Amt Bederkesa

Gericht Lehe

The Lords of Bederkesa, subjects of the Archbishop of Bremen, controlled the Börden of Ringstedt and Debstedt as early as the 11th century. The Archbishop’s sovereignty did not, however, survive the demise of those lords. In 1381, sovereignty was divided between the Imperial City of Bremen and the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg. In 1411, the Imperial City took full control. Even after the end of the Thirty-Years War, Bremen refused to cede control. It was only in 1654, after a war with Sweden, that Amt Bederkesa became part of the Duchy of Bremen.

 

Lehe was founded in the late 13th century and for 150 years was the object of struggle between the Counts of Oldenburg, the Peasant Republic of Wursten, the Lords of Bederkesa, and the Imperial City of Bremen. The dispute was settled in 1408 in favor of the City of Bremen. From then on, its fate followed that of Amt Bederkesa.