Stadt, Unteramt & Vogtei Geldern

Herrlichkeiten Klein-Kevelaer, Rayen & Twisteden

Geldern was settled in the 10th century and a castle was built in the late 12th century. It was granted city rights in 1229. Accounts differ on the surrounding subdivision(s). Most sources identify both a “Niederamt Geldern” (to the north of Geldern, centered on Kevelaer) and a “Vogtei Geldern” (to the south, including the modern Gemeinden of Rheurdt and Kerken). Other sources recognize only a single “Amt Geldern” that includes the territory of the Stadt, Niederamt, and Vogtei. I follow the first structure and use “Geldern-Nord” as the simplified name for the Niederamt and “Geldern-Süd” for the Vogtei.

 

Three hereditary Herrlichkeiten were adjacent to (but not part of) either the Niederamt (Klein-Kevelaer and Twisteden) or the Vogtei (Rayen).