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The von Erlach family is a noble Bernese patrician family. Citizens of Bern around 1300, during the 17th and 18th Centuries they were one of the leading families in Bern. Several family members received the upper nobility title "Reichsgraf".

The Erlach family is first mentioned as a ministerialis

Ministerialis

Ministerialis ; a post-classical Latin word, used in English, meaning originally servitor, agent, in a broad range of senses...

 (or unfree knight) family in the service of the 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...

s of Nidau

Nidau

Nidau is a municipality in the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.- Population :Nidau, located at the language boundary, although the official language is German, a high minority of French speakers live in the city, which has since long been offering them the...

. They were the castellan

Castellan

A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...

s in Schloss Erlach in the town of Erlach

Erlach

Erlach may refer to:places in Austria:*Erlach , a locality of Kallham*Erlach , a locality of Pischelsdorf am Engelbach*Bad Erlach, also known as Erlach an der Pitten in Wiener Neustadt-Land in Lower Austriaplaces in Switzerland:...

 on Lake Biel

Lake Biel

Lake Biel or Lake Bienne is a lake in the west of Switzerland. Together with Lake Morat and Lake Neuchâtel, it is one of the three large lakes in the Jura region of Switzerland. It lies approximately at , at the language boundary between German & French speaking areas.The lake is 15 km long and up...

. By 1300 they were citizens of Bern. Originally they owned property and governance rights in Jegenstorf

Jegenstorf

Jegenstorf is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Jegenstorf is first mentioned in 1131 as Igistorf. In 1255 it was mentioned as Jegistorf.-Geography:...

 and Reichenbach Castle (in Zollikofen

Zollikofen

Zollikofen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is a suburb of the capital of Bern....

). The castle was purchased by Rudolf von Erlach

Rudolf von Erlach (1299-1360)

Rudolf von Erlach was a knight and commander of the Swiss Confederation forces at the Battle of Laupen....

, the commander of the victorious Swiss Confederation

Old Swiss Confederacy

The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....

 forces at the Battle of Laupen

Battle of Laupen

The Battle of Laupen in 1339 was fought between the Bern and its allies on one side, and Freiburg together with feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and Habsburg territories on the other. Bern was victorious, consolidating its position in the region...

. In the 15th century they added the municipalities and villages of Hindelbank

Hindelbank

Hindelbank is a municipality in the administrative district of Emmental in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Hindelbank is first mentioned in 1275 as Hundelwanc.-Geography:...

, Jegenstorf

Jegenstorf

Jegenstorf is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Jegenstorf is first mentioned in 1131 as Igistorf. In 1255 it was mentioned as Jegistorf.-Geography:...

, Wyl (now part of Münchenbuchsee

Münchenbuchsee

Münchenbuchsee is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is famous as the birthplace of painter Paul Klee.-History:...

), Riggisberg

Riggisberg

Riggisberg is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.On January 1, 2009, the municipality of Rüti bei Riggisberg became part of the municipality of Riggisberg.-Geography:...

 and Bümpliz. In 1516 Ludwig von Erlach (1470–1522) acquired the castle and town of Spiez

Spiez

Spiez is a city in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Spiez has an area of . Of this area, 38.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 29.1% is forested...

 and the Bubenberghäuser on Junkerngasse

Junkerngasse

-External links:...

 in Bern. By the 17th and 18th Centuries they were one of the six of the wohledelfesten families, who formed the highest class of Bernese patrician families.

Notable members

• Rudolf von Erlach
  Rudolf von Erlach (1299-1360)
  Rudolf von Erlach was a knight and commander of the Swiss Confederation forces at the Battle of Laupen....
  
   (around 1299 – 1360) was a knight and victorious commander of the Swiss Confederation
  Old Swiss Confederacy
  The Old Swiss Confederacy was the precursor of modern-day Switzerland....
  
   forces at the Battle of Laupen
  Battle of Laupen
  The Battle of Laupen in 1339 was fought between the Bern and its allies on one side, and Freiburg together with feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and Habsburg territories on the other. Bern was victorious, consolidating its position in the region...
  
  .
• Sigmund von Erlach (October 3, 1614 – December 7, 1699; sometimes given as "Sigismund von Erlach") was a Swiss military commander and a politician of Bern.
• Diebold von Erlach (1541–1565) was the first swiss citizen in America