History of North Rhine-Westphalia facts for kids

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North Rhine-Westphalia was created by the British military on August 23, 1946. They called this "Operation Marriage." It brought together the Rhine Province and the Province of Westphalia. Later, on January 21, 1947, the former Free State of Lippe also joined North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ancient Times: Caesar and Early Tribes
Roman Empire and the Rise of the Franks
The Holy Roman Empire and Westphalia
The Middle Ages and Peace
Early Modern Era and New States
Prussian Influence and Industry
How the State Was Created
See also

Ancient Times: Caesar and Early Tribes

Around 55 BC, during the time of Julius Caesar, the lands west of the Rhine River in this area were home to a tribe called the Eburones. Caesar described them as "Germans living on this side of the Rhine." They were part of the larger region of Gaul, linked to the Belgae. Caesar tried to wipe out the Eburones and their name.

After the Romans took over, a different Germanic tribe, the Tungri, moved into their land. A Roman historian named Tacitus said that "Tungri" was a new name for the original "Germans" from west of the Rhine. Even though these tribes were called "Germans," and Caesar said they were related to tribes east of the Rhine, some evidence suggests they spoke Celtic languages.

On the eastern side of the Rhine, Caesar wrote about the Ubii tribe. They wanted to move across the Rhine, which they later did, settling near modern Cologne. North of them lived the Sugambri. Both tribes were under pressure from the Suebi, who had moved into the area to their east. Large groups of Usipeti and Tencteri tribes also moved into the Sugambri's area. They tried to cross the Rhine but were pushed back by Caesar. These tribes were still found near the eastern banks of the Rhine during Roman times.

Roman Empire and the Rise of the Franks

Julius Caesar conquered the tribes on the left (western) bank of the Rhine. Later, Emperor Augustus built many forts along the river. However, the Romans never fully controlled the right (eastern) bank.

During the Roman Empire, most of North Rhine-Westphalia west of the Rhine became a border province called Germania Inferior. New settlers, like the Ubii from across the Rhine, moved into the area. The Ubii's region, including modern Neuss, Cologne, and Bonn, was known as the "Civitas Ubiorum." Other tribes like the Cugerni lived near Xanten and are thought to be Sugambri who were moved by the Romans.

East of the Rhine, Roman historians reported that the Bructeri lived north of the Sugambri. They moved further south due to pressure from the Chamavi and Angrivarii tribes. Further north, probably still in Westphalia, were the Chasuarii and Dulgubnii. The Marsi also lived east of the Rhine, possibly as a smaller group of the Sugambri. The Usipetes stayed near the Rhine and Maas rivers, while the Tencteri moved into the area the Ubii had left, facing Cologne.

Around 1 AD, there were many Roman visits and perhaps even some Roman settlements in Westphalia. The famous Battle of Teutoburg Forest happened near Osnabrück, and some tribes from Westphalia fought in it.

By the late Roman period, the remaining tribes started to be called the Franks. They were being pushed from the north by the Saxons. As the Roman Empire grew weaker, the Franks crossed the Rhine. For example, the Chattuari moved into the area around Xanten and where the Sugambri used to live. By the end of the 5th century, the Franks had conquered all the lands on the left bank of North Rhine-Westphalia. However, the Saxons were moving into Westphalia, whose name comes from being one of the main parts of their territory.

By the 8th century, the Franks controlled most of western Germany and northern Gaul. The Frankish leader Charlemagne finally gained lasting control over the Saxons, including those in Westphalia, in the 9th century during the Saxon wars.

The Holy Roman Empire and Westphalia

Charlemagne is believed to have spent a lot of time in Paderborn and nearby areas. His Saxon Wars also took place partly in what is now Westphalia. Old stories connect his enemy, Widukind, to places like Detmold, Bielefeld, Lemgo, and Osnabrück in Westphalia. Widukind was buried in Enger.

The signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 in Münster by Gerard Terborch

Westphalia (Westfalahi) was originally a part of the Duchy of Saxony, along with Eastphalia and Engern. In 1180, Emperor Barbarossa made Westphalia a duchy. However, the Duchy of Westphalia was only a small area south of the Lippe River.

When the Carolingian Empire was divided by the Treaty of Verdun, the part of the province east of the Rhine went to East Francia. The part to the west stayed with the kingdom of Lotharingia. By the time of Otto I (who died in 973), both sides of the Rhine were part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Rhenish territory was split between the duchies of Upper Lorraine (on the Mosel River) and Lower Lorraine (on the Meuse River).

As the power of the Holy Roman Emperor became weaker, the Rhineland broke up into many small, independent states. The old divisions of Lotharingia disappeared, and the name Lorraine was only used for the region that still has that name today.

Even though it was divided and suffered during wars with its French neighbors, the Rhenish territory grew very well. It was a leader in German culture and progress. Aachen was where German emperors were crowned, and the church-controlled states along the Rhine played a big role in German history.

The Middle Ages and Peace

Parts of Westphalia came under the control of Brandenburg-Prussia in the 17th and 18th centuries. But most of it remained divided into smaller duchies and other feudal areas. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648, signed in Münster and Osnabrück, finally ended the terrible Thirty Years' War. The idea of countries being independent and having their own power, which came from this treaty, is known as "Westphalian sovereignty."

Early Modern Era and New States

After the Protestant Reformation, there wasn't one main religion in Westphalia. Both Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism were equally strong. Lutheranism was common in the eastern and northern parts, with many free churches. Münster and especially Paderborn were known as Catholic areas. Osnabrück was almost evenly split between Catholics and Protestants.

After the Prussian army lost the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807 made Westphalian lands part of the Kingdom of Westphalia from 1807 to 1813. This kingdom was created by Napoleon and was a state controlled by France. This state only shared its name with the historical region; it actually included only a small part of Westphalia, mostly made up of lands from Hesse and Eastphalia.

After the Congress of Vienna, the Kingdom of Prussia gained a lot of land in the Westphalian region. In 1815, they created the province of Westphalia. The northernmost parts of the former kingdom, including the town of Osnabrück, became part of the states of Hanover and Oldenburg.

Prussian Influence and Industry

The Prussian Province of Westphalia in 1905

Prussia first gained land on the Rhine in 1609 by taking over the Duchy of Cleves. About a century later, Upper Guelders and Moers also became Prussian. In 1795, at the Peace of Basel, the entire left bank of the Rhine was given to France. In 1806, the princes of the Rhineland all joined the Confederation of the Rhine, which was under French influence.

The Congress of Vienna later gave all the lower Rhenish districts to Prussia. Prussia wisely allowed these areas to keep the liberal rules they had become used to under French republican control.

During the late 19th century, the region became the main center of the German steel industry. Products from here were shipped and used in construction all over the world. The Stahlhof building in central Düsseldorf, built from 1906 to 1908, became the main office for these huge companies.

In 1920, the Saar region was separated from the Rhine Province and managed by the League of Nations. It returned to Germany in 1935 after a public vote. At the same time in 1920, the districts of Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium. In 1946, the Rhine Province was divided into the new states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

How the State Was Created

North Rhine-Westphalia was officially created by the British military on August 23, 1946. This operation was called "Operation Marriage."

At first, it included Westphalia and the northern parts of the Rhine Province. Both of these had been part of Prussia. Then, on January 21, 1947, the former state of Lippe joined North Rhine-Westphalia. The constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia was then approved by a public vote.