Stadt and Amt Kalkar

Stadt and Amt Grieth & Amt Kirchspiel Grietherbusch

Herrlichkeiten Appeldorn, Hönnepel & Niedermörmter

Kalkar was probably settled in the 7th century, becoming the seat of a Richteramt after the establishment of the County of Cleves. In 1230, a new city was founded just to its east which assumed the name of Kalkar. It was governed as a city and was not part of the Richteramt. The original settlement became known as Altenkalkar and it remained the seat of the Richteramt. In 1649, the village of Appeldorn left the Richteramt to become a Herrlichkeit.

 

Grieth was founded in the 13th century on the left bank of the Rhein as the primary river port for the County of Cleves. It was granted city rights in 1254 and became the seat of a Richteramt within Landdrostenamt Kleve. In 1650, the course of the Rhein changed, isolating the village of Grietherbusch on the right bank of the Rhein. In 1706, its independence from Richteramt Grieth was confirmed, although its exact status is uncertain. I treat it as a new Richteramt.

 

The Herrlichkeiten of Hönnepel and Niedermörmter were surrounded on three sides by Amt Kalkar (the Rhein forming the fourth side), but were not part of the Amt during the period covered by the data base. In fact they were administered by the Lordship of Anholt until 1666, when their ownership was transferred to a Kleve subject.

 

In 1753, the Richterämter were converted to full-fledged Ämter and Landdrostenamt Kleve was replaced by the much larger Kreis Kleve. The Ämter of Grieth and Kalkar (but not the Städte of the same names) were placed in Kreis Kleve, as were the two Herrlichkeiten. Amt Grietherbusch, being on the right bank of the Rhein, was assigned to Kreis Emmerich.

 

          Subdivision structure as of 1521                                        Subdivision structure as of 1794