Sources for the Kleve Region

In this region, I relied heavily on a single source from which I drew my list of places to include in the database as well as the countries and subdivisions in which they were located. The source, Erläuterungen zum Geschichtlicher Atlas der Rheinprovinz, is meant to accompany a map showing, as of 1789, the internal and external boundaries of the territory that became that Prussian province after the Napoleonic Wars. The text includes descriptions of boundary changes beginning in 1600 (of which there were remarkably few, making the need for many additional sources unnecessary).  The map itself also has an insert covering the period between 1803 and 1806. The text and map can be found at the following links:

In addition, I consulted the following sources to resolve a few other obscure questions:

  • 010_005.pdf (u-szeged.hu). This is a pdf of Deutsche Dialektgeographie by Ferdinand Wrede published in 1915.
    • Pages 179-202 of the pdf (153-176 of the original book) provides an alternative version of the administrative history of the County/Duchy of Kleve. I used it only to clarify ambiguities in the primary source and for historical background during the period before the database starts.
    • Page 278 of the pdf (252 of the original book) through the end provides additional information on administrative history, with more focus on Guelders and Moers. At the very end are three maps showing administrative boundaries. The first covers the Duchy of Cleves on the right bank of the Rhein. The second shows the Duchy of Cleves on the left bank of the Rhein along with the Principality of Moers and Niederamt Geldern in the Duchy of Guelders. The third map is from a different region.
  • Hamb (st-antonius-hamb.de) provides a timeline for the transition of Hamb from Guelders to Cleves.
  • Castle: Schloss Moyland (in English) clarifies the ownership of Moyland prior to 1662.
  • Grietherbusch – GenWiki (genealogy.net) provides a clue as to when Grietherbusch began functioning separately from Grieth.
  • History of Wertherbruch | Alte Herrlichkeit Wertherbruch e.V. provides a timeline for the ownership of Wertherbruch.

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