Note 37 — Chapter II
Reading edition
The idea of dividing Germany into circles dates from the reign of Albert
II.
The four then instituted were now increased to ten—
1. Franconia.
2. Suabia, including the Duchy of Wurtemberg, the Margraviate of Baden, and 32 imperial cities.
3. Bavaria, with the Archbishopric of Salzburg.
4. The Upper Rhine, including Lorraine.
5. Lower Rhine, composed of the three Ecclesiastical Electorates.
6. Westphalia, Julich, Cleves, Berg, the County of Oldenburg, and numerous Bishoprics.
7. Upper Saxony, formed of the Duchies of Saxony, and Pomerania, the Margraviate of Brandenburg.
8. Lower Saxony, composed of the Duchies of Brunswick, Luneburg, and Holstein (held by the King of Denmark), Mecklenburg, the Archbishoprics of Magdeburg and Bremen, and the towns of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Goslar.
9. Austria.
10. Burgundy, including the Netherlands and Franche-Comté.
N.B.—Bohemia did not form part of any circle.
The duty of police and administration were to be in the hands of a captain (Hauptmann), with two assessors elected by the circles.