Sigismund von Reitzenstein
Encyclopedia
Freiherr Sigismund Karl Johann von Reitzenstein (3 February 1766 in Nemmersdorf
Goldkronach
Goldkronach is a town in the district of Bayreuth, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated near the Fichtelgebirge, 12 km northeast of Bayreuth.-History:On 25 June 1836, at 22:15, residents awoke to a man yelling "Fire! Fire!"...

 - 5 March 1847 in Karlsruhe) was the first minister of state of the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...

.

From 1871, Reitzenstein studied law in Göttingen and Erlangen before getting a position in the Principality of Bayreuth
Principality of Bayreuth
The Principality of Bayreuth or Brandenburg-Bayreuth was a reichsfrei principality in the Holy Roman Empire centered on the Bavarian city of Bayreuth. Until 1604 its capital city was Kulmbach; then the margraves used their palaces in Bayreuth as their residence...

. In 1788 he took service in the Margravate of Baden in Karlsruhe. He advanced quickly, first taking part in the secret council of the court and then advancing to chamberlain in 1790 and bailif in Lörrach in 1792.

Reitzenstein did much to bring Baden closer to its powerful neighbor France. He struck a separate peace with France in Basel in August 1796. He then worked in Paris from 1797 to 1803 as ambassador of Baden. During this period, not only did Baden become an Electorate, Reitzenstein oversaw the quadrupling of the size of the duchy. Reitzenstein resigned his post in 1803.

Reitzenstein was named cabinet minister twice in 1805/1806 and 1809/1810. In 1806 he returned to Paris to negotiate the marriage of Charles, Grand Duke of Baden to Napoleon's adopted daughter, Stéphanie de Beauharnais
Stéphanie de Beauharnais
Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Baden was the consort of Karl, Grand Duke of Baden.-Biography:...

. In November 1809, he reorganized the state into circles along the lines of the French departments.

From 1807-1809 and again in 1810, Reitzenstein was curator of the University of Heidelberg. There he had an important role in forming the educational policy of the state.
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