List of rulers of Baden
Encyclopedia
Baden was a state of the Holy Roman Empire
and later one of the German
states along the frontier with France
primarily consisting of territory along the right bank of the Rhine opposite Alsace
and the Palatinate.
The territory evolved out of the Breisgau
, an early medieval county in the Duchy of Swabia
. A continuous sequence of counts is known since 962; the counts belong to the House of Zähringen. In 1061, the counts first acquired the additional title of margraves of Verona
. Even though they lost the March of Verona
soon thereafter, they kept the title of margrave. In 1112, the title of Margrave of Baden was first used.
For most of the early modern period
, the Baden lands were divided into two parts, one ruled by the Catholic Margraves of Baden-Baden
, and the other by the Protestant Margraves of Baden-Durlach. In 1771, the main Baden-Baden line became extinct, and all of the Baden lands came under the rule of Baden-Durlach.
During the Napoleonic era
, in the imperial reorganisation
of 1803, Baden gained a great deal of additional territory, and its rulers were made one of the few prince-elector
s of the Holy Roman Empire
. However, this pre-eminent dignity lasted only for three years, until the end of the Empire in August of 1806, eight months after the crushing Battle of Austerlitz
. Consequently, in that year, the Margraves took on the title of Grand Duke of Baden, and gained additional territory. The Grand Duchy, within approximately the borders of 1806, continued to exist until the fall of the German monarchies in 1918, when it became a republic.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and later one of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
states along the frontier with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
primarily consisting of territory along the right bank of the Rhine opposite Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and the Palatinate.
The territory evolved out of the Breisgau
Breisgau
Breisgau is the name of an area in southwest Germany, placed between the river Rhine and the foothills of the Black Forest around Freiburg im Breisgau in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, which partly consists of the Breisgau, is named after that area...
, an early medieval county in the Duchy of Swabia
Duchy of Swabia
Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany.-History:...
. A continuous sequence of counts is known since 962; the counts belong to the House of Zähringen. In 1061, the counts first acquired the additional title of margraves of Verona
March of Verona
The March of Verona and Aquileia was a vast march in northeastern Italy during the Middle Ages, centered on the cities of Verona and Aquileia. Except for Venice, it included the territories of the modern-day regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia as well as Istria and Trentino up to the Adige...
. Even though they lost the March of Verona
March of Verona
The March of Verona and Aquileia was a vast march in northeastern Italy during the Middle Ages, centered on the cities of Verona and Aquileia. Except for Venice, it included the territories of the modern-day regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia as well as Istria and Trentino up to the Adige...
soon thereafter, they kept the title of margrave. In 1112, the title of Margrave of Baden was first used.
For most of the early modern period
Early modern period
In history, the early modern period of modern history follows the late Middle Ages. Although the chronological limits of the period are open to debate, the timeframe spans the period after the late portion of the Middle Ages through the beginning of the Age of Revolutions...
, the Baden lands were divided into two parts, one ruled by the Catholic Margraves of Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, and the other by the Protestant Margraves of Baden-Durlach. In 1771, the main Baden-Baden line became extinct, and all of the Baden lands came under the rule of Baden-Durlach.
During the Napoleonic era
Napoleonic Era
The Napoleonic Era is a period in the history of France and Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly, the second being the Legislative Assembly, and the third being the Directory...
, in the imperial reorganisation
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
of 1803, Baden gained a great deal of additional territory, and its rulers were made one of the few prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
s of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. However, this pre-eminent dignity lasted only for three years, until the end of the Empire in August of 1806, eight months after the crushing Battle of Austerlitz
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of Napoleon's greatest victories, where the French Empire effectively crushed the Third Coalition...
. Consequently, in that year, the Margraves took on the title of Grand Duke of Baden, and gained additional territory. The Grand Duchy, within approximately the borders of 1806, continued to exist until the fall of the German monarchies in 1918, when it became a republic.
Counts in Breisgau
- Berthold I before 962–982
- Berthold II 982–1005/06
- Berthold III 1005/06–1024
- Berthold I 1024–1073
Margraves of Verona and Counts in the Breisgau
- Berthold I 1061–1073
- Hermann I 1073
Margraves of Baden
- Hermann II 1073–1130
- Hermann III 1130–1160
- Hermann IVHermann IV, Margrave of BadenHermann IV, Margrave of Baden was titular Margrave of Verona and Margrave of Baden from 1160.He was the son of Hermann III and Bertha of Hohenstaufen, daughter of Conrad III...
1160–1190
Margraves of Baden-Baden, 1190–1335
- Hermann VHermann V, Margrave of Baden-BadenHermann V, Margrave of Baden-Baden ruled Verona and Baden from 1190 until his death.He was the son of Hermann IV and his wife Bertha of Tübingen...
1190–1243 - Hermann VI 1243–1250
- Frederick IFrederick I, Margrave of BadenFrederick I of Baden was Margrave of Baden and claimant Duke of Austria from October 4, 1250 until his death...
and Rudolf IRudolf I, Margrave of Baden-BadenRudolf I, Margrave of Baden was Margrave of Baden from 1250 until his death.He was the son of Herman V and Irmengard, Countess Palatinate of the Rhine. She was the daughter of Henry I, Count Palatinate of the Rhine. He inherited Baden, together with his brother Herman VI, until Herman VI's...
1250–1268 - Rudolf IRudolf I, Margrave of Baden-BadenRudolf I, Margrave of Baden was Margrave of Baden from 1250 until his death.He was the son of Herman V and Irmengard, Countess Palatinate of the Rhine. She was the daughter of Henry I, Count Palatinate of the Rhine. He inherited Baden, together with his brother Herman VI, until Herman VI's...
1268–1288 - Hesso, Rudolf II, Herman VII, and Rudolf III 1288–1291
- Hesso, Rudolf II, and Rudolf III 1291–1295
- Hesso and Rudolf III 1295–1297
- Rudolf III and Rudolf Hesso 1297–1310
- Rudolf Hesso 1310–1320
Margraves of Baden-Hachberg, 1190–1418
- Henry I 1190–1231
- Henry II 1231–1290
- Henry III 1290–1330
- Henry IV 1330–1369
- Otto I 1369–1386
- John and Hesso 1386–1409
- Hesso 1409–1410
- Otto II 1410–1418
Margraves of Baden-Sausenberg, 1290–1503
- Rudolf I 1290–1313
- Henry, Rudolf II, and Otto 1313–1318
- Rudolf II and Otto 1318–1352
- Otto and Rudolf III 1352–1384
- Rudolf III 1384–1428
- WilliamWilliam, Margrave of Hachberg-SausenbergMargrave William of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son of Margrave Rudolf III of Hachberg-Sausenberg and the Anne of Freiburg-Neuchâtel. He ruled from 1428 to 1441, and abdicated on 21 June 1441 in favor of his infant sons, Rudolf IV and Hugo...
1428–1441 - Hugo and Rudolf IVRudolf IV, Margrave of Hachberg-SausenbergMargrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son the Margrave William of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his wife Elisabeth of Montfort-Bregenz....
1441–1444 - Rudolf IVRudolf IV, Margrave of Hachberg-SausenbergMargrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son the Margrave William of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his wife Elisabeth of Montfort-Bregenz....
1444–1487 - PhilipPhilip of Hachberg-SausenbergMargrave Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son of the Margrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Margaret of Vienne. Philip reigned 1487-1503 as Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Count of Neuchâtel...
1487–1503
Margraves of Baden-Eberstein, 1291–1353
- Frederick II 1291–1333
- Herman IX 1333–1353
Margraves of Baden-Pforzheim, 1291–1361
- Rudolf IV and Herman VIII 1291–1300
- Rudolf IV 1300–1348
- Rudolf V 1348–1361
Margraves of Baden-Baden, 1348–1588
- Frederick IIIFrederick III, Margrave of Baden-Baden-Life:He was the elder son of Rudolf IV and Marie of Oettingen.-Family and children:He married Margareta of Baden, daughter of Rudolf Hesso, Margrave of Baden-Baden and had the following children:# Rudolf VI, Margrave of Baden-Baden ....
1348–1353 - Rudolf VIRudolf VI, Margrave of Baden-BadenRudolf VI of Baden was Margrave of Baden-Baden and Count of Eberstein from 1353 to 1372.-Life:He was the elder son of Frederick III and Margareta of Baden. Under Rudolf VI Baden was again united in 1361, since the other lines had expired...
1353–1372 - Bernard IBernard I, Margrave of Baden-BadenBernard I of Baden was Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1391 to 1431.-Life:He was the elder son of Rudolf VI and Matilde of Sponheim. He and his brother Rudolf VII concluded an inheritance contract in 1380, according to which the margraviate might be divided only among male descendants for two...
1372–1431, at first jointly with - Rudolf VII 1372–1391
- JacobJacob, Margrave of Baden-BadenJacob I of Baden , was Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1431 to 1453.He was the elder son of Bernard I, Margrave of Baden-Baden and Anna von Oettingen. Jacob I was a man of deep religious beliefs, well-known as a founder of churches...
1431–1453 - Charles ICharles I, Margrave of Baden-BadenCharles I of Baden was a Margrave of Baden-Baden during 1454-1475.Charles was the elder son of Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden and his wife Catherine, daughter of Charles II, Duke of Lorraine. In 1462 he began the Baden-Palatinate war with Elector Frederick I of the Rhine...
1453–1475, at first jointly with - Bernard II 1453–1458
- Christopher IChristopher I, Margrave of Baden-BadenChristopher I of Baden was a Margrave of Baden-Baden in 1475–1515.Christopher was the eldest son of Charles I, Margrave of Baden-Baden and Katharina of Austria, a sister of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. He built the New Castle and moved there in 1479. In 1515 he divided his possessions...
1475–1515 - Bernard IIIBernhard III, Margrave of Baden-BadenBernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden inherited in 1515 part of his fathers margraviate of Baden. He ruled his part from 1515 until 1536....
1515–1536 - PhilibertPhilibert, Margrave of Baden-BadenMargrave Philibert of Baden ruled the Margraviate of Baden-Baden from 1554 to 1569. Philibert was the son of the Margrave Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden and Franziska of Luxembourg....
1536–1569 - Philip IIPhilip II, Margrave of Baden-BadenMargrave Philip II of Baden , was from 1571 to 1588 Margrave of the Margraviate of Baden-Baden. He was the son of the Protestant Margrave Philibert of Baden-Baden and the Catholic Mechthild of Bavaria.Philip's father, Philibert, died in early in October 1569 during the Battle of Montcontour...
1569–1588
Margraves of Baden-Durlach, 1515–1771
- ErnestErnest, Margrave of Baden-DurlachMargrave Ernest I of Baden-Durlach was the founder of the so-called "Ernestine" line of the House of Baden, the from which the later Grand Dukes descended. He was the ruling Margrave of Baden-Pforzheim from 1533 and resided in Pforzheim from 1537...
1515–1553 - Charles II 1553–1577
- Ernest FrederickErnest Frederick, Margrave of Baden-DurlachErnest Frederick of Baden-Durlach ruled the northern part of the Margraviate of Baden-Durlach. He came to power when he came of age in 1584. He founded the first Gymnasium Illustrie in the margraviate...
1577–1604 - George Frederick 1604–1622
- Frederick VFrederick V, Margrave of Baden-DurlachFrederick V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach was a German nobleman, who ruled as margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1622 to his death...
1622–1659 - Frederick VI 1659–1677
- Frederick VII 1677–1709
- Charles III William 1709–1738
- Charles Frederick 1738–1771 (became Margrave of all Baden)
Margraves of Baden-Rodemachern, 1536–1596
- Christoph IIChristopher II, Margrave of Baden-RodemachernChristoph II of Baden-Rodemachern was the first Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern. He was the second son of Bernhard III of Baden-Baden and his wife Countess Franziska of Brienne and Luxembourg....
1536–1575 - Edward Fortunatus 1575–1596
Margrave of Baden-Rodenheim, 1575–1620
- Philip III 1575–1620
Margraves of Baden-Hachberg, 1577–1591
- Jacob III 1577–1590
- Ernest Jacob 1590–1591
Margrave of Baden-Sausenberg, 1577–1604
- Georg FriedrichGeorg Friedrich, Margrave of Baden-DurlachGeorge Frederick of Baden-Durlach was Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1604 until his abdication in 1622. He also ruled Baden-Baden....
1577–1604
Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern, 1622–1666
- Hermann Fortunatus 1622–1664
- Charles William 1664–1666
Margraves of Baden-Baden, 1622–1771
- William 1622–1677
- Louis WilliamLouis William, Margrave of Baden-BadenLouis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
1677–1707 - Louis George Simpert 1707–1761
- Augustus George Simpert 1761–1771
Margrave of Baden, 1771–1803
- Charles Frederick 1771–1803, became ElectorPrince-electorThe Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
of Baden
Elector of Baden, 1803–1806
- Charles Frederick 1803–1806, became Grand Duke of Baden
Grand Dukes of Baden, 1806–1918
- Charles Frederick 1806–1811
- Charles 1811–1818
- Louis I 1818–1830
- LeopoldLeopold, Grand Duke of BadenLeopold I, Grand Duke of Baden succeeded in 1830 as the fourth Grand Duke of Baden....
1830–1852 - Louis II 1852–1856
- Frederick I 1856–1907
- Frederick II 1907–1918
Heads of the Grand Ducal House of Baden since 1918
- Frederick II, 1918–1928.
- Maximilian of Baden, 1928–1929.
- Berthold of Baden, 1929–1963.
- Maximilian of Baden, since 1963.
- Heir: Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of BadenBernhard, Hereditary Prince of BadenBernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden (Bernhard Max Friedrich August Gustav Ludwig Kraft, born 27 May 1970 in Schloss Salem, Salem, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He is the eldest son of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden and...
(born 1970)
- Heir: Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden
State Presidents of the Republic of Baden, 1918–1945
- Anton Geiß (SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
) 1918–1920 - Gustav TrunkGustav TrunkGustav Trunk was a three-time President of Baden. He was a lawyer by occupation and was a member of the German Centre Party....
(ZentrumCentre Party (Germany)The German Centre Party was a Catholic political party in Germany during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic. Formed in 1870, it battled the Kulturkampf which the Prussian government launched to reduce the power of the Catholic Church...
) 1920–1921 - Hermann HummelHermann HummelHermann Hummel was a German chemist and politician in the Republic of Baden. He was a member of the DDP.- Early life and career :...
(DDP) 1921–1922 - Adam RemmeleAdam RemmeleAdam Remmele was a German social democratic politician in Baden. He also served in the Reichstag.- Pre-Republic Activities :...
(SPD) 1922–1923 - Heinrich KöhlerHeinrich KöhlerFranz Heinrich Köhler was a German politician who served as the fifth and eighth State President of Baden and the eleventh Minister of Finance in the Weimar Republic. He was a member of the Centre Party, and later the CDU...
(Zentrum), 1923–1924 - Willy HellpachWilly HellpachWilly Hellpach was the sixth State President of Baden. He was a member of the German Democratic Party . He was also a physician and psychologist....
(DDP) 1924–1925 - Gustav TrunkGustav TrunkGustav Trunk was a three-time President of Baden. He was a lawyer by occupation and was a member of the German Centre Party....
(Zentrum) 1925–1926 - Heinrich KöhlerHeinrich KöhlerFranz Heinrich Köhler was a German politician who served as the fifth and eighth State President of Baden and the eleventh Minister of Finance in the Weimar Republic. He was a member of the Centre Party, and later the CDU...
(Zentrum) 1926–1927 - Gustav TrunkGustav TrunkGustav Trunk was a three-time President of Baden. He was a lawyer by occupation and was a member of the German Centre Party....
(Zentrum) 1927 - Adam RemmeleAdam RemmeleAdam Remmele was a German social democratic politician in Baden. He also served in the Reichstag.- Pre-Republic Activities :...
(SPD) 1927–1928 - Josef Schmitt (Zentrum) 1928–1930
- Josef Wittemann (Zentrum) 1930–1931
- Josef Schmitt (Zentrum) 1931–1933
- Robert WagnerRobert Heinrich WagnerRobert Heinrich Wagner was Gauleiter of Baden and Head of the Civil Government of Alsace during the German occupation of France in World War II....
(NSDAP) 1933 - Walter KöhlerWalter KöhlerWalter Friedrich Julius Köhler, was Minister President of Baden, Germany during the Nazi regime. Köhler was born in Weinheim, Baden. He was known as a talented speaker and strict anti-semite...
(NSDAP) 1933–1945
State President of Baden (South Baden), 1945–1952
- various presidents in rotation 1945–1946
- Leo Wohleb (BCSV, then CDU) 1946–1952