GRONINGEN The
present Dutch province of Groningen didn’t originate –
unlike Holland, Gelre and the bishopric of Utrecht – as a
principality of the Holy Roman Empire. The Lordship of Groningen was
created by HR Emperor Charles V 1536 and again by the Dutch Republic
1594 (as Province of Stad and Lande) by joining the City of Groningen
with a number of territories which were collectively known as the
Ommelanden, once belonging to Frisia. The principality of Westerwolde
was administered by the city of Groningen since 1619.
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Groningen Estates
FIVELGO
The
northeastern
coast of Groningen Province, extending along a section of the Lower
Dollart Estuary. It included Oldambt until the 15th century. It
originated in the 9th century as a Carolingian pagus.
- Within the Ommelanden..........................855-1090
-
Self-governing territory......................1090-1434 (or 1436?)
- One of a number of "farmers republics" in this region, districts ruled by members of
the gentry with the title of redger (the equivalent of consul).
- Return to the Ommelanden thereafter...
GORECHT A
terrritory now comprising the municipalities of (the city of)
Groningen, Haren and Hoogezand-Sappermeer. HR Emperor Henry III granted
1040 the territories Go and (Drenther)Wold (Go and Wold collectively
known as Gorecht, the present municipalities of Groningen and Haren)
– with the villa Cruoninga –, the very northern part of the
pagus Thrianti (Drenthe) to the Cathedral Chapter of Utrecht. To
Gorecht was added 1460 ‘De Vrije van het Gorecht’, the
present municipality of Hoogezand-Sappemeer.
- To the bishop of Utrecht.....................1040-1392/3
-
Villici and Nuncii 1046-c. 1145 (betw. 1139/50) These were officials of the bishop of Utrecht and also administered the village of Groningen.
-
names unknown
- Prefects (prefecti, burgraves) c. 1145 (betw. 1139/50)-1392/3 These were hereditary officials of the bishop of Utrecht and also governed the village/city of Groningen.
- See below; City of Groningen, for names and terms of office.
- To the city of Groningen directly...........1392/3-1405
- Note that the jurisdiction of Gorecht was sold by the Cathedral chapter of
Utrecht to the city of Groningen, this transfer being contested by
the bishop of Utrecht.
- To the bishop of Utrecht......................1405-1460
- To the city of Groningen......................1460-1795
-
The city bought the jurisdiction from the bishop of Utrecht; the adjacent
territory of “De Vrije van het Gorecht” was annexed 1460
-
Sequence of the province of Groningen thereafter...
GRONINGEN (the city)
A city (‘The city’) in the northeast of the
Netherlands. It came into being as a village situated in the territory
of Gorecht, which belonged originally to the Carolingian pagus Triantha
(Drente). Gorecht was granted in 1040 by HR Emperor Henry III to the
Church of Utrecht. The village Groningen broke gradually away from
Gorecht and developed itself into a more or less free city, a status
comparable (but not quite identical) with the Freie und
Reichsstädte of the Holy Roman Empire. The city annexed the
territories of Gorecht and ‘De Vrije van het Gorecht’
(1460) and Oldambt (betw. 1440/third quarter of 15th century). The
Ommelanden were a protectorate of the city 1428/34-1498. The city was
unified by the Hapsburgs and later by the Dutch Republic with the
Ommelanden 1536-1795 (interrupted 1580-1594). Westerwolde was attached
1619-1795. Groningen-City became the capital of the present province of
Groningen in 1814.
-
The royal domain Gorecht with the villa Cruoninga (...) in comitatu Trente, to the Cathedral Chapter of Utrecht 1040-1046
- To the bishop of Utrecht 1046-1506
- Village Groningen and Gorecht ruled by nuncii and villici 1046-ca. 1145 (betw. 1139/50)
-
names unknown
- Village Groningen and Gorecht ruled by hereditary prefects (prefecti,
burgraves), officials of the bishop of Utrecht ca. 1145 (betw.
1139/50)-1392/1405
- Bishop Hartbert (Herbert) of Utrecht installed his brother Leffard as
prefect of (the later city of) Groningen; his other brother Ludolf
became castellanus of the stronghold of Coevorden (southeast Drenthe);
this meant the foundation of two lines of dynasts, in Groningen (until
1392/1405) and Drenthe (until 1395/1402).
- Van GRONINGEN van BIERUM
-
Leffard I..................................c. 1145- ?
-
Leffard II................................fl. 1170-1176 d. c. 1177
- Van GRONINGEN van SEPPERODE
-
Rudolf.........................................fl. 1181 d. c. 1190
-
Egbert I..................................fl. 1190-1212
-
Menzo I........................................fl. 1190 d. c. 1207
- Van EELDE
-
Bertold I.....................................1190- ?
- Van GRONINGEN van SEPPERODE
-
Rodulf......................................fl. c. 1225 d. < 1232
-
Egbert II......................................fl. 1226 d. 1235/41; with...
-
Leffard III....................................fl. 1225
-
Ro(e)lof..................................fl. 1231-1241 d. 1241; with...
-
Egbert III................................fl. 1231-1249 d. 1249/50; and... ?
-
Godschalk (I).............................fl. 1231-1241 ?
-
His existence is proved, but not his prefectship.
-
Koenraad..................................fl. 1250-1255 d. (>) 1255
-
The power of the prefects in the city was much reduced after 1251.
-
Menzo II.......................................fl. 1257
-
Egbert IV.................................fl. 1262-1285 d. 1286/90
-
Godschalk (II).................................fl. 1283
-
Adolf.....................................fl. 1291-1297
-
Van ECHTEN
-
Godeke.........................................fl. 1300 d. < 1332
- Van GRONINGEN van SEPPERODE
-
Egbert V..................................fl. 1309-1332
- Ludolf I (guardian) fl. 1309-1311
-
Agnes (fem.)...................................fl. 1332
-
Van GRONEBEKE (or Van GRONINGEN) van SELWERD
-
Ludolf I (restored).......................fl. 1309-1319
-
He called himself Van Selwerd after his castle Selwerd
-
Van ECHTEN
-
Egbert VI.................................fl. 1322-1323 d. < 1332
-
Van GRONEBEKE (or Van GRONINGEN)
-
Berthold II...............................fl. 1328-1332
-
Ludolf II.................................fl. 1335-1344 d. (>)1344
-
Van ECHTEN
-
Godevart I.....................................fl. 1347
-
Van GRONEBEKE (or Van GRONINGEN)
-
Hendrik I......................................fl. 1352 d. <1357
-
The effective power of the prefects was mainly restricted to Gorecht since 1352
-
Ida (fem.).................................< 1357 ?-1396/7
- Adolf van Selwerd, guardian < 1357-1360 d. 1365 >
-
Van COEVORDEN(-BORCULO) van SELWERD
-
Herman........................................1360-1388 and...
-
Van ECHTEN(-van den HOVE)
-
Godevart II...............................fl. 1371-1391 d. 1391/2
-
He added ‘Van den Hove’ to his family name, Hove being one of his possessions.
-
Godevart III...................................fl. 1392/3 d. c. 1395
-
He sold his 1/3 share of the prefecture of Gorecht to the city of Groningen in 1392/3.
-
Johan.....................................fl. 1392-1405 d. 1441; and...
-
He sold his 1/3 share of the prefecture of Gorecht to the bishop of Utrecht in 1405.
-
Van COEVORDEN(-BORCULO) van SELWERD
- Hendrik II............................betw. 1396/7-1403/5 d. 1411 >
-
His 1/3 share of the prefecture of Gorecht was annexed 1403 by the city
of Groningen, transferred 1405 to the bishop of Utrecht; Hendrik II
confirmed these actions formally 1411.
- To the bishop of Utrecht......................1405-1498/1506
- The control of Utrecht was
more a technicality than anything substantive, actually the place was a
free city in this era and, in fact, the city exercised a protectorate
over the Ommelanden 1428/34-1498.
- Status of free city
contested by the Saxon potestates of Frisia (House of Wettin)1498-1506,
and the territory of the city restricted to Gorecht, ‘De Vrije
van het Gorecht’ and Oldambt 1498-1619.
-
To East-Friesland (protectorate)..............1506-1514
-
To Gelderland.................................1514-1536
- Stadtholders (Gelderlander, 1514-1536)
-
Willem of Gent, called 'of Ooy'..........1514-1515 d. 1528
-
Hendrik de Groeff (die Groiff) called 'of Erkelenz' (L. of Lathum 1530-44) 1515–1518 d. 1544 >
-
Joris (Jorien) of Lennep.................1518–1519 d. 1537
-
Christoffel of Meurs.....................1519-1522 d. 1566
-
Jasper of Merwijck (Marwijck)............1522-1529 d. 1555
-
Karel (the Elder), bastard of Gelre......1529-1536 d. 1568
-
Ludolf Coenders...............................1536
- Unified under the Hapsburg rulers of the Netherlands with the
Ommelanden (an uneasy union!) into the Lordship of Groningen 1536-1594
-
HAPSBURG
-
Charles V (HRE, K. of Spain)..................1536-1555 d. 1558
-
Philip II (King of Spain).....................1555-1579 deposed, d. 1598
-
To the Union of Utrecht.......................1579-1580
-
Philip II (restored)..........................1580-1594 d. 1598
- Stadtholders (Spanish, on behalf of Philip II 1580-1594)
-
George de Lalaing, count of Rennenberg...1580-1581
- He was stadtholder of the Lordship of Groningen on
behalf of the States-General 1576-1580; he lost the Ommelanden after
his ‘treason’, when he chose the side of the king of Spain
against the Dutch Republic 1580
-
Francisco Verdugo........................1581-1594 d. 1597
-
He was the last Spanish-appointed stadtholder of Friesland, the city of Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel.
-
Unified (an uneasy union again!) with the Ommelanden into the Province
(‘gewest’) of Stad and Lande of Groningen, part of the
Dutch Republic 1594-1795
-
To the Batavian Republic......................1795-1806
-
To the Kingdom of Holland.....................1806-1810
-
To the French Empire..........................1810-1813
-
To the Kingdom of the Netherlands since 1813...
HUNSINGO
The
coastal districts of Groningen Province extending from the Lauwers Zee
in the northwest to the edge of the Dollart Estuary to the east. It
originated in the 9th century as a Carolingian pagus.
- Within the Ommelanden..........................855-1090
-
Self-governing territory......................1090-1434 (or, ½ Hunsingo in 1434 and
the other ½ of Hunsingo in 1436)
- One of a number of "farmers republics" in this region, districts ruled by members of
the gentry with the title of redger (the equivalent of consul).
- Return to the Ommelanden thereafter...
OLDAMBT East-central
Groningen Province, extending from the Upper Dollart Estuary (and thus
being the extreme northeastern corner of the Netherlands) to the
southwest, across the Province.
A territory in the eastern part of the present province of Groningen.
It was originally the southeastern subregion of the territory of
Fivelgo. The city of Groningen annexed Oldambt in the period 1440-betw.
1454/73. It became a lordship in 1649, but remained under the direct
rule (‘suppression’) of the city until 1795. Oldambt
consisted of two regions, Klei-Oldambt and Wold-Oldamt
-
To Fivelgo...........................9th century ?-15th century but note...
- self-governing terr. within Fivelgo.....13th cent.-1440
-
RIPPERDA A leading family with seat in the castle (‘borg’) of Farmsum.
-
Aylwart........................................fl. 1323
-
Thiacko........................................fl. 1344
-
?
-
Uncko (Unico) I (=Umke Ripperdes?)........fl. 1375-1398 d. c. 1400
-
Haye......................................fl. 1422-1435
-
A dependency of the city of Groningen.........1440-1454/73
-
Bole......................................fl. 1435-1460
-
Uncko (Unico) II..........................fl. 1473-1474 d. 1474
-
To the city of Groningen...................1454/73-1795
-
Klei (Clay)-Oldambt (i.e. northern Oldambt) Territory around the castles
(‘borgen’) of Groot-Termunten and Klein-Termunten
-
HOLWERDA
-
Menno (I)......................................fl. c. 1400
-
Eylco (I) (Ailco).........................fl. 1435-1438 d. 1439?
-
Groot-Termunten mortgaged to the city of Groningen 1438-1440.
-
To the city of Groningen directly.............1440-1795
-
Eylco (II) (Ailco)............................1440-1489 d. 1489 > with...
-
Menno (II)....................................1440-1489 d. 1489 >
-
Klein-Termunten and the territory of Klei-Oldambt to the city of Groningen 1489-1795
- Wold (Forest)-Oldambt (i.e. central and southern Oldambt) Territory around
the castle (‘borg’) of Zuidborch (or, Zuidbroek).
-
GOCKINGA
-
Tammo..........................................fl. 1397 d. 1398 or 1401
-
Eelt (Ejolt, Eijolt)...........................fl. 1401
-
Eppo......................................fl. 1429-1438 d. 1444
-
Mortgaged to the city of Groningen............1438-1444
-
To the city of Groningen......................1444-1795
OMMELANDEN
The
overall
term for what eventually became Groningen Province, exclusive of
Groningen City itself. It's constituent territories were (from
west to east) Westerkwartier (a
common name for four very small districts),
Hunsingo and Fivelgo. Fivelgo once included Oldambt,
which later became a dependency of the city of Groningen. Reiderland is here reckoned to the Ommelanden because of its
geographical position. The name Ommelanden means ‘Lands surrounding (Dutch: om)
the (North)sea’. They belonged originally to Frisia (the ‘Frisian Sealands’)
but lost their Frisian character and Frisian language during late medieval
times.
Formation of the
Carolingian pagi Hunsingo, Fivelgo, Humsterland, Vredewold, Langewold
and Middacht (these last four pagi under the common name of
Westerkwartier) 9th century.
-
To Hamaland................................. < 855-1046
-
MEGINHARD (Brunharding) This dynasty was based on the county of
Hamaland. The Meginhards ruled a number of territories in the eastern
and northeastern Netherlands and in the duchy of Saxony
-
Wichman II.....................................fl. 855
-
Hamaland partitioned into the group of territories in the present
Northeastern Netherlands (Hunsingo, Fivelgo, Drenthe, Salland,
Hamaland, Felua) and the territories in Northwestern Germany (duchy of
Saxony) ca 860
- Meginhard II (in the NE Netherlands)............d. < 881
-
Meginhard III (in NE Neth.; Hamaland <881-900/2)...< 881-885 d. 900/2
-
Partitioned into the Ommelanden and Hamaland (incl. Drenthe and Salland) 885
-
Everard (I) Saxo...............................885-898
-
Meginhard (IV) (also in Hamaland from 900/2)...898- < 952
-
Meginhard (III) of Hamaland, regent 898-betw. 900/2
-
? Eberhard (I) of Ortenau, regent betw. 900/2-910
-
? Gebhard of Lorraine, regent 910-4
-
Partitioned into the Ommelanden (incl. Drenthe and Salland) and Hamaland 952
-
Everard (Drenthe c. 944; Salland c. 956-60)..< 952-960 > d. < 961 or < 964 ?
-
Averada (fem.)...................................d. 961 with...
-
VERDUN
-
Godfrey the Prisoner (c. of Hainault 993-7).....d. 997
-
Gozelo (I) (D. Lwr. Lorraine 1023-44, Upp. Lorr. 1033-<1040 (1037?))...997-1044
-
WERL (vassal counts in the Ommelanden)
-
Rudolf (in Fivelgo only?)...............fl. 1031/8-1040/4 d. c. 1044
-
Herman (III)..............................fl. 1045–1052/3 ? d.< 1050 or 1055 >
- Possibly
Hermann, Count in the Emsgau c. 1045-50. In any case, it isn’t
certain whether he exercised comital rights in the Ommelanden
-
Godfrey (III) the Bearded (Upp. Lorr. 1044-6).1044-1046 d. 1069
- Partitioned
into the Ommelanden (to the archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen) and Drenthe +
Salland (both to the bishop of Utrecht) 1047. Ommelanden (nominally) to
the archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen 1047/57-1066/72
-
BRUNONING (counts of Brunswick and Meissen, counts of Frisia)
-
Bruno (III) (count of Frisia 1038-1057).......1047-1057
-
Egbert I (count of Frisia 1057-1070)..........1057-1066
-
Brief deposition
-
Egbert I (co. of Frisia 1057-1070) (rest.)....1066-1070
-
Egbert II (c. of Frisia 1068-1086/9)..........1068-1086/9 (deposed) d. 1090
-
The Ommelanden fall apart into the territories (farmers republics) of
Hunsingo, Fivelgo (incl. Oldambt) and the four western territories,
common name Westerkwartier. These territories were ruled by
members of the farmers gentry, called redgers = consules 1090-1428/34
-
Protectorate exercised by the city of Groningen 1428/34-1498
-
(Westerkwartier since 1428, Hunsingo and Fivelgo since 1434; protectorate confirmed by HR Emperor Frederick III 1474)
-
The Ommelanden regain their independency 1498-1514, but note
-
contested between the city of Groningen and the Saxon potestates of Frisia 1498-1514
-
WETTIN (dukes of Saxe-Meissen)
-
Albrecht......................................1498-1500
-
Henry (IV) the Pious..........................1500-1505 d. 1541
-
George the Bearded (stadtholder 1514-5).......1505-1515 d. 1539: with...
-
Edzard I of East Friesland (stadtholder)......1506-1514 d. 1528
-
The Ommelanden nominally to Charles V, Lord of the Netherlands 1514-1515
- George the Bearded sold his rights to Charles [the later HR Emperor Charles V], Lord of the Netherlands 1515
-
Ommelanden to Gelre...........................1515-1536
- Governed by stadtholders of Groningen 1514-1536 Gelre’s rule of the Ommelanden was contested by Edzard I of
East-Frisia (stadtholder for Charles V, HR Emperor and Lord of the
Netherlands) 1517-1528. Eventually, Ommelanden was unified by the Hapsburgs (Lords of the Netherlands) with the
city of Groningen into the Lordship of Groningen 1536-1580.
-
HAPSBURG
-
Charles V (HRE, K. of Spain)..................1536-1555 d. 1558
-
Philip II (King of Spain).....................1555-1579 (deposed 1581) d. 1598
- To the Union of Utrecht from 1579-80
- Ommelanden
became a contested zone between Spain and the Netherlands. Typically,
given the long-standing contention between the countryside and the
City, Groningen remained in Spanish hands until 1594, while Ommelanden
quickly sided with the Dutch
- William Louis of Nassau-Dillenburg............1580-1595 d. 1620
- Unified with the city of Groningen into the Province (‘Gewest’) of Stad en Lande (= Groningen) 1595-1795
REIDERLAND A territory on both sides of the very northern section of the present
German-Dutch border, on the west bank of the Ems River. It was reckoned to the
Seven Frisian Seelands and came into being c. 1000. Its northern section was a
clay area, which was largely destroyed by the sea during the 15th and 16th
century, becoming the Dollard Bay (partly reclaimed during the 17th-20th
century). The southern section was a peaty area, limited to the south by Westerwolde.
- Self-Governing Territory................11th cent.-1413
- Tom BROCK
- Keno
(II) the Younger (East-Frisia 1391-1417).1413-1417
- Ocko (II) the Younger (East-Frisia 1417-1427).1417-1427 d. 1435
- Effectivelly partitioned between the city of
Groningen (western part) and East-Frisia (eastern part) (<)1427
- Partition confirmed 1454
WESTERKWARTIER The
western part
of the present province
of Groningen, a bulge of territory lying to the south-southeast of the
Lauwers Zee. In medieval times the name was used as an umbrella term
for four small
territories which came into being c. 1000, formally belonging to Frisia
but
actually independent. These territories were Vredewold,
Langewold,
Humsterland (mentioned 786/7 as pagus Hugumarchi), and Middag (partitioned off from Hunsingo),
merged into the region of Westerkwartier by the Hapsburg Lords of the
Netherlands 1536, becoming a part of the Ommelanden.
- The four Carolingian Pagi emerge..........c. 700's-c. 1000
- Self-governing territories.................c. 1000-1428/34
- The four Pagi evolve into "farmers republics" in this region, districts ruled by members of
the gentry with the title of redger (the equivalent of consul).
- Protectorates of the City of Groningen.....1428/34-1498
- Return to the Ommelanden thereafter...
WESTERWOLDE, and the Castle of WEDDE The
southeastern part of the present province of Groningen. After the
disappearance (1530) of the Addingas, the local dynasty which ruled
Westerwolde, the territory was administered by an official
– the bailiff – of its overlords until 1795.
. Westerwolde is an isolated territory located between vast
peat bogs (the Bourtanger Moor forms the German frontier just to the east) - now
almost completely cut and reclaimed - bordering
the small rivers Mussel A and Ruiten A, which flow together to
the Dollard Estuary as Westerwoldse A. Wedde Castle itself is some 26
miles (42 km.) east-southeast of Groningen, about 4½ miles
(7¼ km.) from the German frontier.
- Loosely attached to (older) Saxony 785-1316
- A communal republic in the region, governed by consules.
- To
Bishopric of Munster.......................1316-1478
- ADDINGA
Adde I was enfoeffed by the Bishop of Munster with this region, and
proceeded to construct Wedde (Wedderborg) Castle, ca. 1360/70
- Adde I
............................1361/2/8 ?- ?
- Egge
I.................................... d. 1391
- Adde II..................................1391-< 1400 with...
- ? , Regent for Adde II, a minor, 1391-1400.
- Boele...............................1391/1400- ?
and...
- Hayo
I..............................1391/1400-1401 (deposed)
- vacant
- Hayo
I (restored)........................1408-1427 >
- Egge
II...............................c. 1443-1475
- Hayo
II..................................1475-1478 d. 1492
- To the City of
Groningen......................1478-1498
- Hayo II (restored).......................1486-1492
- Jurgen
(I)...............................1492-1525
- To
Munster....................................1498-1536 opposed by...
- To
Duke of Gelders............................1522-1536
- Hayo
III.................................1525-1530 d.
1540
- Berend van
Hackfort, bailiff for the Duke of Gelders 1530-1536 along with...
- Castellans of Wedde
- HEEMSTRA
- Bawyne...................................1533-1536
with...
- Van MUNSTER
- Jurgen II................................1533-1536
- To
the Burgundian-Habsburgian Netherlands.....1536-1594
- Bailiffs
- Reynolt van Burmania 1536-1539
- HRE Charles V ignored the rights of the bishop of Munster who, nevertheless,
maintained his claims until 1795. Westerwolde became a personal fief.
- Lord of Westerwolde
- SCHENK
van TOUTENBURG
- George (Jurgen
III)......................1538-1540
- Karel
I..................................1540-1561 d. 1571
- LIGNE (Dukes of Aremberg)
- Jan......................................1561-1568
- Jan de Ligne and Adolf of Nassau were
killed in the Battle of Heiligerlee (1568), the beginning of the Dutch insurrection
against Spanish rule.
- Karel
II.................................1568-1616
- Contested between Dutch insurgents and the Spanish, 1580-1593.
- To the States-General of the Dutch
Republic...1594-1795
- Westerwolde ‘Land of the Generality’, henceforth administered by the
States-General, but in actual fact by the City of Groningen from 1619.
- Jacob Entens 1594-1606
- Edzard Rengers van ten Post, lord of Tuinga and Oldenhuis 1606-1634 d. 1652
- CROY (Dukes of Aerschot)
- Anne (fem.)...............................1616-1617 d. 1635
- Van Den HOVE
- Willem...................................1617-1619
- Willem van den Hove purchased Westerwolde from Anne
de Croy, but his lordship wasn’t recognised by the inhabitants, and eventually the districted reverted fully to Groningen.
- To the city of Groningen.................1619-1795
- Johan Coenders 1634-1652 d. 1664
- Gerard Gruys 1652-1656
- Johan Verrutius 1656-1670
- Berent Aldringa the Elder 1670-1709 d. 1709
- Berent Aldringa the Younger 1709-1745
- Petrus Muntinghe 1745-1749 d. 1777
- Rudolf de Mepsche, lord of Haan 1749-1754 d. 1754
- Petrus Muntinghe (restored) 1755–1777 d. 1777
- Albert Hendrik van Swinderen 1777-1805 d. 1805
- To the Batavian Republic......................1795-1806
- Willem de Sitter 1805-1810 d. 1827
- To Holland....................................1806-1810
- To France.....................................1810-1814
- To the Netherlands thereafter...
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