German States before 1918 N-Q

Maps showing some of the major territorial changes: Historical Map of Germany in 1660;

Historical map of Germany in 1789; Historical map of Germany in 1803; Map of Germany in 1812;

Map of German Confederation 1815; Map of German Empire 1871

---

Namur (Namen): see under Southern Netherlands provinces

1159                       County of Nassau (Comitatus Nassoviae/Grafschaft Nassau) established.
16 Dec 1255                Dynasty divided into Ottonische Linie (leading to
                             Oranje-Nassau) and Walramische Linie (with which this
                             record is exclusively concerned).
25 Nov 1355                Division into Nassau-(Wiesbaden-)Idstein and Nassau-Weilburg.

Nassau-Wiesbaden-Idstein

25 Nov 1355                County of Nassau (Comitatus Nassoviae/Grafschaft Nassau);
                             style: Graf von Nassau, Herr zu Idstein und Wiesbaden.
19 Jun 1605 -  2 Jun 1677  Personal union with Nassau-Weilburg.
 4 Aug 1688                Principality of Nassau (Fürstentum Nassau; commonly
                             Fürstentum Nassau-Idstein).
26 Oct 1721                Incorporated into Nassau-Ottweiler.

Count (title Graf von Nassau, Herr zu Idstein und Wiesbaden) 
 2 Jun 1677 -  4 Aug 1688  Georg August Samuel                (b. 1665 - d. 1721)
Prince (title Fürst zu Nassau)
 4 Aug 1688 - 26 Oct 1721  Georg August Samuel                (s.a.)

25 Nov 1355                County of Nassau (Comitatus Nassoviae/Grafschaft Nassau);
                             style: Graf von Nassau, Herr zu Weilburg.
26 Sep 1366                Princely County of Nassau (Gefürstete Grafschaft Nassau);
                             style: Gefürsteter Graf von Nassau, Graf von Saarbrücken
                             (from 11 Mar 1381), Herr zu Weilburg.
27 Feb 1442                Nassau-Saarbrücken is split off.
1561 - 22 Mar 1602         Split into Nassau-Weilburg and Nassau-Weilnau.
 5 Sep 1737                Principality of Nassau (Fürstentum Nassau; commonly
                             Fürstentum Nassau-Weilburg); title awarded 4 Aug 1688,
                             but only adopted 5 Sep 1737 upon confirmation of award.
30 Aug 1806                Combined with Nassau-Usingen into Duchy of Nassau.

Counts
18 Sep 1675 - 17 Feb 1719  Johann Ernst                       (b. 1664 - d. 1719)
17 Feb 1719 -  5 Sep 1737  Karl August                        (b. 1685 - d. 1753)
Princes
 5 Sep 1737 -  9 Nov 1753  Karl August                        (s.a.)
 9 Nov 1753 - 28 Nov 1788  Karl Christian                     (b. 1735 - d. 1788)
28 Nov 1788 - 30 Aug 1806  Friedrich Wilhelm                  (b. 1768 - d. 1816)

Directing President
1788 - 30 Aug 1806         Hans Christoph Ernst Freiherr      (b. 1766 - d. 1852)
                             von Gagern

27 Feb 1442                County of Nassau (Comitatus Nassoviae/Grafschaft Nassau); style:
                             Gefürsteter Graf von Nassau, Graf von Saarbrücken.
23 Nov 1574 -  5 Feb 1629  Personal union with Nassau-Weilburg.
1648                       Nassau-Saarbrücken re-founded.
10 Apr 1659                Divided into Nassau-Saarbrücken, Nassau-Ottweiler, and
                             Nassau-Usingen.
 6 Dec 1723                Nassau-Saarbrücken and Nassau-Ottweiler re-combined.
Oct 1792 - 18 Oct 1797     Occupied by France.
Oct 1792 - 27 Apr 1797     The line continues in rebellion.
18 Oct 1797 - 1814         Incorporated into France (Saarbrücken part of the Sarre
                             department 9 Mar 1801).
1814                       Saarbrücken annexed to Prussia.

Counts
19 Oct 1677 - 14 Feb 1713  Ludwig Crato                       (b. 1663 - d. 1713)
                            (Nassau-Saarbrücken only)
14 Feb 1713 -  6 Dec 1723  Karl Ludwig                        (b. 1665 - d. 1723)
                            (Nassau-Saarbrücken only)
 9 Feb 1690 - 25 May 1728  Friedrich Ludwig                   (b. 1651 - d. 1728)
                            (in Nassau-Ottweiler only to 6 Dec 1723)
25 May 1728 -  6 Dec 1735  Karl                               (b. 1712 - d. 1775)
 6 Dec 1735 - 24 Jul 1768  Wilhelm Heinrich                   (b. 1718 - d. 1768)
24 Jul 1768 -  2 Mar 1794  Ludwig                             (b. 1745 - d. 1794)
                            (from Oct 1792, in rebellion against France)
 2 Mar 1794 - 27 Apr 1797  Heinrich Ludwig Karl Albrecht      (b. 1768 - d. 1797)
                            (in rebellion against France))

10 Apr 1659                County of Nassau (Grafschaft Nassau; commonly Grafschaft
                             Nassau-Usingen); style: Gefürsteter Graf von Nassau.
 4 Aug 1688                Principality of Nassau (Fürstentum Nassau; commonly
                             Fürstentum Nassau-Usingen); style: Fürst zu Nassau.
31 Jul 1806                The ruler takes the style Herzog zu Nassau, as mandated by
                             the provisions of the Rheinbundakte: "the head of the
                             house of Nassau shall take the style of Duke."
30 Aug 1806                Combined with Nassau-Weilburg into Duchy of Nassau.

Princes
 4 Aug 1688 - 17 Oct 1702  Walrad                             (b. 1635 - d. 1702)
17 Oct 1702 - 14 Feb 1718  Wilhelm Heinrich                   (b. 1684 - d. 1718)
14 Feb 1718 - 21 Jun 1775  Karl                               (b. 1712 - d. 1775)
14 Feb 1718 - 11 Oct 1738  Charlotte Amalia von Nassau-       (b. 1680 - d. 1738)
                             Dillenburg (f) -Regent
21 Jun 1775 - 17 May 1803  Karl Wilhelm                       (b. 1735 - d. 1803)
17 May 1803 - 31 Jul 1806  Friedrich August                   (b. 1738 - d. 1816)
Duke
31 Jul 1806 - 30 Aug 1806  Friedrich August                   (s.a.)

Directing Presidents
Dec 1768 -  4 Jul 1803     Karl Friedrich Freiherr von Kruse  (b. 1737 - d. 1806)
1803 - 30 Aug 1806         Ernst Franz Ludwig Freiherr        (b. 1770 - d. 1834)
                             Marschall von Bieberstein

c.1830 - c.1839

c.1839 - 20 Sep 1866

30 Aug 1806                Duchy of Nassau (Herzogtum Nassau), ruled jointly to 24 Mar 1816 by
                             the Duke of Nassau (formerly prince of Nassau-Usingen) and the
                             Prince of Nassau (formerly prince of Nassau-Weilburg)
18 Jul 1866                Occupied by Prussia
 1 Oct 1866                Annexation by Prussia.

Dukes (title Herzog zu Nassau)
30 Aug 1806 - 24 Mar 1816  Friedrich August                   (b. 1738 - d. 1816)
                           - jointly with-
30 Aug 1806 -  9 Jan 1816  Friedrich Wilhelm -Prince          (b. 1768 - d. 1816)
 9 Jan 1816 - 20 Aug 1839  Wilhelm (prince to 24 Mar 1816)    (b. 1792 - d. 1839)
20 Aug 1839 - 20 Sep 1866  Adolf                              (b. 1817 - d. 1905)
                             (fled into exile from 14 Jul 1866)
Prussian Military governor
18 Jul 1866 - 13 Sep 1866  Julius August Heinrich Edwin von   (b. 1808 - d. 1889)
                             Roeder

Ministers
30 Aug 1806 - 1811         Hans Christoph Ernst Freiherr      (b. 1766 - d. 1852)
                             von Gagern (Nassau-Weilburg)
                           - jointly with-
30 Aug 1806 - 1815         Ernst Franz Ludwig Freiherr        (b. 1770 - d. 1834)
                             Marschall von Bieberstein
                             (Nassau-Usingen)
Directing Ministers of State
1815 - 22 Jan 1834         Ernst Franz Ludwig Freiherr        (s.a.)
                             Marschall von Bieberstein 
1834 - 1842                Carl Wilderich Graf von            (b. 1799 - d. 1862)
                             Walderdorff
1842 - 1843                Friedrich Georg Karl Anton         (b. 1798 - d. 1866) 
                             Freiherr von Bock-Hermsdorff
1843 - 1848                Ernst August Freiherr von Dungern  (b. 1802 - d. 1862)
1848 -  2 Jan 1849         August Hergenhahn (1st time)       (b. 1804 - d. 1874)
11 Jun 1849 -  7 Feb 1852  Friedrich Gerhard Freiherr von     (b. 1799 - d. 1870) 
                             Wintzingerode
 7 Feb 1852 - 31 Jul 1866  August Ludwig Prinz zu Sayn-       (b. 1788 - d. 1874)
                             Wittgenstein-Berleburg
 1 Sep 1866 - 22 Dec 1866  August Hergenhahn (2nd time)       (s.a.)
                             (acting)
Prussian Civil commissioner
21 Jul 1866 - 20 Sep 1866  Gustav von Diest                   (b. 1826 - d. 1911)

bf.788                     Benedictine Abbey of Niedermünster in Regensburg
                             (Niedermünsterstifts in Regensburg) founded.
1002                       Imperial immediacy granted by Heinrich II (Reichsstift
                             Niedermünster in Regensburg).
c.1491                     Abbesses also Princess of the Empire. 
 1 Dec 1802                Assigned to Karl Theodor von und zu Dalberg, Prince-Primate
                             (see Regensburg)(confirmed 27 Apr 1803). 
 9 May 1810 - 22 May 1810  French administration (see Regensburg).
22 May 1810 - 10 Feb 1811  Bavarian administration.
10 Feb 1811                Secularized and annexed to Bavaria by treaty with France. 

Princess-Abbesses (title Fürstabtissin zu Niedermünster in Regensburg)
19 Jun 1697 - 19 Mar 1723  Johanna Francisca Sibylla von     (b. 1679 - d. 1723)
                             Muggenthal 
27 Apr 1723 - 1756         Maria Anna Katharina Franzisca    (b. 1688 - d. 1756)
                             Helena Gräfin von Aham auf Neuhauss 
1757 - 1768                Maria Anna Katharina von Dücker- 
                             Hasslen-Urstein und Winckel     (d. 1768)
1769 - 1789                Maria Anna Febronia Elisabeth 
                             von Speth zu Zwiefalten (Zwyfalten) 
30 Mar 1789 - 15 May 1793  Maria Francisca Xaveria Josepha   (b. 1738 - d. 1793)
                             Gräfin von Königsfeld 
15 May 1793 - 15 May 1801  Maria Anne Violanta von           (b. 1739 - d. 1801)
                             Lerchenfeld-Premberg
15 Jun 1801 - 1803         Maria Helena von Freien-          (b. 1743 - d. 1811)
                             Seiboldsdorf (Seiboltsdorf)

c.1000                     Nürnberg castle (Burggraviate von Nürnberg) established.
1192                       Burggraviate is inherited by Zollern (later Hohenzollern) dynasty.
1200                       Nürnberg town granted city rights.
 8 Nov 1219                Nürnberg town granted imperial privileges.
1320                       Imperial City of Nürnberg (Reichsstadt Nürnberg).
1420                       The castle is destroyed.
27 Jun 1427                Burggraviate territories are sold to the city. The territories
                             around Ansbach and Bayreuth are retained by the
                             Hohenzollern, along with the title Burggraf von Nürnberg.
23 Sep 1526                Brandenburg claims some suzerain rights beyond the city walls.
22 Apr 1617                City offices of Reichsschultheissen (governors) and Vorderster
                             Losunger (heads of city council) formally entrusted to the
                             same person.
1753                       Nürnberg city boundaries with Brandenburg/Prussia fixed.
 4 Jul 1796                Prussia annexes the burggraviate area.
 9 Aug 1796 - 23 Aug 1796  French occupation of burggraviate.
 7 Dec 1797 - 11 Mar 1806  City under imperial administration.
30 Jun 1803                Burggraviate territories divided between Bavaria and Prussia.
11 Mar 1806 - 15 Sep 1806  Burggraviate area occupied by France.
15 Sep 1806                Nürnberg city annexed by Bavaria.

Reichsschultheissen (also vorderster Losunger [heads of city council])  
1696 - 1706                Johann Paul Paumgartner von Holnstein   (b. 1630 - d. 1706)
1706 - 1718                Johann Adam Georg Christoph Geuder      (b. 1641 - d. 1718)
                             von Heroldsberg                
1718 - 1725                Wolfgang Jacob Nützel                   (b. c.1660 - d. 1725)
1725 - 1732                Christoph Fürer von Haimendorf          (b. 1663 - d. 1732)
1732 - 1736                Johann Christoph von Imhof              (b. 1659 - d. 1736)
1736 - 1744                Karl Benedikt Geuder von Heroldsberg    (b. 1670 - d. 1744)
1744 - 1752                Christoph Gottlieb Volckamer von        (b. 1676 - d. 1752)
                             Kirchensittenbach
1752 - 1755                Johann Karl Welser von Neunhof          (b. 1685 - d. 1755)
1755 - 25 Oct 1758         Christoph Willibald Harsdörffer von     (b. 1674 - d. 1758)
                             Enderndorf
1758 - 1763                Karl Sigmund Ferdinand Grundherr von    (b. 1727 - d. 1796)
                             Altenthann
1763 - 19 Mar 1764         Johann Sigmund Pfinzing von Henfenfeld  (b. 1712 - d. 1764)
27 Mar 1764 - 18 Dec 1794  Christoph Friedrich Stromer von         (b. 1712 - d. 1794)
                             Reichenbach                  
18 Dec 1794 - 1804         Johann Sigmund Haller von Hallerstein   (b. 1723 - d. 1805)
1804 - 15 Sep 1806         Christoph Wilhelm Waldstromer von       (b. 1729 - d. 1810)
                             Reichelsdorf
President of the Imperial Subdelegation Commission
 7 Dec 1797 - 15 Sep 1806  Philipp Ernst Gemming                   (b. 17.. - d. 1811)
French Military Governor (of the burggraviate)
11 Mar 1806 - 15 Sep 1806  Bernard Georges François Frère          (b. 1764 – d. 1826)
Bavarian General State Commissioner (Generallandeskommissär Pegniz-Kreis Nürnberg)
15 Sep 1806 – 28 Oct 1808  Friedrich Karl Graf Thürheim            (b. 1763 - d. 1832)
Bavarian Kommissär
15 Sep 1806 – 28 Oct 1808  Friedrich Freiherr Lochner von          (b. 1771 - d. 1825)
                             Hüttenbach 

c.833                      Imperial (Benedictine) Abbey of Obermünster in Regensburg
                             (Reichsstift Obermünster [in Regensburg]).
1216                       Imperial immediacy confirmed by Emperor Frederick II (Reichsabtei
                             Obermünster [in Regensburg]).
1219                       Under Direct Papal protection.
1315                       Abbess also Princess of the Empire (Gefürstete Reichsabtei
                             Obermünster [in Regensburg]).
 1 Dec 1802                Assigned to Karl Theodor von und zu Dalberg, Prince-Primate
                             (see Regensburg)(confirmed 27 Apr 1803). 
 9 May 1810 - 22 May 1810  French administration (see Regensburg).
22 May 1810 - 10 Feb 1811  Bavarian administration.
10 Feb 1811                Secularized and annexed to Bavaria by treaty with France. 

Princess-Abbesses (title Gefürstete Äbtissin zu Obermünster in Regensburg)
1683 - 1719                Maria Theresia von Sandizell           (b. 1643 - d. 1719) 
22 Nov 1719 - 11 Jul 1765  Anna Magdalena Francisca Freiin von    (d. 1765)
                             Dondorf
26 Aug 1765 -  3 Oct 1775  Maria Francisca Josepha Freiin von     (b. 1714 - d. 1775)
                             Freudenberg 
21 Nov 1775 - 27 Apr 1803  Maria Josepha Freiin von Neuenstein-   (b. 1739 - d. 1822)
                             Hubacker

1190                       Lordship of Olbrück (Ollbrück)(Herrschaft Olbrück) purchased
                             by Dietrich I von Wied from the Archbishop of Cologne.
1244                       Wied extinct; divided and shared ultimately with a dozen
                             families, often in dispute with each other.
1555                       Aall acquired by Walbott von Bassenheim.
1632 - 1633                Occupied by Swedish forces.
1794 - 1801                Occupied by France.
 9 Mar 1801                Annexed to France.
1813 - 1815                Allied administration.
1815                       Annexed to Prussia.

Barons (title Reichsfreiherr Waldbott von Bassenheim zu Olbrück)
 9 Feb 1681 - 19 Mar 1744  Karl Heinrich Franz Anton             (b. 1678 - d. 1744)
19 Mar 1744 - 29 Sep 1755  Johann Jakob                          (b. 1683 - d. 1755)
29 Sep 1755 - 1792         Klemens August                        (b. 1731 - d. 1792)
1792 -  9 Mar 1801         Maximilian Friedrich                  (b. 1764 - d. 1823)

Map of Oldenburg and Oldenburg in 1789	Hear State Anthem "Heil dir, o Oldenburg!" (Hail to thee, O' Oldenburg!) (1872-1918)	Former State Anthem "Heil, deinem Fürsten, Heil!" (Hail to your Prince, Hail!) (1829-1872)	Constitution (1 Mar 1849)
Capital: Oldenburg (Le Vieux-Bourg 1811-1813)	Currency: German Convention Thaler (XDCT) (1764-1810, 1813-1854); North German Thaler (XDET)(1854-1857); German Vereinsthaler (XDNT) (1857-1872)	State Holiday: Birthday of the Grand Duke (unofficial)	Population: 483,042 (1910) 262,171 (1838) 90,000 (1802)
Military: 3,700 (1860) Merchant marine: 650 sea-going vessels (1864)	Exports: see Prussia Imports: see Prussia	Religions: Protestant 75%, Roman Catholic 25% (1860)
International Organizations: German Customs Union (1854-1871), ICRM

 

1148                       Count Christian II "der Streitbare" of the Oldenburg 

                             dynasty takes the style Graf von Oldenburg.

1181                       Imperial immediacy (reichsunmittelbares).

29 Jun 1667 -  1 Jul 1773  Personal union with Denmark.

22 Mar 1777                Duchy of Holstein-Oldenburg; style Herzog zu Holstein-

                             Oldenburg conferred 29 Dec 1774, published 22 Mar 1777.

12 Nov 1806 -  8 Jan 1807  Occupied by Kingdom of Holland.

10 Dec 1810 - Oct 1813     Incorporated into France; from 1 Jan 1811 as arrondissement

                             d'Oldenbourg within département Bouches-du-Weser (see under

                             Germany).

Oct 1813 -  1 Dec 1813     Allied administration.

27 Nov 1813                Duchy of Holstein-Oldenburg (restored).

28 Dec 1813 – 31 Jul 1826  Kniphausen (Knyphausen) administered by Oldenburg.

28 May 1829                Grand Duchy of Oldenburg; style: Grossherzog von Oldenburg

                             (the style Grossherzog zu Holstein-Oldenburg awarded by

                             Final Act of Congress of Vienna 9 Jun 1815, but not used).

 9 Nov 1918                Republic of Oldenburg-East Friesland (Republik Oldenburg-
                             Ostfriesland)(see German states since 1918).

Governors
1667 - 27 Oct 1680         Anton Graf von Aldenburg           (b. 1633 - d. 1680)
27 Oct 1680 -  2 Jul 1692  Vacant
 2 Jul 1692 -  4 Dec 1703  Gustav Wilhelm Graf von Wedel      (b. 1641 - d. 1717)
 4 Dec 1703 - 30 Jan 1717  Georg Ernst Graf von Wedel-        (b. 1666 - d. 1717)
                             Jarlsberg
30 Jan 1717 - 15 Feb 1752  Vacant
15 Feb 1752 -  3 Dec 1765  Rochus Friedrich Graf zu Lynar     (b. 1708 - d. 1783)
Administrators
21 Jan 1766 - 11 Feb 1771  Henning von Qualen                 (b. 1703 - d. 1785)
11 Feb 1771 - 13 Mar 1772  Konrad Wilhelm Graf von Ahlefedt   (b. 1707 - d. 1791)
14 Apr 1772 - 10 Dec 1773  Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von     (b. 1724 - d. 1790)
                             Wedel-Jarlsberg
Commissioners
10 Dec 1773 - 14 Dec 1773  Caspar von Saldern                 (b. 1711 - d. 1786)
14 Dec 1773 - 29 Dec 1774  Friedrich August von Holstein-     (s.a.)
                             Gottorp 
Directing ministers
29 Dec 1774 - 10 May 1806  Friedrich Levin Graf von Holmer    (b. 1741 - d. 1806)
10 May 1806 - 10 Dec 1810  Hans Detlev Freiherr von           (b. 1768 - d. 1826)
                             Hammerstein
Oberlanddrosten
1807 - 28 Feb 1811         Burchard Otto Hans von der Decken  (b. 1769 - d. 1838)
28 Feb 1811 - 12 Oct 1814  Vacant
12 Oct 1814 - 23 Jul 1827  Karl Ludwig Friedrich Joseph       (b. 1760 - d. 1847)
                             Freiherr von Brandenstein
State and Cabinet ministers
23 Jul 1827 - 30 Jun 1842  Karl Ludwig Friedrich Joseph       (s.a.)
                             Freiherr von Brandenstein
 1 Jul 1842 -  9 Sep 1843  Günther Heinrich Freiherr von Berg (b. 1765 - d. 1843)
Chairmen of the State ministry
 9 Sep 1843 -  1 Aug 1848  Wilhelm Ernst Freiherr von         (b. 1786 - d. 1859)
                             Beaulieu-Marconnay
 1 Aug 1848 - 13 Aug 1849  Johann Heinrich Jakob Schloifer    (b. 1790 - d. 1867)
13 Aug 1849 -  1 May 1851  Christian Diedrich von Buttel      (b. 1801 - d. 1878)
 1 May 1851 - 23 Jun 1874  Peter Friedrich Ludwig             (b. 1805 - d. 1874)
                             Freiherr von Rössing
23 Jun 1874 -  1 Oct 1876  Carl Heinrich Ernst von Berg       (b. 1810 - d. 1894)
 1 Oct 1876 - 14 Mar 1890  Friedrich Andreas Ruhstrat         (b. 1818 - d. 1896)
14 Mar 1890 - 19 Aug 1900  Gerhard Friedrich Günther Jansen   (b. 1831 - d. 1914)
19 Aug 1900 - 17 Aug 1908  Wilhelm Friedrich Willich          (b. 1846 - d. 1917)
17 Aug 1908 -  3 Jan 1916  Friedrich Julius Heinrich Ruhstrat (b. 1854 - d. 1916)
 3 Jan 1916 -  6 Nov 1918  Franz Friedrich Paul Ruhstrat      (b. 1859 - d. 1935)

Oberlanddrosten
1680 - 1692                Burchard Graf Ahlefeld             (b. 1634 - d. 1695)
1692 - 1694                Anton Wolf Freiherr von Haxthausen (b. 1647 - d. 1694)
1697 - 1699                Georg Ernst Graf von Wedel-        (s.a.)
                             Jarlsberg
1699 - 1706                Johan Georg von Holstein           (b. 1662 - d. 1730)
 4 May 1706 - 1713         Ludwig Staats von Hahn             (b. 1656 - d. 1730)
1713 - 1718                Joachim von Pritzbuer              (b. 1665 - d. 1719)
28 Apr 1718 - 1736         Christian Thomesen von Sehested    (b. 1664 - d. 1736)
13 Dec 1736 - 26 Dec 1740  Christian Friedrich von Haxthausen (b. 1690 - d. 1740)
1741 - 1745                Adam Levin von Witzleben           (b. 1688 - d. 1745)
10 Dec 1745 - 1752         Christian Ernst von Beulwitz       (b. 1695 - d. 1759)

Amtmaend
.... - 1520                Otto Ritzerow
1520 - 15..                Hinrich Rantzau
15.. - 1561                Joachim Rantzau                    (d. 1561)
1561 - c.1581              Dietrich Blome
bf.1584 - ....             Detlef Rantzau zu Klethkamp        (b. 1530 - d. af.1605)
1667 - 1672                Hans Rantzau                       (b. 1613 - d. 1673)
1672 - 1679                Jasper von Buchwald                (b. 1650 - d. 1705)
1679 - 28 Aug 1689         Hans Blome                         (b. 1618 - d. 1689)
1690 - 1701                Joachim von Ahlefeldt              (b. 1650 - d. 1701)
1701 - 1703                Ditlev Brockdorff                  (b. 1642 - d. 1732)
1703 - 1710?               Ditlev Sivert von Ahlefeldt        (b. 1658 - d. 1714)
1710 - 1736                Cay von Brockdorff                 (b. 1670 - d. 1736)
1736 - 1739                Joachim Engel (1st time) (acting)
1739 - 1744                Johann Hieronymus Negelein         (b. 1673 - d. 1744)
1744 - 1750                Joachim Engel (2nd time) (acting)
1750 - 1762                Christian August von Brockdorff    (d. 1762)
1762 - 1769                David Reinhold von Sievers         (b. 1732 - d. 1814)

Birkenfeld

13th cent.                 Part of County of Sponheim (Grafschaft Sponheim).
1223                       After partition of Sponheim, part of the Rear County Sponheim
                             (Hintere Grafschaft Sponheim).
1437                       Partitioned between Margraviate of Baden and County of Veldenz.
1584 - 1717                Residence of the Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld branch of the
                             Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria.
26 Sep 1776                Birkenfeld is inherited by Baden.
Fall 1794                  Occupied by France.
 9 Mar 1801                Annexed by France, part of département of Sarre
                             (see under Germany).
Jan 1814 - 15 Jun 1814     Allied administration (from Feb 1814, part of Government-General
                             of Middle Rhine).
15 Jun 1814 -  1 Jul 1816  Joint Austrian and Bavarian administration (see under Mainz).
 1 Jul 1816 - 16 Apr 1817  Prussian rule.
16 Apr 1817                Principality of Birkenfeld (Fürstentum Birkenfeld), in (nominal)
                             personal union with Oldenburg; Birkenfeld an exclave of
                             Oldenburg inside Prussia's province of Rhine.
11 Nov 1918                Province of Birkenfeld (Provinz Birkenfeld) within Oldenburg
                             (from 1918 see German states since 1918).

Princes (title Fürst zu Birkenfeld)
16 Apr 1817 - 11 Nov 1918  the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg

Oettingen (Öttingen)

Flag circa 1545

Flag to 12 Jul 1806

1147                       County of Oettingen (Grafschaft Oettingen) first mentioned; related
                             to the House of Hohenstaufen.
23 Jan 1423 - 21 Mar 1486  Oettingen-Wallerstein is created as a partition of Oettingen,
                             and is then re-inherited by it.
23 Mar 1557                Branch of Oettingen-Wallerstein split from Oettingen-Oettingen; the
                             whole County of Oettingen has single membership in the College of
                             Counts of Swabia of the Imperial Diet to 1803.
14 Oct 1602                Oettingen-Spielberg split from Oettingen-Wallerstein.
10 Oct 1674                Oettingen-Oettingen created Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
30 Mar 1731                Oettingen-Oettingen extinct, divided between Oettingen-Wallerstein
                             (two-thirds) and Oettingen-Spielberg (one-third)(see both below). 

Oettingen-Spielberg

14 Oct 1602                County of Oettingen-Spielberg (Grafschaft Öttingen-Spielberg),
                             split from Oettingen-Oettingen.
18 Jul 1734                Count created Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
25 Mar 1803                Principality of Oettingen-Spielberg (Fürstentum Öttingen-Spielberg),
                             with individual vote in the Council of Princes of the Imperial Diet.
12 Jul 1806                Annexed to Bavaria.
18 May 1810                Divided between Bavaria and Württemberg.

Counts (title Graf von Oettingen zu Spielberg)
25 Nov 1665 - 13 Sep 1675  Johann Sebastian                   (b. 1655 - d. 1675)
13 Sep 1675 - 10 Oct 1685  Johann Wilhelm                     (b. 1655 - d. 1685)
10 Oct 1685 - 18 Jul 1734  Franz Albrecht                     (b. 1663 - d. 1737)
Princes (title title Reichsfürst zu Oettingen-Spielberg [from 1781, zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Spielberg])
18 Jul 1734 -  3 Feb 1737  Franz Albrecht                     (s.a.)
 3 Feb 1737 - 23 May 1768  Anton Ernst                        (b. 1712 - d. 1768)
                           - jointly with -
 3 Feb 1737 - 16 Feb 1780  Johann Aloys I                     (b. 1707 - d. 1780)
16 Feb 1780 - 27 Jun 1797  Johann Aloys II                    (b. 1758 - d. 1797)
27 Jun 1797 - 12 Jul 1806  Johann Aloys III                   (b. 1788 - d. 1855)
27 Jun 1797 – 12 Jul 1806  Maria Aloysie Fürstin von          (b. 1762 – d. 1825)
                             Auersperg (f) -Regent

Oettingen-Wallerstein

23 Mar 1557                Branch of Oettingen-Wallerstein (Grafschaft Öttingen-Wallerstein),
                             split from Oettingen-Oettingen (second creation). 
1623 - 14 Jan 1789         Oettingen-Baldern split from Oettingen-Wallerstein, but became
                             extinct in 1789 and was inherited by Oettingen-Wallerstein.
1632 - Sep 1634            Wallerstein occupied by Sweden.
14 Apr 1774                Count is created a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.
25 Mar 1803                Principality of Oettingen-Wallerstein (Fürstentum Öttingen-
                             Wallerstein), with individual vote in the Council of Princes of
                             the Imperial Diet.
12 Jul 1806                Annexed to Bavaria.
18 May 1810                The western, part about a third of the former county, is ceded
                             to Württemberg.

Counts (title Graf zu Oettingen-Wallerstein)
 3 Mar 1670 - 11 Dec 1692  Wilhelm IV                         (b. 1627 - d. 1692)
11 Dec 1692 -  6 Oct 1708  Wolfgang IV                        (b. 1629 - d. 1708)
 6 Oct 1708 - 25 Oct 1717  Dominik Josef                      (b. 1676 - d. 1717)
                           - jointly with -
 6 Oct 1708 -  3 Oct 1728  Franz Ignaz Josef                  (b. 1672 - d. 1728)
 3 Oct 1728 - 14 Apr 1738  Joseph Anton Karl                  (b. 1679 - d. 1738)
14 Apr 1738 - 16 Jul 1744  Johann Karl Friedrich              (b. 1715 - d. 1744)
                           - jointly with -
14 Apr 1738 - 14 Apr 1766  Philip Carl II Dominik             (b. 1722 - d. 1766)
14 Apr 1766 - 14 Apr 1774  Kraft Ernst                        (b. 1748 - d. 1802)
Princes (title Reichsfürst zu Oettingen-Wallerstein [from 1781, zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein])
14 Apr 1774 -  6 Oct 1802  Kraft Ernst                        (s.a.)
 6 Oct 1802 - 12 Jul 1806  Ludwig Kraft Ernst                 (b. 1791 - d. 1870)
 6 Oct 1802 - 12 Jul 1806  Wilhelmine Friederike Elisabeth    (b. 1764 - d. 1817)
                             von Württemberg (f) -Regent

10 Apr 783                 Bishopric of Osnabrück (Episcopatus Osnabrugensis/
                             Hochstift Osnabrück), a fief of Saxony.
1180 - 1236                Fief of Tecklenburg.
1226                       Bishops made Princes of the Empire (Fürstbistum Osnabrück).
1236                       Imperial immediacy.
1574 - 19 Sep 1625         Controlled by Protestant Bishops.
19 Sep 1626 -  4 Nov 1802  Catholic and Protestant Bishops alternate.
 4 Nov 1802                Annexed to Hanover.
 1 Apr 1806                Annexed, along with Hanover, to Prussia. 
26 Oct 1806 - 28 Aug 1807  French occupy Osnabrück.
 5 Nov 1806                Osnabrück subordinated together with Münster, Mark, Tecklenburg
                             and Lingen (from Feb 1807 called Pays de la Marck, Münster,
                             Tecklenburg et Osnabrück)(see under Münster).
28 Aug 1807                Annexed to Kingdom of Westphalia.
 5 May 1808                Tecklenburg annexed to Grand Duchy of Berg.
 4 Jul 1811                Annexed to France (as part of Ems-Supérieur département)(see
                             under Germany).
 9 Nov 1813 -  9 Nov 1813  Allied administration.
 9 Nov 1813 - 20 Dec 1813  Administered by Hanover. 
20 Dec 1813                Re-incorporated into Hanover.

Prince-Bishops (title Fürstbischof zu Osnabrück)
14 Apr 1698 -  4 Dec 1715  Karl Joseph Ignaz Herzog von Lothringen,(b. 1680 - d. 1715)
                             Erzbischof von Trier (Roman Catholic)
 2 Mar 1716 - 14 Aug 1728  Ernst August II Herzog von Hannover,    (b. 1674 - d. 1728)
                             Herzog von York (Protestant)
 4 Nov 1728 -  6 Feb 1761  Clemens August Herzog von Bayern,       (b. 1700 - d. 1761)
                             Erzbischof von Köln (Roman Catholic)
 6 Feb 1761 - 26 Feb 1764  Georg Herzog zu Braunschweig und        (b. 1738 - d. 1820)
                             Lüneburg -Regent (Protestant)
26 Feb 1764 -  4 Nov 1802  Friedrich August Herzog von York,       (b. 1763 - d. 1827)
                             Albany (Protestant)
26 Feb 1764 - 16 Aug 1783  Regierungsräte -Regents
French Military governor
26 Oct 1806 - Feb 1807     Louis Henri Loison                      (b. 1771 - d. 1816)
Chairman of the Government Commission
Nov 1813 - Aug 1816        Carl Wilhelm August Freiherr von        (b. 1777 - d. 1847)
                             Stralenheim (Hanover)

Regierungsräte (government councillors)
- First Line -
1764 - Dec 1764            Albert Friedrich von Lenthe             (b. 1707 - d. 1779)
Dec 1764 - 16 Aug 1783     Gotthelf Dietrich von Ende              (b. 1725 - d. 1798)
- Second Line -
1764 - Sep 1772            August Wilhelm von dem Bussche          (b. 1727 - d. 1789)
17 Sep 1772 -  1 May 1780  Johann Wilhelm Riedesel zu Eisenbach    (b. 1705 - d. 1782)
May 1780 - Aug 1783        Christian Ludwig August von Arnswaldt   (b. 1733 - d. 1815)

799                        Bishopric of Paderborn (Episcopatus Padelbornensis/
                             Hochstift Paderborn).
881                        Granted territory in fief to Saxony.
1180                       Made a fief of the Archbishopric of Cologne.
1247                       Bishops also Princes of the Empire (Fürstbistum Paderborn).
c.1200                     Bishopric gained bailiwick over itself. 
1281                       Gained Imperial immediacy (Reichsfreiheit).
1577 - 1585                Briefly converted to Lutheranism (except the Cathedral Chapter and
                             the Monastery Abdinghof).
23 May 1802                Ceded to Prussia by Franco-Prussian treaty.
 3 Aug 1802                Annexed to Prussia.
26 Oct 1806 - 28 Aug 1807  Occupied by France.
28 Aug 1807                Annexed to Kingdom of Westphalia (as Département de la Fulde/
                             Departement der Fulda).
 1 Nov 1813 - 25 May 1815  Allied administration.
25 May 1815                Re-incorporated into Prussia.

Prince-Bishops (title Fürstbischof zu Paderborn)
15 Sep 1683 - 21 May 1704  Hermann Werner Reichsfreiherr von          (b. 1625 - d. 1704)  
                             Wolf-Metternich zu Gracht
21 May 1704 - 25 Dec 1718  Franz Arnold Reichsfreiherr von            (b. 1658 - d. 1718)
                             Wolf-Metternich zur Gracht
21 Mar 1719 -  6 Feb 1761  Clemens August Herzog von Bayern           (b. 1700 - d. 1761)
25 Jan 1763 - 26 Dec 1782  Wilhelm Anton Freiherr von der Asseburg    (b. 1707 - d. 1782)
                             zu Hinnenburg
26 Dec 1782 -  6 Jan 1789  Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Westphalen  (b. 1727 - d. 1789)
 6 Jan 1789 -  3 Aug 1802  Franz Egon Freiherr von Fürstenberg        (b. 1737 - d. 1825)
President of the Government Commission
1814 - 25 May 1815         Johann Georg Julius von Schlechtendahl     (b. 1770 - d. 1833)

945                        Palatinate of Lorraine (Pfalzgrafschaft Lothringen).

1093                       Palatinate of the Rhine (Pfalzgrafschaft bei Rhein);

                             style: Pfalzgraf bei Rhein (Count Palatine of the Rhine -

                             more literally "at the Rhine").

25 Dec 1356                Golden Bull confirms electoral status of the ruler; the

                             polity is often styled Kurfürstentum Pfalz bei Rhein

                             (Electorate Palatinate of the Rhine); style: Pfalzgraf bei
                             Rhein, Erztruchsess und Kurfürst des Heiligen Römischen
                             Reiches (count palatine of the Rhine, archsteward and
                             prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire).
 7 Mar 1623                The polity is forfeited to the king, the electoral dignity
                             is transferred to Bavaria.
 3 Mar 1628                Incorporated into Bavaria.
24 Oct 1648                Polity reconstituted; new electorate created Jun 1653;
                             style: Pfalzgraf bei Rhein, Erzschatzmeister und Kurfürst
                             des Heiligen Römischen Reiches (count palatine of the Rhine,
                             archtreasurer and prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire).
29 Apr 1706 -  6 Mar 1714  Bavaria divided between Austria and the Palatinate.
23 Jun 1708                After the (temporary) dissolution of Bavaria, the count
                             palatine recovers the earlier electoral style
                             (Erztruchsess), and maintains it, in dispute with the
                             restored Bavaria.
30 Dec 1777                The ruler inherits Bavaria, and the dispute regarding the
                             electoral style ends.

30 Mar 1793 - Jan 1814     Territories on left bank of the Rhine are occupied, and then

                             annexed 27 Oct 1797, by France; from 1 Mar 1801, part of

                             Mont-Tonnerre département (see under Germany).

Sep 1795 - Oct 1795        Mannheim occupied by French then recaptured by Austrian troops.

27 Apr 1803 - Jan 1814     Right-bank of the Palatinate incorporated into Baden.

 1 Jan 1814 - 16 Jun 1814  Allied occupation (from 2 Feb 1814, part of General Government of

                             Middle Rhine).

16 Jun 1814                Southern parts of the left-bank Palatinate were restored and

                             enlarged by mediatization (Zweibrücken, Kaiserslautern, Speyer,

                             Waldmohr, Blieskastel, Kusel, and Landau) and placed under

                             the Imperial Royal Austrian and Royal Bavarian Joint Land

                             Administration Commission (k.k. Österreichischen und k. Bairischen

                             gemeinschaftliche Landes-Administrations-Kommission)

                             (at Kreuznach, then Worms).

 9 Jun 1815                Left-bank Palatinate granted to Austria by Congress of Vienna; joint

                             Austro-Bavarian administration continues.

 1 May 1816                Palatinate (Rheinkreis) incorporated into Bavaria (by treaty with

                             Austria of 16 Apr 1816), smaller parts to Hesse-Darmstadt (from

                             7 Jul 1816), Oldenburg, and Prussia.

17 May 1849 - 14 Jun 1849  Provisional Government of the Palatinate declared in rebellion.

1182                       County of Palatinate-Zweibrücken (Pfalzgrafschaft Zweibrücken).
1385 - 18 May 1410         Incorporated into the Palatinate (s.a.).
1444                       Unification of County of Zweibrücken, County of Veldenz and
                             Palatinate-Simmern and Zweibrücken as the Principality of
                             Palatinate-Zweibrücken (Fürstentum Pfalz-Zweibrücken).
 9 Jul 1661                Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken (Herzogtum Pfalz-Zweibrücken).
11 Apr 1681 - 11 Dec 1718  Personal union with Sweden.
17 Sep 1731                Zweibrücken fell to the Palatinate-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler line.
24 Dec 1733                Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld (Herzogtum
                             Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld)("Pfalz-Birkenfeld).
26 Sep 1776                Birkenfeld is inherited by Baden.
16 Feb 1799                Incorporated into Bavaria.
 9 Mar 1801 - 1814         Incorporated into France; part of the département Sarre
                             (see under Germany).
Jan 1814 - 16 Jun 1814     Allied occupation (from 2 Feb 1814, part of General Government of                              Middle Rhine).
16 Jun 1814                Placed under the Imperial Royal Austrian and Royal Bavarian Joint
                             Land Administration Commission (see under Palatinate).
 9 Jun 1815                Left-bank Palatinate granted to Austria by Congress of Vienna; joint
                             Austro-Bavarian administration continues (see under Palatinate).
 1 May 1816                Greater part of the territory is ceded to Bavaria, the remainder to
                             Oldenburg and Prussia.
17 May 1849 - 14 Jun 1849  Provisional Government of the Palatinate declared in rebellion.

Dukes (title Herzog Pfalz-Zweibrücken; from 24 Dec 1733, Herzog Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld)
15 Apr 1697 - 11 Dec 1718  Karl II Ritter av Sverige     (b. 1682 - d. 1718)
                             (= Karl XII of Sweden)
11 Dec 1718 - 17 Sep 1731  Gustav Samuel Leopold         (b. 1670 - d. 1731)
                             Pfalzgraf von Zweibrücken-
                             Kleeburg 
17 Sep 1731 -  3 Feb 1735  Christian III                 (b. 1674 - d. 1735)
 3 Feb 1735 -  5 Nov 1775  Christian IV                  (b. 1722 - d. 1775)
 3 Feb 1735 -  6 Sep 1740  Karoline, Gräfin von Nassau-  (b. 1704 - d. 1774) 
                             Saarbrücken -Regent
 5 Nov 1775 -  1 Apr 1795  Karl III August Christian     (b. 1746 - d. 1795)
 1 Apr 1795 - 16 Feb 1799  Maximilian I Joseph           (b. 1756 - d. 1825)

Swedish governor
1714 - 1718                Stanisław Bogusław Leszczyński(b. 1677 - d. 1766)

739                        Bishopric of Passau (Passaviensis Episcopatus/Hochstift Passau).
999                        Imperial immediacy.
1217                       Bishops made Princes of the Empire (Bistum Passau).
27 Apr 1803                Annexed to Salzburg.
26 Dec 1805                Annexed to Bavaria.

Prince-Bishops (title Fürstbischof zu Passau)
24 May 1689 - 30 Oct 1712  Johann Philipp Graf von Lamberg      (b. 1652 - d. 1712)
18 Jan 1713 - 25 Oct 1722  Raimund Ferdinand Graf von Rabatta   (b. 1669 - d. 1722)
 2 Jan 1723 - 30 Aug 1761  Joseph Dominicus Franz Kilian        (b. 1680 - d. 1761) 
                             Cardinal Graf von Lamberg
19 Nov 1761 - 15 Jun 1763  Josef Maria Graf von Thun und        (b. 1713 - d. 1763)
                             Hohenstein
 1 Sep 1763 - 13 Mar 1783  Leopold Ernst Cardinal von Firmian   (b. 1708 - d. 1783)
19 May 1783 - 21 Aug 1795  Joseph Franz Anton Cardinal von      (b. 1734 - d. 1795)
                             Auersperg
 4 Nov 1795 -  7 Oct 1796  Thomas Johann Kaspar Graf von Thun   (b. 1737 - d. 1796)
                             und Hohenstein
13 Nov 1796 - 27 Apr 1803  Leopold Leonhard Graf von Thun       (b. 1748 - d. 1826)

23 Jun 720                 Benedictine Abbey of Abbey of Prüm (Abbatia Prumiensis/Stift Prüm).
1222                       Abbots made Princes of the Empire (Reichsabtei Prüm).
1299                       The abbey gained full imperial status.
24 Aug 1574                Ceded to Archbishop of Trier by Pope Gregory XIII.
1576                       Possession of the Archbishops of Trier.
1794                       French occupy the Left-bank of the Rhine.
 9 Mar 1801                Annexed to France.
1815                       Incorporated into Prussia.

Prince-Abbots (title Fürstabt zu Prüm)
1576 -  9 Mar 1801         the archbishops of Trier

Brandenburg

20 May 965                 Nordmark founded, ruled by a Markgraf.

11 Jun 1157                The holdings of the Markgraf are renamed Mark Brandenburg.

1258 - 1356                The Mark Brandenburg suffers numerous divisions and creations

                             of side-lines.

25 Dec 1356                The Golden Bull confirms the ruler of the principal line as

                             prince-elector and decrees the indivisibility of the Mark

                             Brandenburg to which the electorate is attached; the style of

                             the elector is von Gottes Gnaden Markgraf zu Brandenburg, des

                             Heiligen Römischen Reichs Erzkämmerer und Kurfürst ("By the

                             grace of God margrave of Brandenburg, Archchamberlain and

                             Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire"), to which numerous

                             actual as well as notional styles are attached.

18 Jul 1618                Upon the death of the duke in Prussia, and with the 

                             succession of Johann Sigismund, Kurfürst und Markgraf von

                             Brandenburg (b. 1573 - d. 1619), the two polities are united in 

                             personal union colloquially called Brandenburg-Prussia,

                             while the core territory of Brandenburg is later known as

                             Kurmark province.

1651                       Privy Council in Berlin (created in 1604) begun to consider issues

                             of all Brandenburg-Prussian territories; members from the Duchy

                             of Prussia and other territories are added to the Council (an

                             indication of the full union).

 6 Aug 1806                With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire the effective

                             function of the electors ceases, the Mark Brandenburg itself

                             having been long incorporated into the royal Prussian

                             conglomerate (see below [for territories of the Royal Prussian

                             States see under Prussia provinces]); it is notable that the

                             later kings of Prussia, while continuing to use Markgraf von

                             Brandenburg in their style, do not include the electoral title

                             Kurfürst.

27 Oct 1806 - 17 Sep 1807  Berlin occupied by France (the French withdrew by Dec 1808).

Prince-Electors and Margraves of Brandenburg (see above regarding style)
30 Apr 1415 - 20 Sep 1440  Friedrich I                        (b. 1371 - d. 1440)

20 Sep 1440 - 10 Feb 1471  Friedrich II "der Eiserne"         (b. 1413 - d. 1471)
10 Feb 1471 - 11 Mar 1486  Albrecht Achilles                  (b. 1414 - d. 1486)
11 Mar 1486 -  9 Jan 1499  Johann "Cicero"                    (b. 1455 - d. 1499)
 9 Jan 1499 - 11 Jul 1535  Joachim I "Nestor"                 (b. 1484 - d. 1535)
11 Jul 1535 -  3 Jan 1571  Joachim II "Hector"                (b. 1505 - d. 1571)
 3 Jan 1571 - 18 Jan 1598  Johann Georg                       (b. 1525 - d. 1598)
18 Jan 1598 - 18 Jul 1608  Joachim Friedrich                  (b. 1545 - d. 1608)
18 Jul 1608 - 18 Jul 1618  Johann Sigismund                   (b. 1572 - d. 1620)
1618 - 1806                the dukes (from 1701, kings) in/of Prussia
Stadholders of Kurmark (during period 1638-1643 of elector's residence in Königsberg)

1638 - 1641                Adam Graf zu Schwarzenberg         (b. 1583 - d. 1641)
1641 - 1642                Ernst Markgraf von Brandenburg-    (b. 1617 - d. 1642)
                             Jägerndorf
1643                       Samuel von Winterfeld              (b. 1581 - d. 1643)

 

Prussia

 

 5 Mar 1198                The Teutonic Order, or in full the Order of the Knights
                             (or Brethren) of the Hospital of Saint Mary of the 
                             Teutonic House in Jerusalem (Orden der Ritter [or Brüder]

                             des Hospitals Sankt Marien des Deutschen Hauses zu Jerusalem),

                             organized at Acre (Akko) in the Holy Land as a military order.

1226                       Grand Master (Hochmeister) of the Teutonic Order is granted by

                             the Emperor all the privileges and (from 1230) style of the
                             prince of the Empire. The knights are entitled to subject the 
                             Prussians on behalf of the Empire.
1231                       Invaded by the Teutonic knights (occupation completed by 1283). 
                             Prussia a separate branch or province, administered by the
                             Land-Master of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (Landmeister des
                             Deutschen Orden in Preussen).
 9 Sep 1309                Seat of the Grand Master (Hochmeister) is moved from Venice
                             to Marienburg (Malbork) in Prussia. The Grand Master takes
                             over direct administration of the Prussian branch (the area
                             later designated East Prussia).
 6 Mar 1454                Royal Prussia (in German Königlisches Preussen, in Polish
                             Prusy Królewskie), formally Prussia - Royal Part (Preussen
                             Königlischen Anteils)(latter West Prussia), made a principality
                             in personal union with the King of Poland, who takes the style
                             of "Prince of Prussia" (Prusy Książęce)(see under Poland).

19 Oct 1466                Prussia (reduced to latter East Prussia) a Polish fief (not

                             recognized by the Empire). Grand Master granted the Polish style

                             of Prince in Prussia (Książę w Prusach, in German Prinz in Preussen).

 9 Apr 1525                The Hochmeister Albrecht Markgraf von Brandenburg-Ansbach

                             having converted to Protestantism, becomes hereditary 

                             Herzog in Preussen ("Duke in Prussia"), as a vassal of the king 

                             of Poland.

18 Jul 1618                Upon the death of the Duke in Prussia, and with the 

                             succession of Johann Sigismund, Kurfürst und Markgraf von

                             Brandenburg (b. 1573 - d. 1619), the two polities are united in 

                             personal union, colloquially called Brandenburg-Prussia.
17 Jan 1656 – 20 Nov 1656  Duchy of Prussia under the suzerainty of Sweden.

19 Sep 1657                Poland relinquishes sovereignty over the duchy, and on 6 Nov

                             1657 the duke (prince-elector and margrave of Brandenburg

                             Friedrich Wilhelm "der Grosse Kurfürst") takes the style

                             Souveräner Herzog in Preussen ("Sovereign Duke in Prussia").

18 Jan 1701                The duke/elector's attempts at getting the king/emperor to

                             accept his accession to royal rank having failed, he accepts

                             on 16 Dec 1700 the royal crown of a Prussia outside the Empire,

                             and in Königsberg is proclaimed König in Preussen ("King in

                             Prussia"); from 1772, König von Preussen ("King of Prussia").

 3 Nov 1707 - 16 Jun 1857  Personal union with Principality of Neuenburg (see Neuchâtel).

13 Sep 1772                The almost fictional distinction between the electorate inside

                             The empire and the sovereign kingdom outside the empire having

                             become blurred in practice, the king (Friedrich II "der Grosse"),

                             assumes the style König von Preussen (king of Prussia); the

                             combined polity (with several accretions over time) is usually

                             styled the Königreich Preussen ("Kingdom of Prussia"), but

                             technically until dissolution of the empire in 1806 and

                             occasionally long after, the official in use is Königlich

                             Preussische Staaten ("Royal Prussian States").

 1 Jul 1867 - 18 Jan 1871  Prussian king is the chairman of the North German Confederation

                             (see under Germany).

18 Jan 1871                The King of Prussia becomes German Emperor (see Germany).

12 Nov 1918                Free State of Prussia (Freistaat Preussen)

                             (see German states since 1918).

Director of the Privy Council
Oct 1652 - 1653            Joachim Friedrich Freiherr von     (b. 1607 - d. 1657)
                             Blumenthal
First State Minister
1653 - 1658                Georg Friedrich Graf von Waldeck-  (b. 1620 - d. 1692)
                             Pyrmont   
First State Minister and Oberpräsident of Privy Council
1658 -  4 Nov 1679         Otto Freiherr von Schwerin         (b. 1616 - d. 1679)
Presidents of the Geheime Hofkammer (heads of the central treasury)
1678 - 1681                Bodo von Gladebeck                 (b. 1620 - d. 1681)
1681 - 1682                Friedrich von Jena (acting)        (b. 1620 - d. 1682)
1682 - 1683                Franz von Meinders (acting)        (b. 1630 - d. 1695)
1683 - 1698                Dodo Freiherr zu Inn- und          (b. 1641 - d. 1698)
                             Knyphausen (acting to 1687)
First State Ministers and Oberpräsidenten of Privy Council
1695 - Dec 1697            Eberhard Freiherr von Danckelmann  (b. 1643 - d. 1717)
Dec 1697 - 1698            Johann Albrecht von Barfus         (b. 1635 - d. 1704)
                             (acting first state minister)
1698 - Jan 1711            Johann Kasimir Reichsgraf          (b. 1643 - d. 1712)
                             Kolbe von Wartenberg
First State (from 1728, State and Cabinet) Ministers
(heads of foreign and royal house departement)
1711 -  6 Dec 1728         Heinrich Rüdiger von Ilgen         (b. 1650 - d. 1728)
Dec 1728 - 25 May 1741     Adrian Bernhard Graf von Borcke    (b. 1688 - d. 1741)
May 1741 - 29 Jul 1760     Heinrich Graf von Podewils         (b. 1695 - d. 1760)
Jul 1760 -  3 Jan 1800     Karl Wilhelm Graf Finck von        (b. 1714 - d. 1800)
                             Finckenstein 
Jan 1800 - 21 Oct 1802     Philip Karl Graf von Alvensleben   (b. 1745 - d. 1802)
Oct 1802 - Aug 1804        Christian Heinrich Kurt Graf von   (b. 1752 - d. 1832)
                             Haugwitz (1st time)
Aug 1804 - Apr 1806        Karl August Graf von Hardenberg    (b. 1750 - d. 1822)
                             (1st time) 
Apr 1806 - Nov 1806        Christian Heinrich Kurt Graf von   (s.a.)
                             Haugwitz (2nd time) 
French Administrators-general of the Finances and Domains of the Conquered
Countries beyond the Elbe (administrateur-général des finances et domaines
des pays conquis au-delà de l'Elbe)(in Berlin)
Dec 1806 - Nov 1807        Martin Roch Xavier Estève          (b. 1772 - d. 1853)
Nov 1807 - Dec 1808        Louis Pierre Édouard Bignon        (b. 1771 - d. 1841)
First State and Cabinet Ministers (in Königsberg)
Dec 1806 – Apr 1807        Friedrich Wilhelm von Zastrow      (b. 1752 - d. 1830)
26 Apr 1807 - 14 Jul 1807  Karl August Graf von Hardenberg    (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
14 Jul 1807 -  3 Oct 1807  Immediate Commission (interim administration)
                           - Wilhelm Anton von Klewitz        (b. 1760 - d. 1838)
                              (chairman, titled Präsidium)    
                           - Friedrich August von Staegemann  (b. 1763 - d. 1840)
                           - Karl Sigmund Freiherr vom Stein
                               zum Altenstein                 (b. 1770 - d. 1840)
                           - Theodor Heinrich von Schön       (b. 1773 - d. 1856)
                           (acting)
Leading (Leitender) Ministers of State Ministry (not a formal position; in Königsberg to 1809)
 3 Oct 1807 - 24 Nov 1808  Heinrich Friedrich Karl Freiherr   (b. 1757 - d. 1831)
                             vom und zum Stein 
                             (minister of General Affairs, Finance and Police)
24 Nov 1808 -  4 Jun 1810  Friedrich Ferdinand Alexander      (b. 1771 - d. 1831)
                             Burggraf zu Dohna-Schlobitten
                             (minister of internal affairs)
State Chancellors, Presidents of State Ministry
 4 Jun 1810 - 26 Nov 1822  Karl August Graf von Hardenberg    (s.a.) 
                             (from 3 Jun 1814, Karl August Fürst von Hardenberg)
Jun 1822 - 30 Jan 1823     Otto Karl Friedrich von Voss       (b. 1755 - d. 1822)
                             (vice-president of State Ministry)
Reporting (Vortragender) Cabinet Ministers
1823 - 14 Feb 1841         Karl Friedrich Heinrich Graf von   (b. 1767 - d. 1841)
                             Wylich und Lottum
 9 Mar 1841 - 19 Mar 1848  Ludwig Gustav von Thile            (b. 1781 - d. 1852)
Presidents of the Council of State
1823 - 1827                Vacant
1827 - 21 Sep 1837         Karl Herzog von Mecklenburg-       (b. 1785 - d. 1837)
                             Strelitz                  
 2 Apr 1838 -  5 Oct 1847  Karl Freiherr von Müffling gen.
                             Weiss                            (b. 1775 - d. 1851)
Sep 1843 - 11 Sep 1847     Gustav Adolf Rochus von Rochow     (b. 1792 - d. 1847)
                             (acting for Müffling)
 5 Oct 1847 - 19 Mar 1848  Friedrich Carl von Savigny         (b. 1779 - d. 1861)
Minister-presidents (Prime ministers)
19 Mar 1848 - 29 Mar 1848  Adolf Heinrich Graf von            (b. 1803 - d. 1868)
                             Arnim-Boitzenburg 
29 Mar 1848 - 20 Jun 1848  Gottfried Ludolf Camphausen        (b. 1803 - d. 1890)
25 Jun 1848 - 21 Sep 1848  Rudolf Ludwig Cäsar von Auerswald  (b. 1795 - d. 1866)
21 Sep 1848 -  1 Nov 1848  Ernst Heinrich Adolf von Pfuel     (b. 1799 - d. 1866)
 1 Nov 1848 - 19 Dec 1850  Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von         (b. 1792 - d. 1850)
                             Brandenburg 
19 Dec 1850 -  6 Nov 1858  Otto Theodor Freiherr von          (b. 1805 - d. 1882)
                             Manteuffel 
 6 Nov 1858 - 17 Mar 1862  Karl Anton Fürst von Hohenzollern- (b. 1811 - d. 1885)
                             Sigmaringen 
17 Mar 1862 - 23 Sep 1862  Adolf Fürst von Hohenlohe-         (b. 1797 - d. 1873)
                             Ingelfingen      
23 Sep 1862 -  1 Jan 1873  Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck   (b. 1815 - d. 1898)  Non-party
                            (from 15 Sep 1865, Otto Eduard Leopold
                             Graf von Bismarck; from 21 Mar 1871,
                             Otto Eduard Leopold Fürst von Bismarck)
                             (1st time)
 1 Jan 1873 -  9 Nov 1873  Albrecht Theodor Emil Graf von     (b. 1803 - d. 1879)  Non-party
                             Roon
 9 Nov 1873 - 20 Mar 1890  Otto Eduard Leopold Fürst von      (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Bismarck (2nd time)
20 Mar 1890 - 23 Mar 1892  Georg Leo von Caprivi de Caprera   (b. 1831 - d. 1899)  Non-party
                             Montecuccoli (from 18 Dec 1891,
                             Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de
                             Caprera de Montecuccoli) 
23 Mar 1892 - 29 Oct 1894  Botho Julius August Graf zu        (b. 1831 - d. 1912)  Non-party
                             Eulenburg 
29 Oct 1894 -  9 Nov 1918  the imperial chancellors
- vice-prime ministers acting for the Imperial Chancellors -
 9 Nov 1873 - 23 Mar 1878  Otto Camphausen                    (b. 1812 - d. 1896)  Lib
29 May 1878 - 20 Jun 1881  Otto Graf zu Stolberg-Wernigerode  (b. 1837 - d. 1896)
 8 Oct 1881 - 29 Oct 1894  Robert Victor von Puttkamer        (b. 1828 - d. 1900)
16 Aug 1888 - 30 Jun 1897  Carl Heinrich von Boetticher       (s.a.)
 1 Jul 1897 -  5 May 1901  Johannes Franz von Miquel          (b. 1828 - d. 1901)  NLP
29 Jun 1901 - 14 Jul 1909  Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg      (s.a.)               Non-party
16 Aug 1914 - 22 May 1916  Clemens Gottlieb Ernst von         (b. 1856 - d. 1921)
                             Delbrück 
22 May 1916 -  9 Nov 1917  Paul Justin von Breitenbach        (b. 1850 - d. 1930)
 9 Nov 1917 -  9 Nov 1918  Robert Friedberg                   (b. 1851 - d. 1920)  NLP

Party abbreviations: Lib = Liberalen (Liberal); NLP = Nationalliberale Partei (National Liberal Party, liberal, 1866-Nov 1918)

c.1064 - c.1075             Gerlachus von Wickerode mentioned as the 'Lord of Wickerode' (later
                              spelled (Wickerothe, Wicrode, Wyckrath, Wickraidt, Wickra,
                              Wickrath, Wickerad, Wyckerad, Wykradt).
c.1075 - 1166               Wickrath under the Hochstaden (Hostaden) dynasty.
1166 - 1309                 Wickrath inherited by the Counts von Ahre-Hochstaden.
1262                        Quadt lordship first mentioned.
1309                        Ahre-Hochstaden family extinct, Wickrath falls to the Count
                              of Guelders (Grafen Geldern)(from 1318, Duke of Guelders
                              [Herzogtum Geldern]). Guelders enfeoffed various vassals
                              with Wickrath.
1335 - 1466                 Wickrath to Broichhausen as a fief.
1466 - 1474                 Duke Adolf von Egmont/Geldern gave Wickrath to Eduard Vogt of Bell,
                              a natural son of Duke Rainald IV, as a pledge.
1474 - 1485                 Duke Charles of Burgundy gave the Wickrath to his chamberlain
                              Frederick de Flerschem.
1474 - 1482                 Evert Vogt zu Bell named as Herr von Wickrath, as a vassal
                              of the Duke of Gelders.
1482                        Archduke and later Emperor Maximilian I sold Wickrath, as the heir
                              of Charles of Burgundy, to Heinrich II von Hompesch Ritter
                              Marschalk des Landes von Jülich (b. c.1448 - d. 1502).
 6 Nov 1488                 Lordship of Wickrath is separated from the Gelder and enfeoffed
                              to Heinrich II von Hompesch and granted imperial immediacy by
                              Emperor Frederick III (Herrlichkeit Wickradt [Wykradt]).
15 Jul 1502                 Henry von Hompesch dies, his stepsons from the Quadt family, inherit
                              Wickrath.
1599                        Quadt-Wickrath-Schwanenberg partitioned from Quadt-Wickrath.
16 Oct 1620                 Imperial Lordship of Wickrath (Reichsherrschaft Wickrath).
1664                        Quadt-Wickrath-Schwanenberg elevated to imperial barons
                              (Reichsfreiherr von Quadt zu Wickrath und Schwanenberg).
16 Apr 1752                 Quadt-Wickrath-Schwanenberg elevated to imperial counts (Reichsgraf
                              von Quadt zu Wickrath und Schwanenberg).
1794 - 1796                 French occupy Wickrath in the area of the Left-bank of the Rhine,
                              the count flees.
1796                        Wickrath annexed to France (from 1801, part of Roer département).
25 Feb 1803                 The Count is given the Free Imperial City of Isny im Allgäu and 
                              Saint George Abbey (Kloster Sankt Georg) in Isny (Ysni) as the
                              Imperial County of Isny (Reichsgrafschaft Isny) as compensation
                              for lost Wickrath and Schwanenberg.
 8 Mar 1803                 Count of Quadt takes possession of Isny (Princely County of Quadt-
                              Wykradt und Isnay)(Reichsgraf von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny).
12 Jul 1806                 Isny annexed to Württemberg (by the Confederation of Rhine Act).
Nov 1813 - 10 Mar 1814      Wickrath occupied by Prussia.
10 Mar 1814                 Wickrath annexed by Prussia (within Jülich-Kleve-Berg province,
                              from 1822 Rhein province).

Imperial Barons (title Reichsfreiherr von Quadt zu Wickrath und Schwanenberg und Herr zu Wickrath)
24 Nov 1670 - 18 Feb 1713   Wilhelm Bertram (in Wickrath)          (b. 1652 - d. 1713)
24 Nov 1670 - 19 Apr 1708   Johann Friedrich (in Hemmert)          (b. 16.. - d. 1708)
18 Feb 1713 - 23 Aug 1724   Friedrich Wilhelm Thomas               (b. 1682 - d. 1724)
23 Aug 1724 - 16 Apr 1752   Wilhelm Otto Friedrich                 (b. 1717 - d. 1785)
Imperial Counts (title Reichsgraf von Quadt zu Wickrath und Schwanenberg und Herr zu Wickrath)
16 Apr 1752 -  1 Jul 1785   Wilhelm Otto Friedrich                 (s.a.)
 1 Jul 1785 - 1796          Otto Friedrich (count flees 1794)      (b. 1758 - d. 1829)
Imperial Count (title Reichsgraf von Quadt zu Wykradt und Isny)
 8 Mar 1803 - 12 Jul 1806   Otto Friedrich                         (s.a.)

936                         Praemonstratensian Abbey of Quedlinburg (Abbatia Quedlinburgensis/
                              Stift Quedlinburg).
966                         Abbesses also Princesses of the Empire (Reichsstift Quedlinburg).
1539                        Protestant house of secular canonesses (Frauenstift Quedlinburg).
 9 Mar 1801                 Secularized.
27 Apr 1803                 Annexed to Prussia.
28 Aug 1807                 Annexed to Kingdom of Westphalia.
29 Jul 1809 -  6 Aug 1809   Invasion by Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Brunswick.
28 Oct 1813 - 21 Jun 1815   Prussian administration.
21 Jun 1815                 Re-incorporated into Prussia.

Princess-Abbesses (title Fürstinäbtissin von Quedlinburg)
 4 Sep 1684 - 24 Jun 1704   Anna Dorothea Herzogin von             (b. 1657 - d. 1704)
                              Sachsen-Weimar
Jan 1698 - 1710             Maria Aurora Gräfin von                (b. 1662 - d. 1728)
                              Königsmarck -Co-adjutor 
                             (acting Princess-Abbess 1704-1710)
1704 - 25 Sep 1710          Magdalena Sibylle Herzogin von         (b. 1673 - d. 1726)
                              Sachsen-Weissenfels -Administrator
25 Sep 1710 - 17 Jul 1755   Maria Elisabeth Herzogin von           (b. 1678 - d. 1755)
                              Holstein-Gottorp
1710 - 16 Feb 1728          Maria Aurora Gräfin von                (s.a.)
                              Königsmarck -Propstin
17 Jul 1755 - 30 Mar 1787   Anna Amalie Prinzessin von Preussen    (b. 1723 - d. 1787)
30 Mar 1787 -  9 Mar 1801   Sophie Albertine von Schweden          (b. 1753 - d. 1829)
Sovereign Princess (title Fürstin zu Quedlinburg) 
 9 Mar 1801 - 27 Apr 1803   Sophie Albertine von Schweden          (s.a.)