Upper Rhenish Circle

The Upper Rhenish Circle (German: Oberrheinischer Reichskreis) was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1500 on the territory of the former Duchy of Upper Lorraine and large parts of Rhenish Franconia including the Swabian Alsace region and the Burgundian duchy of Savoy.

The Upper Rhenish Circle as at the beginning of the 16th century
Upper Rhenish Circle 1791

Many of the circle's states west of the Rhine river were annexed by France under King Louis XIV during the 17th century, sealed by the 1678/79 Treaties of Nijmegen.

Composition

The circle was made up of the following states:

Name Type of entity Commentate
Bar Duchy United with Lorraine since 1483.
Basel Prince-Bishopric Established in the 8th century above the ancient Augusta Raurica, gained independence from Burgundy about 1000, residence at Porrentruy (Pruntrut) from 1527; 41st seat to the Reichstag
Beuil County Initially created as a Lordship, Bueil was inherited by a cadet branch of the House of Grimaldi. Bueil became a nominal vassal of the County of Savoy in 1388. Raised by Savoy to a county in 1581. Annexed by the French First Republic in 1793 and restored to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1813.
Bresse Lordship Inherited by the House of Savoy in 1272. Annexed by the Kingdom of France in the Treaty of Lyon in 1601.
Bretzenheim Lordship Held by Cologne, granted to Count Karl August of Heydeck, illegitimate son of Elector Charles Theodore of Bavaria in 1772, Imperial county in 1774, principality in 1789.
Bugey Lordship Conferred to the House of Savoy in 1077 by Henry IV. Annexed by the Kingdom of France in the Treaty of Lyon in 1601.
Chablais Duchy Established in the 11th century by the House of Savoy. Lost to Geneva in 1536.
Colmar Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1226, part of the Décapole since 1354.
Dagstuhl Lordship Held by the Lords of Fleckenstein, acquired by Oettingen-Wallerstein in 1697.
Dombes Principality Held by the Dukes of Bourbon since 1400, confiscated by the Kingdom of France in 1523.
Falkenstein Lordship Held by the Counts of Daun since 1456, raised to county in 1518, fell to Lorraine in 1667, administered with Further Austria from 1782.
Faucigny Barony Acquired by the House of Savoy by the 1355 Treaty of Paris. Annexed by the French First Republic in 1792. Returned to Savoy in 1816. Annexed by the Second French Empire in 1860.
Frankfurt am Main Imperial City Since 1220, place of the Imperial election by the Golden Bull of 1356.
Friedberg Imperial City Since 1252.
Fulda Prince-Abbacy Established by Saint Boniface in 744, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick II in 1220, raised to Prince-Bishopric in 1752, 53th seat to the Reichstag.
Geneva Duchy Established in the 10th century as the County of Geneva. Capital moved from La Roche-sur-Foron to Annecy in 1219. Purchased by the House of Savoy in 1401 and raised to a Duchy in 1564. Annexed by the Second French Empire in 1860.
Gex Barony First mentioned in 1188. Ruled by a cadet branch of the County of Geneva until 1353 when annexed by Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy. Contested since 1536 between the Duchy of Savoy and the Old Swiss Confederacy until annexed by the Kingdom of France in the Treaty of Lyon in 1601.
Haguenau Imperial City Since about 1260, capital of the Décapole since 1354.
Hanau-Lichtenberg County Partitioned from the County of Hanau as Hanau-Babenhausen in 1456, inherited the lordship of Lichtenberg in 1474, fell to Hesse-Darmstadt in 1736.
Hanau-Münzenberg County Partitioned from the County of Hanau in 1456, reunited with Hanau-Lichtenberg in 1642, fell to Hesse-Kassel in 1736.
Heitersheim Principality Held by the Order of St John since 1272, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Charles V in 1548.
Hersfeld Abbacy Established about 736 by Saint Sturm, Reichsfreiheit granted by Charlemagne in 775, secularised to a principality by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, held by Hesse-Kassel
Hesse Landgraviate Established after the War of the Thuringian Succession in 1247, residence at Kassel, partitioned after the death of Landgrave Philip I in 1567.
Hesse-Kassel Landgraviate Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, Electorate of Hesse in 1803.
Hesse-Rheinfels Landgraviate Subdivision of Hesse from 1567 including the former County of Katzenelnbogen with Burg Rheinfels, line extinct in 1583, fell to Hesse-Kassel.
Hesse-Darmstadt Landgraviate Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, Grand Duchy of Hesse in 1806.
Hesse-Marburg Landgraviate Subdivision of Hesse from 1567, line extinct in 1604, annexed by Hesse-Darmstadt.
Hesse-Homburg Landgraviate Cadet branch of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1622, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1768.
Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein County Subdivision of the County of Isenburg established in 1511 (Oberisenburg), again divided in 1628.
Isenburg-Birstein County Subdivision of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein from 1628, merged into Isenburg-Offenbach in 1644, restored in 1711, raised to principality in 1744.
Isenburg-Büdingen County Subdivision of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein from 1628.
Isenburg-Meerholz County Split off Isenburg-Büdingen in 1673.
Isenburg-Wächtersbach County Split off Isenburg-Büdingen in 1673.
Kaysersberg Imperial City Part of the Décapole since 1354.
Königstein County Held by the Lords of Eppstein, raised to Reichsgrafen by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1505, inherited by Stolberg in 1535, seized by Mainz in 1581.
Kriechingen County Former fief of Lorraine around Créhange, raised to Imperial county in 1617, held by the Princes of East Frisia from 1697, to Wied-Runkel in 1726.
Landau Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph I of Habsburg in 1291, seized by the Bishop of Speyer in 1324, restored by Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg in 1511, joined the Décapole in 1521.
Leiningen-Westerburg County Subdivision of the former County of Leiningen since 1317, inherited by the Lords of Westerburg in 1467.
Leiningen-Dagsburg County Subdivision of the former County of Leiningen since 1317, raised to principality in 1779.
Lorraine Duchy Former Upper Lotharingia, acquired by René of Anjou, Duke of Bar in 1431, swapped by Duke Francis III of Habsburg-Lorraine for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1735, annexed by France in 1766.
Maurienne County Subdivision of the county of Savoy in 1032.
Mensfelden Lordship Condominium of Trier and Nassau.
Metz Prince-Bishopric Established by 535, Reichsfreiheit confirmed by Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1357, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552, part of the French Three Bishoprics by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
Metz Imperial City Since 1189, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
Mulhouse Imperial City Since about 1268, part of the Décapole since 1354, joined Swiss Confederacy in 1515, France in 1798.
Munster, Haut-Rhin Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1235, part of the Décapole since 1354.
Nassau-Weilburg County Principality in 1688, Duchy of Nassau from 1806.
Nassau-Idstein County Split off Nassau-Weilburg in 1627, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1721.
Nassau-Saarbrücken County Established in 1381, fell to Nassau-Ottweiler in 1723
Nassau-Ottweiler County Split off Nassau-Saarbrücken in 1659, fell to Nassau-Usingen in 1728.
Nassau-Usingen County Split off Nassau-Saarbrücken in 1659, principality in 1688, Duchy of Nassau from 1806.
Nomeny Margraviate Held by the Bishopric of Metz until 1548, margraviate established by Emperor Maximilian II of Habsburg in 1567, to Lorraine in 1612.
Obernai Imperial City Since about 1240, part of the Décapole since 1354, annexed by France in 1679.
Odenheim Provostry Monastery established in 1122, Imperial college of canons (Reichsstift) since 1494, moved to Bruchsal in 1507.
Olbrück Lordship Territory around Olbrück Castle near Niederdürenbach, originally held by Wied.
Orange Principality Created in 1033 as the County of Orange. Raised to a principality in 1163. Conceded to the Kingdom of France in 1713.
Palatinate-Simmern County Palatine Split off Electoral Palatinate in 1410, inherited Electoral Palatinate in 1559 with 8th vote to the Reichstag.
Palatinate-Lautern County Palatine Subdivision of Palatinate from 1576 with 6th vote to the Reichstag.
Palatinate-Veldenz County Palatine Former County of Veldenz inherited by Palatinate-Zweibrücken in 1444, 16th vote to the Reichstag
Palatinate-Zweibrücken County Palatine Former County of Zweibrücken, in personal union with Palatinate-Simmern until 1459, fell to Palatinate-Birkenfeld in 1734, 14th seat to the Reichstag
Prüm Prince-Provostry (Re-)established by King Pepin the Short in 752, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1222, administered by Trier from 1576, 65th seat to the Reichstag
Reipoltskirchen Lordship Since about 1300.
Rosheim Imperial City Since 1303, part of the Décapole since 1354, annexed by France in 1679.
Salm County Upper Salm since 1165, large parts held by the Wild- and Rhinegraves from 1475 and partitioned in 1499, remains to Lorraine until 1600.
Salm-Dhaun County Subdivision of Salm since 1499, line extinct in 1750, inherited by Salm-Grumbach.
Salm-Grumbach County Split off Salm-Dhaun in 1561, annexed by France in 1801.
Salm-Stein-Grehweiler County Split off Salm-Grumbach in 1668.
Salm-Salm County Split off Salm-Dhaun in 1574, princely county from 1623, Principality of Salm from 1802.
Salm-Kyrburg County Subdivision of Salm from 1499, residence at Kirn, princely county from 1743, Principality of Salm from 1802.
Savoy Duchy Former county, part of the Kingdom of Burgundy inherited by Emperor Conrad II in 1032, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1361, raised to duchy in 1416.
Sayn-Wittgenstein County Former Counts of Sayn, a cadet branch of the House of Sponheim, acquired County of Wittgenstein in 1361, partitioned in 1607.
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg County Subdivision of Sayn-Wittgenstein from 1607.
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein County Subdivision of Sayn-Wittgenstein from 1607, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein from 1657.
Sélestat Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1216, part of the Décapole since 1354.
Solms-Braunfels County Subdivision of Solms since 1258, raised to principality in 1742.
Solms-Lich County Subdivision of Solms(-Braunfels) since 1409, Solms-Hohensolms-Lich from 1544, raised to principality in 1792.
Solms-Laubach County Subdivision of Solms-Lich from 1544.
Solms-Rödelheim County Subdivision of Solms-Laubach from 1607, Solms-Rödelheim-Assenheim from 1635.
Speyer Prince-Bishopric Established before 614, Reichsfreiheit granted around 969 by Emperor Otto I, 19th seat to the Reichstag
Speyer Imperial City City rights acknowledged by the Speyer bishops in 1294, venue of 50 Reichstag assemblies, including the Diet of Speyer (1529) (Protestation at Speyer).
Sponheim County Established in the 11th century by the Rhenish House of Sponheim, held jointly by the Margraves of Baden and the House of Palatinate-Simmern since 1437.
Strasbourg Prince-Bishopric Established in the 4th century, prince-bishopric since 982; 21st seat to the Reichstag
Strasbourg Imperial City Since 1262. Ceded to France in 1681
Tarentaise Prince-Bishopric Established in the 10th century, prince-bishopric since 1186.
Toul Prince-Bishopric Established in 365 by Saint Mansuetus, Reichsfreiheit confirmed by King Henry I in 928, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552, part of the French Three Bishoprics by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
Toul Imperial City Since the 13th century (Tull), occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
Turckheim Imperial City Since 1312, part of the Décapole since 1354.
Vaud Barony Established in 1234. Incorporated into the House of Savoy in 1359. Annexed by the Canton of Bern in 1536.
Verdun Prince-Bishopric Established about 346, Reichsfreiheit confirmed by Emperor Otto III in 997, occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552, part of the French Three Bishoprics by the 1648 Peace of Westphalia.
Verdun Imperial City Since the 12th century (Wirten), occupied by King Henry II of France in 1552.
Waldeck County Line established about 1180, Reichsfreiheit granted by King Wenceslaus of Luxembourg in 1379, Waldeck-Pyrmont from 1625, raised to principality in 1712.
Wartenberg County Established in 1232, inherited by Riedesel in 1428, Freiherren from 1680.
Wetterau County Established c. 950, held by the counts von Wetter-Tegerfelden in 1317
Weissenburg Imperial City Since 1306, part of the Décapole since 1354, annexed by France in 1648.
Weissenburg Prince-Provostry Abbey established about 660 by the Bishopric of Speyer, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Otto II in 967, again held by Speyer from 1546, 63th seat to the Reichstag.
Wetzlar Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1180.
Wild- and Rhinegraves County Rhinegraves since the 12th century, inherited Wildgraviate at Kyrburg in 1409, acquired (Upper) Salm in 1475.
Worms Prince-Bishopric Established about 614; 15th seat to the Reichstag
Worms Imperial City Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1184.

Sources
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