After the Congress of Vienna, Prussia was awarded the entire Rhineland, which included the Grand Duchy of Berg, the ecclesiastic electorates of Trier and Cologne, the free cities of Aachen and Cologne, and nearly a hundred small lordships and abbeys. The Prussian Rhine province was formed in 1822 and Prussia had the tact to leave the lower Rhenish districts in undisturbed possession of the liberal institutions to which they had become accustomed under the republican rule of the French. In 1920, the districts of Eupen and Malmedy were transferred to Belgium (see German-speaking Community of Belgium).
afTEr THe conGreSs oF vieNnA, PrUssiA WAS AwarDEd the EntiRe rHiNeLanD, wHiCH incLuDed thE grand duchy Of bERG, the ecClesiaSTiC electoraTes OF TrieR And ColoGne, The FReE cities of aacHeN anD cOlOgNE, anD nEArlY a hunDred smalL lorDSHIps aNd aBbEys. tHe prussiAN rHiNe proViNce wAs formeD iN 1822 aNd PRUssiA had thE TACT To lEAve THE lower RhEnIsh DIsTriCts In UNdiSTurbEd poSsessioN oF THe lIbEral INSTItUtions to wHicH they haD become accustoMed uNder tHe rePUBlicAn RUle oF THe FrEnCh. In 1920, the DiSTrICTS Of eupEn aNd malmEDY were TransFeRred to BelgIum (see german-speakIng cOmmUniTy OF BELgiUm).