Mainkreis (Bavaria) — The Mainkreis (German: "[River] Main Circle") was one of the 15 administrative districts (German: Regierungsbezirke) of the Kingdom of Bavaria between 1808 and 1837. The district was named after its main river, the Main, and was renamed Obermainkreis (Upper Main Circle) in 1817. It was the direct predecessor of the modern administrative region of Oberfranken (Upper Franconia).
Capital
- Bamberg (1808–1812)
- Bayreuth (1812–1837)
History
In 1808, the Kingdom of Bavaria was divided into 15 state districts, each named after its principal river. The Mainkreis, with Bamberg as its capital, was initially composed of 18 rural divisions and, from 1809, included the independent cities of Bamberg and Schweinfurt.
In 1810, the district grew significantly with the annexation of the Naabkreis. It was further enlarged when it received 12 rural divisions from the former Principality of Bayreuth, after which the district administration was moved to Bayreuth.
In 1817, the Mainkreis was renamed Obermainkreis (District of the Upper Main River) and slightly expanded. At the same time, a new district called the Untermainkreis (District of the Lower Main) was created downriver.
The territorial reorganization (Gebietsreform) of 29 November 1837, implemented at the request of King Ludwig I, split the judicial districts of the former Naabkreis from the Obermainkreis, assigning them to the Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate) instead, and renamed the shrunken Obermainkreis Oberfranken (Upper Franconia).
Independent Cities
- Bamberg
- Bayreuth (from 1812)
- Hof an der Saale (from 1812)
- Schweinfurt (from 1810)
Subdivisions
The district was divided into numerous judicial districts (Landgerichte and Herrschaftsgerichte), including Bamberg I, Bamberg II, Banz, Burgebrach, Ebermannstadt, Ebrach, Eschenbach, Gefrees, Gleusdorf, Hallstadt, Höchstadt, Hof an der Saale, Hollfeld, Kemnath, Kirchenlamitz, Kronach, Kulmbach, Lauenstein, Lichtenfels, Münchberg, Naila, Neustadt an der Waldnaab, Pegnitz, Pottenstein, Rehau, Scheßlitz, Selb, Seßlach, Stadtsteinach, Teuschnitz, Tirschenreuth, Waldsassen, Weidenberg, Weismain, Wunsiedel, and others.
Notable Generalkommissäre
- Friedrich Karl von Thürheim (1810–1814)
- Constantin Ludwig Freiherr von Welden (1815–1832)
- Ferdinand Freiherr von Andrian-Werburg (1832–1837)
