Everstein

The free lords and counts of Everstein took their name from castles in the Weser hills near Holzminden, first using it in 1116. Followers of the Hohenstaufen, they built a small lordship and around 1100 led the colonization of the Slavic Dobnagau, which they surrendered to the Vogts of Plauen in 1328.

The house split into branches around 1200. After the Hohenstaufen fell, the dukes of Brunswick forced the sale of Everstein Castle in 1284, and Polle became the seat. In 1322 Adelaide of Everstein-Polle married Ernest I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen; around 1335 the lords surrendered Ohsen.

After the succession feud of 1403 to 1408, the county and Polle Castle passed to the dukes of Brunswick-Lueneburg, and Count Hermann VII, the last male of the line, died in exile. A Pomeranian branch at Naugard, established in 1274, survived until 1663.