Amt Altenwied

Linz was founded on the east bank of the Rhein in the 9th century, and was acquired by the Electorate of Cologne in the late 13th century. It received city rights in 1365 and became the seat of an Amt at around that time. Although the Amt was seated in Linz, it was initially called Amt Altenwied. Amt Linz was created during the 15th century through an east-west split that left Amt Altenwied without access to the Rhein. The territory of the shrunken Amt Altenwied remained part of the Electorate of Cologne throughout the period covered by the database.

 

Amt Altenwied consisted of three Kirchspiele that functioned as Gerichte. In 1718, the two Ämter were reunited as Oberamt Linz. I do not restore the names of the two Ämter in my simplified subdivision names. In other words, after 1718, the three Kirchspiele are treated as subdivisions of Oberamt Linz, not of Amt Altenwied. It should be understood that the lists of villages below also apply to the period between 1718 and 1803 when they were part of the Oberamt.

 

In addition to the three Kirchspiele, two noncontiguous Unterherrschaften were grouped with the Amt for statistical purposes, but were not legally part of it. They are described on a separate page.