Arenberg (also spelled as Aremberg or Ahremberg) is a historic duchy in present Germany. It was first mentioned in the 12th century. It was named after the village Aremberg in the present district Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate. The possessions of the dukes of Arenberg varied through the ages. Around 1789 the duchy was located in the Eifel region on the west side of the Rhine, and contained a.o. Aremberg, Schleiden and Kerpen.
After the French occupation of the west bank of the Rhine around 1798 (see Treaty of Campo Formio and Treaty of Lunéville) the duke of Arenberg received new lands around Recklinghausen, Meppen and Dülmen. Dülmen and Meppen were annexed by Napoleon in 1810, and Recklinghausen was given to the duchy of Berg. After Napoleon's defeat in 1814 and the dissolution of the Confederation of the Rhine the former Arenberg territories were divided under Prussia and the kingdom Hanover.
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