County of Tecklenburg

In 1365 they acquired the Lordship of Rheda [de], but in 1400 they lost the northern parts of the county with the districts of Cloppenburg, Friesoythe and Bevergern to the Prince-Bishopric of Münster.

Conrad of Tecklenburg-Schwerin [de] was the first ruler in Westphalia to introduce the Reformation and became a member of the Schmalkaldic League.

In 1557, in conflict with the claims of the House of Solms-Braunfels, the county was inherited by Arnold II (IV) of Bentheim-Tecklenburg whose son Adolf founded a new line of counts of Tecklenburg.

In 1686, the Reichskammergericht issued a verdict which settled the conflict, splitting the territory between Bentheim-Tecklenburg and Solms-Braunfels.

The conflict escalated in 1707 when Count William Maurice of Solms-Braunfels formally sold Tecklenburg to Prussia.

Ruins of Burg Tecklenburg .
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