Rothschild | |
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Jewish noble banking family | |
![]() Coat of arms granted to the Barons Rothschild in 1822 by Emperor Francis I of Austria | |
Current region | Western Europe (mainly United Kingdom, France, and Germany)[1] |
Etymology | Rothschild (German): 'red shield' |
Place of origin | Frankfurter Judengasse, Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire |
Founded | 1760s (1577 | )
Founder | Elchanan Rothschild (b. 1577) |
Titles | List
|
Traditions | Goût Rothschild |
Motto | Concordia, Integritas, Industria (Latin for 'Harmony, Integrity, Industry') |
Estate(s) | |
Cadet branches | |
Website | rothschildarchive.org |
The Rothschild family (/ˈrɒθ(s)tʃaɪld/ ROTH(S)-chylde German: [ˈʁoːt.ʃɪlt]) is a wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking family originally from Frankfurt that rose to prominence with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744–1812), 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 1760s.[2] Unlike most previous court factors, Rothschild managed to bequeath his wealth and established an international banking family through his five sons,[3] 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.[4][5] 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 1567.
During the 19th century, the Rothschild family possessed the largest private fortune in the world, as well as in modern world history.[6][7][8] The family's wealth declined over the 20th century, and was divided among many descendants.[9] Today, their interests cover a diverse range of fields, including financial services, real estate, mining, energy, agriculture, winemaking, and nonprofits.[10][11] Many examples of the family's rural architecture exist across northwestern Europe. The Rothschild family has frequently been the subject of conspiracy theories, many of which have antisemitic origins.[12]
conspiracy1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).