House of Bilstein

Coat of arms of the House of Bilstein

The Barons of Bilstein (German: Edelherren von Bilstein) were a medieval noble family in what later became the Duchy of Westphalia with an estate (called Land Bilstein) mainly within the present region of Sauerland in Germany. Their family home was at Bilstein Castle in the present-day town of Lennestadt. This Westphalian family of Edelherren should not be confused with the Franconian counts of Bilstein, who held estates on the River Werra and in North Hesse.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms depicts three pales vert on a field or. On the helment with its green and gold mantling is a golden ball with three green pales and, above it three green peacock feathers.^[1]

John I and his son, Dietrich III, of Bilstein used a seal with 3 roses on the shield.

Municipal coat of arms

• 
  Coat of arms of the town of Lennestadt

People

Regents

• Henricus de Vare (Gevore)
• Dietrich I
• Dietrich II
• John I of Bilstein
• Dietrich III
• John II

Members of the family

• Godfrey of Bilstein
• Henry of Bilstein

References

1. ↑ Max von Spießen: Wappenbuch des Westfälischen Adels, Görlitz 1901-1903, Vol. 1, p. 13 - digitalised

Literature

• Johann Suibert Seibertz: Diplomatische Familiengeschichte der Dynasten und Herren im Herzogtum Westfalen. Arnsberg, 1855. pp.1-67 digitalised publication in Seibertz, Landes- und Rechtsgeschichte