The Emichones () were an early
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
family in the southwestern German region. Its members were counts (''Gaugrafen'') in the
Nahegau, perhaps as undercounts of the
Salian dynasty
The Salian dynasty or Salic dynasty () was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages. The dynasty provided four kings of Germany (1024–1125), all of whom went on to be crowned Holy Roman emperors (1027–1125).
After the death of the last Ottonia ...
. The conventional name Emichones is due to the prevailing first name "Emich". Several later families may trace their origins to the Emichones.
History
The Nahegau was next to the
Wormsgau and
Speyergau, a possession of the
Salian dynasty
The Salian dynasty or Salic dynasty () was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages. The dynasty provided four kings of Germany (1024–1125), all of whom went on to be crowned Holy Roman emperors (1027–1125).
After the death of the last Ottonia ...
. In 940 Emich, a
vassal
A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain ...
of Count
Conrad der Rote, received goods from Hadamar of
Fulda
Fulda () (historically in English called Fuld) is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (''Kreis''). In 1990, the city hosted the 30th Hessentag state festival.
Histor ...
in the Wormsgau. This Emich is probably related to the
Counts of Leiningen, although it is dubious, whether he belongs to the Emichones family because of a lack of primary source documents.
Secure evidence for the Emichones appears in 961. A count and knight Emich received through a
sentence according to
Frankish law the possessions which until then had belonged to the Lords Lantbert, Megingoz and Reginzo, including
Kirn and
Bergen
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Vestland county on the Western Norway, west coast of Norway. Bergen is the list of towns and cities in Norway, second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 20 ...
. These lords were supposedly sons of Nortbold, one of the first proprietors of a castle mentioned in 926, possibly the
Schmidtburg.
Counts with the name Emich are documented without interval between 960 and 1065. Even so, a precise genealogy has hitherto not been organized.
The Count of Nahegau Emich IV supposedly married before 1072 Kunigunde, the sister of the Count of
Trechirgau Berthold, the latter the founder of the
Abbey of Ravengiersburg. The family of the Bertholds (or a branch of this family) died out with him. Emich V left around 1091 the title of ''Gaugraf'' behind and named himself Count of
Flonheim in 1098 and Count of Schmidtburg in 1107, therefore ending the history of the Emichones, with the family dividing itself into the
Wildgraves,
Raugraves and
Counts of Veldenz. A Berthold of
Stromberg was apparently the brother of Emich V, a member of a collateral branch of the Emichones residing at the castle Stromburg and
Vogt
An , sometimes simply advocate, (German, ), or (French, ), was a type of medieval office holder, particularly important in the Holy Roman Empire, who was delegated some of the powers and functions of a major feudal lord, or for an institutio ...
of Ravengiersburg.
Structure
#
Counts of Veldenz
#
Wildgraves
#
Raugraves
# (supposedly)
Counts of Leiningen (first line ''Alt-Leiningen'')
According to various theories the
Counts of Sponheim also descended from the Emichones on the male side.
Literature
*
Crollius, Georg ChristianVorlesung: Von dem ersten geschlecht der alten graven von Veldenz und dessen gemeinschaftlichen abstammung mit den ältern Wildgraven von den graven im Nohgau.Historia et Commentationes. Academiae Electoralis Scientiarvm et Elegantiorvm Litterarvm Theodoro-Palatinae. Mannhemii Typis Academicis 1770 (complete at Google Books)
* Dotzauer, Winfried: ''Geschichte des Nahe-Hunsrück-Raumes von den Anfängen bis zur Französischen Revolution'', Franz Steiner Verlag, Stuttgart 2001
External links
* {{cite web , last=Marek , first=Miroslav , url=http://genealogy.euweb.cz/veldenz/veldenz1.html , title= Stem list , publisher= Genealogy.EU
German noble families
Noble families of the Holy Roman Empire