The Waldersee family (or von Waldersee) is an old German noble family, representing illegitimate branch of the House of Anhalt-Dessau.

History

During his marriage,

Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau Leopold III Frederick Franz, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau (10 August 1740 – 9 August 1817), known as "Prince Franz" or "Father Franz", was a German prince of the House of Ascania. From 1751 until 1807 he was reigning prince of the Principality of Anha ...

had a relationship with Johanna Eleonore von Neitschütz née Hoffmeyer (1739-1816), wife of Adolph Heinrich von Neitschütz (1730-1772),

Master of the Horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse () in the Roman Rep ...

at the Princely court of

Anhalt-Dessau Anhalt-Dessau was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and later a duchy of the German Confederation. Ruled by the House of Ascania, it was created in 1396 following the partition of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst, and finally merged into th ...

. Their illegitimate son, Franz Johann Georg (1763-1823) was granted the title of

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

von Waldersee, heritable by all his legitimate male-line descendants.

Notable members

Alfred von Waldersee Alfred Heinrich Karl Ludwig Graf von Waldersee (8 April 18325 March 1904) was a German ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (Field Marshal) who served as Chief of the Imperial German General Staff and Commander of the International Relief Force during the ...

(1832–1904), German field marshal * Friedrich Graf von Waldersee (1795–1864), German Prussian Lieutenant General and military author * Georg von Waldersee (1860–1932), Imperial German Army general in World War I

References

{{surname German-language surnames Military families of Germany