 Hans clearly proved himself, because by 1480 the Elector, Philip the Sincere, who was about the same age, gave him the hereditary fiefs of two castles in the Wasgau on hereditary, namely Berwartstein, "including its belongings", and Grafendahn.Within four years, the Lord of Berwartstein had expanded it into a fortress, which was impregnable for its time.He achieved this "inter alia" by erecting the outwork of Little France ("Burg Klein-Frankreich") in 1484 on the northern slope of the hill opposite, the Nestelberg.