Thienen

'Thienen' is the name of an ancient noble family, that origins in the Duchy of Holstein. The spelling of the name, over the centuries has changed from Tyne and Tynen to Thien, Tienen, Thinen and finally Thienen. The 'barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht' are the only still existing branch of this family, they belong to the high nobility of Denmark.

In his 1670 published work "Insignia et tabula Genealogica dominorum a Thinen" the genealogist Johann Daniel Eberus describes that the family of Thienen was expelled from Holstein in the beginning of the 9th Century by Charlemagne. As a consequence, the family fled to Brabant (today's Belgium) and there founded the city Thienen or Tienen (French: Tirlemont). However, at least one branch of the family returned around 1000 AD and stayed in Dithmarschen until 1280, when they were expelled again. Some members of the family fought against the people of Dithmarschen as knights in 1289, 1322 and 1404.

The first completely provable documentation of the family is the Knight Heneke of Thienen, born in 1270, in 1314. The barons of Thienen-Adlerflycht are among the nine extant Equites Originarii, the ancient noble families (Uradel) of Schleswig-Holstein.

Today´s head of the family is Dr Franz baron of Thienen-Adlerflycht (born 1957).

Various castles and manor houses were built by the Thienen family over the last centuries, the following two are from special cultural importance.

The former moated castle Wahlstorf was built in the 15th century by Detlev of Thienen and his son Claus. It is one of the oldest still existing manor houses of Schleswig-Holstein. After more than 320 years in family ownership, in 1788 the Plessen family inherited it.

The castle of Güldenstein has been built in 1726 by Heinrich of Thienen. The moated castle is located on an oval island, it is well known as a main example of baroque architecture in Schleswig-Holstein. It is owned by the dukes of Oldenburg since 1839.

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Wikipedia