County/Principality of Moers

The County of Moers was founded in the 12th century as a domain within the Archbishopric of Cologne. In 1288, after the Battle of Worringen, sovereignty shifted to the County of Cleves. Cleves recognized Moers as independent in 1361, and Moers functioned as a more or less independent country until 1493, when it was ceded, under duress, to the County of Wied. The last Moers heir died in 1501 while trying to regain the county.

 

In 1519, Moers was transferred to the House of Neuenahr (which is when I start the database). In turn, Neuenahr ceded sovereignty (but not administrative responsibilities) to the Duchy of Cleves in 1541. When the last Neuenahr count died in 1589, Moers was under Spanish occupation (which, like most temporary occupations, I ignore). To resist the Spanish, the count’s widow gave the county in 1594 to the House of Orange, which was fighting for Netherlandic independence from Spain. Thus, Moers was in personal union with the Netherlandic Republic until the Orange line died out in 1702. The Orange title passed to the House of Nassau, but the County of Moers did not. Instead, it was claimed by the Kingdom of Prussia, which elevated it to a principality in 1707. In 1794, the principality was occupied by France and the database ends.

 

During the entire period covered by the database, Herrlichkeit Niederbudberg was actually a condominium with the Archbishopric of Cologne.