Reinhard I took part in a war archbishop Werner von Eppstein of Mainz fought against the counts of Rieneck, their main stronghold being the Spessart mountains. The counts of Rieneck lost and had to cede territory as well as a daughter, Elisabeth of Rieneck-Rothefels, to Hanau. She was married to Ulrich I, son of Reinhard I. Through this connection the house of Hanau inherited again in 1290: namely the area around Steinau in the upper valley of the Kinzig river. In 1300 Ulrich I was furthermore appointed governor of Wetterau by king Albrecht I, an area north of Buchen and Hanau. He and his descendants retained this office up to his grandson Ulrich III. On 2 February 1303 the king promoted the settlement of Hanau which had developed in front of the Hanau castle to the level of a town and granted it the right to hold a market. During the 14th century a protective wall was built around the town.