Amt Neuenahr

Neuenahr castle dates to the early 13th century, although the County that seated itself there seems to have existed before then. The male Neuenahr line died out in 1358 and the succession was disputed until 1382. At that time, a joint rule was established between the Electorate of Cologne and a Neuenahr line descended from a daughter of the last male ruler. In 1546, following the extinction of yet another Neuenahr line, the Duke of Jülich became the Count of Neuenahr. He ended the joint rule with the Electorate and converted the County into an Amt. I begin the database for Amt Neuenahr at that point.

 

The Amt originally consisted of twelve Dingstühle (administered by appointees of the Duke) and Herrschaft Adendorf (administered by the Leyen family). In 1659, the Duke granted full independence to Adendorf as well as to Villip in exchange for an interest in the Lordship of Landskron (which interest I assign to the condominium of Landskron\Jülich). In 1688, sovereignty over Herrschaft Gelsdorf shifted from the Electorate of Cologne to the Duchy of Jülich and it was assigned to Amt Neuenahr. (Administration of the Herrschaft was the responsibility of the County of Schleiden under both countries). Gelsdorf became fully independent in 1737.