County of Wernigerode

County of Wernigerode
Grafschaft Wernigerode
1121–1429
Coat of arms of Wernigerode
Coat of arms
County of Wernigerode (  red) in the mid 13th century. The highlighted territories (  cream) are the Altmark territory of Brandenburg (east), of whom Wernigerode became a vassal in 1268, and the neighbouring Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg (north and west, which is shown merely for clarity).
StatusState of the Holy Roman Empire
CapitalWernigerode
GovernmentCounty
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
1121
• Vassals of Brandenburg
1268
• Vassals of Magdeburg
1381
• Inherited by Stolberg
1429
• Division into
     Stolberg-Wernigerode
31 May 1645
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Saxony Duchy of Saxony
County of Stolberg County of Stolberg

The County of Wernigerode (German: Grafschaft Wernigerode) was a state of the Holy Roman Empire which arose in the Harzgau region of the former Duchy of Saxony, at the northern foot of the Harz mountain range. The comital residence was at Wernigerode, now part of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The county was ruled by a branch of the House of Stolberg from 1429 until its mediatization to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1806. Nevertheless, the county remained in existence - with one short interruption - until the dissolution of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1918.