Bassewitz
Encyclopedia
Bassewitz is a German family of ancient nobility which has its roots in the Mecklenburg
region.
The family is said to be named after the village of Basse (today a district of the municipality of Lühburg
). Also in the German hunter-language Basse refers to a tusker
. A jumping tusker is the family’s heraldic animal.
. Already in the 14th century Lühburg with Basse, Dalwitz (today a district of the municipality of Walkendorf) and Prebberede
were estates of the Wendish branch. All current male members of the Wendish branch are descendants of Count Henning Friedrich von Bassewitz (1680–1749), who was awarded with a hereditary imperial countship
(Reichsgraf) in 1726 by Emperor Karl VI
for his diplomatic services.
Since then four of his descendants held the highest office (prime minister) in Mecklenburg
: Count Carl Friedrich (1720–1783), Count Bernhard-Friedrich (1756–1816) and Count Henning Karl Friedrich (1814–1885) as Presidents of the Privy Council, and Count Karl (1855–1921) as President of the State Ministry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1901 through 1914.
All legitimate male-line descendants of Count Henning Friedrich bear the name Graf von Bassewitz (Count
von Bassewitz).
as of January 29th, 1725.
subbranch of the comital branch originated from a unification of coat of arms and name with the Levetzow family linked to the fideicommissum
of Kläden
manor; granted in Baden-Baden to Count Karl von Bassewitz on October 2nd, 1869. Incorporation into Prussian nobility granted in Berlin on November 7th, 1884 to his son and heir Count Bernhard von Bassewitz. The last person to bear the name of a Count von Bassewitz-Levetzow is Count Georg Werner (*1925).
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
region.
The family is said to be named after the village of Basse (today a district of the municipality of Lühburg
Lühburg
Lühburg is a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
). Also in the German hunter-language Basse refers to a tusker
Tusker
Tusker can mean:* an elephant bearing tusks* an adult male wild boar, particularly the American razorback population* Tusker , a Kenyan beer bottled by East African Breweries...
. A jumping tusker is the family’s heraldic animal.
History
Earliest references to the family include a document that dates from 1254 in which Bernhardus de Bassewicze is mentioned and one from 1308 with Heinrich von Bassewitz. The family is split into two branches – the Mecklenburgian branch and the Wendish branch. It is believed that both branches devided in the 14th century, and that their common progenitor is Hans von Bassewitz on Hohenluckow manor († 1397). The Mecklenburgian branch had its estates in the territory of the Duchy of Mecklenburg. Whereas the Wendish branch had its estates in the former so called Principality of WendenWerle
Werle was a fiefdom, or Herrschaft in German, in the Holy Roman Empire that was founded in 1235. It was created in the partition of territories in Mecklenburg that followed the death of Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg ....
. Already in the 14th century Lühburg with Basse, Dalwitz (today a district of the municipality of Walkendorf) and Prebberede
Prebberede
Prebberede is a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.- References :...
were estates of the Wendish branch. All current male members of the Wendish branch are descendants of Count Henning Friedrich von Bassewitz (1680–1749), who was awarded with a hereditary imperial countship
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
(Reichsgraf) in 1726 by Emperor Karl VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
for his diplomatic services.
Since then four of his descendants held the highest office (prime minister) in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
: Count Carl Friedrich (1720–1783), Count Bernhard-Friedrich (1756–1816) and Count Henning Karl Friedrich (1814–1885) as Presidents of the Privy Council, and Count Karl (1855–1921) as President of the State Ministry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1901 through 1914.
All legitimate male-line descendants of Count Henning Friedrich bear the name Graf von Bassewitz (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...
von Bassewitz).
Counts von Bassewitz
Hereditary imperial countship Vienna, June 9th, 1726 granted to Henning Friedrich von Bassewitz. Incorporated into the Estonian Noble CorporationBaltic Noble Corporations
Baltic Noble Corporations of Courland, Livonia, Estonia, and Oesel were medieval fiefdoms formed by German nobles in the 13th century under vassalage to the Teutonic Knights and Denmark in modern Latvia and Estonia...
as of January 29th, 1725.
Counts von Bassewitz-Levetzow
Bassewitz-Levetzow is a PrussianPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
subbranch of the comital branch originated from a unification of coat of arms and name with the Levetzow family linked to the fideicommissum
Fideicommissum
The fideicommissum was one of the most popular legal institutions in Roman Law for several centuries. It translates from the Latin word fides and committere , meaning that something is committed to one's trust.-Text and translation:...
of Kläden
Kläden
Kläden is a village and a former municipality in the district Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Arendsee....
manor; granted in Baden-Baden to Count Karl von Bassewitz on October 2nd, 1869. Incorporation into Prussian nobility granted in Berlin on November 7th, 1884 to his son and heir Count Bernhard von Bassewitz. The last person to bear the name of a Count von Bassewitz-Levetzow is Count Georg Werner (*1925).
Prominent members of the family
- Count Henning Friedrich von Bassewitz (1680-1749), on Prebberede manor etc., Imperial Privy Councillor of the Russian EmpireRussian EmpireThe Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and of the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, President of the Privy Council and Chief Court Marshall of the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, President of the Privy Council of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-SchwerinMecklenburg-SchwerinMecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
, recipient of the Order of St. AndrewOrder of St. AndrewThe Order of St. Andrew the First-Called is the first and the highest order of chivalry of the Russian Empire.- Russian Empire :The Order was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great, in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia... - Friedrich Magnus von Bassewitz (1773-1858), Disctrict President of PotsdamPotsdamPotsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
1810 through 1848, Upper President of the Province of BrandenburgProvince of BrandenburgThe Province of Brandenburg was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia from 1815 to 1946.-History:The first people who are known to have inhabited Brandenburg were the Suevi. They were succeeded by the Slavonians, whom Henry II conquered and converted to Christianity in...
, Honorary citizen of BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and PotsdamPotsdamPotsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre.... - Gerdt von BassewitzGerdt von BassewitzGerdt Bernhard von Bassewitz-Hohenluckow was a lieutenant in the Prussian militia, a playwright, and an actor...
(1878–1923), writer - Countess Ina Marie von Bassewitz (1888-1973), spouse of Prince Oskar of PrussiaPrince Oskar of PrussiaPrince Oskar of Prussia was the fifth son of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein.-Education:...