Helfenstein
Coat of Arms of the Counts of Helfenstein from the Epitaph of Adelheid von Helfenstein im Kloster Blaubeuren, 1356)
CountryCounty of Helfenstein
FoundedAround 1100
FounderEberhard of Helfenstein
Current headErnst Heinrich von Helfenstein
Final rulerGeorg I (Helfenstein-Blaubeuren)/Rudolph II (Helfenstein-Wiesensteig)
TitlesCount, Freiherr, Herr
DissolutionHelfenstein-Blaubeuren in 1517, Helfenstein-Wiesensteig on 20 September 1627
Cadet branchesHelfenstein-Blaubeuren, Helfenstein-Wiesensteig

The House of Helfenstein was a German noble family during the High and Late Middle Ages. The family was named after the family castle, Castle Helfenstein, located above Geislingen an der Steige in the Swabian Alb region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The family held the rank of Graf or Count and was very significant in the 13th and 14th Centuries, but fell into financial difficulties and the family lost its estate in 1627.

Later the main branch of the family emigrated to America and even today they are successor members of this German dynasty. Currently the German-Argentinean Ernst Heinrich von Helfenstein have the honorary title by inheritance of Baron and Count by subsequent to his Father.

Coat of arms

Arms of alliance following the marriage of a member of the House of Zimmern to the Countess of Helfenstein, showing the Helfenstein Coat of Arms on the right

The House of Helfenstein used an elephant on their coat of arms. According to one source, the elephant is a type of Namenwappen (German: Coat of Arms from a name), in this case Helfenstein became Elefanten or elephant because of similarity between the sounds.[1] A more fanciful source claims that the elephant comes from the first ancestor of the family, Helfrich, a citizen of Rome in 225 AD, a captain of the 5th Legion of Veterans based in Germany and the Lord of the Fils River. Helfrich acquired an elephant for his coat of arms. Their emblem depicted an elephant and was awarded in 46 BC for bravery against a charge of elephants in the Battle of Thapsus. Known locations for leg V Alaudae. Chapter One: The Counts von Helfenstein]</ref> from the Legion's emblem.

History

While the ancestral castle, Burg Helfenstein, was built around 1100 the family may originate about three centuries earlier. Ulric Helfenstein was appointed Second Provost at an earlier Blaubeuren Abbey by Charlemagne[2] in 800. His son Rudolf was born around 820. On 12 December 861 he founded the church at Wiesensteig. Later he also founded the Cyriasus Abbey in Wiesensteig.[2]

It is possible that the Counts from Vils (Fils) were the ancestors of the House of Helfenstein,[2][3] because in 1060 the Archbishop of Salzburg, Gebhard of Salzburg (from the Counts of Vils) was also known as Gebhard von Helfenstein. This connection is debated.

The first recorded member of the family was Eberhard the Elder, who built the ancestral castle known as Burg Helfenstein (English: Helfenstein Castle) around 1100. Helfenstein castle was located at a key point along the imperial road from Brabant to Italy. This allowed the Counts of Helfenstein to guard and tax travellers and merchants. The city of Geislingen an der Steige grew up at the foot of the castle as a toll collection station and rest stop for travellers.[4]

Around 1200 Count Ludwig IV of Spitzenberg (near Kuchen) and Sigmaringen married the heir of Eberhard II (known as the Younger) of Helfenstein, his daughter. Through the marriage to the heir of Helfenstein family, the fortunes of both families were intertwined. The Counts of Spitzenberg were closely allied with the Holy Roman Emperor and had served the Empire in a variety of positions. Ludwig's brother, Gottfried, had marched with Frederick Barbarossa on the Third Crusade and had died on the Crusade in 1190.[4] The Spitzenberg male line died out completely a generation later in 1226. This meant that the Helfenstein lands and the Spitzenburg lands would be combined and Ludwig IV of Spitzenburg became Ludwing I of Helfenstein. He quickly expanded his county, adding numerous holdings in the upper and middle Fils River Valley, on the highlands of the Swabian Alb, in Ulm, in Heidenheim an der Brenz as well as in the Danube River Valley near Sigmaringen and Schloss Sigmaringen.

The next significant Helfenstein count was Ulrich V, who as a member of Emperor Charles IV's household in 14th century Prague served the Emperor in many ways. The Emperor rewarded him with a marriage, which raised his social status, to Maria of Bosnia. This marriage led to many problems and caused the financial downfall of the Helfenstein family.

The collapse of the House of Hohenstaufen (Kings of Germany from 1138 to 1254) threw southern Germany into chaos. For nearly two centuries, each noble fought against the others. The Helfenstein family joined the conflicts. In 1356 Ulrich V (known as Ulrich the Elder) and his cousin Ulrich VI (known as Ulrich the Younger), split the House of Helfenstein into two lines; the Wiesensteiger and Blaubeurer branches. The Wiesensteiger branch inherited the county of Geislingen with Burg Helfenstein, but pledged the entire holding to the Free Imperial City of Ulm in 1382 for a loan. In 1396 the city called for repayment, but the House of Helfenstein owed at least 123,439 Gulden[4] to the city. To repay the loan, most of the County of Geislingen including the ancestral castle and 27 villages or hamlets were given to Ulm.

The Blaubeuren branch lost most of their property to the House of Württemberg in 1448 when Württemberg acquired Heidenheim. In 1450 Württemberg acquired the Wiesensteig holdings from Ulm, but lost those holdings seven years later in 1457. The Wiesensteig lands would later pass to Bavaria from 1642 until 1752. Bavaria had already owned the Blaubeuren lands including Heidenheim from 1450 until 1504, but in 1504 Bavaria gave the Blaubeuren lands to Württemberg.

Following the loss of their lands, the House of Helfenstein lost all political power. The last male member of the family died in 1627 in Wiesensteig, which signified the end of this family name.[4]

The Helfenstein family later moved to Salzburg to become part of the "Salzburgers" arriving at the Georgia Colony 1734. One branch of the family 'Latinised' their name to Helveston. During the American Revolution Philip Helveston with family fought as notable rebel's and were routed and driven away in the battle of Ebenezer Georgia by British regulars. In 1782 they resettled in the Mississippi territory now known as Alabama. Another branch of the family, descended from Nichel Helfenstein who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1739, Anglicised their family name to Helverson.

Rulers

House of Helfenstein

Partitions of Helfenstein under Helfenstein rule

      
County of
Spitzenberg

(1200–1296)
County of
Helfenstein

(1120–1315)
County of
Sigmaringen

(1200–1263)
      
      
       County of
Blaubeuren

(1315–1517)
County of
Gundelfingen

(1548–1629)
County of
Wiesensteig

(1315–1678)
      
To Fürstenberg
Divided between Fürstenberg
and Oettingen-Baldern

Table of rulers

RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Eberhard I the Elderc.1070c.1100 – 1120c.1120County of HelfensteinUnknown
at least one child
Founder of the family and the county.
Eberhard II the Youngerc.1100c.1120 – 11711171County of HelfensteinUnknown
at least one child
Louis Ic.1140/501170 – c.1200c.1200County of Helfenstein ? of Helfenstein
(c.1140/50-?)
at least four children
Son of Louis of Sigmaringen, and son-in-law of his predecessor.
Ulrich Ic.1170c.1200 – 12411241County of HelfensteinAnna of Henneberg
(d.1235)
three children
Children of Louis I, divided the land.
Rudolf Ic.1170c.1200 – 12121212County of HelfensteinUnmarried
Eberhard IIIc.1170c.1200 – 12291229County of SpitzenbergUnknown
two children
Godfried Ic.1170c.1200 – 12412 February 1241County of SigmaringenAdelaide of Neuffen
(d.1240)
four children
Louis IIc.12101229–12781278County of SpitzenbergUnknown
at least two children
Godfried IIc.11901241–12631263County of Sigmaringen Unknown Children of Godfried I, ruled jointly. Had no descendants, and Sigmaringen reverted to Helfenstein.
Gebhardc.11901241–12531253County of Sigmaringen
Sigmaringen re-merged in Helfenstein
Eberhard IVc.12301278–12968 June 1296County of SpitzenbergCatherine of Toggenburg
(d.18 February 1313)
two children
Left no male descendants, and Spitzenberg reverted to Helfenstein.
Spitzenberg re-merged in Helfenstein
Ulrich II12241241–129417 May 1294County of HelfensteinWillibirg of Dillingen
(1226–1268)
c.1250?
three children
Agnesc.12501272–1290c.1290County of Helfenstein
(at Sigmaringen)
Ulrich I, Count of Montfort-Bregenz
(d.7 April 1287)c.1270
two children
Daughter of Ulrich II, received Sigmaringen as dowry, and it was then annexed to the County of Montfort.
Ulrich IIIc.12501294–13151315County of HelfensteinAdelaide of Greisbach
(c.1260-23 May 1291)
1286
Greisbach
five children

Margaret of Toggenburg
(d.c.1296)
23 May 1291
one child
John I12871315–133127 October 1331County of WiesensteigAdelaide of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim
(c.1310-17 March 1356)
1313
four children
Children of Ulrich III, divided the land.
Ulrich IVc.12901315–1326December 1326County of BlaubeurenAgnes of Württemberg
(1294-12 February 1373)
1318
three children
Ulrich VI the Younger[5]c.13201326–136113 May 1361County of BlaubeurenBeatrice of Schlüselberg
(d.24 January 1355)
14 August 1348
three children
Ulrich V the Elder[6]c.13141331–13727 April 1372County of WiesensteigMaria of Bosnia
26 April 1352
nine children
Ulrich VIIc.13501361–13753 July 1375County of BlaubeurenAnna of Oettingen
(d. 1410/11)
1363
three children
Children of Ulrich VI. While Ulrich VII received the county, Anna was given a dowry of the towns of Faimingen and Falkenstein, which she sold respectively in 1383 and 1390.
Annac.13501361–139018 November 1392County of Blaubeuren
(at Falkenstein and Faimingen)
Frederick III, Duke of Teck
(d. 28 September 1390)
1359
thirteen children
Frederick Ic.13601372–143820 August 1438County of WiesensteigAgnes of Weinsberg
(1400–1474)
1405
eight children
Children of Ulrich V, ruled jointly. Conrad and Ulrich were priests at Konstanz and Strasbourg.
Conrad Ic.13601372–14021402County of Wiesensteig Unmarried
Ulrich VIIIc.13601372–13751375County of Wiesensteig
John IIc.13651375–144427 February 1444County of BlaubeurenIrmgard of Kirchberg-Wullenstetten
(d.3 March 1444)
1407
eight children
Ulrich IXc.14101438–146230 June 1462County of WiesensteigUnmarried Children of Frederick I, ruled jointly.
Frederick II14081438–14831483County of WiesensteigAgnes of Eberstein
(d. 2 November 1456)
1446
one child

Irmgard of Helfenstein-Blaubeuren
1476
one child
Louis IIIc.14101438–14939 January 1493County of WiesensteigAmalia of Oettingen-Wallerstein
(d.24 March 1487)
8 October 1472
no children
Ulrich Xc.14101444–150315 July 1503County of Blaubeuren
(in Heidenheim until 1448; in Hexenagger and Wellheim since 1458)
Unmarried Children of John II, ruled jointly. Lost Blaubeuren in 1447; they bought in compensation the lordships of Hexenagger and Wellheim.
Conrad IIc.14101444–147414 December 1474County of Blaubeuren
(in Blaubeuren until 1448; in Hexenagger and Wellheim since 1458)
Ursula of Seckendorf
(d.23 November 1474)
c.1440?
thirteen children
Louis IV21 November 1447149327 December 1493County of WiesensteigElisabeth of Limburg-Speckfeld
(d.1538)
1483
seven children
Son of Frederick II, ruled with his uncle since 1483, and from 1492 ruled alone. Left no descendants.
Frederick III12 March 14791493–15021502County of WiesensteigBarbara of Rechberg
(d.15 April 1522)
8 November 1497
no children
Brother of Louis IV.
Ulrich XI20 July 14861502–154822 May 1548County of WiesensteigCatherine of Waldburg-Sonnenberg
(21 October 1495 – 14 October 1563)
20 January 1512
thirteen children
Children of Louis IV, ruled jointly (and possibly with their uncle Frederick III since 1493). Louis Elfrich was mercilessly killed in the German Peasants' War.
Louis Elfrich13 November 14931502–152517 April 1525County of WiesensteigMargareta of Edelsheim, Bastard of Austria
(1480-June 1537)
1497
two children
George Ic.14401503–15171517County of Blaubeuren
(in Hexenagger and Wellenheim)
Cecilia of Truchtelfingen
no children

Elisabeth of Limburg-Speckfeld
(d.1538)
23 November 1495
eight children
Son of Conrad II, co-ruled with his uncle Ulrich X since 1474. With his death without male heirs, the few possessions left may have been inherited by Wiesensteig line.
Blaubeuren annexed to Wiesensteig
George II7 November 15181548–157317 November 1573County of GundelfingenMarie de Bonnard
(d. 12 February 1565)
4 May 1536
Bamberg
six children

Apollonia of Zimmern-Meßkirch
(1547-31 July 1604)
13 October 1567
Meßkirch
two children
Children of Ulrich XI, ruled jointly with their cousin Maximilian, Louis Elfrich's son. The eldest of Ulrich's sons ruled a separate estate at Gundelfingen. Ulrich XII's wife re-introduced Catholicism in Helfenstein lands.
Ulrich XII8 February 15241548–15701570County of WiesensteigCatherine of Montfort-Rothenfels
(25 February 1536 – 26 December 1594)
1551
no children
Sebastian21 September 15211548–156416 May 1564County of Wiesensteig
(in Wellheim)
Maria of the Mark
(d.10 July 1563)1552
four children

Maria Haven
(d.1587)
21 September 1563
cone child
Maximilian15221548–155515 June 1555County of WiesensteigUnmarried
Rudolf II24 March 15601570–160118 February 1601County of WiesensteigAnna Maria of Staufen
(d.2 September 1600)
10 June 1582
six children

Anna Constantia of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg
(2 April 1577–1659)
18 February 1601
no children
Son of Sebastian, inherited his father's property in 1564, and then his uncle's, in 1570.
Schweikhard26 June 15391572–159923 October 1599County of GundelfingenMaria of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
(28 August 1544 – 13 December 1611)
February 1561
no children
Froben Christophc.15701599–16224 December 1622County of GundelfingenMaria of Helfenstein-Wiesensteig
(26 March 1586 – 27 September 1634)
1 November 1603
two children
Brothers of Schweikhard, ruled jointly.
George IIIc.15701599–160729 March 1607County of GundelfingenUnmarried
Rudolf III7 March 15851601–162721 September 1627County of WiesensteigEleonora of Fürstenberg
(13 May 1578 – 12 April 1651)
22 August 1604
nine children
George William19 January 16051622–162731 May 1627County of GundelfingenEuphrosyne Sibylla of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
(15 June 1607 – 25 July 1636)
16 October 1622
Sigmaringen
no children
Children of Froben Christoph, ruled jointly. George William inherited the county, and his sister Johanna inherited property at Meßkirch.
Johanna Eleonora18 October 16061622–162928 July 1629County of Gundelfingen
(at Meßkirch)
Wratislaus II, Count of Fürstenberg
(1600–27 May 1642)
10 June 1622
five children
Gundelfingen annexed to Fürstenberg
Isabella Eleonorac.16151627–167822 March 1678County of WiesensteigMartin Francis, Count of Oettingen-Baldern
(28 August 1611 – 11 September 1653)
1629
two children
Children of Rudolf III, divided the land, which was inherited by each of their families.
Maria Johanna8 September 16121627–166520 August 1665County of WiesensteigMaximilian Adam, Landgrave of Leuchtenberg
(17 October 1611 – 1 November 1646)
c.1630
no children

Christian I, Count Palatine of Birkenfeld-Bischweiler
28 October 1648
no children
Franziska Carolinac.16151627–164131 December 1641County of WiesensteigWratislaus II, Count of Fürstenberg
(1600–27 May 1642)
3 October 1636
three children
Wiesensteig divided between Fürstenberg and Oettingen-Baldern

Members

Counts

  • Eberhard I the Elder (fl.1100)
  • Eberhard II the Younger (fl.1200)
  • Ulrich II (d.17 V 1294), m. Agnes von Tübingen

Helfenstein-Wiesensteigen branch

  • Ulrich V the Elder (d.7 IV 1372) m. Maria of Bosnia (1333–1403)
  • Ulrich VIII (d.1375)
  • Friedrich I d. 20 VIII 1438) m. Agnes von Weisberg
  • Friedrich II (1408–1483) m. Agnes von Eberstein (d.1456) and Irmgard von Helfenstein-Blaubeuren
  • Ludwig (21 XI 1447 – 27 XII 1493) m. Elisabeth von Limpurg-Speckfeld (1466–1538)
  • Friedrich III (III 1479–1502) m. Barbara von Rechberg (d.15 IV 1522)
  • Ludwig I Helfrich (1480-17 IV 1525) m. Margarethe von Eddelsheim (1480-VI 1537)
  • Ulrich XI (1490-26 V 1548), m. Katharina von Waldburg-Sonnenberg (21 X 1495-14 X 1563)
  • Ulrich XIII (8 II 1524 – 17 I 1570) m. Katharina von Monfort (d.26 XII 1594)

Helfenstein-Blaubeuren branch

  • Ulrich VI the Younger (d.13 V 1361) m. Beatrix von Schlüsselberg (d. 24 I 1355)
    • Ulrich VII (d. 1375) m. Anna of Oettingen (d.1360)
      • Johann II (d. 27 II 1444) m. Irmgard von Kirchberg (d.3 III 1444)
        • Ulrich X
        • Anna (1430-6 XI 1472) m. Wilhelm II von Castell (1425-7 VIII 1479)
        • Konrad II (d. 14 XII 1474) m. Anna von Seckendorf (d. 23 XI 1474)
          • Georg I (d.1517) m. Cecilia of Truchtelfingen (1) and Elisabeth von Limpurg-Speckfeld (2) (1466–1538)
            • Ursula (1496–1576)
            • Magdalena (b.1497)
            • Wilhelm (b.1498)
            • Agatha (b.1502)
            • Dorothea (b.1503)
            • Wilhelm (b.1506)
            • Anna
          • Irmgard m. Friedrich II von Helfenstein-Wiesensteigen (1408–1483)(view above)
          • Hans IV (d.1483)
          • Ursula
          • Bernhard (d.1501)
          • Ernst (d.XI 1483)
          • Wolfgang
          • Cecilia
          • Magdalena
          • Friedrich
          • Sibylla (d. 11 V 1487)
          • Christoph
          • Anna
      • Anna
      • Agnes m. Heinrich von Rechberg
    • Wulfhild
  • Georg II von Helfenstein (7 XI 1518-17 XI 1573) m. Maria de Bowart (d.1565) and Apollonia von Zimmern-Mösskirch (1547 – 31 VII 1604)
  • Schweikhard von Helfenstein (26 VI 1539–1599) m. Maria von Hohenzollern (28 VIII 1544 – 13 XII 1611)

Other

  • Adelheid von Helfenstein (fl.1356)
  • Irmel von Helfenstein (fl.1444)
  • Barbara von Helfenstein (1552–1605)
  • Magdalena von Helfenstein (1562–1622)
  • Katharina von Helfenstein (1563–1627)

See also

References

  1. Namenwappen. In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4. Auflage, 11. Band: Luzula – Nathanael, 1885–1892. ()(in German)
  2. 1 2 3 Kerler (1840). History of the Counts Von Helfenstein. Ulm, Germany: Stettin's Bookstore. cited on Worldroots.com Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Oswald Gabelkover: Historia und Beschreibung des uralten Geschlechts der Grafen von Helfenstein von 860 bis 1604, in: Württembergische Geschichte, Württ. Landesbibliothek Stuttgart, Cod. Donaueschingen 591, Bl. 109v, 1539–1616
  4. 1 2 3 4 Helfenstein history Archived 5 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Despite being younger than his cousin Ulrich V, Ulrich VI succeeded to his father earlier than Ulrich V
  6. Despite being elder than his cousin Ulrich VI, Ulrich V succeeded to his father later than Ulrich VI
  • Altertumsverein Geislingen (Steige): Helfenstein. Geschichtliche Mitteilungen von Geislingen und Umgebung, 12. Heft, Geislingen (Steige), 1949 (in German)
  • Heinz Bühler: Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein, in: Württembergisch Franken, Heft 58, 1974 (in German)
  • Hugo Glökler: Rund um den Helfenstein. Eine Heimatkunde von Stadt und Bezirk Geislingen-Steige, Geislingen (Steige), 1954 (in German)
  • Heinrich Friedrich Kerler: Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein – nach den Quellen dargestellt, Ulm, 1840 (in German)
  • Karl Putz: Unsere Heimat rund um Geislingen-Steige, Geislingen (Steige), 1935 (in German)
  • Wilhelm Karl Prinz zu Isenburg, Frank Baron Freytag von Loringhoven, Detlev Schwennicke (Hrsg.): Europäische Stammtafeln. Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der europäischen Staaten – Schwaben, Band 12, Marburg, 1992 (in German)
  • Philippa Gregory: The Virgin's Lover.
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