Stadt Essen and the four Quartieren

The Essen convent was founded in the 9th century and a settlement grew up around it. The city of Essen was walled in 1244 and was designated a “free imperial city” in 1377. Nevertheless, the city was unsuccessful in freeing itself from the jurisdiction of the Abbacy, so I recognize it only as a subdivision thereof. the rest of the territory directly under the jurisdiction of the Abbacy was divided into four “Quartieren”. (Note that Stadt Steele was not considered part of Quartier Steele. Instead it was one of the “Nebencontribuente“—under Essen sovereignty, but not owned by the convent.)