Palatinate-Lautern

Territory of the Holy Roman Empire

The Principality also called Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern Palatinate, was an independent territory of the Holy Roman Empire basically only at the time of John Casimir of the Palatinate 1559-1592, after that it went back on in the Palatinate. But Reich Legally, it was up to the final stage of the empire further.

Time under John Casimir

Friedrich III. of the Palatinate from the line of Pfalz- simmering the House of Wittelsbach Palatinate bequeathed to his son Louis VI. For his son John Casimir - Pfalz Kaiserslautern was formed from parts of the Palatinate. It consisted of the top offices ( Emperor ) Kaiserslautern and Neustadt an der Haardt and the Office Sobernheim.

While Louis VI. went over to Lutheranism, Calvinism John Casimir remained faithful. As a counterweight to the University of Heidelberg, he founded the High School in Neustadt ( Casimirianum ). In its time it was an important Calvinist college. Johann Casimir moved systematically reformed immigrants from the Netherlands in its territory to help encourage the commercial development.

The financial resources for his policies came not least from the income dissolved monasteries. There were also foreign subsidies. For Johann Casimir presented among others the freedom struggle of the Netherlands temporarily contingents of up to 15,000 men. However, he fell out here with William of Orange.

Since the death of Louis VI. Frederick was also administrator of the Palatinate.

Subsequently

After the death of Johann Casimir's, the area was returned to the Palatinate. Together with the Principality of simmering it came 1611 to Louis Philippe.

As part of the territory of the Palatinate, the Principality comprised the chief official Kaiserslautern. Main place was ( Emperor ) Kaiserslautern. Under offices were Otter Mountain, Rockhausen and Wolfenstein. Added to this were the courts Kübelberg, Ramstein, stone turning, Weilerbach, Morlautern, Neukirch, Alsenborn and forest Fischbach.

The Principality was part of the Upper Rhine Kreis kingdom and with his possession Virilstimme in the Reichstag or the Imperial Council was connected even after the loss of independence.

Since 1796 the territory belonged to the annexed by France left bank of the Rhine and became part of the Département du Mont- Tonnerre. Since 1816, the area belonged to Bavaria.