View source for Upper Rhenish Circle

{{Short description|Imperial circle of the Holy Roman Empire}}
{{unreferenced|date=September 2021}}
[[File:Locator Upper-Rhenisch Circle.svg|thumb|300px|The Upper Rhenish Circle as at the beginning of the 16th century]]
[[File:LASB K Hellwig 0607.jpg|thumb|Upper Rhenish Circle 1791]]

The '''Upper Rhenish Circle''' ({{langx|de|Oberrheinischer Reichskreis}}) was an [[Imperial Circle]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] established in 1500 on the territory of the former [[Lorraine (duchy)|Duchy of Upper Lorraine]] and large parts of [[Rhenish Franconia]] including the [[Duke of Swabia|Swabian]] [[Alsace]] region and the [[Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles|Burgundian]] [[duchy of Savoy]].

Many of the circle's states west of the [[Rhine]] river were annexed by [[Early modern France|France]] under King [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] during the 17th century, sealed by the 1678/79 [[Treaties of Nijmegen]].

== Composition ==
The circle was made up of the following states:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Name
! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Type of entity
! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Commentate 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | <del>[[Andlau Abbey|Andlau]]</del>
| [[Abbey]]
| Former [[Prelature]] to [[France]] since 1681.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Bar Arms.svg|20px]]   [[Duchy of Bar|Bar]]
| [[Duchy]]
| United with [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]] since 1483. Only the eastern part – {{lang|fr|{{ill|Barrois non mouvant|fr}}}} – lay within the Empire and therefore within the Upper Rhenish Circle; the western part – {{lang|fr|{{ill|Barrois mouvant|fr}}}} – was French territory since 1301. Annexed by France in 1766.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Basel Diocese.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Bishopric of Basel|Basel]]
| [[Prince-Bishop]]ric
| Established in the 8th century above the ancient [[Augusta Raurica]], gained independence from [[Upper Burgundy|Burgundy]] about 1000, residence at [[Porrentruy]] (''Pruntrut'') from 1527; 41st seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason maison de Baugé.svg|20px]]   [[Bâgé-le-Châtel|Baugé]]
| [[County]]
| Inherited by the [[House of Savoy]] in 1272. Raised to a county in 1424. Annexed by the [[Kingdom of France]] in the [[Treaty of Lyon (1601)|Treaty of Lyon]] in 1601.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason-diocèse-Besançon-ancien.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Archbishopric of Besançon|Besançon]]
| Prince-Archbishopric
| ''(Bisanz)'' Annexed by France in 1679; its 8th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]] became vacant 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of Imperial City of Besançon.svg|20px]]   [[Free Imperial City of Besançon|Besançon]]
| [[Free imperial city]]
| City gained status as an free imperial city in 1184. The city lost status as a free city in 1654. Annexed in 1678 by [[Kingdom of France|France]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Famille Grimaldi de Bueil.svg|20px]]   [[Beuil]]
| [[County]]
| Initially created as a Lordship, Bueil was inherited by a cadet branch of the [[House of Grimaldi]]. Bueil became a nominal vassal of the [[County of Savoy]] in 1388. Raised by Savoy to a county in 1581. Annexed by the [[French First Republic]] in 1793 and restored to the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] in 1813.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason alias1 département fr Ain.svg|20px]]   [[Bresse]]
| [[Lord]]ship
| Inherited by the [[House of Savoy]] in 1272. Annexed by the [[Kingdom of France]] in the [[Treaty of Lyon (1601)|Treaty of Lyon]] in 1601.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Bretzenheim COA.svg|20px]]   [[Bretzenheim (state)|Bretzenheim]]
| [[Lord]]ship
| Held by [[Electorate of Cologne|Cologne]], granted to Count Karl August of Heydeck, illegitimate son of Elector [[Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria|Charles Theodore of Bavaria]] in 1772, Imperial [[Graf|county]] in 1774, [[principality]] in 1789.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason_pays_fr_Bugey.svg|20px]]   [[Bugey]]
| [[Lord]]ship
| Conferred to the [[House of Savoy]] in 1077 by [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]]. Annexed by the [[Kingdom of France]] in the [[Treaty of Lyon (1601)|Treaty of Lyon]] in 1601.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Chablais.svg|20px]]   [[Chablais]]
| [[Duchy]]
| Established in the 11th century by the [[House of Savoy]]. Lost to [[Geneva]] in 1536.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason ville fr Château-Chinon(Ville).svg|20px]]   [[Château-Chinon (Ville)|Château-Chinon]]
| Lordship
| Conferred to [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Maximilian I]] in the [[Treaty of Arras (1482)|Treaty of Arras]] in 1482. Raised to a county in 1506. Ceded to [[Kingdom of France|France]] in the [[War of the League of Cambrai#Aftermath|Treaty of Noyon]] in 1516.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Image-Blason Colmar 68.svg|20px]]   [[Colmar]]
| [[Free imperial city|Imperial City]]
| ''[[Imperial immediacy|Reichsfreiheit]]'' granted by Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II of Hohenstaufen]] in 1226, part of the ''[[Décapole]]'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de Dagstuhl.svg|20px]]   [[Dagstuhl]]
| Lordship
| Held by the Lords of [[Château du Fleckenstein|Fleckenstein]], acquired by [[House of Oettingen-Wallerstein|Oettingen-Wallerstein]] in 1697.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason pays fr Dombes.png|20px]]   [[Dombes]]
| Principality
| Held by the Dukes of [[Duke of Bourbon|Bourbon]] since 1400, confiscated by the [[Kingdom of France]] in 1523.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Falkenstein Lordship.svg|20px]]   [[Counts of Falkenstein (Rhineland-Palatinate)|Falkenstein]]
| Lordship
| Held by the Counts of [[Daun, Germany|Daun]] since 1456, raised to [[graf|county]] in 1518, fell to [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]] in 1667, administered with [[Further Austria]] from 1782.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Faucigny.svg|20px]]   [[Faucigny]]
| [[Feudal baron|Barony]]
| Acquired by the [[House of Savoy]] by the 1355 [[Treaty of Paris (1355)|Treaty of Paris]]. Annexed by the [[French First Republic]] in 1792. Returned to Savoy in 1816. Annexed by the [[Second French Empire]] in 1860.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Frankfurt, Hesse.svg|20px]]   [[Frankfurt am Main]]
| Imperial City
| 6th Rhenish City. Since 1220, place of the [[Imperial election]] by the [[Golden Bull of 1356]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Friedberg (Hessen) COA.svg|20px]]   [[Friedberg, Hesse|Friedberg]]
| Imperial City
| 13th Rhenish City. Since 1252.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:D'argent croix de sable.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Bishopric of Fulda|Fulda]]
| [[Prince-abbot|Prince-Abbacy]]
| Established by [[Saint Boniface]] in 744, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor Frederick II in 1220, raised to Prince-Bishopric in 1752, 53th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the House of Geneva.svg|20px]]   [[County of Geneva|Geneva]]
| Duchy
| ''(Genf)'' Established in the 10th century as the ''County of Geneva''. Capital moved from [[La Roche-sur-Foron]] to [[Annecy]] in 1219. Purchased by the [[House of Savoy]] in 1401 and raised to a Duchy in 1564. Annexed by the [[Second French Empire]] in 1860.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason ville fr Gex (Ain).svg|20px]]   [[Gex, Ain|Gex]]
| Barony
| First mentioned in 1188. Ruled by a cadet branch of the [[County of Geneva]] until 1353 when annexed by [[Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy]]. Contested since 1536 between the [[Duchy of Savoy]] and the [[Old Swiss Confederacy]] until annexed by the [[Kingdom of France]] in the [[Treaty of Lyon (1601)|Treaty of Lyon]] in 1601.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason haguenau 67.svg|20px]]   [[Haguenau]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Hagenau)'' Since about 1260, capital of the ''Décapole'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Hanau-Lichtenberg.JPG|20px]]   [[Lichtenberg, Bas-Rhin|Hanau-Lichtenberg]]
| [[Graf|County]]
| Partitioned from the County of [[Hanau]] as Hanau-[[Babenhausen, Hesse|Babenhausen]] in 1456, inherited the lordship of [[Château de Lichtenberg|Lichtenberg]] in 1474, fell to [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt|Hesse-Darmstadt]] in 1736.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Hanau-Münzenberg.JPG|20px]]   [[Hanau-Münzenberg]]
| County
| Partitioned from the County of Hanau in 1456, reunited with Hanau-Lichtenberg in 1642, fell to [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]] in 1736.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Heitersheim COA.svg|20px]]   [[Heitersheim]]
| [[Principality]]
| Held by the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of St John]] since 1272, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] in 1548.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Reichsabtei Hersfeld.svg|22px]]   [[Hersfeld Abbey|Hersfeld]]
| [[List of Imperial abbeys|Abbacy]]
| Established about 736 by [[Saint Sturm]], ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by [[Charlemagne]] in 775, [[Secularization|secularised]] to a principality by the 1648 [[Peace of Westphalia]], held by [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Coat of arms of Hesse.svg|20px]]   [[Landgraviate of Hesse|Hesse]]
| [[Landgraviate]]
| Established after the [[War of the Thuringian Succession]] in 1247, residence at [[Kassel]], partitioned after the death of Landgrave [[Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse|Philip I]] in 1567.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms_of_the_house_of_Hesse-Kassel_(4).svg|18px]]   [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel|Hesse-Kassel]]
| Landgraviate
| Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, Electorate of Hesse in 1803.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Coat of arms of Hesse.svg|20px]]   [[Hesse-Rheinfels]]
| Landgraviate
| Subdivision of Hesse from 1567 including the former [[County of Katzenelnbogen]] with [[Burg Rheinfels]], line extinct in 1583, fell to Hesse-Kassel.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Wappen Hessen-Darmstadt 1736.jpg|18px]]   [[Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt|Hesse-Darmstadt]]
| Landgraviate
| Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]] in 1806.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Coat of arms of Hesse.svg|20px]]   [[Hesse-Marburg]]
| Landgraviate
| Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, line extinct in 1604, annexed by Hesse-Darmstadt.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Hesse-Homburg.svg|18px]]   [[Hesse-Homburg]]
| Landgraviate
| Cadet branch of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1622, gained ''Reichsfreiheit'' in 1768.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms-Isenburg.svg|20px]]   [[Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein]]
| County
| Subdivision of the County of [[County of Isenburg|Isenburg]] established in 1511 (Oberisenburg), again divided in 1628.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Isenburg-prince.PNG|20px]]   [[Isenburg-Birstein]]
| County
| Subdivision of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein from 1628, merged into [[Isenburg-Offenbach]] in 1644, restored in 1711, raised to principality in 1744.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms-Isenburg.svg|20px]]   [[Isenburg-Büdingen]]
| County
| Subdivision of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein from 1628.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms-Isenburg.svg|20px]]   [[Isenburg-Meerholz]]
| County
| Split off Isenburg-Büdingen in 1673.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms-Isenburg.svg|20px]]   [[Isenburg-Wächtersbach]]
| County
| Split off Isenburg-Büdingen in 1673.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason de la ville de Kaysersberg (68).svg|20px]]   [[Kaysersberg]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Kaisersberg)'' Part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:COA family de von Eppstein.svg|20px]]   [[Königstein im Taunus|Königstein]]
| County
| Held by the [[Lords of Eppstein]], raised to ''[[Graf|Reichsgrafen]]'' by Emperor [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian I of Habsburg]] in 1505, inherited by [[County of Stolberg|Stolberg]] in 1535, seized by [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Mainz]] in 1581.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Wappen Kriechingen.svg|20px]]   [[County of Kriechingen|Kriechingen]]
| County
| Former fief of [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]] around [[Créhange]], raised to Imperial county in 1617, held by the Princes of [[East Frisia]] from 1697, to [[Wied-Runkel]] in 1726.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Wappen Landau Pfalz.svg|20px]]   [[Landau]]
| Imperial City
| ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by [[Rudolph I of Germany|Rudolph I of Habsburg]] in 1291, seized by the [[Prince-Bishopric of Speyer|Bishop of Speyer]] in 1324, restored by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1511, joined the ''Décapole'' in 1521.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Leiningen-westerburg.JPG|20px]]   [[Leiningen-Westerburg]]
| County
| Subdivision of the former County of [[House of Leiningen|Leiningen]] since 1317, inherited by the Lords of [[Westerburg]] in 1467.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de Leiningen.svg|20px]]   [[House of Leiningen|Leiningen-Dagsburg]]
| County
| Subdivision of the former County of Leiningen since 1317, raised to principality in 1779.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Lorraine.svg|18px]]   [[Duchy of Lorraine|Lorraine]]
| Duchy
| ''(Lothringen)'' Former Upper [[Lotharingia]], acquired by [[René of Anjou]], Duke of [[Duchy of Bar|Bar]] in 1431, swapped by Duke [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis III of Habsburg-Lorraine]] for the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]] in 1735, annexed by France in 1766.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Maurienne.svg|18px]]   [[County of Maurienne|Maurienne]]
| County
| Subdivision of the county of Savoy in 1032.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Hünfelden COA.svg|20px]] [[Hünfelden|Mensfelden]]
| Lordship
| [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]] of [[Electorate of Trier|Trier]] and [[Nassau (state)|Nassau]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason maison d'Aspremont.svg|20px]]   [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz|Metz]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| Established by 535, ''Reichsfreiheit'' confirmed by [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV of Luxembourg]] in 1357, occupied by King [[Henry II of France]] in 1552, part of the French [[Three Bishoprics]] by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Metz 57.svg|20px]]   [[Metz]]
| Imperial City
| Since 1189, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Mulhouse.svg|20px]]   [[Mulhouse]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Mülhausen)'' Since about 1268, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354, joined [[Old Swiss Confederacy|Swiss Confederacy]] in 1515, France in 1798.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason de la ville de Munster (68).svg|20px]]   [[Munster, Haut-Rhin]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Münster )'' ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1235, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Murbach.svg|20px]]   <del>[[Murbach Abbey|Murbach]]</del>
| Imperial Abbey
| [[Principality]] since 1548, to France in 1680, demolished during the [[French Revolution|Revolution]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason famille de Nassau (Lignée Valramienne).svg|20px]]   [[Nassau (state)|Nassau-Idstein]]
| County
| Split off Nassau-Weilburg in 1627, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1721.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Nassau-Saarbrücken.svg|20px]]   [[Nassau-Saarbrücken]]
| County
| 3rd Rhenish County, established in 1381, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1723.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Nassau-Saarbrücken.svg|20px]]   [[Ottweiler|Nassau-Ottweiler]]
| County
| Split off Nassau-Saarbrücken in 1659, fell to Nassau-Usingen in 1728.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Nassau-Saarbrücken.svg|20px]]   [[Nassau-Usingen]]
| County
| 1st Rhenish County, split off Nassau-Saarbrücken in 1659, principality in 1688, [[Nassau (state)|Duchy of Nassau]] from 1806.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason famille de Nassau (Lignée Valramienne).svg|20px]]   [[House of Nassau-Weilburg|Nassau-Weilburg]]
| County
| 2nd Rhenish County, principality in 1688, [[Nassau (state)|Duchy of Nassau]] from 1806.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason_Nomeny_54.svg|20px]] [[Nomeny]]
| [[Margraviate]]
| Held by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz|Bishopric of Metz]] until 1548, margraviate established by Emperor [[Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor|Maximilian II of Habsburg]] in 1567, to Lorraine in 1612.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Noyers-sur-Serein 90.svg|20px]] [[Noyers, Yonne|Noyers]]
| Lordship
| Conferred to [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Maximilian I]] in the [[Treaty of Arras (1482)|Treaty of Arras]] in 1482. Ceded to [[Kingdom of France|France]] in the [[War of the League of Cambrai#Aftermath|Treaty of Noyon]] in 1516.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:FRA Obernai 67 COA.svg|20px]]   [[Obernai]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Oberehnheim)'' Since about 1240, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354, annexed by France in 1679.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Wappen Odenheim.png|20px]]   [[Östringen|Odenheim]]
| [[Prince-Provost|Provostry]]
| Monastery established in 1122, Imperial college of [[Canon (priest)|canons]] ''(Reichsstift)'' since 1494, moved to [[Bruchsal]] in 1507.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Coat of arms of None.svg|20px]] [[Olbrück]]
| Lordship
| Territory around Olbrück Castle near [[Niederdürenbach]], originally held by [[County of Wied|Wied]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the Principality of Orange.svg|20px]]   [[Principality of Orange|Orange]]
| Principality
| ''(Oranien)'' Created in 1033 as the ''County of Orange''. Raised to a principality in 1163. Conceded to the [[Kingdom of France]] in 1713.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the Palatinate (Palatinate-Bavaria)-Simmern.svg |20px]]   [[Palatinate-Simmern]]
| County Palatine 
| Split off [[Electoral Palatinate]] in 1410, inherited [[Electoral Palatinate]] in 1559 with 8th vote to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries Palatinat-Bavière.svg|20px]]   [[Palatinate-Lautern]]
| County Palatine 
| Subdivision of Palatinate from 1576 with 6th vote to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Veldenz County.svg|20px]]  [[County of Veldenz#Palantine Veldenz Line|Palatinate-Veldenz]]
| County Palatine 
| Former [[County of Veldenz]] inherited by Palatinate-Zweibrücken in 1444, 16th vote to the Reichstag 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Zweibrücken County.svg|20px]]   [[Palatine Zweibrücken|Palatinate-Zweibrücken]]
| County Palatine 
| Former County of [[Zweibrücken]], in personal union with Palatinate-Simmern until 1459, fell to [[House of Palatinate-Birkenfeld|Palatinate-Birkenfeld]] in 1734, 14th seat to the Reichstag
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Prüm Abbey.svg|20px]]   [[Abbacy of Prüm|Prüm]]
| Prince-Provostry
| (Re-)established by King [[Pepin the Short]] in 752, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1222, administered by [[Electorate of Trier|Trier]] from 1576, 65th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Hohenfels County (Rhineland).svg|20px]]   [[Reipoltskirchen]]
| Lordship
| Since about 1300.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Romont (Fribourg)-coat of arms.svg|20px]]   [[Romont]]
| County
| Raised to a county in 1439. Vassal of the [[Duchy of Savoy]]. Joined the Free Imperial City of Fribourg after the Bernese conquests in Savoy of 1536.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Rosheim 67.svg|20px]]   [[Rosheim]]
| Imperial City
| Since 1303, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354, annexed by France in 1679.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Salm (1).svg|20px]]   [[Salm (state)|Salm]]
| Principality 
| Upper Salm since 1165, large parts held by the [[Wildgraviate|Wild- and Rhinegraves]] from 1475 and partitioned in 1499, [[Salm-Salm]] raised to princes in 1623 with the 84th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Salm-Dhaun.svg|20px]]   [[Salm-Dhaun]]
| County
| Subdivision of Salm since 1499, line extinct in 1750, inherited by Salm-Grumbach.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de Salm 2.svg|20px]]   [[Grumbach|Salm-Grumbach]]
| County
| Split off Salm-Dhaun in 1561, annexed by France in 1801.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de Salm 2.svg|20px]]   [[Gaugrehweiler|Salm-Stein-Grehweiler]]
| County
| Split off Salm-Grumbach in 1668.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Salm-Salm.svg|20px]]   [[Salm-Salm]]
| County
| Split off Salm-Dhaun in 1574, princely county from 1623 as [[Principality of Salm]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Salm-Kyrburg.svg|20px]]   [[Kirn|Salm-Kyrburg]]
| County
| Subdivision of Salm from 1499, residence at [[Kirn]], princely county from 1743, Principality of Salm from 1802.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason duche fr Savoie.svg|20px]]   [[Duchy of Savoy|Savoy]]
| Duchy
| ''(Savoyen)'' Former county, part of the [[Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles|Kingdom of Burgundy]] inherited by Emperor [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] in 1032, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor [[Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles IV of Luxembourg]] in 1361, raised to duchy in 1416.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Sayn.svg|20px]]   [[Sayn-Wittgenstein]]
| County
| Former Counts of [[Sayn]], a cadet branch of the [[House of Sponheim]], acquired County of [[Bad Laasphe|Wittgenstein]] in 1361, partitioned in 1607.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.JPG|20px]]   [[Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg]]
| County
| 14th Rhenish County. Subdivision of Sayn-Wittgenstein from 1607.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein.JPG|20px]]   [[Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein]]
| County
| 15th Rhenish County. Subdivision of Sayn-Wittgenstein from 1607, [[Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein]] from 1657.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason ville fr Sélestat (Alsace).svg|20px]]   [[Sélestat]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Schlettstadt)'' ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1216, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Solms COA.svg|20px]]   [[Solms-Braunfels]]
| County
| Subdivision of Solms since 1258, raised to principality in 1742.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Solms-Lich.JPG|20px]]   [[Solms-Hohensolms-Lich|Solms-Lich]]
| County
| Subdivision of Solms(-Braunfels) since 1409, Solms-Hohensolms-Lich from 1544, raised to principality in 1792.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Solms COA.svg|20px]]   [[Solms-Laubach]]
| County
| Subdivision of Solms-Lich from 1544.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Solms COA.svg|20px]]   [[Solms-Rödelheim-Assenheim|Solms-Rödelheim]]
| County
| Subdivision of Solms-Laubach from 1607, Solms-Rödelheim-Assenheim from 1635.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Speyer Diocese.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Bishopric of Speyer|Speyer]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| Established before 614, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted around 969 by Emperor [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]], 19th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Speyer COA.svg|20px]]   [[Speyer]]
| Imperial City
| 5th Rhenish City. City rights acknowledged by the Speyer bishops in 1294, venue of 50 ''[[Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]'' assemblies, including the [[Diet of Speyer (1529)]] ([[Protestation at Speyer]]).
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de Sponheim 1.svg|20px]]   [[County of Sponheim|Sponheim]]
| County
| Established in the 11th century by the Rhenish [[House of Sponheim]], held jointly by the Margraves of [[Baden]] and the [[House of Palatinate-Simmern]] since 1437.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Strasbourg Diocese.svg|20px]]   [[Archbishopric of Strasbourg|Strasbourg]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| ''(Straßburg)'' Established in the 4th century, prince-bishopric since 982; 21st seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:FRA Strasbourg (lesser arms) COA.svg|20px]]   [[Strasbourg]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Straßburg)'' Since 1262. Ceded to France in 1681
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason ville fr Moûtiers (Savoie).svg|20px]]   [[Roman Catholic Ancient Diocese of Tarentaise|Tarentaise]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| Established in the 10th century, prince-bishopric since 1186.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Toul 54.svg|20px]]   [[Ancient Diocese of Toul|Toul]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| ''(Tull)'' Established in 365 by Saint [[Mansuetus (bishop of Toul)|Mansuetus]], ''Reichsfreiheit'' confirmed by King [[Henry I of Germany|Henry I]] in 928, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552, part of the French Three Bishoprics by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Toul 54.svg|20px]]   [[Toul]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Tull)'' Since the 13th century ''(Tull)'', occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason de la ville de Turckheim (68).svg|20px]]   [[Turckheim]]
| Imperial City
| ''(Türkheim)'' Since 1312, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries de la Baronnie de Vaud.svg|20px]]   [[Barony of Vaud|Vaud]]
| Barony
| ''(Waadt)'' Established in 1234. Incorporated into the [[House of Savoy]] in 1359. Annexed by the [[Canton of Bern]] in 1536.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Coat of arms of the Bishopric of Verdun.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Bishopric of Verdun|Verdun]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| ''(Wirten)'' Established about 346, ''Reichsfreiheit'' confirmed by Emperor [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] in 997, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552, part of the French Three Bishoprics by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason Verdun 55.svg|20px]]   [[Verdun]]
| Imperial City
| Since the 12th century ''(Wirten)'', occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Blason ville fr Villars-les-Dombes (Ain).svg|20px]]   [[Villars-les-Dombes|Villars]]
| County
| Originally a Lordship. Raised to a county in 1497. Raised to a Marquisate in 1565. Raised to a Duchy in 1705.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Waldeck (am Edersee).svg|20px]]   [[Waldeck (state)|Waldeck]]
| County
| Line established about 1180, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by King [[Wenceslaus, King of the Romans|Wenceslaus of Luxembourg]] in 1379, Waldeck-[[Bad Pyrmont|Pyrmont]] from 1625, raised to principality in 1712.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Wappen Wartenberg (Hessen).png|20px]]   [[Wartenberg, Hesse|Wartenberg]]
| County
| Established in 1232, inherited by [[Riedesel]] in 1428, ''[[Freiherr]]en'' from 1680.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CHE Tegerfelden COA.svg|20px]] [[Wetterau]]
| County
| Established c. 950, held by the counts von Wetter-Tegerfelden in 1317
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Wissembourg, Bas-Rhin.svg|20px]]   [[Wissembourg|Weissenburg]]
| Imperial City
| Since 1306, part of the ''Décapole'' since 1354, annexed by France in 1648.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Wissembourg Abbey, Bas-Rhin.svg|20px]]   [[Provostry of Weißenburg|Weissenburg]]
| [[Prince-Provost]]ry
| Abbey established about 660 by the Bishopric of Speyer, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] in 967, again held by Speyer from 1546, 63th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]].
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:DEU Wetzlar COA.svg|20px]]   [[Wetzlar]]
| Imperial City
| 14th Rhenish City, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I Barbarossa]] in 1180.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Arms of the house of Salm-Dhaun.svg|20px]]   [[Waldgrave|Wild- and Rhinegraves]]
| County
| Rhinegraves since the 12th century, inherited Wildgraviate at [[Kirn|Kyrburg]] in 1409, acquired (Upper) Salm in 1475.
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:Armoiries Eveche de Worms.svg|20px]]   [[Prince-Bishopric of Worms|Worms]]
| Prince-Bishopric
| Established about 614; 15th seat to the [[Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire)|Reichstag]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | [[File:CoA Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate.svg|20px]]   [[Worms, Germany|Worms]]
| Imperial City
| 4th Rhenish City, ''Reichsfreiheit'' granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1184.
|}
<!--
== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}-->

== Sources ==
*The list of states making up the Upper Rhenish Circle is based in part on that in the [[German language|German]] Wikipedia article [[:de:Oberrheinischer Reichskreis|Oberrheinischer Reichskreis]].

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120127140233/http://historicalmaps.webs.com/Historical_Maps_of_Germany.htm Historicalmaps.com: Historical Maps of Germany — Imperial Circles in the 16th Century]

{{Alsace topics}}
{{Circles of the Holy Roman Empire}}
{{Upper Rhenish Circle}}
{{Portal bar|Holy Roman Empire|Modern history}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Upper Rhenish Circle| ]]
[[Category:1500 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:1806 disestablishments in Europe]]
[[Category:1500s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1806 disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Circles of the Holy Roman Empire]]
[[Category:Early modern history of Germany]]
[[Category:German Renaissance]]
[[Category:History of Hesse]]
[[Category:Upper Rhine]]