Hohenzollern Germany

Kingdom of Prussia

Hohenzollern Germany first emerged in Swabia (in Baden-Württemburg) in the 11th century, achieving the status of “county” in 1111. Shortly thereafter, the lines divided between a Swabian branch, which remained in the core territory, and a Franconian branch, which gradually acquired territory throughout central Europe. Most significantly, the Franconian branch acquired the Burgraviate of Nuremburg in 1192 (partially surrendered in 1427), the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1415 and the Duchy of Prussia in 1525.

 

Brandenburg and Prussia were ruled in personal union beginning in 1618, received additional territory as a result of the peace of Westphalia in 1648, and became the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. (The King was technically known as the King in Prussia, not the King of Prussia because the Empire would recognize only one king within its borders—that of Bohemia. Prussia was outside of the Empire, so it could have a king, but much of its territory was within the Empire and the preposition “in” maintained the fiction that Prussian territory within the Empire was not ruled by a king.) By 1791, all territory of the Franconian branch had been incorporated into Prussia. During and after the Napoleonic Wars, Prussia acquired yet more territory. The Swabian branch, however, did not become part of Prussia until 1849.

 

Note that I treat the Kingdom of Prussia as a nation on the same level as Hohenzollern Germany, not a country (that is, the level of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia). The following lists will be expanded as more regions are processed.