East-Prussian Finckensteins and their archives

Through many centuries of activity, Finck von Finckenstein lineage reached the apogee of
development in the Prussian state in 17th century, which they maintained throughout the 18th and 19th
century. Albrecht Konrad Finck, owner of Iława from 1690 and the Rudzienice estate – the
Szymbark estate from 1699 – was an indisputable creator of power of this lineage. He was the
constructor of the magnate residence in Kamieniec Suski, towering over the houses of the middle
gentry. Inside the residence were many portraits of the dead and living members of the lineage,
containing the information about their contributions, relationships and office functions. There were
also the most precious pieces of evidence about their social and financial standing – the documents.
The self-awareness of affiliation to the upper privileged class was present in this pursuit towards
distinguishing oneself and self-defining himself as magnate. It was confirmed by the emperor Josef
I in the bestowal on 11th April 1710 in earl certificate Reichsgrafendiplom, thanks to the personal
intercession of the prince Eugene Sabaudzki. Obtainted title was appertained to the two, formerly
alive houses of Finckensteins (Kamienicki and Dąbrówieński).