Thomas von dem Knesebeck (the Elder)

Thomas von dem Knesebeck (1559–1625) was a Privy Councillor and Landeshauptmann (governor) of the Altmark.

[1] In his youth he studied law and the humanities in Helmstedt and Frankfurt (Oder) before the premature death of his father obliged him to return to the management of the family estates.

During this period he published a memorandum on the administration of the Altmark, which brought him the attention of the Chancellor of Brandenburg, Lampert Distelmeyer, and subsequently appointments to the council and the courts.

In this capacity, which he held until his death, he was responsible for the reorganisation of Brandenburg case law and in particular regarding religious freedom.

Earlier under John Sigismund's father Joachim Frederick, he had still felt obliged to conceal this.