Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle



The Lower Rhenish–Westphalian Circle (Niederrheinisch-Westfälischer Reichskreis, Nederrijns-Westfaalse Kreits) was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised territories of the former Duchy of Lower Lotharingia, Frisia and the Westphalian part of the former Duchy of Saxony.

The circle was made up of numerous small states, however the Counts De la Marck were able to collect a significant amount of territories, the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg from 1521 on. The Empire's largest ecclesiastical territory was held by the Prince-Bishops of Münster.

Composition
The circle was made up of the following states:
 * Transfers
 * The Duchy of Guelders passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
 * The Duchy of Luxembourg passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1512
 * The County of Drenthe passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
 * The Lordship of Groningen passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
 * The Lordship of Overijssel passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
 * The Bishopric of Utrecht passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548
 * The County of Zutphen passed to the Burgundian Circle in 1548