Bibra family

The House of Bibra (German: [ˈbiːbʁa]) was one of the leading Uradel (ancient noble) families in Franconia (northern part of Bavaria) and present day Thuringia from the mid-15th century to about 1600.

Later on the family rose from Reichsritter (Imperial Knights) to Reichsfreiherr (Barons of the Holy Roman Empire).

The earliest references to the family include a document of Bishop Otto of Bamberg from the year 1119 of a Rupertus de Bibra.

The lawsuit (Reichskammergericht) was eventually settled with the family receiving all the properties except Burgwallbach but without income during the suit.

For the last four centuries the family has divided itself between two Branches named after the two brothers whom all living Bibra descend: Valentine (1560–1595) and Bernhard (1562–1609).

Within each branch, the family has divided further in Lines centered on castles and a manor house (Gleicherwiesen).

Friedrich Gotthelf (1736-1813, Brennhausen line) claimed office in 1783 (five years early) even though Prince Bishop Heinrich (1711-1788) was older but was unable to fulfill role.

[2] The description with the published (c. 1860) print of Schloss Modlau describes the Bibran family as having split off from the Franconia Bibras five hundred years ago.

[4] The son-in-law Ernst Heinrich von Kölichen, who had incorporated the Bibran-Modlau name and coat of arms died (1832) with a daughter, Agnes, but no sons.

Bibra coat of arms, gothic style
Representation of a Bibra knight in front of the castle Bibra
Siebmachers Wappenbuch of 1605, listing the Bibra family as the most important family of Franconia under the rank of Freiherr (Baron)
Detail of bronze coat of arms by Peter Vischer
Prince-Bishop Lorenz von Bibra,detail of tomb by Tilman Riemenschneider in Würzburg Dom (cathedral)
Prince-Bishop Conrad von Bibra
Prince-Bishop Heinrich von Bibra by his court painter, Johann Andreas Herrlein
Ernst von Bibra
Map of Grabfeld showing localities with strong Bibra family ties
Burg Bibra
Bibra
Castle at Schwebheim in 1870 engraving
Schloss Kleinbardorf
Schloss Roßrieth
Bibra Palais (Bibra Haus), Bamberg
Epitaph of Bernhard and Sibylle von Bibra at Irmelshausen
Grave of Friedrich Kaspar von Bibra (1681–1750) in Höchheim
Bibra Lake located in the Perth Australia suburb, Bibra Lake