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Document of
Johann Ernst Varnbüler
The
family Varnbueler
1253 - 1908
compiled by nobleman Ernst Varnbueler, born 2 March 1850
Origins
Saga has it that our
forefathers were Westgoten [Westgoth]. Banished by the Huns from their settlements in south Russia about 375
they wandered through the Balkan peninsula, later Italy, led by Alarich [king
of the Visigoths] in the years 396 - 408.
They buried their
king and hero on the Busento,
continued their exodus to Aquitania
where they formed the Tolosamic Empire and subsequently expanded their rule into Spain. Here they ruled for
300 years.
About 711 they were
conquered by the Arabs, retreated back to France where our ancestors are said
to have been in service to the King at various times. So they came to be in Graubuenden.
Possibly they joined
the crusades of Karl the Great, fought in the battles of 787 - 88 against
Thassilo of Bavaria and so came into ownership of Burg Greiffenberg.
It has been claimed that
Burg Greiffenberg is in Graubuenden: Apparently a false claim, there is no castle by that
name in Graubuenden - as far as can be ascertained also not in earlier times.
However, there is one such castle near the border of the former statelines of
Graubuenden, just to the north of Rapperswyl near Bauma.
It is possible that
our forefathers lived there, known as the Greiffenbergs, and that as they were
later in Weinstein as well as in Greiffenberg, in service [lessee] of the Abbey of St. Gallen which was the owner of the castle into the late 18th
century.
No proof exists to
the claims that the Greiffenberg
and the Gutenberg, as found in
various writings, are identical. However, the Greiffenbergs certainly
intermarried with their neighbors from the upper Rhine, the Gutenbergs.
When the Lords of
Habsburg, who were unfriendly toward us, came into the ownership of Rapperswyl and therefore rulers over Greiffenberg, it became
lost to our lineage.
About 1223 appeared
a Ulrichus of Greiffenberg, ... Rodulfi of Rapperswyl and prior to 1321 the
castle was deeded to the Knight Hermann of Hinwil.
Into this time
period falls the beginning of our lineage with appearance of personal data.
1. Hans Varnbueler of Greiffenberg and Gutenberg: living
1263
Spouse: Agnes von Asch.
The family needed a
new home and decided on Gutenberg, the castle near Sargans on the Rhine.
With change of
domicile they also changed their name as was custom during those times.
2. Konrad Varnbueler of (Greiffenberg), Gutenberg and
Weinstein living about 1300.
Spouse: Elisabetha von Irsingen (or Ersingen).
The family crest of
the Gutenbergs consisted of the crossed blue maces on a silver background;
helmet decor showed extended arm with empty fist.
Motivated by the old
hate against the family of Habsburg, the family united with the lineage of
Johann Parricida. The Emperor Albrecht von Aar and Reuss - close to the
Habsburg - was murdered on 1 May 1308. Johann Parricida with his family and
acquaintances was the subject of rage and persecution of the Emperor's widow,
Elisabeth.
In the same year,
1308, the Gutenberg was attacked and conquered by the Archdukes of Austria, our
family removed, and the castle was deeded to the masters of Ramschwag. Some of the Gutenbergs settled near Vaduz where they were able to obtain a land lease from the
Bishop of Chur ...... A Heinrich
von Gutenberg was from 151? - 1526 overseer [tax collector] for the Bishop at Graylang near Flums.
Thereafter this family branch disappeared.
Another branch,
(maybe the Nr. 2 mentioned Konrad V.) fled down the Rhine River toward Weinstein, where the family supported their livelihood through
the Abbey of St. Gallen. To escape the wrath of the last Empress the family
changed their former name and chose the non descriptive "Farrenbiel"
It was the name of three estates in the mountains near Appenzell: One near Gais, another near Teufen, the third above the Urnaesch near Bruggen.
Whether these
estates actually belonged to our fathers cannot be proven, but it can be
expected because they are located close to the road to St. Gallen, which was
visited frequently and eventually became their home.
So goes the Saga!
Historians may have
their complaints and not accept it .... We want to heed it and pass it on to
our children and children's' children while still continuing the research for
our forefathers.
The first
indisputable and documented Varnbueler is:
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