Blog from Moren Genealogy. Document and genealogy research and tours in Alsace and Lorraine.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Charlemagne: Literally the Father of Europe
The geographic location of Alsace being on the boarder of France, Germany and Switzerland has put it in the center of much activity over the centuries.
In our last blog post we covered the Iron Age Celts, the Romans and now more about the Franks. Here we will begin with Charlemagne.
Charlemagne
Charles the Great, Charles the I, Charlemagne was born on the 2nd of April in the mid 700's (the exact year is cited differently depending on who you read), and he died 28 January 814. He was king of the Franks taking the throne in 768, king of Italy in 774, and the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800. If you would like to go back further in time you might want to look at Constantine who settled the Franks on the lower left bank of the Rhine.
He founded the Carolingian Empire, which would be the beginnings of what is now France and Germany.
In our last blog post we covered the Iron Age Celts, the Romans and now more about the Franks. Here we will begin with Charlemagne.
Charlemagne
To view the original painting by Albrecht Dürer you may wish to visit the Nuremberg National Museum.
Charles the Great, Charles the I, Charlemagne was born on the 2nd of April in the mid 700's (the exact year is cited differently depending on who you read), and he died 28 January 814. He was king of the Franks taking the throne in 768, king of Italy in 774, and the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800. If you would like to go back further in time you might want to look at Constantine who settled the Franks on the lower left bank of the Rhine.
He founded the Carolingian Empire, which would be the beginnings of what is now France and Germany.
If you look carefully on this map you can find Strasbourg on the line of the green and yellow areas. It is interesting to read about the Carolingian Empire and see which countries were fully in this, and which were partially in this.
Charlemagne is called the father of Europe because both France and Germany considered their kingdoms to be the decedents of Charlemagne's empire.
Charlemagne left us his genes.
Charlemagne left more than policies in his empire, and yet another reason to be called "The Father of Europe", he left his genetics too. Too say he was a ladies man seems a bit of an understatement. Depending on who you read he had 20 or 18 children of record. These are listed out of 8 of his 10 wives or concubines, which may or may not reflect all of the children accountable to him. He is listed as one of the top 10 people with the most decedents. Estimation of half of the population of Europe (250 million people) 100 million in the U.S.A. and another 250 million across the world.
His pedigree is clear. If one should choose they can trace his line all of the way back to Adam and Eve. Regardless if you find this an impossible myth or not, the possibility to trace him back that far exists. One must never loose site of why pedigree charts started. Ah, yet another subject but it is the "divine right of kings"which is the right to rule. Still to this day pedigree charts are the most valuable possession of royals.You will find the Adam Pedigree here and you will find Charlemagne in the line of France.
Charlemagne left the Alsace region to his son Louis the Pious. Charlemagne's home was in Aachen, Germany. Charlemagne enjoyed hunting in the Vosges.
Back drop of your genealogy.
If you are researching your family tree and you manage to make it back to the Medieval times chances are good on one line or another you will find you descend from Charlemagne. What is nice about this is if you are working on a large family tree this work will have already been done for you. If you find what is known as gateway ancestors you can depend on established pedigrees. Click here to view the decedents of Charlemagne.
Oh one last thing, Charlemagne is behind the Hapsburg (Habsburg) who have castles in Alsace and all over Europe, and the Plantagenet who are behind all U.S.A. presidents with the exception of Martian Van Buren. One castle in Alsace we visit regularly with JSwinetours is Haut Koenigsbourg who the first named inhabitants were the Habsburg family.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Alsace Human History
Alsace is perhaps one of the most interesting locations in the world. A fairyland of quaint villages and farms.
Celtic?
An ancient history going to a Celtic origin of settlement in 1500 BC when Celts first began to cultivate the land, it appears today a place where time stood still around the Medieval era.
Alsace, as named, is older than both Germany and France as they are named as modern countries. In around 58 BC the Romans invaded Alsace and set it up in the industry of viticulture. The production of wine in Alsace stands today as a main agricultural industry with world wide acclaim. During the Roman era Alsace was part of what was known as Germania Superior. Germania Superior included western Switzerland, the Jura area of France, and southwestern Germany.
One might be confused by the word Franks, as it sounds like French. Franks are historically known to be Germanic tribes from the lower and middle Rhine and later as the people of Gaul. Gaul typically brings to mind France, but actually was a region in western Europe, during the Iron Age that is now the area of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, and parts of Northern Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine.
Language
What seems to be a big dividing factor is language. French is a Latin language as is Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian. Germanic languages are of course German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and English.
Northern Europe in general has many similarities genetically among the people. In France the most stand out group would be the Basque who are genetically unique and also have a very unique language that is neither Germanic or Latin. Because France has a Celtic history going back over 2,000 years Celtic ancestry can be found in most all of the people.
For this classification as Celtic, without going to great extremes of migration explanations and for the purpose of this blog post, we will call Celtic people who spoke the Celtic language and who emerged during the Bronze Age to the Iron Age (+/- 1200 BC) with home base being purported as the area of Austria. The last of this Celtic tribe in France is said to be the Bretons in Brittany.
Alsace and the Lorraine is a territory that was gained by France from the Germans, or Germania. This area is a mix of Germanic and Celtic origin.
Celtic?
An ancient history going to a Celtic origin of settlement in 1500 BC when Celts first began to cultivate the land, it appears today a place where time stood still around the Medieval era.
Alsace, as named, is older than both Germany and France as they are named as modern countries. In around 58 BC the Romans invaded Alsace and set it up in the industry of viticulture. The production of wine in Alsace stands today as a main agricultural industry with world wide acclaim. During the Roman era Alsace was part of what was known as Germania Superior. Germania Superior included western Switzerland, the Jura area of France, and southwestern Germany.
One might be confused by the word Franks, as it sounds like French. Franks are historically known to be Germanic tribes from the lower and middle Rhine and later as the people of Gaul. Gaul typically brings to mind France, but actually was a region in western Europe, during the Iron Age that is now the area of France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, and parts of Northern Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine.
What seems to be a big dividing factor is language. French is a Latin language as is Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian. Germanic languages are of course German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and English.
Northern Europe in general has many similarities genetically among the people. In France the most stand out group would be the Basque who are genetically unique and also have a very unique language that is neither Germanic or Latin. Because France has a Celtic history going back over 2,000 years Celtic ancestry can be found in most all of the people.
For this classification as Celtic, without going to great extremes of migration explanations and for the purpose of this blog post, we will call Celtic people who spoke the Celtic language and who emerged during the Bronze Age to the Iron Age (+/- 1200 BC) with home base being purported as the area of Austria. The last of this Celtic tribe in France is said to be the Bretons in Brittany.
Alsace and the Lorraine is a territory that was gained by France from the Germans, or Germania. This area is a mix of Germanic and Celtic origin.
The official language of France is French of course. In Alsace there is no exception. Still most people living in the area speak both French and German. There is another language though and that is Alsatian which is a dialect of Alsace of Germanic origin. Alsatian dialect.
Genetics
If you have had a genetic test, or would be interested in taking one, you may be interested in participation in Membership in the Alsace Geographic Project. This is open to any male who has a patrilineal (yDNA) connection to Alsace. This means you must be a male descending in a direct line from an Alsatian male. The Y chromosome is only handed down from father to son and doesn't change regardless of the mother. To learn more about this project click here: Alsace Ancestry DNA Project. As of this blog post there are 62 participants.
The goal of JSgenealogy tours is to help people connect with their past. There is no central index in France of important documents like birth, marriage and death certificates as they are kept locally. We can help you in finding information you are looking for regarding your ancestors.
We can assist you through digital research on family names and particular individuals, field research which includes going to the villages gaining access to the documentation on your ancestor(s) and gathering this information for you, or a genealogy tour. You never know what you will find as it is not uncommon to still have living family members living in Alsace who are more than happy to meet you!
We welcome comments and questions. We look forward to serving you to help you connect to the past, and your Alsatian heritage.
In our next blog post we will attempt to mark major historical events that have shaped our modern Alsace. We will attempt to note the periods of time that there were the biggest emigrations out of Alsace and the destinations of immigration.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Genealogy tour - Jewish History In Alsace Around Scherwiller And Selestat
Over the centuries Jewish people have lived and worked in Alsace. We find synagogues in cities like Strasbourg and for example Selestat and Scherwiller. Today not all the synagogues are still in function anymore. The one in Scherwiller for example is used as a place for the local fire brigade.
Over time the Jews were chased, also in Alsace, like in many places in Europe. In times that there was the black plague for example, the Jewish population was blamed and they were expelled from the towns.
Recently the second World War left deep scars.
In the early 1900's and after the great wars, many Jewish families moved to the United States. Their offspring is often interested in where there forefathers came from.
A couple of years ago a big Jewish family originating from Alsace, organized a huge family reunion near Selestat. I was contacted in 2014 by a member of this family that sadly could not make it to this reunion event back then. She wanted to see Alsace for herself though and decided to visit this year with her husband and daughter.
We prepared the tour over here. We looked up addresses and found out about locations. We contacted the rabbi working in Selestat. We managed to organize a meeting with a local person via him who had the keys of the synagogue and could show us around at the premises.
On D-Day we drove through the Scherwiller area and in the afternoon went to the Selestat synagogue. Our contact who opened the gate told us he belonged to a family that had had a big reunion a couple of years ago..... He had been present with his little boy. Wow ... this meant that the lady just had met a distant family member of hers! He had been part of the reunion were she couldn't be present.
We were shown around and saw everything. Afterwards the family was presented a book about the history of the Jews and the synagogue of Selestat. Needless to say that everybody was very happy and impressed.
Later in the afternoon we went to the Jewish cemetery outside Selestat. At the reunion a couple of years ago, the family had placed a memory plate there. Finally "my" family could see it too and touch the plate themselves.
The circle was round. What a great adventure!
In the early 1900's and after the great wars, many Jewish families moved to the United States. Their offspring is often interested in where there forefathers came from.
A couple of years ago a big Jewish family originating from Alsace, organized a huge family reunion near Selestat. I was contacted in 2014 by a member of this family that sadly could not make it to this reunion event back then. She wanted to see Alsace for herself though and decided to visit this year with her husband and daughter.
We prepared the tour over here. We looked up addresses and found out about locations. We contacted the rabbi working in Selestat. We managed to organize a meeting with a local person via him who had the keys of the synagogue and could show us around at the premises.
On D-Day we drove through the Scherwiller area and in the afternoon went to the Selestat synagogue. Our contact who opened the gate told us he belonged to a family that had had a big reunion a couple of years ago..... He had been present with his little boy. Wow ... this meant that the lady just had met a distant family member of hers! He had been part of the reunion were she couldn't be present.
The circle was round. What a great adventure!
On The Search For Two Family Histories in Bas Rhin - Alsace
Early in 2014, we were contacted by an American family from Dallas, Texas USA investigating the history of their Catholic forefathers originating from Alsace, France. Interestingly enough, a couple who are in their eighties who had met in America had both ancestors from little villages in Alsace.
After meeting at the train station of Strasbourg we drove to our first stop; the mayors building in Reinhardsmunster.
We were very warmly greeted by Mister Daniel Brandstetter. Mr. Brandstetter knows a lot about the history of the area and had prepared our visit there. Via him, we met the current mayor of Reinhardsmunster and Mrs. Carline Buchel who let us in their office to look and copy some old documents and maps.
When I tell you that this all took place on a cold Sunday morning, we can not be else than very thankful for this kind cooperation in their spare time.
Among many handwritten documents in French and Latin, we found some birth- and baptize certificates.
There had been a church next to the cemetery of Reinhardsmunster. It has been destroyed. Today there is just a small chapel. A little further in town a new church was built.
Parts, artifacts and building blocks from the old church were used in this church. An example is this baptismal font.
Knowing this came from the old church, we understood that this was the font used to baptize some of their family members. People we just found some old baptize documents from. Amazing!
On the cemetery, we found a lot of ancestors resting there. The family must have been numerous and important in the old days.
After lunch, we drove to a village called Epfig. Now we focussed on the forefathers of Madame. Epfig has a very interesting and beautiful little church called the Chapelle Sainte-Marguerite, a Roman church dating back to the 11-th century.
To me, it was a mystical place. Outside in the cemetery on one side, you will find a herbal garden.
In one wall of the Chapel sits a stack of bones and skulls of "unknown people" killed in a war near the village of Epfig. They are finding the last resting place in the church wall of the chapel, Sainte-Marguerite.
On the cemetery, we found lots of ancestors of the family. In the streets today there were still wineries that carried the name.
Interesting detail on the cemetery was a statue referring to people that got decapitated by a guillotine.
All and all we found lots of traces of the forefathers of both families.
For me as a guide, it was an impressive experience and lovely day.
Please contact us with your inquiry at www.jsgenealogy.com
After meeting at the train station of Strasbourg we drove to our first stop; the mayors building in Reinhardsmunster.
We were very warmly greeted by Mister Daniel Brandstetter. Mr. Brandstetter knows a lot about the history of the area and had prepared our visit there. Via him, we met the current mayor of Reinhardsmunster and Mrs. Carline Buchel who let us in their office to look and copy some old documents and maps.
Among many handwritten documents in French and Latin, we found some birth- and baptize certificates.
On the cemetery, we found a lot of ancestors resting there. The family must have been numerous and important in the old days.
To me, it was a mystical place. Outside in the cemetery on one side, you will find a herbal garden.
In one wall of the Chapel sits a stack of bones and skulls of "unknown people" killed in a war near the village of Epfig. They are finding the last resting place in the church wall of the chapel, Sainte-Marguerite.
All and all we found lots of traces of the forefathers of both families.
For me as a guide, it was an impressive experience and lovely day.
Please contact us with your inquiry at www.jsgenealogy.com
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