Stadt and Amt Schermbeck

Richteramt/Herrlichkeit Hünxe

Herrlichkeit Gahlen-Bühl

Schermbeck was probably founded in the 8th century and received definitive city rights from Cleves in 1485, after repeated attempts at conquest by the Lordship of Gemen had been repelled. The Richteramt that grew up around Schermbeck was subordinate to Drostenamt Dinslaken.

 

Gahlen, just to the south of Schermbeck, was founded at about the same time, but did not become part of the Richteramt. Instead, it combined with Hünxe (probably founded in the 11th century) to form a separate Richeramt (rendered as Gahlen u. Hünxe) under Drostenamt Dinslaken. In 1646, the villages of Bühl and Gartrop left the Amt to become a Herrlichkeit. Four years later, Gahlen itself joined the Herrlichkeit. Thereafter, the Herrlichkeit was called Gahlen-Bühl and Gahlen was dropped from the name of the Richteramt. (I render the Richteramt name as simply “Hünxe” even before 1650.)

 

In 1753, Drostenamt Dinslaken was dissolved and Richteramt Schermbeck (excluding Stadt Schermbeck) became a full-fledged Amt that was assigned to the new Kreis Wesel. Hünxe, in contrast, became a Herrlichkeit (named Hünxe-Krudenburg) instead of an Amt. Along with Herrlichkeit Gahlen-Bühl, it was also assigned to Kreis Wesel.

 

          Subdivision structure as of 1521                                        Subdivision structure as of 1806