List of states in the Holy Roman Empire
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- "German States" redirects here. For the current administrative regions of Germany, see States of Germany
This is a list of states which were part of the Holy Roman Empire at any time within the empire's existence between 962 and 1806.
In the 18th century the Holy Roman Empire consisted of over 1800 separate immediate territories governed by distinct authorities. In 1792 there were approximately 150 secular territorial rulers with the status of Imperial Estate.
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[edit] Table of states
Whilst any such list could never be truly definitive, nevertheless the list below attempts to be as comprehensive as possible.
It is not limited to feudal entities that possessed Reichsunmittelbarkeit, that is, under direct authority of the Holy Roman Emperor, but includes quite some other lordships, sous-fiefs and allodial fiefs.
There is also a separate list of Imperial Free Cities, as well as a list of participants in the Reichstag as of 1792.
[edit] Key
- The "Circle" column shows the Imperial Circle (Reichskreis) that the state belonged to.
- The "Bench" column shows where the state was represented in the Imperial Diet (Reichstag).
| Circles | Benches | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aust | Austrian Circle | EL | Council of Electors, the exclusive elite formally electing the Holy Roman Emperor |
| Bav | Bavarian Circle | EC | Spiritual Bench of the Council of Princes (individual voice) |
| Burg | Burgundian Circle | PR | Secular Bench of the Council of Princes (individual voice) |
| El Rhin | Electoral Rhenish Circle | RP | Rhenish prelates (Council of Princes) |
| Franc | Franconian Circle | SP | Swabian prelates (Council of Princes) |
| Low Rhen | Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle | FC | Franconian counts (Council of Princes) |
| Low Sax | Lower Saxon Circle | SC | Swabian counts (Council of Princes) |
| Upp Rhin | Upper Rhenish Circle | WE | Westphalian counts (Council of Princes) |
| Upp Sax | Upper Saxon Circle | WT | Wetterau counts (Council of Princes) |
| Swab | Swabian Circle | RH | Rhenish Bench of the Council of Imperial Cities |
| None | "Circle-free" | SW | Swabian Bench of the Council of Imperial Cities |
Note that in the "Circle" column, "n/a" denotes a state that had ceased to exist before the Reichsreform.
Other abbreviations used in the list are:
| Abp. | Archbishopric |
| Bp. | Bishopric |
| Co. | Countship (sometimes also called county) |
| D. | Duchy |
| Ldg. | Landgraviate |
| Mrg. | Margraviate |
| Pr. | Principality |
| RA | Reichsabtei (Imperial abbacy, a monastery enjoying Reichsumitelbarkeit) |
[edit] Definition of terms
- Imperial Abbey Reichsabt: A Reichsabt, literally 'Imperial Abbot' or 'Abbot of the Empire', was an Abbot whose abbey was granted within the Holy Roman Empire the status of Reichsabtei (or Reichskloster), literally 'Imperial Abbey' (or - Monastery), meaning that it enjoyed Reichsunmittelbarkeit, like an Imperial City, making him a prince of the church, with the rank of a Prince of the Empire, like a prince-bishop.
- Imperial Circle: An Imperial Circle (in German Reichskreis, plural Reichskreise) was a regional grouping of states of the Holy Roman Empire, primarily for the purpose of organising a common defence and of collecting imperial taxes, but also as a means of organisation within the Reichstag (Imperial Diet).
- Imperial Diet Reichstag (institution): The Reichstag was the parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, the North German Confederation, and Germany until 1945.
- Imperial Estate: An Imperial State or Imperial Estate (German singular: Reichsstand, plural: Reichsstände) was an entity in the Holy Roman Empire with a vote in the Reichstag or Imperial Diet. Several states had no seats in the Empire, while some officials (such as the Hereditary Usher) were non-voting members; neither qualified as Imperial States.
- Imperial Free City: In the Holy Roman Empire, an imperial free city (German: freie Reichsstadt) was a city formally responsible to the emperor only — as opposed to the majority of cities in the Empire, which belonged to a territory and were thus governed by one of the many princes (Fürsten) of the Empire, such as dukes or prince-bishops. Free cities also had independent representation in the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Imperial Immediacy Reichsfreiheit: The Reichsfreiheit or Reichsunmittelbarkeit (adjectives reichsfrei, reichsunmittelbar) was a privileged feudal and political status, a form of statehood, which a city, religious entity or feudal principality of minor lordship could attain within the Holy Roman Empire. It is translated as ==imperial immediacy==. An immediate city, abbey or territory was under the direct authority of the Holy Roman Emperor and the Imperial Diet, without any intermediary Liege lord(s). Advantages were that reichsfrei regions had the right to collect taxes and tolls themselves, and held juridical rights (including the Blutgericht, 'high' justice including capital punishment) themselves. De facto Reichsfreiheit corresponded to a semi-independence with a far-reaching autonomy.
- Imperial Reform: In 1495, an attempt was made at a Reichstag in the city of Worms to give the disintegrating Holy Roman Empire a new structure, commonly referred to as Imperial Reform (in German: Reichsreform).
- Imperial State: An Imperial State or Imperial Estate (German singular: Reichsstand, plural: Reichsstände) was an entity in the Holy Roman Empire with a vote in the Reichstag or Imperial Diet.
- Mediatization: defined broadly, is the annexation of one monarchy by another monarchy in such a way that the ruler of the annexed state keeps his or her noble title, and sometimes a measure of power. Thus, for example, when a sovereign county is annexed to a larger principality, its reigning count might find himself subordinated to a prince, but would nevertheless remain a count, rather than be stripped of his title.
- Prince of the Empire: A Prince of the Empire is any ruling Prince whose territory is a member of the Holy Roman Empire (not only German-speaking countries, but also many bordering and extensive neighbouring regions) and entitled to a voting seat (or in a collective voting unit, such as the Grafenbank) in Imperial Diet or Reichstag.
- Prince-abbot: A Prince-abbott is a cleric who is a prince of the church (like a prince-bishop) in the sense of an ex-offico temporal lord of a feudal entity, known as prince-abbacy or abbey-principality, in an area that is ruled by the head of an abbey. The designated abbey may be a monastery or a convent. Thus, because of the possibility of it being a convent, an abbey-principality is one of the only cases in which the rule can be restricted to female incumbents, styled princess-abbess. In many cases they were prince of the empire of a Reichsabtei in or near Germany, with a seat in the Reichstag (imperial diet).
- Prince-Bishop: A Prince-Bishop is a bishop who is a territorial prince of the church on account of one or more secular principalities, usually pre-existent nobiliary titles held concurrently with their inherent clerical office. If the see is an archbishopric, the correct term is prince-archbishop; the equivalent in the regular clergy is a prince-abbot.
- Prince-elector: The prince-electors or electoral princes of the Holy Roman Empire (German: sing. Kurfürst, pl. Kurfürsten) were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Holy Roman Emperors.
- Secularization: Secularization is a process of transformation as a society slowly migrates from close identification with the local institutions of religion to a more clearly separated relationship.
[edit] Notes column
In the "Notes" column, it is interesting to show, in capsule form, the a) territorial development of the different states or polities (acquisition or loss of possessions, union of rulers or dynasties, etc.); b) royal or noble dynasties, including their various branches, which ruled over territories or polities; c) transmission of succession rights (marriage, female succession, conquest, cession, pledge, etc.); d) attributes of "statehood" (right to mint coins, holding markets and fairs, entering into treaties and pacts, appointment of civil officials, etc.) and e) the size of territory and population of the various polities whenever data is available.
[edit] State of the Empire (Reichsstand)
The following excerpt from François Velde's Unequal and Morganatic Marriages in German Law provides an excellent overview on what a "State of the Empire" is. He has other very informative and well-researched articles in his "Heraldica" web site.
"The special status of these families manifested itself in the constitution of the Empire as it evolved in the 16th c. (Please see first a general presentation of the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire.) To the status of territorial ruler corresponded a seat and vote in one of the colleges of the Reichstag, the Imperial Diet. In the late 16th c., the multiplication of votes due to territorial fragmentation led to reforms. After the Diet held at Augsburg in 1582, the list of votes remained fixed, notwithstanding further territorial divisions. Furthermore, the right to vote became attached to a land, rather than to a person or family (of course, land was inheritable within families). A member of the Diet with seat and vote (individual or shared) was called a Reichsstand, or state of the Empire.
"At some point (Abt 1911, 103 n2 cites various possible dates, from the turn of the 16th c. to 1653 to the 18th c.), the definition of Hochadel became congruent with being a Reichsstand (adjective: reichsständisch). The reason is that the Emperor, as 'fons nobilitatium,' had the power to create new princes, counts and barons of the Empire, a power which he began to use more frequently. The existing princes, counts and barons were obviously loathe to see the value of their title diminished. The members of the Diet complained and, after 1582, it became the rule that such new princes and counts would not of right have a seat at the Diet. Furthermore, in 1653 the Electoral Capitulation included strict rules on the process by which the Emperor could create new states of the Empire. In particular, any new member had to possess an immediate territory of sufficient size, and had to be accepted by his peers (princes or counts).
"Thus a distinction emerged between families that were part of the Diet in 1582 : the 'old princely' and 'old comital' (altfürstliche, altgräfliche) families -- families who were admitted to the Diet between 1582 and 1803:
the 'new princely' (neufürstliche) and 'new comital' (neugräfliche) families -- families or individuals who received the title of Reichsfreiherr, Reichsgraf or Reichsfürst but were not admitted to the Diet.
"Only the first two groups were part of the Hochadel. Those in the third group were titular counts and princes but in no way accepted as part of the Hochadel.
"Thus it would seem that having a seat and vote in the Reichstag would be a clear criterion for belonging to the Hochadel. But there were further complications:
"In principle, the possession of a territory was a pre-condition for admission in the Diet. However, in the second half of the 18th century a number of counts sat on the counts' benches without any such territory. They were called "personalists" because they had been admitted on a personal basis (ad personam), and some jurists did not consider them to be part of the upper nobility (for example, Pütter 1795, 143).
"Possession of a large immediate territory was a condition for entry, but not a condition for remaining in the Diet. It happened that territories became subjected to another state of the Empire, thus losing immediate status; yet the owner remained in the Diet. Examples include XXX.
"Consequently, whereas, in the 16th century, it was fairly easy to say who was in the upper nobility and who wasn't, it had become more difficulty by the turn of the 19th century.
"Three concepts came into play:
- immediate status (Reichsunmittelbarkeit),
- sovereignty over a territory (Landeshoheit),
- seat and vote at the Diet (Reichsstandschaft).
"The three were 'usually' related, in that the sovereign of a territory was a state of the Empire, and a state of the Empire usually had sovereignty over an immediate territory; but there were exceptions both ways. Various authors emphasized one or a combination of these elements. Thus, Runde (1791) required all three; Pütter emphasized sovereignty; Gönner and Leist emphasized seat and vote at the Diet (in distinction with the imperial knighthood, see below). Among 19th century authors, the main division was between those who required all three criteria , and those who considered Reichsstandschaft to be the sole criterion (Hohler, Klüber, Zoepf, Rehm).
"Using the second, slightly broader concept, at the end of the 18th century the high nobility consisted of those families which had seat and vote at the Imperial Diet, with title of either prince or count (the last baronial family died out in 1775), numbering about 25 princely (fürstliche) and 80 comital (gräfliche) families."
[edit] Table
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
[edit] A
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aach | Lordship | ||||
| Aachen | Imperial City | 1306 | 1500: Westphalian Circle 1801: Annexed to France | ||
| Aalen | 1360: Imperial City | SW | 1500: To Swabian Circle 1803: Annexed to D. of Württemberg | ||
| Aalst (Imperial Flanders) | County out of the Brabantgau | imperial fief to County of Flanders (under the French crown) from 1056/1059 | |||
| Aarberg Aarburg | HRE County | To Berne | |||
| Abensberg-Traun | 1653: County of Abensberg and Traun | Acquired Egloff | |||
| Adendorf | 1554: Lordship 1653: Barony 1711: County | 1554: Partitioned from Saffig-Olbrück | 1806: Raised to a principality as Pr. of the Leyen | ||
| Ahr | County | n/a | n/a | 1107 | 1210: Annexed to Co. of Nürburg |
| Aichen | Lordship | n/a | n/a | 1323: Partitioned from Lordship of Hohenrechberg | To Lords of Allmut To Lords of Lupfen 1352: Pledged to Dietheim of Mundelfingen 1450: To Lords of Heudorf 1466: Parts to Barons of Reischach and Dietrich of Rumelang 1501: To Abbey of St. Blasien 1738: Remaining partitions were annexed to Lordship of Osterberg |
| Albeck | Lordship | n/a | n/a | 1383: Annexed to Ulm | |
| Aldenburg HRE Count of Aldenburg, Lord of the Free Lordship of Knyphausen, Noble Lord of Varel | 1646: HRE Nobility 1651: immediate Lords of Knyphausen and Varel 1651: HRE Barony 1653: HRE County | ||||
| Aletzheim | County | 1439: Partitioned from Lordship of Pappenheim | 1697: Annexed to Co. of Pappenheim | ||
| Allersberg | Lordship | n/a | 1343: Partitioned from Lordship of Wolfstein | 1474: Annexed to Lordship of Sulzburg | |
| Alpheim | County | 1465: Partitioned from Co. of Neuenahr | 1589: Annexed to Co. of Moers | ||
| Alsace (German: Elsaß) | Duchy | 640 | Partitioned into Lower Alsace and Upper Alsace 1469: Duke of Austria sold Upper Alsace to Duke of Burgundy 1477: Austria regained full control of Upper Alsace 1648: Upper Alsace annexed to France 1679: Lower Alsace annexed to France | ||
| Alsace and Burgundy | Bailiwick (Ballei) of Teutonic Order | 1793: Council of Princes | |||
| Alt-Bruchhausen | County | n/a | n/a | 1234: Partitioned from Co. of Bruchhausen | 1338: Annexed to Co. of Hoya |
| Alt-Eberstein | County | n/a | n/a | 1207: Partitioned from the Usgau | 1283: Annexed to Co. of Neu-Eberstein |
| Alt-Katzenelnbogen | County | n/a | n/a | 1245: Partitioned from Ldg. of Katzenelnbogen | 1403: Annexed to Co. of Neu-Katzenelnbogen |
| Altena | County | n/a | n/a | 10th century | 1160: Merged with parts of Co. of Berg and became known as Altena-Berg 1180: Known as Altena again 1249: Merged with Co. of Mark 1367: Altena granted a charter by Count Engelbert III of Mark 1609: To Brandenburg 44.3 sq. km. |
| Altena-Berg | County | n/a | n/a | 1160: Formed by merger of Altena with parts of Co. of Berg | 1180: Became known as Altena |
| Altensteig | Lordship | 1100: 1st mention of Altensteig To Lords of Berneck To Lords of Gultlingen 1390: Sold to Margraves of Baden 1603: To Wurttemberg | |||
| An der Etsch "On the Adige" | Bailiwick (Ballei) of the Teutonic Order | c1260: Bailiwick founded 1512: Austrian Circle | |||
| Andechs | 1132: County | Advocate (Vogt) of Bishopric of Brixen c1130: Acquired County of Plassenburg 1173: Acquired Margraviate of Istria 1180: Acquired Duchy of Meran 1248/51: Line died out | |||
| Andechs-Meran | Duchy | ||||
| Andelfingen | Lordship | ||||
| Anhalt | 1212: County 1218: HRE Prince 1250: Principality 1863:Duchy of Anhalt 1918: Free State of Anhalt | Upp Sax | PR | 1173: Split off from D. of Saxony | 1252: Partitioned into Principalities of Anhalt-Aschersleben, Anhalt-Bernburg, and Anhalt-Zerbst; 1570: Reunified 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1603: Partitioned into Principalities of Anhalt-Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau, Anhalt-Köthen, Anhalt-Plötzkau, and Anhalt-Zerbst 1582: HRE Council of Princes |
| Anhalt-Aschersleben | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1252: Created on partition of Pr. of Anhalt | 1316,1322: Annexed to Bp. of Halberstadt |
| Anhalt-Bernburg Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg, Duke of Saxony, Angaria & Westphalia, Count of Ascania, Lord of Bernburg & Zerbst | Principality 1806: Duchy | Upp Sax | PR | 1252: Created on partition of Pr. of Anhalt | 1468: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst 1603: Re-established on partition of Pr. of Anhalt 1834: To Anhalt-Dessau 1863: To Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen |
| Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1727: Created on merger of Co. of Holzapfel and Pr. of Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym | |
| Anhalt-Dessau Duke of Anhalt(-Dessau), Duke of Saxony, Angaria & Westphalia, Count of Ascania, Lord of Bernburg, Zerbst & Gröbzig | 1603: Principality 1807: Duchy | Upp Sax | PR | 1396: Created on partition of Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst | 1561: Annexed back to Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst 1603: Re-established on the partition of the Pr. of Anhalt 1853: Merges with Anhalt-Köthen to form Duchy of Anhalt-Dessau-Köthen |
| Anhalt-Dornburg | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1667: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst | 1742: Re-annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst |
| Anhalt-Harzgerode | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1635: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Bernburg | 1709: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Bernburg |
| Anhalt-Köthen Anhalt-Kothen Anhalt-Cothen Duke of Anhalt-Köthen, Duke of Saxony, Angaria & Westphalia, Count of Ascania, Lord of Bernburg & Zerbst | 1603:Principality 1807: Duchy of Anhalt-Köthen | Upp Sax | PR | 1396: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst | 1552: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Dessau 1603: Re-established on the partition of the Pr. of Anhalt 1847: To Anhalt-Dessau |
| Anhalt-Mühlingen | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1667: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst | 1714: Re-annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst |
| Anhalt-Pless | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1755: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Köthen | |
| Anhalt-Plötzkau Anhalt-Plotzkau | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1544: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Dessau | 1049: 1st mention of Plotzkau Count of Plotzkau inherited County of Walbeck 1133: Counts of Plotzkau died out 1435: Anhalt inherited Plotzkau 1553: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Zerbst 1603: Re-established on the partition of the Pr. of Anhalt 1665: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Köthen |
| Anhalt-Zeitz-Hoym | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1718: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt-Bernburg | 1727: Merged with Co. of Holzapfel to form Pr. of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym |
| Anhalt-Zerbst | Principality | Upp Sax | PR | 1252: Partitioned from Pr. of Anhalt | 1396: Partitioned into Principalities of Anhalt-Dessau and Anhalt-Köthen 1544: Re-established on the partition of Pr. of Anhalt-Dessau 1796: Annexed to Pr. of Anhalt-Dessau |
| Anholt | 1169: HRE Lordship 1621: HRE County | Low Rhen | WF | 1169: Anholt castle built by William I, Prince-Bishop of Utrecht 1234: Ruled by Lords of Zuylen-Anholt 1300's: Granted immediate status during rule of Stephen I, Lord of Anholt, 1317-1343 1346: Lords of Anholt first minted money 1349: Granted city rights by Theodoric of Anholt 1380: Death of last male of Lord of Anholt; his daughter and heiress Herberga married Hermann III of Gemen died 1399: To Gemen 1402-1641: To Bronchhorst-Batenburg through marriage of Margaret of Gemen 1431: Emperor Sigismund confirmed Bronchhorst-Batenburgs as Lords of Anholt with the rights to mint coinage and hold festivals and immediate status 1641-1810: Inherited by the Princes of Salm-Salm through marriage to the heiress of Count Theodoric IV (d.1641) 1653: Imperial Estate of Bench of Counts of Westphalia 1738: Line of Salm-Salm died out; Anholt passed to the line of Salm-Hoogstraten (renamed Salm-Salm in 1739) ?-1813: French occupation 1815: To Prussia | |
| Ansbach | Margraviate | 1500: Franconian Circle | |||
| Antwerp Antwerpen | Margraviate | Burg | 1512: Burgundian Circle | ||
| Aosta | 1310: Duchy | 1539-1563: French occupation | |||
| Appenzell | Imperial valley | 1507: Split off from Abbey of St. Gall | 1597: Partitioned into Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden | ||
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | Imperial valley | 1597: Partitioned from Appenzell | 1648: Left Empire as member of Swiss Confederation | ||
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | Imperial valley | 1597: Partitioned from Appenzell | 1648: Left Empire as member of Swiss Confederation | ||
| Arenberg Aremberg | ?: County 1576: HRE Princely County 1644: Duchy | El Rhin | PR | c1177 | 1512: To Electoral Rhenish Circle 1580: HRE Council of Princes 1810: Mediatized |
| Arlon | County c1167: Margraviate | n/a | 950 | 1214: United with County of Luxemburg 1221: Annexed to D. of Limburg | |
| Arnsberg | County | ||||
| Artois | 1237: County | Burg | 1512: Burgundian Circle | ||
| Asch | Lordship | ||||
| Aschaffenburg | 1803: Principality | 1803 | 10th century: Imperial Chancellor and Archbishop Willigis of Mainz acquired ownership of Aschaffenburg 1803: Granted to the Chancellor, Karl Theodor von Dalberg 1806: Annexed to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt 1814: To Bavaria | ||
| Aspremont-Lynden | 1590: Imperial Barony Imperial County | 1590: immediate Barons of Reckheim 1623: Imperial Estate | |||
| Auersperg HRE Prince of Auersperg, Duke of Gottschee, Princely Count of Thengen, Count of Wels, Lord of Schönberg & Seissenberg, etc. | 1550: HRE Barony 1630: HRE County 1653: HRE Prince 1664: HRE Princely County | 1795: Partitioned into itself, Pr. of Auersperg-Schönfeldscher and Auersperg-Zweig | 1654: Imperial Estate 1654: HRE Council of Princes 1654-1791: Non-immediate Dukes of Silesia-Munsterberg and Frankestein 1663: Became immediate Lords of Thengen 1664: To Swabian Circle, Princes' Bench 1791: Non-immediate Dukes of Gottschee (in the Austrian hereditary lands) Acquired non-immediate Princely County of Wels | ||
| Auersperg-Schönfeldscher | 1795-1806: Principality | 1795: Partitioned from Pr. of Auersperg | 1806: Mediatised to Austria | ||
| Auersperg-Zweig | Principality | 1795: Partitioned from Pr. of Auersperg | 1806: Mediatised to Austria | ||
| Augsburg | 1203: Bishopric Prince-Bishopric | EC | c888 | 1500: To Swabian Circle 1793: Council of Princes 1802: Annexed to Bavaria 1803: Secularized to Bavaria | |
| Augsburg | 1276: Imperial Free City | SW | 1276 | 14 B.C.: Founded by Augustus 1488-1534: Joined Swabian League 1500: To Swabian Circle 1632-1635: Swedish occupation 1806Annexed to Bavaria | |
| Austria Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, odomeria, & Illyria, King of Jerusalem, etc., Archduke of Austria, Grand Duke of Tuscany & Crakow, Duke of Lorraine, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola & the Bukovina, Grand Prince of Transylvania, Markgrave of Moravia, Duke of the Upper & Lower Silesia, Modena, Parma, Piacenza & Guastalla, Auschwitz & Zator, Teschen, Friaul, Raguse & Zara, Princely Count of Habsburg, Tyrol, Kyburg, Goritia & Gradisca, Prince of Trient & Brixen, Markgrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia & in Istria, Count of Hohenems/Hohenembs, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, etc., Lord of Triest, Cattaro, the Slavic [Wendischen] Mark, Grand Voyvode of the Voyvodina of Serbia | c960: Margraviate 1156: Duchy 1359: Archduke 1453: Archduchy 1804: Empire of Austria | Aust | PR | 960 | 833: Margraviate of Austria created 976: Austria separated from Duchy of Bavaria 1192: Inherited Styria 1379-1457: Partition into Austria (Albertine Line) and "Inner Austria" (Duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Carniola, County of Tyrol and the "Vorlande", to Leopoldine Line)) 1457: Albertine line died out; Austria to Leopoldine line 1512: Austrian Circle 1520-1534: Administered Duchy of Wurttemberg 1582: HRE Council of Princes |
| Austria | Bailiwick (Ballei) of the Teutonic Order | 1512: Austrian Circle 1793: Council of Princes |
[edit] B
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baar | Landgraviate | Swab | 1500: To Swabian Circle | ||
| Babenhausen | Lordship 1803: HRE Principality | 1237: 1st mention of Babenhausen 1100's: Babenhausen and Schonegg part of Lordship of Kellmunz 1200-1300's: To Lords of Schonegg 1378: To Lords of Rechberg 1539: Anton Fugger bought Lordship of Babenhausen 1803: Lordships of Babenhausen, Boos and Kettershausen erected into Principality of Babenhausen for Fugger family 1806: To Bavaria Area: 52 sq. km.; Pop. 11,000 | |||
| Babenhausen-Mindelheim-Cellmünz | Lordship | 1432: Partitioned from Staufeneck-Babenhausen | 1487: Divided into Frundsburg and Kronburg | ||
| Baden Grand Duke of Baden, Duke of Zähringen, Landgrave of Nellenburg, etc, Overlord & Hereditary Lord[Ober- und Erbherr] in the Baar & of Stühlingen, Heiligenberg, Hausen, Möskirch, Hohenhöwen, Wildenstein & Waldsberg, Mosbach & Dürn, Bischofsheim, Hardheim & Lauda, the Klettgau, Krautheim, Wertheim, Neudenau & Billigheim, Count of Salem, Petershausen & Hanau | 1112: Margraviate 1362: HRE Margrave 1803: Electorate 1806: Grand Duchy | PR | c960 | 1190: Partitioned into Baden-Baden and Baden-Hachberg 1387: Received a part of the County of Eberstein 1500: To Swabian Circle 1535: Partitioned into Upper Margraviate of Baden (Baden-Baden) and Lower Margraviate of Baden (Baden-Durlach) 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1771: Baden-Baden line extinct; Baden reunited 1806: Joined Confederation of the Rhine 1871: Joined the German Empire 1849: Republic of Baden 1918: Republic of Baden | |
| Baden-Baden | Margraviate | Swab | PR | 1190: Partitioned from Baden | 1291: Partitioned into Baden-Baden, Baden-Eerstein and Baden-Pforzheim 1335: Divided between Baden-Eberstein and Baden-Pforzheim 1348: Partitioned from Baden-Pforzheim 1515: Partitioned into itself, Baden-Durlach and Baden-Sponheim 1536: Partitioned into itself and Baden-Rodemachern 1588: Annexed to Baden-Rodemachern 1622: Partitioned from Baden-Durlach 1771: United to form Baden |
| Baden-Durlach | Margraviate | Swab | PR | 1515: Partitioned from Baden-Baden | 1577: Partitioned into itself, Baden-Hachberg and Baden-Sausenburg 1771: United to form Baden |
| Baden-Eberstein | Margraviate | 1291: Partitioned from Baden-Baden | 1353: Annexed to Baden-Pforzheim | ||
| Baden-Hochberg Baden-Hachberg | Margraviate | Swab | PR | 1190: Partitioned from Baden | 1290: Partitioned into itself and Baden-Sausenburg 1415: Annexed to Baden-Baden 1482: Partitioned from Baden-Baden 1488: Annexed to Baden-Baden 1577: Partitioned from Baden-Durlach 1591: Annexed to Baden-Durlach |
| Baden-Pforzheim | Margraviate | n/a | n/a | 1291: Partitioned from Baden-Baden | 1315: Partitioned into itself and Baden-Baden 1361: Annexed to Baden-Baden |
| Baden-Rodemachern | Margraviate | Swab | 1537: Partitioned from Baden-Baden | 1575: Partitioned into itself and Baden-Rodenheim 1596: Annexed to Baden-Durlach 1622: Partitioned from Baden-Durlach 1666: Annexed to Baden-Baden | |
| Baden-Rodenheim | Margraviate | Swab | 1575: Partitioned from Baden-Rodemachern | 1620: Annexed to Baden-Durlach | |
| Baden-Sausenberg | Margraviate | Swab | PR | 1290: Partitioned from Baden-Hachberg | 1503: Annexed to Baden-Baden 1577: Partitioned from Baden-Durlach 1604: Annexed to Baden-Durlach |
| Baden-Sponheim | Margraviate | Upp Rhen | 1515: Partitioned from Baden-Baden | 1533: Annexed to Baden-Baden | |
| Badenweiler | Lordship | ||||
| Baindt | Abbacy | Swab | 1793: Council of Princes | ||
| Bamberg | 1007: Bishopric c1242: Prince-Bishopric | Franc | EC | 1007 | 1500: Franconian Circle 1793: Council of Princes 1802: Annexed to Bavaria 1803: Secularized to Bavaria |
| Bar Bar-le-Duc Barrois | 951: County 1354: Duchy | Upp Rhen | 951 | 959-1033: Under Lorraine (Lotharingia) 1197-1214: Union of Bar and Luxemburg 1301: Vassal of King of France for the Western part of his territory (Barrois Mouvant) and a vassal of the Holy Roman Emperor for the easter part 1354: Emperor Charles IV granted title of Margrave of Pont-a-Mousson and rank of Prince to Duke of Bar 1399: Bar inherited Lordship of Cassel 1473: Union of Duchy of Bar and Duchy of Lorraine 1480: Permanently united with the Duchy of Lorraine 1508: Inherited by Lorraine 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1634-1659, 1670-1697, 1702-1714: French occupation 1766: Together with Lorraine, permanently annexed to France | |
| Barby | 1497: HRE County | Upp Sax | 1497 | 961: 1st mention of Barby 974: Emperor gave Barby to his sister, Mathilde, Abbess of Quedlinburg 1050: To Lords of Arnstein as an imperial fief Partitioned into: Barby-Arnstein (1209-1284), Barby-Barby (1213-1651), Barby-Lindow (1211-1372), Barby-Mühlingen (1565-1659) and Barby-Ruppin 1524: Barby-Rupin to Brandenburg 1651: Barby-Barby to Barby-Mühlingen (1360-1524) 1659: Barby-Mühlingen to Saxe-Weissenfels 1372: Barby-Lindow to Anhalt 1659: To Elector of Saxony | |
| Barmstedt | Acquired by Rantzau | ||||
| Basel | Bishopric | Upp Rhen | EC | 999 | 1579: Allied to the Swiss Confederation 1792: Annexed to the Rauracian Republic 1793: Council of Princes 1801: Mediatised to Baden and France |
| Basel | 1386: Free City | n/a | 374: 1st mentioned as "Basilea" To Bishops of Basel 1356: Acquired sovereign rights (own currency, customs and judiciary) 1501: Joined Swiss Confederation 1648: Left the Empire | ||
| Bassenheim | 1729: HRE Lordship | to Waldbott of Bassenheim | |||
| Bavaria King of Bavaria, Count-Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Franconia & in Swabia, etc. | 888: Duchy 1623: Electorate 1805: Kingdom | Bav | EL | 6th century | 888: Bavaria a stem duchy 889-1180: Ruled by the Welfs 1180-1918: Ruled by the Wittelsbachs 1185: Inherited lands of Burgraves of Regensburg 1214: Invested with County Palatinate of the Rhine 1238: Inherited lands of Counts of Valai Incorporated lands of Counts of Bogen Incorporated lands of Counts of Wassenburg 1255: First division into Upper (including Palatinate and Regensburg) and Lower Bavaria 1310: Division of Upper Bavaria into Bavaria-Munich and Bavaria-Ingolstadt 1314: Division into Palatinate (including Upper Palatinate) and Bavaria 1340: Lower Bavaria line died out 1349: Partition of Wittelsbach patrimony into: Upper Bavaria and Brandenburg; Bavaria-Munich; Lower Bavaria; and Holland, Zeeland, Frisia and Hainaut 1392: Division into Bavaria-Ingolstadt (extinct 1447), Bavaria-Landshut (extinct 1503) and Bavaria-Munich 1500: Bavarian Circle 1545: Bavaria reunited after many divisions 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1618: Acquired Mundelheim from Barons of Maxlrain Acquired Landgraviate of Leuchtenberg 1623: Electoral vote of Palatinate transferred to Bavaria 1623: Acquired Upper Palatinate 1806: Joined Confederation of the Rhine |
| Bavaria-Ingolstadt | Duchy | 1392: Partitioned from Bavaria-Landshut | 1445: Annexed to Bavaria-Munich | ||
| Bavaria-Landshut | Duchy | 1353: Partitioned from Lower Bavaria | 1503: Annexed to Bavaria-Munich | ||
| Bavaria-Munich | Duchy | 1392: Partitioned from Bavaria-Landshut | 1505: Became D. of Bavaria | ||
| Bavaria-Straubing | Duchy | 1353: Partitioned from Lower Bavaria | 1425: Divided between Bavaria-Ingolstadt, Bavaria-Landshut and Bavaria-Munich | ||
| Bayer-Naumburg | Lordship | 1316: Partitioned from Querfurt | 1496: Annexed to Mansfeld | ||
| Bayreuth Prince and Margrave of Bayreuth | 1398: Principality | 1194: 1st mention of Bayreuth 1248: To Counts of Zollern & Burgraves of Nuremberg 1363: Counts of Zollern as HRE Princes 1420-1440: Under Nuremberg 1457-1486: Administered by Ansbach 1495-1515: Administered by Ansbach 1500: Franconian Circle 1557-1603: Administered by Ansbach 1791: Integrated into Prussia 1806: French administration 1810: To Bavaria | |||
| Beckenried | HRE Abbey | ||||
| Bedburg | County | 1465: Partitioned from Neuenahr | 1519: Annexed to Mörs | ||
| Beichlingen | Lordship | 1144 | 1275: Partitioned into Beichlingen-Beichlingen and Beichlingen-Rothenburg 1567: Annexed to Gleichen | ||
| Beilstein | Lordship 1679: County (for House of Metternich) | ?? | 1500: Westphalian Circle 1512: Electoral Rhenish Circle To Prince Metternich | ||
| Belfort | Jurisdiction | 1200's: To Counts of Montbeliard 1307: Granted a charter To Austria 1648: Ceded to France Louis XIV of France gave it to Cardinal Mazarin | |||
| Benevento | 576: Duchy | 576 | 899: Atenulf I of Capua conquered Benevento and united the 2 duchies 1053: To Papal States | ||
| Bentheim Count of Bentheim, Tecklenburg, Steinfurt & Limburg, Lord of Rheda, Wevelinghoven, Hoya, Alpen, Helpenstein, Baron of Lennep, Hereditary Advocate[Erbvogt] of Köln | 1182: County 1486: HRE County | Low Rhen | WE | 1050 | 1115: Passed to Count Otto of Salm Marriage of Otto's heiress, Sophia (d.1176), Countess of Rheineck, Salm and Bentheim to Dirk VI, Count of Holland 1146-1182: A fief of Bishopric of Utrecht 1176: Passed to Counts of Holland 1263: Annexed County of Tecklenburg 1277: Partitioned into Bentheim-Tecklenburg and Bentheim-Bentheim 1421/1468: Bentheim became an immediate fief of the Empire 1500: Westphalian Circle 1530-1643: To County of Steinfurt 1606/1610: Division into Bentheim-Tecklenburg (with Rheda and Hohenlimburg) and Bentheim-Steinfurt 1752: Bentheim mortgaged to and was seized by Elector of Hanover 1804: Annexed to Steinfurt 1806: Bentheim mediatised to Berg 1810: Annexed to France 1815: To Hanover |
| Bentheim-Alpen | 1606-1629: County | ||||
| Bentheim-Bentheim | 1277-1530, 1643-1753, 1753-1803: County | 1277: Partitioned from Bentheim (like Bentheim-Tecklenburg) | 1530: Line of Bentheim-Bentheim became extinct; Bentheim granted to Arnold II of Bentheim-Steinfurt 1753-1803: Seized by the Elector of Hanover 1803: Bentheim reunited with Bentheim-Steinfurt | ||
| Bentheim-Limburg | 1606-1632: County | ||||
| Bentheim-Lingen | 1450-1555: County | ||||
| Bentheim-Steinfurt | 1454-1803: County Prince of Bentheim-Steinfurt in Prussia | Low Rhen | WE | 1454: Split off from Co. of Bentheim-Bentheim | 1643: Partitioned into Bentheim-Steinfurt and Bentheim-Bentheim 1806: Mediatised to Berg (which obtained Bentheim) and Prussia (which obtained Steinfurt) |
| Bentheim-Tecklenburg | 1277-1557: County 1817: Prince of Bentheim-Tecklenburg in Prussia | 1277: Partitioned from Bentheim (like Bentheim-Bentheim) | |||
| Bentheim-Tecklenburg-Rheda | 1606-1806: County | 1606: Partitioned from Bentheim-Steinfurt | 1806: Mediatised to Prussia | ||
| Bentinck HRE Count of Bentinck and Aldenburg, Lord of the free Lordship of Knyphausen, Noble Lord of Varel | 1732: HRE Counts | 1733/1800 immediate Lords of Knyphausen & Varel Aug 1806-1807 sovereign Lords of Knyphausen & Varel 1814/15 Lords of Knyphausen & Varel under the overlordship of Oldenburg | |||
| Berchtesgaden Prince, Provost and Lord of Berchtesgaden | 1108: Abbey 1486/1491: HRE Prince-Abbot Provostry | Bav | 1491 | 1500: Bavarian Circle 1803:Annexed to Salzburg 1793: Council of Princes 1803: Annexed to Salzburg 1805: Annexed to Austria 1809: Annexed to Bavaria | |
| Berg | 1101: County 1380: Duchy | Low Rhen | PR | 1093 | 1437: To Duchy of Julich 1511: To Duchy of Cleves 1521: United with Mark and Cleves 1609: War of Successions 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1609: To Palatinate-Neuburg 1614: To Palatinate-Neuburg 1685: To Electoral Palatinate 1799: To Bavaria 1801: Annexed to France 1803: To Bavaria 1811: To France 1815: To Prussia |
| Bern Berne | 1218: Imperial Free City | 1218: Split off from Zähringen | 1191: Founded by Duke Berthold V of Zahringen 1353: Joined the Swiss Confederation 1415: Invaded and acquired Aargau 1536: Invaded and acquired Vaud 1648: Left the Empire 1798: French occupation | ||
| Besançon Besancon | Archbishopric | EC | 1512: Burgundian Circle 1792: Annexed to France 1793: Council of Princes | ||
| Besançon Besancon | 1184: Imperial City | Burg | 1300's: Taken by Dukes of Burgundy 1477-1674: Passed to Habsburgs 1648: Annexed by Free County (a special Co.) of Burgundy ("Franche-Comté") 1674: Ceded to France | ||
| Biberach an der Riß | Imperial City | Swab | SW | 1180 | 1803: Annexed to Württemberg |
| Billungenmark | Margraviate | 928 | 983: Conquered by the Bodriches | ||
| Bilstein | County | 1073 | 1145: 1st mention of "Counts of Bilstein" 1301: Line of counts died out; Bilstein sold to Hesse 1303: Annexed to Hesse | ||
| Birkenfeld | 1569: County 1817: Principality | 1444: Part of Zweibrucken 1801: Annexed by France 1816: Prussian rule 1817: Principality of Birkenfeld in personal union with Oldenburg | |||
| Bitburg | Abbacy | ||||
| Bitsch | Lordship | To Zweibrucken | |||
| Blamont | Lordship | ||||
| Blankenburg | Principality | Low Sax | c1082 | 1368: Annexed to Regenstein | |
| Blankenheim | 1112: Lordship 1380: County 1461: HRE County of Manderscheid and Blankenheim | 1149: Partitioned from Blankenheim-Schleiden | 1112: 1st mention of Lord of Blankenheim Acquired Lordships of Kronenburg, Junkerath, Dollendorf, Gerolstein, Erp, Neuerburg, Oberkail, Falkenstein, Betttingen, Manderscheid, Osann-Monzel 1406: Counts of Blankenheim died out; passed by female succession to Lords of Heinsberg To Counts of Manderscheid 1699: Imperial Estate Counts of Manderscheid-Blankenheim died out; passed by marriage to Counts of Sternberg 1803: Annexed to France 1816: To Prussia | ||
| Blankenheim and Gerolstein | County | Low Rhen | 1488: Partitioned from Blankenheim | 1533: Partitioned into Blankenheim and Gerolstein and Bettingen | |
| Blankenheim-Schleiden | Lordship | c1115 | 1149: Partitioned into Blankenheim and Schleiden | ||
| Bludenz | County | 1394: To Austria | |||
| Blumenegg | Lordship 1396: Imperial County | 1804: Lordship of Blumenegg-Sankt Gerold to Austria | |||
| Bohemia | 845: Principality Duchy 1198: Kingdom | None | EL | c890: Joined the Empire | 1356: Prince-Elector 1526: Passed to Austria |
| Bomelburg | 1800: Barony | 1806: Dissolved | |||
| Bonndorf | County | Swab | |||
| Boos | Lordship | 1803: To Principality of Babenhausen for Fugger house | |||
| Bopfingen | Imperial Free City | Swab | SW | c1250 | 1803: Annexed to Württemberg |
| Bouillon | County Duchy | 959; 1496; 1559 | 1095, 1522: Annexed to Prince-Bishopric of Lüttich (Liége) 1552, 1676: Annexed to France | ||
| Brabant | 1085/1086: Landgraviate 1090: Duchy1183/1184: Duchy Claimed status of archduchy | Burg | PR | 1000's: Emerged from division of the Duchy of Lower Lorraine into several feudal states | 1283: John I of Brabant bought the Duchy of Limburg from Adolph V of Berg 1430: Passed to D. of Burgundy 1477: Passed to the House of Habsburg 1512: Burgundian Circle 1556: Passed to the Spanish Habsburgs 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1609: northern Brabant awarded to the United Provinces; southern portion remain part of Spanish (later Austrian) Netherlands |
| Brakel | Imperial City | Low Rhen | RH | Held by Bp. of Paderborn | |
| Brandenburg | Margraviate 1356: HRE Prince-Elector | Upp Sax | EL | 1157: Originally created as the "Northern March" | 1415: Hohenzollerns purchase Brandenburg from HRE |
| Brandenburg | Bishopric | Upp Sax | EC | 949 | 1569: Annexed to the secular Electorate of Brandenburg |
| Brandenburg-Ansbach | Margraviate | Franc | PR | 1440 as a partition of Bgv. Nuremberg | 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1791: Passed to Brandenburg |
| Brandenburg-Bayreuth | Margraviate | Franc | PR | 1440 as a partition of Bgv. Nuremberg | 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1769: Passed to Brandenburg-Ansbach |
| Brandenburg-Kulmbach | Margraviate | 1655: Partitioned from Brandenburg-Bayreuth | 1726: Re-annexed to Brandenburg-Bayreuth | ||
| Brandenburg-Küstrin | Margraviate | 1535: Partitioned from Brandenburg | 1571: Re-annexed to Brandenburg | ||
| Brauneck | County | 1230 as a partition of Hohenlohe | Partitioned several times. 1340, 1391, 1448: All re-annexed to Hohenlohe | ||
| Breda | Barony | 1000's: A direct fief of the Holy Roman Emperor 1327: Adelheid of Gaveren sold Breda to John III, Duke of Brabant 1350: Breda sold to John II of Wassenaar (d.1377) 1403: To Counts of Nassau by the marriage of Johann of Polanen, heiress of Breda, to Engelbert I of Nassau | |||
| Bregenz | County | Swab | SW | 950 | 802: 1st mention of Bregenz castle 926: 1st mention of Ulrich VI as "Count of Bregenz" 970: Division of the House of Bregenz (Pfullendorf, Lustenau) Annexed to Tübingen 1152/1160: Line of Counts of Bregenz died out 1171: Marriage of Hugo II (d.1182), Count Palatine of Tubingen with Elizabeth (d.1216), heiress of Montfort and Bregenz 1180: Annexed to Montfort 1451/1458: Annexed to Austria 1782: Annexed to Bavaria |
| Brehna | County | ||||
| Breisgau | County Landgraviate | n/a | SW | 771 | 1077: Annexed by Zähringen 1512: Austrian Circle |
| Breisgau | Duchy | Aust | SW | 1801 | 1803: Reconstituted as Breisgau-Modena |
| Breisgau-Modena | Duchy | Aust | SW | 1803 | 1805: Divided between Baden andWürttemberg |
| Breitenbrunn | HRE Lordship | ||||
| Breiteneck Breitenegg | 1631: HRE Lordship | Bav | 1129: Breitenegg castle and Lordship of Breitenbrunn owned by Lords of Breitenbrunn 1247-1289: 1st certain owner was Werner V of Laaber 1500: Bavarian Circle Sold to Counts of Hirschberg 1302: Sold to Hadamar II of Laaber 1433: Bought by Heinrich of Gumppenberg 1463: Reddemed by Ulrich of Laaber 1465: Sold to Konrad of Pappenheim 1473>: Sold to Martin and Ludwig of Wildenstein 1583: Wildenstein line died out 1592: Lordship divided between Neuburg and Bavaria 1624: Given by Maximilian I to Tilly (extinct, 1724) as a gift<br1744: Inherited by Lords of Gumppenberg 1792: Sold to Karl Theordor of Bavaria in personal union | ||
| Bremen | 1072: Archbishopric 1100's: HRE Prince-Archbishopric 1648: Duchy | Low Sax | EC | 787 | 805: Bishopric founded 848-1072: In personal union with Bishopric of Hamburg 1648: To Sweden; secularized as Duchy of Bremen and Principality of Verden 1712: Danish occupation 1715: Sold to Hanover 1719: Incorporated into Hanover 1810: Annexed to France |
| Bremen | 1646: Imperial City | Low Sax | RH | 1202 | 1358: Joined Hanseatic League 1810: Annected by France 1815: Free City |
| Brena | Barony | 1156 | 1290: Annexed by Saxe-Wittenburg | ||
| Breslau | Bishopric | Bishop bought Duchy of Grottkau from Duke of Silesia-Brieg and added it to the episcopal territory of Neisse Prince of Neisse and Duke of Grottkau | |||
| Bretzenheim HRE Prince of Bretzenheim and Count of Lindau | 1774: HRE Count of Bretzenheim 1790: HRE Principality | Upp Rhen | 1790 for the Wittelsbach-Bretzenheim branch | 1769: Counts of Heydeck To Velen 1780: immediate Lord of Bretzenheim 1790: Imperial estate 1802: Central German territories annexed by Hesse-Darmstadt 1803: Prince granted County of Lindau am Bodensee 1804: Southern German territories annexed by Austria | |
| Brixen | 1027: Bishopric 1179: Prince-Bishopric | Aust | EC | 1179 | 1512: Austrian Circle 1793: Council of Princes 1803: Secularized and annexed by Austria to Krain (Carniola) 1805: To Bavaria 1814: To Austria 1918: To Italy |
| Broich | Lordship | 1093: 1st mention of Lords of Broich | 883: Broich castle for defense against Viking attacks Under overlordship of Dukes of Berg Freed from Dukes of Berg 1372: Line of Lords of Broich became extinct; passed to Counts of Limburg-Styrum 1413: Dukes of Berg regained overlordship after decline of Counts of Limburg 1432: Dukes of Cleves conquered Broich 1439: Start of new line called Counts of Limburg-Broich 1508: To Counts of Dhaun-Falkenstein 1682: To Counts of Leiningen 1806: Lordship of Broich abolished. | ||
| Bruchhausen | County | 1199 | 1234: Partitioned 1338, 1388: Annexed by Co. ofHoya | ||
| Bruchsal and Odenheim | Abbacy | 1793: Council of Princes | |||
| Brunswick | Duchy | n/a | n/a | 1267: Division into Brunswick and Luneburg | |
| Brunswick-Bevern | Duchy | 1666: Partitioned from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | 1735: Annexed to Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1735: Partitioned from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | ||
| Brunswick-Calenberg | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1495: Partitoned from Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | 1584: Annexed to Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Brunswick-Calenberg-Göttingen | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1641: Partitioned from Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1692: Became the Electorate of Hanover |
| Brunswick-Celle | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1527: Partitioned from Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1569: Partitioned into Brunswick-Dannenburg and Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| Brunswick-Celle | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1641: Partitioned from Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1705: Annexed to Hanover |
| Brunswick-Göttingen | Duchy | n/a | n/a | 1279: Partitioned from Brunswick | 1345: Partitioned into itself and Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1442: Annexed to Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Brunswick-Grubenhagen | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1279: Partitioned from Brunswick | 1322: Partitioned into itself and Brunswick-Osterode 1526: Annexed to Brunswick-Osterode |
| Brunswick-Lüneburg Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg | 1235: Duchies of Brunswick and Luneburg | Low Sax | PR | 1235: Emperor Frederick II created duchies of Brunswick and Luneburg 1267: Division into Brunswick and Luneburg 1285: Duchy of Brunswick divided into Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, Brunswick Gottingen and Brunswick-Grubehnagen 1292: Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel line died out 1345: New line of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel founded 1369: Line of dukes of Luneburg died out 1369: To Saxony 1388: Luneburg incorporated into Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1432: Brunswick divided into Brunswick-Calenberg and Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1463: Elder Brunswick-Gottingen died out 1396: Brunswick-Grubenhagen line died out 1527: Partitioned 1582: Inherited 1/2 of County of Hoya 1585: Inherited County of Diepholz 1633: Inherited Principlaity of Grubenhagen 1689: Inherited Duchy of Launeburg Inherited by Calenberg (personal union) | |
| Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | Duchy | Low Sax | PR | 1345: Partitioned from Brunswick-Göttingen | 1373: Partitioned into itself, Brunswick-Einbeck and Brunswick-Lüneburg 1495: Partitioned into itself and Brunswick-Calenberg 1666: Partitioned into itself and Brunswick-Bevern 1735: Partitioned into itself and Brunswick-Bevern |
| Buchau | c770: Abbacy 1447: HRE Princess-Abbess | Swab | 1625: Acauired Lordship of Strassberg 1793: Council of Princes 1803: Secularized and given to Prince of Thurn und Taxis 1806: Annexed to Wurttemberg; Strassberg to Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen | ||
| Buchau | Imperial City | Swab | SW | c1250 | 1803: Mediatized |
| Buchhorn | Imperial City | Swab | SW | 1089 | 1803: Mediatized |
| Burgau | Margraviate | 1301: Acquired by Austrian Habsburgs 1304: Imperial fief of Burgau invested in sons of King Albert I | |||
| Burgbrohl | Lordship | 1451: Partitioned from Saffig | 1533: Annexed to Saffig-Olbrück | ||
| Burgundy Franche-Comte | 915: "Free" County County Palatine | Burg | PR | 1127 | 1330: Passed to D. of Burgundy 1405-1556: To Dukes of Burgundy 1556: To Habsburg Kings of Spain 1678: Annexed to France |
| Burgundy | Duchy | 1582: HRE Council of Princes | |||
| Bürresheim Burresheim | Lordship | ||||
| Burtscheid | Abbacy | 1793: Council of Princes | |||
| Butzweiler | Lordship | ||||
| Buxheim | Abbacy |
[edit] C
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calvelage | County | 1072 | 1170: Annexed to Ravensberg | ||
| Calw | County | 1075: 1st mention of Calw 1155: Acquired Lowenstein 1189: Acquired Vaihingen Division into Calw-Lowenstein and Calw-Vaihingen 1277: Counts of Calw-Lowenstein died out; territories purchased by an illegitimate branch of the Habsburgs 1282: Counts of Calw died out; territories inherited by Counts of Tubingen 1361: Counts of Calw-Vaihingen died out; territories inherited by Counts of Wurttemberg | |||
| Cambrai | Bishopric | Low Rhen | |||
| Cambrai | Imperial City | Burg | 1677: Annexed to France | ||
| Cappenberg | |||||
| Carinthia | 970: Margraviate 1180: Duchy | Aust | PR | 876; 927; 976; 995 | 1286: To Counts of Gorizia 1335: To Habsburg Austria 1512 Austrian Circle 1804: To Kingdom of Illyria |
| Carniola | 1002: Margraviate 1364: Duchy | Aust | PR | 1040 | 1054: Emperor Henry II creates a separate Carniola as a fief Duchy of Carinthia 1071-1090: To Aquileia 1237-1251: Imperial Administration 1259-1269: To Aquileia 1270-1918: To Habsburgs 1512: Austrian Circle 1803: Imperial Estate in Bench of Princes 1805-1806: French occupation |
| Castell | 1200: County | Franc | 1200 | 1254: Partitioned into Elder and Younger lines 1347: Elder branch extinct; Castell reunited 1500: Franconian Circle 1597: Partitioned into Castell-Remlingen and Castel-Rüdenhausen | |
| Castell | County | 1709: Partitioned from Castell-Castell | 1772: Re-annexed to Castell-Castell Composed of 3 territories and 28 villages | ||
| Castell-Castell | 1668: County | 1668: Partitioned from Castell-Remlingen | 1709: Division into Castell-Castell and Castell>br>1772: Annexed Castell 1806: Mediatised to Bavaria | ||
| Castell-Remlingen | 1597: County | 1597: Partitioned from Castell | 1668: Division ito Castlell-Remlingen and Castell-Castell 1762: Re-annexed to Castell | ||
| Castell-Rüdenhausen | County | 1597: Partitioned from Castell | |||
| Castels | High Jurisdiction | ||||
| Chablais | 1310: Duchy | ||||
| Chatelot | Lordship | ||||
| Chiemsee | Bishopric | ||||
| Chur | Bishopric | Aust | EC | 1170 | 1512: Austrian Circle 1793: Council of Princes 1798: Annexed to the Helvetic Republic |
| Churwalden | Jurisdiction | ||||
| Cilli Cilly | 1341: County 1436: HRE Principality of Cilli and Ortenburg | 1456: Counts of Cilli died out; estates inherited by Habsburgs | |||
| Cläven | Lordship | 909 | Partitioned in 950 | ||
| Clemont | Lordship | ||||
| Cleves Kleve | 1000's: County 1417: Duchy | Low Rhen | PR | 719 | 1368: United with County of Mark 1521: United with Julich, Berg, Cleves and Mark 1582: HRE Council of Princes 1609: War of Succession 1614 to Brandenburg ?-1672: Occupied by United Provinces To Prussia 1795: French occupation 1815: To Prussia |
| Colloredo | Principality (personalist) | n/a | FR | 1763 | 1788: Renamed to Colloredo-Mansfeld |
| Colloredo-Mansfeld | Principality (personalist) | n/a | FR | 1788: Renamed from Colloredo | 1803: Purchased a portion of Limpurg, and Rieneck |
| Colmar | Imperial City | Upp Rhen | 1648: Annexed to France | ||
| Cologne Köln (in German) | Archbishopric 1356: HRE Prince-Elector | El Rhin | EL | 954 | 1512: Electoral Rhenish Circle 1803: Annexed to Ldg. of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Cologne | Free City | Low Rhen | RH | 1288 | 1794: Annexed to France |
| Comburg | Imperial Abbey | ||||
| Corvey (Korvey) | 877: Abbey c1582: Prince-Abbot 1783: Prince-Bishopric Principality | Low Rhen | 877 | 1793: Council of Princes 1803: Secularized as a principality to Nassau-Dillenburg | |
| Cottbus | Lordship | 1156: 1st mention of Cottbus 1199-1445: To Lords of Cottbus 1462: To Prince-Electors of Brandenburg | |||
| Croy Dukes of Croÿ, HRE Prince | Duchy 1767: HRE Prince | 1590: non-immediate Counts of Solre in the Spanish Low Countries 1677: Prince of Solre in the Spanish Low Countries 1767 non-immediate Dukes of Croÿ in France 1803: immediate Lords of Dülmen |
[edit] D
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dagstuhl Dachstuhl | Lordship | Upp Rhen | 1290-1375: To Lords of Dagstuhl 1375-1625: To Lords of Flenkenstein, Kriechingen, Rollingen and Brucken 1625-1696: To Lords of Sotern 1696-1802: To Counts of Oettingen-Baldern and Sotern 1802-1803: To Princes of Oettingen-Wallerstein | ||
| Dannenberg | Principality | ||||
| Danzig | 1454: Imperial Free City | ||||
| Dauphine | 1335: To France | ||||
| Davos | High Jurisdiction | ||||
| Degenberg | HRE County | 1602: Line died out To Bavaria | |||
| Delmenhorst | County | Low Rhen | 1278; 1440; 1577 | Younger partition of Oldenburg 1438, 1482, 1647: Re-annexed to Oldenburg | |
| Diepholz | Barony 1524: County | Low Rhen | 1278 | 1583: Annexed to Brunswick Line died out | |
| Diessen | HRE County | c1326: To Bavaria | |||
| Diessenhofen | Imperial city | 1415 | to 1442 | ||
| Dietrichstein HRE Prince of Dietrichstein in Nikolsburg/Nicolsburg, Count of Proskau, Lord of Trasp | 1514: HRE Barony 1612: HRE County 1631: HRE Principality 1654: HRE Princes of Dietrichstein | 1654: HRE Council of Princes 1654: Imperial Estate 1684: immediate Lords of Tarasp 1802: Acquired County of Leslie 1803: Lost Tarasp to Swiss Confederation | |||
| Diez | County | 1101 | 1522: Divided between Eppstein-Königstein and Hesse-Cassel | ||
| Diez-Birstein | County | 1189: Partitioned from Diez | 1322: Annexed to Diez-Weilnau 1438: Passed to Isenburg | ||
| Diez-Weilnau | County | 1234: Partitioned from Diez | 1438: Annexed to Nassau-Dillenburg | ||
| Dinkelsbühl | Imperial City | Swab | SW | 1274 | 1802: Annexed to Bavaria |
| Disentis | HRE Abbey | in Switzerland | c. 720 | part of Grey League | |
| Donauwörth | Imperial City | c. 1250 | 1714: Annexed to Bavaria (also between 1606 and 1705) | ||
| Donzdorf | Lordship 1699: County | 1605: Partitioned from Aichen | 1738: Annexed to Osterberg | ||
| Dornbirn | Lordship | ||||
| Dortmund | Imperial City | Low Rhen | RH | 1220 | 1803: Annexed to Nassau-Orange |
| Dreis | HRE Lordship | ||||
| Drenthe | County | 1512: Burgundian Circle 1579: To United Provinces | |||
| Duisburg | Imperial City | n/a | 1290: Annexed to Cleves | ||
| Düren | Imperial City | n/a | Annexed to Jülich | ||
| Dyck | Lordship |
[edit] E
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Frisia East Friesland Prince and Lord of East Frisia, Lord of Esens, Stadesdorf and Wittmund | 1465: County 1654: HRE Prince 1662: Principality | Low Rhen | 1667: HRE Council of Princes 1744: Inherited by Prussia 1807: Ceded to France 1807: Incorporated into Kingdom of Holland 1810: French occupation 1813: Russian occupation 1813: To Prussia 1815: To Hanover | ||
| Eberstein | 1196: County | Swab | 1574: Partitioned from Neu-Eberstein | 1085: 1st mention of Eberstein 1196: 1st use of "Count of Eberstein" 1387: Portion of Eberstein went to the Margraves of Baden 1660: Line of counts extinct; divided between Baden,Speyer and Württemberg | |
| Echternach | Abbacy | 698: Echternach was built 859-871: Possessed by secular canons from Trier 1236: Granted city charter 1797: Abbey suppressed; monks dispersed | |||
| Edelstetten HRE Prince Esterházy of Galántha, Princely Count of Edelstetten, Count of Forchtenstein | Lordship 1804: HRE Princely County | 1804: To Princes Esterházy of Galántha | |||
| Eggenberg HRE Prince of Eggenberg, Duke of Krummau, Princely Count of Gradisca, Count of Adelsberg, Lord of Aquileja | Principality | Aust | PR | 1647: Acquired Gradisca 1653: HRE Council of Princes | 1717: Extinct |
| Eglingen | Lordship | Swab | To Counts of Gravenegg 1723: To Thurn und Taxis | ||
| Eglofs Egloff | Lordship County | Swab | To Abensberg-Traun To Windisch-Gratz | ||
| Ehrenburg | Lordship | ||||
| Ehrenfels | Lordship | 1500: Bavarian Circle | |||
| Eichstätt Eichstatt Eichstadt | 741:Bishopric 908-1802: Imperial Prince-Bishopric | Franc | EC | 908 | 1500: Franconian Circle 1793: Council of Princes 1802: Annexed by Bavaria 1803: Annexed to Salzburg |
| Eilenburg | Countyy | 976 | 1017: Annexed to Meißen | ||
| Einsiedeln | Abbacy 965: Prince-Abbot 1274: HRE Principality | 1798: Annexed to Confederatio Helvetica | |||
| Elchingen | 1128: Abbacy | Swab | 1128: Abbey founded by Counts of Dillingen 1793: Council of Princes 1802: Dissolved and secularized 1803: Annexed to Bavaria | ||
| Elbing | Imperial Free City | 1457: To Poland | |||
| Ellwangen | Abbacy 1460: Provostry 1215: Imperial Prince-Provostry 1460: "College of Secular Canons" | Swab | 1011 | 1793: Council of Princes 1803: Secularized and annexed to Prussia | |
| Elten | Abbacy | ||||
| Eltz | Lordship | ||||
| Engadin and Winterthur | Lordship | 950: Partitioned from Cläven | 1095: Extinct | ||
| Engelberg | 1124: Priory 1128: Abbacy | 1124 | 1425: Associated member of Swiss Confederation 1798: Annexed to Helvetica To Nidwalden 1815: To Obwalden | ||
| Enzberg | Lordship | ||||
| Eppstein | 1505: HRE County | 1172 | c1100: Eppstein built as an imperial castle 1114: 1st mention of Eppstein 1200's: Inherited 1/2 of County of Wied and Lordship of Kleeberg 1300's: Acquired 1/2 of Lordship of Breuberg and Trimberg 1400's: Acquired 1/2 of Lordship of Falkenstein and 1/2 of County of Diez 1425: Sold Steinheim for 38,000 guldens to Mainz 1433: Partitioned into Eppstein-Königstein (extinct 1535) and Eppstein-Münzenberg (extinct 1522) | ||
| Eppstein-Königstein | County | 1391: Partitioned from Eppstein | 1535: Annexed to Stolberg | ||
| Eppstein-Münzenberg | County | 1391: Partitioned from Eppstein | 1522: Annexed to Eppstein-Königstein | ||
| Erbach HRE Count of Erbach, Lord of Breuberg & Wildenstein | Lordship 1532: HRE County | Franc | 1213 | 1532: Imperial estate 1717: Division into Erbach-Furstenau, Erbach-Erbach and Erbach-Schonberg 1500: Franconian Circle 1806: Mediatised | |
| Erbach-Breuburg | 1532: HRE County | 1647: Partitioned from Erbach | 1653: Annexed to Erbach-Erbach | ||
| Erbach-Erbach | 1532: HRE County | 1647: Partitioned from Erbach 1818: Inherited County of Wartenberg-Roth | |||
| Erbach-Fürstenau | 1532: HRE County | 1647: Partitioned from Erbach | |||
| Erbach-Schonberg | 1532: HRE County | 1903: Granted title of Prince | |||
| Erbach-Wildenstein | 1532: HRE County | 1647: Partitioned from Erbach | 1669: Annexed to Erbach-Erbach | ||
| Ermland | 1251: Sovereign HRE Principality | 1243: Hochstift 1454: To Poland as part of Royal Prussia 1466: Under direct Plisch Crown 1479: Autonomous Prince-Bishopric under Polish Crown 1777: Abolished at Prussian annexation | |||
| Essen | c850: Abbacy 1661: HRE Princess-Abbacy | Low Rhen | 1041 | 874/947: Imperial immediate status 1228: Abbess called HRE Princess 1793: Council of Princes 1802: Annexed to Prussia 1806: Joint condominium of Prussia and Berg 1806 Annexed to Berg 1815: To Prussia | |
| Esslingen am Neckar | Imperial City | Swab | SW | c1250 | 1803: Annexed to Württemberg |
| Esterau | Lordship | 1643: To County of Holzapfel | |||
| Esterházy von Galántha | Principality | Bav | PR | 1804: Purchased Edelstetten from Ligne (College of Princes) |
[edit] F
|
Name |
Type |
Circle |
Bench |
Formed |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fa |