List of rulers of Baden

The territory evolved out of the Breisgau, an early medieval county in the Duchy of Swabia. A continuous sequence of counts is known since 962; the counts belong to the House of Zähringen. In 1061, the counts first acquired the additional title of Margrave of Verona. Even though they lost the March of Verona soon thereafter, they kept the title of margrave. In 1112, the title of Margrave of Baden was first used.

For most of the early modern period, the Margraviate of Baden was divided into two parts, one ruled by the Catholic Margraves of Baden-Baden, and the other by the Protestant Margraves of Baden-Durlach. In 1771, the main Baden-Baden line became extinct, and all of the Baden lands came under the rule of the Baden-Durlach line. The reunited margraviate existed until 1803.

During the Napoleonic era, in the imperial reorganisation of 1803, Baden gained a great deal of additional territory, and its rulers were made one of the few prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. However, this pre-eminent dignity lasted only for three years until the end of the empire in August 1806, eight months after the crushing Battle of Austerlitz, when the Electorate of Baden ceased to exist.

Consequently, in 1806, the ruler of Baden took on the title of Grand Duke of Baden and gained additional territory. The Grand Duchy of Baden, within approximately the borders of 1806, continued to exist until the fall of the German monarchies in 1918 when it became the Republic of Baden.

• Berthold I, before 962–982
• Berthold II, 982–1005/06
• Berthold III, 1005/06–1024
• Berthold IV, 1024–1073

During the 11th century, the Duchy of Swabia lacked a powerful central authority and was under the control of various comital dynasties, the strongest of them being the House of Hohenstaufen, the House of Welf, the Habsburgs and the House of Zähringen. Emperor Henry III had promised the ducal throne to the Zähringen scion Berthold, however, upon Henry's death in 1056, his widow Agnes of Poitou appointed Rudolf of Rheinfelden as Duke of Swabia. Berthold renounced his rights and was compensated with the Duchy of Carinthia and the March of Verona in Italy. Not able to establish himself, he finally lost both territories, when he was deposed by King Henry IV of Germany during the Investiture Controversy in 1077. Berthold retired to his Swabian home territory, where he died the next year. The Veronese margravial title was nevertheless retained by his eldest son, Herman I.

Herman II, son of Herman I and grandson of Berthold, had concluded an agreement with the rival Hohenstaufen dynasty, and about 1098 was enfeoffed with immediate territory by Emperor Henry IV. He chose to establish his residence in Germany, as he had been born and raised there. His lordship of choice was Baden (present-day Baden-Baden), where his father had gained the right to rule by marrying the heiress, Judit von Backnang-Sulichgau, Countess of Eberstein-Calw. In Baden, Herman II had Hohenbaden Castle built. Construction began about 1100, and when it was completed in 1112, he marked the occasion by adopting the title of Margrave of Baden.

Table of rulers

(Note: Here the numbering of the margraves is the same for all principalities, as all were titled Margraves of Baden, despite of the different parts of land and its particular numbering of the rulers. The princes are numbered by the year of their succession.[1])

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Berthold I		c.1000	1061–1073	6 November 1078	Baden	Richwara of Swabia 1043 five children Beatrice of Montbéliard 1056 no children	Founder of the House of Zähringen. From 1061 until 1077, he was the Duke of Carinthia and Margrave of Verona.
Herman I		c.1040	1073–1074	25 April 1074	Baden	Judith of Backnang-Sulichgau Before 1073 (annulled 1073) two children	Common ancestor of the Baden branch of the House of Zähringen. As the eldest son of Berthold I, he was the titular Margrave of Verona, but he predeceased his father in 1074.
Herman II		c.1060	1074–1130	7 October 1130	Baden	Judith of Hohenberg c.1105 two children	He was the first to use the title of "Margrave of Baden" (in 1112).
Herman III the Great		c.1105	1130–1160	16 January 1160	Baden	Bertha of Lorraine 1134 one child Maria of Bohemia After 1141 one child	In 1151, the margraviate of Verona was taken from Ottokar III of Styria and conferred on Herman III. Took part in the Second Crusade.
Herman IV		c.1135	1160–1190	13 September 1190	Baden	Bertha of Tübingen 1162 seven children	Took part in various battles at the side of the German Emperor, and also joined on the Third Crusade.
Herman V		c.1180	1190–1243	16 January 1243	Baden-Baden	Irmengard of the Palatinate-Rhine 1217 four children
Henry I		c.1180?	1190–1231	2 July 1231	Baden-Hachberg	Agnes of Urach Before 1231 three children
Henry II		Before 1231	1231–1289	1297 or 1298	Baden-Hachberg	Anne of Üsingen-Ketzingen Before 1289 eight children	Abdicated in 1289, and joined the Teutonic Knights.
Herman VI		c.1226	1243–1250	4 October 1250	Baden-Baden	Gertrude of Austria 1248 two children	Fought in the Austrian War of Succession in 1246, claiming the title "Duke of Austria" from 1248.
Frederick I		c.1249	1250–1268	29 October 1268	Baden-Baden	Unmarried	Ruled jointly with his uncle, Rudolf. Accompanied King Conradin in his battles and was beheaded with him in 1268.
Rudolph I		c.1230	1250–1288	19 November 1288	Baden-Baden	Kunigunde of Eberstein 20 May 1257 eight children	Brother of Herman VI, ruled jointly with his nephew, and then alone.
Herman VII the Rouser		c.1266	1288–1291	12 July 1291	Baden-Baden	Agnes of Truhendingen Before 6 October 1278 four children	Son of Rudolf I, divided Baden-Baden with his sons from 1290 onwards. Also ruled his part with his brothers until his death.
Rudolph II the Elder		c.1266?	1288–1295	14 February 1295	Baden-Baden	Adelaide of Ochsenstein 2 May 1285 three children	Son of Rudolf I, ruled jointly with his with his brothers. From 1290 ruled a smaller territory.
Rudolph III the Younger		c.1266?	1288–1332	2 February 1332	Baden-Baden	Jutta of Strassberg 1306 no children	Son of Rudolf I, ruled jointly with his with his brothers. From 1290 ruled a smaller territory.
Hesso I		c.1268	1288–1297	13 February 1297	Baden-Baden	Clara of Klingen Before 1291 one child? Irmengard of Württemberg Before 1295 no children Adelaide of Rieneck Before 1299 one child	Son of Rudolf I, ruled jointly with his with his brothers. From 1290 ruled a smaller territory.
Henry III		Before 1289	1289–1330	1330	Baden-Hachberg	Agnes of Hohenberg Before 1310 three children
Rudolph IV		Before 1289	1290–1313	1313	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Agnes of Rötteln 1298 or 1299 three children	Son of Henry II, founded the Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg Branch.
Frederick II		Before 1278	1291–1333	22 June 1333	Baden-Baden-Eberstein	Agnes of Weinsberg before 16 October 1312 one child Margaret of Vaihingen Before 1333 four children	Son of Herman VII, founded the Baden-Baden-Eberstein Branch
Herman VIII		Before 1278	1291–1300	1300	Baden-Baden-Pforzheim	Unmarried	Sons of Herman VII, ruled jointly. Rudolph inherited Baden-Baden in 1335, after the death of his cousin Rudolph Hesso. In the period 1335–1348, Baden-Baden-Pforzheim became in personal union with Baden-Baden.
Rudolph V		Before 1278	1291–1348	25 June 1348	Baden-Baden-Pforzheim	Liutgard of Bolanden 28 February 1318 no children Maria of Oettingen 18 February 1326 two children
Rudolph Hesso		c.1290	1297–1335	17 August 1335	Baden-Baden	Joanna of Burgundy Before 1335 two children	With no male heirs, Baden-Baden was inherited after his death by his cousin, Rudolf IV, Margrave of Baden-Pforzheim.
Henry IV		1300	1313–1318	1318	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Unmarried	Sons of Rudolph IV, ruled jointly.
Rudolph VI		1301	1313–1352	1352	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Catherine of Thierstein c.1343 two children
Otto I		1302	1318–1384	1384	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Catherine of Grandson no children Elisabeth of Strasbourg Before 1352 no children
Henry V		Before 1310	1330–1369	1369	Baden-Hachberg	Anna of Usenberg Before 1369 four children
Herman IX		Before 1333	1333–1353	13 April 1353	Baden-Baden-Eberstein	Matilda of Vaihingen c.3 June 1341 one child	Son of Frederick II, he had a son, who predeceased him. At his death Baden-Baden-Eberstein returned to Baden-Baden.
Rudolph VII		Before 1278	1335–1348	25 June 1348	Baden-Baden	Liutgard of Bolanden 28 February 1318 no children Maria of Oettingen 18 February 1326 two children	From Baden-Baden-Pforzheim line, inherited Baden-Baden after the death of his cousin Rudolf Hesso without male heirs. In the period 1335–1348, Baden-Baden-Pforzheim became in personal union with Baden-Baden. On his death divided the land between his children: Frederick III took Baden-Baden and Rudolph VIII Pforzheim.
Rudolph VIII		Before 1348	1348–1361	28 August 1361	Baden-Baden-Pforzheim	Adelaide of Belfort 26 August 1347 no children	After his death without children, Pforzheim returned again to Baden-Baden, to the hands of his nephew Rudolf VI.
Frederick III		1327	1348–1353	2 September 1353	Baden-Baden	Margaret of Baden-Baden 1345 two children	Sons of Rudolph VII, ruled jointly. Frederick married his cousin Margaret, daughter of Rudolph Hesso, and Rudolph IX inherited (after his nrtoher and uncle's death) Pforzheim, reuniting it with Baden-Baden.
Rudolph IX		c.1345	1353–1372	21 March 1372	Baden-Baden	Matilda of Sponheim 1356 three children	Inherited Pforzheim from his uncle, Rudolf VIII, in 1361, reuniting it with Baden-Baden.
Otto I		Before 1369	1369–1386	9 July 1386	Baden-Hachberg	Unmarried	Died at the Battle of Sempach, against the Habsburgs.
Rudolph X		After 1356?	1372–1391	1391	Baden-Baden	Unmarried	Sons of Rudolph IX, ruled jointly. In 1415 Bernard annexed the lands of Baden-Hachberg.
Bernard I		1364	1372–1431	5 April 1431	Baden-Baden	Margaret of Hohenberg 1 September 1384 (annulled 1391) no children Anna of Oettingen 27 March 1398 ten children
Rudolph XI		1343	1384–1428	8 February 1428	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Adelaide of Lichtenberg 1373 no children Anna of Freiburg 1387 thirteen children
John I		Before 1369	1386–1409	1409	Baden-Hachberg	Unmarried	Brothers of Otto I, ruled jointly.
Hesso II		Before 1369	1386–1410	1410	Baden-Hachberg	Anna of Geroldseck Before 1381 three children Margaret of Tübingen 1381 one child
Otto II		Before 1381	1410–1415	1418	Baden-Hachberg	Unmarried	In 1415, possibly in debt, sold Hachberg to his cousin Bernard I of Baden-Baden.
William I		11 July 1406	1428–1441	15 August 1482	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Elisabeth of Montfort-Bregenz 1425 (annulled 1436) three children	Abdicated in 1441 for his sons.
James I		15 March 1407	1431–1453	13 October 1453	Baden-Baden	Catherine of Lorraine 25 July 1422 seven children
Bernard II		1428 or 1429	1453–1458	15 July 1458	Baden-Baden	Unmarried	Co-ruled with his brother Charles I. He spent most of his income assisting the poor and those in need.
Charles I		1427	1453–1475	24 February 1475	Baden-Baden	Catherine of Austria 1 July 1447 six children	Co-ruled with his brother until 1458. then ruled alone.
Hugo I		After 1427	1441–1444	1444	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Unmarried	Sons of Wiliam I, ruled jointly. In 1458, Rudolph inherited the Swiss county of Neuchâtel.
Rudolph XII		1426 or 1427	1441–1487	12 April 1487	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Margaret of Vienne c.1450 two children
Christopher I		13 November 1453	1475–1503	19 April 1527	Baden-Baden	Ottilie of Katzenelnbogen 30 January 1469 fifteen children	In 1503 annexed Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg, and unified all Baden.
Philip I		1454	1487–1503	9 September 1503	Baden-Hachberg-Sausenberg	Maria of Savoy October 1478 one child	Also count of Neuchâtel. Didn't have male heirs and Baden-Hachberg Sausenberg was incorporated in Baden-Baden. However, his possessions in Neuchâtel passed to his daughter Joanna.
Christopher I		13 November 1453	1503–1515	19 April 1527	Baden	Ottilie of Katzenelnbogen 30 January 1469 fifteen children	Ruled an unified Baden, but abdicated for his sons, who divided Baden again.
Bernard III		7 October 1474	1515–1536	29 June 1536	Baden-Baden	Franziska of Luxembourg-Ligny 1535 two children	First margrave of the recreated Baden-Baden. After his death his lands were divided between his sons: Christopher II received Baden-Baden-Rodemachern, and Philibert I, the remaining Baden-Baden. However, as his heirs were minors, the lands remained united under the regency of his widow Franziska.
Ernest I		7 October 1482	1515–1552	6 February 1553	Baden-Durlach	Elisabeth of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach 29 September 1510 seven children Ursula of Rosenfeld 1518 (morganatic) three children Anna Bombast of Hohenheim 1 March 1544 (morganatic) no children	First margrave of Baden-Durlach. Abdicated for his son.
Philip II		6 November 1479	1515–1533	17 September 1533	Baden-Sponheim	Elisabeth of the Palatinate 3 January 1503 Heidelberg six children	Received Baden-Sponheim from his father, Christopher I. Died with no surviving sons, and his lands reverted to Baden-Baden.
Franziska of Luxembourg-Ligny (regent)		Before 1535	1536–1554	17 June 1566	Baden-Baden	Bernard III 1535 two children	Regent on behalf of her offspring.
Philibert I		22 January 1536	1554–1569	3 October 1569	Baden-Baden	Matilda of Bavaria 17 January 1557 four children
Christopher II		26 February 1537	1554–1575	2 August 1575	Baden-Baden-Rodemachern	Cecilia of Sweden 11 November 1564 six children
Bernard IV		1517	1552–1553	20 January 1553	Baden-Durlach	Unmarried	Left no heirs. The land goes to his brother, Charles II.
Charles II		24 July 1529	1553–1577	23 March 1577	Baden-Durlach	Kunigunde of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 10 March 1551 two children Anna of the Palatinate-Veldenz 1 August 1558 Heidelberg six children	After his death Baden-Durlach was divided between his three sons: Baden-Durlach-Hachberg went to Jacob III, second son of Charles; Baden-Durlach-Sausenberg to George Frederick, third son of Charles; the remaining Baden-Durlach went to the oldest son, Ernest Frederick. But as the heirs were minors, until 1584 Baden-Durlach remained united under regents.
Albert V, Duke of Bavaria (regent)		29 February 1528	1569-c.1577	24 October 1579	Baden-Baden	Anna of Austria 4 July 1546 Regensburg seven children	Regent on behalf of his nephew. The Catholic rite was reintroduced on Baden.
Philip III		19 February 1559	c.1577–1588	7 June 1588	Baden-Baden	Unmarried	Left no descendants. Baden-Baden is inherited by his cousin Edward Fortunatus, of the branch of Baden-Baden-Rodemachern.
Edward Fortunatus		17 September 1565	1575–1588	8 June 1600	Baden-Baden-Rodemachern	Maria van Eicken 13 March 1591 Brussels four children	Son of Christopher II, inherited Baden-Baden in 1588 from his cousin Philip III. In the same year he abdicated of Baden-Baden-Rodemachern to his younger brother Philip IV.
Anna of the Palatinate-Veldenz (regent)		12 November 1540	1577–1584	30 March 1586	Baden-Durlach	Charles II 1 August 1558 Heidelberg six children	Regents during the minority of the heirs of Charles II. In 1584 the land was de facto divided.
Louis III, Duke of Württemberg (regent)		1 January 1554		18 August 1593		Dorothea Ursula of Baden-Durlach 7 November 1575 no children Ursula of the Palatinate-Veldenz-Lützelstein 1585 no children
Louis VI, Elector Palatine (regent)		4 July 1539	1577–1583	22 October 1583		Elisabeth of Hesse 8 July 1560 twelve children Anne of Ostfriesland 12 July 1583 Heidelberg no children
Ernest Frederick		17 October 1560	1584–1604	14 April 1604	Baden-Durlach	Anne of Ostfriesland 21 December 1585 no children	Oldest son of Charles II, received the remaining Baden-Durlach. Left no descendants and his lands were inherited by George Frederick, his brother from Baden-Durlach-Sausenberg.
James II		26 May 1562	1584–1590	17 August 1590	Baden-Durlach-Hachberg	Elisabeth of Culemborg-Pallandt 6 September 1584 four children	Second son of Charles II, received Baden-Durlach-Hachberg.
George Frederick		30 January 1573	1584–1604	24 September 1638	Baden-Durlach-Sausenberg	Juliane Ursula of Salm-Neufville 2 July 1592 fifteen children Agatha of Erbach-Breuberg 23 October 1614 three children Elizabeth Stolz 29 July 1621 (morganatic) no children	Third son of Charles II, received Baden-Durlach-Sausenberg. After the death of his older brothers without heirs, he united in 1604 Baden-Durlach under his rule.
Edward Fortunatus		17 September 1565	1588–1594	8 June 1600	Baden-Baden	Maria van Eicken 13 March 1591 Brussels four children	Inherited Baden-Baden in 1588 from Philip II. In the same year he abdicated of Baden-Baden-Rodemachern to Philip III. In 1594 Baden-Baden was occupied by Baden-Durlach.
Philip IV		15 August 1567	1588–1620	6 November 1620	Baden-Baden-Rodemachern	Maria van Eicken 13 March 1591 Brussels four children	Inherited Baden-Baden-Rodemachern in 1588 from his older brother Edward Fortunatus, who abdicated on him. After his death Rodemachern passed to his nephew and second son of Edward Fortunatus, Herman.
Ernest Frederick (regent)		17 October 1560	1590–1591	14 April 1604	Baden-Durlach-Hachberg	Anne of Ostfriesland 21 December 1585 no children	Took the government illegally. After his nephew's death, he inherited Baden-Durlach-Hachberg.
Ernest James		24 August 1590		29 May 1591		Unmarried	Posthumous son of James II, died in infancy.
Ernest Frederick		17 October 1560	1594–1604	14 April 1604	Baden-Baden	Anne of Ostfriesland 21 December 1585 no children	Occupied Baden-Baden and passed it to his brother after his death.
George Frederick		30 January 1573	1604–1621	24 September 1638	Baden-Baden	Juliane Ursula of Salm-Neufville 2 July 1592 fifteen children Agatha of Erbach-Breuberg 23 October 1614 three children Elizabeth Stolz 29 July 1621 (morganatic) no children	Retained, until 1621, Baden-Baden, but was defeated by his kinsman William II, son of Edward Fortunatus. Reunited, in 1604, Baden-Durlach.
			1604–1638		Baden-Durlach
Herman Fortunatus		23 January 1595	1620–1665	4 January 1665	Baden-Baden-Rodemachern	Antonia Elisabeth of Criechingen 18 April 1627 three children Maria Sidonia of Daun-Falkenstein After 1635 two children	Second son of Edward Fortunatus, inherited from his uncle Baden-Baden-Rodemachern.
William II		30 July 1593	1621–1677	22 May 1677	Baden-Baden	Catherine Ursula of Hohenzollern-Hechingen 13 October 1624 fourteen children Maria Magdalena of Oettingen-Baldern 1650 Vienna five children	Oldest son of Edward Fortunatus, recovered his inheritance in 1621.
Frederick V the Kinsman		6 July 1594	1638–1659	8 September 1659	Baden-Durlach	Barbara of Württemberg 21 December 1616 seven children Eleonore of Solms-Laubach 8 October 1627 three children Maria Elisabeth of Waldeck-Eisenberg 21 January 1634 no children Anna Maria von Hohen-Geroldseck 13 February 1644 no children Eusebia Elisabeth of Fürstenberg 20 May 1650 no children
Frederick VI the Turkish		16 November 1617	1659–1677	31 January 1677	Baden-Durlach	Christina Magdalena of the Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Kleeburg 30 November 1642 Stockholm eight children Johanna Bayer of Sendau After 1662 (morganatic) two children
Charles William		1627	1665–1666	1666	Baden-Baden-Rodemachern	Unmarried	Died without descendants and his lands reverted to Baden-Baden.
Louis William the Turkish		8 April 1655	1677–1707	4 January 1707	Baden-Baden	Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg 27 March 1690 Ostrov ten children	Grandson of William I. Made war with France.
Frederick VII Magnus		23 September 1647	1677–1709	25 June 1709	Baden-Durlach	Augusta Marie of Holstein-Gottorp 15 May 1670 Husum eleven children
Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg (regent)		8 April 1655	1707–1727	4 January 1707	Baden-Baden	Louis William 27 March 1690 Ostrov ten children	Regent in name of her son, Louis George. She has been credited with the reconstruction of Baden-Baden, which had been ravaged greatly by the French during their various wars.
Louis George the Hunter		7 June 1702	1727–1761	22 October 1761	Baden-Baden	Maria Anna of Schwarzenberg 8 April 1721 Český Krumlov four children Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria 20 July 1755 Ettlingen no children
Charles III William		27 January 1679	1709–1738	12 May 1738	Baden-Durlach	Magdalena Wilhelmine of Württemberg 27 June 1697 (separated 1715) three children
Magdalena Wilhelmine of Württemberg (regent)		7 November 1677	1738–1742	30 October 1742	Baden-Durlach	Charles III William 27 June 1697 (separated 1715) three children	Took the regency in name of the minor Charles Frederick.
Charles August of Baden-Durlach (regent)		14 August 1712	1738–1746	30 September 1786		Julianna Schmid c.1773 (morganatic) seven children
Charles Frederick		22 November 1728	1746–1771	10 June 1811	Baden-Durlach	Caroline Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt 28 January 1751 five children Louise Caroline of Hochberg 24 November 1787 (morganatic) five children	In 1746 attained majority. In 1771 inherited the Baden-Baden lands and reunified the margraviate of Baden.
August George		14 January 1706	1761–1771	21 October 1771	Baden-Baden	Maria Victoria of Arenberg 7 December 1735 Rastatt no children	Last male member of the Baden-Baden line, after his death without heirs Baden-Baden fell to the Baden-Durlach line, who reunited all Baden.
Charles Frederick		22 November 1728	1771–1803	10 June 1811	Baden	Caroline Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt 28 January 1751 five children Louise Caroline of Hochberg 24 November 1787 (morganatic) five children	Reunited all Baden. In 1803 became Elector.

• House of Zähringen
• Line of succession to the former throne of Baden
• History of Baden-Württemberg
• Coat of arms of Baden