Castle Eltz - History: Index

History

"Eltz castle is simply what a castle should be. Its solitude and the beauty of its situation stimulate the imagination."
(Georg Dehio)

9th - 13th centuries

he development of castles in the Middle Ages with their beauty and power, which continues to amaze us today, began in the 9th and 10th centuries. Up to that time manor houses were protected with earth walls and wooden palisades. However, from that time on reinforced stone walls were used for the greater security of what were now basic castles. The heyday or height of castle building stretched from the 11th to the 13th centuries, the main period of the imperial family of Hohenstaufen. It was also the time in which many towns were founded. In this eventful age we find the first reference to the name Eltz.

1157

Rudolf zu Eltz was one of the witnesses who signed and he put his seal to a donative deed by Emperor Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa). He lived at that time in a small manor house on the river Elz. Parts of the original structure, such as the late-Romanesque keep Platt-Eltz and the remains of the Romanesque residential houses in the basement of the Kempenich houses, are preserved today. Eltz castle is positioned in a strategically advantageous location: it was built on a road that connected the Mosel - which was always one of the most important trade routes of the German Empire - with the Eifel and the fertile region of Maifeld.

The site and its surroundings form a symmetrical unit. The river Eltz flows around three sides of an elliptical rock crag, the foundation of the whole castle, and on this, towering up to 70 metres above the river, is the fortress. The builders took into account the natural conditions of the oval crag and this explains the strange shapes and floor plans of some of the rooms.

1268

Some three generations later the three brothers, Elias, Wilhelm and Theoderich zu Eltz came to a form on separate clans and were obliged to divide up the castle and property. From this point on Eltz Castle was a "Ganerbenburg" (castle of joint heirs), in which several lines of the Eltz family lived together in a "Ganerbengemeinschaft" (a community of joint heirs), a legal form comparable to today’s condominium.

1331 - 1336

Eltz castle was not originally conceived as a fortress but served much more as a fortified residence. In contrast to many other German castles it remains in its original unchanged condition. This is the result of adroit family politics and clever diplomacy. With the exception of the "Eltz feud" from 1331-1336 when the Eltz lords together with other free knights resisted the territorial ambitions of the Elector Baldwin of Trier, it never again came to armed conflict.

1472

In the 15th century there was an especially busy flurry of building activity. In 1472 the Rübenach house on the western site was completed under Lancelot and Wilhelm zu Eltz-Rübenach. Incidentally, the name of Eltz-Rübenach goes back to the stewardship of Rübenach near Koblenz which had been acquired by Richard vom Silbernen Löwen (Lion Argent) in 1272. The name is still used today by the Barons of Eltz-Rübenach.

With its many cornered, small timber-framed towers resting on two basalt columns over the entrance porch to the house and the delightful late-Gothic chapel, the Rübenach house characterises the architectural variety of the castle courtyard.

1490 - 1540

Between 1490 and 1540 the Rodendorf house came into being. On its facade there is a vaulted portico standing on three pillars. The name of Eltz-Rodendorf goes back to the marriage of Hans Adolf zu Eltz to Katherine von Brandscheid zu Rodendorf in 1563. Through this marriage the Rodendorf estate (Chateaurouge) in the Lorraine province of Bouzonville was acquired, after which he and his successors were named.

1510 - 1580

The Eltz were especially active in the electorates of Mainz and Trier. In this connection Jakob zu Eltz born in 1510, deserves special mention. He was one of the most important Prince Electors in the history of the archbishopric of Trier and in the course of his life held many important positions. After finishing his studies in Louvain, Jakob von Eltz was made canon of Trier on 15 September 1525 and then, on 13 October 1547, he became the dean of the cathedral and, from 1564, he was also the rector of Trier University. In 1567 he was finally selected as Prince Elector by the chapter in Koblenz.

Jakob von Eltz was one of the strongest champions of the Counter-Reformation and saw in the Jesuits one of his most important allies. He governed his electorship for the longest time from near Wittlich rather than Trier, which was the capital of his electorate, as at that time the Lutherans and Calvinists held power in that city. Only after thirteen years of innumerable negotiations did he finally resort to force of arms to seize the city. On 27 May 1580 the city of Trier swore eternal fidelity and obedience to the Prince Elector. Jakob died on 4 June 1581.

1604 – 1661

After the completion of the Rodendorf houses the Kempenich houses were constructed. Through their architectural composition and their delightful timber framework they round off the artistic impression of the inner courtyard. A well under the huge tower staircase served the water needs of the entire castle.

The main entrance to the Kempenich houses is protected by a porch on top of which is a bay room. It is built on two octagonal basalt pillars that are joined by round Romanic arches. On these can be found the inscriptions "BORGTORN Eltz 1604" and "ELTZ-MERCY" which provide proof of the date of the start of construction and the names of the first builders of these houses.

Finally, through Hans Jakob zu Eltz and his wife Anna Elisabeth von Metzenhausen, the building work was greatly stepped-up and brought to completion. They are remembered on the keystone of the arch-vaulting in the porch with the coats of arms of Eltz and Metzenhausen (1651). There is also a resplendent early-Baroque allied coat of arms from 1661. It is made of yellow sandstone and can be found under the middle window of the alcove. The same coat of arms is also on the wrought iron window grating in the Kempenich lower hall and on an escutcheon on the courtyard balustrade.

The complete story of the castle’s construction stretches over more than 500 years. All the architectural styles from the Romanesque to the early Baroque merge in Eltz castle to form a symmetrical whole. And so, now completed, the castle settlement consists of several closely packed residential towers grouped around the inner courtyard. Up to 100 family members lived in more than 100 rooms with probably about the same number of servants in the outbuildings along the river, now destroyed.

1624

Hans Jakob zu Eltz also held an important post in the electorate of Trier. On 15 July 1624 he was given the hereditary office of Field Marshal. This gave him the positions of supreme commander in time of war and the leadership of the knight-hood of this important region of the Holy Roman Empire.

1665 – 1743

The Eltz family reached their greatest influence under the Electorship of Philipp Karl zu Eltz. Born in 1665, Philipp Karl attended the German-Hungarian College in Rome in 1686. With the election of Georg von Schörborn to the Electorship of Trier, Philipp Karl, as Choirmaster of Mainz and Archdeacon in Trier, represented the imperial interests in these cities. At the same time he was also the canon in Mainz and Trier. After the death of the former Prince Elector of Mainz, Philipp Karl zu Eltz was unanimously elected as his successor. Philipp Karl was therefore the spiritual leader and most powerful prince of the church north of the Alps.

As primate of the German church he was second only to the Pope and when later he led the Reichstag (Parliament of the Holy Roman Empire) as Reichserzkanzler (Archchancellor of the Holy Roman Empire) in Regensburg, he was the premier Reichsfürst (Prince of the Empire), coming directly under the Emperor. For almost the whole of his govenorship Philipp Karl represented the interests of Karl VI of the House of Habsburg. Together with the Electorships of Hanover and Mainz he formed a power group to counter the influence of Bavaria. However, in 1742 came the break with the House of Habsburg. The cause was the imperial election. Under massive pressure from Barvaria and France, Philipp Karl was forced to decide in favour of Karl Albrecht of Wittelsbach (later Karl VII). This was seen as treason by the House of Habsburg. Philipp Karl suffered as a result of this decision until his death in 1743.

1688 – 1689

During the Palatinate wars of succession from 1688 to 1689 a large number of the Rhine castles were destroyed. Hans Anton zu Eltz-Üttingen played an important role in the preservation of the castle at this time; serving in the upper ranks of the French army he was successful in protecting the castle from destruction.

1733

As a result of their service throughout the troubles of the Reformation and during the Turkish war the elder line of Eltz was raised to the position of Counts of the Empire by the Emperor Karl VI in 1733 in Vienna. The additional "Great Palatinate" privilege he entitled the Eltz lords to knight others in the name of the Emperor, select notaries public, legitimise illegitimate children, confer coats of arms and crests , appoint judges and clerks, release serfs from service etc.

1736

The Eltz family controlled extensive properties especially in the electorates of Mainz and Trier. Their most important distant property was in Croatian East Slavonia on the Danube. In 1736 the Eltz family acquired the Lordship of Vukovar. This was the main residence of the Grafen von und zu Eltz until the family was expelled by the Yugoslav communist regime in 1945.

1794–1815

During the French occupation of the Rhine from 1794 to 1815 Graf Hugo Philipp zu Eltz was treated as an emigrant. His property on the left hand side of the Rhine and near Trier was confiscated. He was called "citizen count Eltz" and his property was assumed by the French commander of Koblenz. It was later discovered that Graf Hugo Philipp had not emigrated but remained hidden in Mainz and so, in 1797, he once again regained the property and revenues from the Eltz estate in the part of the Holy Roman Empire that had been occupied by France. In 1815, through the purchase of the Rübenach house and lands of the Freiherren (Barons) von Eltz-Rübenach, Graf Hugo Philipp became the sole owner of the castle. The Eltz-Rodendorf line had died out in 1786 and the Eltz-Kempenich line had already inherited its property.

1845–1888

During the romantic period with its resurgent interest in all things medieval Graf Karl zu Eltz busied himself with the restoration of his family castle. The work went on from 1845 to 1888. It cost the very substantial sum of DM184,000, which in today’s money is about DM 20 million. During the restoration Graf Karl zu Eltz displayed consideration and caution and showed great feeling and skill when dealing with the existing architecture. In contrast to many historical buildings "adapted" to the frequently poor taste of the 19th century, Eltz castle underwent no major building changes. The work carried out was more in the nature of renovation and restoration which, even today, meets with the approval of specialists.

The present day

Eltz castle has remained in the procession of the same family for over 800 years. The present owner of the castle, Dr. Karl Graf von und zu Eltz, known as Faust von Stromberg , lives in Eltville/Rhine. The family has had its main German residence there since the beginning of the 19th century.

Dr. Karl Graf von und zu Eltz represents the 33rd generation of the House of Eltz. He has undertaken the task of maintaining this national monument for the public, to preserve its structure and, following family tradition, pass it on to the 34th generation.