We, Charles VI

Elected Roman Emperor, at all times augmenter of the Empire King of Germany, Castile, Arragonia, Legion, Sicillia, Hierusalem, Hungaria, Boeheim, Dalmatia, Crotia, Slavonia, Navarre,Grantia, Toledo, Valenx, Galliaca, Majorica Sevilla, Sarinia, Corduva Corsiva, Murcia, Giennes, Algarbien, Algiers, Gibraltar of Canary and Indian Island and Terrae Firmae of the Oceanic, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Milano, Stever, Corntia, Craniola, Limburg, Luxenburg, Gelders, Wirtenberg, Silesia, Calabria, Neopatrim, Prince Soverign of Suabia, Catalonia and Asturia, Margrave of the Saint Roman Empire, Burgau, Moravia, Prince Count of Hapsburg, Flanders, Tyrol and Pfierd, Boeztz, Gradisca and Artois, Count of Alsace, Margrave of Agristani, Earl of Goziani, Namur, Rustillion, Gertania, Lord of the windish marsh of Portenau, Biscaya, Molins, Tripoli and Mecheln. 

Make it known by these Presents:

We say on behalf of ourselves, our relatives of the Holy Roman Empire and Heirs of our noble house of Austria:

Although there are plenty of noble families belonging to our all-highest house of the Emperor and King of Austria, we see the necessity of increasing their number, for if we should not do so, then in time all the noble families would decline and pass away for that is the only natural law. moreover, it is for the progress and benefit of the all-hiqhest throne of our Imperial Highness that we raise a noble and deserving family to a higher mark in order that such families will serve our all-highest house in a still better and still more grateful way. And it is no more than right and just to honor a family who has served our all-highest house in their best way, and therefore we declare:

Our General and commander over one of our best regiments, 

        Joseph Franz Anton and his brother, 
        Jodoc Rudolf Von Niderost 

both from the well-known family 

        Von Niderost 

which has already been established a few centuries in the Canton of Swiss, and which family is descended from the older ”Patriciis" (patrician) and whose ancestors have been giving their properties and their blood for the defense of the Catholic Church and their country against the Sacacens; and moreover:

The father of both before-named brothers, named 
        Franz Leodegarius Von Niderost

Magistrate and Governor-General of the Canton Swiss, furnished a full regiment for his own expense at the time when the French invaded the Austrian territory, and therewith he certainly served his beloved country in a wonderful and well appreciated way and moreover;

The brother of said Franz Leodegarius, named 
        Johann Jodoc Von Niderost, 

the Governor of the District of Bolenz, always gave his most excellent service to his Imperial and Royal Master, and therefore, his Imperial Highness the Emperor Leopold Maytt, gave to both 1ast named brothers the rank and title of a nobleman with the right and obligation to sign before their name the word 

        "Von" (of)

said title and rank were bestowed already on the 9th of June 1700. At the same time the afore-named Franz Leodegarius was given the position as General and Chief Commander over a Swiss Regiment and besides that, his son, the afore-named Joseph Franz Anton, who came into such high regard for his excellent service to his country and our Imperial House that he was awarded the rank and title of the

        Erb-Truchsess des Reichs-Stifts Mury.

and in appreciation of his wonderful knowledge of military matters
and the art of war, especially proven and shown in a few very important
and dangerous battles and sieges so that he too received the title
of General and Chief-Commander after his father's death.

And in expectation, that he and his brother will continue to serve in their best way to our all-highest house of Austria, we say,

To reward both brothers,

Joseph Franz Anton
Jodoc Rudolf Von Niderost

for all their before mentioned services to our house of Austria we give to them and all their heirs for ever and ever title, rank and dignity of a

Baron Of the Holy Roman Empire

and they shall belong now and forever to that rank, said by my power as Roman Emperor and King. And the same title and rank shall belong to all their children and heirs of both sexes, and they shall have the right and obligation to sign

Baron and Baroness

with the predicate:

        Wohlgeboren Von Niderost (Well born Von Niderost)

and both brothers, Joseph Franz Anton and Jodoc Rudolf Von Niderost, and all their descendants shall have the freedom, honor, dignity, advantages, rights and privileges which are belonging to a Baron of our Holy Empire: They shall have toe right to get benefits on high and lower foundations to remove charge of clerical and worldly feudal tenures and to execute every kind of privileges belonging to said rank, to judge, to punish and to reward in a baronial way:

Be it well understood:

The execution of said powers, rights and privileges must be done in such a way as not to harm the Holy Roman Empire nor the Kingdom of Austria.

And as a fitting memorial of the advancement of both brothers, we give then and their heirs of both sexes for now and in all eternity their baronial arms;

Said Arms Shall Be:

A shield upright, divided down in the center; the 1eft part of the shield is divided again in three parts.

The up most is a silver Maltese Cross on a red field. The center a river flowing diagonally.  The lowest part three red roses, each with 5 leaves, on a white or silver field.

The right half of the shield shall be e a gold field with a black eagle, half concealed with claw and foot extended.  The crest above the arms is a baronial crown with pearls,  above each side of which stands a tournament helmet, one on the right and one on the left, and each is ornamented with a royal crown; standing on the left helmet a Moor in red and white garments holding in the right hand an upright Maltese cross; standing on the right, helmet a double eagle, black, with red tongue extended flanking the eagle are four standards; the one on the left in front a black double eagle on a gold field and behind it a silver bar on a red field; on the right in front four silver and four red bars alternating, and behind it, a silver Maltese Cross on a red field. 

And now it is our wish and order to all who are in our Empire;

Princes, sovereigns, Princesses, clerical and worldly prelates, counts of the Empire, Counts, Barons of the Empire, Knights, Noblemen, officials of every court, citizens of whatever rank and education they may be:

All shall be obliged to respect both forenamed brothers and all their heirs of both sexes as members and dignitaries of the high society of Baron and their wives as Baronesses wherever they may he and that no one shall dare, to disturb them in execution of a matter belonging to their duties and rights of a Baron, and they shall be respected and honored from everybody as dignitaries of the high nobility of the Great Roman Empire:

And we mean this very earnestly.

And in case somebody should act against our before expressed will, he shall come under our displeasure, and moreover he shall pay a fine of l00 Marks in gold of Due Alloy, of which gold one half shall belong to our treasure, and the other half to the offended party.

And this document shell be a royal Privy Seal, and we sign and seal it as Emperor and King of the Holy Roman Empire, written, signed and sealed at our castle of Luxemburg on the 15th day of June 1736, post Christum Natum, in the 25th year of the Holy Roman Empire, in the 33rd of the Spanish and in the 26th of the Bohemian and Hungarian Empire.

Ad Mandatun Sac. Et Cas. Cath Maj. Proprium

The handwriting note at the end certifies that this copy of the original is authenticated by the Government.

Translated by Helen Countess of Schweinita-Crayn,
Baroness of Kauder.


Last Modified: