Tucher von Simmelsdorf

Tucherschloss, Nürnberg

The first known member is Berthold Tucher, who became a citizen of Nuremberg in 1309. The Tuchers gained considerable importance in the economic golden age of Nuremberg and spread to Lyon, Antwerp, Geneva and Venice. Although they founded their own commercial branches relatively late in comparison to other patrician families, they became one of the richest merchant families in the city due to their trade connections throughout Europe. They were also engaged in mining in Tyrol, Austria, like the Fuggers. In the 17th century, the Tuchers, along with the Imhoff family, operated the last big trading companies of the Nuremberg patriciate; both families especially competed in the European saffron trade.

They were among the most important patrons of the golden age of Nuremberg art around 1500. Their main residence was the Tucherschloss (Tucher castle) at Nuremberg, still today owned by the family and housing a museum on the history of the Tuchers and the Nuremberg trading businesses of the Renaissance age. The family also still owns the castles of Simmelsdorf, Behringersdorf and Schoppershof.

Three members of the family were portrayed by Albrecht Dürer, among them Elsbeth Tucher (1473–1517), whose image was depicted on the older 20 Deutsche Mark banknote.

A branch moved to Antwerp in the late 15th century, for six generations, providing three mayors to the city, and remaining Catholic. Like most ruling patricians of German free imperial cities, the Nuremberg Tuchers became Lutheran Protestants with the Reformation. During the 19th and 20th centuries the family continued to brew a locally famed beer, Tucher Bräu.

Their heraldic crest shows a black moor in gold, with the motto: Sincere et Constanter ("Sincere and Steadfast").

Of all trading families of Nuremberg, the Tucher family was probably among the most important patrons for works of art of the Golden Age.

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  Hans Tucher (1428–1491), by Michael Wolgemut
• 
  Ursula Tucher née Harsdörffer, wife of Hans
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  Berthold V. Tucher (1454–1519) and Christine Schmidtmair (ca 1550)
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  Hans Tucher, by Dürer (1499)
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  Felicitas Tucher, née Rieter, by Dürer, wife of Hans
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  Elsbeth Tucher, née Pusch (1473–1517), by Dürer
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  Combined arms of the Tucher and Rieter families, by Dürer (1499)
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  Anton Tucher (1458–1524)
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  Sixtus Tucher (1459–1507)
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  Lorenz II Tucher (1490–1554)
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  Hieronymus (Jérôme) Tucher (1504–1540), by Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen
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  Tobias Tucher (1534–1590)
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  Leonhard II Tucher with 2 wives and children (1590)
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  Tobias Tucher (1627–1693), judge
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  Tucher altar piece, Frauenkirche, Nuremberg (1440), by Master of the Tucher Altarpiece
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  Lorenz Tucher's epitaph, St. Sebaldus Church, Nuremberg, by Hans von Kulmbach (after Dürer's draft), 1513
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  Angelic Salutation (Stoss) by Veit Stoss, commissioned in 1517 by Anton Tucher
• 
  Elsbeth Tucher, after the Durer portrait, on the 20 Deutsche Mark banknote

Crest of Tucher and Ursel, St. James' Church, Antwerp

The Flemish branch descendts from the branch of Andreas Tucher, his son Berthold Tucher (1454-1519) died in Eisleben and had multiple children whom left Nurnberg and spread in Europe.[11] His eldest son Lazarus moved to Antwerp.[12] His descendants belonged to the most powerful people of Antwerp and became mayors. His descendants married into important Flemish families,[13] and resided in Tanghof Castle, Kontich.

1. Lazarus I Tucher von Simmelsdorf, (1492-1563), son of Berthold : imperial conseillor. Married to Jacqueline Coquiel (sister of Charles de Cocquiel).[14]
   1. Ambrosius Tucher, knight. Married Mary of Ursel, daughter of Lancelot II of Ursel.
      1. Robert I Tucher, mayor (alderman) of Antwerp, married Jullianne of Schetz, niece of Erasmus II Schetz.
         1. Jean I Tucher, (1586-1605). Died in Leuven.
         2. Robert II Tucher, (1587-), knighted, Lord mayor of Antwerp. Married to Marie Catherine of Berchem.
            1. Joannes II Antonius Tucher:[15] Lord Mayor of Antwerp, marr. Maria Susanne de Cordes, daughter of Jean Charles de Cordes,[16] Lord of Wichelen, Reeth and Waerloos; 3rd marriage to dame Isabelle de Robiano.
               1. Joannes III Robrecht Tucher, died without heirs.
               2. Marie-Antoinette Balthine Tucher, marr. don Juan Francisco de Santa Cruz, Lord of Boortmerbeecke, Buried inside St-James, Antwerp.
         3. Charles Tucher, ( 1588-1591)
         4. Marie Tucher, (1589-1594)
         5. Lazarus III Tucher, (1590)
         6. Lancelot Tucher, (1591-1601)
         7. Conrard Tucher, (1592)
   2. Lazarus II Tucher, marr. Barbara Dammant.
   3. Anna Tucher, marr. Ruprecht Haller von Hallerstein (1533-1560).

• Master of the Tucher Altarpiece