Löwenstein-Wertheim was a county of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

, part of the

Franconian Circle The Franconian Circle () was an Imperial Circle established in 1500 in the centre of the Holy Roman Empire. It comprised the eastern part of the former Franconian stem duchy—roughly corresponding with the present-day Bavarian ''Regierungsbez ...

. It was formed from the counties of Löwenstein (based in the town of

Löwenstein Löwenstein () is a town in the district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was first mentioned in 1123. The castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nob ...

) and Wertheim (based in the town of

Wertheim am Main Wertheim (; East Franconian German, East Franconian: ''Wärde'') is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of around 23,400. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main (river), M ...

) and from 1488 until 1806 ruled by the House of Löwenstein-Wertheim who are morganatic descendants (and the most senior line) of the Palatinate branch of the

House of Wittelsbach The House of Wittelsbach () is a former Bavarian dynasty, with branches that have ruled over territories including the Electorate of Bavaria, the Electoral Palatinate, the Electorate of Cologne, County of Holland, Holland, County of Zeeland, ...

History

The County of Löwenstein belonged to a branch of the family of the counts of

Calw Calw (; previously pronounced and sometimes spelled Kalb accordingly; ) is a Landstadt, town in the middle of Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany, capital and largest town of the Calw (district), district Calw. It is located in the North ...

before 1281, when it was purchased by the German King Rudolph I of

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...

, who presented it to his natural son Albert. In 1441 Henry, one of Albert's descendants, sold it to Frederick I, Count Palatine of the Rhine, head of the Palatine branch of the House of Wittelsbach, and later it served as a portion for

Louis Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also ...

(1494-1524), a son of the elector by a morganatic marriage, who became a count of the Empire in 1494. Louis obtained

Swabia Swabia ; , 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 Swabia, one of ...

and received from

Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519) was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death in 1519. He was never crowned by the Pope, as the journey to Rome was blocked by the Venetians. He proclaimed hi ...

the title of ''Count of Löwenstein''. The family lost Löwenstein to

Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg Duke Ulrich of Württemberg (8 February 14876 November 1550) succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as Duke of Württemberg in 1498. He was declared of age in 1503. His volatile personality made him infamous, being called the "Swabian Henry VIII" by ...

, but Louis III, Count of Löwenstein, through his marriage to Anna, heiress of the Count of Wertheim, obtained that territory. Louis III left two sons: Christopher Louis, a Lutheran, and John Dietrich, who remained a Catholic, so the family was divided in two: ''Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg'', a Lutheran branch, and ''Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg'', a Catholic one. The heads of the two branches, into which the older and Protestant line was afterwards divided, were made princes by the king of

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

in 1812 and by the king of

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 Province of Hohenzollern, Hohenzollern, two other histo ...

in 1813; the head of the younger, or Roman Catholic line, was made a prince of the Empire in 1711. With the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the county was

mediatized Mediatization or mediatisation may refer to: * German mediatisation, German historical territorial restructuring * Mediatization (media) Mediatization (or medialization) is a method whereby the mass media influence other sectors of society, inclu ...

and its territory was split among Bavaria,

Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in southern Germany. In earlier times it was considered to be on both sides of the Upper Rhine, but since the Napoleonic Wars, it has been considered only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Ba ...

, Württemberg, and

Hesse Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...

. Under the protocol of Frankfurt on 20 July 1819 all the family lands were mediatised. The area of the County of Löwenstein was about . The current monarchs of

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

Luxembourg Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in Western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France on the south. Its capital and most populous city, Luxembour ...

, and

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (, ; ; ), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein ( ), is a Landlocked country#Doubly landlocked, doubly landlocked Swiss Standard German, German-speaking microstate in the Central European Alps, between Austria in the east ...

, as well as the pretenders to the thrones of

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

, the

Two Sicilies The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies () was a kingdom in Southern Italy from 1816 to 1861 under the control of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a cadet branch of the Bourbons. The kingdom was the largest sovereign state by population and land are ...

, Bavaria, and

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

are descended (not in the male line) from the Rosenberg branch. Rupert zu Löwenstein, the longtime financial manager of

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

, was a member of the Freudenberg branch.

Rulers of Löwenstein

Counts of Löwenstein (1494–1571) Burg Loewenstein von Sueden 20070312

Ludwig I Ludwig I or Louis I (; 25 August 1786 – 29 February 1868) was King of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states. When he was crown prince, he was involved in the Napoleonic Wars. As king, he encouraged Bavaria's ind ...

, Count 1494–1523 (1463-1523), ''only surviving son of

Friedrich I, Elector Palatine Frederick I, the Victorious (''der Siegreiche'') (1 August 1425, Heidelberg – 12 December 1476, Heidelberg) was a Count Palatine of the Rhine and Elector Palatine from the House of Wittelsbach in 1451–1476. Biography He was a son of Louis ...

by his

morganatic Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spous ...

marriage'' **

Ludwig II Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886), also called the Swan King or the Fairy Tale King (), was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duk ...

, Count 1523–1536 (1498-1536) ** Friedrich I, Count 1536–1541 (1502-1541) *** Wolfgang I, Count 1541–1571 (1527-1571), ''eldest son''

Counts of Löwenstein-Scharffeneck (1571–1633)

* Wolfgang II, Count 1571–1596 (1555-1596), ''eldest son of Wolfgang I, Count of Löwenstein'' **

Georg Ludwig George I (George Louis; ; 28 May 1660 – 11 June 1727) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 and ruler of the Electorate of Hanover within the Holy Roman Empire from 23 January 1698 until his death in 1727. He was the first ...

, Count 1596–1633 (1587-1633) Georg Ludwig survived his only son, with this line becoming extinct. His daughter and heiress Maria Christina of Löwenstein-Scharffeneck (1625–1673) married Gabriel

Oxenstierna The Oxenstierna family ( , ) is a Swedish nobility, Swedish noble family, originally from Småland in southern Sweden, and is part of the Swedish ''uradel'', the ancient nobility. History The Oxenstierna family held vast estates in Södermanl ...

, Count of

Korsholm Korsholm (; ) is a municipality in Finland, located on the west coast of the country. Korsholm is situated in Ostrobothnia (administrative region), Ostrobothnia, along the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Korsholm is approximately , while the Va ...

and

Vaasa Vaasa (; , ), formerly (1855-1917) known as Nikolaistad (; ),Korsholm Korsholm (; ) is a municipality in Finland, located on the west coast of the country. Korsholm is situated in Ostrobothnia (administrative region), Ostrobothnia, along the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Korsholm is approximately , while the Va ...

and

Vaasa Vaasa (; , ), formerly (1855-1917) known as Nikolaistad (; ), * Ludwig III, Count 1571–1611 (1530-1611), ''third surviving son of Friedrich I, Count of Löwenstein, married heiress of

.'' ** Ludwig IV, Count 1611–1635 (1569-1635), second son, co-heir with his brothers ** Wolfgang Ernst, Count 1611–1636 (1578-1636), third son, co-heir with his brothers Ludwig IV has no known descendants. Wolfgang Ernst only had one daughter, Dorothea Walpurga of Löwenstein-Wertheim (1628–1634) who predeceased him. Their lines were extinct with their own deaths.

Counts of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Virneburg (1611–1812)

* Christof Ludwig, Count 1611–1618 (1568-1618), ''eldest son of Ludwig III, Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim, co-heir with his brothers, married the heiress of

Virneburg Virneburg is a municipality in the district of Mayen-Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. Virneburg Castle is located in the village. Geography Virneburg is a municipality in the Vulkaneifel. Next towns are Mayen in the East and A ...

'' ** Friedrich Ludwig, Count 1618–1657 (1598-1657) *** Ludwig Ernst, Count 1657–1681 (1627-1681) **** Joachim Friedrich, Count 1681–1689 (1666-1689) **** Eucharius Kasimir, Count 1689–1698 (1668-1698) *** ''Count Friedrich Eberhard of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Virneburg (1629-1683)'' married Otillie, daughter of

Otto, Count of Lippe-Brake Otto, Count of Lippe-Brake (21 December 1589 – 18 November 1657 in Blomberg) was the first ruling Count of Lippe-Brake. Life Otto was born on 21 December 1589 as the son of Count Simon VI and his wife, Countess Elisabeth of Holstein-S ...

**** Heinrich Friedrich, Count 1698–1721 (1682-1721) ***** Johann Ludwig Vollrath, Count 1721–1790 (1705-1790) ****** Johann Karl Ludwig, Count 1790–1812 (1740-1816), raised to Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg

Counts of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1611–1712)

* John Dietrich, Count 1611–1644 (1585-1644), ''fourth son of Ludwig III, Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim, co-heir with his brothers'' ** Ferdinand Karl, Count 1644–1672 (1616-1672) *** Maximilian Karl, Count 1672–1712 (1656-1718), raised to Prince 1712

Princes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort (1712–1803)

* Maximilian Karl, 1st Prince 1712–1718 (1656-1718), ''the last Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort'' ** Dominikus Marquard, 2nd Prince 1718–1735 (1690-1735) *** Karl Thomas, 3rd Prince 1735–1789 (1714-1789) *** ''Prince Theodor Alexander (1722-1780)'' **** Dominik Konstantin, 4th Prince 1789–1803 (1762-1814), Princely title changed 1803

Princes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1803–present)

* Dominik Konstantin, 4th Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 1803–1814, ''previously Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort'' ** Karl Thomas, 5th Prince 1814–1849 (1783-1849) *** '' Constantine, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1802-1838)'' ****

Karl Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl of Austria, last Austrian Emperor * Karl (footballer) (born 1993), Karl Cac ...

, 6th Prince 1849–1908, ''abdicated to take Roman Catholic orders'' (1834-1921) ***** Aloys, 7th Prince 1908–1952 (1871-1952) ******

, 8th Prince 1952–1990 (1904-1990) ******* Alois-Konstantin, 9th Prince 1990–present (born 1941) ******** '' Carl Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1966–2010) ********* Nicodemus, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (born 2001) ********* Prince Laurentius (born 2006) ******** Prince Hubertus (born 1968) ******** Prince Dominik (born 1983) ****** ''Prince Johannes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1919–2000)'' ******* Prince Michael (born 1950) ******** Prince Konstantin (born 1995) ******* Prince Karl (born 1952) ******** Prince Philipp (born 1979) ******** Prince Felix (born 1984) ******* Prince Felix (born 1954) ******* Prince Martin (born 1961) ******* Prince Stephan (born 1968) ******** Prince Nikolaus (born 2004)

Princes of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (1812–present)

* Johann Karl, 1st Prince 1812–1816 (1740-1816), ''the last Count of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Virneburg'' ** Georg Wilhelm Ludwig, 2nd Prince 1816–1855 (1775-1855) ***

Adolf Adolf (also spelt Adolph or Adolphe, Adolfo, and when Latinised Adolphus) is a given name with German origins. The name is a compound derived from the Old High German ''Athalwolf'' (or ''Hadulf''), a composition of ''athal'', or ''adal'', mean ...

, 3rd Prince 1855–1861 (1805-1861) ** ''Prince Wilhelm Ernst (1783-1847)'' ***

Wilhelm Wilhelm may refer to: People and fictional characters * William Charles John Pitcher, costume designer known professionally as "Wilhelm" * Wilhelm (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname Other uses * Wilhe ...

, 4th Prince 1861–1887 (1817-1887) **** Ernst Alban Ludwig, 5th Prince 1887–1931 (1854-1931), ''abdicated 1918'' **** ''Prince Alfred (1855-1925)'' ***** Udo, 6th Prince 1931–1980 (1896-1980) ****** Alfred-Ernst, 7th Prince 1980–2010 (1924-2010) ******* Ludwig, 8th Prince 2010–present (born 1951) ******** Ludwig,

Hereditary Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg (born 1994) ******* Prince Udo (born 1957) ******** Prince Georg (born 1993) ******** Prince Philipp (born 1998) **** ''Prince Wilhelm Gustav Ludwig (1863-1915)'' ***** ''Prince Wolfgang Wilhelm Gustav Karl Ludwig (1890-1945)'' ****** Prince Wolfram Hubertus Wilhelm Heinrich (born 1941) ******* Prince Wolfram Michael Nikolaus Friedrich Jakob (born 1980) **** '' Prince Ludwig Karl (1864-1899)''

Notes

References

External links

Lowenstein-Wertheim at Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lowenstein-Wertheim Counties of the Holy Roman Empire Franconian Circle House of Wittelsbach