with the assizes of , , and , the Lordship of , the with the half vogteien of Echzell, , und (except for the castle), and the assizes of and Origin The Abbey of Fulda acquired substantial estates in the Wetterau region after the fall of the Conradines on the basis of various imperial rights which had been transferred to them over time. To unify these territories administratively, the Abbey established the assize of Bingenheim in 1064 around the . Soon after, probably under Abbot (1060-1075), the region of the assize of Birgenheim was referred to as the "County of Nidda". Since the Abbey could not operate the blood court itself and required secular protection of its possessions, it established vogts for the Fuldish Mark and its possessions along the Nidda river. These vogts received the area (excepting Bingenheim castle) as a Fuldian fief. Initially, the Vogtei of the small County of Nidda was probably a fief of Fulda in the hands of the Lords of in the Taunus. It was transferred in whole or in part to the lords of , probably by Abbot Widerad. They had also acquired the allod of the area and are named as "Counts of Nidda" from 1104. Counts of Nidda from House Malsburg (ca. 1065-1205) Volkold I The Vogtei of Bingenheim or the Fuldish Mark was probably entrusted to the free knight Volkold I (ca. 1040-1097) of Malsburg in whole or in part by Abbot Widerad in or shortly after 1065. Volkold, who is first attested in 1062, served as the Fuldan Vogt in Bingenheim from then on and was the founder of the relatively short-lived House of the first Counts of Nidda. Volkold's family had acquired a small lordship in the area of Zierenberg in northern Hesse in the 10th century and had established their castle at Malsburg. It is unclear whether it was Volkold I or his son Volkold II who built the water castle at Nidda. It may have been begun by the father and completed by the son. The name "County of Nidda" is attested for the fief at Bingheim in this period. Volkold II Volkold's son, Volkold II (ca. 1070 - ca. 1130), married Luitgart of Nürings, a daughter of Berthold of Nürings (1050-1112). The marriage brought Volkold allod in the area around Nidda, which was the basis of the County of Nidda, and probably also strengthened his