County of Moers

The County of Moers (German: Grafschaft Moers, Dutch: Graafschap Meurs) was a historical princely territory on the left bank of the Lower Rhine that included the towns of Moers and Krefeld as well as the surrounding villages and regions.

The House of Moers went extinct in 1578, after which the county was claimed by the House of Orange-Nassau as well as the Duchy of Cleves.

On the extinction of Orange-Nassau in 1702, the County of Moers was acquired by the Kingdom of Prussia, and elevated to a principality on 6 May 1705.

Although the county was legally dissolved as far back as 1797/1801, the names of communal institutions and local firms often incorporate the word Grafschafter ("comital") which harks back to the County of Moers.

1500: Bavarian, Swabian, Upper Rhenish, Lower Rhenish–Westphalian, Franconian, (Lower) Saxon

Map of the Principality of Moers (Meurs) in 1730 between Duisburg (Duysburg) on the right and Geldern (Gelder) on the left
Map of a large region (in white) including all the territory of modern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, plus parts of most neighbouring countries, including most of Northern Italy. Some of the northwest part region is highlighted in color, including Münster, most of the Netherlands and parts of modern Belgium.
The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle (red) within the Holy Roman Empire (white) after 1548