The house of Limburg Hohenlimburg (later Limburg-Hohenlimburg-Broich) took its name in the 12th century from the county of Limburg on the river Lenne in today's Germany. After Diederick of Isenberg had claimed part of the former property of his father Frederik of Isenberg with the help of uncle Duke Hendrik of Limburg, he built the Hohenlimburg castle on the river Lenne. At fifty years of age, his third son Everhart, closest descendant of the original holder, succeeded him in the county. Mentioned count, in original kept charters, since 1276 together with his father. It was clear that the future male-line primogeniture was granted. Everhard is the ancestor of the family branch of the counts of Limburg Hohenlimburg and Broich. His first brother Henry (1241 -1243) died young and second Johan (1247–1277), died at the age of thirty, left three children. Johan is the ancestor of the house Lords of Limburg Stirum. The Counts of Limburg Hohenlimburg and Broich were not count by name with a late 17th century certified title but actually ruled the county of Limburg-Lenne since the 13th century, until the first quarter of the 16th century. The last count Johan (1464–1511) who had no descendants of his own. None of his only two male relatives, cousins Diederick and Adolf of Limburg, sons of his former godfather Johan of Limburg (1421–1472), had inheritance rights, as explained below. To prevent the family of his former wife Von Neuenahr from taking the county, Count Johan adopted his cousin Irmgard of Sayn at her marriage to Winrich of Daun. She and her husband inherited the county.

Position in Early Middle Ages

The former counts of Limburg were a branch of the House of Berg, which was among the most powerful dynasties in the region of the lower Rhine during the Early Middle Ages. Historians by name among others Oedinger, Lewald, Kimpen, Rudiger link this House to "Hermann II(I) Pusillius (945–996)" heir of an even older dynasty, the Ezzonen, going back to the 9th century.Lewald, U.(1979) Since the 9th century, the house of Limburg Hohenlimburg counted five Counts Palatine of Lothringia, several Dukes of Westphalia, Bavaria, Carinthia and Swabia, seven Archbishops of Cologne, one Prince-Bishop of Speyer, more than ten bishops in the Holy Roman Empire, and at least two saints of the Catholic Church. The territorial authority of the family, (counts of Berg since 1077), next counts of Altena and Isenberg and then since 1246 counts of Limburg, was significantly reduced following the opposition of Frederick II, count of Isenberg to the aggression of his cousin, the Archbishop of Cologne, Engelbert II of Berg. Leading to the murder of the latter. The other branch, the counts of the Marck, later rose in importance as dukes of Cleves, Jülich and Berg, dukes of Nevers and Bouillon, counts of Schleiden, etc.

The Ezzonian Dynasty

The Ezzonen appear in the chronicles with Erenfried I.(866–904), count of the Bliesgau, Keldachgau and Bonngau. Erenfried I. married Adelgunde daughter of Konrad II of Burgondy and Jutta of Friaul. He had Carolingian ancestors along the female line since Jutta von Friaul was the daughter of Gisela (820–874) sister of king Charles the Bold. The Ezzonian dynasty (named after Count Palatine Ezzo) were the Counts Palatine of Lotharingia during the 10th and 11th centuries.Hohenlimburger Heimatblätter. (1998-2004) They were important in governance of the region of the Middle and Lower Rhine. In spite of their military accomplishments in favour of the German emperors, the Ezzonians did not succeed in building a territorial entity in Lotharingia.Steinbach, F.(1964) During a limited period, they were, however, assigned the duchies of Swabia, Bavaria and Carinthia. Eberhart I. Propinqus of king Hendrik I, was count of the Keldacha and Bonngau. Mentioned in charters 904–937. As son of Erenfried I, he followed his father and married a daughter of Herman II count of the Wertigau, among others "Vogt of the Abby of Werden". (The later Count Frederik of Isenberg, who dies in 1226, inherited part of this guardianship of the abbey of Werden and of the abbey of Essen). Erenfried II., the second son of Eberhard I, called after his grandfather, was count of the Zulpichau, Bonngau, Keldachau, Tubalgau and Ruhrgau. Mentioned in charters 942–972. He married Richwarda of Burgondy and Tenois.Bauer, T. (2000) Their son Hermann II followed.

The Keldachgau Hermann II, also known as Pusillus, Count Palatine of Lothringen, was count of the Auelgau, Bonngau, Keldacha and Zulpichgau. He fought in the battle of Lechfeld 955. Pusilus, married around 985 for the second time N.N. and died 16 July 996.Uhlirz, M. (1954) Two sons are known from that marriage, Herman (III), Count of Keldachgau and Adolf I, defensor Tuitiensis guardian of Deutz.Oediger, F.W. (1954) Both mentioned in charters between 1003 and 1041. Adolf I, fifth and youngest son of Herman II was also mentioned Advocadus. On the river Duhn, in the middle of the former Ezzoner Keldachgau, about 30 km east of Cologne, Adolf built castle Berg near today's Altenberg. He was the youngest (half-brother) of Ezzo, founder of Brauweiler Abbey, who was brother-in-law of Emperor Otto III, married to Mathilde. She was brought up by her older niece Abbess of the monastery of Essen, who also named Mathilde . The famous Mathilde cross, kept in the Abbey Essen, is a reminder of her. Adolf in turn was a brother-in-law of the youngest Mathilde, Abbess of Essen. The Ezzoner Adolf I is the direct ancestor of the later Counts and Dukes of Berg. He was followed by his son Adolf II mentioned in charters in 1041, count in the Keldagau en Bruckterau.Oediger, F.W.(1954) Married a daughter of count Heinrich II of Westphalia and died approx. 1091. Their son Adolf III called himself Count of Monte (Berg)Seibertz, J.(1839) He is known as Adolf I of Berg, mentioned in charters 1077–1082 Vogt in Gerresheim, Werden, Deutz and Berg.Oediger, F.W. (1954) He married a daughter of count Dietrich I of Cleve and died approx 1082. With him the house of Berg starts.

Counts of Berg

Adolf I of Berg(Huvili), count in the Auelgau from 1082 till 1093. He married in 1035 Adelheid von Laufen, heiress of Hövel, Unna, Telgte, Warendorf, etc.Melchers, B.(1911) He founded the Altenberg monastery. Adolf III of Berg, called Puer (1093 till 1132) married N. von Spannheim. Their son, Eberhard of Berg, 1st Abbot of Georgenthal, convinced his brother Adolf IV of Berg-Altena to donate the Altenberg monastery to the Cistercian Order. His youngest son, Bruno II, Archbishop of Cologne, died in 1137 in Apulia on campaign with King Lothar of Germany against Roger II of Sicily. The Abbey of Altenberg became the main resting place of the counts and dukes of Van Berg, located in the middle of Keldachgau, the former Ezzoners gau in the 10th century, to the right of the Rhine east of Bonn, Cologne, Duisburg. On either side of the river Wupper. South of the river Ruhr and north of the river Sieg. The Ezzoner origin of the house of Berg corresponds with the location of their counties and the fact that descendants from the house of Berg, in the 11th up to 13th century occupies important positions. Archbishops of Cologne, Trier, bishops of Munster and Osnabruck, Abbis and Abbot of Abbeys and the counts were the keepers of guardianship Essen and WerdenStehkamper, H. (1961) on the river Ruhr. Adolf IV of Berg-Altena (1132 until 1160) count of Altena. He married twice, Adelheid von Arnsberg and later on Irmgrad von Wasserburg daughter of Engelbert of Schwarzenberg. Adolf built the Schloss Altena. He joined in 1160 the monastery in Altenberg. He is father of crusader (Adolf V, killed in Damascus in 1108). Stamvader van two Archbishops of Cologne, a Duke of Westfalia and four Prince Bishops of Munster and Osnabrück. Oldest son Adolf V died and his next sons Engelbert I and Eberhard I of Berg followed. Adolf V of Berg(1189 till 1218), he took part in 1212 to the Crusade against the Albigensian. He died in 1218 in combat as commander of the troops in Damiette, in the delta of the Nile, with the Fifth Crusade. He left no son and Berg passed under the regency of his brother Engelbert I. to his daughter Irmgard. Engelbert I of Berg(1160 till 1189) married Margaretha of Gelre. He brought stability and prosperity to the county. In July 1189 he was killed on his way to the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. Their son Engelbert II of Berg, Archbishop of Cologne, Regent of Berg from 1218 till 1225, is better known as Saint Engelbert of Cologne.Wisplinghoff, E. (1961) He was killed by companions of his cousin Frederick of Isenberg (see below).Irmgard was the next heiress of Berg until 1248, married to Henry IV Duke of Limburg since then he also was Count of Berg.

Counts of Berg - Altena

The younger brother of count Engelbert I of Berg, Eberhard I, Count of Berg-Altena was also known as Eberhard I of Altena. He inherited the eastern territory of county of Berg and took residence at the castle of Altena. He was married to Alvaris of Arnsberg and was the younger brother of Count Engelbert I. of Berg. From 1166 he is the ancestor of the branch Altena. Their sons Arnold and Frederick, with the agreement of their brother Adolf Archbishop of Cologne, shared their father's territory. Arnold I of Altena-Isenberg ancestor of the Counts Altena Isenberg,Van Limburg H. [German] In: Hohenlimburger Heimatblätter. Oktober 2024 Jahrgang 85. Leserbriefe. Heft 10/2024, S. 356–360 inherited the north-western territory of Altena (on the river Ruhr, nearby Hattingen) in 1200. He founded the line of the counts of Isenberg followed by the counts of Limburg (see below).Aders, G.(1956) Frederik I of Altena-Mark the youngest, inherited the south-eastern territory of Altena, and founded of the line of the Marck, from which descend the dukes of Cleves, Jülich and Berg, the dukes of Nevers and Bouillon, the counts of Schleiden, etc.

Counts of Altena - Isenberg

Frederick, Count of Altena Isenberg. He completed the castle of Isenberg on top of the mountain Isenberg. A conflict arose with his uncle Archbishop of Cologne, Engelbert II of Berg about the management of the monastic property when he wanted to expropriate his guardianship.Bleicher, W.(1977–1993) On his way back from the town of Soest (located to the east of Dortmund) where uncle and nephew had negotiated in vain, to Cologne, Frederik raided his uncle Engelbert nearby Gevelsberg. In happened in the late afternoon of the 7th of November 1225, with the help of allies who also had serious grievances against the Archbishop's practices. The intention was to kidnap him as a hostage to castle Isenberg. A means of breaking a deadlock over disputed rights more often tried at that time. Accepted as long as it was a success. But in this case ended in tragedy. Archbishop Engelbert was unluckily killed. This event was of far-reaching significance to German history. Frederik fled and found temporary protection with an ally, count Otto of Tecklenburg.Wisplinghoff, E.(1961) Frederick of Isenberg was outlawed and excommunicated. He was stripped of all offices and stewardships and his personal wealth was confiscated. In the winter of 1225/1226 the new Archbishop of Cologne, Heinrich von Müllenark, besieged and destroyed his castle Isenberg. (At present the ruin is a national monument). His cousin, Adolf von der Mark, was attributed large portions of Frederick's possessions. Frederik's wife, duchess Sofie of Limburg, found shelter at the castle of Limburg (Veste), where her brother duc Hendrik of Limburg received her with the children. Sofia would die a year later with her youngest child. Traumatized after supporting her husband in Cologne during the brutal execution.