Origins and first division The
County of Salm arose in the tenth century in
Vielsalm, in the
Ardennes region of present Belgium. It was ruled by a junior branch of the
House of Ardenne–Luxembourg, called the
House of Salm. 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.
Upper Salm In 1246 the County of Upper Salm was split up, and the
County of Salm-Blankenburg came into existence, next to it. In 1431 the County of Upper Salm was split up again, and the
County of Salm-Badenweiler came into existence, next to it. The County of Upper Salm was inherited by the
Wild- and Rhinegraves in 1475, who then called their fief the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Upper Salm. In 1499 the Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm was divided up into two entities, the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Kyrburg and the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Dhaun.
Salm-Blankenburg The county became extinct in 1506, and was inherited by the
House of Lorraine.
Salm-Badenweiler In 1520 the County of Salm-Badenweiler was split up, and the
County of Salm-Neuburg came into existence, next to it. In 1653 the fief was inherited by the Austrian
House of Sinzendorf, but the House of Salm kept using the title until 1784, when the last lord died. The county was annexed by the
House of Lorraine from 1600 until 1608, when it came back into the family. 1670 the territory was finally annexed by France.
Salm-Brandenbourg In 1490, Anne d'Haraucourt, Dame of Brandenbourg (1465–1550) married Count Johann VI of Salm (1452–1505). As the only child of her parents, she inherited
Brandenbourg and brought it into the House of Salm. It was first inherited by her childless grandson, Count Claudius of Salm (d. 1583), who left the territory to his younger brother, Count Paul of Salm (d. 1595). His only surviving child,
Christina of Salm, was his sole heir. In 1600, she also inherited Badenweiler possessions of her uncle. After that, a division took place: some of her possessions were kept with her and later inherited by the
House of Lorraine; another half was kept within the
House of Salm. From this Salm half later emerged the
Principality of Salm.
Salm-Kyrburg In 1607 the Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Kyrburg was divided in three by splitting off the
Wild- and Rhinagraviate of Salm-Mörchingen and the
Wild- and Rhinagraviate of Salm-Tronecken from the original Wild- and Rhinegraviate. In 1637 the lord of Salm-Tronecken died and his territories were joined with ... . In 1681 the last lord of Salm-Kyrburg died, and his territories were joined with Salm-Mörchingen. In 1688 the last lord of Salm-Mörchingen died. His territories were joined with ... . In 1743 a completely new territory of Salm-Kyrburg was created, this time the
Principality of Salm-Kyrburg. It was shortly annexed by France in 1811 and mediatised in 1813. But the family kept using the titles.
Salm-Dhaun In 1561 the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Neuweiler and the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Grumbach were split off Salm-Dhaun. In 1697 the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Püttlingen was split off Salm-Dhaun. In 1748 the Salm-Dhaun branch of the family became extinct, its territories went to the branch of Salm-Püttlingen.
Salm-Püttlingen Salm-Püttlingen became extinct in 1750. Their territories passed to Salm-Dhaun. Caroline of Salm was the heiress and, after her, her grandson
Dominic Constantine, Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort.
Salm-Neuweiler In 1610 the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm was split off Salm-Neuweiler. It was elevated to the Principality of Salm in 1623. 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. After the defeat of
Napoleon in 1815, it was
mediatized to
Prussia. The family branch exist until today. In 1696 Salm-Neuweiler was divided in two, the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Leuze and the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Salm-Hoogstraten. Their lands were incorporated into Belgium. The branches became extinct in 1887 and 1186.
Salm-Grumbach In 1668 the
Wild- and Rhinegraviate of Rheingrafenstein-Grenzweiler was split off Salm-Grumbach. It was mediatised and incorporated into Prussia. The branch extinction occurred in 1819. In 1803 Salm-Grumbach was annexed by France. The lords of Salm-Grumbach received the
Principality of Salm-Horstmar as compensation in 1803. It was mediatised in 1813. The family branch sold its titles to Salm-Salm in 1892. ==List of states==