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==History==
==History==
[[Image:HS-B Zimmern-Helfenstein.jpg|thumb|left|Coat of Arms 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]]
[[Image:HS-B Zimmern-Helfenstein.jpg|thumb|left|Coat of Arms 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 claims as the first ancestor Helfrich, a citizen of [[Roman Empire|Rome]] in [[225]] AD, a captain of the [[List of Roman legions|5th Legion of Veterans]] based in Germany and the Lord of the Fils River. Because his legion had fought against [[Hannibal]] four centuries earlier, Helfrich chose an elephant for his coat of arms<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/athens/sparta/7313/chap1coh.html]</ref>.
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The first recorded member of the family was Eberhard (about 1100) and his son of the same name in [[1140]]. The House of Helfenstein had 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]]. Some members of the family also took the last name ''Spitzenberg'' after the Spitzenberg mountain by [[Kuchen, Germany]].


While the ancestral castle, [[Ruine Helfenstein|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]]<ref name="Kerler">{{cite book | last = Kerler | title = History of the Counts Von Helfenstein | publisher = Stettin's Bookstore | year= 1840 | location = Ulm, Germany}} cited on [http://worldroots.com/brigitte/helfenst.htm Worldroots.com]</ref> in 800. His son Rudolf was born around 820. On December 12, [[861]] he founded the church at [[Wiesensteig]]. Later he also founded the Cyriasus Abbey in Wiesensteig.<ref name="Kerler"/>.
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It is possible that the Counts from Vils ([[Fils River|Fils]]) were the ancestors of the House of Helfenstein<ref>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</ref><ref>Heinrich Friedrich Kerler: ''Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein - nach den Quellen dargestellt'', Ulm, 1840</ref>, because in 1060 the [[Archbishopric of Salzburg|Archbishop of Salzburg]], [[Gebhard of Salzburg]] (from the Counts of Vils) was also known as Gebhard von Helfenstein.

⚫
It is possible that the Counts from Vils ([[Fils River|Fils]]) were the ancestors of the House of Helfenstein<ref>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</ref><ref name="Kerler"/> , because in 1060 the [[Archbishopric of Salzburg|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 who built the ancestral castle at Burg Helfenstein around 1100. He was then followed by his son of the same name in [[1140]]. The House of Helfenstein had 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]]. Some members of the family also took the last name ''Spitzenberg'' after the Spitzenberg mountain by [[Kuchen, Germany]].


==References==
==References==
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* Altertumsverein Geislingen (Steige): ''Helfenstein. Geschichtliche Mitteilungen von Geislingen und Umgebung'', 12. Heft, Geislingen (Steige), 1949 {{de_icon}}
* Altertumsverein Geislingen (Steige): ''Helfenstein. Geschichtliche Mitteilungen von Geislingen und Umgebung'', 12. Heft, Geislingen (Steige), 1949 {{de_icon}}
* Heinz Bühler: ''Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein'', in: ''Württembergisch Franken'', Heft 58, 1974 {{de_icon}}
* Heinz Bühler: ''Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein'', in: ''Württembergisch Franken'', Heft 58, 1974 {{de_icon}}

* Hugo Glökler: ''Rund um den Helfenstein. Eine Heimatkunde von Stadt und Bezirk Geislingen-Steige'', Geislingen (Steige), 1954 {{de_icon}}
* Hugo Glökler: ''Rund um den Helfenstein. Eine Heimatkunde von Stadt und Bezirk Geislingen-Steige'', Geislingen (Steige), 1954 {{de_icon}}
* Heinrich Friedrich Kerler: ''Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein - nach den Quellen dargestellt'', Ulm, 1840 {{de_icon}}
* Heinrich Friedrich Kerler: ''Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein - nach den Quellen dargestellt'', Ulm, 1840 {{de_icon}}

Revision as of 00:03, 18 March 2008

House of 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 headExtinct
Final rulerGeorg I (Helfenstein-Blaubeuren)/Rudolph II (Helfenstein-Wiesensteig)
TitlesCount
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 holdings were all sold by 1627.

History

Coat of Arms 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 claims as the first ancestor 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. Because his legion had fought against Hannibal four centuries earlier, Helfrich chose an elephant for his coat of arms[1].

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 December 12, 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[3][2] , 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 who built the ancestral castle at Burg Helfenstein around 1100. He was then followed by his son of the same name in 1140. The House of Helfenstein had 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. Some members of the family also took the last name Spitzenberg after the Spitzenberg mountain by Kuchen, Germany.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b c Kerler (1840). History of the Counts Von Helfenstein. Ulm, Germany: Stettin's Bookstore. cited on Worldroots.com
  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
  • Template:German
  • Altertumsverein Geislingen (Steige): Helfenstein. Geschichtliche Mitteilungen von Geislingen und Umgebung, 12. Heft, Geislingen (Steige), 1949 Template:De icon
  • Heinz Bühler: Richinza von Spitzenberg und ihr Verwandtenkreis. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein, in: Württembergisch Franken, Heft 58, 1974 Template:De icon
  • Hugo Glökler: Rund um den Helfenstein. Eine Heimatkunde von Stadt und Bezirk Geislingen-Steige, Geislingen (Steige), 1954 Template:De icon
  • Heinrich Friedrich Kerler: Geschichte der Grafen von Helfenstein - nach den Quellen dargestellt, Ulm, 1840 Template:De icon
  • Karl Putz: Unsere Heimat rund um Geislingen-Steige, Geislingen (Steige), 1935 Template:De icon
  • 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 Template:De icon

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to House of Helfenstein.
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