Ahlefeldt
Encyclopedia
Ahlefeldt is a Danish and German family of high nobility
.
The earliest known ancestor is one Benedict Ahlefeldt, (d c 1340), whose son and grandsons served king Atterdag Valdemar IV of Denmark
and received significant pawn fiefs and properties in Denmark.
In Slesvig
the family inherited estates Søgård, Nør, Königsförde-Lindau, Sakstorp and Gelting
. In Holstein, Bossee, Lehmkulen, Wittmold, Deutsch-Nienhof, Emkendorf, Kl. Nordsee, Haseldorf and Fresenburg.
Godske Ahlefeldt (d. 1541) was the last catholic Bishop of Slesvig.
The family is reported to descend from medieval Danish magnates of the families Hvide
and Galen
.
High royal councillor Burchard Ahlefeldt (of Eskilsmark) received in 1672 letters patent as Danish count.
his kinsman Frederik Ahlefeldt (d. 1686), was erected in 1665 to Heiliger Römischer Reichsgraf, ie German count
in immediate vassalage to the emperor. He further received in the same year as his kinsman, in 1672 the Danish title of count and the position of fiefed count. He inherited the county of Langeland
.
One of his grandsons, count Christian Ahlefeldt inherited the county of Laurvig in Norway
, one of the two official countships ever in that country (the other was Jarlsberg, which belonged to the Wedell family). In 1785 he received the royal licence to himself and his descendants to bear the name Ahlefeldt-Laurvigen.
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
.
The earliest known ancestor is one Benedict Ahlefeldt, (d c 1340), whose son and grandsons served king Atterdag Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar ; , was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375.-Ascension to the throne:...
and received significant pawn fiefs and properties in Denmark.
In Slesvig
Slesvig
Slesvig is the Danish name for:* Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein, a German city* The former Duchy of Schleswig * A former name for Hedeby, a Viking Age trading center, originally the largest town in the Nordic Countries...
the family inherited estates Søgård, Nør, Königsförde-Lindau, Sakstorp and Gelting
Gelting
Gelting is a municipality in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated near the Baltic Sea, approx. 33 km northeast of Schleswig, and 30 km east of Flensburg....
. In Holstein, Bossee, Lehmkulen, Wittmold, Deutsch-Nienhof, Emkendorf, Kl. Nordsee, Haseldorf and Fresenburg.
Godske Ahlefeldt (d. 1541) was the last catholic Bishop of Slesvig.
The family is reported to descend from medieval Danish magnates of the families Hvide
Hvide
Hvide was a medieval Danish clan, and afterwards in early modern era a Danish noble surname of presumably one surviving branch of leaders of that clan. Before 16th century it was not used as surname...
and Galen
Galen
Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus , better known as Galen of Pergamon , was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher...
.
High royal councillor Burchard Ahlefeldt (of Eskilsmark) received in 1672 letters patent as Danish count.
his kinsman Frederik Ahlefeldt (d. 1686), was erected in 1665 to Heiliger Römischer Reichsgraf, ie German count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
in immediate vassalage to the emperor. He further received in the same year as his kinsman, in 1672 the Danish title of count and the position of fiefed count. He inherited the county of Langeland
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
.
One of his grandsons, count Christian Ahlefeldt inherited the county of Laurvig in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, one of the two official countships ever in that country (the other was Jarlsberg, which belonged to the Wedell family). In 1785 he received the royal licence to himself and his descendants to bear the name Ahlefeldt-Laurvigen.
Holdings
The Ahlefeldt family accumulated large holdings of land:- Olpenæs (at KappelKappelKappel is a municipality in the district of Olten in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.-History:Kappel is first mentioned in 1260 as Capella. In 1312 it was mentioned as Nydern Capellen to distinguish it from the village of Oberkappelen which it today Kestenholz.-Geography:Kappel has an area,...
) - Køhoved (at SvansSvansThe Svans are a group of Georgians that mostly live in Svaneti, a region of Georgia speaking the Svan language. The self designated Svan is Mushüan, known to the ancient authors as Misimian.-History:...
) - Königsförde-Lindau (at the Eider Canal), the County of LangelandLangelandLangeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
with Tranekær Castle - Barony of Lehn
- Egeskov CastleEgeskov CastleEgeskov Castle is located in the south of the island of Funen, Denmark. The castle is Europe's best preserved Renaissance water castle.-History:Egeskov's history dates to the 14th century...
- Eriksholm CastleEriksholm CastleEriksholm Castle is a manor house located at the foot of the Isefjord inlet, 6 km south-east of Holbæk, in east Denmark. The history of the estate dates back to 1400 but today's house was built in 1788...
, Fjællebro, Hjortholm, Møllerup, Skovsbo and Ulstrup CastleUlstrup CastleUlstrup Castle is a manor house located at the small town of Ulstrup, southwest of Randers, in western Denmark.-History:Ulstrup Castle traces its history back to the end of the 14th century when it was owned by Jens Brandsen. Later owners include Queen Margaret I but the original house later...
.