House of Franckenstein

In 948, an Arbogast von Franckenstein confirmed to the abbot of Lorsch Abbey in two contracts to "grant defense and shield the carriages travelling on the Bergstraße and passing through Frankenstein realm".

von Büdingen, imperial bailiff of the Wetteraukreis, the power, possessions and interests were also relocated into the Wetterau region, where the Breubergians Arrois, Gerlach and Eberhard III.

Being both strong opponents of the Protestant Reformation and following territorial conflicts, connected disputes with the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt, as well as the adherence to the catholic faith and the associated "right of patronage", the family head Lord Johannes I. decided to sell the lordship to the landgrave in 1662, after various lawsuits at the Imperial Chamber Court.

Because of many vacancies in relation with the reformation, some family members could fill a number of unengaged offices and posts in various Chapters, Abbeys and Dioceses as Canons, Abbesses and Prince-Bishops.

After the sale of Frankenstein and being awarded the imperial baron dignity in 1670, the family retired to its possessions in Wetterau and acquired the lordship of Ullstadt in the beginning of the 17th century in Middle Franconia.

Armorials of Frankenstein ancient : An oblique red battle axe on Gold . These arms are still used by the Barons of Franckenstein
Arms of Franckenstein modern : complemented in 1533 by Henry IV. of Frankenstein (d.1558) by the arms of Clover , being the heir of the Lords of Cleen. The Cleens were also heirs of Praunheim and Sachsenhausen , therefore also adding the silver helmet of the Praunheims combined with the swans of Sachsenhausen to the crest.Divided and split two times coated with a golden heartshield, therein an oblique red battle axe on Gold (Franckenstein). In fields 1 and 6 in gold a three-leaf red cloverleaf (von Cleen), in fields 2 and 5 in blue a right-sided silver helmet, on it a growing silver swan, whose raised red wings are each covered with a silver bar, 3 and 4 in gold a red bar, above 3 green twigs each with 3 leaves (von Praunheim-Sachsenhausen).