Family history Baron von Rothensteyn

Baron of Rothensteyn

The Herren von Rothenstein were a Swabian knightly family with its headquarters at Burg Rothenstein above the Ill Valley near Bad Grönenbach. Their name also appears as Rotenstein, Rotenstain or Rottenstein; „Rothensteyn“ is another historical spelling. In 1239, the brothers Ludwig, Hermann and Konrad are mentioned in the documents as servants of the Principality of Kempten.

The secured lineage began in 1293 with Konrad von Rothenstein, who took on administrative duties for the Kempten monastery. Through grants, purchases, and successful marriages, the family’s possessions grew. Their holdings ranged from Grönenbach, Woringen, and Babenhausen to properties in present-day Switzerland and Carinthia. Konrad’s descendants formed several lineages, including Rothenstein-Grönenbach, Rothenstein-Woringen-Zell, Rothenstein-Falken-Ittelsburg, and Rothenstein-Ebenhofen.

Family life was closely linked to castles, monasteries, and regional administration. Conrad's son Heinrich received the main castle, while other branches built new seats. Iban von Rothenstein became abbot of St. Mang in Füssen in 1410, participated in the Council of Constance, and later headed the monastery of Marienberg in the Vinschgau. This made a Rothensteiner influence far beyond the Allgäu region.

In particular, Ritter Ludwig von Rothenstein left a lasting impression. He ruled over Grönenbach and Theinselberg and founded a collegiate monastery and a hospital with a church in the 1470s. When he died in 1482 without leaving any children, he bequeathed large tracts of land to his nephew Heinrich von Pappenheim. Other family branches continued to use the name and, after a long succession dispute, even regained the main castle in 1508, but sold it to the Pappenheimers in 1514.

With Johann Heinrich von Rothenstein, the male lineages that can be documented ended in 1562. There is no historical title of baron or lord; the family is known as gentlemen and knights. Their coat of arms, a white diagonal bar on a black background, survives in local coats of arms and old arms books.

Sources: Bavarian State Archives, bavarikon, Markt Bad Grönenbach, Zurich Coat of Arms Roll, Historical Association of Swabia

Family coat of arms Baron von Rothensteyn

The coat of arms is based on the historical traditional coat of arms of the Swabian noble family of Rothenstein. The spelling Rothensteyn is part of the title designation used.

Above the silver shield is a wide red band that runs diagonally from the heralding right at the top to the left at the bottom. A continuous golden grid forms a row of open rosettes. Above the shield stands a dark tournament helmet with red-silvered covers.

The Herren von Rothenstein were a Swabian noble family with its headquarters at the castle of Rothenstein in today's Unterallgäu district. The coat of arms is already in the Zurich coat of arms roll from the first half of the 14th century.

Sources: Zurich coat of arms roll, approximately 1330–1345, older part, 15th century. Coat of arms book of St. Gallen abbot Ulrich Rösch, 15th century. Wikimedia Commons