[8], Previous to the formation of Westphalia as a province of Prussia and later state part of North Rhine-Westphalia, the term "Westphalia" was applied to different territories of different sizes such as a part of the ancient Duchy of Saxony, the Duchy of Westphalia or the Kingdom of Westphalia. The Kingdom of Westphalia, which he created for his brother Jérôme, was made up largely of Prussian and Hanoverian possessions between the Weser and the Elbe rivers and the greater part of electoral Hesse; its capital was Kassel. Researching Family History in german archives. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. In 1946, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia was created, which includes part of the historical region.. Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, north and south of the Ruhr River. State part and historic region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, State part and historic region of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, (der Westfale [male] / die Westfälin [female]), List of mountains and hills of North Rhine-Westphalia, LWL: Territorien > Preußische Provinz Westfalen, LWL: Westfalen in der unmittelbaren Nachkriegszeit, IT.NRW: Bevölkerungszahlen auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. [18], Parts of Westphalia came under Brandenburg-Prussian control during the 17th and 18th centuries, but most of it remained divided by duchies and other areas of feudal power. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place near Osnabrück, which at this time was a place of settlement of the Westphalians, who were a part of the Germanic tribe of the Saxons. Website of Manfred Koellner (BA), historian and professional genealogist in Westphalia and Lippe, Germany. Janesville, Wisconsin: Origins Books, 2002) Size: 7,797 square miles (compared to Massachusetts at 7,826 square miles) Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, is also here. In 1807 Napoleon assigned most of traditional Westphalia to the Grand Duchy of Berg. While in Westphalia and Lippe, people tend to speak West Low German dialects and especially the Westphalian variant of the Low German language, Central German and Low Franconian dialects are spoken in the Northern Rhineland. The sign detailing Westphalia’s origins that stands in front of St. Mary’s Church and school. 1950s: The history of Westfalia conversions began in 1951 with one customer’s special wish. The Peace of Westphalia of 1648, signed in Münster and Osnabrück, ended the Thirty Years' War. 1,706,919 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2018[update])[5] : official web sites, local news, culture, history, education, city- and country guides with travel and visitors information, tourist attractions, events and much more. In 1512 the Lower Rhine–Westphalian circle (Kreis) of the Holy Roman Empire was formed. Westphalia History. [19][2], After World War II in 1946, the present state of North Rhine-Westphalia was created by the British military government from the former Prussian Province of Westphalia and the northern half of the former Prussian Rhine Province. 6,920 km2 (2,671 sq mi) Westphalia was a part of the old duchy of Saxony, which included most of the land between the Rhine and the Elbe between the 9th and 12th centuries. An exhibition tracing the history of the British in North Rhine-Westphalia has officially opened at the State Parliament in Dusseldorf. Welcome to our North Rhine-Westphalia family history research page. Religious indifferences backed by political ambitions marred the relations between Lutheran Sweden and Catholic Poland, German Protestants and Catholics, and the Protestant Dutch and English against Catholic Spain. Additional information on persons born or resident in Lippe and western Westphalia may be available from the Nordrhein-Westfaelisches Personenstandsarchiv Westfalen-Lippe, Willi-Hofmann Strasse 2, 32756 Detmold, Germany. In 1946 the province of Westphalia, together with Lippe, was incorporated in the Land of North Rhine–Westphalia. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the independence of the Dutch Republic. Since, if one side was winning, it was a lot less likely to make concessions and vice versa. 5,280 km2 (2,038 sq mi) Photo about The historic Castle Huelshoff in Westphalia, Muensterland, Germany. Germany, selected Protestant church books 1518-1921 ($), index and images. The history of Westphalia, Michigan is long and rich, and it is one that is difficult to summarize in just a few pages. Inhabitants of the region call themselves Westphalians and their home region Westphalia even though there is no administrative division by that name. Düsseldorf Weather History for the Previous 24 Hours Show weather for: Previous 24 hours November 19, 2020 November 18, 2020 November 17, 2020 November 16, 2020 November 15, 2020 November 14, 2020 November 13, 2020 November 12, 2020 November 11, 2020 November 10, 2020 November 9, 2020 November 8, 2020 November 7, 2020 November 6, 2020 November 5, 2020 November 4, 2020 Updates? The most populous (with 18 million people) and westernmost (bordering Belgium and the Netherlands) of Germany's federal states, North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Europe's most highly industrialized areas, with an impressive 30 cities of more than 100,000. Germany’s lands provided a constant battlefield for its warring superpower neighbors. The town’s first settlers came from Germany aboard a vessel called the Leontine. Westfalen / Westphalia (Provinz / Province) [Presently in Nordrhein-Westfalen] Some basic facts about Westphalia: (from Uncapher, Wendy K. and Linda M. Herrick. [3], Along with Eastphalia, Angria and Nordalbingia, Westphalia (Westfalahi) was originally a district of the Duchy of Saxony. Image of idyllic, countryside, scenic - 91462273 Cologne is the district's biggest city, and the capital is Dusseldorf. The history of Westphalia, Michigan is long and rich, and it is one that is difficult to summarize in just a few pages. Chr. In official contexts the coat of arms of Westphalia is being used by the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association,[12] which represents these two historic parts of North Rhine-Westphalia. The group consisted of leader, Father Anton Kopp and many others. kingdom. The Leontine’s journey began in the port of Bremen, Germany and arrived in the Port of New York on October 5, 1836. The flag of the Prussian Province of Westphalia already displayed the colors white and red. The group had traveled from Sauerland, their hometown in western Germany, to the port in Bremen, Germany. Beside a state profile, this page offers links to sources that provide you with information about this "Bundesland", e.g. Navigate parenthood with the help of the Raising Curious Learners podcast. It is a part of united Germany since 1990. The mainly Lutheran Lippe was even able to retain its independence as a small state within Germany in the form of a principality until 1918 and as a free state until 1946. North Rhine–Westphalia, German Nordrhein-Westfalen, Land (state) of western Germany.It is bordered by the states of Lower Saxony to the north and northeast, Hessen to the east, and Rhineland-Palatinate to the south and by the countries of Belgium to the southwest and the Netherlands to the west. The traditional symbol of Westphalia is the Westphalian Steed: a white horse on a red field. Guide to Westphalia (Westfalen), German Empire ancestry, family history, and genealogy before 1945: birth records, marriage records, death records, both church and civil registration, compiled family history, and finding aids. [16][17], Charlemagne is thought to have spent considerable time in Paderborn and nearby parts. ___ Nordrhein-Westfalen A virtual guide to the German Federal State of Nordrhein-Westfalen. Following the deposition of the Saxon duke Henry the Lion in 1180 and the subsequent belittlement of the duchy, Westphalia was elevated to a duchy in its own right by Emperor Barbarossa. Find what to do today or anytime in December. Incomplete. Districts. The monarchical France were against the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs who had ringed its borders to the north, south, and east after its own set of religious wars. I had no idea that some of their digitized records for Germany/Prussia could only be viewed at their Family History Center. In 1947, the state with its two historic parts was joined by a third one: Lippe, a former principality and free state. It has an area of 20,210 km2 (7,803 sq mi) and 7.9 million inhabitants. From the early 17th century, the Hohenzollern rulers of Brandenburg-Prussia gained territories in Westphalia and became predominant there in 1803, when they acquired Paderborn and most of Münster. In the south the German Central Uplands emerge. Venice faced problems against Austri… Westphalia History. These are genealogy links to Westphalia online databases to assist in researching your family history. [7], All of the seventeen districts and nine independent cities of Westphalia and Lippe's only district are members of the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe). The Gau capital of Münster became the seat of SA Brigade 66, SA Standarte 13, SS Section XVII, SS Fußstandarte 19, HJ Area Management 9, BDM Top Performance 9 and other party authorities. Go back to see more maps of North Rhine-Westphalia  Maps of Germany. Lutheranism was strong in the eastern and northern parts with numerous free churches. It is derived from the Saxon Steed in the coat of arms of the medieval Duchy of Saxony which most of today's Westphalia was part of. Other important rivers are the Ems and the Lippe.[10]. ; Amerikanetz Netzwerk westfälische Amerika-Auswanderung seit dem 19. Discover your westphalian roots. After in 1816, the former Duchy of Westphalia and the counties of Wittgenstein and in 1851 the condominium of Lippstadt had joined the province, Westphalia had received its modern territorial shape. The different majorities date back to the days of the territorial fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German Nation) which existed until 1806. Under the Nazis, Münster was the administrative seat of the Nazi district "Westphalia North". Flemish influence is notable in the works of Tom Ring, who was a precursor of the still-life. The current Federal Republic of Germany was founded on these territories making Westphalia a part of West Germany. Here is the complete information about The Peace of Westphalia and also about German history - starting from the early times to medieval history, the Thirty Years War, the Age of Enlightened Absolutism, German Confederation, Bismarck's Unification of Germany, and the events of the 20th century. The Peace of Westphalia was signed simultaneously at Münster and Osnabrück on 24 October 1648 and consisted of 128 clauses. The Peace of Westphalia (German: Westfälischer Friede) is the collective name for two peace treaties signed in October 1648 in the Westphalian cities of Osnabrück and Münster.They ended the Thirty Years' War and brought peace to the Holy Roman Empire, closing a calamitous period of European history that killed approximately eight million people. 3,582,497 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2018[update])[5] Some of the tribes who fought at this battle came from the area of Westphalia. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. The archbishops of Cologne received Westphalia as a duchy in 1180, but the duchy was in fact confined mainly to an area northeast of Cologne. The Kingdom of Westphalia was a short-lived state which existed from 1807 until 1813 in northern Germany. It was an area of mixed Catholic and Protestant populations. The German states were affected in different ways by the Treaty of Westphalia, but the general trend was for the larger ones to grow more powerful at the expense of the smaller and weaker administrative units. It was created by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte of France for his brother Jerome. Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism were on a relatively equal footing. Anna Sophia Altendorf b. Dec 1819 Friesheim, Erfstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany d. 1868 Belgium, Ozaukee Co, Wisconsin: Little Chute Historical Society In the early 19th century Germany was not a unified state, but rather a confederation of many small provinces. General FamilySearch Genealogy Records - Germany (requires free registration; to view some of the images you must be at an LDS Family History Center or a FamilySearch affiliated library). Here you'll find record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your North Rhine-Westphalia ancestors. Ununited Germany. Modern Westphalia was a part of the Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire, which comprised territories of Lower Lorraine, Frisia and parts of the former Duchy of Saxony. (all districts and independent cities). The state of North Rhine-Westphalia was established by the British military administration's "Operation Marriage" on 23 August 1946, by merging the province of Westphalia and the northern parts of the Rhine Province, both being political divisions of the former state of Prussia within the German Reich. This continues to influence the identity of its people who often distinguish themselves from neighboring regions such as East Westphalia.[7]. Candide: The protagonist of Voltaire's novella of the same name, resides in Westphalia in the beginning of the story. See also: Westphalia (disambiguation) The Duchy of Westphalia was a historic territory in the greater region of Westphalia, located in the east of modern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Monty Python's Flying Circus – Series 4, Episode 3 – includes a sketch[21] that discusses a questionable map showing a Basingstoke in Westphalia (as opposed to the better-known Basingstoke in south-central England). Westphalia’s History. Westfalen, a region of Germany in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. For about three centuries, this region retained its separate identity in spite of the rise of the more powerful aggregated Saxon duchy. The town’s first settlers came from Germany aboard a vessel called the Leontine. Westphalia is known for the 1648 Peace of Westphalia which ended the Thirty Years' War, as the two treaties were signed in Münster and Osnabrück. I pay regular visits to the parish register archives in Paderborn, Münster and Bielefeld, as well as to the state archives in Detmold and Münster. North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state in Germany, with 17.5 million inhabitants, located in the west of the country.It consists of two historically independent parts - Nordrhein, the urbanized area across the river Rhine in the southwest, and… History. Negotiations opened in the West German land of Westphalia in 1643. Search Europe Germany North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia . Westphalia (German: Westfalen) is a region in Germany.The cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Bochum, Detmold, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Hagen, Minden and Münster are in its centre. Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia, Westphalia Physical Description gold (overall material) Measurements overall:.13 cm x 2.89 cm; 1/16 in x 1 1/8 in ID Number NU.68.159.3582 catalog number 68.159.3582 accession number 283645 Credit Line Estate of Josiah K. Lilly Jr. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Westphalia. After World War II it was a part of the British occupation zone which merged with the American zone to become the Bizone in 1947 and again merged with the French zone to become the Trizone in 1948. I thought that only applied to microfilm records. The war or series of connected wars began in 1618, when the Austrian Habsburgs tried to impose Roman Catholicism on their Protestant subjects in Bohemia. Westphalia, German Westfalen, historic region of northwestern Germany, comprising a large part of the present federal Land (state) of North Rhine–Westphalia. 2. The Westphalia area of north-western Germany gave its name to the treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War, one of the most destructive conflicts in the history of Europe. He originally built heavy horse-drawn carts to transport goods arriving at the new train station. A Brief History. Coordinates (geographic center of Westphalia): This page was last edited on 21 November 2020, at 06:27. This does not include all of the village history, but instead it highlights interesting points in its history, such as the emigration of the first German Catholic settlers and their establishment of a church in Westphalia. [9], Being a part of the North German Plain, most of Westphalia's north is flat. Landtag NRW: Das Wappen des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, LWL: Westfalen zur Zeit der Germanen und Römer, LWL: Die Zeit der römischen Feldzüge in Germanien (12 v.-16 n. As a result of the Protestant Reformation, there was no dominant religion in Westphalia. Peace of Westphalia, European settlements of 1648, which brought to an end the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch and the German phase of the Thirty Years’ War. The Kingdom of Westphalia, despite its' name, included only Angria, Eastphalia and Hesse, and comprised of neither the Duchy of Westphalia or the historical region of Westphalia. On 21 January 1947, the former state of Lippe was merged with North Rhine-Westphalia. This museum is the abode of the Gothic statuary of the cathedral and churches of Münster, a series of stained-glass windows and, above all, a stunning collection of altarpieces by the great Westphalian masters. This state shared only the name with the historical region, containing mostly Hessian and Eastphalian regions and only a relatively small part of the region of Westphalia.. At the time, large portions of its territory in the north lay in what today is Lower Saxony. Welcome to our North Rhine-Westphalia family history research page. Only 8 years later, the construction of a new building to accommodate middle school students gave Westphalia School room for growth in its curriculum. In the 1830’s, weary from centuries of political and religious unrest, a small group of artisans and farmers from the province of Westfalen immigrated to the New World. The Congress of Vienna in 1814–15 restored most of old Westphalia to Prussia, which then established a province of Westphalia with its capital at Münster. Almost 75 years after British forces first arrived in Germany, they remain stationed in the country’s most densely populated state, North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to these historic, lingual and religious aspects, there are some regional differences in culture and mentality. Things to Do in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: See Tripadvisor's 207,173 traveler reviews and photos of North Rhine-Westphalia tourist attractions. In the early 19th century Germany was not a unified state, but rather a confederation of many small provinces. The first settlers of Westphalia came over across the ocean from Germany in 1836. The Westphalia area of north-western Germany gave its name to the treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War, one of the most destructive conflicts in the history of Europe. Religious indifferences backed by political ambitions marred the relations between Lutheran Sweden and Catholic Poland, German Protestants and Catholics, and the Protestant Dutch and English against Catholic Spain. 16 No 3 (Sept 1983) pp. Widukind was buried in Enger, which is also a subject of a legend. Historic German Castle incorporating Hotel For Sale with Engel & Voelkers With over 738 m² of usable space and a land area of approx. [9][15], These different regional identities are often being emphasized by different majorities of denomination between Roman Catholics and Lutheran Protestants. Germany’s lands provided a constant battlefield for its warring superpower neighbors. Steve Hochstadt. Numerous other political entities grew up in the region of Westphalia, among them the bishoprics of Münster, Paderborn, Osnabrück, and Minden; the countships of Waldeck, Schaumburg, Lippe, Ravensberg, and Mark (with Limburg); the imperial city of Dortmund; and the abbey of Essen. In 1946, Westphalia merged with the Northern Rhineland, another former part of Prussia, to form the newly created state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Osnabrück was divided almost equally between Catholicism and Protestantism. The Leontine’s journey began in the port of Bremen, Germany and arrived in the Port of New York on October 5, 1836. This page is about the Duchy of Westphalia. When in 1947 the former Free State of Lippe with its capital Detmold joined North Rhine-Westphalia, the "Governmental District of Minden" was enlarged by this territory and renamed "Governmental District of Detmold". (all districts and independent cities except District of Lippe), Governmental District of Münster commented Feb 1, 2018 by James Stratman G2G6 Mach 8 ( 82.3k points) The ancient Saxons were divided into three main groups: the Westphalians, the Angrians (German: Engern), and the Eastphalians (Ostfalen). The peace was negotiated, from 1644, in the Westphalian towns of Munster and Osnabruck. This map shows cities and towns in North Rhine-Westphalia. Migration in Preindustrial Germany in Central European History. His Saxon Wars also partly took place in what is thought of as Westphalia today. The Treaty of Westphalia is signed, ending the Thirty Years' War and radically shifting the balance of power in Europe.. My research has been focussed in Westphalia. The ancient Saxons were divided into three main groups: the Westphalians, the Angrians (German: Engern), and the Eastphalians (Ostfalen). Westphalia, German Westfalen, historic region of northwestern Germany, comprising a large part of the present federal Land (state) of North Rhine–Westphalia. The Westphalians, who had settled in the area of the Ems and Hunte rivers about 700 ce, spread south almost as far as Cologne and in 775 resisted the advance of the Franks under Charlemagne. German Genealogy Westfalen / Westphalia (Provinz / Province) [Presently in Nordrhein-Westfalen] Some basic facts about Westphalia: (from Uncapher, Wendy K. and Linda M. Herrick. Emigration, Immigration, and Passenger Lists. These are subdivided into further districts and independent cities. Mai 2011, LWL: Niederdeutsche Sprache – westfälische Mundarten, LWL: Gewässerbildung und Systeme der natürlichen Fließgewässer in Westfalen. Originally, Westphalia formed with Angria and Eastphalia one of the three main regions of Saxony. Around 1 A.D. there were numerous incursions through Westphalia and perhaps even some permanent Roman or Romanized settlements. Osnabrück went to Hanover and the rest of Münster to Oldenburg. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Ruhr valley became very densely populated and the single most heavily industrialized area in the world. [7][6] The Westphalian language, a variant of the German language, spreads beyond Westphalia's borders into southwestern Lower Saxony and northwestern Hesse. The Treaty of Westphalia definitely improved the religious situation in Germany, and introduced a more rational and stable settlement. [18], After the defeat of the Prussian Army by the French at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt, the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807 made the easternmost portion of today's Westphalia part of the French client Kingdom of Westphalia until 1813. North Rhine-Westphalia is divided into five government regions: . : official web sites, local news, culture, history, education, city- and country guides with travel and visitors information, tourist attractions, events and much more. ), LWL: Westfalen im konfessionellen Zeitalter, LWL: Vom feudalen zum modernen Westfalen 1770-1815, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Westphalia&oldid=989821366, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox settlement with bad settlement type, Pages using infobox settlement with possible demonym list, Articles containing Low German-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2018, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with German-language sources (de), Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. 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