Margraviate of Baden

Margraviate of Baden Markgrafschaft Baden
State of the Holy Roman Empire
← 1112–1803 →
Flag Coat of arms
Baden at the beginning of the 19th century
Capital	Baden-Baden (12th c.) Karlsruhe (1715–1803)
Government	Principality
Margrave
- 1074–1130	Herman II (first)
- 1771–1806	Charles Frederick (lasta)
History
- Margraviate est.	1112
- Territory fragmentedb	1190–1771
- Elevated to Electorate	1803
a: Charles Frederick was margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1746–71, when he inherited Baden-Baden, becoming margrave of unified Baden. In 1803, support for Napoleon saw him raised to Elector of Baden. He joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806, when he was raised to Grand Duke of Baden. b: Baden was fragmented from 1190–1503, 1515–1620 and 1622–1771, though the eras of 1415–1503, 1604–1620 and 1666–1771 saw only two active branches of the margravine house.

The Margraviate of Baden were a historical territory in the Holy Roman Empire. It was already named so in 1112 and existed until the division in 1535 and lived with the reunion back in 1771, until the Electorate of Baden came up in 1803. The lords of the county emerged from the noble House of Zähringen.

History

Founding and naming

The founder of the dynasty of the Margrave of Baden was Herman I (1052–74), the elder son of the Zähringer Berthold II (1024–78). His son, Earl Herman II, Count of Breisgau called himself first Margrave of Limburg, then in 1112, the first Margrave of Baden. He had the area around Baden-Baden by balancing Zähringer with the Hohenstaufen to the Duchy of Swabia, acquired and led the inherited the March of Verona from his father — in conjunction with the new center of power, the Hodenhagen Castle in Baden-Baden.