474:
394:
100:
246:
560:
29:
538:
238:
506:
90:
333:
571:, such as the von Erlach family, were widely hated by the majority of the Swiss. Most of the country was quickly captured by peasants who believed the ideals of the French Revolution would be better than the current system. Bern was the only Canton to field an effective army to repel the invaders. A Bernese army marched out to meet the French, under General
513:
Hieronymus' son, Albrecht
Friedrich (15 November 1696 – 27 August 1788), followed in his father's footsteps. He served in the Austrian army until he entered politics in Bern in 1727. In 1735, he was appointed chamberlain for Charles VI. After his father's death in 1748 he oversaw completion of the
80:
family. They first became citizens of Bern around 1300. During the 17th and 18th centuries they were one of the leading families in Bern. For centuries the family served as senior military commanders in both Bern and in foreign armies. They were mayors of Bern and ruled over many other towns and
635:
While the von Erlach family lost their position at the center of
Bernese politics, they remained wealthy. Many members of the family followed the tradition of joining the military or entering politics. Rudolf von Erlach (27 January 1891 – 7 August 1944) was a member of the Swiss General Staff and
618:
rights in many of the villages which they owned. Under the
Republic the von Erlach family and all other Swiss nobles and patricians lost their traditional rights and the income that they had received. They no longer ruled over their peasants, however, they were allowed to keep the land that they
493:, were now owned by decedents of Johann's younger sons. Albrecht von Erlach (1713–84) built a new castle next to the older Castle in Spiez. His cousin, Hieronymus (1667–1748), had a successful military and political career, and became the largest land holder in Bern. In 1745, he demolished the
556:. Vaud was under Bernese control, but chafed under a government with a different language and culture. The ideals of the French Revolution found a receptive audience in Vaud, and when Vaud declared itself a republic the French had a pretext to invade the confederation.
436:
Another cousin, Hieronymus von Erlach (31 March 1667 Bern-28 February 1748), reached even higher. He initially served in the
Bernese regiment in the French army, but in 1702 he was a colonel of a regiment in the Imperial Austrian army during the
405:, often in service to the King of France. Johann Jakob von Erlach (25 May 1628 – 1694) became the first commander of the Bernese regiment in the French army in 1671. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1688, but then converted to
583:, a wooded hill near Bern. By this time General Erlach only had about two battalions of soldiers. While they held for several hours, in the end General von Erlach retreated with a portion of his army. He attempted to hold the
428:
in 1656. The
Catholic forces were successful and the resulting treaty was unpopular in Bern. While Sigmund was heavily criticized for his defeat, his political career was unharmed. He was elected as the fifth von Erlach
501:
built. Unfortunately the mansion was not completed until about four years after
Hieronymus' death. Other members of the family built new mansions and continued expanding their wealth and political power.
441:. Early successes brought him promotions and in 1704 he was made a lieutenant field marshal. His star continued to rise, despite suspicions that he leaked Austrian plans to the French. In 1710 Emperor
282:. Diebold emigrated to America in the middle of the 16th century. However, Diebold's branch never had the political or economic power of the rest of the family. In the 18th century that line died out.
285:
Johann inherited the remainder of Rudolf's land and rights. He followed in his father's footsteps and entered a career in politics and the military. He was sent as an ambassador from the
529:. They eventually married into the local nobility and became firmly Prussian. By the mid 19th century both branches had died out, though the main line in Switzerland remained strong.
198:
636:
commanded
Gebirgsbrigade 12 and later the 5. Division in Switzerland during World War II. Today members of the family occupy positions in banking, insurance and industry.
366:
321:
rebelled against the new faith, Johann marched as commander of an army to put down the rebellion. In the following years, he led the
Protestant Bernese army in the
313:
and in 1515 marched on Milan. He became the third
Schultheiss in 1519 and served, with interruptions, for twenty years. In 1528, Bern adopted the new faith of the
576:
342:
After Johann's death, the family estates were again divided between his two sons. Another family member, Ludwig von Erlach (1470–1522) had acquired the
610:
on the principles of the French
Revolution. The old feudal landlord and peasant structure was swept away. The von Erlach family had held the right to
489:
families. By the 18th century much of the elder line had died out or intermarried with the younger line. The estates, including Spiez Castle and the
521:
During the 18th century a branch of the Erlach family settled in France and became fixtures in the Swiss Guard. Another branch joined the armies of
615:
575:. Despite the Bernese government capitulating on 4 March 1798, the Bernese troops prepared to fight the invaders. They met the French at the
584:
433:
in 1675 and held the office until 1699. He died wealthy, successful but childless, so his estates passed on to other relatives.
416:
and became a Major-General in the French army. When he returned home, he entered a career in politics becoming a member of the
201:(born 1448, died 1507). He was Schultheiss from 1479 until 1507 with several short interruptions. While still a member of the
362:
were inherited by Johann's older son Hans Rudolf (1504–53). The remainder of the estates were inherited by his younger sons.
412:
His relative Sigmund (3 October 1614 – 7 December 1699) was more successful. He rose to the rank of Colonel in service with
365:
Hans Rudolf inherited estates in Spiez, Schadau, BĂĽmpliz and Oberhofen as well as the house in Bern. Hans Rudolf's grandson
1237:
1196:
1160:
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1049:
1010:
974:
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902:
866:
830:
787:
553:
1269:
186:. They began to take a major role in politics in the city of Bern and married into a number of noble and wealthy
450:
1264:
645:
486:
438:
187:
140:
77:
611:
442:
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he was attacked by either Bernese soldiers or farmers, who believed him to be a traitor, and murdered.
229:. Rudolf divided the family estates between his two sons, Johann (1474–1539) and Diebold (1485–1561).
135:. By 1300 they were citizens of Bern and had tied their fate to the city. According to the historian
81:
cities in western Switzerland. Several family members received the upper nobility title "Reichsgraf".
549:
1259:
546:
421:
420:
in 1645. A few years later, Sigmund led Confederation troops successfully against the rebels in the
294:
425:
595:
and the city of Bern, but was unsuccessful. He then traveled south, preparing to move into the
1254:
572:
413:
314:
271:
461:. A few years later he returned to Bern and entered politics and became the sixth von Erlach
707:
649:
406:
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families. By the mid 15th century, Ulrich (died 1465) became the first of seven von Erlach
446:
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8:
322:
128:
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156:
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402:
226:
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175:
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653:
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In the 17th century many of the von Erlach family left Switzerland to find work as
318:
144:
136:
514:
Erlacherhof in Bern. In 1759 he became the seventh von Erlach who was elected as
214:
1230:
1224:
1218:
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393:
1114:
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1102:
458:
279:
99:
39:
245:
151:. Before his death, in 1360, Rudolf bought property and governance rights in
1248:
522:
124:
108:
93:
552:. They invaded at the invitation of the Republican faction in Vaud, led by
221:
of 1499, Rudolf once again took command of a Bernese army and fought in the
732:
Der Wappenscheibenzyklus der Familie von Erlach aus der Schlosskirche Spiez
620:
355:
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336:
253:
290:
559:
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249:
218:
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43:
147:. In the following year he led a Bernese army in a raid on the city of
28:
454:
270:(now part of Bern). His descendants extended their estates to include
179:
171:
167:
160:
152:
61:
537:
267:
237:
183:
669:
Diebold von Erlach (1541–1565) was the first Swiss citizen in America
606:
Once Bern's resistance collapsed, the French quickly established the
600:
568:
505:
132:
120:
369:(4 January 1575 – 1651) became the fourth von Erlach to become the
148:
89:
648:(around 1299 – 1360) was a knight and victorious commander of the
166:
In the 15th century they added the municipalities and villages of
1079:
526:
1073:
1067:
332:
266:
Rudolf's younger son, Diebold was given the family's estates in
734:, In: Schweizer Archiv für Heraldik: 117(2003), Nr. 1, S. 9–32.
619:
owned. In 1802 some members of the family participated in the
481:
By the 17th and 18th centuries they were one of the six of the
298:
275:
210:
623:, an uprising that destroyed the Republic and led to the 1803
377:(large council) in Bern after 1596 and was the Schultheiss of
197:
The next von Erlach family member to serve as Schultheiss was
740:. In: Burgdorfer Jahrbuch: 1981, S. 13–86 und 1982, S. 13–77.
409:
and lost all his Bernese titles and his citizenship in Bern.
347:
310:
302:
222:
116:
112:
477:
Albrecht Friedrich von Erlach as Schultheiss (mayor) of Bern
968:
932:
306:
257:
74:
1154:
962:
956:
926:
920:
666:) was a Swiss military commander and a politician of Bern.
630:
567:
At the end of the 18th century, the increasingly powerful
84:
1148:
1142:
1043:
747:. In: Jahrbuch des Oberaargaus. Jg. 24(1981), S. 109–120.
725:
800 Jahre Berner von Erlach. Die Geschichte einer Familie
1037:
1031:
662:(October 3, 1614 – December 7, 1699; sometimes given as
1004:
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998:
992:
896:
860:
781:
1184:
1178:
890:
884:
854:
848:
775:
769:
518:, a position that he held several times until 1786.
241:
Diebold von Erlach also called Theobald von Erlach.
1115:
358:in Bern. After Johann's death the castle and the
1109:
1103:
738:Ludwig Robert von Erlach von Hindelbank 1794–1879
704:(17 Jh.–20 Jh.), Nachlass Hans-Ulrich von Erlach
532:
205:(small council) he led Bernese troops to besiege
1246:
111:(or unfree knight) family in the service of the
468:
1231:
1225:
1219:
824:
1092:
1022:
1020:
818:
812:
803:
801:
799:
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1133:
1131:
424:. However, he was not as lucky in the 1st
388:
485:, who formed the highest class of Bernese
194:(or Mayors) to serve in the city of Bern.
107:The Erlach family is first mentioned as a
27:
1017:
794:
143:led the victorious Bernese forces at the
1128:
599:and organize a resistance. However, at
558:
536:
504:
472:
392:
331:
244:
236:
98:
88:
631:The family in the 20th and 21st century
85:From landless knights to mayors of Bern
1247:
103:The Rudolf von Erlach memorial in Bern
232:
1238:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1197:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1161:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1122:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1086:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1050:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
1011:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
975:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
939:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
903:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
867:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
831:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
788:Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
673:
13:
639:
381:from 1604 until 1610. He was the
14:
1281:
1207:
373:of Bern. He was a member of the
309:. In 1513 he led an army toward
293:in 1511 and in 1512 met with the
1167:
745:Hieronymus von Erlach 1667–1748
712:Bestände zur Familie von Erlach
697:(1343–20 Jh.), Zweig Hindelbank
541:Tablet on the Grauholz memorial
1063:Erlach, Albrecht Friedrich von
1056:
981:
945:
909:
873:
837:
758:
533:French invasion of Switzerland
385:in Bern from 1629 until 1651.
1:
751:
717:
439:War of the Spanish Succession
690:(1369–1825), Zweig Gerzensee
469:The family spreads and grows
7:
449:. Two years later Emperor
119:. Initially they were the
10:
1286:
554:Frédéric-César de La Harpe
547:French Revolutionary Army
497:and in its place had the
422:Swiss peasant war of 1653
57:
49:
35:
26:
21:
1270:Swiss military personnel
952:Erlach, Johann Jakob von
916:Erlach, Franz Ludwig von
723:Hans Ulrich von Erlach:
612:hold high and low courts
579:but were driven back to
389:Foreign military service
16:Bernese patrician family
1138:Erlach, Karl Ludwig von
483:wohledelfesten families
1027:Erlach, Hieronymus von
664:"Sigismund von Erlach"
591:, the entrance to the
573:Karl Ludwig von Erlach
564:
563:Karl Ludwig von Erlach
550:swept into Switzerland
542:
510:
478:
465:from 1721 until 1746.
453:gave him the title of
414:Bernard of Saxe-Weimar
398:
339:
315:Protestant Reformation
272:Oberhofen am Thunersee
260:
242:
217:in 1476. During the
104:
96:
1213: Hans Braun:
727:, Benteli, Bern 1989.
708:Burgerbibliothek Bern
577:Battle of Fraubrunnen
562:
540:
509:Erlacherhof courtyard
508:
476:
397:Hieronymus von Erlach
396:
335:
327:Second Wars of Kappel
301:and then traveled to
248:
240:
102:
92:
1265:Swiss noble families
445:made Hieronymus his
426:Battle of Villmergen
988:Erlach, Sigmund von
700:Staatsarchiv Bern,
693:Staatsarchiv Bern,
686:Staatsarchiv Bern,
679:Staatsarchiv Bern,
650:Swiss Confederation
545:In March 1798, the
287:Swiss Confederation
174:, Wyl (now part of
1174:Erlach, Rudolf von
880:Erlach, Johann von
844:Erlach, Rudolf von
765:Erlach, Rudolf von
660:Sigmund von Erlach
565:
543:
511:
479:
399:
340:
261:
243:
233:The family divides
225:region and in the
157:Reichenbach Castle
105:
97:
695:FA von Erlach III
674:Archive resources
646:Rudolf von Erlach
608:Helvetic Republic
403:Swiss mercenaries
305:to meet with the
227:Battle of Dornach
141:Rudolf von Erlach
67:
66:
1277:
1260:Families of Bern
1233:
1227:
1221:
1201:
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1180:
1171:
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1156:
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1144:
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862:
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820:
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792:
783:
777:
771:
762:
702:FA von Erlach IV
688:FA von Erlach II
654:Battle of Laupen
625:Act of Mediation
597:Bernese Oberland
145:Battle of Laupen
137:Conrad Justinger
31:
19:
18:
1285:
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1099:French Invasion
1097:
1093:
1061:
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1025:
1018:
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950:
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914:
910:
878:
874:
842:
838:
806:
795:
763:
759:
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743:Ernst Troesch:
720:
681:FA von Erlach I
676:
642:
640:Notable members
633:
535:
495:Bubenberghäuser
491:Bubenberghäuser
471:
391:
360:Bubenberghäuser
352:Bubenberghäuser
235:
215:Burgundian Wars
127:in the town of
87:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1283:
1273:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1243:
1242:
1235:in the online
1209:
1208:External links
1206:
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1202:
1194:in the online
1166:
1158:in the online
1127:
1119:in the online
1091:
1083:in the online
1055:
1047:in the online
1016:
1008:in the online
980:
972:in the online
944:
936:in the online
908:
900:in the online
872:
864:in the online
836:
828:in the online
793:
785:in the online
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728:
719:
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652:forces at the
641:
638:
632:
629:
616:Zwing und Bann
593:UntertorbrĂĽcke
534:
531:
470:
467:
459:Imperial Count
390:
387:
234:
231:
176:MĂĽnchenbuchsee
86:
83:
65:
64:
59:
55:
54:
51:
47:
46:
37:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1271:
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1255:Erlach family
1253:
1252:
1250:
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1211:
1199:
1198:
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523:Saxony-Anhalt
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320:
317:and when the
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296:
295:Duke of Savoy
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192:Schultheissen
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138:
134:
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125:Erlach Castle
122:
118:
114:
110:
109:ministerialis
101:
95:
94:Erlach Castle
91:
82:
79:
76:
72:
71:Erlach family
63:
60:
56:
52:
48:
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25:
20:
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731:
724:
663:
634:
621:Stecklikrieg
605:
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417:
411:
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367:Franz Ludwig
364:
359:
356:Junkerngasse
351:
346:and town of
341:
337:Spiez Castle
284:
265:
262:
254:Junkerngasse
202:
196:
165:
106:
70:
68:
1215:Erlach, von
683:(1234–1990)
585:Schosshalde
516:Schultheiss
499:Erlacherhof
463:Schultheiss
447:chamberlain
431:Schultheiss
418:Grosser Rat
407:Catholicism
383:Schultheiss
371:Schultheiss
250:Erlacherhof
219:Swabian War
213:during the
53:Before 1299
44:Switzerland
1249:Categories
808:von Erlach
752:References
718:Literature
589:Felsenburg
455:Reichsgraf
451:Charles VI
180:Riggisberg
172:Jegenstorf
168:Hindelbank
161:Zollikofen
153:Jegenstorf
139:, in 1339
121:castellans
62:Reichsgraf
601:Wichtrach
569:oligarchs
525:and then
487:patrician
291:Neuchâtel
188:patrician
133:Lake Biel
78:patrician
581:Grauholz
443:Joseph I
379:Burgdorf
375:Grossrat
350:and the
319:Oberland
207:Grandson
203:Kleinrat
149:Fribourg
1232:Italian
1191:Italian
1155:Italian
1116:Italian
1080:Italian
1044:Italian
1005:Italian
969:Italian
933:Italian
897:Italian
861:Italian
825:Italian
782:Italian
527:Prussia
280:Kasteln
268:BĂĽmpliz
184:BĂĽmpliz
75:Bernese
50:Founded
36:Country
1226:French
1220:German
1185:French
1179:German
1149:French
1143:German
1110:French
1104:German
1074:French
1068:German
1038:French
1032:German
999:French
993:German
963:French
957:German
927:French
921:German
891:French
885:German
855:French
849:German
819:French
813:German
776:French
770:German
344:castle
299:Geneva
276:Kiesen
211:Murten
199:Rudolf
129:Erlach
113:Counts
73:was a
58:Titles
22:Erlach
348:Spiez
323:First
311:Dijon
303:Milan
223:Hegau
117:Nidau
1229:and
1217:in
1188:and
1176:in
1152:and
1140:in
1113:and
1101:in
1077:and
1065:in
1041:and
1029:in
1002:and
990:in
966:and
954:in
930:and
918:in
894:and
882:in
858:and
846:in
822:and
810:in
779:and
767:in
587:and
325:and
307:Pope
278:and
258:Bern
209:and
182:and
159:(in
155:and
69:The
40:Bern
614:or
457:or
354:on
297:in
289:to
256:in
252:on
178:),
163:).
131:on
123:in
115:of
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