A Sisters and Brothers Production
Count Joachim von Zollern. The von Zollern family can be
traced back to its roots beginning around the start of the 11th
century, and is also known as The House of Hohenzollern -- it
is a noble family and a royal dynasty of electors, kings and
emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated
around the town of Hechingen in Swabia. The family split into
two branches, the Catholic Swabian branch and the Protestant
Franconian branch.
The Swabian branch ruled the area of Hechingen until their
eventual extinction in 1869. It is this branch that Count Joachim
von Zollern descended from. In the movie The Radicals, his
wife is known by both of her titles -- that of the Countess of
Hechingem and Countess Ursula von Zollern, as played by the
Associate Producer of this film, Liza Vann.
Not much is known of Count Joachim von Zollern or his wife
specifically -- there are vast genealogy records available on this
family. Additionally, there is endless information about many of
the other rulers in this family, but specific information on the
correct Joachim von Zollern is hard to discern because there are
at least three that I could find from around the same time period
as Michael Sattler’s trial. What I have included here is his
character as described in the trial transcripts.
Count von Zollern was known as an indolent man, and was a
regent of Archduke Ferdinand, who was widely known as a
militant Catholic. When Ferdinand had Michael Sattler arrested, it was Count von Zollern
who insisted on conducting at least some semblance of a trial rather than having all of the
Anabaptists drowned immediately as Ferdinand originally wanted.
Count von Zollern led the trial, and was assisted by at least twenty other court members
sitting at his side as a panel. He appointed Eberhard Hoffman, Town Clerk of Ensisheim
and Jodokus Gundersheim, City Secretary of Neuenburg, to act as the actual trial
attorneys. With Archduke Ferdinand in ultimate control of von Zollern, Michael Sattler
could not have received any other verdict than a guilty one.
The Countess of Hechingem did in fact go to an imprisoned Margaretha Sattler, as
depiected in the film, to offer her freedom if she would renounce her beliefs, but
Margaretha stayed true to her beliefs and to Michael, and accepted her fate, which was to
be drowned in the river Neckar three days after Michael was tortured and put to death.
Lynn Mathis
Lynn Mathis 1953 - 2003
Lynn Mathis was
an accomplished
actor from the
Dallas area. While
he had a few
television and film
credits to his
name, such as the PBS series
Wishbone, as well as a recurring role in
Walker, Texas Ranger, he was known
more for his work in theater, especially
in Dallas cultural venues, his voice
work and the Colorado Shakespeare
Festival.
Lynn won the 1994 Leon Rabin award
for his performance in Waiting for
Godot.
Lynn was well loved and respected by
his fellow actors, many of them saying
that he made this world a little brighter.
Lynn himself said, “There are no small
roles, just small actors.”
Rest in Peace, Lynn.
Site Concept and Design:
© JT eDesigns.com, 2013
Combined Coat of Arms
of the House of
Hohenzollern-
Sigmaringen
House of Hohenzollern
Michael Sattler | Margaretha Sattler | Ulrich Zwingli | Eberhard Hoffmann |
Wilhelm Reublin | George Blaurock | Felix Mantz | Conrad Grebel | Count Joachim von Zollern
