Salm-Horstmar

The rule Horstmar was a medieval territory in Münster in 1269 and fell to the Bishopric of Münster. From the Office Horstmar, which lasted until the end of the old empire was born. It was in the course of Reichsdeputationshauptschluss circuit 1802/3 on a line of the House of Salm. As county Salm- Horstmar the area was to integrate into the Grand Duchy of Berg in 1806 an independent territory. After the Congress of Vienna (1815 ), the area was part of Prussia as a caste domination.

Early history

The rule Horstmar was a medieval territory and was the seat of the Lords of Horstmar. The noble owner of the castle free Horstmar called off in 1092 of Horstmar. These were probably vassals of the Counts of Cappenberg.

The bishops of Münster had in the area of Coesfeld, Billerbeck partly since the time Liudgers numerous possessions and rights. Even the cathedral chapter had there possession. The counts of Cappenberg endowed with their belongings in the area in 1123, the monastery Varlar from. Against the Bishops of the monastery could not prevail and Coesfeld was already an episcopal city in 1197. The bishops awarded the free court Haste Hausen as a fief to the Lords of Horstmar.

After the end of the male line Horstmar came through a heiress to the Counts of Rietberg. However, this had to recognize the suzerainty of the bishops of Münster. By purchasing the rule in 1269 fell directly to the Bishopric of Münster.

From the Münster possessions the Office Horstmar emerged. Was not one of the rule Steinfurt. A considerable part of the Office Horstmar came as a fief to the counts of Ravens mountain, and upon this as an after fief during the 14th century to the Lords of Merveldt.

Salm- Horstmar

The Reichsdeputationshauptschluss decided, inter alia, in the western part of the Bishopric of Münster secular dominions to compensate left Rhenish imperial estates whose territories had fallen to France to use. Much of the Münster Office Horstmar fell as the wild and Rhinegraves of Salm- Grumbach. A smaller portion came to Prussia.

The Count took the end of 1802 owned by the rule. The final allocation of ownership took place in March 1803. Among the parts of the former Office of the possessions of the monasteries repealed or pins Asbeck, Metelen, Long Horst, Horst Borg and Varlar came. Center of the county was Coesfeld. Residence was the castle to the converted convent Varlar.

The counts were called after the new ownership henceforth Salm- Horstmar. The regency held Wilhelmine Friederike von Salm- Grumbach for the minor Friedrich Karl August.

With the French occupation and inclusion in the new Grand Duchy of Berg (1806 ) ended the sovereign rule. The area belonged from 1806 to 1808 for district Steinfurt and 1808-1811 for district Coesfeld. After that, the area came to the standing directly under French rule Territory lip.

The territory comprised in 1803 the Office Coesfeld, the Office Metelen, the City Court Coesfeld, the City Court Horstmar, the City Court Metelen, the court Billerbeck, the court Gronau, the Gogericht Rüschau, the court Nienborg, the court Rorup and the court Limbergen. The area was about 42.5 square miles and had about 50,000 inhabitants.

Caste domination

In 1816, the area was converted into a caste domination within Prussia. The counts were collected in 1817 in the Prussian prince conditions. In 1820, Friedrich Karl August took over the property and sought, in particular, the promotion of agriculture and forestry. He was succeeded in 1865 to the son of Otto Friedrich Karl. He was succeeded in 1892 Adalbert Otto August. The princes were hereditary members of the Prussian House of Lords. The last remaining privileges as lords were abolished in 1920 by the Free State of Prussia