Family history of Herzog zu Berwangen

Duke of Berwangen

The Herren von Berwangen were a late medieval noble family from the Kraichgau region. They probably took their name after Berwangen, today a part of Kirchardt. Although they owned land there, they did not have a permanently established manor house. Their career was instead largely centered on Baden, Heidelberg, Pforzheim, and the castles in the region.

In 1325, Werner von Berwangen appears for the first time in written records as an honorary knight. He sold tenths of land in Neckarmühlbach and Zimmern to the Ritterstift Wimpfen. Another Werner witnessed a dispute over Michelfeld in 1340. With Albrecht I., who became prominent in 1379, the remarkable rise of the family began. From 1387 he served as court official at the Baden court, later moved as household steward to Heidelberg and became councillor to King Rupert. As a diplomat, he even negotiated conflicts between princes and cities.

Albrecht's son Heinrich continued this tradition. He was court official to the Margrave of Baden and from 1426 to 1431 vicar in Pforzheim. He had the family manor in Neibsheim expanded into a fortified castle until 1432. His sons Albrecht II., Heinrich and presumably Claus took part in military expeditions. Albrecht II. served for a time in Heilbronn, then returned to Baden and reached the rank of Marshal at the Pfälzian court.

Later relatives took different paths. Johann von Berwangen studied in Basel, became the Amtmann and Vogt of Neu-Eberstein in Baden. Heinrich held the estate in Neibsheim in 1476. In 1513 and 1522, namesakes were involved in disputes or as citizens of Strasbourg; after that, the documentary traces become quieter.

The coat of arms – a blue diagonal bar with three rings in a golden field – remained visible and was later adopted by the town of Berwangen. There is no evidence of a count rank in the family. Its real significance lay in court service, diplomacy, and administration between Baden and the Palatinate.

Sources: LEO-BW, State Archives of Baden-Württemberg, University Library Heidelberg, Municipality of Kirchardt, Baden Historical Commission

Family coat of arms of Herzog zu Berwangen

The coat of arms is based on the historical traditional coat of arms of the late medieval Lords of Berwangen. The title of duke is not historically documented for this lineage; the shield design and the helmet ornament have been retained unchanged as authentic heraldic elements.

On the golden shield is a wide blue band running diagonally from the heralding right top to the left bottom. On it are three evenly spaced silver rings. Above the shield is a dark tournament helmet with blue-gold helmet linings.

The Herren von Berwangen were a knightly family from the Kraichgau that had been established since the 13th century.

Sources: Landeskundliches Informationssystem Baden-Württemberg LEO-BW, Local history and Coat of arms of arms of the knightly lineage. Peter Wanner, Berwangen and Bockschaft in the Middle Ages, Kirchardt municipality 1991. Book of Coat of arms of arms especially of German lineages, Cod.icon. 309, Southern Germany, 15th century. Excerpts History