County of Salm-Reifferscheid

The County of Salm emerged from the breakup of the Duchy of Lower Lorraine in the early 11th century with a geographic base west of modern Germany. In 1163, its territory was divided between Obersalm (in modern France) and Untersalm (in modern Belgium). The Untersalm line died out in 1416 and its territory was inherited by the Lord of Reifferscheid, who incorporated the name of Salm into that of his domain so that he could hold the title of Count.

 

The only territories in modern Germany over which the Count of Salm-Reifferscheid was sovereign were the core Herrschaft Reifferschied in the Eifel region and Herrschaft Dyck (located between Mönchengladbach and Grevenbroich), which had been independent since 1250. During the period covered by the database, the Count of Salm-Reifferscheid also had administrative responsibility for Grafschaft Bedbur and the Herrlichkeiten of Alfter and Hackenbroich. In 1639, the Reifferscheid territory was partitioned between two lines as follows:

 

• Salm-Reifferscheid-Bedburg
  • Herrschaft Reifferscheid (sovereignty and administration)
  • Grafschaft Bedbur (administration only)
  • Herrlichkeit Erp (beginning in 1780—administration only)
• Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck
  • Herrschaft Dyck (sovereignty and administration)
  • Herrlichkeit Alfter (administration only)
  • Herrlichkeit Hackenbroich (administration only).

 

Master list of countries and subdivisions in the Cologne region