Mannus Riedesel

Mannus Riedesel (1662–1726) was a master builder in the early 18th century in the Counties of Wittgenstein and surrounding areas, now part of the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Federal Republic of Germany. At least ten structures that he built are known to exist, and are regarded as jewels of "half-timbered" Fachwerk construction."

Riedesel was born June 6, 1662 at the hamlet of Melbach/Balde to Heyrich and Gerthrut (Dickel) Riedesel, the first of at least five children. He was christened Johann Mannus, though he is generally known as Mannus. Even so, he signed himself as "Hermannus" on occasion and (like most of the world) even spelled Riedesel in various fashions. He married for the first time in 1687 to Anna Ursula Spies with whom he had at least two children. Following her death, he married again to Anna Katherine Grund in 1693, and they had three known children. His death is recorded at the Melbach on November 4, 1726.

He was literate and well-traveled, but nevertheless a subject of the Counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein. The argument has been made that he was descended from a line of the Riedesel zu Josbach, a once knightly family in Hesse and Westfalen. More recently, a relationship to the ruling family of Sayn-Wittgenstein through his mother's side has been hypothesized. This would be consistent with his seemingly high status and literacy.

Riedesel used a variety of figures, but favored grapes and grapevines as symbols of fertility. Both human- and gargoyle-like faces adorn various structures. They are carved in the wood, as were inscriptions. The name of Mannus Riedesel appears on some, but not all, of his surviving buildings and in a variety of spellings. Today, the inscriptions and other ornamentation are brightly painted.

Perhaps the best known of Riedesel's work is a large, two-winged house in Bad Berleburg. According to an inscription, the older gabled wing was built by Mannus Riedesel in 1707. The newer wing was built in 1724. Graf Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein ruled the County of Wittgenstein-Berleburg from 1712 to his death in 1741. Under the regency of his mother, Casimir initiated construction of the Ludwigsburg as a residence for his younger brother, Ludwig Francis (1694–1750). The main door to the original house features an angel's head, which in the local folklore is said to represent the young Ludwig. Their mother, Gräfin Hedwig Sophie, moved her residence to the Ludwigsburg in 1725. Later descendants of what was called the line of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg became officers in service of the Russian czar, and the house eventually passed out of the family. It is now a private residence and not open to sight-seeing.

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