The House of Waldburg is a princely family of Upper

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 ...

, founded some time previous to the 12th century; some cadet lineages are

comital Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

families. Eberhard von Tanne-Waldburg (? - 1234) was the steward, or ''

seneschal The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...

'', and adviser of the Staufen dukes of Swabia, and later the adviser of the Emperor

Friedrich II Frederick II, Frederik II or Friedrich II may refer to: * Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor (1194–1250), King of Sicily from 1198; Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 * Frederick II of Denmark (1534–1588), king of Denmark and Norway 1559–1588 * Fr ...

. During the anti-Staufen uprising, he and his brother Friedrich von Tanne took opposing sides. Friedrich was killed in 1197 in

Montefiascone Montefiascone is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Viterbo, in Lazio, central Italy. It stands on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, about north of Rome. History The name of the city derives from that of the Falisci (''Mons Fa ...

and Eberhard became the guardian of his nephew, Heinrich, until 1220. Subsequently, he and his nephew administered Swabia during the absence of the emperors. He was entrusted with the imperial regalia that was kept at Waldburg from 1220–1225, hence the name "seneshal," or ''steward''. Eberhard was the founding "father" of the Waldburg lines, and from him the medieval, early modern, and modern lines descend.

History

Alttrauchburg

In 1258 the

fief A fief (; la, feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an Lord, overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a for ...

of Alttrauchburg had been given to the stewards of

Waldburg Waldburg is a town in the district of Ravensburg in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It is the home of Waldburg Castle, a medieval castle that sits atop the large hill in the town. The castle dates from the twelfth century, when Waldburg was a C ...

, who purchased it outright in 1306 from the count, who had run into debt. The tower-like core structure was now extended and built on. To the south, the large

outer bailey An outer bailey or outer ward is the defended outer enclosure of a castle.Friar, Stephen (2003). ''The Sutton Companion to Castles'', Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 2003, p. 22. It protects the inner bailey and usually contains those ancillary bui ...

was laid out together with its strong, rectangular, advanced tower. As a result, the Waldburgs mostly lived in the castle by themselves or let had it managed by

vogt During the Middle Ages, an (sometimes given as modern English: advocate; German: ; French: ) was an office-holder who was legally delegated to perform some of the secular responsibilities of a major feudal lord, or for an institution such as ...

s (1418 Hans von Mühlegg). In 1429, the Trauchburg went to the Jacobian line of the family. Some lords are referred to in the sources as "bad stewards", i.e. were in constant financial difficulties. As a result of suffering capture and damage in various conflicts, the castle of Alttrauchburg was expanded and strengthened in the 16th century and upgraded into a representative seat of territorial lordship and government. In 1628, the Waldburgs became

imperial count Imperial Count (german: Reichsgraf) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. In the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from ...

s and moved in 1690 to their ''

schloss ''Schloss'' (; pl. ''Schlösser''), formerly written ''Schloß'', is the German term for a building similar to a château, palace, or manor house. Related terms appear in several Germanic languages. In the Scandinavian languages, the cognate ...

'' at

Kißlegg Kißlegg (''Kisslegg'') is a town in the district of Ravensburg in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Kißlegg is not far from the village of Vogt. It has a beautiful church, rich in culture and beauty. Culture and attractions * Castle ''Altes Schlo ...

, abandoning their seat at Trauchburg and using it as a quarry for the new ''schloss'' at Kißlegg. In 1772 the Jacobian line of the Waldburgs died out with Count Francis Charles Eusebius. The estate went to the line of the counts of

Waldburg-Zeil Waldburg-Zeil was a County and later Principality within Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located around Schloss Zeil, near Leutkirch im Allgäu. History Waldburg-Zeil w ...

and the castle is still owned by this family today.

Notable members

Conrad of Winterstetten Conrad of Winterstetten ( – February 1243) was a German royal official during the reign of the Emperor Frederick II. He held the court title of butler and was active mainly in Swabia. From 1221 until 1234, he was a close associate, originally ...

(d. 1243), imperial butler,

procurator Procurator (with procuracy or procuratorate referring to the office itself) may refer to: * Procurator, one engaged in procuration, the action of taking care of, hence management, stewardship, agency * ''Procurator'' (Ancient Rome), the title of ...

of Swabia, guardian of Henry (VII) and Conrad IV *

Georg Truchsess von Waldburg Georg III Truchsess von Waldburg-Zeil ( Waldsee, 25 January 1488 – Bad Waldsee, 29 May 1531), also known as Bauernjörg, was a Swabian League Army Commander in the German Peasants' War. Life He was a member of the House of Waldburg, whi ...

, (25 January 1488 – 29 May 1531), also known as Bauernjörg. He was born in Waldsee, the son of Johannes d. j. v. Waldburg and Helene Countess von Zollern. At

Böblingen Böblingen (; Swabian German, Swabian: ''Beblenga'') is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen (district), Böblingen District. Sindelfingen and Böblingen are Geographic contiguity, contiguous. History Böblingen was found ...

12 May 1525 in one of the bloodiest battles of the

German Peasants' War The German Peasants' War, Great Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt (german: Deutscher Bauernkrieg) was a widespread popular revolt in some German-speaking areas in Central Europe from 1524 to 1525. It failed because of intense oppositio ...

, Jörg Truchsess von Waldburg attacked a force of 15,000 armed peasants, of which 3,000 were killed. Married Appolonia von Waldburg-Sonnenberg in 1509; and, second, to Maria von Oettingen (11 April 1498 – 18 August 1555). Georg III ("Bauernjörg"), des H.R.R. Erbtruchseß (1519–1531), Field Captain of the Swabian League.. *

Otto Truchsess von Waldburg Otto Truchsess von Waldburg (25 February 1514 – 2 April 1573) was Prince-Bishop of Augsburg from 1543 until his death and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. Childhood and Education Otto was born at Scheer Castle to the Swabian noble House of ...

Christoph Truchsess von Waldburg Christoph is a male given name and surname. It is a German variant of Christopher. Notable people with the given name Christoph * Christoph Bach (1613–1661), German musician * Christoph Büchel (born 1966), Swiss artist * Christoph Dientzenhof ...

(d. 1612) *

Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg (10 November 1547 – 31 May 1601) was Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. After pursuing an ecclesiastical career, he won a close election in the cathedral chapter of Cologne over Ernst of Bavaria. After his ...

(1546–1601). Archbishop and Prince-Elector of Cologne, 1577–1588. See also

Cologne War The Cologne War (german: Kölner Krieg, Kölnischer Krieg, Truchsessischer Krieg; 1583–88) was a conflict between Protestant and Catholic factions that devastated the Electorate of Cologne, a historical ecclesiastical principality of the Holy ...

Karl, Truchsess von Waldburg Karl, Truchsess von Waldburg (7 August 1548 – 18 June 1593), Baron and Steward of Waldburg in Trauchburg (1580), Imperial minister. Karl was born in the Fürstenburg fortress of Heiligenberg, the third son of William, known as the Young ...

(1547–1593) * Sigmund Christoph von Waldburg (1754-1814), the last

bishop of Chiemsee The Bishopric of Chiemsee was a Roman Catholic diocese. While based on the islands of the Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany, most of its territory lay in the County of Tyrol, Austria. The bishopric ceased to be a residential see in 1808. and accordin ...

. *

Alois Graf von Waldburg-Zeil Alois Graf von Waldburg-Zeil (born 20 September 1933 in Leutkirch im Allgäu; died 14 December 2014) was a German politician. Life His parents were Erich August Fürst von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (1899–1953) and Monika Prinzessin z ...

(1933-2014), German politician, manager and landowner *

Clemens Graf von Waldburg-Zeil Clemens Graf von Waldburg-Zeil (born April 13, 1960, in Munich, Germany) is a German entrepreneur, management consultant and former secretary general of the German Red Cross (GRC). He is a member of the House of Waldburg, and the eldest son of :de ...

(born 1960), German entrepreneur, manager and landowner

Comital families

Waldburg-Waldburg Waldburg-Waldburg was a County ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Waldburg-Waldburg was a partition of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil and was divided between the other two parts of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil — ...

Waldburg-Capustigall Waldburg-Capustigall was a Stewardship of the House of Waldburg – later a County – located in East Prussia. Waldburg-Capustigall was a partition of Waldburg-Trauchburg and was raised to a County in 1686, before being annexed by the Kingdom ...

Waldburg-Wurzach Waldburg-Wurzach was a County and later Principality within Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the House of Waldburg, located on the southeastern border of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located around Wurzach (located about 15 kilometres west of Bad Wa ...

Waldburg-Sonnenburg Sonnenberg was a county ruled by the comital Waldburg family of Upper Swabia, located around Nüziders-Sonnenberg in Vorarlberg, then part of Tyrol (Austria). Sonnenberg was a partition of Waldburg and was annexed by the Archduchy of Austria in ...

* Waldburg-Friedburg-Scheer *

Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil was a County ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil was a partition of Waldburg and was repartitioned in 1589, to create Waldburg-Waldburg, Waldburg-Wolfegg a ...

Waldburg-Waldsee Waldburg-Waldsee was a County and later Principality within Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, around Bad Waldsee. Waldburg-Waldsee was a partition of Waldburg-Wolfegg. Wh ...

Waldburg-Scheer Waldburg-Scheer was a County ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms th ...

Waldburg-Trauchburg Waldburg-Trauchburg was a County within Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Waldburg-Trauchburg was a partition of Waldburg and was partitioned several times, before being annexed ...

Waldburg-Wolfegg Waldburg-Wolfegg was a County ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Waldburg-Wolfegg was a partition of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil and was repartitioned in 1667, creating Waldburg-Waldsee Waldburg-Wal ...

Notable castles

Waldburg Burg 2009.jpg,

Waldburg Castle The Waldburg ( en, Forest castle) is the ancestral castle of the stewards, Imperial Counts and later Imperial Princes from the House of Waldburg. It dates from the 12th century and stands on the march of the municipality Waldburg in the district ...

Aerial image of the Schloss Wolfegg (view from the south).jpg, Wolfegg Castle Bad Waldsee Schloss.jpg, Waldsee Castle File:Schloss Zeil (Der Fürst).JPG, Zeil Castle near Leutkirch Bad Wurzach Schloss Hauptfassade.jpg,

Wurzach Bad Wurzach (until 1950 Wurzach) is a small spa town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a well known health-resort destination, and home to the oldest bog spa (in German: ''Moorheilbad'') in Baden-Württemberg, as well ...

Castle Kißlegg - Neues Schloss 1721-27 erbaut.JPG, New Castle at

Schloss Neutrauchburg bei Isny, von S 2.JPG, Neutrauchburg Castle File:PalastHohenems2.jpg,

Hohenems Hohenems (High Alemannic: ''Ems'') is a town in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg in the Dornbirn district. It lies in the middle of the Austrian part of the Rhine valley. With a population of 15,200, it is the fifth largest municipality in Vorarlbe ...

Palace, Austria

Sources

;Citations and notes ;Bibliography * Gollwitzer, Heinz, ''Die Standesherren. Die politische und gesellschaftliche Stellung der Mediatisierten 1815-1918'', Stuttgart 1957, Göttingen 1964. {{Authority control Waldburg, House of