The Rothschild family reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Rothschild family

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Rothschild Coat of Arms
Rothschild Coat of Arms
The Rothschild family is a successful banking and finance dynasty of German Jewish origin that established operations across Europe, and was ennobled by the Austro-Hungarian and British governments.

Their success began with Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1744-1812). Born in the ghetto of Frankfurt-am-Main he developed a finance house and spread his empire by installing each of his five sons in European cities to conduct business. An essential part of Mayer Rothschild's strategy for future success was to keep control of their businesses in family hands, allowing them to maintain complete discretion about the size of their wealth and their business achievements. Mayer Rothschild successfully kept the fortune in the family by carefully arranged marriages between closely related family members. His sons were:

In 1822, the five brothers were each created baron by Austria's Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. As such, some members of the family used "de" or "von" Rothschild to acknowledge the grant of nobility. In 1885, Nathan Mayer Rothschild II (1840-1915) of the London branch of the family, was granted the peerage title Baron Rothschild in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Rothschild family banking businesses pioneered international high finance during the industrialisation of Europe and were instrumental in supporting railway systems across the world and in complex government finance for projects such as the Suez Canal. Amassing huge fortunes, the name Rothschild became synonymous with banking and great wealth, and the family was renowned for its art collecting, as well as for its philanthropy. Since 1916, members of the family have been vacationing at Megève, an exclusive ski resort in the Haute Savoie departement of France, whose restaurants are among the best in the country. However, even in recreation the Rothschild's find a way to utilize their entrepreneurial skills and own five of the village's gourmet restaurants.

The Rothschilds were supporters of the State of Israel, and Baron Edmond James de Rothschild was a patron of the first Zionist settlement in Palestine at Rishon-LeZion. In 1917 Lionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild was the addressee of the Balfour Declaration, which committed the British government to the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. As prominent Jews active in politics as well as business, the Rothschild family has been a target for anti-semitism throughout its history. One family member was executed by the Nazis and many others were persecuted during World War II.

There are two branches of the family connected to France. The first was son Jacob James Mayer Rothschild (1792-1868), known as "James", who established Banque Rothschild & Cie in Paris. Following the Napoleonic Wars, he played a major role in financing the construction of railroads and the mining business that helped make France an industrial power. Ensuing generations of the Paris Rothschild family remained involved in the family business, becoming a major force in international investment banking. The onslaught of competition from publicly traded banking giants from the United States and the European Union, who came with enormous capital at their disposal, resulted in the 2003 merger of the privately owned Rothschild banking house in France with its British banking cousins to create a single umbrella holding company.

The second French branch was founded by Nathaniel Rothschild (1812–1870). Born in London, England he was the fourth child of the founder of the British branch of the family, Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836). In 1850, Nathaniel Rothschild moved to Paris, ostensibly to work with his uncle, Jacob James Mayer Rothschild. However, in 1853 Nathaniel acquired Château Brane Mouton, a vineyard in Pauillac in the Gironde département. Nathaniel Rothschild renamed the estate, Château Mouton Rothschild and it would become one of the best known labels in the world.

In Vienna, Austria a Rothschild established a bank and the family were admired and respected citizens. Nevertheless, ensuing generations living there during World War II had to surrender their bank to the Nazis and flee the country. Some of these family members sought sanctuary in the United States.

Over the course of almost 250 years of Rothschild family prominence, a great many members distinguised themselves in both business, philantrophy, public service, and as patrons of the arts. Like any family, they would suffer their share of scandals but the Rothschilds remain today as one of the great and enduring non-royal dynasties in all of history.

Due to their prominence, members of the Rothschild family figure in some Conspiracy theories.

Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister of Israel, has been quoted as saying about the Rothschilds that "Never has a family donated so much of its wealth to the making of history."

Some of the prominent descendants of Mayer Amschel Rothschild:

Other Rothchild persons who have no proven connections to Mayer Amschel Rothschild:

External links