Fürstenberg was a county (german:
Graf
(feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...
schaft), and later a principality (''
Fürst
' (, female form ', plural '; from Old High German ', "the first", a translation of the Latin ') is a German word for a ruler and is also a princely title. ' were, since the Middle Ages, members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of ...
entum''), of the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
in
Swabia
Swabia ; german: Schwaben , colloquially ''Schwabenland'' or ''Ländle''; archaic English also Suabia or Svebia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.
The name is ultimately derived from the medieval Duchy of ...
, which was located in present-day southern
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. Its ruling family was the
House of Fürstenberg
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
.
History
The county emerged when Egino IV, Count of
Urach by marriage, inherited large parts of the Duchy of
Zähringen upon the death of Duke
Berthold V in 1218, and it was originally called the county of
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population of about 230,000 (as o ...
. Egino's grandson, Count Henry, started naming himself after his residence at
Fürstenberg Castle around 1250.
The county was partitioned in 1284 between itself and the lower county of
Dillingen, and then again in 1408 between
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg was a territory in Swabia, which was located in present-day southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was ruled by the House of Fürstenberg in the Circle of Swabia during the Holy Roman Empire.
History
The territory cons ...
and
Fürstenberg-Wolfach
Fürstenberg-Wolfach was a county in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany during the Middle Ages. It occupied a region surrounding Wolfach. It was created as a partition of the County of Fürstenberg in 1408. With the extinction of its line of the ...
.
Over the centuries, the various rulers expanded their territories to include the
Landgraviate
Landgrave (german: Landgraf, nl, landgraaf, sv, lantgreve, french: landgrave; la, comes magnus, ', ', ', ', ') was a noble title used in the Holy Roman Empire, and later on in its former territories. The German titles of ', ' ("margrave"), a ...
of
Baar, the Lordships of
Gundelfingen
Gundelfingen im Breisgau ( Low Alemannic: ''Gundelfinge im Brisgau'') is a municipality directly north of the city Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.
Gundelfingen is one of the larger municipalities in the Breisgau-Hochschwarz ...
,
Hausen,
Heiligenberg
Heiligenberg is a municipality and a village in the Bodensee district in Baden-Württemberg, about seven kilometres north of Salem, in Germany.
Location and climate
Heiligenberg (literally: the Holy Mountain or the Mountain of Saints) is loca ...
,
Höwen, and
Meßkirch
Meßkirch (; Swabian: ''Mässkirch'') is a town in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
The town was the residence of the counts of Zimmern, widely known through Count Froben Christoph's '' Zimmern Chronicle'' (1559– ...
, and the Landgraviate of
Stühlingen
Stühlingen is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, with a border crossing to the village of Oberwiesen in Schleitheim municipality, 15 km northwest of Schaffhausen to ...
in Germany, as well as domains around
Křivoklát Castle
Křivoklát Castle is located in Central Bohemia, Czech Republic.
History
Křivoklát was founded in the 12th century, belonging to the kings of Bohemia. During the reign of Přemysl Otakar II a large, monumental royal castle was built, later r ...
(german: Pürglitz),
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
,
Tavíkovice
Tavíkovice (german: Taikowitz) is a municipality and village in Znojmo District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 600 inhabitants.
Tavíkovice lies approximately north of Znojmo, south-west of Brno, and south-ea ...
(German: ''Taikowitz'') in
Moravia
Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia.
The me ...
and
Weitra
Weitra (; cs, Vitoraz) is a small town in the district of Gmünd in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.
Geography
The municipality is situated amidst the extended forests of the rural Waldviertel region, close to the border with the Czech Rep ...
in
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
.
In 1667,
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg was a county and later a principality in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located in the historical territory of Heiligenberg. It was created as a partition of Fürstenberg-Baar in 1559, and it suffered one partitio ...
was raised to a principality and received a vote at the
Reichstag. In 1744, various Fürstenberg territories were reunified to the Principality of
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg was a territory in Swabia, which was located in present-day southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was ruled by the House of Fürstenberg in the Circle of Swabia during the Holy Roman Empire.
History
The territory cons ...
, as all lines except one had become extinct.
The
Rheinbundakte of 1806 dissolved the state of Fürstenberg. Most of its territory was given to
Baden
Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine.
History
The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden is ...
, and smaller parts were given to
Württemberg
Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart.
Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, Würt ...
,
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
( en, Nothing without God)
, national_anthem =
, common_languages = German
, religion = Roman Catholic
, currency =
, title_leader = Prince
, leader1 ...
, and
Bavaria
Bavaria ( ; ), officially the Free State of Bavaria (german: Freistaat Bayern, link=no ), is a state in the south-east of Germany. With an area of , Bavaria is the largest German state by land area, comprising roughly a fifth of the total lan ...
.
Geography
As of 1789, the territory consisted of five larger, isolated parts as well as several smaller
exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
s. The five larger parts were:
* Around
Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen (; Low Alemannic: ''Eschinge'') is a German town in the Black Forest in the southwest of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in the Schwarzwald-Baar '' Kreis''. It stands near the confluence of the two sources of the river Da ...
, including the
Landgraviate
Landgrave (german: Landgraf, nl, landgraaf, sv, lantgreve, french: landgrave; la, comes magnus, ', ', ', ', ') was a noble title used in the Holy Roman Empire, and later on in its former territories. The German titles of ', ' ("margrave"), a ...
of
Baar and the
Lordship of Höwen as well as Fürstenberg Castle. Cities include Donaueschingen,
Hüfingen
Hüfingen ( Low Alemannic: ''Hifinge'') is a town in the district of Schwarzwald-Baar, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Breg, 4 km south of the source of the Danube.
History
Hüfingen has the historical distinc ...
,
Engen
Engen (延元) was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kenmu and before Kōkoku, lasting from February 1336 to April 1340.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Engen''" i ''Japan encyclop ...
,
Neustadt. Bordered by
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
,
Württemberg
Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart.
Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, Würt ...
, the
Abbacy of St. Blaise and others. Given to Baden.
* The
Lordship of Hausen. Cities:
Hausach
Hausach (; gsw, label= Low Alemannic, Huusä) is a town in the Ortenaukreis, in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
History
Hausach was founded in the 13th century, below Husen Castle. In the 14th century, it became a possession of the County ...
,
Wolfach
Wolfach ( gsw, label= Low Alemannic, Wolfä) is a town in the Black Forest and part of the Ortenaukreis in Baden-Württemberg (Germany). It is a well-known spa town.
Geography
Geographical Position
Wolfach lies where the two rivers Wolf and ...
,
Haslach. Bordered by:
Bishopric of Strasbourg,
Württemberg
Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart.
Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, Würt ...
,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
,
Hohengeroldseck
Hohengeroldseck was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was founded by the House of Geroldseck, a German noble family which arrived in the Ortenau region of Swabia reputedly in 948, though the first mention of the family is documented in the 1080 ...
, Imperial City of
Zell Zell may refer to:
Places Austria
* Zell am See, in Salzburg state
* Zell am Ziller, in Tyrol
* Zell, Carinthia, in Carinthia
* in Upper Austria:
** Bad Zell
** Zell am Moos
** Zell an der Pram
** Zell am Pettenfirst
Germany
* Zell im Fichtelg ...
, Imperial Valley of
Harmersbach
Harmersbach (below its confluence with the ''Nordrach'': ''Erlenbach'') is a river of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It passes through Zell am Harmersbach, and flows into the Kinzig in Biberach. Until 1806, the Harmersbach valley held the unique ...
. Given to Baden.
* The
Landgraviate of Stühlingen. Cities:
Stühlingen
Stühlingen is a town in the Waldshut district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the border with Switzerland, with a border crossing to the village of Oberwiesen in Schleitheim municipality, 15 km northwest of Schaffhausen to ...
. Bordered by:
Abbacy of St. Blaise,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Landgraviate of Klettgau. Given to Baden.
* Around
Meßkirch
Meßkirch (; Swabian: ''Mässkirch'') is a town in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
The town was the residence of the counts of Zimmern, widely known through Count Froben Christoph's '' Zimmern Chronicle'' (1559– ...
. Cities: Meßkirch. Bordered by:
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
( en, Nothing without God)
, national_anthem =
, common_languages = German
, religion = Roman Catholic
, currency =
, title_leader = Prince
, leader1 ...
,
Abbacy of Zwiefalten,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
,
Abbacy of Buchau, and others. Given to Baden and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
*
County of Heiligenberg. Bordered by:
Königsegg
Königsegg was a state in the southeastern part of what is now Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It emerged in 1192 as a Herrschaft (territory), lordship and was raised to a feudal barony, barony in 1470. It was partitioned in 1622 between itself, Kö ...
,
Abbacy of Weingarten,
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
,
Lake Constance
Lake Constance (german: Bodensee, ) refers to three Body of water, bodies of water on the Rhine at the northern foot of the Alps: Upper Lake Constance (''Obersee''), Lower Lake Constance (''Untersee''), and a connecting stretch of the Rhine, ca ...
,
Bishopric of Constance
The Prince-Bishopric of Constance, (german: Hochstift Konstanz, Fürstbistum Konstanz, Bistum Konstanz) was a small Hochstift, ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire from the mid-12th century until its German Mediatisation, secularis ...
,
Abbacy of Salmannsweiler, Imperial City of
Überlingen
Überlingen is a German city on the northern shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Baden-Württemberg near the border with Switzerland. After the city of Friedrichshafen, it is the second largest city in the Bodenseekreis (district), and a cent ...
, Imperial City of
Pfullendorf
Pfullendorf is a small town of about 13,000 inhabitants located north of Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire for nearly 600 years.
The town is in the district of Sigmaringen south of ...
, and others. Given to Baden.
The smaller exclaves included the cities of
Trochtelfingen
Trochtelfingen is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 20 km south of Reutlingen
Reutlingen (; Swabian: ''Reitlenga'') is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the epon ...
and
Hayingen
Hayingen () is a town in the district of Reutlingen, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 32 km southeast of Reutlingen. North of Münzdorf are the remains of the hilltop castle Burgweiler.
History
The first settlement in the ar ...
.
As of 1806, Fürstenberg had an area of 2,000 km
2 and a population of 100,000. Its capital was
Donaueschingen
Donaueschingen (; Low Alemannic: ''Eschinge'') is a German town in the Black Forest in the southwest of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg in the Schwarzwald-Baar '' Kreis''. It stands near the confluence of the two sources of the river Da ...
.
Counts of Fürstenberg (1250–1408)
*Henry I, 1250–1284
*Frederick I, 1284–1296
*Henry II, 1296–1337
* Co-rulers:
**Conrad III, 1337–1370
**Henry IV, 1337–1366
**John II, 1337–1365
*Henry VI, 1365–1408
Partitions of Fürstenberg
*County of Fürstenberg (1250–1408)
**County of
Dillingen (1284–1386)
**County of
Fürstenberg-Wolfach
Fürstenberg-Wolfach was a county in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany during the Middle Ages. It occupied a region surrounding Wolfach. It was created as a partition of the County of Fürstenberg in 1408. With the extinction of its line of the ...
(1408–1490)
**County of
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg was a territory in Swabia, which was located in present-day southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was ruled by the House of Fürstenberg in the Circle of Swabia during the Holy Roman Empire.
History
The territory cons ...
(1408–1441, 1704–1716), then Principality of
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg was a territory in Swabia, which was located in present-day southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was ruled by the House of Fürstenberg in the Circle of Swabia during the Holy Roman Empire.
History
The territory cons ...
(1716–1804)
***County of
Fürstenberg-Geisingen (1441–1483)
***County of
Fürstenberg-Baar
Fürstenberg-Baar () was a County of medieval Germany, located in southern Baden-Württemberg in the territory of Baar. It was created as a partition of Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg in 1441. It inherited the County of Fürstenberg-Geisingen in 1483, ...
(1441–1559)
****County of
Fürstenberg-Möhringen
Fürstenberg-Möhringen was a County of Fürstenberg. It was a partition of Fürstenberg-Blumberg, and was inherited by the Counts of Fürstenberg-Stühlingen
Fürstenberg-Stühlingen was a German county during the Middle Ages. It was located in ...
(1599–1641)
****County of
Fürstenberg-Blumberg
Fürstenberg-Blumberg was a County located in Blumberg, southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was created as a partition of Fürstenberg-Baar in 1559. It suffered two known partitions: between itself and Fürstenberg-Möhringen
Fürstenberg-M ...
(1559–1614)
*****County of
Fürstenberg-Messkirch
Fürstenberg-Meßkirch was a county of Fürstenberg centered on the town of Meßkirch. It was a partition of Fürstenberg-Blumberg, was raised to a principality in 1716, and was inherited by the counts of Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-F ...
(1614–1716), then Principality of
Fürstenberg-Messkirch
Fürstenberg-Meßkirch was a county of Fürstenberg centered on the town of Meßkirch. It was a partition of Fürstenberg-Blumberg, was raised to a principality in 1716, and was inherited by the counts of Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg-F ...
(1716–1744)
*****County of
Fürstenberg-Stühlingen
Fürstenberg-Stühlingen was a German county during the Middle Ages. It was located in the territorial landgraviate of Stühlingen. It emerged as a partition of Fürstenberg-Blumberg in 1614. It was partitioned in 1704 between the sons of Count Pr ...
(1614–1704)
******County of
Fürstenberg-Weitra
Fürstenberg-Weitra was a cadet branch of the princely House of Fürstenberg, originally from Donaueschingen in Swabia, in present-day southwestern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. From 1744 onwards the landgravial line resided at Weitra Castle in ...
(1705–1806)
*******County of
Fürstenberg-Taikowitz
Fürstenberg-Taikowitz was a cadet branch of the princely House of Fürstenberg, originally from Swabia in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It emerged in 1759 as a partition of the Austrian Fürstenberg-Weitra line. The landgraves resided ...
(1759–1806)
****County of
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg was a county and later a principality in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located in the historical territory of Heiligenberg. It was created as a partition of Fürstenberg-Baar in 1559, and it suffered one partitio ...
(1559–1664), then Principality of
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg
Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg was a county and later a principality in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located in the historical territory of Heiligenberg. It was created as a partition of Fürstenberg-Baar in 1559, and it suffered one partitio ...
(1664–1716)
*****County of
Fürstenberg-Donaueschingen (1617–1698)
***Principality of
Fürstenberg-Pürglitz
Fürstenberg-Pürglitz was a noble family hailing from southwestern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, which was seated at Křivoklát Castle () in Bohemia. Fürstenberg-Pürglitz emerged as a non-ruling branch of the princely House of Fürstenberg in ...
(1762–1806)
References
External links
Where were the Fürstenberg territories? Map of the German Southwest in 1789* ''Fürstenberg'' article.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Furstenberg (State)
Principalities of the Holy Roman Empire
Swabian Circle
States and territories established in 1218
Former states and territories of Baden-Württemberg