Lippe (lĬp´ə), former state, N central Germany, between the Teutoburg Forest and the Weser River. It was incorporated in 1947 into the state of North Rhine–Westphalia. Detmold, the former capital, was the chief city. Originally included in the duchy of Saxony, Lippe became (12th cent.) a lordship under Bernhard I (1113–44). In 1529 it was raised to a county; from the various divisions of the county after the death (1613) of Simon VI, two counties emerged—Lippe, or Lippe-Detmold, and Schaumburg-Lippe. Lippe became a principality in 1720 and in 1815 joined the German Confederation. It sided with Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and joined the German Empire in 1871. In 1918, Lippe joined the Weimar Republic. A local electoral victory (Jan., 1933) of the National Socialists in Lippe helped Adolf Hitler into power.

Lippe, river, c.150 mi (240 km) long, rising in the Teutoburg Forest, W Germany and flowing westward into the Rhine River. It is canalized to permit barge navigation. Water from the Lippe is used in the Ruhr canal system.