Principality of Fürstenberg

County (Principality) of Fürstenberg Grafschaft (Fürstentum) Fürstenberg
1250–1806
Coat of arms
Fürstenberg territories in 1806
Status	Principality
Capital	Fürstenberg
Common languages	Alemannic
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages Early modern period
• Egino IV of Urach inherited Zähringen	1218
• County established	1250
• Partitioned into Fürstenberg and Wolfach	1408
• Mediatized	1806
Preceded by Succeeded by House of Zähringen Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg Fürstenberg-Wolfach

Fürstenberg was a county (German: Grafschaft), and later a principality (Fürstentum), of the Holy Roman Empire in Swabia, which was located in present-day southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Its ruling family was the House of Fürstenberg.

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. 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 and Fürstenberg-Wolfach.

Over the centuries, the various rulers expanded their territories to include the Landgraviate of Baar, the Lordships of Gundelfingen, Hausen, Heiligenberg, Höwen, and Meßkirch, and the Landgraviate of Stühlingen in Germany, as well as domains around Křivoklát Castle (German: Pürglitz), Bohemia, Tavíkovice (German: Taikowitz) in Moravia and Weitra in Austria.

In 1667, Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg 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, 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, and smaller parts were given to Württemberg, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, and Bavaria.

Geography

As of 1789, the territory consisted of five larger, isolated parts as well as several smaller exclaves. The five larger parts were:

• Around Donaueschingen, including the Landgraviate of Baar and the Lordship of Höwen as well as Fürstenberg Castle. Cities include Donaueschingen, Hüfingen, Engen, Neustadt. Bordered by Austria, Württemberg, the Abbacy of St. Blaise and others. Given to Baden.
• The Lordship of Hausen. Cities: Hausach, Wolfach, Haslach. Bordered by: Bishopric of Strasbourg, Württemberg, Austria, Hohengeroldseck, Imperial City of Zell, Imperial Valley of Harmersbach. Given to Baden.
• The Landgraviate of Stühlingen. Cities: Stühlingen. Bordered by: Abbacy of St. Blaise, Switzerland, Landgraviate of Klettgau. Given to Baden.
• Around Meßkirch. Cities: Meßkirch. Bordered by: Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Abbacy of Zwiefalten, Austria, Abbacy of Buchau, and others. Given to Baden and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
• County of Heiligenberg. Bordered by: Königsegg, Abbacy of Weingarten, Austria, Lake Constance, Bishopric of Constance, Abbacy of Salmannsweiler, Imperial City of Überlingen, Imperial City of Pfullendorf, and others. Given to Baden.

The smaller exclaves included the cities of Trochtelfingen and Hayingen.

As of 1806, Fürstenberg had an area of 20,000 km² and a population of 100,000. Its capital was Donaueschingen.

Counts of Fürstenberg (1250–1408)

• Henry I, Count of Fürstenberg, 1250–1284
• Frederick I, Count of Fürstenberg, 1284–1296
• Henry II, Count of Fürstenberg, 1296–1337
• Co-rulers:
  • Conrad III, Count of Fürstenberg, 1337–1370
  • Henry IV, Count of Fürstenberg, 1337–1366
  • John II, Count of Fürstenberg, 1337–1365
• Henry VI, Count of Fürstenberg, 1365–1408

Partitions of Fürstenberg

• County of Fürstenberg (1250–1408)
  • County of Dillingen (1284–1386)
  • County of Fürstenberg-Wolfach (1408–1490)
  • County of Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg (1408–1441, 1704–1716), then Principality of Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg (1716–1804)
    • County of Fürstenberg-Geisingen (1441–1483)
    • County of Fürstenberg-Baar (1441–1559)
      • County of Fürstenberg-Möhringen (1599–1641)
      • County of Fürstenberg-Blumberg (1559–1614)
        • County of Fürstenberg-Messkirch (1614–1716), then Principality of Fürstenberg-Messkirch (1716–1744)
        • County of Fürstenberg-Stühlingen (1614–1704)
          • County of Fürstenberg-Weitra (1705–1806)
            • County of Fürstenberg-Taikowitz (1759–1806)
      • County of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg (1559–1664), then Principality of Fürstenberg-Heiligenberg (1664–1716)
        • County of Fürstenberg-Donaueschingen (1617–1698)
    • Principality of Fürstenberg-Pürglitz (1762–1806)

Notes

References

• Where were the Fürstenberg territories? Map of the German Southwest in 1789
• Köbler, Gerhard (2007). Historisches Lexikon der deutschen Länder (7th ed.). Munich. Fürstenberg article.
•  Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Fürstenberg". Encyclopedia Americana.