European Family History Trip: Day 13 – Tiengen Castle Museum

Sunday, October 20, 2024 – Tiengen Castle Museum, Germany, Rheinau, Switzerland and Zurich Switzerland

We went to church in Schaffhausen, Germany. Dave served 4 months as a missionary there when he was a young man. When he mentioned this to the people who greeted us, the Branch President asked him to speak for a few minutes. He talked about our experiences in researching our family history and used Malachi 4:5-6 as the basis for his comments:

Von Sulz Family at Tiengener Schloss (Castle) Museum

We went from church to the Tiengener Schloss (aka Castle) Museum where my possible Von Sulz 16th great grandmother who married Niklaus Lafenter (or Lafender) would have lived. The von Sulz family were originally from Lichtenstein and most likely royalty there.

They migrated to Rheinau, Switzerland. From there the Kloster at Rheinau authorized them to rule in Tiengener Schloss (aka castle). The town is now called Tiengen-Waldshut, Germany, but it was just Tienegen at the time, and there was no Germany in the 1400’s.

Tiengen was a fiefdom ruled by the von Sultz family from 1429 starting with Hermann von Sulz or possibly his son Rudolf. The von Sulz have been there since that time. The last von Sulz died within the last few years. Now the town of Tiengen owns the castle. The castle and the associated museum are closed this time of year, but Dave arranged for us to have a private tour. (Isn’t he awesome?!)

Von Sulz Coat of Arms

There is a guild that has kept the records of the von Sulz family and Tiengener Schloss over the years. The man who is currently the keeper of the records gave us the private tour. I showed him my genealogy. He was incredibly impressed and said it was a miracle that I was there and could trace my family back to the von Sulz. He even told me that I would be authorized to use the von Sulz shield.

The basic Von Sulz Shield

Von Sulz Coat of Arms on the wall in the Castle

The von Sulz shield in different places in the castle.

Did Niklaus Lafenter Marry a von Sulz?

The historian showed me the pedigree chart for the ruling lines of the von Sulz. The interesting thing is it only shows one son for Hermann von Sulz. His name was Rudolf III, and the museum had Rudolf III’s family tree on the wall. The three daughters that Rudolf III had do not qualify as potential wives for Niklaus Lafenter (note that later descendants will be called Lavater). One of Rudolf III’s daughters was a Mother Superior (aka nun), another had two sons who both died in infancy, and the third was married to another man.

On MyHeritage, some people list Niklaus Lafenter as a son of Hermann von Sulz, as if he were the Von Sulz and not his wife. But, the historian told us that no von Sulz would give up his title and simply go by Lafenter and an illegitimate child would not have the von Sulz name/title.

Also, there is no Niklaus on the pedigree charts at the museum. I’ve since found a daughter named Anna von Sulz (Born 1440) for Hermann von Sulz and Margarete von Hohenberg. Anna von Sulz married before January 8, 1407 to Friedrich XII of Hohenzollern ca 1387-1443. Since my Niklaus Lafenter had a son named Niklaus in 1416, this woman doesn’t work as the woman I’m looking for.

The female von Sulz I’m looking for could have been born somewhere between 1380-1403 – depending upon if she married at an older age or a very young age. She had a child (Niklaus Lafenter) II in about 1416 in Rheinau.

This leaves me with the only possibility I can think of — that Hermann had a daughter not listed on any pedigree chart because she didn’t marry royalty. Or, it’s possible that the von Sulz who married Niklaus Lafenter was Hermann’s sister or some other relative who is unknown because she did not marry into a royal line. I am yet to find any proof that Niklaus Lafenter even married a von Sulz. It’s just on some family trees with no source documents listed.

Someone on Geneanet has a note on Niklaus Lafenter that “he was one of nine judges who handled a dispute between the von Sulz and “On 03.05.1446 he was one of the 9 judges in a dispute between the Count of Sulz and Duke Albrecht of Austria concerning the bailiwick of Rheinau.” That is the only Niklaus Lafenter – von Sulz connection I have been able to locate. If anyone happens to find the marriage connection, please contact me (marnie@marniekuhns.com).

Rheinau, Switzerland in Search of Niklaus Lafenter

After leaving the Tiengener Castle / Klettgau Museum, we headed for Rheinau in hopes of finding some clues as to Niklaus Lafenter I and II since Niklaus I was supposed have been born there in 1390 and married there to the Von Sulz in 1415. He supposedly died there in 1455. Nicklaus Lafenter II is reported to have been born and died in Rhienau (1424-1454). He married a Maulein / Magdalena Broeglin around 1445.

I’m assuming these dates are guesses because I’m yet to find any source documents for these people.

Beautiful Rheinau, Switzerland

Rheinau is one of the most beautiful cities we’ve been to, in my opinion. The Rhein River circles around it and the countryside is gorgeous. The buildings are pretty, and the colors were so vibrant. I loved the vineyard all around the church and cemetery. Unfortunately, the cemetery was a dead end. In Europe they bury new people on the same ground as the old ones and remove the old headstones. So, everyone there was from the 1900’s on. Still, I enjoyed seeing this beautiful city where my ancestors lived.

The Grossmünster in Zurich

Next, we went to Zurich, starting at the Grossmünster.  Hans Rudolph Wonlich (My 13th Great Grandfather) married Susannah Judd (daughter of famous Swiss Reformer Leo Jud) at the Grossmünster in 1553. He also served as the Burgermeister (Mayor) of Zurich and died in Zurich and was buried in the Grossmünster in 1557. We went down in the crypts under the Grossmünster where he may have been buried.

Also, Hans Rudolf Wonlich (my 12th great grandfather) was a Deacon at St Peter’s in Zurich (which we walked to see the outside of). The interior was closed for construction. Hans Rudolf Wonlich also served as an Archdeacon at Grossmünster from 1594 until he died in 1596.

Grossmünster in Zurich where Hans Rudolf Wonlich was a priest in 1554-1556. Hans Rudolph Lavater was buried here.

Statue of Zwingli in Zurich

I’m standing beneath the pulpit my 12th great grandfather Hans Rudolf Wonlich would have preached in the Grossmünster.

We’re standing in front of St. Peters in Zurich where Hans Rudolf Wonlich was a priest in 1553

St. Peters, Zurich

Hans Rudolf Lavater, Mayor of Zurich

One of my favorite stops in Zurich was going to see the street where Hans Rudolph Lavater lived (16 Spiegelgasse, Zurich).

You may remember Hans Rudolf Lavater from my previous blog on Kyburg Castle where he was a Bailiff. He went on to become a senator and then mayor of Zurich.

I stood outside his house (#16) and walked down the street where either his grandson or grandnephew lived – Johan Casper Lavater. Johan was a poet and lived there from 1741-1778. Goethe visited him there in 1775.

This is the street where Hans Rudolph Lavater lived – in #16 (photo to right). Johan Casper Lavater lived down the street.

Overall, it was a day of immersing myself in places my ancestors lived. I’m honestly feeling a bit skeptical about the von Sulz connection since I need to locate a female von Sulz that Niklaus Lafenter would have married, but I’m hopeful somehow the connection will be made… eventually.

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