House of Eltz

The House of Eltz is an old German noble family originating in the Rhineland and traditionally classified among the Uradel, the ancient nobility. Its documented history is closely connected with the region around the River Elz, a tributary of the Moselle in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, and with Eltz Castle. The family’s recorded prominence developed within the political and feudal structures of the medieval Holy Roman Empire, where members served as ministeriales and supported the imperial Hohenstaufen dynasty. The earliest generally accepted documentary reference to the family dates to 1157, when Rudolph zu Eltz appeared as a witness to a property donation associated with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Although older accounts refer to an earlier Eberhard zu Eltz, that earlier attribution is not treated as the family’s securely documented beginning. Eltz Castle itself was established on a site that had previously contained a ninth-century manor and later became the family’s principal dynastic seat. Before 1268, three brothers divided ownership of the castle among the Kempenich, Rodendorf, and Rübenach branches. Their descendants continued to hold the castle jointly for centuries, until the Kempenich branch assumed sole ownership in 1815. During the fourteenth century, the family became involved in regional power struggles. From 1331 to 1336, members of the house participated in the Eltz Feud against Baldwin of Luxembourg, Elector and Prince-Archbishop of Trier. The conflict ended with the family’s recognition of the authority of the Trier archbishops, after which the Eltz remained their vassals. The dynasty also produced influential ecclesiastical and military figures. Arnold von Eltz was appointed Prince-Bishop of Cammin in 1324, while Robin von Eltz served as Master of the Livonian Order from 1385 to 1389. Jakob zu Eltz became Prince-Archbishop and Elector of Trier in 1567 and supported the Catholic Counter-Reformation, including cooperation with the Jesuits against Lutheran and Calvinist influence. The family reached a high point of political influence in the eighteenth century. Hans Jakob zu Eltz received the hereditary office of Field Marshal of the Electorate of Trier in 1624. In 1729, the family was recognized as Imperial Knights. Philipp Karl von Eltz-Kempenich, who became Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Mainz and German Archchancellor in 1732, was among the most powerful Catholic princes in the Holy Roman Empire. In recognition of service during religious conflicts and wars against the Ottoman Empire, the elder line received the title of Imperial Counts from Emperor Charles VI in 1733. The associated Great Palatinate privilege granted extensive authority, including the ability to ennoble, appoint notaries and local officials, confer arms, exercise judicial functions, and release serfs from obligations. The family’s history also expanded into Croatia-Slavonia. In 1736, Archbishop Philipp Karl von Eltz acquired the lordship of Vukovar in eastern Slavonia, then linked to the Hungarian nobility. From 1749, his heirs developed Eltz Manor as their principal residence in the region. The family retained the estate until its expulsion by the Yugoslav communist regime in 1945. Following Croatia’s independence, Jakob Eltz returned to the country, became a naturalized Croatian citizen, and served in the new Sabor parliament representing Vukovar. Today, the House of Eltz is principally remembered as a historic noble dynasty and through surviving cultural properties, especially Eltz Castle in Germany. The castle remains associated with the Kempenich branch, while the family’s former Croatian presence is represented historically by Eltz Manor in Vukovar.

The House of Eltz emerged as a Rhenish noble dynasty in the medieval Holy Roman Empire. Its name is associated with the River Elz and with the family residence that became Eltz Castle in present-day Rhineland-Palatinate. The family’s secure documentary history begins in 1157, when Rudolph zu Eltz was recorded as a witness to a donation connected with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Members of the family served as ministeriales, a class of officials and military retainers who occupied an important position in the imperial and territorial administration of the period. Eltz Castle was built on a site containing an earlier manor, probably protected by a simple earthwork enclosure. Before 1268, three brothers divided the castle and related rights among the Kempenich, Rodendorf, and Rübenach lines. This arrangement created a joint family ownership structure that lasted for centuries. In 1815, ownership passed exclusively to the Kempenich branch, which continues to be associated with the castle. The family’s medieval political position was tested during the Eltz Feud from 1331 to 1336. The conflict pitted the Eltz against Baldwin of Luxembourg, the powerful Elector and Prince-Archbishop of Trier, who sought recognition of his territorial authority. After the conflict, the family accepted the supremacy of the Trier archbishops and remained within their feudal order. Other members pursued prominent careers in the church and military. Arnold von Eltz became Prince-Bishop of Cammin in 1324, Robin von Eltz led the Livonian Order from 1385 to 1389, and Jakob zu Eltz was elected Prince-Archbishop and Elector of Trier in 1567. Jakob became a prominent Catholic opponent of Protestant expansion and worked with the Jesuits during the Counter-Reformation. The dynasty’s authority expanded during the early modern period. Hans Jakob zu Eltz received the hereditary office of Field Marshal of the Electorate of Trier in 1624. Recognition as Imperial Knights followed in 1729. Philipp Karl von Eltz-Kempenich then brought the family to an exceptional level of ecclesiastical and political influence when he became Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Mainz and German Archchancellor in 1732. In 1733, Emperor Charles VI granted the elder line the rank of Imperial Counts. The family also received the Great Palatinate, a broad set of privileges that included ennobling individuals, granting coats of arms, appointing notaries and officials, exercising certain judicial powers, and emancipating serfs. The Eltz family established an important second center in Croatia-Slavonia. In 1736, Philipp Karl von Eltz acquired the lordship of Vukovar in eastern Slavonia. The family’s heirs commissioned Eltz Manor from 1749 onward, and the property became the principal residence of the Counts of Eltz in the region. This Croatian branch remained connected to the estate until 1945, when the family was expelled under Yugoslavia’s communist regime. After Croatia became independent, Jakob Eltz returned to Croatia, acquired citizenship, and entered the national parliament, representing Vukovar, the location of the former family manor. The House of Eltz is not a commercial brand in the conventional sense. Its continuing public identity derives from genealogy, historic title, architecture, landholding, and political and ecclesiastical history. Eltz Castle is the best-known surviving symbol of the house, while Eltz Manor represents its former role in the history of Vukovar and Slavonia.

• 1945

  Expulsion from Vukovar

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  The family was expelled from Eltz Manor and its Croatian possessions by the Yugoslav communist regime.

• 1815

  Kempenich branch assumes sole castle ownership

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  Joint ownership of Eltz Castle ended when the Kempenich branch took over the property.

• 1736

  Acquisition of the lordship of Vukovar

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  Philipp Karl von Eltz acquired the lordship of Vukovar in eastern Slavonia.

• 1733

  Elevation to Imperial Counts

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  The elder line received the title of Imperial Counts from Emperor Charles VI.

• 1729

  Recognition as Imperial Knights

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  The Eltz family attained the status of Imperial Knights within the Holy Roman Empire.

• 1624

  Hereditary field marshalship

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  Hans Jakob zu Eltz received the hereditary office of Field Marshal of the Electorate of Trier.

• First securely documented family reference

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  Rudolph zu Eltz was recorded as a witness to a property donation associated with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

• Division of Eltz Castle ownership

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  The castle was held jointly by the Kempenich, Rodendorf, and Rübenach branches after division among three brothers.

• Beginning of the Eltz Feud

  [1]House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org

  The family entered a conflict with Baldwin of Luxembourg, Elector and Prince-Archbishop of Trier.

Historic Rhenish German noble house associated with medieval imperial service, Catholic ecclesiastical leadership, hereditary offices, and aristocratic estates in Germany and Croatia.

• Historic castle and family seat

  Eltz Castle

  Eltz Castle is the principal architectural symbol of the House of Eltz. It stands in the Moselle region of Rhineland-Palatinate on a site with an earlier medieval manor. From the thirteenth century, the castle was held jointly by three family branches, a distinctive arrangement that shaped its later history. Since 1815, it has been associated with the Kempenich branch.

• Historic manor and former Croatian residence · 1749

  Eltz Manor

  Eltz Manor in Vukovar was developed from 1749 onward by the heirs of Philipp Karl von Eltz after the family acquired the lordship of Vukovar in 1736. It served as the principal residence of the Counts of Eltz in the region until the family was expelled in 1945.

1. 1House of Eltzen.wikipedia.org