The Westphalia (in German Westfalen ) is a historical area of Germany, ranging between the Weser and the the Rhine.

It draws its name from the Westphales, most Western of the three large tribes of the primitive Saxony (others being the Ostphales and the Angarii).

Westphalia often changed extent, as well as the shape of government. Thus it was successively:

• a Duchy: to see Duchy of Westphalia ,
• a circle of the Germanic Roman Holy roman Empire: to see Circle of Low-Rhine-Westphalia ,
• one of the kingdoms of the Confederation of the Rhine: to see Kingdom of Westphalia ,
• a province of the Prussian States: to see Province of Westphalia ,
• one of the current Länder German: to see Rhineland-of-North-Westphalia .

In the same way, it belonged in turn to the dukes of Saxony, with the archbishops of Cologne, the France and the Prussia.

It is in this country that were signed the Traités of Westphalia.

Quoted in

• Westphalia is the area of origin of the philosophical Conte of Voltaire, Candide 1759.

Source

• Information and resources of l´histoire of Westphalia in portal d´internet " Westfälische Geschichte"