The second Principality of Salm was a short-lived client state of Napoleonic France located in Westphalia.

Principality of Salm
Fürstentum Salm (German)
1803–1811
Flag of Salm
Flag
Map of the Principality of Salm within the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806. (South of Holland)
Map of the Principality of Salm within the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806.
(South of Holland)
StatusClient of the First French Empire,
State of the Confederation of the Rhine
CapitalBocholt
GovernmentPrincipality
Historical eraNapoleonic Wars
• Created from Cty Anholt and Bp Münster
1803
 
1806
• Annexed by France
1811
1815
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bishopric of Münster
County of Anholt
Lippe (department)

History edit

The Principality of Salm was created in 1632 as a state of the Holy Roman Empire, and re-created in 1803 in order to compensate the princes of Salm-Kyrburg and Salm-Salm, who had lost their states to France in 1793–1795. The territory of the new principality was formally assigned by the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803. The new territory was not near most of the old territories of the princes, but instead extended the County of Anholt, which had been a minor possession of the prince of Salm-Salm. Most of the area was taken from the dissolved Bishopric of Münster.

The Principality of Salm was ruled jointly by the princes of Salm-Kyrburg and Salm-Salm, Frederick IV, Prince of Salm-Kyrburg, and Constantine, Prince of Salm-Salm; each line had equal sovereign rights, but neither had a separate territory. Salm became independent and joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806. It was annexed by France in 1811. Its territory was given to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna in 1815; it became the westernmost part of the Prussian Province of Westphalia. In 1871, The German Empire used a flag identical to Salm's tricolour flag.

Geography edit

The capital of Salm was Bocholt. Salm had an area of about 1,760 km2 and a population of 59,086. It covered approximately the same area as the present-day District of Borken.

External links edit