Melchior of Doberschütz

Melchior of Doberschütz
Noble family	von Doberschütz
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth of Doberschütz Anna of Löben
Father	Andreas von Doberschütz

Melchior of Doberschütz (also spelled Dobschütz), mentioned from 1572 to 1600, was a member of the Silesian noble family of Doberschütz and was a city captain of Neustettin (Szczecinek) in the Duchy of Pomerania and a landlord holding vast possessions in Pomerania and Brandenburg. His wife, Elizabeth of Doberschütz, was accused of witchcraft for political reasons, and ultimately to hurt him, and was executed in 1591 in Stettin (Szczecin).

Doberschütz was one of at least five sons of Andreas of Doberschütz (died 1572), landlord of a portion of Plau (1530–1565) in the Landkreis Crossen () in Brandenburg. Around the year 1575 Doberschütz was the owner of a small unprofitable portion of the family estate of Plau. The estate had splintered into many small fragments, due to being subdivided each time a Lord died leaving multiple sons. He had to look for other income opportunities and went into the service of the Duke of Pomerania.

Initially, Doberschütz served as ducal Hunt Master at Ihnaburg (today part of Goleniów) in Altdamm (Dąbie) County, because of his excellent hunting skills. Later, he was city captain of Neustettin. On 26 July 1579, he received the field mark Zamborst (Samborsko) from Duke John Frederick as a fief, under the condition that he would build a village in the area. During these years, Doberschütz had acquired the favor of his Duke, who had been married with the Princess Erdmuthe of Brandenburg since 1577. His appointment aroused the envy of some courtiers, especially the then powerful favorite of the Peter von Kameke. It was said that Peter von Kameke and Jakob von Kleist began the intrigues and slanders about Doberschütz's wife Elizabeth being a witch, to push Doberschütz out of office. They succeeded and in 1584, von Kleist succeeded Doberschütz as city captain of Szczecinek.

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