Sayn was a small
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
county
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
which, during the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
, existed within what is today
Rheinland-Pfalz
Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...
.
There have been two Counties of Sayn. The first emerged in 1139 and became closely associated with the
County of Sponheim
The County of Sponheim (german: Grafschaft Sponheim, former spelling: Spanheim, Spanheym) was an independent territory in the Holy Roman Empire that lasted from the 11th century until the early 19th century. The name comes from the municipality ...
early in its existence. Count
Henry II was notable for being accused of satanic orgies by the Church's German Grand Inquisitor,
Conrad von Marburg, in 1233. Henry was acquitted by an assembly of bishops in
Mainz
Mainz () is the capital and largest city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Mainz is on the left bank of the Rhine, opposite to the place that the Main (river), Main joins the Rhine. Downstream of the confluence, the Rhine flows to the north-we ...
, but Conrad refused to accept the verdict and left Mainz. It is unknown whether it was Henry's Knights who killed Conrad on his return to
Thuringia
Thuringia (; german: Thüringen ), officially the Free State of Thuringia ( ), is a state of central Germany, covering , the sixth smallest of the sixteen German states. It has a population of about 2.1 million.
Erfurt is the capital and larg ...
, but investigation was foregone due to the cruelty of Conrad, despite
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX ( la, Gregorius IX; born Ugolino di Conti; c. 1145 or before 1170 – 22 August 1241) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 March 1227 until his death in 1241. He is known for issuing the '' Decre ...
ordering his murderers to be punished. With the death of Henry in 1246, the County passed to the Counts of
Sponheim-Eberstein and thence to
Sponheim-Sayn
Sponheim-Sayn was a County of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was created as a partition of Sponheim-Starkenburg in 1261, and it comprised the lands of the former County of Sayn. In 1283, it was divided into Sayn
S ...
in 1261.
The second County of Sayn emerged as a partition of Sponheim-Sayn in 1283 (the other partition being
Sayn-Homburg
Sayn-Homburg (not to be confused with the later state of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg) was a mediaeval county of Germany with its seat at Homburg Castle. It was created as a partition of Sponheim-Sayn in 1283. In 1345, Salentin, the son of Count Go ...
). It was notable for its numerous co-reigns, and it endured until 1608 when it was inherited by the Counts of
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn was a county of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, comprising the lands of the region of Sayn. It was created as a partition of Sayn-Wittgenstein in 1607, although it was not until the next year that it obtained fully the Co ...
. A lack of clear heirs of William III of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn led to the temporary annexation of the comital territories by the Archbishop of
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
until the succession was decided. In 1648 following the
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (80 ...
, the County was divided between
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen (sometimes called Sayn-Altenkirchen) was a German county located in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, near the river Sieg.
When Count William III of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn died in 1623 without clear heirs, the ...
and
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg (sometimes called Sayn-Hachenburg) was a German County located in Rhineland-Palatinate, near the river Sieg.
When Count William III of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn died in 1623 without clear heirs, the Archbishop of Colog ...
.
Counts of Sayn (1139–1246)
* Eberhard I (1139–76)
* Henry I/II (1176–1203) ''with…''
* Eberhard II (1176–1202) ''with…''
*
Henry II/III (1202–46)
* ''Godfrey II/III, Count of
Sponheim
Sponheim is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.
History
Sponheim was the capital of the County of Sponheim.
Sponheim Abbey
There was a Benedictine abbey which was founded in 1101 by Step ...
(Regent, 1181–1220)''
* ''John I, Count of
Sponheim-Starkenburg (Regent, 1226–1246)''
* Mechtilde (fl. 1278-1282)
Counts of Sayn (1283–1608)
* John I (1283–1324)
*
John II John II may refer to:
People
* John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg (1455–1499)
* John II Casimir Vasa of Poland (1609–1672)
* John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (died 1302)
* John II Doukas of Thessaly (1303–1318)
* John II Komnenos (1087–1 ...
(1324–59)
* John III (1359–1403)
* Gerard I (1403–19)
* Theodore (1419–52)
* Gerard II (1452–93)
* Gerard III (1493–1506) ''with…''
* Sebastian I (1493–98) ''with…''
* John IV (1498–1529)
* John V (1529–60) ''with…''
* Sebastian II (1529–73) ''with…''
* Adolph (1560–68) ''with…''
*
Henry IV (1560–1606) ''with…''
* Herman (1560–71)
* Anna Elizabeth (1606–08)
See also
![2006-05-05 Schloss Sayn 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/2006-05-05_Schloss_Sayn_01.JPG)
*
Sayn-Homburg
Sayn-Homburg (not to be confused with the later state of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Homburg) was a mediaeval county of Germany with its seat at Homburg Castle. It was created as a partition of Sponheim-Sayn in 1283. In 1345, Salentin, the son of Count Go ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein
Sayn-Wittgenstein was a county of medieval Germany, located in the Sauerland of eastern North Rhine-Westphalia.
History
Sayn-Wittgenstein was created when Count Salentin of Sayn-Homburg, a member of the House of Sponheim, married the heiress Cou ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was one of several imperial counties and later principalities ruled by the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein.
Most of the former county is located in the present district of Siegen-Wittgenstein (in the modern state of North ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg (sometimes called Sayn-Hachenburg) was a German County located in Rhineland-Palatinate, near the river Sieg.
When Count William III of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn died in 1623 without clear heirs, the Archbishop of Colog ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein was a county and later principality between Hesse-Darmstadt and Westphalia.
History
The county with imperial immediacy was formed by the 1657 partition of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein and raised from a county to ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Karlsburg
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg-Ludwigsburg, also known as Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg, was a cadet branch of the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg family. It was created by ''Graf'' Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1687–1741, ruled 1694–1741) f ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn was a county of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, comprising the lands of the region of Sayn. It was created as a partition of Sayn-Wittgenstein in 1607, although it was not until the next year that it obtained fully the Co ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen (sometimes called Sayn-Altenkirchen) was a German county located in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, near the river Sieg.
When Count William III of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn died in 1623 without clear heirs, the ...
*
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Vallendar
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Vallendar was a County of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany. It was created as a partition of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein was a county of the Sauerland of Germany
Germany,, offici ...
*
Sponheim-Sayn
Sponheim-Sayn was a County of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was created as a partition of Sponheim-Starkenburg in 1261, and it comprised the lands of the former County of Sayn. In 1283, it was divided into Sayn
S ...
References
{{Coord, 50, 26, 18, N, 7, 34, 35, E, display=title, region:DE-RP_type:city(17436)_source:dewiki
1605 disestablishments
States and territories established in the 11th century
History of the Rhineland
Former states and territories of Rhineland-Palatinate
History of the Westerwald