House of Württemberg

The House of Württemberg is a German dynasty and former royal family from Württemberg.

History

County

The House probably originated in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty.^{[citation needed]} Around 1080 the ancestors of modern Württemberg, which was then called "Wirtemberg", settled in the Stuttgart area. Conrad of Württemberg became heir to the House of Beutelsbach and built the Wirtemberg Castle. Around 1089, he was made Count. Their domains, initially only the immediate surroundings of the castle included, increased steadily, mainly through acquisitions such as those from impoverished homes of Tübingen.

Duchy

At the

In the 18th Century, the Protestant male line became extinct, the Head of the House was succeeded by

• 
  Wirtemberg Castle
• 
  Old Castle (Stuttgart)
• 
  New Palace (Stuttgart)
• 
  Ludwigsburg Palace

Kingdom

Due to the political upheavals during the reign of

In 1828 King William I adopted a new house law, the rights and obligations of the ruling family have been established, including the exclusive primogeniture in the male line as well as marriage restrictions on coequal level.

In 1867 the House created the

The line of succession of the house of Württemberg has continued to the present, although the house no longer plays any political role. For later rulers, see List of ministers-president of Baden-Württemberg.

Heads of the House of Württemberg since 1918

• King William II, 1918–1921.
• Duke Albrecht, 1921–1939.
• Duke Philipp, 1939–1975.
• Duke Carl, 1975–2022
• Duke Wilhelm, 2022–present

The former royal family still owns the castles Monrepos,^[1] Altshausen and Friedrichshafen.

• 
  Monrepos, Ludwigsburg
• 
  Altshausen Palace
• 
  Friedrichshafen Castle

Rulers

Branches

All branches descend from Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg (1732–1797). Succession is on the basis of Agnatic primogeniture^[2]

• The first branch descends from Frederick I of Württemberg. This branch became extinct at the death of William II of Württemberg in 1921.
• The second branch descends from
  Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde. A cognatic descendant from this branch was Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
  .
• The third branch "
  Carlsruhe" descends from Duke Eugen of Württemberg. This branch became extinct at the death of Duke Nicholas of Württemberg
  in 1903.
• The fourth branch descends from Duke William Frederick Philip of Württemberg, and belongs to the Urach family. This branch is extant, but as the Teck branch, it is not considered dynastic because of the morganatic marriage of Duke William Frederick Philip to Baroness Wilhelmine von Tunderfedt-Rhodes in 1800. The first Duke was created a "Serene Highness" in the 1860s. The current head of this branch is Wilhelm Albert, Duke of Urach.
• The fifth "Altshausen" branch descends from Duke Alexander of Württemberg. The current pretender to the throne of Württemberg, Wilhelm, Duke of Württemberg belongs to this branch.

Through the marriages of its female members, many royal families descend from any of the Württemberg branches. Royal houses include:

• Coat of arms of Württemberg
• History of Württemberg

Notes and sources

• Robert Uhland (Hrsg.): 900 Jahre Haus Württemberg. Leben und Leistung für Land und Volk. Stuttgart 1984,
  ISBN 3-17-008536-0
• ISBN 3-89850-110-8
• Gerhard Raff: Hie gut Wirtemberg allewege II. Das Haus Württemberg von Herzog Friedrich I. bis Herzog Friedrich III. Mit den Linien Stuttgart, Mömpelgard, Weiltingen, Neuenbürg, Neuenstadt am Kocher und Oels in Schlesien. Degerloch 1993,
  ISBN 3-89850-108-6
• Gerhard Raff: Hie gut Wirtemberg allewege III. Das Haus Württemberg von Herzog Wilhelm Ludwig bis Herzog Friedrich Karl. Mit den Linien Stuttgart, Winnental, Neuenstadt am Kocher, Neuenbürg, Mömpelgard und Oels, Bernstadt und Juliusburg in Schlesien und Weiltingen. Degerloch 2002,
  ISBN 3-89850-084-5
• Sönke Lorenz, Dieter Mertens, Volker Press (Hrsg.): Das Haus Württemberg. Ein biographisches Lexikon.
  ISBN 3-17-013605-4
• ISBN 3-87407-725-X
• Sabine Thomsen: Goldene Bräute. Württembergische Prinzessinnen auf europäischen Thronen, Silberberg Verlag, Tübingen 2010
  ISBN 978-3-87407-867-2

External links

• Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg (in German)