = Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor , mother = Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg , birth_date = , birth_place = Vienna, Austria , death_date = , death_place = Vienna, Austria , burial_place = Imperial Crypt, Vienna , ...

. Later, in 19th century the family also obtained the title of

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

Properties and former properties of the Counts von Brockdorff

File:Gut_Ascheberg,_Herrenhaus.jpg, Castle Ascheberg, owned until today by descendants of Count Konrad von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt File:Schloss_Schney_(Lichtenfels-Schney).1.D-4-78-139-267.ajb.jpg, Castle Schney, from 1706 until 1873 owned by Brockdorff family File:Gut_Kletkamp,_Mai_2018d.jpg, Castle Kletkamp, front facade, from 1612 until today owned by Brockdorff family File:Gut_Kletkamp,_Mai_2018f.jpg, Castle Kletkamp, entrance tower, from 1612 until today owned by Brockdorff family File:Frederik_VIII%27s_Palæ.jpg, Brockdorff Palace,

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

, built around 1750 by Baron Joachim von Brockdorff. In 1765 it was purchased by the Crown of Denmark File:Brockdorffpalais_Glückstadt.JPG, Brockdorff Palace in

Glückstadt Glückstadt (; da, Lykstad) is a town in the Steinburg district of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located on the right bank of the Lower Elbe at the confluence of the small Rhin river, about northwest of Altona. Glückstadt is part of the ...

File:Schlossgut_Groß_Schwansee,_2013.jpg, Castle Groß Schwansee, in

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV; ; nds, Mäkelborg-Vörpommern), also known by its anglicized name Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, is a state in the north-east of Germany. Of the country's sixteen states, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ranks 14th in po ...

, from 1780 until 1850 owned by Brockdorff family File:GutSaxtorf.jpg, Castle Saxtorf, once owned by Brockdorff family File:Gut_Grünholz,_Herrenhaus.JPG, Castle Grünholz, once owned by Brockdorff family until 1752 File:Sierhagen,_Herrenhaus,_2013.jpg, Castle Sierhagen, owned by Brockdorfff family from 1730 until 1752 File:Torhaus_Seedorf.JPG, Tower Castle Seedorf, once owned by Brockdorff family File:Bovenau_Osterrade_Turmscheune_798.jpg, Osterrade estate, owned by Brockdorff family from 1723 until 1829 File:Gut_Hasselburg,_Mai_2018.jpg, Castle Hasselburg, owned by Brockdorff family until 1752 File:Bossee_Gutshaus.jpg, Bossee Castle, from 1587 until 1715 owned by Brockdorff family File:Schloss_Pillnitz_von_der_Elbe.jpg, Castle Pillnitz von der Elbe, once owned by

Anna Constantia von Brockdorff Anna Constantia von Brockdorff (17 October 1680 – 31 March 1765), later the Countess of Cosel, was a German lady-in-waiting and noblewoman, and mistress of Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, in 1706–1713. Eventua ...

File:Güldenstein_Hauptgebäude,_Mai_2012a.jpg, Castle Güldenstein, owned by Brockdorff family until 1752 File:Scheelenborg.jpg, Scheelenborg estate, owned by Brockdorff-Scheelenborg line of the family File:Windeby_0495.jpg, Windeby estate, once owned by Brockdorff family

Notable People

* Joachim von Brockdorff (1643–1719), father of: ** Anna Constantia von Brockdorff, Countess of Cosel, mistress of

Augustus the Strong Augustus II; german: August der Starke; lt, Augustas II; in Saxony also known as Frederick Augustus I – Friedrich August I (12 May 16701 February 1733), most commonly known as Augustus the Strong, was Elector of Saxony from 1694 as well as Ki ...

. * Baron Joachim von Brockdorff, who built the

Brockdorff's Palace Brockdorff's Palace is one of the four palaces of Amalienborg in Copenhagen, Denmark. History It was built 1750-1760 by Baron Joachim von Brockdorff. Since 1765 Brockdorff palace has been owned by the crown, first used as naval academy and sin ...

* Count Cay Lorenz von Brockdorff (1766–1840), Last Chancellor of Schleswig-Holstein and first High Court President of Schleswig-Holstein ** Count Cay Lorenz von Brockdorff (1844–1921), grandson of above, German anthroposophist *** Count Cay von Brockdorff, German Sculptor, himself a count, grandson of above, Erika's husband *** Countess Erika von Brockdorff (1911–1943) German resistance fighter against the Nazi régime during World War II, herself a countess by marriage * Count Charles Frederick von Brocktorff, (1775/85–1850) painter * Count Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, (1887–1943) German general in World War II * Count Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, (1869–1928) German diplomat

External links

Family Tree at roskildehistorie.dk
{{Authority control Danish noble families German noble families

History

Titles

Properties and former properties of the Counts von Brockdorff

Notable People

See also

External links