Stadt & Amt Gifhorn

Amt Isenhagen

A settlement probably existed in Gifhorn as early as the 9th century. By the 13th century, it had come under Welfian rule and was granted the equivalent of city rights in 1364. It was definitively assigned to the Principality of Lüneburg in 1428, where it served as the seat of an Amt. The Amt had a Hausvogtei and four additional subdivisions—two of which were characterized as Vogteien and two of which were characterized as Gografschaften.

 

Isenhagen was the site of a monastery since 1345 (the monastery having moved from other sites since its founding in 1263). It was converted to a Protestant institution in 1529 and secularized as an Amt in 1540. It included only the monastery and the surrounding village.

 

In 1539, Gifhorn became seat of a nonsovereign spinoff principality (Lüneburg-Gifhorn), which also included Amt Isenhagen once it was created. After the death of the Prince in 1549, it reverted to Lüneburg-Celle (the simplified name of the core Principality of Lüneburg during the period when it was divided).

 

In 1798, Vogtei Steinhorst and Gografschaft Hankensbüttel were transferred from Amt Gifhorn to Amt Isenhagen. The original territory of Amt Isenhagen was absorbed into the Gografschaft.