County of Rietberg

Rietberg County

Grafschaft Rietberg

State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806)

←

1237–1807

→

Capital

Rietberg

Government

Principality

Historical era

Middle Ages

•

Became Reichsfrei
county

1237

•

Raised to
Imperial county

1353

•

Subordinated to
Landgraviate of Hesse

1807

•

Mediatised to
Westphalia

1807

The County of Rietberg (German: Grafschaft Rietberg) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the present German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It was situated on the upper Ems in Westphalia between the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn and the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. It existed as an independent territory from 1237 to 1807, when it was mediatised to the Kingdom of Westphalia.

History

Rietberg was first mentioned as 'Rietbike' around the year 1100. This name refers to Ried which is an old name for reed and to 'Bach' which means creek. There was a castle that dated back to the 11th century. From 1237, it was home to the family of Wenzel Adam von Kaunitz, Count Rietberg. From this time on the part 'Berg' in the name Rietberg refers to the existence of a castle which is called 'Burg' in German. Since that time Rietberg was an independent German territory until the year 1807. In the Middle Ages the Rietberg county was a very small state. Nevertheless, Rietberg had its own militia, its own currency and its own laws. Even foreign policy, on a small scale, was conducted independently. Until the 17th century Rietberg coined its own money.

In the year 1807 Rietberg became mediatised to the Kingdom of Westphalia. The title Count Rietberg remains extant in the House of Liechtenstein, with Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein and each born member of his dynasty and their dynastic wives bearing the title currently.

Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle (1500–1806) of the Holy Roman Empire

Ecclesiastical

Cambrai (until 1678)
Corvey¹
Liège
Minden²
Münster
Stavelot–Malmedy¹
Osnabrück
Paderborn
Utrecht (until 1548)
Verden (until 1648)

Map of a large region (in white) including all the territory of modern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus parts of most neighbouring countries, including most of Northern Italy. Some of the northwest part region is highlighted in color, including Münster, most of the Netherlands and parts of modern Belgium.

The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle (color) within the Holy Roman Empire (white)

Prelates

Secular

Counts
and lords

From 1500	Bentheim Bronkhorst (until 1719) Diepholz East Frisia (until 1667) Horne³ (until 1614) Hoya Lingen³ Lippe Manderscheid (until 1546) Moers (until 1541) Nassau Diez Hadamar Dillenburg (until 1664) Oldenburg (until 1777) Pyrmont Ravensberg³ Reichenstein Rietberg Salm-Reifferscheid Sayn Schaumburg Tecklenburg Virneburg Wied Winneburg and Beilstein Zimerauff^?

From 1792	Anholt Blankenheim and Gerolstein Gemen Gimborn Gronsfeld Hallermund Holzappel Kerpen-Lommersum Myllendonk Reckheim Schleiden Wickrath Wittem

Status uncertain	Delmenhorst Fagnolle Schaumburg Hesse Lippe Spiegelberg Steinfurt

Cities

¹ from 1792 ² until 1792 ³ without seat in Imperial Diet ^? status uncertain

Circles est. 1500: Bavarian, Swabian, Upper Rhenish, Lower Rhenish–Westphalian, Franconian, (Lower) Saxon

Circles est. 1512: Austrian, Burgundian, Upper Saxon, Electoral Rhenish
Unencircled territories

Coordinates: 51°47′57″N 8°26′05″E / 51.79917°N 8.43472°E / 51.79917; 8.43472

Authority control	VIAF: 69731246 GND: 119075792

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