Stadt and Amt Xanten

Amt and Freiheit Winnenthal

Herrlichkeiten im Venne/Veen and Mörmter

A monastery was built in Xanten in the 8th century and a town grew up around it. The name is a variation on “Sanctum”, with the initial “S” being replaced by an “X” in 967. For centuries, it belonged to the Archbishopric of Cologne, which granted it city rights in 1228. Cleves administered the city between 1322 and 1331 and its reluctance to give up that role led to multiple wars between Cleves and the Archbishopric. In 1392, Cleves was successful in taking the northern part of Xanten with the rest following in 1444. Within the Duchy of Cleves, Xanten became the seat of a Richteramt within the Landdrostenamt of Kleve. In 1647, Mörmter left the Richteramt to become a Herrlichkeit.

 

The much smaller Amt Winnenthal was named after a castle built about 5 miles south of Xanten by the Count of Cleves in the 13th century. Thus, the Amt already existed when Amt Xanten joined Cleves. In 1647, Freiheit Winnenthal left the Amt to become the equivalent of a Herrlichkeit. Nevertheless, the Amt retained its identity until the French occupation in 1794.

 

In 1753, Landdrostenamt Kleve was dissolved, the constituent Richterämter were converted to full-fledged Ämter, and each was assigned to a Kreis. Although a Kreis Kleve was created, Amt (but not Stadt) Xanten and Amt and Freiheit Winnenthal were assigned to Kreis Wesel.

 

Herrlichkeit im Venne already existed in 1521 when the database begins, consisting of a portion of the village of Veen (the rest belonging to Amt Winnenthal). In 1650, it’s portion of the village expanded, but there are no identifiable place names to associate with that expansion. In 1753, the Herrlichkeit (now referred to as Veen) became part of Kreis Wesel.

 

          Subdivision structure as of 1521                                        Subdivision structure as of 1794