House of Dahn

Dahn, even tan, Tann or Thann, is the name of a noble family Palatinate.

Name

The name Dahn, Tan Tann or Thann comes with these variations as a family name common. For example, there is also a Frankish noble family Tann. The often mentioned as the progenitor of the Lords of Dahn in the literature Anshelmus de Tannicka apparently did not belong to the Palatinate Dahnern, but only had a similar name.

Ministeriale the bishops of Speyer

Presumably, the residents of the southern Palatinate Forest Dahn were not migrated there but a long-established gender. They appeared in the late 12th century several times as Reichsministeriale on, then acted but more often than Ministeriale of the Bishop of Speyer. Ministeriales called the servants of significant religious and secular lords. There were originally unfree, which were used by their masters in the goods management. Some of them made ​​careers in the management administration of their masters and gained social advancement, who had advised her former bondage quickly forgotten. An old feud of Dahn was mentioned in 1285, which held the family from the Diocese of Speyer in Hinterweidenthal far from Dahn and came from the kingdom of Kloster Hornbach. It is therefore quite possible that the Southwest Palatinate or Wasgau Dahner originally came from the followers of the monastery of Hornbach. This connection may be the reason that the Dahn then occurred more than Ministeriale the bishop first as Reichsministeriale and.

Dahn Castle Group

Headquarters of the family was probably the castle Altdahn. The first mention of a castle ownership from May 3, 1285 refers While at Castle Neudahn ( also Speyerische feudal castle ), as is evident from the list of goods. However, the three castles of Dahn Castle group, particularly Altdahn and Tanstein tend to be slightly older. Until 1327 all castles were referred to the Dahn Schlossberg as a castle Than, and only then, individual names established. But also Tanstein was referred to as Alt -Than Chance continues. 1288 were in a document Dahner four knights mentioned on the castle to tan: Konrad III. Mursel, John I, Henry IV Sumer and Conrad IV of Dahn. The space requirement is likely to have been very great, which is why a development of all five castle rock is assumed, with Alt- Dahn and Tanstein probably are considered the oldest parts because of the few testimonies.

Neudahn located far away from the castle group was first mentioned in 1340 as nuwenburg to Than. Overall, the early history of ministeriales of Dahn is largely unclear due to complex ownership and family relationships.

As the first holder of the fief Dahner Frederick I of Dahn is occupied in documents 1198-1236. At this time the castle was already a bishop's fief. From Berwartstein, very close, you know that Emperor Frederick I. them to the Bishopric of Speyer in 1152 gave thanks for its support. From this imperial castle thus became a feudal castle of the bishops sitting there Reichsministerialen, ministry officials of the bishop. A similar trend is suspected for Dahner fief.

With the death of John I of Dahn in 1319, the family lost control of the location between the old and Dahn Tanstein third castle Grafendahn. After a feud over the inheritance of the Speyer bishop forgave the fief new and it got to the Counts of Sponheim.

At the beginning of the 15th century came the Dahner Knight in trouble. John VII and his brother Heinrich X of Dahn refused in 1399, with Count Palatine Ruprecht III. attack the castle Tannenberg, as members of the family were staying in the castle. The king castle new Dahn seize. However, it was later returned. Heinrich XIII. Dahn to Tanstein was a follower of Franz Sickingen. As part of the feud Sickingischen Tanstein was occupied by kurtrierischen soldiers and returned only in 1544.

With the end of the Middle Ages, the Dahn castles had lost much of its importance and fell into disrepair. Ludwig II of Dahn had built a castle in Burrweiler, which was first mentioned in 1571. An archway is only obtained from the plant. The family died with Ludwig II of Dahn, who died in 1603 in Burrweiler from. The fief reverted to the bishopric of Speyer.

Coat of arms

The family coat of arms of Tann are three silver eagle ( 2:1) on a red background. On the helmet with red and silver covers a monkey holding a mirror in her right hand.

Bishop Conrad IV of Tann coat of arms

The prince-bishop's coat of arms of Conrad IV of Tann as Bishop of Speyer (1233-1236) is usually quartered. The blazon of the fields result in the change of the family crest of Tann and the coat of arms of the Bishopric of Speyer, a silver cross on a blue background.