Archbishopric/Duchy of Bremen
Landesteil Bremen
The ecclesiastical Bishopric of Bremen dates to 788. It was combined with the Archbishopric of Hamburg as a dual bishopric in 870, but Bremen retained primacy, becoming the seat of the new Archbishopric, and quickly dropping Hamburg from the name.
In the 11th century, the Archbishopric began acquiring secular control over most of the territory between Bremen and Hamburg that was not on the North Sea coast (even including some territory ecclesiastically linked to the neighboring Bishopric of Verden.) Over time, the city of Bremen became a hostile environment for the Archbishop and he moved his administrative functions out of the city, eventually landing in Vörde (now called Bremervörde). To distinguish the Archbishopric from the Imperial City (and for the sake of brevity), I use the simplified country name of Bremen-Vörde for the Archbishopric. (For the Imperial City, I use “Bremen” alone.)
Within the Archbishopric, there were several monasteries that exercised secular authority over their territories. Those included the monasteries of St. Georg and St. Maria in Stade, Altkloster and Neukloster near Buxtehude, as well as those at Harsefeld, Himmelpforten, Zeven, Osterholz, Lilienthal, and Neuenwalde. Furthermore, other territories over which the Archbishop was sovereign were administered by the nobility as Gerichte. As of the beginning of the 13th century, most of the territory administered directly by the Archbishopric was organized as Amt Bremervörde and was subdivided into so-called “Börden” (a term usually associated with geomorphology, but commonly used in place of “Vogtei” within the Archbishopric of Bremen). Another piece of territory immediately to the southeast of Bremen was administered from Langwedel castle, which morphed into Gohgericht Achim in 1450.
Direct administrative control over additional territories (each of which retained its identity) was acquired as follows:
13th Century
- County of Stade (including Altes Land)
- Amt Neuhaus
- Amt Hagen
- County of Ottersberg
14th Century
- Vogtei Altenwalde (previously a monastery)
16th Century
- Land Kehdingen
- Land Wursten
- Gericht Deichsende (previously noble)
I begin the database for the Archbishopric in 1567, when the first Lutheran Archbishop was installed. During the Thirty-Years War, the Archbishopric was occupied by Sweden. Under the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which ended the war, the Archbishopric’s territory was secularized and converted to a Duchy under Swedish sovereignty. Because Bremervörde had been largely destroyed during the war, Sweden set up its capital in Stade from which it also administered the newly-secularized Principality of Verden. The territory ruled from Stade became known as the Duchy of Bremen-Verden, but because Bremen and Verden remained members of different circles of the Holy Roman Empire, I continue to recognize them as distinct entities, with the simplified country names of Bremen-Stade and Verden-Stade.
After a war with the Imperial City of Bremen, the Duchy acquired Amt Bederkesa, Amt Blumenthal, and Gericht Lehe in 1654. However, the Imperial City continued to administer Amt Blumenthal, so for that Amt I use the simplified country name of Bremen-Bremen—the first “Bremen” referring to the sovereign Duchy and the second “Bremen” referring to the administering Imperial City.
In 1712, sovereignty was turned over to Denmark, which sold both Bremen and Verden to the Electorate of Hannover (which was in personal union with the United Kingdom) in 1715. From that point on, I refer to the Duchy as a Landesteil of Hannover. In 1741, after another war with the Imperial City, the Landesteil assumed administrative responsibility over Amt Blumenthal (except for Vegesack). In the 1760s and the 1790s, certain villages were exchanged between the Landesteile of Bremen and Verden. The Electorate of Hannover was occupied by Napoleonic France in 1803, and I end the database then. (After the Napoleonic Wars, Hannover was elevated to a Kingdom and any meaningful distinction between the Landesteile of Bremen and Verden was eliminated. They were combined, along with Hadeln, into Landdrostei Stade in 1823. When Hannover was acquired by Prussia in 1866, the Landdrostei was converted to a Regeierungsbezirk—an entity that persisted until 1978.)
Subdivisions of the Archbishopric of Bremen (1567-1648)
- Gohgericht Achim 1567 - 1648
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- Gericht Altes Land 1567 - 1648
- Samtgericht Altes Land Ost 1567 - 1648
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- Samtgericht Lesum 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Ritterhude 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Schwanewede 1567 - 1648
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- Amt Bremervörde
- Hausvogtei [Bremervörde] 1567 - 1648
- Quasi-Vogtei Beverstedter Mühle 1567 - 1648
- Börde Hesedorf 1567 - 1648
- Börde Lamstedt 1567 - 1648
- Börde Oerel 1567 - 1648
- Börde Ahlerstedt 1567 - 1648
- Börde Bargstedt 1567 - 1648
- Börde Mulsum 1567 - 1648
- Börde Oldendorf 1567 - 1648
- Börde Elsdorf 1567 - 1648
- Börde Selsingen 1567 - 1648
- Börde Sittensen 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Gnarrenburg 1567 - 1648
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- Stadt Buxtehude 1567 - 1648
- Altkloster bei Buxtehude
- Kloster 1567 - 1632
- Herrschaft 1632 - 1648
- Neukloster bei Buxtehude
- Kloster 1567 - 1632
- Herrschaft 1632 - 1648
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- Amt Hagen
- Börde Bramstedt 1567 - 1648
- Distrikt Osterstade Nord 1567 - 1648
- Distrikt Osterstade Süd 1567 - 1648
- Samtgericht Cassebruch 1567 - 1648
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- Harsefeld
- Kloster 1567 - 1632
- Herrschaft 1632 - 1648
- Samtgericht Delm 1567 - 1648
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- Kloster Himmelpforten 1567 - 1648
- Samtgericht Hechthausen 1567 - 1648
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- Gericht Land Kehdingen
- Bützfleth Anteil 1567 - 1648
- Freiburg Anteil 1567 - 1648
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- Amt Neuhaus (Oste) 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Osten 1567 - 1648
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- Kloster Osterholz
- Hausvogtei [Osterholz] 1567 - 1648
- Börde Scharmbeck 1567 - 1648
- Kloster Lilienthal 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Sandbeck 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Niederende St. Jürgen 1567 - 1576
- Samtgericht St. Jürgen 1576 - 1648
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- Amt Ottersberg
- Hausvogtei [Ottersberg] 1567 - 1648
- Amtsvogtei [Ottersberg] 1567 - 1648
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- Stadt Stade 1567 - 1648
- Kloster St. Georg 1567 - 1632
- Kloster St. Maria 1567 - 1632
- Klostergericht Stade 1632 - 1648
- Gericht Lieth 1567 - 1648
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- Amt Stotel 1567 - 1648
- Amtsvogtei Vieland 1567 - 1648
- Börde Beverstedt
- Gericht Altluneberg 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Beverstedt 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Poggemühlen 1567 - 1648
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- Vogtei Altenwalde 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Land Wursten 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Deichsende 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Neues Land Wursten 1643 - 1648
- Klostergut Neuenwalde 1567 - 1648
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- Kloster Zeven
- Quasi-Börde Zeven 1567 - 1648
- Börde Heeslingen 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Ober Ochtenhausen 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Gyhum 1567 - 1648
- Gericht Kuhmühlen 1567 - 1648
- Samtgericht Rhade 1567 - 1648
Subdivisions of the Duchy of Bremen (1648-1715)
- Gohgericht Achim 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Schwachhausen 1648 - 1715
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- Gericht Altes Land 1648 - 1715
- Samtgericht Altes Land Ost 1648 - 1715
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- Amt Bederkesa
- Börde Ringstedt 1654 - 1715
- Börde Debstedt 1654 - 1715
- Gericht Lehe 1654 - 1715
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- Samtgericht Lesum 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Ritterhude 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Schwanewede 1648 - 1715
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- Amt Bremervörde
- Hausvogtei [Bremervörde] 1648 - 1715
- Quasi-Vogtei Beverstedter Mühle 1648 - 1715
- Börde Hesedorf 1648 - 1715
- Börde Lamstedt 1648 - 1715
- Börde Oerel 1648 - 1715
- Börde Ahlerstedt 1648 - 1692
- Börde Bargstedt 1648 - 1692
- Börde Mulsum 1648 - 1692
- Börde Oldendorf 1648 - 1712
- Börde Elsdorf 1648 - 1715
- Börde Selsingen 1648 - 1715
- Börde Sittensen 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Gnarrenburg 1648 - 1715
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- Stadt Buxtehude 1648 - 1715
- Altkloster bei Buxtehude
- Herrschaft 1648 - 1681
- Amt 1681 - 1715
- Neukloster bei Buxtehude
- Herrschaft 1648 - 1681
- Amt 1681 - 1715
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- Amt Hagen
- Börde Bramstedt 1648 - 1715
- Distrikt Osterstade Nord 1648 - 1715
- Distrikt Osterstade Süd 1648 - 1715
- Samtgericht Cassebruch 1648 - 1715
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- Herrschaft Harsefeld 1648 - 1690
- Amt Harsefeld
- Hausvogtei [Harsefeld] 1690 - 1715
- Vogtei Mulsum
- Börde Ahlerstedt 1692 - 1715
- Börde Bargstedt 1692 - 1715
- Börde Mulsum 1692 - 1715
- Samtgericht Delm 1648 - 1715
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- Himmelpforten
- Herrschaft 1648 - 1681
- Amt 1681 - 1712
- Amt Himmelpforten
- Hausvogtei [Himmelpforten] 1712 - 1715
- Börde Oldendorf 1712 - 1715
- Samtgericht Hechthausen 1648 - 1715
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- Gericht Land Kehdingen
- Bützfleth Anteil 1648 - 1715
- Freiburg Anteil 1648 - 1715
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- Amt Neuhaus (Oste) 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Osten 1648 - 1715
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- Herrschaft Osterholz
- Hausvogtei [Osterholz] 1648 - 1692
- Börde Scharmbeck 1648 - 1692
- Quasi-Börde Lilienthal 1648 - 1692
- Gericht Sandbeck 1648 - 1692
- Amt Osterholz
- Hausvogtei [Osterholz] 1692 - 1715
- Börde Scharmbeck 1692 - 1715
- Quasi-Börde Lilienthal 1692 - 1715
- Gericht Sandbeck 1692 - 1715
- Samtgericht St. Jürgen 1648 - 1715
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- Amt Ottersberg
- Hausvogtei [Ottersberg] 1648 - 1715
- Amtsvogtei [Ottersberg] 1648 - 1715
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- Stadt Stade 1648 - 1715
- Klöster Stade
- Gericht 1648 - 1694
- Amt 1694 - 1715
- Gericht Lieth 1648 - 1655
- Gericht Agathenburg 1655 - 1715
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- Amt Stotel 1648 - 1715
- Amtsvogtei Vieland 1648 - 1715
- Börde Beverstedt
- Gericht Altluneberg 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Beverstedt 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Poggemühlen 1648 - 1715
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- Gericht Deichsende 1648 - 1672
- Gericht Neues Land Wursten 1648 - 1672
- Amt Nordholz
- Gericht Deichsende 1672 - 1715
- Neues Land Wursten 1672 - 1715
- Gericht Land Wursten 1648 - 1715
- Vogtei Altenwalde 1648 - 1715
- Kloster Neuenwalde
- Gericht 1648 - 1683
- Amt 1683 - 1715
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- Klosteramt Zeven
- Quasi-Börde Zeven 1648 - 1689
- Börde Heeslingen 1648 - 1689
- Amt Zeven
- Hausvogtei [Zeven] 1689 - 1715
- Börde Heeslingen 1689 - 1715
- Gericht Ober Ochtenhausen 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Gyhum 1648 - 1715
- Gericht Kuhmühlen 1648 - 1715
- Samtgericht Rhade 1648 - 1715
Subdivisions of the Electorate of Hannover, Landesteil Bremen (1715-1803)
- Gohgericht Achim 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Schwachhausen 1715 - 1803
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- Gericht Altes Land 1715 - 1803
- Samtgericht Altes Land Ost 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Bederkesa
- Börde Ringstedt 1715 - 1803
- Börde Debstedt 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Lehe 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Blumenthal
- Gericht Blumenthal 1741 - 1803
- Gericht Neuenkirchen 1741 - 1803
- Samtgericht Lesum 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Ritterhude 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Schwanewede 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Bremervörde
- Hausvogtei [Bremervörde] 1715 - 1803
- Quasi-Vogtei Beverstedter Mühle 1715 - 1803
- Börde Hesedorf 1715 - 1803
- Börde Lamstedt 1715 - 1803
- Börde Oerel 1715 - 1803
- Börde Elsdorf 1715 - 1728
- Börde Selsingen 1715 - 1728
- Börde Sittensen 1715 - 1728
- Moorvogtei Gnarrenburg 1752 - 1803
- Gericht Gnarrenburg 1715 - 1752
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- Stadt Buxtehude 1715 - 1803
- Amt Altkloster 1715 - 1803
- Amt Neukloster 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Hagen
- Börde Bramstedt 1715 - 1803
- Distrikt Osterstade Nord 1715 - 1803
- Distrikt Osterstade Süd 1715 - 1803
- Samtgericht Cassebruch 1715 - 1803
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- Vogtei Mulsum
- Börde Ahlerstedt 1715 - 1753
- Börde Bargstedt 1715 - 1753
- Börde Mulsum 1715 - 1753
- Amt Harsefeld
- Hausvogtei [Harsefeld] 1715 - 1803
- Börde Ahlerstedt 1753 - 1803
- Börde Bargstedt 1753 - 1803
- Börde Mulsum 1753 - 1803
- Samtgericht Delm 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Schwinge 1784 - 1803
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- Amt Himmelpforten
- Hausvogtei [Himmelpforten] 1715 - 1803
- Börde Oldendorf 1715 - 1803
- Samtgericht Hechthausen 1715 - 1803
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- Gericht Land Kehdingen
- Bützfleth Anteil 1715 - 1803
- Freiburg Anteil 1715 - 1803
- Amt Wischhafen 1746 - 1803
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- Amt Neuhaus (Oste) 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Osten 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Osterholz
- Hausvogtei [Osterholz] 1715 - 1803
- Börde Scharmbeck 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Sandbeck 1715 - 1803
- Quasi-Börde Lilienthal 1715 - 1733
- Amt Lilienthal 1733 - 1803
- Gericht Niederende St. Jürgen 1734 - 1803
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- Amt Ottersberg
- Hausvogtei [Ottersberg] 1715 - 1803
- Amtsvogtei [Ottersberg] 1715 - 1803
- Moorvogtei Heidberg 1715 - 1803
- Moorvogtei Hüttenbusch 1751 - 1803
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- Stadt Stade 1715 - 1803
- Klosteramt Stade 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Agathenburg 1715 - 1744
- Klosteramt Stade-Agathenburg 1744 - 1803
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- Amt Stotel 1715 - 1779
- Amtsvogtei Vieland 1715 - 1779
- Amt Stotel-Vieland 1779 - 1803
- Börde Beverstedt
- Gericht Altluneberg 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Beverstedt 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Poggemühlen 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Nordholz
- Gericht Deichsende 1715 - 1803
- Neues Land Wursten 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Land Wursten 1715 - 1793
- Vogtei Altenwalde 1715 - 1793
- Vogteigericht Altes Land Wursten 1793 - 1803
- Klosteramt Neuenwalde 1715 - 1803
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- Amt Zeven
- Hausvogtei [Zeven] 1715 - 1803
- Börde Heeslingen 1715 - 1803
- Börde Elsdorf 1728 - 1803
- Börde Selsingen 1728 - 1803
- Börde Sittensen 1728 - 1803
- Gericht Ober Ochtenhausen 1768 - 1803
- Gericht Ober Ochtenhausen 1715 - 1768
- Gericht Gyhum 1715 - 1803
- Gericht Kuhmühlen 1715 - 1803
- Samtgericht Rhade 1715 - 1803