Johannes von Lahnstein

Johannes is a powerful and successful aristocratic businessman and the owner of Lahnstein Holding. He is the second born son of Dietrich and Mimi von Lahnstein and the younger brother of Ludwig von Lahnstein. Johannes was married to the late Francesca di Balbi and together they raised four beautiful children, Ansgar, Leonard, Carla and Constantin. Ansgar (Wolfram Grandezka), the eldest, fought his entire life to live up to the high pressure his father put on him. Johannes's favorite child was Leonard (Lars Korten), even though he chose not to follow in father's footsteps and instead became a doctor. Carla (Claudia Hiersche) kept her homosexuality a secret, knowing how traditional and conservative Johannes is. Constantin (Milan Marcus), the youngest, never had much pressure put on him by Johannes. His marriage to Francesca was hardly smooth, both had multiple affairs and illegitimate children and it would transpire that Carla was the only biological child they had together. Francesca fell in love with Johannes's friend Adrian Degenhardt (Klaus Zmorek), who fathered both Leonard and Constantin. While it was clear from the beginning that Constantin was not his son, Johannes chose to raise him anyways. Johannes fathered Ansgar with Francesca's sister, Maria. Ansgar and Leonard's parentage was not discovered until much later. Francesca died in a tragic car accident when Ansgar, Carla and Leonard were young adults. Afterwards, Johannes had a change of heart about Constantin and decided he could not raise a child that was not his. Constantin was then sent to Italy to be raised by Francesca's sister, Carlotta. Johannes also had two illegitimate daughters, Sarah Hofmann with his maid Elke Käppler and Nico Brandner with Vera Brandner. He was not aware of either of them until they were adults.

In 2003, Johannes meets the beautiful and young Cécile de Maron (Yvonne Burbach) and falls in love with her. Even though, Cécile needs a little bit time to let Johannes in her heart, they become a couple. Carla doesn't like Cécile from the beginning, because she doesn't think that a woman of Carla's age could fall for her father. Cécile tries to prove Carla wrong, but she keeps her doubts. It doesn't take Johannes long and he proposes. Cécile thinks it is too soon for them to get married, but then agrees anyway. She and Johannes celebrate their happiness with a big wedding. Soon after the wedding, Leonard comes back from Chicago, where he went to college to study medicine. He and Cécile meet by accident, before he even arrives at Castle Königsbrunn and is stunned by her beauty. He later gets the surprise of his life, when Johannes presents the young woman as his new wife. Leonard tries to stay distance to the married couple and even suggests to go back to Chicago. But Johannes is so excited that Leonard returned and wants his son to stay. Cécile eventually begins to fall deeply for Leonard and so does he. They end up having a secret affair with each other, while Johannes has the wish to have another child with Cécile. She tries to end her affair with Leonard and work on her marriage, but time and time again Leonard and Cécile can't stay away from each other. Cécile then decides to finally work on her marriage, when Johannes feels that she is slipping away. She ends thing with Leonard and tells him that they have no future together. Leonard then gets involved with his ex-girlfriend Silke Voss (Annette Culp), whom he dated for a while in Chicago. With no future for him and Cécile, he reunites with Silke and Johannes is happy, when Leonard announces that he and Silke will get married, while Cécile gets jealous. On his wedding day to Silke, Leonard finally tells his father that he and Cecile are in love. Leonard and Cecile have a passionate reunion and decide they are going to be open about their relationship. Johannes declares that Leonard is dead to him.

In January 2008, ten days after his 58th birthday, Johannes had a business trip his plane crashed into the ocean. Johannes died. Shortly before he changed his last will and made his daughter Carla to the heir of the Lahnstein dynasty. However, his son Ansgar faked his will after Johannes was found presumed death and made his son Hannes (Daniel and Simon Kühn) to the main heir.

• The Lahnstein Family