Margraviate of Baden
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Margraviate of Baden Markgrafschaft Baden (German) | |||||||||
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1112–1803 | |||||||||
Christopher I | |||||||||
• 1771–1803 | Charles Frederick | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Margraviate est. | 1112 | ||||||||
• Territory partitioned b | 1190–1771 | ||||||||
• Elevated to Electorate | 1803 | ||||||||
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Today part of | Baden-Durlach until 1771, when he inherited Baden-Baden and became the margrave of unified Baden. In 1803, his support of Napoleon rewarded him with the rank of prince-elector. In 1806, he was raised to the rank of Grand Duke, when he joined the Confederation of the Rhine .b: Baden was partitioned in the years between 1190–1503, 1515–1620 and 1622–1771. |
The Margraviate of Baden (
History
During the 11th century, the Duchy of Swabia lacked a powerful central authority and was under the control of various comital dynasties, the strongest of them being the
Herman II, son of Herman I and grandson of Berthold II, had concluded an agreement with the rivalling Hohenstaufen dynasty, and about 1098 was enfeoffed with immediate territory by Emperor Henry IV. Like his father, Herman II insisted on his margravial title. He chose to establish his residence in Germany, as he had been born and raised there. His lordship of choice was Baden (present-day Baden-Baden), where his father had gained the right to rule by marrying the heiress, Judit von Backnang-Sulichgau, Countess of Eberstein-Calw. In Baden, Herman II had Hohenbaden Castle built. Construction began about 1100, and when completed in 1112, he marked the occasion by adopting the title of a Margrave of Baden.
Growth
Because Baden was the capital, the new margraviate was also known as Baden. Herman II would continue to be margrave until his death in 1130. His son and grandson, Hermann III (reigned 1130–1160) and Herman IV (reigned 1160–1190), added to their territories. Around 1200, these lands were divided for the first time. Two lines,
In the 12th and 13th centuries Baden was a loyal and steadfast supporter of the
Consolidation
Bernard I, Margrave of Baden-Baden (reigned 1391–1431) united all of the acquisitions in 1391. A soldier of some renown, Bernard continued the mission of his predecessors, and gained several more districts, including Baden-Pforzheim and Baden-Hochberg. Since 1291, Baden-Pforzheim had its own margraviate, but in 1361 it ran out of heirs, falling back to the House of Baden-Baden. Baden-Hochberg fared little better. Founded in 1190, it lasted until 1418, when it too died with no male heirs. Bernard, being the closest heir, claimed Baden-Hochberg. Baden-Sausenberg continued its own margraviate until 1503, when the lack of its own heirs sent it back to the House of Baden-Baden.
The consolidation of the margraviate came in 1442. In that year, one-half of the dominions of
Tribulations
In 1462 the dispute over the election of the new Archbishop of Mainz sent
During the Reformation, several branches, led by Baden-Baden, remained on the side of the
Reunification
In 1771, Augustus George became the last Margrave of Baden-Baden when he died without sons. All his territories passed to his 6th cousin twice removed and nearest heir – the Margrave of Baden-Durlach, Charles Frederick (reigned 1738–1811). For the third and last time, all the Badener lands became united under a single ruler.
Although Baden was finally united, its domains were fragmented and widespread on both sides of the Upper Rhine river, with the total area of 1,350 sq mi (3,500 km2). When Charles Frederick became the margrave in 1738, he made it his personal mission to fill the gaps in his territories. His first opportunity came in 1792, when the
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Ruins of Hohenbaden Castle in Baden-Baden
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Schloss Rastatt, from 1705 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Baden
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Karlsburg Castle in Durlach, from 1565 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach
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Karlsruhe Palace, from 1718 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach, from 1806 of the Grand Duchy of Baden
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1772 Border stone between Basel and contemporary Baden-Württemberg
List of margraves
References
- ^ Votes number 58 Baden, 60 Durlach, 62 Höchberg.
- public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Baden, Grand Duchy of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 184–188. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the