Ever wonder about the story behind these crumbling walls before you at Burgruine Vittinghoff? The Burgruine Vittinghoff whispers tales of Westphalian nobility. It’s the ancestral home of the Vietinghoff family. Their story began here near Essen-Rellinghausen.
Imagine Henricus de Vitinghoven and his brothers Theodericus and Winimarus. Documents mention them as early as 1230. Burgruine Vittinghoff was their family’s starting point. From this ruin, their influence spread across the Baltic region.
Let’s talk about the family’s coat of arms. One version shows three golden balls on a black bar. The black bar runs from the upper-left to the lower-right. A fox carrying a golden ball sits atop the tournament helmet. Another coat of arms features three golden seashells on a similar black bar. This one has a fox facing backwards. These symbols marked their identity.
In the 14th century, some family members joined the Order of German Knights. They ventured to Livland. Others followed. Soon, branches of the family developed in Estonia, Kurland and Oesel. These became known as the Baltic stems.
Those who remained in Germany used the name Vittinghoff gen. Scheel. Those in the Baltic region were known as Vietinghoff gen. Scheel. These name variations distinguished their locations.
Political and professional changes led some family members back to Germany. Others settled in Sweden. Eventually, the family could be found in countries all around the Baltic Sea. They served in government and military roles in Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and Russia.
After World War I, the Estonian and Latvian estates were taken. Many family members returned to Germany. In 1939, before World War II, the last Baltic-Germans were relocated to Warthegau. This marked a significant disruption in their history.
During the time when the Baltic region was part of the Russian empire, the family received the hereditary title of Baron. Simultaneously, family members in Prussia were granted the German title Freiherren. This elevated their status within their respective regions.
The family officially united in 1890 with the founding of the family association in Riga. In 1903, they merged with the family association in the German Reich. Today, this organization still exists under the name Familienverband der Freiherren, Barone und Herren v.Vittinghoff, v.Vietinghoff und v.Schell e.V.. Family meetings are held every two years.
The descendants of the Vittinghoff family now live across the globe. You can find them in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, USA, Canada, Uruguay, Paraguay and Australia. Their 770-year history is detailed in a series of books.
Standing here at Burgruine Vittinghoff, you’re connected to centuries of history. You are witnesses to a family’s journey from a Westphalian ruin to international prominence. Take a moment to appreciate the layers of time within these stones. Consider the individuals who shaped this family’s legacy.