Salm is the name of several historic countships and principalities in present Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

The County of Salm arose in the tenth century in Vielsalm, in the Ardennes region of present Belgium.

In 1165, it was divided into the counties of Lower Salm, in the Ardennes, situated in Belgium and Luxembourg, and the county of Upper Salm, situated in the Vosges mountains, present France.

The county was annexed by the House of Lorraine from 1600 until 1608, when it came back into the family.

In 1490, Anne d'Haraucourt, Dame of Brandenbourg (1465-1550) married Count Johann VI of Salm (1452-1505).

[1][2] As the only child of her parents, she inherited Brandenbourg and brought it into the House of Salm.

His only surviving child, Christina of Salm, was his sole heir.

In 1803, when the Bishopric of Münster was secularized, part of it was given to the princes of Salm-Salm who by then already were in possession of the Lordship of Anholt.

This new Principality of Salm, covering the area around Borken, Ahaus and Bocholt, was a member of the Confederation of the Rhine.

In 1810 it was annexed by France, as a part of the Imperial département of Lippe.

The counts of Lower Salm became extinct in 1416, and the county was inherited by the House of Reifferscheid-Dyck.