House of Plettenberg

He fortified Schwarzenberg Castle at Plettenberg for the House of La Marck's feuds with the archbishops of Cologne.

In 1913, Wilhelm II, German Emperor, elevated the respective owners of Heeren Castle to the primogenital rank of Graf while all other family members remained Freiherr.

His grandson Karl (1821-1907) was made Graf in 1888, and passed his title and estate to his only daughter Wilhelmine who married Baron Dodo Alexander zu Innhausen und Knyphausen (1835-1911).

1905) still used the primogenital title Graf von Bodelschwingh-Plettenberg, the present generation is only using the name Baron zu Innhausen und Knyphausen.

Heidenreich von Plettenberg (ca 1450–1485), a second son of Haus Bamenohl, acquired the neighboring Lenhausen Castle near Finnentrop in 1457.

[2] Prince-Bishop Friedrich Christian built the monumental Schloss Nordkirchen, and his nephew Ferdinand (1690-1737), prime minister of the Electorate of Cologne, inherited it and completed it by 1734.