Stadt and Amt Harburg

A Harburg Castle was built in the 9th century, but the area was not settled until the 12th century. Harburg became an Amt within the Principality of Lüneburg-Celle in the late 13th century. In 1297, Harburg was granted town rights and left the Amt.

 

Between 1527 and 1642, Harburg was the seat of a spin-off principality. In 1642, however, it reverted to Lüneburg-Celle, where it remained until the the Napoleonic occupation.

 

Amt Harburg was divided into seven Vogteien. Of those, Vogtei Tostedt was initially independent of the Amt, but I can find no record of when it joined. It is not, however, listed as a separate jurisdiction assigned to the Principality of Harburg at its creation, so I assume it joined the Amt before 1527. Tostedt is also the only Vogtei that lost some villages over time. Sources indicate that the transfer to Vogtei Hollenstedt in Amt Moisburg occurred between 1593 and 1667. I cannot, however, pinpoint the exact year, so I assume it occurred when the two Ämter involved rejoined Lüneburg-Celle in 1642.