Von Plotho
Encyclopedia
The von Plotho family are a German
noble family traditionally believed to be of Wendish
origin, particularly associated with the Prignitz
region in Brandenburg
.
in a writ of Otto the Great as already in possession of their ancient seat at Burg Plote in Altenplathow, Elb-Havelland
in Brandenburg. Their line of recorded continuous descent dates the 12th century, with Hermann I von Plotho.
Their extensive possessions, from the 11th and 12th centuries, centred on the old Prignitz region and included Kyritz
, Wusterhausen
and Genthin
, the territory of Schollene, the castle at Plote (Altenplathow), the Gaue of Lietzici, Zemzizi and Drenzile, and the lordship of Parey
. They were also closely associated with the Bishops of Magdeburg: Hermann I, whose Romanesque
monumental effigy is still to be seen in the church of Altenplathow was a vassal of the bishops and other members of the family were canons
of Magdeburg Cathedral. Their vassals included the von Blumenthal
family, whom they brought from Blumenthal in the diocese of Magdeburg to Blumenthal in the Prignitz.
In the Middle Ages
the family ramified throughout Northern Germany and numerous different branches descend from them - among others, the lines of von Plotho zu Grabow
, Räckendorf, Codlewe and Zerben, and of particular note the Flanders
branch of von Plotho zu Ingelmunster
- many of which survive today. In 1643 Wolfgang Edler von Plotho was made a baron of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Ferdinand III
for his military services.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
noble family traditionally believed to be of Wendish
Wendish
Wendish may refer to:* the Sorbian languages used by the Slavs* the Wends, a Slav people of Northern Europe...
origin, particularly associated with the Prignitz
Prignitz
Prignitz is a Kreis in the northwestern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring are the district Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the district Ostprignitz-Ruppin in Brandenburg, the district Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt and the district Lüchow-Dannenberg in Lower...
region in 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...
.
History
The family is documented as early as 946946
Year 946 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* May 10 – Pope Agapitus II succeeds Pope Marinus II as the 129th pope.- Deaths :...
in a writ of Otto the Great as already in possession of their ancient seat at Burg Plote in Altenplathow, Elb-Havelland
Havelland
Havelland is a geograhical region and district in Brandenburg, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Ostprignitz-Ruppin and Oberhavel, the city-state of Berlin, the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark, the city of Brandenburg and the state of Saxony-Anhalt .-History:-Geography:Geographically...
in Brandenburg. Their line of recorded continuous descent dates the 12th century, with Hermann I von Plotho.
Their extensive possessions, from the 11th and 12th centuries, centred on the old Prignitz region and included Kyritz
Kyritz
Kyritz is a town in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 28 km west of Neuruppin and 28 km southeast of Pritzwalk.There are 9,900 inhabitants .-Overview:...
, Wusterhausen
Wusterhausen
Wusterhausen is a municipality in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in northwestern Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Dosse, 7 km southeast of Kyritz, and 75 km northwest of Berlin....
and Genthin
Genthin
Genthin is a town in the Jerichower Land district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the Elbe-Havel Canal, approx. 50 km northeast of Magdeburg, and 27 km west of Brandenburg....
, the territory of Schollene, the castle at Plote (Altenplathow), the Gaue of Lietzici, Zemzizi and Drenzile, and the lordship of Parey
Parey
Parey may refer to the following communes in France:* Parey-Saint-Césaire, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department* Parey-sous-Montfort, in the Vosges departmentor to Parey, Saxony-Anhalt in Germany....
. They were also closely associated with the Bishops of Magdeburg: Hermann I, whose Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
monumental effigy is still to be seen in the church of Altenplathow was a vassal of the bishops and other members of the family were canons
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Magdeburg Cathedral. Their vassals included the von Blumenthal
Von Blumenthal
The von Blumenthal family are German nobility from Brandenburg-Prussia. Other, unrelated, families of this name exist in Switzerland and formerly in Russia, and many unrelated families called "Blumenthal" without "von" are to be found worldwide.The family was already noble from earliest times ,...
family, whom they brought from Blumenthal in the diocese of Magdeburg to Blumenthal in the Prignitz.
In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the family ramified throughout Northern Germany and numerous different branches descend from them - among others, the lines of von Plotho zu Grabow
Grabow
Grabow is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated on the river Elde, 7 km southeast of Ludwigslust, and 34 km northwest of Wittenberge.-History:...
, Räckendorf, Codlewe and Zerben, and of particular note the Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
branch of von Plotho zu Ingelmunster
Ingelmunster
Ingelmunster is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises only the town of Ingelmunster proper. As of January 1, 2006, Ingelmunster had a total population of 10,617. Its total area is 16.16 km²...
- many of which survive today. In 1643 Wolfgang Edler von Plotho was made a baron of the Holy Roman Empire by Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
for his military services.
Notable von Plothos
- Carl von Plotho
- Ludwig von Plotho
- Elisabeth von Plotho
- Wilfried von Plotho