Amt Medingen

A convent calling itself Medingen was established in 1228 between Lüneburg and Uelzen, east of the Ilmenau River, where it began exercising secular authority. In 1336, the convent moved to Zellensen on the west bank of the Ilmenau. Thereafter, Zellensen was known as Medingen and the original site of the convent became know as Altenmedingen. When Welfian territory was partitioned in 1409, Medingen was assigned to the principality of Lüneburg. The secular authority of the convent was transferred to an Amt in 1529. Several villages were added in 1794 upon the dissolution of Vogtei Bienenbüttel of Amt Winsen (Luhe).

 

The subdivisions of the Amt are poorly documented. Most sources list seven subdivisions (most known as “Feeste”), but do not list the constituent villages. The only source that lists villages in each subdivision recognizes only four subdivisions. The lists below reflect that source, although it probably represents a consolidation that occured after 1529.