The three main lines
The first documented reference of an Arnim dates back to the year 1204 when Alardus de Arnem is referenced as the castleman at castle Arneburg. However, from that reference on the genealogical context of the slowly growing family remains unknown over the course of the following two centuries. Although knightly Arnims are verifiable repeatedly, only in a very few cases a blood relationship is detectable. Only at the beginning of the 15th century, the following Arnims have been authenticated:
|
- Hans I |
(documented reference 1388 to 1433) |
These seven Arnim brothers followed the profession of either knight or priest. Being vassals of the margraves of Brandenburg they already owned reasonable land, mainly in Barnim north of Berlin.
Albrecht I (documented reference 1372), knave of Sommerfelde, is considered to be father of the above.
Only three of these seven brothers had descendants, which makes them the ancestors of the three main lines of the von Arnim dynasty. These three main lines are named after those manor houses that had been endowed to the descendants of those three Arnim brothers.
These three Arnims were:
- Ludeke I, who founded the main line Zehdenick,
- Claus I founded the main line Zichow and
- Wilke I founded the main line Gerswalde.
While the male family line of several branches have ceased to exist, all three main lines live on in various houses until today. *5)
*1) Werner Konstantin von Arnswaldt: Das Geschlecht von Arnim, Part II., 1. Book, foreword, published by the family 1923.
*2) Dr. Ernst Devrient: Das Geschlecht von Arnim, Part II., 1. Book, page 2f, published by the family 1923.
*3) Document from the year 1204 taken from: “Das Geschlecht von Arnim, IV. Teil, Chronik der Familie im neunzehnten und zwanzigsten Jahrhundert”, published by the Board of the von Arnim family association, edited by Jochen von Arnim and other family members, Publishing house Degener & Co., Neustadt/Aisch, 2002, p.42.
*4) Dr. Ernst Devrient: Das Geschlecht von Arnim, Part II., 1. Book, page 4f, published by the family 1923.
*5) Excerpt from: Family chronicle “Das Geschlecht von Arnim, IV. Teil, Chronik der Familie im neunzehnten und zwanzigsten Jahrhundert”, published by the Board of the von Arnim family association, edited by Jochen von Arnim and other family members, Publishing house Degener & Co., Neustadt/Aisch, 2002.
Selection of texts by Jasper von Arnim, May 2003
Translated by Henning von Arnim a. d. H. Lützlow, 2010
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back to Our family’s cradle in the Altmark
back to First steps to the Uckermark
Go to The Zehdenick main line
Go to The Zichow main line
Go to The Gerswalde main line