margraviate · Germany and Central Europe

Margraviate of Baden

1112 CE – 1803 CE · capital Baden-Baden; later Durlach, Karlsruhe

A south-west German margraviate on the upper Rhine, divided for two centuries, reunited in 1771 and later the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Origins

Hermann II, of the Zähringen family, first called himself margrave of Baden in 1112, after the castle of Baden near Baden-Baden. The title derived from his family's claim to the March of Verona. The margraves built lands in the upper Rhine plain and the northern Black Forest.

Rule and society

In 1535 Baden split into Catholic Baden-Baden and Protestant Baden-Durlach. Louis William of Baden-Baden, the 'Turkish Louis', fought the Ottomans and built Rastatt Palace. Charles III William of Baden-Durlach founded Karlsruhe in 1715, a planned city radiating from the palace. Charles Frederick, an enlightened ruler, abolished serfdom in 1783.

Decline and legacy

The two lines reunited under Charles Frederick in 1771. Napoleon's reorganisation tripled Baden's size: it became an electorate in 1803 and a grand duchy in 1806. Today it forms part of Baden-Württemberg.

Lineage

County of Sponheim 1044 CE – 1437 CEMargraviate of Hachberg 1190 CE – 1503 CEFree Imperial City of Biberach 1282 CE – 1802 CEMargraviate of Baden-Durlach 1535 CE – 1771 CEMargraviate of Baden-Baden 1535 CE – 1771 CEMargraviate of BadenMargraviate of Baden-Durlach 1535 CE – 1771 CEMargraviate of Baden-Baden 1535 CE – 1771 CEElectorate of Baden 1803 CE – 1806 CE

Connections (1)

More states of Germany and Central Europe →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Margraviate of Baden. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/margraviate-of-baden
MLA
“Margraviate of Baden.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/margraviate-of-baden. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Margraviate of Baden.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/margraviate-of-baden.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Margraviate of Baden’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/margraviate-of-baden (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻