Melchior of Doberschütz

Melchior of Doberschütz, also Dobschütz mentioned, from 1572 to 1600, was a ducal Pomeranian town captain of Pommern and estate owners in Pomerania and Brandenburg. His wife Elizabeth of Doberschütz was for reasons of political envy shaft to ultimately harm him, accused of witchcraft and executed in 1591 in Szczecin.

Life

Doberschütz came from the Silesian- Brandenburg nobility of Doberschütz and was one of at least five sons of Andreas von Doberschütz ( dead 1572), lord of the manor to share Plau ( 1530-1565 ) in the Brandenburg district Crossen (Oder). Around the year 1575 Doberschütz was so in debt as owner of a small proportion of unprofitable fragmented by multiple inheritance in many parts of the family estate Plau that he had to look for other money-making opportunities and proceeded in ducal Pomeranian services.

First Doberschütz was selected for its excellent knowledge of hunting ducal Pomeranian Jägermeister on Ihnaburg ( today part of Goleniów ) in the district Altdamm. He later became city captain of Pommern. On July 26, 1579, he received the Duke Johann Friedrich the field Mark Zamborst as a fief to the support to build on the site of a village. During these years Doberschütz had acquired the favor of his Duke, who was married to the Princess of Brandenburg Erdmuthe since 1577. His appointment aroused the envy of some courtiers, in particular that of the all-powerful favorite, Peter of Kameke. Together with Jakob von Kleist he should have Doberschütz urged by intrigue, and slanders his wife Elizabeth as a witch from office. Kleist called for the Office of the city's main man of Pommern, which he finally had success in 1584.

Already on September 28, 1583 sold Doberschütz the field Mark Zamborst for 1,000 dollars to his later successor Jakob von Kleist, who received the corresponding Lehnsbrief by the Duke. In 1586 he bought all the shares of its Brandenburg Family Good Plau ( Plew, Plosa ).

Since Doberschütz could unclouded enjoy its prosperity despite his expulsion from the Office of the city's main man, Kleist tried to turn it by slander - to ruin completely - or slander by his wife Elizabeth as a witch. For this fit that the Kleist failed brewing beer, which was attributed to a witches curse. The intrigues and insinuations of the courtiers succeeded gradually to bring Doberschütz the Duke completely out of favor, so that he, his office long since removed to Pomerania in 1590 had to leave again. Its assets were confiscated.

Doberschütz turned for help to the Brandenburg Elector Johann Georg, to which he had old personal contacts. A year later ( 1591 ), while his wife sat in the dungeon, Doberschütz served the Order of St. John in the Commandery in Crossen an der Oder.

To January 15, 1600 ( jointure ) married Doberschütz second wife Anna of Loeben.

Family

However, Melchior of Doberschütz, which is called in the literature erroneously Melchior of Dobschütz is not a member of the family of Dobschütz, but clearly the family of Doberschütz. This is suggested especially two clues:

• In a document dated 7 April 1590 with the sale of lexical borrowings Zamborst is confirmed once again his name is Melchior Dobbersitz, suggesting rather Doberschütz.
• In addition, he is known as a princely Jägermeister on Plew, which his good Plau is meant, which was proven by at least 1490 to 1660 the property of the family of Doberschütz.