Rothschilds
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The Rothschild family is a family descending from **Mayer Amschel Rothschild**, a **court Jew** to the German **Landgraves of Hesse-Kassel**, in the **Free City of Frankfurt**, who established his banking business in the 1760s.[1] Unlike most previous court Jews, Rothschild managed to bequeath his wealth, and established an international **banking family** through his five sons.[2]
Five lines of **the Austrian branch of the family** have been elevated to **Austrian nobility**, being given five hereditary titles of **Barons** of the **Habsburg** Empire by **Emperor Francis II** in 1816. Another line, of **the British branch of the family**, was elevated by **Queen Victoria**, who granted the family two hereditary titles of **Baronet** (1847)[3] and **Baron** (1885).[4]
During the 19th century, when it was at its height, the Rothschild family is believed by some to have possessed the largest private **fortune** in the world, as well as the largest private fortune in**modern world** history.[5][6][7] The family's wealth is believed to have subsequently declined, as it was divided amongst hundreds of descendants.[8] Today, Rothschild **businesses** are far less well known than they were throughout the 19th century, although they encompass a diverse range of fields, including finance, real estate, mining, energy, mixed farming, wine, and charities.[9][10]
Contents
- **1** **Family overview**
- **2** **The Napoleonic Wars**
- **3** **International high finance**
- **4** **English branch**
- **5** **French branches**
- **6** **Austrian branch**
- **7** **Naples branch**
- **8** **Jewish identity and positions on Zionism**
- **9** **Modern businesses, investments, and philanthropy**