Rothschild biography
Rothschild family
Jewish noble banking family
"House of Rothschild" redirects here. For the film, see The House of Rothschild.
| Rothschild | |
|---|---|
Coat of arms granted to the Barons Rothschild in by Emperor Francis I of Austria | |
| Current region | Western Europe (mainly United Kingdom, France, and Germany) |
| Etymology | Rothschild (German): 'red shield' |
| Place of origin | Frankfurter Judengasse, Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire |
| Founded | s (&#;()) |
| Founder | Elchanan Rothschild (b. ) |
| Titles | |
| Traditions | Goût Rothschild |
| Motto | Concordia, Integritas, Industria (Latin for 'Harmony, Integrity, Industry') |
| Estate(s) | |
| Cadet branches | |
| Website | |
The Rothschild family (ROTH(S)-chyldeGerman:[ˈʁoːt.ʃɪlt]) is a wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking family originally from Frankfurt. The family's documented history starts in 16th-century Frankfurt; its name is derived from the family house, Rothschild, built by Isaak Elchanan Bacharach in Frankfurt in The family rose to prominence with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (–), a court factor to the German Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel in the Free City of Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire, who established his banking business in the s. Unlike most previous court factors, Rothschild managed to bequeath his wealth and established an international banking family through his five sons, who established businesses in Paris, Frankfurt, London, Vienna, and Naples. The family was elevated to noble rank in the Holy Roman Empire and the United Kingdom.
During the 19th century, the Rothschild family possessed the largest private fortune in the world, as well as in modern world history. The family's wealth declined over the 20th century, and was divided among many descendants. Today, their interests cover a diverse range of fields, including financial services, real estate, mining, energy, agricultu
The Rothschild Family
Biographies
Brief biographies are available for family members descended from Mayer Amschel Rothschild () of Frankfurt, through the male line, to the present generation of adult members of the Rothschild family.
Biographical information about spouses of Rothschilds may also be included in their biography entry. Where a spouse was also born a Rothschild, they will have their own entry in the biography list.
Researchers should note that the Archive holds comparatively few private family papers of members of the Rothschild family. See The Guide to the collections of The Rothschild Archive for further information.
Browse biographies »Bibliography
The Rothschild family is well-known for its engagement with many different fields of knowledge and culture: one of the manifestations of this involvement is the range and quantity of their publications. The bibliography to date contains over items written by over fifty members of the family covering a wide range of topics.
Researchers should note that the Archive does not hold a copy of every one of the works listed.
Browse the bibliography »Estates
Summary information is available for many of the properties around the world that were built, bought or restored by the Rothschild family. The list includes houses and estates in England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands and the United States.
Researchers should note that The Archive holds comparatively few records relating to the great Rothschild houses and estates. See The Guide to the collections of The Rothschild Archive for further information.
Browse family estates »Rothschild Family: History, Net Worth, and Facts
The Rothschild family is an influential banking dynasty from Frankfurt. In fact, it is one of the most famous financial houses and was once one of the world's richest families.
Established by Mayer Amschel Rothschild in the 18th century, the empire grew to prominence under his five sons: Nathan Mayer, James Mayer, Salomon Mayer, Carl Mayer, and Amschel Mayer. Mayer Amschel believed that keeping the business in the family ensured its success in the future. And he was right.
The Rothschilds made lucrative investments and developed a solid reputation in financial management throughout Europe. They became pioneers in the development of international finance, with branches in London, Paris, Vienna, and Naples, in addition to their native Frankfurt.
From a small business engaged in trading goods and foreign exchange, the Rothschild family grew its business activities to include:
The Rothschild family has maintained its financial reach even today. It is also invested in major infrastructure projects such as bridges, tunnels, and railways. Perhaps one of its most notable projects is the Suez Canal. Other business interests include hotels, media, transportation, and wine.
Key Takeaways
- The Rothschild family grew in prominence in Europe beginning in the 18th century when Mayer Amschel Rothschild founded the family empire in Frankfurt.
- Mayer Rothschild sent sons to establish banking operations in London, Paris, Vienna, and Naples, in addition to keeping a son in Frankfurt.
- The family profited greatly during the Napoleonic Wars by helping the British government with its finances.
- In his will, Mayer Rothschild left strict instructions that titles and property could only be passed down through male heirs, which encouraged marriage among family members.
Who Is the Rothschild Family?
The Rothschild family is a wealthy and influential banking dynasty originating from Germany. They gained prominence i German banker (–) Mayer Amschel Rothschild (23 February – 19 September ; also spelled Anschel) was a German-Jewish banker and the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty. Referred to as a "founding father of international finance", Rothschild was ranked seventh on the Forbes magazine list of "The Twenty Most Influential Businessmen of All Time" in Mayer Amschel Rothschild was born in to an Ashkenazi Jewish family, in the Judengasse, the Jewish ghetto of Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany), one of eight children of Amschel Moses Rothschild (d. ) and his wife, Schönche Rothschild (née Lechnich; d. ). The ancestry of the Rothschilds is originated back to to Izaak Elchanan Rothschild (Isaac (Isaak) Elchanan Bacharach, zum Hahn), whose name is derived from the German zum rothen Schild (with the old spelling "th"), meaning "with the red shield", in reference to the house where the family lived for many generations (At the time, houses were designated by signs with different symbols or colors, not numbers). His grandchildren and descendants took this name as the family name and kept it when they relocated in to another house in the Judengasse—Hinterpfann ("[house in] the back of the saucepan") — which became the family's home and place of business through to the early 19th century. Amschel's father had a business in goods-trading and currency exchange. He was a personal supplier of coins to the Prince of Hesse. The family home above the shop had a front wall 11 feet (&#;m) wide, where more than 30 people lived at that time. With the help of relatives, Rothschild secured an apprenticeship under Jacob Wolf Oppenheimer at the banking firm of Simon Wolf Oppenheimer in Hanover in The grandson of Samuel Oppenheimer taught Rothschild useful knowledge i Mayer Amschel Rothschild
Early life
Business career