Chronology of Lippe

4th/15th century.
The Grafschaften (counties) Schwalenberg and Sternberg are included in Lippe.
1404-1409
Feud of Evenstein (fight of succession) between the Dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and Lippe.
1405
The Grafschaft (county) Sternberg is pawned to Lippe by the Earls of Schaumburg.
1406
In the Feud of Evenstein the monastery Falkenhagen is completely destroyed by soldiers of Brunswick.
1430
The palace of Sternberg burns down.
1432
The order of the Kreuzbrüder (cross brothers) takes over the monastery Falkenhagen.
1444-1449
Feud of Soest between the Archbishop of Cologne (Erzstift) under leadership of Wilhelm von Sachsen on one side and the Dukes of Kleve on the other side. The city of Soest wished to be independent from the Archbishop of Cologne and made a special contract with the Duke of Kleve. Cologne loses Soest to (Kleve-)Mark.
1445
Half of the town of Lippe/Lippstadt is sold to the Dukes of Kleve. Common possession of Lippe and of Kleve.
1447
During the Feud of Soest, the Archbishop of Cologne has the castle and town of  Detmold destroyed by Bohemian mercenaries; the town of Lemgo is burnt down and is plundered out. Likewise Ritteruflen, Dorfuflen and Salzuflen, that formed the future town of Salzuflen. Village and palace of Brake are set on fire and burn down. The same happens to the town and the palace of Blomberg on the 14.06.1447.
1447
The Archbishop of Cologne and Bohemian mercenaries besiege vainly the town of Lippe/Lippstadt.
1448
Bernhard VII. confirms Blomberg's status of a town.
1448
Fire in Barntrup.
1454
Bernhard VII. rebuilds the palace of Detmold, after is was burnt down by Bohemian mercenaries in 1447.
1460
Bernhard VII. rebuilds the palace of Blomberg, and founds a new monastery for the ecclesiastics of Möllenbeck because of the intercession of his brother, the Bishop of Paderborn. The monastery is closed after the Reformation in Lippe.
1488
Bernhard VII. invests Salzuflen the status of a town.
1511
The castle of Detmold is the residence of the sovereigns of Lippe.
1517
In Germany there begins Martin Luther's Reformation by his placard of the 95 thesis "about the power of the indulgence" at the Palace-church in Wittenberg on the 31.10.1517.
1524
Lemgo receives a secondary (grammar) school.
1526
First Reichstag in Speyer. The decision about the confession of their subjects is matter of the sovereigns or rulers.
1527
The Reformation begins in the town of Lemgo.
1528
The Edelherren zur Lippe are elevated to the rank of Reichsgrafen (Earls of the Empire). Lippe becomes a Grafschaft (county). Ruler is Simon V.
1531
Salzuflen becomes Lutheran.
1535
The creation of the Ämter Barntrup, Blomberg, Brake, Detmold, Horn, Sternberg and Varenholz is completed.
1535
Fire in Barntrup.
1538
The total of Lippe becomes Lutheran.
1541
Johannes Calvin founds the Reformed Church in Genf, also called Calvinistic Church.
1544
Conflagration in the town of Detmold, half of the town burns down.
1545-1547
First part of the council of Trient. Firmness of the Catholic doctrine against the Protestantism. Start of the Catholic Gegenreformation.
1551-1552
Second part of the council of Trient.
1554-1613
Simon VI. takes over the regency. The library of  Simon VI. is the basis of the present Landesbibliothek (main country library). He is the founder of the first public Latin School.
1562-1563
Third part of the council of Trient. Passed the creed of Trient.
1564
In the town of Lemgo the witch-hunting period begins.
1584
The castle Brake near Lemgo becomes residence palace of the Grafschaft Lippe.
1584-1588
Construction of the palace of  Barntrup
1586
Dispute between the Archbishop Diederich of Paderborn and Earl Simon VI. about the monastery Falkenhagen. Half of the monastery is ceded to Paderborn.
1590
Simon VI. rebuilds the palace of Brake.
1593
Proclamation of the new Hofgerichtsordnung by Simon VI..
1595
Simon VI. builds the palace of Varenholz.
1600-1617
Dispute between the ruler of Lippe and the city of Lemgo about the Lutheran confession, known as the "Revolt of Lemgo".
1602/1605
Lippe becomes Calvinistic (Reformed).
1604
Prince-Bishop Theodor of Paderborn gives away to the Jesuits the half of the monastery Falkenhagen that is in possession of Paderborn.
1613-1709
Castle and Amt Blomberg become Paragialbesitz (compensation with real estate) of the separated Lippe-Brake line, the same applies to the Amt Brake.
1613
Based on the last will of Earl Simon VI., the Amt Alverdissen fell to the Lippe-Alverdissen line as Paragialamt (compensation with real estate), later to Schaumburg-Lippe.
1613
The Amt Lipperode falls to the Lippe-Alverdissen line, later to Schaumburg-Lippe.
1613
The city of Detmold is seat of the government of Lippe.
1613-1709/48
The Amt Barntrup becomes Paragialamt (compensation with real estate) .
1614-21
The zur Lippe line is divided in the sidelines
Lippe-Detmold
founded by division of inheritance. The line inherits Lippe-Brake's property in 1709. In 1905 the Lippe-Biesterfeld line inherits Lippe-Detmold's property.
Lippe-Brake
founded by division of inheritance. In 1709 the Lippe-Detmold line inherits Lippe-Brake's property.
Lippe-Alverdissen
founded by division of inheritance with rule over the Herrschaft Sternberg with the Amt Lipperode. Later the line receives a part of Schaumburg and resides in Bückeburg and is called Schaumburg-Lippe. The line heirs Blomberg and Schieder from the Lippe-Brake line.
Lippe-Biesterfeld
The line separates from the Lippe-Detmold line in 1627. Lippe-Biesterfeld has no territorial sovereignty, but holds Schwalenberg and Weißenfeld. The line inherits Lippe-Detmold's property in 1905.
1617
Agreement between the Grafschaft (county) Lippe and the town of Lemgo upon the town of Lemgo remaining Lutheran. This agreement came about by the mediation of Dietrich von Fürstenberg (1585-1618), bishop of Paderborn, who sent by request of the lippische Landstände 5 envoys to Lemgo. The conclusion of peace was made on the 21.08.1617 and ended with the city of Lemgo's victory.
1618-1648
30-Years-War caused by confessional and political contrasts.
1621
The Amt Schieder becomes Paragialamt (compensation with real estate) of the Lippe-Brake line.
1624
Pestilence epidemic in Lippe.
1627
The first chronicle of Lippe by Johannes Piderit is printed.
1635
Conflagration in Salzuflen, 1/4 of the town burns down.
1636
Fire in Barntrup, also the church burns down.
1636-1637
Pestilence epidemic in Lippe.
1640-1789
Dispute with the Prince Bishopric (Hochstift) of Paderborn about the Amt Sternberg after the Schaumburg line becomes extinct in 1640.
1640
Foundation of the church in Niederwüsten.
1648
End of 30-Years-War with Westfalian Peace in Münster with France and in Osnabrück with Sweden.
1651
Year of birth of Engelbert Kämpfer.
1658
Decree concerning the Einlieger, Hoppenplöcker and Kleinkötter.
1659
In the Senne the village Haustenbeck is founded by settlers from Berlebeck.
1675
Münster's occupation in Lippe under leadership of Berend von Galen, Bishop of Münster. The entire Neustadt (new town) of Lemgo is destroyed. The town of Lippe/Lippstadt burns down.
1676
The Meinberger Gesundbrunnen is first mentioned, basis of the foundation of the spa.
1698
Earl Friedrich Adolf zur Lippe is elected as director of the Westfalian council of earls.

1around 1700
The Earls of Lippe build a summer residence in Schieder.
1709
The Lippe-Brake line become extinct. The Earls of Schaumburg-Lippe receive the Ämter Blomberg and Schieder
as Paragialbesitz (compensation with real estate).
1715
The monastery St. Marien in Lemgo becomes religious establishment with an abbess out of the House zur Lippe.
1720
On the 27.10.1720, the Earls of Lippe (Simon Heinrich Adolf zu Lippe-Detmold) are elevated to the rank of  Reichsfürsten (Princes of the Empire). Lippe becomes County, however, the designation Fürstentum (county) Lippe is used officially only after 1789.
1720
The half of the monastery Falkenhagen that is in possession of Lippe is sold to the Jesuits.
1730
The Amt Schötmar is formed by separation of the Vogtei Schötmar out of the Amt Detmold.
1733-1771
The Amt Sternberg is pawned to Hannover by Lippe.
1734
Decree about the traveling workers to Holland and Friesland. (Itinerant laborers).
1736/62
The Lippe-Weißenfeld line separates from the Lippe-Biesterfeld line.
1746
The Amt Oerlinghausen is formed by separation of the Vogtei Oerlinghausen out of the Amt Detmold.
1748
Blomberg receives a magistrate's constitution.
1748
The Amt Blomberg becomes Paragialamt (compensation with real estate) of the Schaumburg-Lippe line.
1748
The Amt Brake finally falls to the Lippe-Detmold line.
1748
The Amt Lipperode falls back to the Lippe-Detmold line.
1756-1763
Seven-Years-War.
1761
French soldiers besiege the town of Horn on the 14.08.1761; siege of the town of Lippe/Lippstadt.
1762
In Salzuflen there burn down the church, the rectory, the school and 6 further houses.
1763
End of the Seven-Years-War with the Peace of Hubertusburg between Austria, Saxony and Prussia.
1763
The Lippe-Detmold line purchases the Herrschaft Lippe-Biesterfeld and Lippe-Biesterfeld-Weißenfeld.
1765
First service in the new built church in Salzuflen.
1766
Salzuflen sells the salt mine to the sovereign of Lippe.
1767
Meinberg becomes a spa. Earl Simon August founds the state spa Meinberg.
1771
The Amt Sternberg falls back  from Hannover to Lippe-Detmold.
1773
Earl Simon August formally takes possession of the monastery Falkenhagen. A legal contest starts with the Hochstift Paderborn.
1775
Earl Simon August founds the relief insurance for needy subjects.
1776
First census in Lippe. Lippe has 49 416 inhabitants.
1777
After the death of Earl Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe on the 10.09.1777 begins a dispute of succession of the Amt Blomberg.
1780
Foundation of the village Augustdorf in the Senne. The name remembers to Simon August zur Lippe.
1781
The Amt Sternberg falls back from Hannover to Lippe.
1786
Foundation of the pawn bank. Subjects, who can bring the necessary securities, can lend 20 till 500 Reichstaler to 5 % rate of interest.
1788
End of the dispute with the Prince Bishopric (Hochstift) of Paderborn about the Amt Sternberg after the Schaumburg line became extinct in 1640.
1788
Lippe has 61.762 inhabitants.
1789-1802
Reign of Prince Leopold I. zur Lippe.
1789
Official designation Fürstentum Lippe (Principality Lippe).
1789
Lippe-Detmold purchases the Amt Schieder formally back. The dispute of succession about the Amt Blomberg is terminated.
1799
Conflagration in Hagen (Lage).
1802-1820
Pauline Princess zu Lippe-Detmold takes over regency for her young son.
1806
The Amt Lage is formed by separating of the Vogteien Lage and Heiden out of the Amt Detmold.
1806
Lippe becomes member of the Confederation of the Rhine. It was created under Napoleon's protectorate in 1806. The Princes of south and west Germany become member of this confederation, but not Prussia, Austria, Brunswick and Kurhessen. Later Saxony also become member.
1807
Cancellation of serfdom in Prussia.
1808
The Amt Schwalenberg is exclusive property of Lippe.
1808
Cancellation of serfdom on 27.12.1808, law becomes valid on 01.01.1809.
1808/10
Lippe takes part in Napoleon's Spanish campaign.
1812
Lippe-Detmold purchases the Amt Alverdissen back.
1812
The former Ämter Sternberg and Barntrup form the new Amt Sternberg-Barntrup.
1812
Lippe takes part in Napoleon's Russian campaign. 4/5 of the soldiers of Lippe lost their lives.
1813-1815
Wars of Independence. Napoleon defeated Prussia, Austria and Russia in the battle of Leipzig in 1813.
1815
The Principality of Lippe becomes a member of the German Confederation (Deutscher Bund), created by the congress of Vienna under the leadership of Austria. Members are 39 single independent states, under them 4 Free Cities.
1818-1838
Dispute with Schaumburg-Lippe about the Amt Blomberg.
1830
Lippe has 93 800 inhabitants.
1834
The German Zollverein (custom union) is founded under Prussian leadership. Almost all German states become members bit by bit, but not Austria.
1835
Foundation of the Lippische Landesmuseum (Country or land museum of Lippe), one of the first museums in the Westfalian area.
1835
Lippe has 98.428 inhabitants.
1836
Lippe receives the first landständische constitution.
1838
The Schaumburg-Lippe claims for castle and Amt Blomberg are rejected by decree. Lippe gets the Amt Blomberg back.
1841
Laying of the foundation stone of the Hermannsdenkmal (Hermann's monument) on the Grotenberg (Groten mountain) that reminds of the battle in the Teutoburg forest in the year 9 AC.
1841
Lippe receives a Landgemeinde- and Amtsgemeindeordnung (law for the rural communities and for the Ämter).
1843
Lage receives the status of a town.
1843
Lippe receives a Städteordnung (law for cities).
1845
The post of Thurn and Taxis takes over the distribution of letters and so on in Lippe.
1846
Land decree concerning the emigration to America from 24.03.1846.
1846
A Catholic parish is founded in the town of Lemgo.
1848
Revolution.
1848
Large conflagration in Brakelsiek. 35 houses burn down.
1850
Year of birth of Karl Junker.
1850
Replacement of the compulsory services, tenth parts, tax of grain and cattle.
1851
The Amt Hohenhausen is formed by separation of the Vogtei Hohenhausen out of the Amt Varenholz.
1854
The Catholics in all of Lippe receive the right to found their own parishes and build their own churches.
1855
More than 7 300 itinerant workers from Lippe stay abroad as brick workers.
1858
Conflagration in Barntrup.
1864
Conflagration in Horn on the  07.05.1864, 54 houses burn down.
1866
The Principality Lippe becomes member of the North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund), that is under the leadership of Prussia.
1866
In the war between Austria and Prussia, Lippe takes side with Prussia. The Schützenbataillon of Lippe fights in the battle near Kissingen on the 10.07.1866.
1867
Lippe gives up its own military sovereignty. The Prussian Infantry Regiment No 55 takes the place of the Füselier-Batailion of Lippe.
1867
Prussia takes over the postal service in Lippe.
1869
Telegraph offices start to operate in different towns of Lippe.
1870/71
German-French-War. The regiment no 55 fights in the battle near Colmbey on the 14.08.1870.
1871
Union of the South German Confederation (Süddeutscher Bund) and North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund). Foundation of the German Empire as a federal state with the King of Prussia as Emperor, the Bundesrat as representation of the Princes and the Free Cities, and the Reichstag.
1875
Inauguration of the Hermann's monument.
1876
Conflagration in Barntrup.
1879
The Ämter are dissolved. Separation of justice and administration. The functions are transferred to the Verwaltungsämter and the local courts.
1881
Year of birth of Heinrich Drake, later state president (land president) of Lippe.
1895
The Lippe-Detmold line becomes extinct.
1895-1905
Ten-Years dispute of succession.
1895-1897
Adolf Prince zu Schaumburg-Lippe is ruler.
1896
Lippe has 47 postal locations.
1897
More than 14 500 itinerant workers from Lippe stay abroad as brick workers.
1897
Ernst Earl zu Lippe-Biesterfeld is ruler.
1898
Conflagration in Lemgo on the 14.09.1898; 15 houses burn down.

1900
The city of Lemgo has 8.840 inhabitants.
1904
Conflagration in Schlangen. Within 30 minutes 86 houses burn down.
1905
Leopold IV. von Lippe-Biesterfeld (zur Lippe) finally takes over regency in Lippe. The dispute of succession is terminated.
1905
In Lippe, there is 1 teacher for every 100 students.
1906
In Salzuflen the Leopold spring is drilled.
1909
1 900-Year celebration of the battle in the Teutoburg forest.
1914
The government of Lippe changes the name Salzuflen to Bad Salzuflen.
1914-1918
World War I.
1918
Retirement of the last ruling Prince of Lippe, Prince Leopold IV., on 12.11.1918.
1919
First election by proportional representation. Before, the three-class electoral law applied.
1919
Freistaat (republic, free state) Lippe (-Detmold). Capital is Detmold.
1922
The last mail-coach is driven from Hohenhausen to Lemgo. New postal motor bus service lines make the country accessible.
1926
Oerlinghausen receives the status of a town.
1929
There is 1 teacher for every 41 students in Lippe.
1930
Lippe has 178 800 inhabitants.
1932
The counties Lemgo and Detmold are formed..
1933
Meinberg becomes state spa of Lippe.
1936
The village Haustenbeck in the Senne is dissolved, the inhabitants are resettled. The village becomes part of the military training area Senne.
1939-1945
World War II.
1947
Based on the decree no 77 of the British Military Government Lippe becomes part of the federal state Northrhine-Westfalia. The coat of arms of Lippe - the rose of Lippe - subsequently becomes a component of the coat of arms of Northrhine-Westfalia, besides the river Rhine and the Westfalian horse.
1947/48
Relocation of the district government (Bezirksregierung) from Minden to Detmold and unification with the government of Lippe to the new formed district government Detmold (Regierungspräsident Detmold).
1948
Law about the union of the Land Lippe with the Land Northrhine-Westphalia from 05.11.1948. Law about the Landesverband Lippe from 05.11.1948.
1949
Creation of the Landesverbandes Lippe as corporation under public law with function of administrating the assets of the former Freistaat Lippe.
1952
Statute of the Landesverband Lippe from 04.01.1952.
1969/73
Territorial reform in Lippe. 158 communities and towns are combined in 16 large communities and cities.
1973
The two counties in the area of Lippe - Lemgo and Detmold - are joined to form the current county Lippe.
1975
Lippe has approximately  300 000 inhabitants (1994: 356 000, 1996: 370 000)