The House of Nesselrode is an ancient German noble family originating in the Duchy of Berg. Over the centuries, the family expanded their possessions through marriage with the most powerful families of the region. As a former

ruling family A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A d ...

they belonged to the small circle of (ancient nobility).

History

The family was first recorded in September 1303 when its progenitor

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

Heinrich genannt Flecke von Nesselrode was mentioned as feudal lord of

Deutz Abbey Deutz Abbey ( or ''Abtei Deutz'') was a Benedictine monastery located at Deutz, now part of Cologne as Köln-Deutz, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was founded in 1003 on the site of a Roman fort by the future Saint Heribert, Archbishop of ...

. served as their first family seat. There were several branches of the family: Nesselrode-Reichenstein, Nesselrode-Ehreshoven, Nesselrode-Landscron, and Nesselrode-Hugenpoēt. They were sovereign Counts of the imperially immediate .

Nesselrode-Reichenstein line

The Reichenstein line were made Imperial barons in 1653 and Imperial Counts in 1702. In 1698, Baron Franz von Nesselrode-Reichenstein (1635–1707), from 1702 Imperial Count, who served as Imperial Chancellor in the Principality of Münster, bought the immediate Lordship of Reichenstein from the Counts von Wied for 6000

thaler A thaler (; also taler, from german: Taler) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter of ...

. He was followed by his son, Count Franz Wilhelm Anton von Nesselrode-Reichenstein (1701–1776). With his death, this line of the family became extinct. The County of Reichenstein was inherited by his cousin, Count Johann Wilhelm Maximilian von Nesselrode-Landscron (1726–1800), who became the reigning Count von Nesselrode-Reichenstein.

Nesselrode-Landscron line

The Nesselrode-Landscron line were made Imperial barons in 1652 and Imperial counts in 1710. Baron Johann Salentin Wilhelm von Nesselrode und Rhade (died in 1715), who served as Imperial Oberstleutnant, was made Imperial Count von Nesselrode-Landscron by Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1710. His son, Count Johann Franz von Nesselrode-Landscron (1671–1751), served as Imperial Generalfeldzeugmeister. His son, Count Johann Wilhelm Maximilian von Nesselrode-Landscron und Grimberg (1726–1800), married to Countess Maria Theresia von Auersperg (1729–1803), inherited the Lordship of Reichenstein and became the reigning Count. He was followed by his son, Johann Franz Joseph von Nesselrode-Reichenstein (1755–1824). Due to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, their immediate possessions were

mediatized Mediatization or mediatisation may refer to: * German mediatisation, German historical territorial restructuring * Mediatization (media) Mediatization (or medialization) is a process whereby the mass media influence other sectors of society, includ ...

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, in 1806. This mediatized branch of the family became extinct in 1824. Their possessions were inherited by the Counts

Droste zu Vischering The House of Droste zu Vischering is the name of an old and important Westphalian noble family in the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. Notable family members * Bishop Clemens August Droste zu Vischering (1773–1845), Archbishop of Cologne * Mary ...

, who incorporated the Nesselrode coat of arms into their own, as the heir of the last reigning Count, Johann Franz Joseph, was his eldest surviving daughter, Countess Maria Karoline Theresia Josepha von Nesselrode-Reichenstein, who became Countess Droste zu Vischering (1779–1858).

Nesselrode-Ehreshoven line

The Nesselrode-Ehreshoven line were made Imperial barons in 1653 and Imperial Counts in 1710. Some members of the Nesselrode-Ehreshoven branch settled in

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

, in the 18th century, where they held prominent positions and became incorporated into the

Russian nobility The Russian nobility (russian: дворянство ''dvoryanstvo'') originated in the 14th century. In 1914 it consisted of approximately 1,900,000 members (about 1.1% of the population) in the Russian Empire. Up until the February Revolution ...

. Count Wilhelm Karl von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1724–1810) served as the Ambassador of

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to Portugal. His son, Count Karl Robert von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1780–1862), served as Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1814 to 1856, while his son, Count Dimitri von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1816–1906), served in the Russian State Duma and held the position of Oberhofmeister at Imperial Court of Russia.

Nesselrode-Hugenpoēt line

Carl-Theodor, Baron von Nesselrode-Hugenpoēt, served as a

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in the Bavarian army. His brother, Baron Maximilian von Nesselrode-Hugenpoēt, who later became a

Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force. As a two-star ...

, was confirmed as a baron on 22 August 1814, in the

Kingdom of Bavaria The Kingdom of Bavaria (german: Königreich Bayern; ; spelled ''Baiern'' until 1825) was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1805 and continued to exist until 1918. With the unification of Germany into the German E ...

. The title of Baron in Bavaria was also confirmed in 1822 to Baron Carl Anselm Franz von Nesselrode-Hugenpoēt, who served as Bavarian Hauptmann.

Former properties of the Counts of Nesselrode

File:Leichlingen_Schloss_Nesselrath.jpg, Castle Nesselrath File:Ehreshoven.jpg, Ehreshoven Castle File:Winterscheid,_Burg_Herrnstein.jpg, Castle Herrnstein File:Germany_Herten_Castle_(1).jpg, Castle Herten File:Hugenpoet03.jpg, Castle Hugenpoēt File:HausLuettinghofKernburg03.jpg, Castle Lüttinghof Burg_Reichenstein_3.jpg, Burg Reichenstein

Notable members

Notable persons with that name include: * Karl von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven (1780–1862), Russian foreign minister * Maria von Nesselrode (1822–1874), Polish pianist * Maria von Nesselrode (1786–1849), Russian

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