Fürstenberg was a county (), 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 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 (German: Taikowitz) 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.
Rulers of Fürstenberg (Note: The analysis given here will go further back to the origins of the Counts of Urach/Freiburg, from which the Fürstenbergs descended in direct line, and with which shared the coats of arms and still exchanged property in the 13th century. After the fall of the main Freiburg line in 1458, the Fürstenberg branch (separated in 1236) emerged as the main line of the dynasty.)
+Countyof Urach(1040-1218)Rule by the House of Zahringen(1098-1218) Raised to:Countyof Freiburg(1218-1385) County ofBadenweiler(1st creation)After the death of the two heiresses of Badenweiler (which had divided their father's inheritance between them) in c.1320, Hausach went directly to Fürstenberg, while Badenweiler was inherited by Strassberg family, and only joined Fürstenberg patrimony in 1364.(1271-1320)County ofFürstenberg(1236-1614)Sometimes called Fürstenberg-Baar from 1441, and Fürstenberg-Blumberg from 1559.County ofHaslachAlso called County of Dillingen. The form Haslach was used to avoid confusion with the Hupolding Counts of Dillingen, parent house of the more known Swiss Kyburg family.(1284-1386) Annexed tothe House ofHabsburgCounty ofBadenweiler(2nd creation,Freiburg line)With the loss, by the main line, of the domains of Freiburg in 1368, the Counts of Fürstenberg compensated them with the returning of the county of Badenweiler, which they held until its sell in 1444. This main line also inherited, in 1395, the county of Neuchâtel, which ended up being the only possession they kept until extinction in 1458.(1385-1458) County ofWolfach(1408-1490) County ofGeisingen(1441-1483)Annexed to theHouse of Baden County ofHeiligenberg(1559-1664)A short-lived branch with capital at Donaueschingen separated from Heiligenberg in 1617, and ruled until 1698, when it rejoined Heiligenberg.Raised to:Principality ofFürstenberg (1664-1716) County ofMöhringen(1599-1641)County ofMesskirch(1614-1716)Raised to:Principalityof Messkirch(1716-1744) County ofStühlingen(1614-1716)Principality ofFürstenbergSometimes called Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg(1716-1804)(Stühlingen line)In 1716, after annexing Heiligenberg, Stühlingen inherited the princely title and re-adapted it to Prince of Fürstenberg, establishing themselves as the inheritors of the main Fürstenberg land. County ofWeitraIn 1744, the Prince of Stühlingen, Joseph William Ernest, reunited the lands from Heiligenberg at a new capital at Weitra, and gave them to his younger brother Louis August. After the latter's death, a younger son created a short-lived branch at Taikowitz, which, like its parent lands, was also mediatized in 1806.(1744-1806)Principalityof Pürglitz(1762-1806) (mediatisation in 1806 dividedbetween Württemberg, Badenand Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen)(mediatisedto Austriain 1806)
(Note: The numbering for this family is somehow hard to ascertain. The numbering here follows two sequences: the sequence of the County of Fürstenberg, and the sequence of the County of Freiburg post-1237. Despite there is a established numbering for the counts Henry of Fürstenberg (which excludes count Henry of Trimberg), the counts named Conrad and John aren't usually numbered in sources, and the numbering for counts named Egon and Frederick is also not simple to follow. Therefore, the numbering here for both numberings is sequential, to avoid holes and other confusions. Any other explanation regarding this matter is given in footnote.)