Amt Bleckede

Amt Garze

Bleckede was founded as a trading center on the Elbe by the Welfs in 1209. A castle was built there by the Ascanians later that century that became the seat of an Amt. The Welfs regained control in 1308 and shortly thereafter, granted city rights to Bleckede (which nevertheless remained functionally part of the Amt). Sovereignty over the Amt remained a matter of dispute between the Welfs and Ascanians for centuries. The dispute was settled in the latter half of the 16th century in favor of the Welfs. I nevertheless recognize Welfian sovereignty throughout the period covered by the data base (i.e., after 1527). The Amt was subdivided into four Vogteien.

 

Amt Garze was created in 1623 from the territory of a former noble estate whose line died out. I characterize the territory as an Amt throughout the period covered by the data base, but add an * to signify that such status was not always formal. The Amt consisted of two geographically separate groups of villages, which were typically identified as Bruchdörfer and the Feestschaft. Because of the geographic separation, I recognize those groups, even though they had no administrative significance. After 1742, the Amt was administered from Bleckede, but retained its identity.