Brockdorff

Coat of arms of Counts von Brockdorff

Brockdorff is a name of a Schleswig-Holsteiner ancient noble house that belonged to German and Danish nobility.

History

It first appeared in a document from 1167 where Eilwardus de Bruchthorp was mentioned by Duke Henry the Lion of Saxony. Members of the family founded Brokdorf, Holstein, now part of Germany, from where the family originated. On 24.5.1672 the family was granted the title of Lensgrave by King Christian V of Denmark in primogeniture, while on 03.6.1706 the family was awarded with the title of Imperial Count by Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Notable People

• Joachim von Brockdorff (1643–1719), father of:
  • Anna Constantia von Brockdorff, Countess of Cosel, mistress of Augustus the Strong,
• Baron Joachim von Brockdorff, who built the Brockdorff's Palace
• Count Cay Lorenz von Brockdorff (1766–1840), Last Chancellor of Schleswig-Holstein and first High Court President of Schleswig-Holstein
  • Count Cay Lorenz von Brockdorff (1844–1921), grandson of above, German anthroposophist
    • Cay von Brockdorff, German Sculptor, himself a count, grandson of above, Erika's husband
    • Erika von Brockdorff (1911–1943) German resistance fighter against the Nazi régime during World War II, herself a countess by marriage
• Count Charles Frederick von Brocktorff, (c.1775/85–1850) painter
• Count Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, (1887–1943) German general in World War II
• Count Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, (1869–1928) German diplomat

See also

• Brockdorff's Palace

External links

• Family Tree at roskildehistorie.dk (in Danish)