County of Wernigerode

Lordship/Principality of Gedern

County of Schwarza

The County of Wernigerode dates to the 12th century, but the line died out in 1429 and the territory fell to the Counts of Stolberg and the resulting country became known as the County of Stolberg-Wernigerode. In 1645, Stolberg-Wernigerode split into two counties—one centered on each of the two cities. Both countries and their spinoffs remained part of Stolbergian Germany. As part of the partition, Wernigerode was assigned Gedern (in Hesse), which became independent in 1677, and Schwarza (in Thuringia), which was spun off from Gedern in 1710.

 

In 1714, what was left of Wernigerode was acquired by the Kingdom of Prussia and assigned to the Principality of Halberstadt. Nevertheless, it was largely autonomous, so I place it in a country with the simplified name of Halberstadt-Wernigerode.

 

Schwarza nominally reverted to Wernigerode in 1748, but the Electorate of Saxony asserted administrative control over the territory and it was not associated with Halberstadt. I render the simplified country name as Schwarza-Saxony to reflect that and leave it in Stolbergian Germany.

 

Gedern reverted to Wernigerode in 1804, which actually took over administrative functions. But like Schwarza, Gedern was not associated with Halberstadt. Thus, I continue to recognize Gedern as its own country within Stolbergian Germany, but give it the simplified name of Gedern-Wernigerode to reflect Wernigerode’s administration of the territory.

 

Upon the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, Wernigerode and Schwarza were assigned to the Kingdom of Westphalia and Gedern was assigned to the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt—both Napoleonic client states.