House von Hoffendolt, Paved in Gold
Siegfried von Hoffendolt (Originally Siegfried Friedmann) 1148-1201:
The von Hoffendolts pride themselves on their ability to organize and manage however even they struggle to fully recall the origins of their family. It is known for certain that in 1164 AD a man by the name of Siegfried Friedmann emigrated to the castle of Manburg, however on the road he was waylaid by bandits. It is from here that the information is hazy as it was passed down through story and not record. Left for dead with nothing but the torn rags the bandits covered his dignity with, it is said that Siegfried should have died out there however it just so happened that a caravan of Venetian traders were taking the same road as Siegfried. Vincenzo Ascuzzi, a minor trader, found Siegfried and immediately took him in, nursing his wounds and bringing him back up to full health during the route. Taking him to Hoffendolt, a growing town to the north of Manburg, Vincenzo informed Siegfried that he had a choice now. Continue to Manburg, in which case Vincenzo would wish the young man luck and a purse of gold, or he could stay with Vincenzo's company, learning the art of trade and a good living at the same time. It was an opportunity that Siegfried had been looking for and jumped at the chance. For a few years he travelled with Vincenzo, learning the art of trade as well as how to stimulate a market and manage a business. Finally, after Vincenzo had come to trust Siegfried, even naming him a partner (with a minimal share), Siegfried came to be the manager of the Hoffendolt counting house and associated assets. This is where he made his name, turning a growing town into the trading heart between a large part of Austria and the ports of Venice. Vincenzo was an older man than Siegfried and soon passed away, leaving the entire company to Siegfried. In one year Siegfried professionally shifted the focus of the company away from the Italian peninsula and into the German lands. Hoffendolt was his base and here he married and had three children, Karl, Maria and Christoff. Though he also had one illegitimate child with a mistress during his travels in Italy, Mario. Siegfried finally passed away in 1201 AD, having taken the name Hoffendolt to honer where his friend and mentor had brought him, as well as show his loyalty to a town that had given him his fortune.
Karl von Hoffendolt (Part I) 1179-1231:
With Siegfried's death he left half of the business to his first born, Karl, born in 1179. Karl was his father's protege and the clear heir to the Hoffendolt enterprise. He was smart, cunning and had a better business acumen than his father ever did. Under Karl the von Hoffendolt fortune grew even further. Karl saw the promise in developing land, not just in goods trading, and bought up much of the field land outside of Hoffendolt, to build upon and then rent back to the people. Karl's siblings were happy to simply enjoy the life of having a quarter of the profits, as Siegfried left them each with a quarter of the business. Karl became a public figure in Hoffendolt as a response to his heavy investment in the town. Soon the people were calling for him to officially run for the local government, he had the funds to campaign and realistically he was a lot more effective in administration than anybody else pushing for local council. After a lot of pushing Karl eventually ran and, by a landslide, was brought in to manage the treasury of Hoffendolt. This was a full time job and so Karl relinquished twenty five percent of his shares of the business to is brother, Christoff.
Christoff Hoffendolt 1184-1219:
When Christoff took over the business in 1211 he was not too bad t maintaining the fortune, though he was no expert and it was certainly a period of stagnation. Which led to the 'Attack', a dark memory for the Hoffendolts, Mario Friedmann (As he is not allowed the name of von Hoffendolt) arrived from Italy and maneuvered his way into a hostile takeover of the von Hoffendolt business. Christoff was considered a fool and in 1219 challenged Mario to a duel, of all things, for his fifty percent of the business. Christoff was of course killed and it seemed Mario was going to attempt to force out Karl and Maria, taking the von Hoffendolt fortune for himself.
Karl von Hoffendolt (Part II): With Christoff's demise Karl stepped down from public life, instead focusing his energies on the family business again. Mario was systematically buying up von Hoffendolt assets under a new business with himself as full owner. It would have been crippling had certain politicians Karl had befriended blocked many of the sales using foreign investment laws and regulations to hold up Mario so that Karl could introduce new policy to the business. After much maneuvering Mario was bankrupted through court case costs, as a result of infringing new 'regulations', he refused to appear for and Karl was able to recoup all of the von Hoffendolt assets. Continued his managing of the business, with seventy five percent of the company now, until his late death in 1231 AD. Karl never married and had no children the business passed it its entirety to Maria, who too was on her death bed. Maria had married and had one child, Rudolph.
Rudolph von Hoffendolt 1216-1268:
When his mother, Maria, passed away in 1232 Rudolph became the sole owner of the 'von Hoffendolt Trading Company'. Rudolph was a boy at heart, having only been born sixteen years earlier, in 1216. And decided that trading and business was not too his liking, instead he wanted to be a knight, like those that he had read about. Under the advisement of his uncle's, Karl, adviser he broke the business into several parts and sold them off to other companies in Hoffendolt. This left Rudolph with a fortune the size of a small countries, with this he had an ornate set of armor made, a beautiful long sword forged and a shield to go with it. Rudolph then traveled Austria, many expected him to play knight, be killed and then lose the von Hoffendolt name and fortune to history. However Rudolph was quite an adept fighter. He was able to use the money to higher some of the best fighting tutors and Rudolph served a minor lord the Italian-Austrian border. After a few years of service Rudolph was called upon to put down a small peasant revolt in the fort of Alleburg. A small force, taken from the lords retinue, led by Rudolph quickly moved across to the fort and put own the rebels with a quiet efficiency. The without being asked, Rudolph rebuilt the fort, reorganizing it's economy and setting a proper system to support the peasants, where the previous lord had just left everyone to their own business. Impressed by his abilities the Duke of Austria gifted Alleburg, on the condition he maintain it as a source of loyal levies. Rudolph accepted and finally settled down to look after the lands he now owned. He was a wise and fair Burgrave and many in Alleburg saw him as a change for good. The von Hoffendolt fortune had shrunk however it was still present and Rudolph had ensured the von Hoffendolts as landed gentry for years to come. Rudolph married the daughter of a local village elder and had two children. Siegfried II and Karl II. Rudolph passed in 1268.
Siegfried von Hoffendolt II (Denounced as of 1274) 1248-1274:
Siegfried II was the eldest son of Rudolph and took on the Burgrave of Alleburg when his father passed. Siegfried II was much like his father, in the fact he loved the stories of knights, however this is where the similarity ended. He had no knowledge in running a fief. He dealt with the peasantry harshly and was seen as a tyrant by the local masses. This was only made worse by their adoration of his brother and in 1274 Siegfried II put the nail in his own coffin as he slaughtered half of the levies he was meant to send to the Duke of Austria because one man had mentioned his preference to Karl. The Duke of Austria declared Siegfried II a traitor and Karl II denounced him as no longer being a von Hoffendolt. Siegfried II was killed during battle when Karl was charged by the Duke to bring his brother to justice.
Karl von Hoffendolt II 1250-1301:
Karl was the youngest of Rudolph von Hoffendolt and the favoured child by the courts. He was a kind and and fair, as well as ruthlessly efficient in matters of war and business. He was compared to being the best of 'Karl I and Rudolph'. When Siegfried II was made Burgrave Karl II felt no malice and instead attempted to restart the 'von Hoffendolt Trading Company' in Hoffendolt. However when news of his brother's madness arrived Karl II hurriedly halted his efforts and accepted the Duke's offer of bringing his brother to the sword. With a large force from the Duke he met his brother outside Alleburg and routed his forces easily. In truth Siegfried II had little, to no, support left and it was merely mopping up. In 1274 Karl II took the Burgrave of Alleburg from his brother and was even gifted the Burgrave of Rastenburg, for his loyalty and going above and beyond for the Duchy. Karl ushered in a generation of growth and happiness for the castle and fort. Karl II married his childhood sweetheart Katherine and had three children of his own. Rudolph II, Albert and Natascha. Karl II finally died in 1301.
Albert von Hoffendolt 1281-1333:
Albert was the second born of Karl II however the first born, Rudolph II, was a sickly child and passed away aged four. Albert was always groomed to take over as the Burgrave of Rastenburg and Alleburg. These were known as the quiet years, Albert brought in slight prosperity and spent his years governing, but not expanding. Albert married young and had five children. At the age of fifty two Albert passed away, in 1333 leaving behind both his titles to Fredrick. Albert II, Maria II, Katherine and Hubert were his other children.
Fredrick von Hoffendolt 1320-1367:
Albert, as the eldest of five, always felt that his generation was to be the one to truly make the von Hoffendolts powerful, not just rich. He took great pride in teaching his siblings on top of their own tutors and used the stories of past mistakes to try and better his family. Staying as Burgrave of Rastenburg he then gave his first brother, Albert II, the Burgrave of Alleburg. Albert II took after his father and was content to manage and rule, paying his dues to the Count. During which time Maria II and Katherine filled their time with making merry and enjoying their position of power. Hubert, instead, found his position in commanding forces and Fredrick put him in charge of the levies that the von Hoffendolts could raise. During the civil unrest in Austria Fredrick sent his men to fight the Duke, Fredrick III, and were present at the same battle that routed Otto IV von Rittenberg. With Rudolph's conquest the von Hoffendolts were forced to swear fealty to the new 'Duke of Austria'. However when rumblings of separatism appeared Fredrick called upon his brothers to begin preparation to hold their lands against siege, stockpiling weapons and granary stores. As the von Rittenbergs declared their aim for independence Fredrick announced his intention to join such an endeavour. Being so close to Vienna though meant immediately Austria responded with force. The von Hoffendolts outside of Rastenburg and Alleburg conducted a guerilla war agaisnt the Austrians whilst their castles held firm. It wasn't until 1367, when the Pope declared the Duchy official that the sieges were abandoned. During the last siege of Rastenburg Fredrick was killed by a stray arrow. He never married and had no heirs. The Burgrave of Rastenburg then passed to Hubert, as Albert II already had a Burgrave of his own and in fact turned down the Burgrave as he had no desire to lead the house.
Hubert von Hoffendolt 1328-1389:
By now Hubert had grown up quite a lot, being only an infant when his father passed, and he was quite the capable leader both in the field and in the court. Hubert over saw the rebuilding of the von Hoffendolt lands however Rastenburg as a county was one of the worst affected by the war with Austria. During the time of peace Hubert saw fit that each fort was well maintained and well kept. He had seen first hand how an under manned and damaged castle fared against an army. He was a fervount supporter of investing in the defence of the realm and creating a standing army for the Autrian border. In fact in 1370 Hubert was an outspoken advocate against the Duchy and the von Rittenbergs. Whilst he supported the idea of independence and he had no desire, or claim, on the Duchy he also found the policies lack lustre and weak. Hubert's fears were correct and in 1372 Austria invaded again. The county of Rastenburg suffered greatly at the hands of the Austrians and Hubert had a full time job after he was made acting Marshall, after Konrad III von Rittenberg's first was killed in battle. Once the Austrians were finally beaten out Hubert elected not to go on campaign to Austria, instead choosing to stay at home and once again help rebuild the von Hoffendolts holds. During the stirrings of Konrad III, Albert II passed away from illness and Hubert took on the second Burgrave. Whilst Hubert had always been open on his disapproval on how poorly the von Hoffendolts had been treated despite their sacrifices he was a loyal man and as Konrad raised his flag in rebellion Hubert declared his unwavering support for the Duke. Whilst much of the surrounding land rose to Konrad's support every levy from Rastenburg castle and Alleburg stayed loyal to the crown. In fact it was thanks to a pre emptive strike against the forming rebels, led by Hubert himself, that put the rebels into disarray. Allowing the Duke to return and face his brother on the field and stopped Konrad from taking Manburg from under him. In 1374 Hubert's forces joined up with Otto's and he fought side by side with the Duke he had so fervently denounced. In the aftermath of the battle Hubert was quoted as saying, over the dying form of Otto, “I may not of have sung your praise every day, but I had your back until, and after, death.” It was only in 1389 years later, after receiving the County of Rastenburg, that Hubert passed away. His sister, Katherine, had in fact married an elder statesman of Bunenberg and with her passing her son, Thomasc, took on Bunenburg as a Burgrave. Hubert's sons , Siegfried III and Karl III each took the Rastenburg Castle and Alleburg Burgrave respectfully, whilst his eldest son, Niko took on the County of Rastenburg.
Niko von Hoffendolt 1368-Present:
Current head of the von Hoffendolt House.
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