The history of Burg Layen
By Dr. Friedrich Schmitt

The ruins of the castle Layen are
found on a ridge of a cliff in the Trollbach
valley at the lower end of the Nahe stream close
to the estuary of the Rhine. There are no records
as to the beginnings of the estate. In the earliest
documents the castle was referred to as Veste
Laiga and was built before 1200.

It is controversial whether the castle was
owned by the aristocrats  of Rheingrafen who
reigned the right side of the  Rhein in the Rheingau
area or by the aristocrats of Bolanden who came
from the area of the Donnersberg owning
large possessions in the Nahe region.

After 1250 the castle Layen belonged to the aristocrats of Bolanden and was
 passed throught on to the Earls of Sponheim-Tannenfells of the same family line
100 years later  inheritance. In 1393 the castle Layen became part of the inheritance
of the Earls and future sovereigns of Nassau-Saarbrücken, respectively Nassau-Weilburg.
In 1796, the castle was confiscated during the French occupation.

The royal owners did not live in the castle themselves, but awarded the feuds to knights
and lower nobility who lived with their family in the castle and reigned on behalf of the owner
over Rümmelsheim. They were responsible for the jurisdiction and had to collect taxes.

 

During the Middle Ages a few noble
families lived together in the castle sharing
 possessions and governance over Rümmelsheim
with each owner having a greater or lesser share.
The shareholders of the respective families
lived together in order to avoid feuds.

 At that time, it was common that knights
were involved in feuds and wars; thus, were the
knights of castle Layen. In 1250 three brothers
signed a peace agreement with the Cistercian 
monastery Eberbach in the Rheingau area.
In 1493 seven knights of the castle Layen
 committed themselves to peace
 for a period of 20 years.
 

There is no proof of the occasional accusation that the castle was a
stronghold for robber knights. Documents from the 15^th century between the
archbishop of Mainz and the inhabitants of castle Layen reveal that the archbishop
was given the opportunity to use the castle as a military base in case of armed
 conflicts. By the 1680s the castle was in ruins due to wars.  

Approximately 100 years later, in 1771, the fortress of Layen consisted of
an old castle surrounded by walls, watch towers, kennel and trench. The old
walls still exist and within the  wall there were three separate buildings which
belonged to the families Ullner von Dieburg,  Weyhers-Leyen and Fürstenwärther

 

The building left to the entrance gate belonged to the Ullner family. It was a
three-storey building and was leased. The building right next to it belonged to the family
of Fürstenwärther. According to reports of that time, this building was in terrible condition.
At least 25 families, referred to as “trash” lived there. These people had a bad reputation.
The author of the report was obviously appalled at this prospect.
  

The gentry did not only rule over Rümmelsheim, but had extensive possession of land:
acres,  vineyards, meadows and forests close to the castle Layen. They leased the land to
the villagers on a yearly leasehold to be paid in money and in kind on Saint Martin`s day.

In 1499 Ulrich Ullner von Dieburg acquired 13 acres of Land in Rümmelsheim
and Sarmsheim from Paul von Leyen. Thus he became neighbour of the castle Layen.
Later, his cousin gave him his part of the estate including a barn and some inventory.
It was officially assigned to him and his descendants by the Earl of Nassau-Saarbrücken
 in 1508. This act made him an official owner in part of the castle Layen.

In 1545 he received another 84 acres (21 hectares) in the area of Rümmelsheim,
Sarmsheim and Genheim from the Earls of the Palatinate making the Ullner family the
largest landowner within the area of Schloss Layen. Only one year later the family was
given a third feud. All the feuds were given for a life time and passed on within the family.
In 1573, the Ullner family was given minor leadership rights on Rümmelsheim.
By 1771, the political influence increased to 1/4^th of the total authority.
That very year the family name died off.

In 1770, Baron Wolfgang Herbert
von Dalberg (1750-1806) came partially
into possession of castle Layen due to
his marriage with Elisabetha Augusta
Freiin Ullner von Dieburg.

 From 1792 to 1796 Napoleons troops
 conquered German territory on the left
bank of the Rhine declaring it French. In
1789 the aristocrats lost all political rights
and possessions. However, the Baron of
Dalberg managed to abrogate the confiscation
of castle Layen. On September, 11^th in 1802
Johann Peter Diel signed the purchase
contract for Burg Layen

The Coat of Arms of Burg Layen
By Axel Lorenz

 When arriving at the Diel estate you will immediately notice the
Coat of Arms of Castle Layen which is set into a wall niche of the main
building. A relief of two shields is framed by sandstone from gothic times,
anchored by gothic framework.

 The ensemble is a rare example of joining of two Coats
of Arms that only came into existence when a couple paired theirs.
The shield of the husband was always positioned on the right. Here,
it shows a golden-roofed,  three-towered castle with gate and portcullis.
The left shield displays two crossed slim poles each ending in a lily at the top.
This Coat of Arms is  crowned by a gothic-shaped roof as ornament.

 The right shield shows the Coat of Arms of the aristocrats of Ullner
von Dieburg in Hesse. It shows a castle with moat. This castle was mentioned
in 1169 for the first time. In 1499, Ulrich Ullner von Dieburg acquired 13 acres
 land within the boundary of Burg Layen. In 1501, his cousin, Hartmann von Albig
gave him his share of the castle as a present. The gratuitous gift was given to
Ulrich and passed on to his descendants by the Earl of Nassau-Saarbrücken.
This made Ullner von Dieburg a legitimate co-owner of castle Layen.

 In 1536, Philippus Ullner von Dieburg married Catharina von Venningen.
The couple created a new Coat of Arms by taking the emblems of each and
placing them side by side. The lily stands for the family of Venningen whose
family tree goes back to Diether von Venningen. He was a knight and
lord stewart in the area of Kurpfalz.
 

On September 11^th , 1802 Johann Peter Diel purchased the castle Layen
including its vineyards and farmland from Baron Wolfgang Heribert von Dalberg.
The Diel family followed the tradition of previous owners taking over the two-shielded
Coat of Arms as theirs. In the 6^th generation it stands for the continuity of the Diel estate.
This coat of Arms decorates all sparkling wines, jubilee wines and wooden cases of
 the jubilee year 2002.
 

The Pedigree of the Family Diel

Schlossgut Diel
Owner: Armin Diel
D-55452 Burg Layen
Tel: +49  (0) 67 21 - 96 95-0, Fax: +49  (0) 67 21 - 45 0 47,
eMail: info@schlossgut-diel.com
UST ID: DE 6550 11450 1