Old Saxony, the original homeland of the Saxons in the northwest corner of modern Germany, roughly corresponds today to the modern German states of Lower Saxony, Westphalia and western Saxony-Anhalt.

The Continental Saxons living in what is known as Old Saxony appear to have consolidated themselves by the beginning of the eighth century, controlling much of northwest Germany.

Two priests, called Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair, had set out in 690 from Northumbria to convert the Old Saxons to Christianity.

It is recorded that at this time Old Saxony was divided into the ancient dioceses of Münster, Osnabrück, and Paderborn.

The pagan Saxons had become extremely hostile to the Christian priests and missionaries in their midst by 695 and began to realize that their aim was to convert their overlord and destroy their temples and religion.

Ewald the Fair was quickly murdered, but Ewald the Black was subjected to torture, and torn limb from limb; both bodies were cast into the Rhine.

This is understood to have happened on October 3, 695, at a place called Aplerbeck, near Dortmund, where a chapel still stands.

The two Ewalds are today celebrated as saints in Westphalia.

A small village at the location of Dortmund was mentioned in official documents from 880 to 885 as Throtmanni.

After it was destroyed by a fire, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) had the town rebuilt in 1152 and resided there for two years.

It becomes an Imperial Free City in 1220.

King Rupert in 1404 allegedly revises the code of the League of the Holy Court (Vehmgericht, or just the Vehm), the Westphalian system of secret courts that now obtains throughout the disintegrating Holy Roman Empire.

The principal seat is in Dortmund; their sittings are only sometimes secret, and their meeting-places are always well known.

Traditionally founded in the year 772 by Charlemagne, the members of the Vehmic courts are called francs-juges or Freischöffen ("Free Judges").

The Vehm had taken cognizance of all crimes in the lawless period of the Middle Ages, and those condemned by the tribunal were made away with by some secret means, but no one knew by what hand.

Being dispatched, the dead body was hung on a tree to advertise the fact and deter others.

Emperor Rudolf eventually retracts his claim to the throne of Jülich and for a brief time supports the House of Wettin (Duke of Saxony) and their claim to Jülich-Cleves-Berg.

However, the claim made by the House of Wettin is ultimately withdrawn.

The conflict gains momentum when Duke Wolfgang William and Elector John Sigismund establish their respective claims to the throne.

King Henry IV of France suggests that the lands be divided between both Duke William and Elector Sigismund.

The Count of Hesse recommends that both individuals rule Jülich-Cleves-Berg jointly.

Both claimants agree to rule together and they also promise to maintain religious tolerance enshrined in the Dortmund Recess developed on June 10, 1609.

The siege of Jülich ends on September 2, 1610, when the fortress surrenders and Imperial troops withdraw.

The conduct of the Protestant Union in the Jülich dispute and the warlike operations of the Union army in Alsace seems to make a battle between the Catholic League and Union inevitable.

Historically, the Jülich-Cleves War is recognized as a precursor to the Thirty Years' War.