Principality of Fürstenberg

Fürstenberg was a county, and later a principality, 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 Villingen, 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 County of Heiligenberg, the Lordships of Gundelfingen, Hausen, Höwen, and Meßkirch, and the Landgraviate of Stühlingen in Germany, as well as domains around Křivoklát Castle, Bohemia, Tavíkovice in Moravia and Weitra in Austria.
In 1664, 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:

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

The smaller exclaves included the towns of Ennabeuren, Salmendingen, Neufra, Trochtelfingen, Hayingen, and others.
As of 1806, Fürstenberg had an area of 2,000 km² and a population of 100,000. Its capital was Donaueschingen.

Post-1806 lines of succession

Mediatized line of Weitra

Joachim Egon
Frederick Egon
John Nepomuk Joachim Egon
Eduard Egon

Weitra line extinct, possessions fell back to Prince Maximilian Egon II as head of the House of Fürstenberg.

Mediatized line of Taikowitz

Friedrich Joseph Maximilian Augustus
* Joseph Friedrich Franz de Paula Vincenz
* Friedrich Michael Johann Joseph, the last landgrave of this line and official guardian of Bertha von Suttner

Mediatized line of Pürglitz

Karl Egon II, 5th Prince 1806-1854

* Karl Egon III, 6th Prince 1854-1892
** Karl Egon IV, 7th Prince 1892-1896
* Prince Maximilian Egon I of Furstenberg-Pürglitz
** Maximilian Egon II, 8th Prince 1896-1941
*** Karl Egon V, 9th Prince 1941-1973, also Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra
*** Prince Maximilian Egon of Fürstenberg
**** Joachim Egon, 10th Prince 1973-2002
***** Heinrich, 11th Prince 2002-2024
****** Christian, Prince of Fürstenberg 12th Prince 2024–present
****** Prince Antonius of Fürstenberg
***** Prince Karl Egon of Fürstenberg
***** Prince Johannes of Fürstenberg-Weitra, adopted by Karl Egon V and inherited the Landgraviate of Fürstenberg-Weitra in 1973
****** Prince Vincenz of Fürstenberg-Weitra
****** Prince Ludwig of Fürstenberg-Weitra
****** Prince Johann Christian of Fürstenberg-Weitra
**** Prince Friedrich Maximilian of Fürstenberg
***** Prince Maximilian of Fürstenberg
****** Prince Friedrich Götz of Fürstenberg