Münch (family lineage)

The history of the dynasty of the family Münch unfolded within a period of about three hundred years, between 1200 and 1500 AD. During this time the Münchs were one of the most influential family lineages in Basel.[1]

Coat of arms

Family crest on the tomb of Konrad Münch von Landskron (d. 1371)
Münch von Landskron family crest in Bertschi's Wappenbuch (Augsburg 1515)

The seal of the Münch family (as of 1237) showed an upright monkey (jackanapes), supposedly originating with the Gliss family. Beginning in 1232, when the Münchs were awarded their knighthood, they increasingly used a crest showing a black-robed, red shoed, bald monk with hanging hood, and hands raised in prayer in a white field. The emblem was adopted as modern day official coat of arms of the Münchenstein municipality.

Origin

The name Münch first appeared in an official document from the year 1185. Thereafter Hugo I Münch was mentioned repeatedly in official documents or in public records, alternatively as named Hugo cognomento Monachus, Hugo cognomine Monachus or Hugo Monachus.

The Münchs rose to commissionaires of the bishop of Basel. During this period the bishops' mentors and consultants were a privileged society. The first knight Münch was mentioned in 1232 and he lived in Burg, one of the most exclusive and aristocratic areas in the city, near the Basel Münster.

Family branches

The family Münch von Münchenstein originated from the first son of Hugo I, Hugo II. Soon after, the family names Münch von Münchsberg and Münch von Büren/Sterenfels derived from this branch of the lineage. The family names Münchs von Landskron and Münch von Stettenberg/Alsace derived from the second son of Hugo I, Konrad II.

Within the various sectors of the family, those from Münchenstein were the most prosperous and in Basel and the surrounding areas they won importance and significance. But Konrad II was the first renowned Münch. Between 1221 and 1239 he officiated as head of the bishops court. During this period the Münchs became richer and more powerful and in 1258 the knighted Konrad III Münch von Münchsberg was named privy counsellor.

During the middle of the 13th century the Münchs acquired their new and extensive residence in the city centre and they named it Münchhof. This was the birthplace of the controversial bishop of Basel Hartung Münch (born 1265, died 25 October 1332). Around 1267 Heinrich I Münch, the father of Hartung Münch, was documented as the mayor of Basel.

The Stettenberg/Alsace branch died out soon after 1300, as did the Münchsberg branch in the year 1356.

Ancestral seat

The ruins of Münchenstein Castle

Exactly how the Münchs attained the village of Kekingen (later Geckingen) during the second half of the 13th century is unknown. At this time Geckingen belonged to the cathedral chapter in Basel. Around the year 1260 the Münch family acquired the village on the hillside adjacent to the river Birs and established their estate there. The exact date of the construction of Münchenstein Castle remains unclear, but most likely building began in between 1260 and 1270.

The founder of the castle was Hugo III, as was mentioned in diverse public records circa 1270.[2][3] The Münchs named the castle on the rock (Stein) after themselves and the family henceforth named themselves Münch von Münchenstein. Later Hugo IV Münch von Münchenstein expanded the castle and built a ring wall around the village. After 1279 the village Geckingen was called Münchenstein. The Münchs could not keep the village and castle for long as their own Property. During 1280 ownership transferred to the Graf von Pfirt, who then let it to the Münchs in fief.

Expansion

The dynasty expanded further, but the various branches separated and in time each family followed its own politics. The Münchs acquired further territories and bought and/or built additional castles. The main influence in this expansion was probably Konrad VIII. (1324–1378), son of Hartmann I. Münch von Münchenstein (who died in 1334). Konrad VIII (called "Hape") married Katharina the hereditary daughter from Löwenburg in 1340. Katharina Münch von Münchenstein-Löwenberg died in 1371 and Konrad VIII inherited governance of Muttenz and the three fortresses in the Wartenburg district. The inherited estate of the Löwenburgs was an advantage to the Münchs von Münchenstein.

New branches

The family branches expanded and grew in number. The families Münch von Münchenstein-Löwenberg and Münch von Münchenstein-Eptingen were founded as the dynasty expanded towards the north.

Properties

The family clan were owners of the following properties (stately homes and castles): Münchhof in the centre of Basel, Münchenstein Castle and the village of Münchenstein, the castle in Münchsberg, the castle in Landskron, the Angenstein castle above Duggingen, as well as the properties and castles Vordere- and Mittlere Wartenberg and the village of Muttenz.

Bishops and clergy

Throughout the family lineage, the Münchs were always well represented in the church or church matters and public affairs. There were always respected clergy, priests and provosts that carried the name Münch. Some of them even became bishops:

Decline

During the 15th century the Münchs's prosperity started to deteriorate. This progressed as the bishops authorities weakened and the significance of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Basel decreased. The Münchs's decline was also due to failed political decisions, especially in periods of conflicts. They quickly got poorer and lost influence to the benefit of the new upper class.

Jerg Münch von Büren/Sterenfels died in 1449, he was the final offspring in this branch of the family.

When Johann IX. Münch died in 1460, as last family member of the Münchs in Landskron, the family branch in Alsace disappeared completely. His brother Burkhard VII. Münch was probably the most renowned of the Münchs from Landskron. Being a Habsburg faithful, he rode as cavalier in 1444 with Dauphin Louis XI and Jean V. de Bueil doing duty as translator and guide for the Armagnacs. The Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs was fought on 26 August 1444. This was a battle of the Old Zürich War. During the battle the Swiss pikemen suffered heavy casualties and were virtually wiped out by the Armagnac forces. Following the bloodbath, Burkhard VII. rode across the slaughter field with a raised visor and was sarcastically mocking the Swiss band of soldiers, as one of the dying pikemen threw a stone into his face. Burkhard VII. died from his wounds three days later. In Swiss patriotic historiography, Burkhard VII has acquired dubious celebrity, as a foil for the stoic bravery of the defenders of St. Jakob an der Birs in 1444.

Modern descendants

Many members of the Münch von Münchenstein-Löwenberg family emigrated to the American colonies in the late 17th century up to the start of the American Revolution. "The Ancestors of Charles Minnix Sr.", (by Micheal B. Minix, Sr, MD) traces one family from the Münch von Münchenstein-Löwenberg home in Basel, Switzerland to Franklin County, Virginia. Present-day members of the family are scattered all over the continental United States.

References

  1. ↑ Die Münch im mittelalterlichen Basel (in German)
  2. ↑ Münchenstein Hompepage (in German)
  3. ↑ Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Münchenstein (in German)

Literature

External links