Geldern

(Dutch, Gelre), a medieval county (after the 11th century), later a duchy (after 1339) in northwestern Europe. From 1472 to 1477, Geldern belonged to the dukes of Burgundy, and in 1543 it became part of the Netherlands possessions of the Hapsburgs. During the Netherlands Bourgeois Revolution of the 16th century, Northern, or Lower, Geldern joined the Republic of the United Provinces. (This part of Geldern is now a province of the Netherlands—Gelderland.) Southern, or Upper, Geldern remained part of the southern (Spanish) Netherlands. In 1713 (finally in 1814-15), a large part of the duchy went to Prussia. (It is now a state in the Federal Republic of Germany—Nordrhein-Westfalen, and its administrative center is Geldern.) A small part of Upper Geldern is now in the Netherlands (part of Limburg Province).