Ermgarde van Luxemburg Durbuy

The noble family of Blankenheim is first mentioned in 1115. Gerard V's marriage to Ermesinde of Luxembourg-Durbuy, daughter of Gerard I of Durbuy,

creating family ties with the imperial family, greatly increases the prestige of the lords of Blankenheim. In 1380 the family was raised to the grave position. The count's house dies not long after in 1406 with Count Gerard VII in a male line

An interim government follows until 1415 by his brother Frederik, who is bishop of Utrecht. As a result of the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of Gerard VII, to Willem van Loon, lord of Heinsberg the county entered that family. Their son Gerard VIII manages to make the county financially healthy. The second ruling house in Blankenheim died out in 1469 when Willem II died in the battle of Wichterich against the Electorate of Cologne. Through the granddaughter of Gerard VII, Elizabeth van Schleiden, the possessions now come into the hands of the counts of Manderscheid, the third dynasty in the county