The big estate was said to be one of the most important facilities of the Bishopric of Speyer in the late Middle Ages. This is indicated by the many residencies of the bishops since 1180. Despite this the first "Burgmannen" primary were known as Imperial Ministeriales and not as commissionaires of the church, especially the first one, "Burkhard of Kästenburg", who is provably in the imperial service from 1154 to 1186. His brother "Trushard of Kästenburg", proven 1178–1201, had a brilliant career at the court of Henry VI.