The history of Knuthenborg
Knuthenborg was first mentioned under the name of “Årsmarke” in 1328. Until 1662, the old stately home was favoured by some of the members of the ancient aristocracy who, through the Imperial Diet, were the real wielders of power in Denmark, Norway, and the Faroe islands. The King was elected by the Diet.
The Urne family was one of the most powerful families at that time. Three generations of the family owned Årsmarke from 1527-1667.
When King Frederick III (1609-70) introduced Absolutism, and with it the absolute monarchy in 1660, he brought new men into the nobility that he collected around him. One of these men was Cornelius Pederson Lerche, a career diplomat, and, in 1667 he became the owner of Årsmarke amongst other properties. In 1677, his daughter, Sister Lerche, married the Mecklenberg nobleman, Christoffer von Knuth, who was in the service of the Danish King Christian V (1646-1699). The Knuth/Lerche married couple proved to be excellent for Årsmarke, enlarging it through building, acquisition and exchange.
The County
Their son, Adam Christoffer Knuth, became the first count in the family in the year 1714 under King Frederick IV. The old Årsmarke became the new county of Knuthenborg.
Counties, baronies and manor houses were constructed as a consequence of Absolutism. The large manor house estates underpinned the system and could not therefore be mortgaged, loaned or broken up. These estates were to be handed down intact to the oldest son, just like the kingdom itself. It was the duty of the liege/feudal lord to reflect and maintain the King’s glory and be his representative in the estates. This was a tax-free position, but with the same responsibilities as those of a Mayor in a local authority.
New Times
After the fall of Absolutism in 1848 and the introduction of new charters in June 1849, the Diet concluded a declaration of intent on the dissolution of the counties, baronies and great houses. These were the fiefdoms of Absolutism , so they were no longer in keeping with the new spirit of democracy. In 1919 the declaration passed into law and in the following years the manor house estates passed into private hands. As a countermeasure, the majority of the land and the art treasures went to the state. The land was distributed to smallholders and many of the art treasures are today in private collections or in museums all around the world.
In many cases, the manor house estates survived with new owners, but Knuthenborg today is still the property of the thirteenth generation of the same family.
Personalities
One of the most noteworthy personalities was the Count Frederik Marcus Knuth (1813-1856). He belonged to the seventh generation of the family. As national liberal foreign minister without portfolio from March until November 1848, he had influence on the aspiring democracy. His task was to preserve Denmark in the midst of chaos – and the preservation of Knuthenborg. It is thanks to him that Bandholm Harbour (Bandholm Havn) was built in the year 1837. Today the harbour is an industrial and yacht harbour. During the excavation of the harbour, a fresh water spring arose from the harbour floor, which arriving ships used as a source of drinking water. The spring can still be seen in the middle of the harbour.
The next owner, and the eighth generation, was Eggert Christoffer Knuth (1838-1874). He is regarded as the father of the country park for which Knuthenborg is now famous. In consultation with the English landscape architect, Edward Milner, he collected rare plants from all four corners of the globe.
|
Henrik Steffens Sibbern and Vilhelm Tvede were the architects for the many buildings which were built in the Victorian style. Sibbern is especially credited with the Maglemerporten, Skovridergården, Godsinspektørboligen and Enkesædet buildings in the current Knuthenborg. Vilhelm Tvede was the architect for the small gatehouses at Snapind. Between 1867 and 1871, a 7.2 kilometre long wall made of large stones was erected around this small kingdom.
Tourism in Knuthenborg
There has been public entrance to the park in return for a fee since its creation in 1860; on foot, on horseback, in a carriage, on a bicycle, and – much later – in a car. In 1926, the park was listed under a preservation order and since then has developed from a local into a national tourist attraction.
In 1950, an enclosed zoological garden was created for seventy fallow deer by the Swan Lake (Svanesøen). It was first in 1969 that the present Count, Adam W. Knuth, had the opportunity to acquire the first exotic animals in the park. A pet-shop owner had a small collection of zebras, three Ostriches and three Nilgai Antelope housed in the park. Rumours about these exciting animals spread quickly, and it was worth a journey to come and see them. The idea of creating a safari park on the island of Lolland was now kindled in earnest.
Today, Knuthenborg Safaripark is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Denmark, with up to 270,000 visitors a year.
The Knuthenborg Group
The Knuthenborg Group runs a series of businesses in forestry, farming, shooting, the marina, restaurants, property leasing, over a total of 2300 hectares. As a natural extension of these activities, there is also a retail business, an events service, technical installations and general plant construction. Knuthenborg Safaripark is an inseparable part of the long history, an exciting combination of tradition and history, nature and culture, new knowledge and ancient names.
Knuthenborg’s logo unites its past history and its future in a simple, modern version of the traditional family coat of arms.
While the count’s crown symbolises the establishment of the county of Knuthenborg in 1714, the three clover leaves emphasise the coat of arms of the Mecklenburg family of Knuth from 1200.
The Knuth Family
For 12 generations the Knuth family has been responsible for the growth and development of the great estate on the island of Lolland. Chance, in the form of, for example early death, has had an influence on many of these generations.
There can only be one Count in a family, and this is also true in the Knuth family. First when the current Count dies will the oldest son become the bearer of his title. It was agreed in the law of 1919, mentioned above, that the holder of the title of feudal Count would keep it for three generations. After that, the head of the family will be a normal count, and his wife a normal countess. The same rules apply for to the previous feudal barons.
That the current countess of Knuthenborg is also called Bille Brahe lies in the line of descent of her own family, one of the ancient Danish nobility with strong Scanic (Swedish) ties.
Home
|
| 
