(Redirected from Hohenzollern)
Historical coat of arms of the House of Hohenzollern.
The 'House of Hohenzollern' is a noble
family and royal
dynasty of
electors, kings, and emperors of
Prussia,
Germany, and
Romania.
It originated in the area around the town of
Hechingen in
Swabia during the
11th century. They took their name from their
ancestral home, the
Burg Hohenzollern castle near the forementioned town.
The family uses the
motto NIHIL SINE DEO (
English: Nothing Without God). The family
coat of arms, first adopted in
1192, began as a simple shield quarterly sable and argent.
The head and shoulders of a hound were added in
1317 by
Frederick IV.
[1] Later
quartering incorporated other branches of the family.
The family split into two branches, the
Catholic Swabian branch and
Protestant Franconian branch.
The Swabian branch ruled the area of
Hechingen until their eventual extinction in
1869. The Franconian branch was comparatively more successful. Branches within the Franconian branch ascended the throne of
Margravate of Brandenburg in
1415 and of the
Duchy of Prussia in
1525.
The union of these two Franconian branches in
1618 allowed the creation of the
Kingdom of Prussia in
1701, the state which led the
unification of Germany and the creation of the
German Empire in
1871.
Social unrest at the end of
World War I led to the
German Revolution of
1918, with the subsequent formation of the
Weimar Republic forcing the Hohenzollerns to abdicate, thus bringing an end to the modern
German monarchy. The
Treaty of Versailles in
1919 set the final terms for the dismantling of the German Empire.
Origins
Counts of Zollern (before 1061 until 1204)
The oldest known mentioning of the '
Zollern' dates from 1061. It was a countship, ruled by the counts of Zollern. The accepted origin of the counts of Zollern is that they are derived from the
Burchardinger dynasty.
★ until 1061:
Burkhard I
★ before 1125:
Frederick I (son of)
★ circa 1142 :
Frederick II (son of)
★ before 1171 - circa 1200:
Frederick III/I (son of, also
Burgrave of Nuremberg)
Count Frederick III of Zollern was a loyal retainer of the Holy Roman emperors
Frederick Barbarossa and
Henry VI and about
1185 he married
Sophia of Raabs, the daughter of
Conrad II, Burgrave of Nuremberg.
After the death of Conrad II, who left no male heirs, Frederick III was granted the
burgraviate of Nuremberg in 1192 as burgrave Frederick I of Nuremberg-Zollern. Since then the family name became to be known as '
Hohenzollern'.
After Frederick's death, his sons partitioned the family lands between themselves:
★ The youngest brother,
Frederick IV, received the county of Zollern and burgraviate of Nuremberg in 1200 from his father, thereby founding the 'Swabian branch' of the House of Hohenzollerns. The Swabian line remained
Catholic.
★ The oldest brother,
Conrad III, received the burgraviate of Nuremberg in
1218 from his younger brother Frederick IV, thereby founding the 'Franconian branch' of the House of Hohenzollerns. The Franconian line later converted to
Protestantism.
Franconian senior branch and Brandenburg-Prussian Branch
The senior Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern was founded by
Conrad III, Burgrave of Nuremberg.
Beginning in the 16th century, this branch of the family became Protestant and decided on expansion through marriage and a purchase of surrounding lands.
The family were supporters of the rulers from the
House of Hohenstaufen and the
House of Habsburg of the Holy Roman Empire during the 12th to 15th centuries, by which they were rewarded with several territorial benefits.
In a first phase, the family gradually added to their lands, at first with many small acquisitions in the
Franconian and
Bavarian regions op
Germany:
★
Ansbach in
1331
★
Kulmbach in
1340
In a second phase, the family expanded their lands further with large acquisitions in the
Brandenburg and
Prussian regions of
Germany and
Poland:
★
Margraviate of Brandenburg in
1417
★
Duchy of Prussia in
1618
These acquisitions were to eventually propel the Hohenzollerns from a minor German princely family into one of the most important in Europe.
Burgraves of Nuremberg (1192-1427)
Region of Nuremberg, Ansbach, Kulmbach and Bayreuth, (
Franconia and
Bavaria, Germany)
:''main article:
Burgraves of Nuremberg''
★ 1192–1200/1204:
Frederick I/III (also count of Zollern)
★ 1204–1218:
Frederick II/IV (son of, also count of Zollern)
★ 1218–1261/1262:
Conrad I/III (brother of, also count of Zollern)
★ 1262–1297:
Frederick III (son of)
★ 1297–1300:
John I (son of)
★ 1300–1332:
Frederick IV (brother of)
★ 1332–1357:
John II (son of)
★ 1357–1398:
Frederick V (son of)
At Frederick V's death on
21 January 1398 his lands were partitioned between his two sons:
★ 1398-1420:
John III/I (son of, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach)
★ 1420-1427:
Frederick VI/I/I, (brother of, also Elector of Brandenburg and Margrave of Brandenburg-Asbach)
After John III/I's death on
11 June 1420, the two principalities were shortly reunited under Frederick VI/I/I. From
1412 Frederick VI became
Margrave of Brandenburg as Frederick I and
Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. From 1420 he became
Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach. Upon his death on
21 September 1440, his territories were divided between his sons:
★
John II, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach
★
Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
★
Albert III, Elector of Brandenburg and Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
From 1427 onwards the title of Burgrave of Nuremberg was absorbed into the titles of Margrave of Brandenburg-Alsbach and Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach.
Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1398-1791)
:''main article:
Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach''
★ 1398:
Frederick I (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach)
★ 1440:
Albert I/I/III Achilles (son of, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1486:
Frederick II/III (son of, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach)
★ 1515:
George I/I the Pious (son of, also Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf)
★ 1543:
George Frederick I/I/I/I (son of, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf and Regent of Prussia)
★ 1603:
Joachim Ernst
★ 1625:
Frederick III
★ 1634:
Albert II
★ 1667:
John Frederick
★ 1686:
Christian I Albrecht
★ 1692:
George Frederick II/II (later Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach)
★ 1703:
William Frederick (before 1686-1723)
★ 1723:
Charles William (1712-1757)
★ 1757:
Christian II Frederick (1757-1791) (son of, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach)
On
2 December 1791, Christian II Frederick sold the sovereignty of his principalities to king Frederick William II of Prussia.
Margraves of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1398-1604), later Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1604-1791)
:''main article:
Margraves of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, later Brandenburg-Bayreuth''
★ 1397:
John I
★ 1420:
Frederick I (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach)
★ 1440:
John II
★ 1457:
Albert I/I/III Achilles (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1464:
Frederick II (also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1486:
Siegmund
★ 1495:
Frederick III/II (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach)
★ 1515:
Casimir
★ 1527:
Albert II Alcibiades
★ 1553:
George Frederick I/I/I/I (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf and Regent of Prussia)
★ 1603:
Christian I
★ 1655:
Christian II Ernst
★ 1712:
George I William
★ 1726:
George Frederick II/II (previously Margrave of Kulmbach)
★ 1735:
Frederick IV
★ 1763:
Frederick V Christian
★ 1769:
Christian II Frederick (until 1791, also Margrave of brandenburg-Ansbach)
On
2 December 1791, Christian II Frederick sold the sovereignty of his principalities to king Frederick William II of Prussia.
Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg (1417-1806)
Brandenburg region of Germany.
:''Main article:
Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg
★ 1415-1440:
Frederick I/I/VI (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Burgrave of Nuremberg)
★ 1440-1470:
Frederick II (son)
★ 1470-1486:
Albrecht III/I/I Achilles (brother) (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach)
★ 1486-1499:
John I Cicero (son)
★ 1499-1535:
Joachim I Nestor (son)
★ 1535-1571:
Joachim II Hector (son)
★ 1571-1598:
John II George (son)
★ 1598-1608:
Joachim III/I/I Frederick (son, also Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf and Regent of Prussia)
★ 1608-1619:
John III/I Sigismund (son, also duke of Prussia)
★ 1619-1640:
George William I/I (son, also duke of Prussia)
★ 1640-1688:
Frederick III/I William the Great (son, also duke of Prussia)
★ 1688-1701:
Frederick IV/II/I (son, also Duke of Prussia and King in Prussia)
From
1701 the title of Elector of Brandenburg was attached to the title of King in and of Prussia.
Dukes of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf (1523-1622)
The
Duchy of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf was purchased in
1523.
:''main article: ''
Dukes of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf''.
★
1541–
1543 :
George I/I the Pious (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach)
★
1543–
1603 :
George Frederick I/I/I/I (also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Regent of Prussia)
★
1603–1606 :
Joachim I/I/III (also Regent of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1606–
1621 :
Johann Georg of Hohenzollern
The duchy of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf was confiscated by
Ferdinand III of the Holy Roman Empire in
1622.
Margraves of Brandenburg-Küstrin (1535-1571)
The short-lived
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Küstrin (principality) was set up, against the Hohenzollern
house laws on succession, as a secundogenitur
fief of the House of Hohenzollern, a typical German institution.
:''main article:
Margraves of Brandenburg-Küstrin''
★ 1535–1571:
Johan the Wise, Margrave of Brandenburg-Küstrin (son of
Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg)
He died without issue. The Margraviate of Brandenburg-Küstrin was absorbed in
1571 into the Margraviate and Electorate of Brandenburg.
Margraves of Brandenburg-Schwedt (1688-1788)
From
1688 onwards the Margraves of Brandenburg-Schwedt were a side branch of the House of Hohenzollern. The
Margraviate of Brandenburg-Schwedt although never was a principality with allodial rights in its own right.
:''main article:
Margraves of Brandenburg-Schwedt''
★
1688-
1711 :
Philip William, Prince in Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (son of
Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg)
★
1731-
1771 :
Frederick William, Prince in Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt (son of)
★
1771–
1788 :
Henry Frederick, Prince in Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg Schwedt (son of)
In
1788 the title was incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia.
Dukes of Prussia (1525-1701)
In
1525 the
Duchy of Prussia was established as a
fief of the
King of Poland.
Prussia region of Germany and Poland.
:''main article:
Dukes of Prussia''
★ 1525–1568:
Albert I
★ 1568–1618:
Albert II Frederick co-inheritor (son of)
★ 1568–1571:
Joachim I/II Hector co-inheritor (also Elector of Brandenburg)
★
★ 1578–1603:
George Frederick I/I/I/I (Regent, also Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach and Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf)
★
★ 1603–1608:
Joachim I/I/III Frederick (Regent, also Duke of Brandenburg-Jägerndorf and Elector of Brandenburg)
★
★ 1608–1618:
John I/III Sigismund (Regent, also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1618–1619:
John I/III Sigismund (Regent, also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1619–1640:
George William I/I (son of, also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1640–1688:
Frederick I/III William the Great (son of, also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1688–1701:
Frederick II/IV/I (also Elector of Brandenburg and King in Prussia)
From
1701 the title of Duke of Prussia was attached to the title of King in and of Prussia.
Kings in Prussia (1701-1772)
In
1701 the title of
King in Prussia was granted, without the
Duchy of Prussia being elevated to a Kingdom within the
Holy Roman Empire. From
1701 onwards the titles of Duke of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg were always attached to the title of King in Prussia.
:''main article:
Kings in Prussia''
★ 1701–1713:
Frederick I/II/IV (also Duke of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1713–1740:
Frederick William I (son of)
★ 1740–1786:
Frederick II the Great (son of, later also
King of Prussia)
In
1772 the Duchy of Prussia was elevated to a kingdom.
Kings of Prussia (1772-1918)
Kingdom of Prussia in 1815.
In
1772 the title of
King of Prussia was granted with the establishment of the
Kingdom of Prussia. From
1772 onwards the titles of Duke of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg were always attached to the title of King of Prussia.
:''main article:
Kings of Prussia''
★
Frederick II the Great (1740–1786) (son of, before
King in Prussia)
★
Frederick William II (1786–1797) (nephew of)
★
Frederick William III (1797–1840) (son of)
★
Frederick William IV (1840–1861) (son of)
★
William I (1861–1888) (brother of)
★
Frederick III (1888) (son of)
★
William II (1888–1918) (son of)
In
1871 the Kingdom of Prussia was a constituting member of the
German Empire.
German Kings and Emperors (1871-1918)
German empire in 1871.
Reigning (1871-1918)
In
1871 the
German empire was proclaimed. With the accession of William I to the newly-established imperial German throne, the titles of King of Prussia, Duke of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg were always attached to the title of German Emperor.
:''main article:
List of German Kings and Emperors''
★ 1871–1888:
William I (also King of Prussia)
★ 1888:
Frederick III (son of, also King of Prussia)
★ 1888–1918:
William II (grandson of, also King of Prussia)
In
1918 the German empire was abolished and replaced by the
Weimar Republic.
Pretenders (1918 until today)
The House of Hohenzollern never relinquished their claims to the thrones of Prussia and the German Empire. At present, the claims are not recognised by the
Federal Republic of Germany.
House of Hohenzollern
Since the death of William II in
1941, last reigning king and emperor and thereafter head of the House of Hohenzollern, he was succeeded by:
★ 1941–1951:
Crown Prince William
★ 1951–1994:
Prince Louis Ferdinand
★ 1994–present:
Prince George Frederick
★
heir presumptive :
Prince Christian-Sigismund of Prussia
The head of the house is the titular King of Prussia and German Empire. He also bears a historical claim to the title of
prince of Orange. Members of this line style themselves princes of Prussia.
Swabian junior branch
The junior Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern was founded by '
Frederick IV, Burgrave of Nuremberg'.
Ruling the minor German principalities of
Hechingen,
Sigmaringen and
Haigerloch, this branch of the family decided to remain
Roman Catholic and from 1567 onwards split into the
Hohenzollern-Hechingen,
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and
Hohenzollern-Haigerloch branches. When the last count of Hohenzollern,
Charles I of Hohenzollern (1512-1579) died, the territory was to be divided up between his three sons:
★
Eitel Frederick IV of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1545–1605)
★
Charles II of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1547–1606)
★
Christoph of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch (1552–1592)
They never expanded from these three
Swabian principalities, which was one of the reasons they became relatively unimportant in German history for much of their existence. However, they kept royal lineage and married members of the great royal European houses.
In
1767 the principality of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch was incorporated in the other two principalities. In
1850, the princes of both Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen abdicated their thrones, and their principalities were incorporated as the Prussian
province of Hohenzollern.
The last ruling Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,
Karl Anton, would later serve as Minister-President of Prussia between
1858 and
1862.
The Hohenzollern-Hechingen finally became extinct in
1869. A descendent of this branch was
Sophie Chotek, wife of
Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Este.
However, a member of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family,
Charles Eitel, second son of prince
Karl Anton, was chosen to become
prince of Romania as
Charles I in
1866. In
1881 Charles I became the first
king of the Romanians.
Charles' older brother, Leopold, was offered the Spanish throne after a revolt removed queen
Isabella II in
1870. Although encouraged by
Bismarck to accept it, Leopold backed down once France's Emperor,
Napoleon III, stated his objection. Despite this, France still declared war, beginning the
Franco-Prussian war.
Charles I had no children of his own, so Leopold's younger son
Ferdinand I would succeed his uncle as king of the Romanians in
1906, and his descendants continued to rule in Romania until the end of the monarchy in
1947.
Today this branch is represented only by the last king,
Michael, and his daughters. The descendants of Leopold's oldest son William continue to use the titles of prince or princess of Hohenzollern.
Counts of Hohenzollern (1204-1575)
Hohenzollern region (Württemberg, Germany).
In 1204 the
County of Hohenzollern was established out of the fusion of the
County of Zollern and the
Burgraviate of Nuremberg.
:''main article:
Counts of Hohenzollern''
★ 1204–1251/1255:
Frederick IV/II (also Burgrave of Nuremberg)
★ 1251/1255–1289:
Frederick V
★ 1289–1298:
Frederick VI/I (also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1298–1309:
Frederick VII/II (also Elector of Brandenburg)
★ 1309–1333:
Frederick VIII
★ 1333–1377:
Frederick IX
★ 1377–1401:
Frederick XI
★ 1401–1426:
Frederick XII
★ 1426–1439:
Eitel Frederick I
★ 1439–1488:
Jobst Nikolaus I.
★ 1488–1512:
Eitel Frederick II
★ 1512–1525:
Eitel Frederick III
★ 1525–1575:
Charles I
In
1575 the County of Hohenzollern is split in two Counties with allodial rights, Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
Counts of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch (1567-1630 and 1681-1767)
The
County of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch was established in
1567 without allodial rights
:''main article:
Counts of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch''
★ 1575-1601 :
Christoph of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
★ 1601-1623 :
Johann Christoph of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
★ 1601-1630 :
Johann of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
Between
1630 and
1681 the county was temporarly integrated into the Margraviate of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
★ 1681-1702:
Francis Anthony of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
★ 1702-1750:
Ferdinand Anthony of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
★ 1750-1767:
Francis Christoph Anthony of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch
With the death of Francis Christoph Anthony, the county of Hohenzollern-Haigenloch was definitely absorbed into the principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in
1767.
Counts, later Princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1576-1623-1850)
The
County of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was established in 1576 with allodial rights.
:''main article:
Counts and Princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen''
★ Eitel Friedrich IV (1576-1605)
★ Johann Georg (1605-1623) (also prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen)
★ Eitel Friedrich V (1623-1661) (also count of Hohenzollern-Hechingen)
★ Philipp Christoph Friedrich (1661-1671)
★ Friedrich Wilhelm (1671-1735)
★ Friedrich Ludwig (1735-1750)
★ Josef Friedrich Wilhelm (1750-1798)
★ Hermann (1798-1810)
★ Friedrich (1810-1838)
★ Konstantin (1838-1850)
In
1850 the principality was sold to the Franconian branch of the family and incorporated into the kingdom of Prussia.
Counts, later Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1576-1623-1849)
The
County of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was established in
1576 with allodial rights.
:''main article:
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen''
★ Karl II (1576–1606)
★ Johann (1606–1623) (also Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen)
★ Johann (1623–1638) (also Count of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen)
★ Meinrad I (1638–1681)
★ Maximilian (1681–1689)
★ Meinrad II (1689–1715)
★ Joseph Franz Ernst (1715–1769)
★ Karl Friedrich (1769–1785)
★ Anton Aloys (1785–1831)
★ Karl (1831–1848)
★
Karl Anton (1848–1849)
In
1850 the principality was sold to the Franconian branch of the family and incorporated into the kingdom of Prussia. Since then the family continue to use the princely title of ''Fürsten von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen'' until today.
Kings of the Romanians
Rumania (1878-1913).
Reigning (1866-1947)
The
Principality of Romania was established in
1862, after the
Ottoman vassal states of
Wallachia and
Moldavia had been united in
1859 under
Alexander John Cuza as
Prince of Romania in a
personal union.
He was deposed in
1866 by the Romanian parliament which then invited a
German prince of the
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family,
Charles, to become the new Prince of Romania.
In
1881 the Principality of Romania was proclaimed a
Kingdom.
:''Main article:
Kings of the Romanians''
★ 1866–1914:
Charles I (also Prince of Romania)
★ 1914–1927:
Ferdinand
★ 1927–1930:
Michael I
★ 1930–1940:
Charles II
★ 1940–1947:
Michael I
In
1947 the Kingdom of Romania was abolished and replaced with the
People's Republic of Romania.
Succession (1947 until today)
King Michael has retained his claim on the Romanian throne. At present, the claim is not recognised by the
Republic of Romania.
:''Main article:
Line of succession to the Romanian throne''
House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
The princely House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen never relinquished their claims to the princely throne of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen or the royal throne of Romania. Because the last reigning king of the Romanians, Michael I, has no male issue, upon his death the claim will devolve to the head of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.
:''main article:
House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen''
★ 1849-1885:
Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern
★ 1885-1905:
Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern
★ 1905-1927:
Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern
★ 1927-1965:
Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern
★ 1965-present :
Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
★
heir apparent :
Karl Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern
The head of the family is styled ''His Serene Highness'' The Prince of Hohenzollern.
See also
★
Coat of arms of Prussia
★
Coat of arms of Germany
★
Coat of arms of the House of Hohenzollern
★
House Order of Hohenzollern
★
Heil dir im Siegerkranz
★
Order of the Black Eagle and
SUUM CUIQUE
★
Order of the Red Eagle and
SINCERE ET CONSTANTE
★
Wilhelm-Orden
★
Order of the Crown (Prussia) and
GOTT MIT UNS
★
Iron Cross
External links
★
Official site of the royal and imperial House of Hohenzollern
★
Official site of the princely of royal House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
★
Genealogy of the Hohenzollern
★
Genealogy of the Hohenzollerns from Genealogy.eu
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