Station: [35] Heritage

“In those times, access to desirable privileges and functions was only granted to people who could verify their linage dating back at least four generations of aristocratic stock. Due to this, the history of their family was of great importance to Rutger von der Horst and his wife Anna von Palandt. The greater the number of notable ancestors was, the greater the resulting social standing. It is also for this reason that the depiction of family trees as magnificent showcases of family history and heritage became customary during the Renaissance.

The ancestors of Rutger’s mother were decedents of local noble houses, whereas his wife Anna was a decedent of the House of Palandt, one of the most influential noble families of the duchy Jülich. These ancestors were depicted on the crests of castle Horst. For aristocratic family trees the mother’s ancestors also played an important role.

It was the duty of the eldest son to continue the legacy of a family. Rutger von der Horst was able to trace back his male ancestors about 400 years to Gerhard von der Horst, who settled in Emscherbruch around 1170. What he did not know was, that after his son’s early demise, the family’s male linage would end with him.”