Margraviate of Baden

Margraviate of Baden Markgrafschaft Baden(German)
1112–1803
Flag Coat of arms
Baden until 1803 (red) and later gains
Status	Margraviate
Capital	Baden-Baden(12th century) Karlsruhe(1715–1803)
Government	Feudal monarchy
Margrave of Baden
• 1112–1130	Herman II
• 1250–1268	Frederick I
• 1453–1458	Bernard II
• 1475–1515	Christopher I
• 1771–1803	Charles Frederick
History
•Margraviateest.	1112
• Territory partitionedb	1190–1771
• Elevated toElectorate	1803
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Swabia Electorate of Baden
Today part of	Germany
a:Charles Frederickwas theMargraveofBaden-Durlachuntil 1771, when he inheritedBaden-Badenand became the margrave of unified Baden. In 1803, his support of Napoleon rewarded him with the rank ofprince-elector.In 1806, he was raised to the rank ofGrand Duke,when he joined theConfederation of the Rhine. b: Baden was partitioned in the years between 1190–1503, 1515–1620 and 1622–1771.

TheMargraviate of Baden(German:Markgrafschaft Baden) was a historical territory of theHoly Roman Empire.Spread along the right banks of theUpper Rhinein south-westernGermany,it was named amargraviatein 1112 and existed until 1535, when it was split into the two margraviates ofBaden-DurlachandBaden-Baden.The two parts were reunited in 1771 under MargraveCharles Frederick,even if the three parts of the state maintained their distinct seats to theReichstag.The restored Margraviate of Baden was elevated to the status ofelectoratein 1803. In 1806, theElectorate of Baden,receiving territorial additions, became theGrand Duchy of Baden.Therulers of Baden,known as theHouse of Baden,were a cadet line of theSwabianHouse of Zähringen.

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 theHouse of Hohenstaufen,theHouse of Welf,theHabsburgsand the House of Zähringen. EmperorHenry IIIhad promised the ducal throne to the Zähringen scionBerthold,however, upon Henry's death in 1056 his widowAgnes of PoitouappointedRudolf of RheinfeldenDuke of Swabia. Berthold renounced his rights and was compensated with theDuchy of Carinthiaand theMarch of VeronainItaly.Not able to establish himself, he finally lost both territories, when he was deposed by KingHenry IV of Germanyduring theInvestiture Controversyin 1077. Berthold retired to his Swabian home territory, where he died the next year. The Veronese margravial title was nevertheless retained by his eldest sonHerman I

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 withimmediateterritory 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 wasBaden(present-day Baden-Baden), where his father had gained the right to rule by marrying the heiress, Judit von Backnang-Sulichgau, Countess ofEberstein-Calw.In Baden, Herman II hadHohenbaden Castlebuilt. 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,Baden-BadenandBaden-Hochberg,were founded. The latter was divided about a hundred years later to create the third line –Baden-Sausenberg.

In the 12th and 13th centuries Baden was a loyal and steadfast supporter of theHouse of Hohenstaufen,even against its own relatives from Zähringen-Swabia. In return for its services, it was permitted to spread its rule throughout southwestern Germany, west across the Rhine river intoAlsace,east to the edges of theBlack Forest,north to theMurgriver and south to theBreisgau.The fourth margrave of Baden-Baden,Herman V, Margrave of Baden-Baden(reigned 1190–1243), founded the cities ofBacknang,Durlach,Stuttgart,Ettlingen,andPforzheimand several monasteries, including theLichtenthal Abbey,which became the burial place of his descendants. In 1219 he moved his seat of power to Pforzheim. He had to abandon his claims toZähringenandBraunschweig,but he gained the title ofGraf[Count] vonOrtenauand Breisgau, named for the two valleys in southern Baden. His son and grandson,Herman VI, Margrave of Baden(reigned 1243–1250) andFrederick I, Margrave of Baden(reigned 1250–1268), claimed the ducal titles ofAustriaandStyria.The Austrians rejected them as they did not want to be ruled by outsiders.

Consolidation

Christopher I of Baden,byHans Baldung Grien,1515

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 ofLahrandMahlbergwas brought into the fold, creating the link between the two main areas, the Breisgau in the south and Baden-Baden in the north. Throughout theLate Middle Ages,Baden grew its administration, finances and armies until it became one of the biggest and strongest states of the Holy Roman Empire in southwestern Germany, especially after it gained theHabsburgpossessions in the rest of the Ortenau and the Breisgau.

Tribulations

In 1462 the dispute over the election of the new Archbishop of Mainz sentCharles I(reigned 1453–1475) to fight the war againstFrederick I, Elector Palatine.Known as the "Mainz Archbishops' Feud", it was brief, lasting only a few months, but the effects were ruinous for the loser – Charles. He had to surrender several of his territories to theElectoral Palatinateand its allies. These territories were recovered by his son and successor,Christoph I(reigned 1475–1515). He tried to keep them united under one of his sons,Philip,but his efforts were foiled by the king of France,Louis XII.In 1479, the seat of the Margraviate of Baden was moved from Hohenbaden Castle to New Castle (Neues Schloss) of Baden-Baden, built by Christoph I. In 1503, the Baden-Sausenberg died without male heirs and all the Badener lands were united by Christoph himself. Before his death, Christoph divided the margraviate between his three sons. Philip succeeded him in 1515 but died childless in 1533, and his share went to his brothers,BernardandErnest.In 1535, they made a fresh division of their inheritance. It would be the first of several partitions, establishing the two main lines of the House of Baden – Baden-Baden and Baden-Durlach (Baden-Pforzheim until 1565) – which would last until 1771. However, the relations between the two lines were not peaceful and the constant partitioning did not help.

During the Reformation, several branches, led by Baden-Baden, remained on the side of theCatholics,the others joining with Baden-Durlach on the Protestant side. TheThirty Years' Warmade matters worse for all the branches. Many of them were exiled to other countries. Baden suffered severely during the war. The 1648Treaty of Westphaliarestored the branches and their churches to their own lands. Gradually the rivalry subsided. During the wars ofLouis XIV,the "Sun King" of France, the two margraviates were ravaged by the French troops. The forces of the Holy Roman Empire, led by the Margrave of Baden-Baden, "TurkishLouis "William(reigned 1677–1707) fought against France.

Reunification

In 1771,Augustus Georgebecame 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 theWar of the First Coalitionbroke out betweenFranceandAustria.The Badeners fought for Austria, leaving Baden devastated when they lost. Charles Frederick had to pay an indemnity and cede his territories on the left bank of the Rhine to France. He had his second chance a few years later, as an enemy ofNapoleon,on the side ofAlexander I of Russia.In 1803, because of the efforts of thetsar,the margrave gained thePrince-Bishopric of Constance,parts of the Rhenish Palatinate, and several other smaller districts, thereby gaining the dignity of a prince-elector.

• 
  Ruins ofHohenbaden CastleinBaden-Baden
• 
  TheNew Castle of Baden-Baden
• 
  Schloss Rastatt,from 1705 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Baden
• 
  Karlsburg CastleinDurlach,from 1565 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach
• 
  Karlsruhe Palace,from 1718 residence of the Margraves of Baden-Durlach, from 1806 of theGrand Duchy of Baden
• 
  1772 Border stone betweenBaseland contemporaryBaden-Württemberg

List of margraves

Main article:List of rulers of Baden

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Baden, Grand Duchy of".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 184–188.