Imperial Abbacy/Lordship of Werden

The Abbacy of Werden was founded at the turn of the 9th century on the Ruhr River as a monastery for men. It achieved imperial status within its first 100 years. Despite its ecclesiastical status, it focused heavily on secular matters and at times owned property throughout northern Germany and even the Netherlands. Ultimately, however, it was reduced to the territory on the Ruhr, south of the Abbacy of Essen. The Abbacy remained a sovereign country until 1803, but administration was largely the purview of the Count of Mark. In 1803, the monastery was dissolved and its territory incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia, where it constituted a lordship.

 

The Hugenpoet estate left the jurisdiction of the Abbacy in 1710 and combined with Unteramt Landsberg in Amt Angermund to form the new Gericht Mintard in the Duchy of Berg.