Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle
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Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues
The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle (Template:Langx, Template:Langx) was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised territories of the former Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, Frisia and the Westphalian part of the former Duchy of Saxony.
The circle was made up of numerous small states, however the Counts De la Marck were able to collect a significant amount of territories, the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 on. The Empire's largest ecclesiastical territory was held by the Prince-Bishops of Münster.
Composition
The circle was made up of the following states:
| Name | Type of entity | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| File:CoA Arenberg County.svg Arenberg | Principality | Attained imperial immediacy in 1549 under Jean de Ligne, Principality from 1576, raised to Duchy in 1644 gaining the 81th seat to the Reichstag |
| Template:Coat of arms | Imperial City | Script error: No such module "Lang". granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1166 |
| File:Anholt.png Anholt | County | 18th Westfalian County, formerly to the Utrecht bishops, Script error: No such module "Lang". since the 14th century, held by the Lords of Gemen, fell to Salm-Salm in 1641 |
| File:Wappen Beilstein (Wuerttemberg).svg Beilstein | Lordship | Fief of Trier since 1488, held by the Script error: No such module "Lang". von Metternich from 1635, Script error: No such module "Lang". from 1679 |
| File:Arms of the house of Bentheim.svg Bentheim | County | Recognized as an imperial county in 1486. |
| File:Bergischer Löwe.svg Berg | Duchy | Raised to duchy by King Wenceslaus of Luxembourg in 1380, part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Jülich to Palatinate-Neuburg according to the Treaty of Xanten |
| File:DEU Blankenheim (Ahr) COA.svg Blankenheim-Gerolstein | County | Inherited by Manderscheid in 1468 |
| File:Blason ville be Bouillon.svg Bouillon | Duchy | (Beulen) A protectorate of France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen but not annexed until 1795 |
| File:Stadtwappen der Stadt Brakel.svg Brakel | Imperial City | Status challenged by the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn |
| File:Blason cambrai.svg Cambray | Imperial City | (Kamerich) Status challenged by the Cambrai bishops, declared to a duchy by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1510 |
| File:CoA Cambrai Diocese.svg Cambrésis | Prince-Bishopric | (Kammerich) Diocese established in the 6th century, Script error: No such module "Lang". granted by King Henry II in 1007, archbishopric from 1559, fell to France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen |
| File:Arms of the House of Cleves.svg Cleves | Duchy | (Kleve) Part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Mark and Ravensberg to Brandenburg according to the Treaty of Xanten |
| Template:Coat of arms | Imperial City | (Köln) Status acknowledged by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1475 |
| File:CoA Corvey Abbey, NRW.svg Corvey | Prince-Abbacy | Established in 815 by King Louis the Pious; 69th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:Blason Comtes de Delmenhorst.svg Delmenhorst | County | Established by a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg, held by Oldenburg since 1436 |
| File:CoA Diepholz County.svg Diepholz | County | 11th Westfalian County. Established about 1160, to Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1585 |
| Template:Coat of arms | Imperial City | Status confirmed by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1236 |
| Template:Coat of arms | Imperial City | Given in pawn to Cleves by King Rudolph of Habsburg in 1290, finally divested of the Imperial title by Elector Frederick William I of Brandenburg in 1674 |
| File:Wappen der Stadt Düren.svg Düren | Imperial City | Status confirmed by Emperor Otto III in 1000, given in pawn to Jülich by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1241 |
| File:Arms of the house of Salm-Viandel.svg Dyck | Lordship | 30th Westfalian County, to the Salm-Reifferscheid |
| File:Arms of the house of Cirksena (1).svg East Frisia | Princely County | (Ostfriesland) Raised to Principality 1662, fell to Prussia in 1744 |
| File:Coat of arms echternach luxbrg.svg Echternach | Prince-Abbacy | Established about 698 by Saint Willibrord, immediacy granted by King Pepin the Short in 751, annexed by France in 1794 |
| File:Coat of arms high contrast icon.svg Essen | Abbacy | Established in 845 by Saint Altfrid, immediacy probably granted by King Conrad I (911-918), 10th Prelatess of the Rhine, secularised to Prussia in 1803 |
| File:Blason maison be de Ligne.svg Fagnolle | Lordship | Held by the House of Ligne, raised to county in 1770 |
| File:Wapen Gemen.png Gemen | Lordship | Held by the Counts of Holstein-Schauenburg, fell to the House of Limburg-Stirum in 1640 |
| File:Wappen der Fürsten von Schwarzenberg 1792.jpg Gimborn | Lordship | Held by the House of Schwarzenberg, Script error: No such module "Lang". granted by Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg in 1631, raised to county in 1698, sold to Johann Ludwig von Wallmoden in 1782 |
| File:Coat of arms of county Gronsveld (HRE).svg Gronsveld | Lordship | Script error: No such module "Lang". granted by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1498, raised to county about 1588, annexed by France in 1794 |
| File:Hallermund Arms.png Hallermund | County | Fief of Brunswick-Calenberg around Springe, raised to Imperial county in 1706 |
| File:Blason-argent-fasce-gueules.svg Herford | Imperial Abbacy | Nunnery established in 789, immediate abbacy since 1147, confirmed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1152, 13th Prelature of the Rhine |
| File:DEU Herford COA.svg Herford | Imperial City | Script error: No such module "Lang". derived from Herford Abbey, challenged by Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1547, annexed by Brandenburgian Ravensberg in 1652 |
| File:DEU Holzappel COA.svg Holzappel | County | Former Esterau possession of Nassau, granted by Emperor Ferdinand III of Habsburg to his field marshal Peter Melander in 1643, to Anhalt-Bernburg in 1676 |
| File:Arms of the house of Hoya.svg Hoya | County | 10th Westfalian County. Fief of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1519, line extinct in 1582 |
| File:Wappen Juelich Herzogtum.svg Jülich | Duchy | Script error: No such module "Lang". confirmed by Emperor Louis IV of Wittelsbach in 1328, raised to duchy by Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1356, part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg 1521 to 1614, with Berg to Palatinate-Neuburg according to the Treaty of Xanten |
| File:DEU Kerpen COA.svg Kerpen and Lommersum | Lordship | Annexed by Brabant from Cologne after the 1288 Battle of Worringen, inherited by Burgundy in 1406 and the House of Habsburg in 1482, fell to Jülich in 1710, raised to county in 1712, gained Script error: No such module "Lang". in 1786 |
| File:Wappen Reichsabtei Kornelimünster.svg Kornelimünster | Prince-Abbacy | Established in 814 by Saint Benedict of Aniane |
| File:Wappen Lemgo.svg Lemgo | Imperial City | Established about 1190 by Lord Bernard II of Lippe, Script error: No such module "Lang". ascertained by the Imperial Chamber Court |
| File:Wappen Bistum Lüttich.png Liège | Prince-Bishopric | (Lüttich) Established about 315 by Saint Maternus of Cologne at Tongeren; 47th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:DE Ibbenbüren COA.svg Lingen | County | Emerged from Tecklenburg in 1493, seized as a reverted fief by Emperor Charles V of Habsburg in 1547, with the Burgundian Netherlands to King Philip II of Spain in 1555, conquered by Prince Maurice of Nassau in 1597, inherited by Prussia in 1702 |
| File:Kreiswappen des Kreises Lippe.svg Lippe | Lordship | Lordship established about 1123, raised to county in 1528, split off Lippe-Alverdissen in 1613 (Schaumburg-Lippe from 1643), raised to principality in 1789 |
| File:Armoiries d'Erpeldange.svg Manderscheid | County | Held Schleiden since 1445, raised to Imperial county by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1457, inherited Blankenheim-Gerolstein in 1468, Sternberg-Manderscheid from 1780, annexed by France in 1794 |
| File:Armoiries de la Marck 1.svg Mark | County | Established about 1160, acquired Cleves in 1368, part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Cleves and Ravensberg to Brandenburg according to the Treaty of Xanten |
| File:Arms-Myllendonk.png Myllendonk | Lordship | Regained Script error: No such module "Lang". in 1700, held by the Counts of Ostein from 1732 |
| File:CoA Minden Duchy.svg Minden | Principality | Former Bishopric of Minden secularised to Brandenburg by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia |
| File:Moers-Grafschaft.png Moers | County | First documented in 1186, held by Wied since 1493, to the Counts of Neuenahr in 1519, inherited by Adolf van Nieuwenaar in 1578, by Maurice of Nassau in 1594, to Prussia as principality in 1702 |
| File:Wappen Werne.svg Münster | Prince-Bishopric | Bishopric established by Saint Ludger about 805, Script error: No such module "Lang". territory emerged in 1180 from the Duchy of Saxony, held in personal union by the Wittelsbach Prince-Bishops of Cologne 1612–1650, 1683–1688 and 1723–1801; 43th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:DEU Diez COA.svg Nassau-Diez | County | Former County of Diez, inherited by Nassau-Dillenburg in 1386, emerged from Nassau-Dillenburg in 1606, principality 1654, inherited Orange in 1702, name changed to Orange-Nassau |
| File:Blason Nassau-Dillenbourg.svg Nassau-Dillenburg | Principality | Emerged from Nassau in 1303, split off Orange in 1559, principality in 1654, inherited by Orange-Nassau in 1739, 87th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:Blason famille de Nassau.svg Nassau-Hadamar | Principality | Emerged from Nassau-Dillenburg in 1606, Principality 1650, line extinct in 1711, inherited by Orange-Nassau in 1743, 86th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:BlasonChristian Ier (1143-1167), comte d'Oldenbourg.svg Oldenburg | Duchy | Established in Saxony after the deposition of Henry the Lion in 1180, personal union with Denmark 1667–1773, raised to duchy ruled by Holstein-Gottorp in 1774 |
| File:Wappen Bistum Osnabrück.svg Osnabrück | Prince-Bishopric | |
| File:CoA Paderborn Bishopric Old Arms.svg Paderborn | Prince-Bishopric | 29th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:Wappen bad pyrmont.svg Pyrmont | County | |
| File:Ravensberg Arms.svg Ravensberg | County | Established about 1140 out of former County of Calvelage, held by Berg since 1346, part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Cleves and Mark to Brandenburg according to the Treaty of Xanten |
| File:Wapen van Rekem.svg Template:Ill | County | |
| File:Wappen Herrschaft Reichenstein.svg Template:Ill | Lordship | |
| File:Wappen der Stadt Rietberg.svg Rietberg | County | |
| File:Blason Sayn.svg Sayn-Altenkirchen | County | 1st Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1742 to the Principality of Ansbach |
| File:Blason Sayn.svg Sayn-Hachenburg | County | 2nd Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1714 to the Margrave of Template:Ill |
| File:DEU Landkreis Schaumburg COA.svg Schaumburg | County | |
| File:DEU Landkreis Schaumburg COA.svg Schaumburg-Hesse | County | |
| File:Coat of Arms of the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe.svg Schaumburg-Lippe | County | |
| File:DEU Schleiden COA.svg Schleiden | County | |
| File:DEU Soest COA.svg Soest | Imperial City | |
| File:CoA Spiegelberg County.svg Template:Ill | County | 12th Westphalian County. From 1557 a fief of Calenberg. Fief held by Nassau-Dietz (and its successors) from 1583 until 1819, when it returned to the Kingdom of Hanover. |
| File:Malmedy wapen.svg Stavelot-Malmedy | Prince-Abbacy | (Stablo-Malmedy) 67th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:Arms of the house of Bentheim-Steinfurt (1).svg Steinfurt | County | Script error: No such module "Lang". granted by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1486, County of Steinfurt in 1495 |
| File:Arms of the house of Tecklenburg-Schwerin (1).svg Tecklenburg | County | Bentheim-Tecklenburg from 1557 |
| File:Thorn gemeentewapen.svg Thorn | Princess-Abbacy | |
| File:CoA Verden Bishopric.svg Verden | Duchy | Prince-Bishopric of Verden secularized to the King of Sweden from 1648; 46th seat to the Reichstag |
| File:DEU Verden (Aller) COA.svg Verden | Imperial City | status unclear and abolished |
| File:DEU Virneburg COA.svg Virneburg | County | |
| File:Stadtwappen der Stadt Warburg.svg Warburg | Imperial City | |
| File:DEU Werden an der Ruhr COA.svg Werden | Prince-Abbacy | |
| File:DEU Wesel COA.svg Wesel | Imperial City | status unclear |
| File:Wappen Wickrath.png Wickrath | County | |
| File:Arms of the house of Wied.svg Wied | County | |
| File:Winneburg-Beilstein.png Winneburg | Lordship | |
| File:Wittem.PNG Wittem | Lordship | Raised to a county in 1732. |
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- Transfers
- The Duchy of Guelders passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
- The Duchy of Luxembourg passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1512
- The County of Drenthe passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
- The Lordship of Groningen passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
- The Lordship of Overijssel passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
- The Bishopric of Utrecht passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
- The County of Zutphen passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
References
- Imperial Circles in the 16th Century Historical Maps of Germany
- The list of states making up the Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle is based in part on that in the German Wikipedia article Niederrheinisch-Westfälischer Reichskreis.
- Template:In lang List of the imperial circles of 1532
External links
Template:Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle Template:Circles of the Holy Roman Empire Template:Authority control