Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle

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{{expand German|Niederrheinisch-Westfälischer Reichskreis|date=September 2012}}

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File:Reichskreis Niederrhein-Westfalen 1710.jpg]]

The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle ({{langx|de|Niederrheinisch-Westfälischer Reichskreis}}, {{langx|nl|Nederrijns-Westfaalse Kreits}}) 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:

class="wikitable" ! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" \| Name ! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" \| Type of entity ! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" \| Comments
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| {{Coat of arms\|Aachen\|text=Aachen}} \| Imperial City \| {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1166
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Anholt \| County \| 18th Westfalian County, formerly to the Utrecht bishops, {{lang\|de\|reichsfrei}} since the 14th century, held by the Lords of Gemen, fell to Salm-Salm in 1641
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Beilstein \| Lordship \| Fief of Trier since 1488, held by the {{lang\|de\|Freiherren}} von Metternich from 1635, {{lang\|de\|Reichsgrafen}} from 1679
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Bentheim \| County \| Recognized as an imperial county in 1486.
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Blankenheim-Gerolstein \| County \| Inherited by Manderscheid in 1468
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Bouillon \| Duchy \| A protectorate of France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen but not annexed until 1795
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Brakel \| Imperial City \| Status challenged by the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Cambray \| Imperial City \| Status challenged by the Cambrai bishops, declared to a duchy by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1510
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Cambrésis \| Prince-Bishopric \| Diocese established in the 6th century, {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by King Henry II in 1007, archbishopric from 1559, fell to France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Cleves \| Duchy \| Part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Mark and Ravensberg to Brandenburg according to the Treaty of Xanten
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| {{Coat of arms\|Cologne}} \| Imperial City \| Status acknowledged by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1475
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Corvey \| Prince-Abbacy \| Established in 815 by King Louis the Pious; 69th seat to the Reichstag
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Delmenhorst \| County \| Established by a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg, held by Oldenburg since 1436
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Diepholz \| County \| 11th Westfalian County. Established about 1160, to Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1585
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| {{Coat of arms\|Dortmund}} \| Imperial City \| Status confirmed by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1236
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| {{Coat of arms\|Duisburg}} \| 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Düren \| Imperial City \| Status confirmed by Emperor Otto III in 1000, given in pawn to Jülich by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1241
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Dyck \| Lordship \| 30th Westfalian County, to the Salm-Reifferscheid
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px East Frisia \| Princely County \| Raised to Principality 1662, fell to Prussia in 1744
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Echternach \| Prince-Abbacy \| Established about 698 by Saint Willibrord, immediacy granted by King Pepin the Short in 751, annexed by France in 1794
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Fagnolle \| Lordship \| Held by the House of Ligne, raised to county in 1770
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Gemen \| Lordship \| Held by the Counts of Holstein-Schauenburg, fell to the House of Limburg-Stirum in 1640
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| Gimborn \| Lordship \| Held by the House of Schwarzenberg, {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg in 1631, raised to county in 1698, sold to Johann Ludwig von Wallmoden in 1782
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Gronsveld \| Lordship \| {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1498, raised to county about 1588, annexed by France in 1794
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Hallermund \| County \| Fief of Brunswick-Calenberg around Springe, raised to Imperial county in 1706
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Herford \| Imperial Abbacy \| Nunnery established in 789, immediate abbacy since 1147, confirmed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1152, 13th Prelature of the Rhine
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Herford \| Imperial City \| {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} derived from Herford Abbey, challenged by Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1547, annexed by Brandenburgian Ravensberg in 1652
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Hoya \| County \| 10th Westfalian County. Fief of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1519, line extinct in 1582
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Jülich \| Duchy \| {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 24x24px 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 {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} in 1786
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 18px Kornelimünster \| Prince-Abbacy \| Established in 814 by Saint Benedict of Aniane
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Lemgo \| Imperial City \| Established about 1190 by Lord Bernard II of Lippe, {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} ascertained by the Imperial Chamber Court
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Liège \| Prince-Bishopric \| Established about 315 by Saint Maternus of Cologne at Tongeren; 47th seat to the Reichstag
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 18px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Myllendonk \| Lordship \| Regained {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} in 1700, held by the Counts of Ostein from 1732
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Minden \| Principality \| Former Bishopric of Minden secularised to Brandenburg by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Münster \| Prince-Bishopric \| Bishopric established by Saint Ludger about 805, {{lang\|de\|reichsfrei}} 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Osnabrück \| Prince-Bishopric \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Paderborn \| Prince-Bishopric \| 29th seat to the Reichstag
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Pyrmont \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px 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
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px {{ill\|County of Reckheim\|lt=Reckheim\|de\|Grafschaft Reckheim}} \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| {{ill\|Lordship of Reichenstein\|lt=Reichenstein\|de\|Herrschaft Reichenstein}} \| Lordship \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Rietberg \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Sayn-Altenkirchen \| County \| 1st Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1742 to the Principality of Ansbach
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Sayn-Hachenburg \| County \| 2nd Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1714 to the Margrave of {{ill\|Burgraves of Kirchberg\|lt=Kirchberg\|de\|Burggrafen von Kirchberg}}
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Schaumburg \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Schaumburg-Hesse \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Schaumburg-Lippe \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Schleiden \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Soest \| Imperial City \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px {{ill\|County of Spiegelberg\|lt=Spiegelberg\|de\|Grafschaft Spiegelberg}} \| 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.
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| Stavelot-Malmedy \| Prince-Abbacy \| 67th seat to the Reichstag
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Steinfurt \| County \| {{lang\|de\|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1486, County of Steinfurt in 1495
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Tecklenburg \| County \| Bentheim-Tecklenburg from 1557
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Thorn \| Princess-Abbacy \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Verden \| Duchy \| Prince-Bishopric of Verden secularized to the King of Sweden from 1648; 46th seat to the Reichstag
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Verden \| Imperial City \| status unclear and abolished
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Virneburg \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Warburg \| Imperial City \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Werden \| Prince-Abbacy \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Wesel \| Imperial City \| status unclear
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Wickrath \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| 20px Wied \| County \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| Winneburg \| Lordship \|
scope="row" style="text-align: left;" \| Wittem \| Lordship \|

class="wikitable"

! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Name

! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Type of entity

! scope="col" style="text-align: left;" | Comments

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | {{Coat of arms|Aachen|text=Aachen}}

| Imperial City

| {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1166

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Anholt

| County

| 18th Westfalian County, formerly to the Utrecht bishops, {{lang|de|reichsfrei}} since the 14th century, held by the Lords of Gemen, fell to Salm-Salm in 1641

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Beilstein

| Lordship

| Fief of Trier since 1488, held by the {{lang|de|Freiherren}} von Metternich from 1635, {{lang|de|Reichsgrafen}} from 1679

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Bentheim

| County

| Recognized as an imperial county in 1486.

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Blankenheim-Gerolstein

| County

| Inherited by Manderscheid in 1468

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Bouillon

| Duchy

| A protectorate of France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen but not annexed until 1795

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Brakel

| Imperial City

| Status challenged by the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Cambray

| Imperial City

| Status challenged by the Cambrai bishops, declared to a duchy by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1510

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Cambrésis

| Prince-Bishopric

| Diocese established in the 6th century, {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by King Henry II in 1007, archbishopric from 1559, fell to France by the 1679 Peace of Nijmegen

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Cleves

| Duchy

| Part of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 to 1614, with Mark and Ravensberg to Brandenburg according to the Treaty of Xanten

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | {{Coat of arms|Cologne}}

| Imperial City

| Status acknowledged by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1475

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Corvey

| Prince-Abbacy

| Established in 815 by King Louis the Pious; 69th seat to the Reichstag

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Delmenhorst

| County

| Established by a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg, held by Oldenburg since 1436

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Diepholz

| County

| 11th Westfalian County. Established about 1160, to Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1585

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | {{Coat of arms|Dortmund}}

| Imperial City

| Status confirmed by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1236

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | {{Coat of arms|Duisburg}}

| 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Düren

| Imperial City

| Status confirmed by Emperor Otto III in 1000, given in pawn to Jülich by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1241

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Dyck

| Lordship

| 30th Westfalian County, to the Salm-Reifferscheid

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px East Frisia

| Princely County

| Raised to Principality 1662, fell to Prussia in 1744

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Echternach

| Prince-Abbacy

| Established about 698 by Saint Willibrord, immediacy granted by King Pepin the Short in 751, annexed by France in 1794

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Fagnolle

| Lordship

| Held by the House of Ligne, raised to county in 1770

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Gemen

| Lordship

| Held by the Counts of Holstein-Schauenburg, fell to the House of Limburg-Stirum in 1640

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Gimborn

| Lordship

| Held by the House of Schwarzenberg, {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg in 1631, raised to county in 1698, sold to Johann Ludwig von Wallmoden in 1782

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Gronsveld

| Lordship

| {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1498, raised to county about 1588, annexed by France in 1794

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Hallermund

| County

| Fief of Brunswick-Calenberg around Springe, raised to Imperial county in 1706

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Herford

| Imperial Abbacy

| Nunnery established in 789, immediate abbacy since 1147, confirmed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1152, 13th Prelature of the Rhine

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Herford

| Imperial City

| {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} derived from Herford Abbey, challenged by Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1547, annexed by Brandenburgian Ravensberg in 1652

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Hoya

| County

| 10th Westfalian County. Fief of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1519, line extinct in 1582

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Jülich

| Duchy

| {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 24x24px 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 {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} in 1786

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 18px Kornelimünster

| Prince-Abbacy

| Established in 814 by Saint Benedict of Aniane

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Lemgo

| Imperial City

| Established about 1190 by Lord Bernard II of Lippe, {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} ascertained by the Imperial Chamber Court

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Liège

| Prince-Bishopric

| Established about 315 by Saint Maternus of Cologne at Tongeren; 47th seat to the Reichstag

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 18px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Myllendonk

| Lordship

| Regained {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} in 1700, held by the Counts of Ostein from 1732

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Minden

| Principality

| Former Bishopric of Minden secularised to Brandenburg by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Münster

| Prince-Bishopric

| Bishopric established by Saint Ludger about 805, {{lang|de|reichsfrei}} 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Osnabrück

| Prince-Bishopric

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Paderborn

| Prince-Bishopric

| 29th seat to the Reichstag

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Pyrmont

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px 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

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px {{ill|County of Reckheim|lt=Reckheim|de|Grafschaft Reckheim}}

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | {{ill|Lordship of Reichenstein|lt=Reichenstein|de|Herrschaft Reichenstein}}

| Lordship

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Rietberg

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Sayn-Altenkirchen

| County

| 1st Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1742 to the Principality of Ansbach

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Sayn-Hachenburg

| County

| 2nd Rhenish County, half Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, from 1714 to the Margrave of {{ill|Burgraves of Kirchberg|lt=Kirchberg|de|Burggrafen von Kirchberg}}

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Schaumburg

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Schaumburg-Hesse

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Schaumburg-Lippe

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Schleiden

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Soest

| Imperial City

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px {{ill|County of Spiegelberg|lt=Spiegelberg|de|Grafschaft Spiegelberg}}

| 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.

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Stavelot-Malmedy

| Prince-Abbacy

| 67th seat to the Reichstag

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Steinfurt

| County

| {{lang|de|Reichsfreiheit}} granted by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg in 1486, County of Steinfurt in 1495

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Tecklenburg

| County

| Bentheim-Tecklenburg from 1557

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Thorn

| Princess-Abbacy

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Verden

| Duchy

| Prince-Bishopric of Verden secularized to the King of Sweden from 1648; 46th seat to the Reichstag

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Verden

| Imperial City

| status unclear and abolished

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Virneburg

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Warburg

| Imperial City

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Werden

| Prince-Abbacy

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Wesel

| Imperial City

| status unclear

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Wickrath

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 20px Wied

| County

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Winneburg

| Lordship

scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Wittem

| Lordship

;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

[https://web.archive.org/web/20120127140233/http://historicalmaps.webs.com/Historical_Maps_of_Germany.htm 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.
{{in lang|de}} [http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Hernach_volgend_die_zehen_Krayss List of the imperial circles of 1532]

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}

Category:Circles of the Holy Roman Empire

Category:Westphalian Lowland

Category:1500s establishments in the Holy Roman Empire

Category:1500 establishments in Europe