Sayn-Wittgenstein was a county of medieval Germany, located in the Sauerland of eastern North Rhine-Westphalia.

History

Sayn-Wittgenstein was created when Count Salentin of Sayn-Homburg (1314-1392), a member of the House of Sponheim, married the heiress Countess Adelheid of Wittgenstein (1320-1357) in 1345. The united counties then became known as Sayn-Wittgenstein, although it only officially became known as such during the reign of Salentin's successor Count John. The territory of Sayn-Wittgenstein was often divided between northern (centered on Bad Berleburg) and southern (centered on Bad Laasphe) divisions, although the border between the two often shifted. Sayn-Wittgenstein was partitioned in 1607 into: Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (in the originally territories of Sayn), and Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein. The area of both former counties is known today as "Wittgenstein", and is part of the district Siegen-Wittgenstein in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Family today

Four dynastic branches of the House of Sayn were extant at the beginning of the 20th century, each possessing its own secundogeniture. In order of seniority of legitimate descent from their progenitor, Ludwig I, Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein (1532-1605), they were the:

File:012_Jagdschloß_Schwarzenau.jpg|Schwarzenau Castle

File:Odenthal_Schloss_Strauweiler_aus_Richtung_Altenberg.jpg|Castle Strauweiler

Дружноселье_-_туберкулёзная_больница.jpg|Wittgenstein palace in Druzhnoselye, Gatchinsky District, Russia

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See also

  • Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein
  • Sayn-Homburg
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Karlsburg
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen
  • Sayn-Wittgenstein-Vallendar
  • Sponheim-Sayn

References and notes

  • Sayn-Wittgenstein v Landeshauptmann von Wien, a landmark case in front of the European Court of Justice concerning the attribution of nobility names in the case of adoption.