Melchior of Doberschütz
Encyclopedia
Melchior of Doberschütz (also spelled Dobschütz), mentioned from 1572 to 1600, was a member of the Silesian noble family of Doberschütz
and was a city captain of Szczecinek
in the Duchy of Pomerania
and a landlord
holding vast possessions in Pomerania and Brandenburg
. His wife, Elizabeth of Doberschütz
, was accused of witchcraft
for political reasons, and ultimately to hurt him, and was executed in 1591 in Szczecin
.
Initially, Doberschütz served as ducal Hunt Master at Ihnaburg (today part of Goleniów
) in Dąbie ( County, because of his excellent hunting skills. Later, he was city captain of Szczecinek
. On 26 July 1579, he received the field mark Samborsko
( from Duke John Frederick as a fief, under the condition that he would build a village in the area. During these years, Doberschütz had acquired the favor of his Duke, who had been married with the Princess Erdmuthe
of Brandenburg since 1577. His appointment aroused the envy of some courtiers, especially the then powerful favorite of the Peter von Kameke. It was said that Peter von Kameke and Jakob von Kleist began the intrigues and slanders about Doberschütz's wife Elizabeth being a witch, to push Doberschütz out of office. They succeeded and in 1584, von Kleist succeeded Doberschütz as city captain of Szczecinek
.
On 28 September 1583 Doberschütz sold Samborsko for 1000 taler to von Kleist, who was acknowledged as a vassal
by the Duke. In 1586, Doberschütz bought all the fragments of the family estate of Plau. He paid homage to Elector John George
of Brandenburg.
Despite his expulsion from office, Doberschütz could still enjoy his wealth. It was said the von Kleist was still jealous and tried to completely ruin Doberschütz by slander against him and his wife Elizabeth. It was rumoured that she was a witch. When von Kleist attempted to brew beer and failed, this was attributed to a witches curse. The insinuations and intrigues of the courtiers gradually succeeded in bringingDoberschütz completely into the Duke's disgrace. He had been ousted from office long ago and around 1590, he had to leave Pomerania. His assets were confiscated
.
Doberschütz turned for help to Elector John George
of Brandenburg, to whom he had personal contacts. In 1591, while his wife sat in jail in Szczecin, Doberschütz served in the Commandery
of the Knights Hospitallers in Krosno Odrzańskie
.
Around 15 January 1600, Doberschütz married his second wife, Anna of Löben.
Doberschütz
Doberschütz is a municipality in the district of Nordsachsen, in Saxony, Germany. It has an area of 79,81 km² and a population of 4,446 ....
and was a city captain of Szczecinek
Szczecinek
Szczecinek [] is a city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland with some 39,777 inhabitants . Previously in Koszalin Voivodeship , it has been the capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
in the Duchy of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
and a landlord
Landlord
A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant . When a juristic person is in this position, the term landlord is used. Other terms include lessor and owner...
holding vast possessions in Pomerania and Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
. His wife, Elizabeth of Doberschütz
Elizabeth of Doberschütz
Elizabeth of Doberschütz, née of Strantz was beheaded as a witch on the Hay Market in Szczecin and burned on the outskirts of the city- Witch Hunt :...
, was accused of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
for political reasons, and ultimately to hurt him, and was executed in 1591 in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
.
Life
Doberschütz was one of at least five sons of Andreas of Doberschütz (died 1572), landlord of a portion of Plau (1530–1565) in the Landkreis Crossen (Oder) in Brandenburg. Around the year 1575 Doberschütz was the owner of a small unprofitable portion of the family estate of Plau. The estate had splintered into many small fragments, due to being dubdivided each time a Lord died leaving multiple sons. He had to look for other income opportunities and went into the service of the Duke of Pomerania.Initially, Doberschütz served as ducal Hunt Master at Ihnaburg (today part of Goleniów
Goleniów
Goleniów is a town in Pomerania, northwestern Poland with 22,399 inhabitants . It is the capital of Goleniów County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Szczecin Voivodeship . Town area is 12.5 km², geographical situation 53°33'N and 14°49'E...
) in Dąbie ( County, because of his excellent hunting skills. Later, he was city captain of Szczecinek
Szczecinek
Szczecinek [] is a city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland with some 39,777 inhabitants . Previously in Koszalin Voivodeship , it has been the capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
. On 26 July 1579, he received the field mark Samborsko
Samborsko
Samborsko is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Jastrowie, within Złotów County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It was founded in 1580 and had a church...
( from Duke John Frederick as a fief, under the condition that he would build a village in the area. During these years, Doberschütz had acquired the favor of his Duke, who had been married with the Princess Erdmuthe
Erdmuthe of Brandenburg
Erdmuthe of Brandenburg was a Princess of Brandenburg and by marriage Duchess of Pomerania.- Life :...
of Brandenburg since 1577. His appointment aroused the envy of some courtiers, especially the then powerful favorite of the Peter von Kameke. It was said that Peter von Kameke and Jakob von Kleist began the intrigues and slanders about Doberschütz's wife Elizabeth being a witch, to push Doberschütz out of office. They succeeded and in 1584, von Kleist succeeded Doberschütz as city captain of Szczecinek
Szczecinek
Szczecinek [] is a city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland with some 39,777 inhabitants . Previously in Koszalin Voivodeship , it has been the capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
.
On 28 September 1583 Doberschütz sold Samborsko for 1000 taler to von Kleist, who was acknowledged as a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
by the Duke. In 1586, Doberschütz bought all the fragments of the family estate of Plau. He paid homage to Elector John George
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
of Brandenburg.
Despite his expulsion from office, Doberschütz could still enjoy his wealth. It was said the von Kleist was still jealous and tried to completely ruin Doberschütz by slander against him and his wife Elizabeth. It was rumoured that she was a witch. When von Kleist attempted to brew beer and failed, this was attributed to a witches curse. The insinuations and intrigues of the courtiers gradually succeeded in bringingDoberschütz completely into the Duke's disgrace. He had been ousted from office long ago and around 1590, he had to leave Pomerania. His assets were confiscated
Confiscation
Confiscation, from the Latin confiscatio 'joining to the fiscus, i.e. transfer to the treasury' is a legal seizure without compensation by a government or other public authority...
.
Doberschütz turned for help to Elector John George
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
of Brandenburg, to whom he had personal contacts. In 1591, while his wife sat in jail in Szczecin, Doberschütz served in the Commandery
Commandery
The commandery , also known as prefecture, was a historical administrative division of China from the time of the Zhou Dynasty until the early Tang Dynasty .-History & development:...
of the Knights Hospitallers in Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...
.
Around 15 January 1600, Doberschütz married his second wife, Anna of Löben.
Noble Family
Melchior von Doberschütz is sometimes called Melchior von Dobschütz in the literature. This is incorrect: Melchior was not a member of the Dobschütz family. There are two clues for this:- In a document dated 7 April 1590, in which the sale of the field mark Samborsko is confirmed again, he is called Melchior Dobbersitz. This is closer to Doberschütz than to Dobschütz.
- In addition, he is known as a princely hunter champion at Plew, by which presumably his estate at Plau is meant, that has been demonstrated to have been owned Doberschütz family at least from 1490 to 1660.