page_title: House of Asseburg
section_title: Later history
hierarchical_section_title: House of Asseburg / History / Later history
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Burg Falkenstein im Harz English: Falkenstein Castle in the Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
context_page_description: Asseburg, original German name von der Asseburg, is an old Lower Saxon aristocratic family which had its origin in Wolfenbüttel and Asseburg. During the 12th and 13th centuries the lords of Wolfenbüttel were able to establish their own small county, but were soon forced to give way to the Brunswick dukes of the House of Welf. Later their title was taken over by other families in the female line, and the counts of Asseburg continue to be landowners to this day.
context_section_description: From the mid 13th century on, two branches of the Asseburg family emerged: an elder Eastphalian-Thuringian branch and a younger Westphalian branch. The former had its initial seat at Moringen Castle, later also at Ampfurth near Oschersleben. In 1437, Falkenstein Castle in the Lower Harz was acquired as an enfeoffment of the bishops of Halberstadt. In 1509, Wallhausen was also acquired, initially as an enfeoffment of the County of Mansfeld, later of the Electorate of Saxony. Meisdorf House near Falkenstein later became the permanent residence of the branch, while Falkenstein Castle was used for hunting parties. 
  The Westphalian branch inherited Hinnenburg Castle near Brakel from the lords of Brakel in the late 13th century. They bore the title Baron (Freiherr) under customary law. The medieval castle was reconstructed around 1600 in the Weser Renaissance style. This younger (catholic) branch died out in the 16th century with its property inherited by the elder (protestant) branch. During the 17th century, a new Westphalian line emerged from it, becoming catholic again, of which William Anton of Asseburg (1707–1782) was the most notable member. Between 1763 and 1782 he ruled as Prince-Bishop of Paderborn. Shortly later, this new Westphalian line died out, too. The name was perpetuated, however, by the marriage in 1793 of its heiress to a Lord of Bocholtz (originally from Bocholt near Lobberich) who, in 1803, was created count of Bocholtz-Asseburg. 
  The Eastphalian-Thuringian (Lutheran) branch of Ampfurth-Falkenstein was granted the primogeniture title count of Asseburg-Falkenstein in 1840. Its last male offspring, Friedrich (1861–1940), left his estate to his eldest daughter, Oda (1888–1928), who married count Leonhard von Rothkirch-Trach of an old Silesian family. Their son Lothar (1914–1984) took on the name count von der Asseburg-Falkenstein-Rothkirch. In 1945 Falkenstein Castle, Wallhausen Castle and Meisdorf House were seized and expropriated in the Soviet occupation zone. Lothar's son Friedrich (1952–2013) however was adopted in 1959 by the last count of Bocholtz-Asseburg, Busso (1909–1985). He became catholic and inherited Hinnenburg Castle (among others) and the vast forest property of the Westphalian line. He was succeeded by his only son Louis, count von der Asseburg-Rothkirch (b. 2003).
caption: Falkenstein Castle (Harz)
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