Westphalia

Westphalia (German, “western plain”), region in Germany, located just east of the Netherlands. Westphalia was first settled c.A.D. 700 by a group of Saxons. It came under the control of the archbishops of Cologne in 1180. During the 18th century, Prussian rulers steadily acquired the region. Napoleon transferred portions of Westphalia to his brother and to the duchy of Berg. However, the Congress of Vienna (1814–15) reestablished Prussian rule of the region. It came under German control in 1946.