IDTG

My wife has recently become a fan of the the reality show High Society on the CW. For those fortunate enough to not have been forced to watch it, this reality show revolves around a Manhattan socialite called Tinsley Mortimer and her friends/acquaintances/”frenemies”. Don’t ask me what’s Ms. Mortimer is famous for, because I don’t have a clue…

In any case, the reason for the inclusion in this blog is because Ms. Mortimer is/was dating a “Prince Casimir”. It appears that the “prince” really is a prince whose full name is His Serene Highness Prince Johann Casimir Ludwig Karl Andreas Maria Rudolf of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.

The House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn is a junior branch of the House of Sayn-Wittgensteing-Berleburg which, in turn, is a cadet branch of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein.

The arms at the top of this post are those of Sayn (on the left) and of Wittgenstein (on the right), the “roots” of the House.

The two noble Houses have long histories that can be traced back at least 800 years on each of the individual lines of Wittgensteing and Sayn (through the parent House of Sponheim) and didn’t merge until 1605 with

However, just as Ludwig I Count of Sayn-Wittgenstein united the two Counties, he split the House for his sons.

The first, and senior line, is that of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg that was founded by the eldest son George. The arms of this now princely line are blazoned:

Quarterly: 1 and 4: Argent 2 pallets Sable, 2: Gules a Castle of two Towers Argent, 3: Sable on a bend sinister Argent three Boar’s Heads to sinister erased Sable. Overall on a shield of pretence Gules a lion double queued rampant guardant Or armed and langued Azure.

The junior line is that of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, founded by the second son Ludwig II. The arms of this now princely line are blazoned:

Per fess in chief quarterly Gules a lion passant Or; Gules a castle of 2 towers Argent; Gules Barry of 3 Or; Argent a deer passant Sable and in base quarterly Barry Argent and Sable overall on a bend sinister Argent 3 boar’s heads to sinister erased Sable; Checquy Gules and Argent; Per fess in chief a base indented Gules and Argent and in base Azure 5 Oars(?) Argent 3 and 2; Per fess in chief Azure 5 Oars(?) Argent 3 and 2 and in base a base indented Gules and Argent.

The arms of the princely line of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn are identical to those of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg with the addition of a chief Azure a sword fesswise point to sinister Or.

For those who are interested in reading more about the family today, you can visit what appears to be their official site at http://www.sayn.de/english.html

Also, an excellent resource for those who are interested in the heraldic history of the House of Sayn and all the offshoots of the family can visit this excellent site: http://www.europeanheraldry.org/house_of_sayn.html