Individual Details
Count Ferdinand Carolus Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort
(18 May 1616 - 27 Jan 1672)
Ferdinand Carolus was born 18 May 1616, son of Johann Theodor (referred to in many sources as Johann Dietrich), Graf und Herr zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort, and Gräfin Josine von der Marck, daughter of Graf Philipp von der Marck and Gräfin Katharina von Manderscheid-Virneburg.
Although the Löwenstein family had converted to Protestantism soon after the appearance of Luther, Johann Theodor had converted back to Catholicism in 1621, causing a major and long lasting rift within the family. His reconversion was not uncommon among the Bohemian nobility at that time. It could be partly explained in terms of disillusionment and exhaustion from the Reformation processes, but also the enforcement of the regulations of the Council of Trent, whereby the benefices from ecclesiastical properties and positions could no longer go to Protestant aristocrats.
During the Thirty Years War, control over the castle and estate of Breuburg in southern Germany fluctuated with the fortunes of war, between the Protestant Erbach family, supporters of the Swedes, and the Catholic branch of the Löwenstein family, supporters of the Empire. Ownership was claimed by both families. In 1634 the estate was ruled by Graf Gottfried von Erbach, but the following year it came under the control of Ferdinand Carolus. He appointed Catholics to vacancies in his mills and courts, and as foresters and woodcutters in the Breuberg lands. As well, Catholic day-labourers came onto the estate from the surrounding lands of the Electorate of Mainz and the Palatinate to find employment.
The continuing tension between the two families over ownership of the Breuburg estate could have terrible consequences for the people caught in the conflict, as illustrated in a short historical story titled 'Die Geschichte der Dynasten und Grafen zu Erbach' (History of the Dynasties and Counts of Erbach) by Gustav Simon in 1858:
'Soon afterwards (after 1631), however, the castle was the scene of many quarrels between its two owners. Count Johann Dietrich von Löwenstein had converted to Catholicism, while Counts Ludwig 'der Ritter' and Georg Albrecht I von Erbach were equally avid followers of the Protestant faith. A small Imperial commando under an avid ensign, reinforced by Löwenstein musketeers, constantly dealt the cruellest of excesses to the Erbach magistrate at Breuburg. But the worst incident of maltreatment of the Erbach magistrate was at the order and in the presence of Count Ferdinand Carl (Carolus) von Löwenstein. The count had come to Breuburg for that very purpose and summoned Magistrate Kisseberth with friendly words on the first Sunday of Advent in the year 1641, in the morning before the church service, but meanwhile had gone out of his home and across the bridge to the gallows. While he was still on the bridge, Kisseberth, an old man of 60 years, whose crime consisted of only being a faithful servant to his master, was attacked from behind and beaten by three Löwenstein stable hands, driven to Count Ferdinand, and there, at the latter's command, was tied to the gallows with heavy ropes and beaten so mercilessly with thick birch switches in his presence that finally, with cries of torment and covered in blood, he fell over unconscious and as a result became mortally ill. Several persons swore at the investigation that they had heard the tormented cries of the magistrate down at the Mumling River near Neustadt, where they were going to church, and discerned the words: 'Oh Jesus come to my aid! O Jesus, do not forsake me!' Fortunately the poor man survived his ordeal.'
Control over the estate continued to fluctuate between the families until 1648, when their respective rights were determined as part of the Treaty of Westphalia which brought the Thirty Years War to an end.
On 16 March 1651 in Cologne, Ferdinand Carolus married Gräfin and Landgräfin Anna Maria von Fürstenberg, daughter of Egon VIII von Fürstenberg, Graf und Landgraf von Fürstenberg in Heiligenberg, and Princess Anna Maria von Hohenzollern-Hechingen. They had fourteen children of whom a son and five daughters would have progeny. Ferdinand Carolus died on 27 January 1672.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Although the Löwenstein family had converted to Protestantism soon after the appearance of Luther, Johann Theodor had converted back to Catholicism in 1621, causing a major and long lasting rift within the family. His reconversion was not uncommon among the Bohemian nobility at that time. It could be partly explained in terms of disillusionment and exhaustion from the Reformation processes, but also the enforcement of the regulations of the Council of Trent, whereby the benefices from ecclesiastical properties and positions could no longer go to Protestant aristocrats.
During the Thirty Years War, control over the castle and estate of Breuburg in southern Germany fluctuated with the fortunes of war, between the Protestant Erbach family, supporters of the Swedes, and the Catholic branch of the Löwenstein family, supporters of the Empire. Ownership was claimed by both families. In 1634 the estate was ruled by Graf Gottfried von Erbach, but the following year it came under the control of Ferdinand Carolus. He appointed Catholics to vacancies in his mills and courts, and as foresters and woodcutters in the Breuberg lands. As well, Catholic day-labourers came onto the estate from the surrounding lands of the Electorate of Mainz and the Palatinate to find employment.
The continuing tension between the two families over ownership of the Breuburg estate could have terrible consequences for the people caught in the conflict, as illustrated in a short historical story titled 'Die Geschichte der Dynasten und Grafen zu Erbach' (History of the Dynasties and Counts of Erbach) by Gustav Simon in 1858:
'Soon afterwards (after 1631), however, the castle was the scene of many quarrels between its two owners. Count Johann Dietrich von Löwenstein had converted to Catholicism, while Counts Ludwig 'der Ritter' and Georg Albrecht I von Erbach were equally avid followers of the Protestant faith. A small Imperial commando under an avid ensign, reinforced by Löwenstein musketeers, constantly dealt the cruellest of excesses to the Erbach magistrate at Breuburg. But the worst incident of maltreatment of the Erbach magistrate was at the order and in the presence of Count Ferdinand Carl (Carolus) von Löwenstein. The count had come to Breuburg for that very purpose and summoned Magistrate Kisseberth with friendly words on the first Sunday of Advent in the year 1641, in the morning before the church service, but meanwhile had gone out of his home and across the bridge to the gallows. While he was still on the bridge, Kisseberth, an old man of 60 years, whose crime consisted of only being a faithful servant to his master, was attacked from behind and beaten by three Löwenstein stable hands, driven to Count Ferdinand, and there, at the latter's command, was tied to the gallows with heavy ropes and beaten so mercilessly with thick birch switches in his presence that finally, with cries of torment and covered in blood, he fell over unconscious and as a result became mortally ill. Several persons swore at the investigation that they had heard the tormented cries of the magistrate down at the Mumling River near Neustadt, where they were going to church, and discerned the words: 'Oh Jesus come to my aid! O Jesus, do not forsake me!' Fortunately the poor man survived his ordeal.'
Control over the estate continued to fluctuate between the families until 1648, when their respective rights were determined as part of the Treaty of Westphalia which brought the Thirty Years War to an end.
On 16 March 1651 in Cologne, Ferdinand Carolus married Gräfin and Landgräfin Anna Maria von Fürstenberg, daughter of Egon VIII von Fürstenberg, Graf und Landgraf von Fürstenberg in Heiligenberg, and Princess Anna Maria von Hohenzollern-Hechingen. They had fourteen children of whom a son and five daughters would have progeny. Ferdinand Carolus died on 27 January 1672.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | 18 May 1616 | Rochefort | |||
| Marriage | 16 Mar 1651 | Köln - Countess Ana Maria Fürstenberg | |||
| Death | 27 Jan 1672 | Wertheim |
Families
| Spouse | Countess Ana Maria Fürstenberg (1634 - 1705) |
| Child | Princess Christina Therese von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1665 - 1730) |
| Child | Countess Aemilia Theodora Theresia Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1659 - 1701) |
| Child | Countess Ernestine Barbara Dorothea Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1655 - 1698) |
| Father | Count Johann Dietrich Theodor Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1585 - 1644) |
| Mother | Countess Josine van der Marck (1583 - 1626) |