Erlach family
The von Erlach family was a noble Bernese patrician family. They first became 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 (or unfree knight) family in the service of the Counts of Nidau. They were the castellans in Schloss Erlach in the town of Erlach on Lake Biel. By 1300 they were citizens of Bern. Originally they owned property and governance rights in Jegenstorf and Reichenbach Castle (in Zollikofen). The castle was purchased by Rudolf von Erlach, the commander of the victorious Swiss Confederation forces at the Battle of Laupen. In the 15th century they added the municipalities and villages of Hindelbank, Jegenstorf, Wyl (now part of Münchenbuchsee), Riggisberg and Bümpliz. In 1516 Ludwig von Erlach (1470–1522) acquired the castle and town of Spiez and the Bubenberghäuser on Junkerngasse 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.[1]
Notable members
- Rudolf von Erlach (around 1299 – 1360) was a knight and victorious commander of the Swiss Confederation forces at the Battle of Laupen.
- 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
References
- ↑ von Erlach in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
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