The County of Isenburg was a region of

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

located in southern present-day

Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...

, located in territories north and south of

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

. The states of Isenburg emerged from the

Niederlahngau The Lahngau was a medieval territory comprising the middle and lower Lahn River valley in the current German states of Hesse and (partially) Rhineland-Palatinate. The traditional names of the Gau are ''Loganahe Pagus'' or ''Pagus Logenensis''. The ...

(located in the

Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; ; ; ) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the sixteen states. Mainz is the capital and largest city. Other cities are ...

), which partitioned in 1137 into Isenburg-Isenburg and Isenburg-Limburg-Covern. These countships were partitioned between themselves many times over the next 700 years.

House of Isenburg

The House of Isenburg was an old aristocratic family of medieval Germany, named after the castle of Isenburg in

. Occasionally referred to as the House of Rommersdorf before the 12th century, the house originated in the Hessian comitatus of the Niederlahngau in the 10th century. It partitioned into the lines of Isenburg-Isenburg and Isenburg-Limburg-Covern in 1137, before partitioning again into smaller units, but by 1500 only the lines of Isenburg-Büdingen (in Upper Isenburg) and Lower Isenburg remained. In 1664 the Lower Isenburg branch died out. The Büdingen line continued to partition, and by the beginning of the 19th century the lines of Isenburg-Büdingen, Isenburg-Birstein, Isenburg-Meerholz and Isenburg-Wächtersbach existed.

"Family tree" of the Isenburg countships

Isenburg, the original countship was divided upon the death of Count Rembold II in 1137 into: *Isenburg (or Isenburg-Isenburg), 1137–1199, eventually dividing c. 1210 into: ** Isenburg-Braunsberg, 1210–1388, when it was renamed Isenburg-Wied. Isenburg-Wied, in turn, existed from 1388 to 1454, when it passed by marriage to the Lords of

Runkel Runkel () is a town on the river Lahn in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany. Geography Location Runkel lies in the Lahn Valley on both sides of the river between the Westerwald and the Taunus, some eight kilometres east of Limbur ...

and was superseded by the Countship of Wied in 1462. ** Nieder-Isenburg (Lower Isenburg), 1218–1502 when it was divided into: *** Isenburg-Grenzau, 1502–1664. After the death of Count

Ernest Ernest is a given name derived from the Germanic languages, Germanic word ''ernst'', meaning "serious", often shortened to Ernie. Notable people and fictional characters with the name include: People *Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553–1595), ...

in 1664 without direct heirs, his territories were claimed back as feudal tenures by the Archbishoprics of

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

and

Trier Trier ( , ; ), formerly and traditionally known in English as Trèves ( , ) and Triers (see also Names of Trier in different languages, names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle (river), Moselle in Germany. It lies in a v ...

, and the Abbey-principality of

Fulda Fulda () (historically in English called Fuld) is a city in Hesse, Germany; it is located on the river Fulda and is the administrative seat of the Fulda district (''Kreis''). In 1990, the city hosted the 30th Hessentag state festival. Histor ...

. The core territories including Isenburg were passed on by Fulda to the Counts of

Walderdorff The House of Walderdorff is the name of an old and distinguished German noble family, whose members occupied many important ecclesiastical positions within the Holy Roman Empire. Since the 17th century the family has been residing on Molsberg ...

. They had to share them according to a later agreement with the Counts of Wied, by then a cadet branch of the Isenburgs. ***

Isenburg-Neumagen Isenburg-Neumagen was the name of a state of the Holy Roman Empire, seated in Neumagen-Dhron in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Isenburg-Neumagen was created on the partition of Lower Isenburg in 1502. There were only two counts of Isen ...

, 1502–1554, when it passed by marriage to the Counts of

Sayn-Homburg Sayn-Homburg (not to be confused with the later state of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg) was a medieval county of Germany with its seat at Homburg Castle. It was created as a partition of Sponheim-Sayn in 1283. In 1345, Salentin, the son of Count ...

. * Isenburg-Kempenich, 1137–1424, when it passed to the Lords of Schöneck. In 1434, it passed to the Archbishop of Trier, who sold the territory to the Counts of

Virneburg Virneburg is a municipality in the district of Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. Virneburg Castle is located in the village. Geography Virneburg is a municipality in the Vulkaneifel. Next towns are Mayen in the East and A ...

. * Isenburg-Limburg-Covern, 1137–1158, when it was divided into: **Isenburg-Covern, 1158–1306, when it passed to Isenburg-Cleberg. ** Isenburg-Grenzau, 1158–1258, when it was divided into: *** Isenburg-Limburg, 1258–1406, when it was annexed by the

Archbishopric of Trier The Diocese of Trier (), in English historically also known as ''Treves'' () from French ''Trèves'', is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic church in Germany.Isenburg-Grenzau, 1258–1287, when it was divided into: **** Isenburg-Grenzau, 1287–1290, when it passed to Isenburg-Cleberg. **** Isenburg-Arnfels, 1286–1379, when it passed to Isenburg-Wied. **** Isenburg-Cleberg, 1287–1340, when it was divided into: ***** Isenburg-Grenzau, 1340–1439, when it passed to Nassau-Beilstein. It subsequently passed to the Archbishopric of Trier in 1446, and was finally purchased by the Counts of Nieder-Isenburg in 1460. *****

Isenburg-Büdingen Isenburg-Büdingen was a County of southern Hesse, Germany, located in Büdingen. It was originally a part of the County of Isenburg. History There were two different Counties of the same name. The first (1341–1511) was a partition of Isenbur ...

, 1340–1511, when it was divided into: ****** Isenberg-Büdingen-Ronneburg, or Isenburg- Ronneburg, 1511–1601, when it was annexed by Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein ******

Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein Isenburg and Büdingen in Birstein is a hereditary title Hereditary titles, in a general sense, are nobility titles, positions or styles that are hereditary and thus tend or are bound to remain in particular families. Though both monarchs an ...

(or Isenburg-Birstein), 1511–1628, which was divided into: *******

Isenburg-Birstein Isenburg-Birstein was the name of two German historical states centred on Birstein in southeastern Hesse, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the ...

, 1628–1664, when it passed to

Isenburg-Offenbach Isenburg-Offenbach was the name of a state of the Holy Roman Empire, based around Offenbach and Neu Isenburg (built by the counts in 1699) in modern Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state ...

*******

, 1628–1685, when it was divided into: ********

, 1685–1806, when it was mediatized to the Principality of Isenburg ******** Isenburg-Wächtersbach, 1685–1806, when it was mediatized to the Principality of Isenburg ******** Isenburg-Meerholz, 1685–1806, when it was mediatized to the Principality of Isenburg ******** Isenburg-Marienborn, 1685–1725 *******

, 1628–1711, when it was divided into: ********

, 1711–1744, when it became the Principality of Isenburg-Birstein. The Principality existed from 1744 to 1806, when it was renamed the Principality of Isenburg, 1806–1814/5 ********

Isenburg-Eisenberg Isenburg-Eisenberg was the name of a junior, non-immediate line of the House of Isenburg. It was partitioned from Isenburg-Offenbach in 1711, and became extinct in 1758. {{coord missing, Rhineland-Palatinate Counties of the Holy Roman Empir ...

, 1711–1758, when it was absorbed back into the Principality of Isenburg-Birstein ********

Isenburg-Philippseich Isenburg-Philippseich was a County of southern Hesse, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its ...

, 1711–1806, when it was mediatized to the Principality of Isenburg

Principality of Isenburg

It was not until 1806 that there was a state called simply ''"Isenburg"''. When the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

was defeated by

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in that year, the empire was abolished and the

Confederation of the Rhine The Confederated States of the Rhine, simply known as the Confederation of the Rhine or Rhine Confederation, was a confederation of German client states established at the behest of Napoleon some months after he defeated Austrian Empire, Austria ...

was established amongst the various German states. As an incentive to join the Confederation, it was stated that any state which joined could mediatise their neighbours. Prince Charles of

joined the Confederation and was granted the mediatized Isenburgian Countships of

, Isenburg-Meerholz,

, and Isenburg-Wächtersbach. His Principality was renamed to Isenburg. The Principality continued under the rule of Prince Charles through the Napoleonic era, but was mediatised by Austria in December 1813, at the insistence of King

Frederick William III of Prussia Frederick William III (; 3 August 1770 – 7 June 1840) was King of Prussia from 16 November 1797 until his death in 1840. He was concurrently Elector of Brandenburg in the Holy Roman Empire until 6 August 1806, when the empire was dissolved ...

, who was angered that Isenburg had raised a regiment for French service by recruiting Prussian deserters and vagabonds.Treitschke, Heinrich. ''History of Germany in the Nineteenth Century'', Vol. I, page 609. Isenburg was one of only three original member princes of the Empire to be mediatized at the end of the Napoleonic era (the others being

Leyen The House of Leyen-Hohengeroldseck is an ancient German noble family of princely and historically sovereign rank. As a former ruling and mediatized family, it belongs to the Hochadel (high nobility). History The origin can be traced to t ...

and prince-primate

Dalberg The House of Dalberg is the name of an ancient and distinguished German nobility, German noble family, derived from the hamlet and castle (now in ruins) of Dalberg or Dalburg, near Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate. They were the ruling family ...

, Prince of Aschaffenburg). This decision was confirmed at the

Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna of 1814–1815 was a series of international diplomatic meetings to discuss and agree upon a possible new layout of the European political and constitutional order after the downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon, Napol ...

. The lands of the principality were divided between the Grand Duchy of

Hesse-Darmstadt The Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt () was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a younger branch of the House of Hesse. It was formed in 1567 following the division of the Landgraviate of Hesse among the four sons of Landgrave Philip I. ...

and the Electorate of

Hesse-Kassel The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (), spelled Hesse-Cassel during its entire existence, also known as the Hessian Palatinate (), was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. The state was created in 1567 when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided upon t ...

(or Hesse-Cassel).

Rulers

House of Isenburg The County of Isenburg was a region of Germany located in southern present-day Hesse, located in territories north and south of Frankfurt. The states of Isenburg emerged from the Niederlahngau (located in the Rhineland-Palatinate), which partitio ...

Partitions of Isenburg under House of Isenburg rule

Table of rulers

References

External links

Official Website
– Fürstenhaus Isenburg (Princely House of Isenburg) {{DEFAULTSORT:Isenburg, County of

County of Isenburg The County of Isenburg was a region of Germany located in southern present-day Hesse, located in territories north and south of Frankfurt. The states of Isenburg emerged from the Niederlahngau (located in the Rhineland-Palatinate), which partitio ...

States of the Confederation of the Rhine Former states and territories of Rhineland-Palatinate Counties of the Holy Roman Empire Upper Rhenish Circle