Ahlefeldt (noble family)

The Ahlefeldt family is a Schleswig-Holstein noble family, originating from Ahlefeld in Dithmarschen. They belong to the Equites Originarii, the original knightly nobility of Schleswig-Holstein. The family has held significant political and military positions throughout its history, particularly in service to the Danish crown and later within the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.

Members of the Ahlefeldt family have held titles such as Count and Duke. They have also been associated with numerous estates and manors, contributing to the socio-economic landscape of the region. Key branches of the family have included lines such as Ahlefeldt-Laurvig and Ahlefeldt-Dehn.

The family’s coat of arms typically features a silver nettle leaf on a red background. The Ahlefeldt family's influence waned in later centuries, but their historical contributions to the political, military, and economic spheres of Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark remain significant.