The era of the Counts of Lynar in Lübbenau: From the fortress builders to the resistance

The profound historical development of the important noble families in the scenic Lower Lusatia always reflects the great and drastic upheavals in the entire history of Europe. The possession of Lübbenau Castle by the zu Lynar family covers a period of several centuries and ranges from the religious conflicts of the early modern period tothe darkest chapters of the 20th century. In 2021, the noble family celebrated the 400th anniversary of belonging to this place. This long era is characterized by the work of 2 outstanding personalities, who could not be more different, but both significantly influenced the fate of the region. Looking at these biographies reveals the shift frommilitary and architectural creations of the Renaissance to a tragic fate in resistance to a criminal dictatorship.

The beginnings of the dynasty and the rise to fortress builder

Rochus Quirinus is considered the progenitor of the German line of this noble family. He was born in Florence in 1525 and died in 1596. In his early youth, he served as a page at the court of Duke Alexander. From 1540, he assumed the function of chamberlain to the Dauphin of France, who later ascended the French throne as Henry 2.he drew the French crown into various military conflicts and subsequently changed his employer on the European continent several times.

Escape from religious persecution and military career in Germany

As a diplomatic envoy, he worked in the highest circles of the European princely houses. With the outbreak of the Huguenot wars, he was forced to move to Germany due to his Protestant faith. Subsequently, he provided services for the Electorate of Palatinate, the Electorate of Saxony and finally for Brandenburg. Already during his time in Francehe had worked intensively on the construction of fortifications. Among his early works was the design of the citadel in the French city of Metz.

The legacy in Berlin and the acquisition of the Lübbenau dominion

He later completed the fortress complex in Spandau on behalf of the Brandenburg Elector. The expansion of the Berlin Palace was also carried out under his technical supervision. After his death, the important master builder found his final resting place in the crypt of Berlin’s Nikolaikirche. His memory is preserved today by a bust, which is located near the entrance to LübbenauCastle district. However, the actual acquisition of the domicile here was only made by his descendants.

The assumption of professional domination and economic challenges

His son’s wife, Elisabeth, acquired the property in 1621, laying the foundation for the family’s ongoing connection to this place to this day. This purchase marked the beginning of a new era for the rural region in the heart of the Spreewald and ensured the survival of the historical ensemble. Wilhelm took over the management of the ancestral lands in 1928. Hehad been born in 1899 and soon faced massive financial difficulties. For this reason, he did not live in the historic walls permanently, but moved his residence in 1930 to the family estate in the nearby lake.

Political orientation and growing resistance to the regime

This place fell victim to the Seese-West opencast lignite mine in the 1950s and was completely demolished. In order to make the historical substance in Lübbenau accessible to the public, the family set up a small museum in 1932. The exhibits on display included family portraits, historical documents, and valuable heirlooms. Politically, the new owner representedconservative views and had joined the nationally oriented organisation Stahlhelm after the First World War. Nevertheless, he looked with growing skepticism at the emerging National Socialist movement.

Arrest, Execution and Return of the Family

During World War II, he served as adjutant to Field Marshal Erwin von Witzleben. In this capacity, he was initiated into the secret plans of the conspirators of July 20, 1944. He willingly made his estate in Seese available as a meeting place for the resistance fighters around Count von Stauffenberg. After the failure of the assassination attempt, he was assassinated by Witzleben in Seese by theThe dictatorship’s judiciary convicted him of treason, and on September 29, 1944, he was murdered at the Plötzensee execution site.

The surviving wife and 6 children were subsequently expropriated before the castle was returned to the family in 1991. The fate of these two men thus encompasses thethe entire arc from the architectural construction in the 16th century to the sacrificial procession in the struggle for freedom in the 20th century. Her biographies remind us today to constantly reappreciate the importance of historical building fabric and human spirit of resistance. The history of the Counts of Lynar thus remains a firmly anchored part of the cultural memory of the entire region.