Finck von Finckenstein

Finck von Finckenstein
Details
Battle cry	Sub Utraque Duce
Alternative names	Interpretation: Under one leadership (represented by the star) should the family always stay together in good times and in bad times (represented by the rising and setting half moons)
Earliest mention	in the Levant long before the Third Crusade in 1189; as a trophy brought to Germany
Towns	Acre in the Levant, Deutsch-Eylau and Finckenstein in East Prussia
Families	Finck von Finckenstein

Finck von Finckenstein is a noble family classified as Uradel (German for 'ancient nobility'). It is one of the oldest Prussian aristocratic families extant, dating back to the 12th century in the Duchy of Carinthia.

According to the Prussian State Archive Königsberg, the first representative of the family appeared authentically with one 'Niche of Roghusen' in 1388 in Roggenhausen in the State of the Teutonic Order. However, his allocation is uncertain; under its current name, the house appears authentically in 1451 with 'Michael Fincke' who calls himself 'Finck von Roggenhausen' in 1474. The family was raised to Imperial Counts (Reichsgrafen) and Counts (Grafen) in Prussia as 'Finck von Finckenstein' in 1710.

The Finck von Finckenstein's Imperial Count Diploma of 1710 determines as the cradle of the house of Finck von Finckenstein the today dilapidated Finkenstein Castle ruin in Carinthia. Hereafter the house appears for the first time 1143 with Gotwold von Finkenstein, Master of Finkenstein in Carinthia.

The Carinthian branch of the Finckensteins died in the 14th century, a junior branch, however, joined the Order of St John and after possibly participating in the Third Crusade conquered Old Prussia and Christianised the Old Prussians. According to the Imperial Count Diploma Konrad Finck von Finckenstein came during the Prussian Crusade in the 13th century with his 100 knights of the Order of St John in its drive to conquer Old Prussia alongside the Teutonic Knights.

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Wikipedia