Zesterfleth_(family)
Zesterfleth (family)
German noble family
The Zesterfleth family is an ancient Northern German noble family with origins traceable to the early 14th century ministerial and lord Marquardt of Tzestersflete.[1]
Notable descendants include John (Johann, Johannes) II Gryse of Zesterfleth, then dean of the Bremian chapter, later bishop of Verden from 1381 until his death in 1388, who precipitated a local uproar by publicly accusing Albert (Albrecht) II of Brunswick-Wolffenbüttel of being "man and woman simultaneously", likely alleging hermaphroditism.[2]
Diedrich von Zesterfleth, a descendant of the Hanoverian Zesterfleths, was granted the French Baron title by Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia in 1813.[3] Gregor von Zesterfleth of a Prussian family branch was created a Freiherr in Bavaria in the year 1833.[4]