Amt Blankenberg

Vogtei Siegburg

Blankenberg castle was built in the 12th century by the Count of Sayn. Along with nearby territory, it passed to the Lordship of Heinsberg in 1248. In 1363, it was transferred to the County of Berg and became the seat of an Amt. Between 1372 and 1450, administrative responsibilities were temporarily granted, in succession, to the County of Cleves, the Lord of Heinsberg and Löwenburg, and the Archbishop of Cologne. Between 1450 and 1469, the Archbishopric held full sovereignty over the Amt. In 1469, sovereignty and administrative responsibility returned permanently to Berg. At that time, the Amt consisted of the core Gericht of Blankenberg and three outlying Gerichte.

 

Until 1676, the Abbacy of Siegburg was sovereign over the Vogtei of Siegburg, although it was administered by Berg. In 1676, Berg assumed full sovereignty of the abbacy’s territory. After absorbing the Abbacy, the Amt covered the portion of the modern Rhein-Sieg Kreis that is east of the Rhein, but not bordering on the river itself.