Amt Sternberg-Barntrup

and predecessor (pre-1812) Ämter

The Ämter of Sternberg, Barntrup, and Alverdissen together correspond closely to old County of Sternberg, which was independent in the 13th and 14th centuries, then sold to the Schaumburgians. Lippe initially exercised only administrative responsibilities, but by the end of the 14th century held full sovereignty. The three Ämter were frequently included in spin-offs to subordinate counties:

 

• All three Ämter were part of Lippe-Spiegelberg-Pyrmont between 1558 and 1583;
• Barntrup was part of Lippe-Brake between 1613 and 1709 and was not formally returned to Lippe-Detmold until 1748;
• Alverdissen was part of Lippe-Alverdissen between 1613 and 1647, then was absorbed into Schaumburg-Lippe (from which it was spun off again between 1681 and 1777) before being returned to Lippe-Detmold in 1812.
• Sternburg was under the administration of the Electorate of Hannover between 1733 and 1781.

 

Amt Sternberg was technically subdivided into Vogteien, but those played no role in subsequent jurisdictional changes (in contrast to Amt Detmold) and I ignore them.