The princely house of Thurn und Taxis (also called Thurn und Tassis or Turn and Taxis ) is a German family which controlled important a postal service in Europe at the 16th century. One also knows it like owner of breweries and for the construction of many castles.

At the 13th century, the family Tasso of origin lombarde resided at Bergamo. The Blaireau ( tasso in Italian, Dachs in German) gave Taxis . and in 1650 the Tower (in German Turm ) being reproduced on the family blazon finally became Thurn .

Ruggiano de Tassis founded a postal service in Italy. Thereafter, with Innsbruck, on December 11th, 1489, Jeannetto de Tassis was named Grand Master of the Stations. The family kept the monopoly of it during centuries. November 12th, 1516, the family of Taxis directed a postal service based to Brussels and connecting it by mail to Rome, Naples, the Spain, the Germany and the France.

The company of Thurn und Taxis perduré until the 18th century, when the postal service was finally repurchased by the heir to the Spanish throne.

Several family members were Chevaliers of Malta.

The current chief of the house of Thurn und Taxis is Albert II, 12th Prince de Thurn und Taxis, wire of prince Johannes and his Gloria wife. It is one of the richest families of Germany. The family resides at the castle St-Emmeram with Ratisbon since 1748. The family brewery was sold with the group Paulaner (Munich) in 1996, but produce always beer under the mark Thurn und Taxis .

The Princes de Thurn und Taxis, of 1695 to date

• Eugen Alexander Franz (11.1.1652-21.2.1714) Fürst 1695-1714
• Anselm Franz (30.1.1681-8.11.1739) Fürst 1714-1739
• Alexander Ferdinand (21.3.1704-17.3.1773) Fürst 1739-1773
• Karl Anselm (2.6.1733-13.11.1805) Fürst 1773-1805
• Karl Alexander (22.2.1770-15.7.1827) Fürst 1805-1827
• Maximilian Karl (3.11.1802-10.11.1871) Fürst 1827-1871
• Maximilian Maria (24.6.1862-2.6.1885) Fürst 1871-1885
• Albert I Maria Joseph Maximilian Lamoral (8.5.1867-22.1.1952) Fürst 1885-1952
• Franz Josef Maximilian Maria (21.12.1893-13.7.1971) Fürst 1952-1971
• Karl August Joseph Maria Maximilian (23.7.1898-26.4.1982) Fürst 1971-1982
• Johannes Baptista of Jesus Maria (5.6.1926-14.12.1990) Fürst 1982-1990
• Albert II (1983) Fürst 1990-current

See too

• the site of Turn and Taxis with Brussels

• the Board game the postal Adventure or Thurn und Taxis received the Spiel of Jahres in 2006.

Internal bond

• Station

External bonds

• Banner page of the family of Thurn und Taxis