County of Bentheim facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The County of Bentheim (Grafschaft Bentheim, Low German Benthem) was an important area in what is now Germany. It was a "state" within the Holy Roman Empire, a large group of lands in central Europe that existed for many centuries. Bentheim was located in the southwest part of today's Lower Saxony, Germany. Its borders were very similar to the modern-day Grafschaft Bentheim district.

Geographically, Bentheim had many marshy areas. Early settlements were built along the rivers that flowed through the county. Bentheim was also known for its special sandstone. This stone was so good that it was sold and sent to other parts of Germany and the Netherlands, making it a profitable business.

Quick facts for kids

County of Bentheim

Grafschaft Bentheim

c. 1050–1806

Coat of arms

The County of Bentheim around 1350

Status

County

Capital

Bad Bentheim

Common languages

West Low German

Government

County

Historical era

Middle Ages,
Early modern period

• Bentheim Castle
mentioned

c. 1050

• Partitioned into
Bentheim-Bentheim and
Bentheim-Tecklenburg

1277

• Split off
Bentheim-Steinfurt

1454

• Split off
B.-Tecklenburg-Rheda

1606

• Annexed by Prussia and
Berg

1806

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Duchy of Saxony

Kingdom of Prussia
Berg (state)

History of Bentheim
Language and Culture
States of Bentheim
Counts of Bentheim (c. 1050 – 1277)
Legacy of Bentheim
Images for kids
See also

History of Bentheim

Early Times and Christianization

Around 500–600 CE, Germanic tribes settled in the Bentheim area. These were Saxon tribes who later lost their freedom in 804 CE. This happened after the Franks won the Saxon Wars.

Between 800 and 850 CE, Emperor Charlemagne made the Saxons convert to Christianity. A new system was set up where local leaders, called scholten, managed church and court matters. Towns like Emlichheim, Uelsen, Veldhausen, and Nordhorn became important centers for these activities.

The County's Beginnings

The County of Bentheim existed by about 1050 AD. We don't know much about its early years before 1115. In that year, the county was taken over by Count Otto from the House of Salm.

His daughter, Countess Sophia, later married Dirk VI, Count of Holland. They ruled Bentheim together until Dirk passed away in 1157. Sophia died in 1176, and her son Otto I became the new count.

Growth and Divisions

In 1263, Bentheim grew by taking over the County of Tecklenburg. Over many years, different family branches of the Counts of Bentheim gained more land. They bought or took over territories in places like Rheda, Steinfurt, and even parts of the Netherlands.

In 1277, the County of Bentheim was split into two main parts:

Bentheim-Bentheim: This part kept the original County of Bentheim.
Bentheim-Tecklenburg: This part included the County of Tecklenburg.

The first Bentheim-Bentheim line of counts ended in 1530. Bentheim was then given to Arnold II of Bentheim-Steinfurt.

The Reformation and New Church Rules

In 1544, Arnold II officially became a Lutheran. This started a slow change towards the Protestant Reformation in Bentheim and other lands he ruled. Protestant preachers began working in Bentheim in 1587.

The next year, Bentheim officially got a new Church constitution. This was later introduced in Tecklenburg (1589) and Steinfurt (1591). In 1613, Count Arnold Jobst of Bentheim-Steinfurt created the Higher Church Council. This council helped manage religious matters and set up the Reformed Church of Bentheim in all three counties.

Later Divisions and Changes

When Arnold Jobst died in 1643, the County of Bentheim-Steinfurt was split again. One part became Bentheim-Steinfurt, and the other became Bentheim-Bentheim, which included the original County of Bentheim.

In 1753, the County of Bentheim was taken over by the elector of Hanover. The Counts of Bentheim had taken out a loan from the King of Hanover and England, and they couldn't pay it back. For almost 700 years before this, Bentheim had been ruled independently by its counts.

End of the Holy Roman Empire

Towards the end of the Holy Roman Empire, the Counts of Bentheim-Steinfurt and Bentheim-Bentheim were important. They had a say in the Imperial Assembly and were part of the German High Nobility.

In 1803, the Bentheim-Bentheim family branch ended. In 1804, the Count of Bentheim-Steinfurt made a deal with France. He paid a small part of the old debt to Hanover and took control of the County of Bentheim, even though Hanover protested.

In July 1806, the Grand Duchy of Berg took over the counties of Steinfurt and Bentheim. These had belonged to the Count of Bentheim-Steinfurt. In 1808, the Grand Duchy of Berg also took over Rheda and Hohenlimburg, which belonged to the Count of Bentheim-Tecklenburg.

Bentheim was then taken over by France in 1810, along with the Kingdom of Holland and many other German regions.

After Napoleon

The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) was a big meeting that reorganized Europe after Napoleon's wars. It decided that Steinfurt and Rheda would be under the rule of Prussia, and Bentheim would be under Hanover.

In 1817, the King of Prussia gave the Counts of Bentheim-Steinfurt and Bentheim-Tecklenburg the special title of Prince. From 1854, these Princes were permanent members of the Prussian House of Lords, a powerful group in Prussia's government.

Today, the Bentheim family still exists. The Princes of Bentheim-Steinfurt live at Steinfurt Castle and also own the historic Burg Bentheim. The Princes of Bentheim-Tecklenburg-Rheda live at Rheda Castle and Hohenlimburg Castle. They also own former monasteries.

Language and Culture

Language Spoken

Even though Bentheim is in Germany, the local language, called plattdeutsch or "low German," is very similar to Dutch. This shows the strong historical connections between the region and the Netherlands.

The People of Bentheim

The people of Bentheim have always valued their independence. They have lived under different rulers throughout history, including Hanover, Napoleon, and Prussia. They also lived through the times of the Kaiser and Adolf Hitler. Through all these changes, they kept their courage. If you ask them about their identity today, they might proudly say, "Wy bin't Groofschappers" (We are from the County).

Traditions and Customs

Arranged marriages were a long-standing tradition in Bentheim. Parents would often arrange for their children to marry a distant relative. Weddings used to last three days, and guests would give money to the new couple. The couple would sign a marriage contract before the ceremony, and the presentation of a dowry (money or property from the bride's family) and a hope chest (filled with household items) was part of the celebration.

Until the 1950s, most babies were born at home with the help of a midwife. After birth, babies' lower bodies were tightly wrapped to prevent bowlegs, and a tight cap was placed on their heads to make their ears grow close to the face. Babies born during the week were usually baptized in the Reformed church the following Sunday, with neighbors and the midwife as witnesses. New mothers traditionally stayed home for six weeks after giving birth.

When someone died, the next-door neighbor was the first person contacted. This neighbor would then be in charge for four days, telling other neighbors what to do. They would contact the pastor, bell ringer, and gravedigger to arrange the funeral. The town bell would ring once for each year the person had lived. If someone died late at night, the bell would wait until the next morning. "Death messengers" would inform everyone in town about the funeral details. People attending funerals wore plain black clothes.

From 850 CE to about 1850 CE, people were buried in the churchyard. This was because people believed the churchyard was the closest place to heaven. Family graves could be reused for another family member after 30 years. In 1808, Napoleon ordered cemeteries to be built outside cities for health reasons. Bentheim resisted this idea but finally adopted it in 1850.

Funerals were followed by a church service with songs about resurrection. The mourning period varied: three years for a spouse, two years for children, one year for siblings, and six weeks for the next-door neighbor. During this time, wearing plain black was strictly followed.

States of Bentheim

County of Bentheim (c. 1050 – 1277)
County of Bentheim-Alpen (1606–1629)
County of Bentheim-Bentheim (1277–1530, 1643–1753, 1753–1803)
County of Bentheim-Bentheim and Bentheim-Steinfurt (1803–1806)
County of Bentheim-Limburg (1606–1632)
County of Bentheim-Lingen (1450–1555)
County of Bentheim-Steinfurt (1454–1803)
County of Bentheim-Tecklenburg (1277–1557)
County of Bentheim-Tecklenburg-Rheda (1606–1806)

Counts of Bentheim (c. 1050 – 1277)

Otto of Salm (1115–1149)
Sophia (1149–1176) with...
Dirk (VI of Holland) (1149–1157)
Otto I (1176–1207)
Baldwin (1207–1247)
Otto II (1247–1277)

Legacy of Bentheim

The modern-day district called Grafschaft Bentheim covers roughly the same area as the old county. It takes its name from the historic county and still uses its coat of arms today.