Hamaland

Hamaland is a non-administrative region in the east of the Netherlands that is named after the Frankish Chamavi-tribe. It is located east of the river Yssel and south of Salland (the original homeland of the Frankish Salii) and Twente (the original homeland of the Frankish Tuanti). Hamaland and the Chamavi were in Late antiquity ruled by independant kings. Later the Chamavi were subdued by Carolingian Franks.

From the 9th century there is a noble Hama-family attested that owned large parts of the middle, east and north of what is now known as the Netherlands. The same family owned also large part of German Munsterland and had estates more south, probably around Nassau. When these leading Counts died Hamaland became one of the core areas of the Dukes of Gelre, and thus formed a part of the Duchy Gelre. Other parts of the heritage of the Hama-family became to be known as the Duchy of Cleve and the Bishopries of Utrecht and Munster.

Nowadays Hamaland is part of the Dutch province Gelderland.