– MERENBERG –

The lords of Merenberg emerge early in the twelfth century and become extinct in 1328 at the death of Hartrad VI. A comital title was employed by Hartrad II (1189), Hartrad III (1209, 1215) and Hartrad IV (1228). It became dormant after the Merenberg seigneury passed to a younger branch descending from Hartrad IV’s uncle. Although the Merenbergs inherited Gleiberg castle, their comital title stemmed not from Gleiberg county but from the county of the Gisonen with seat of justice at Ruchesloh. The archbishop of Mainz purchased most of the rights to jurisdiction in Ruchesloh from the brothers Konrad and Widukind of Merenberg in 1237.

The Ruchesloh county is best conceived as an easterly extension of the pagus of Upper Lahngau and a southerly extension of the pagus of Hessengau. Its geographical configuration and degree of integration are matters for speculation. The patterns of its historical formation are difficult to ascertain, but the turmoil of the early eleventh century – especially the disputed royal election of 1002 and the Hammerstein marriage controversy of 1016-1024 – left their imprint on Hessen in general and perhaps this region in particular.

Irmingard, wife of Hartrad II (fl. 1129-63), was undoubtedly the heiress, and she should affiliate as a daugher of Giso IV. Given that Giso III can be inferred as marrying a grandaughter of the Ezzoner Liudolf and Mathilde of Hammerstein, the name Irmingard had no difficulty passing into the house of Hollende by that time. Above all, the name Giso appears in Irmingard’s younger son. The relationship thus existed at that time, and to explain the comital inheritance it should be regarded as a very close relationship. The only significant issue is the fit of the generations – is Irmingard more accurately affiliated as daughter of Giso V?

SHIELD

The preserved Merenberg arms are for the younger line, and it is uncertain whether they reflect any part of the arms of the Gisonen. They appear not to have anything in common with the Gleiberg-Rheineck-Salm family of shields.

Merenberg: sable, sautoir d’or, crusillé

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sources: – see May, “Grafschaft an der mittleren Lahn.”

Literature: – Jackman, Criticism. – Jackman, “Hessian Heirs.” – May, “Grafschaft an der mittleren Lahn.” – May, K. H. Territorialgeschichte des Oberlahnkreises (Weilburg). Schriften des Instituts für geschichtliche Landeskunde von Hessen und Nassau 18. Marburg, 1939. – Metz, W. “Studien zur Grafschaftsverfassung Althessens im Mittelalter. Ein Beitrag zur Frage der Freigrafschaften.” Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte, Germanistische Abteilung, 71 (1954) 167-208.

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