 The family stems from the Lords of Seinsheim, who had established themselves in Franconia during the Middle Ages.A branch of the Seinsheim family (the non-Schwarzenberg portion died out in 1958) was created when Erkinger of Seinsheim acquired the Franconian territory of Schwarzenberg and the castle of Schwarzenberg in Scheinfeld during the early part of the 15th century.He was then granted the title of "Freiherr" (Baron) of Schwarzenberg in 1429.