Lordship, later County, of Diepholz
| Lordship, (from ca. 1482/1531) County, of Diepholz | ||||||||||
| Herrschaft / Grafschaft Diepholz | ||||||||||
| State of the Holy Roman Empire | ||||||||||
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| Capital | Diepholz | |||||||||
| Languages | West Low German | |||||||||
| Government | Noble Lordship, later County | |||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | |||||||||
| • | Folcred cited as noble landowner in Barnstorf | ca. 890/990 | ||||||||
| • | Allod of the Noble Lords of Diepholz starts to consolidate into a united fiefdom | ca. 1070/1085 | ||||||||
| • | Cono I and Wilhelm de Thefholte (of Diepholz) first cited, ruled over allodial goods around Drebber and Diepholz | ca. 1160 | ||||||||
| • | Konrad V inherits patrimony of the Lords of Blankena and acquires the Vicecomitat of Sudholte | 1285-1291 | ||||||||
| • | Johann III grants town rights to Diepholz | 1380 | ||||||||
| • | Rudolf VIII abdicates his allodial sovereignty over Diepholz to Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1510-1517 | ||||||||
| • | Friedrich I introduces the Protestant Reformation into Diepholz | 1528 | ||||||||
| • | County of Diepholz absorbed by Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 1585 | ||||||||
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Coat of arms
The County of Diepholz (West Low German: Diepholt), that was first known as the Lordship of Diepholz, was a territory in the Holy Roman Empire in the Lower-Rhenish-Westphalian Circle. It was ruled by the Noble Lords, later Counts, of Diepholz from the late tenth century until 1585, when it was mostly incorporated into the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
The territory of the County of Diepholz at its greatest extent in the sixteenth century stretched from Colnrade and Goldenstedt in the north to Wehdem, Dielingen and Lemförde in the south. The eastern border was marked by the Wietings Moor (near Barver) and the Neustädter Moor (near Wagenfeld). The western border lay to the west of the Dümmer See (lake). The distance from the northernmost point to the southernmost point of the county was about 47 kilometers whilst the distance from east to west was 22 kilometers at its widest point.
The towns of Diepholz, Drebber and Lemförde, as well as the area around the Auburg Castle (most notably Wagenfeld) fell directly under the allodial rule of the Noble Lords of Diepholz. Their properties in Barnstorf, Goldenstedt and Colnrade fell under the full jurisdiction of the Noble Lords from 1291 in their capacity as holders of the Vicecomitat of Sudholte but was a fief of the Bishop of Munster. The Lords of Diepholz were vassals of the Count of Ravensberg for the tithes of Weddeschen and vassals of the Abbey of Corvey for various smaller goods, such as the "wood tithes" in Bosel. Their tithes in Aschen and Ostenbeck were fiefs of the Counts of Tecklenburg.
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