They produced electors, kings, and emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania under their motto
"Nihil sine Deo" (nothing without God). The mighty German dynasty of Hohenzollern originated
in Swabia during the 11th century, taking the name from their castle, Burg Hohenzollern. Count
Friedrich III was a loyal retainer of Barbarossa and Heinrich VI, and he married Sophia of Raabs,
the daughter of Burgrave Conrad II of Nürnberg in 1185. After Conrad II died with no male heirs,
Friedrich III was granted the Burgraviate of Nürnberg in 1192 and titled Burgrave Friedrich I of
Nürnberg-Zollern. After Friedrich's death, the family lands were divided amoung his sons.
"Nihil sine Deo" (nothing without God). The mighty German dynasty of Hohenzollern originated
in Swabia during the 11th century, taking the name from their castle, Burg Hohenzollern. Count
Friedrich III was a loyal retainer of Barbarossa and Heinrich VI, and he married Sophia of Raabs,
the daughter of Burgrave Conrad II of Nürnberg in 1185. After Conrad II died with no male heirs,
Friedrich III was granted the Burgraviate of Nürnberg in 1192 and titled Burgrave Friedrich I of
Nürnberg-Zollern. After Friedrich's death, the family lands were divided amoung his sons.
Friedrich III's younger son, Friedrich IV, founded the Swabian line which remained Catholic and
split into two branches who ruled the minor German principalities of Hechingen and Sigmaringen.
Although not famous, they kept their royal lineage and married within the royal European houses.
The Hohenzollern-Hechingen finally became extinct in 1869, while the Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen
family became the Romanian royal family in 1866 before Sigmaringen was ceded to Prussia.
split into two branches who ruled the minor German principalities of Hechingen and Sigmaringen.
Although not famous, they kept their royal lineage and married within the royal European houses.
The Hohenzollern-Hechingen finally became extinct in 1869, while the Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen
family became the Romanian royal family in 1866 before Sigmaringen was ceded to Prussia.
Conrad III, the oldest son of Friedrich III, received the burgraveship of Nürnberg in 1218 from his
younger brother, and founded the Franconian line of the Hohenzollerns who later converted to
Protestantism. Beginning in the 14th Century, this branch expanded through marriage and land
purchases, starting with small acquisitions, such as the margraviates of Ansbach in 1331 and
Kulmbach in 1340. Brandenburg was later awarded to the family in 1415 and they inherited Ducal
Prussia in 1525, making the Hohenzollerns one of the most important royal families in Europe,
eventually lending its power to lead to the state in the Unification of Germany and the creation of the
German Empire in 1871. They abdicated the German throne in 1918.
younger brother, and founded the Franconian line of the Hohenzollerns who later converted to
Protestantism. Beginning in the 14th Century, this branch expanded through marriage and land
purchases, starting with small acquisitions, such as the margraviates of Ansbach in 1331 and
Kulmbach in 1340. Brandenburg was later awarded to the family in 1415 and they inherited Ducal
Prussia in 1525, making the Hohenzollerns one of the most important royal families in Europe,
eventually lending its power to lead to the state in the Unification of Germany and the creation of the
German Empire in 1871. They abdicated the German throne in 1918.
Hohenzollern Castle was reconstructed from the old castle ruins where
only the original chapel was intact. Work began beginning in 1819 by
crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. In 1844, as King Friedrich
Wilhelm IV, he wrote how he relished the memory of that year as a
beautiful dream, particularly a sunset when he recalled watching from
the castle bastions, hoping to see the old castle made habitable again.
Hohenzollern Castle, left, is in the beautiful Swabian Alps next to the
town of Hechingen.
only the original chapel was intact. Work began beginning in 1819 by
crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. In 1844, as King Friedrich
Wilhelm IV, he wrote how he relished the memory of that year as a
beautiful dream, particularly a sunset when he recalled watching from
the castle bastions, hoping to see the old castle made habitable again.
Hohenzollern Castle, left, is in the beautiful Swabian Alps next to the
town of Hechingen.
The palace of Sigmaringen of the princes of
Hohenzollern is built on a long stretch of a Weissjura
rock overlooking the Danube. This palace, of which
the first documented mention was in 1077, experienced
comprehensive restructuring under the prince Karl
Anton (1848 – 1885) who turned it into a meeting
place of the European high nobility. Following the
destruction of the east wing by a fire in 1893, this
Hohenzollern residence was rebuilt on an even greater
scale. Sigmaringen is in the south of Baden-
Württemberg
Hohenzollern is built on a long stretch of a Weissjura
rock overlooking the Danube. This palace, of which
the first documented mention was in 1077, experienced
comprehensive restructuring under the prince Karl
Anton (1848 – 1885) who turned it into a meeting
place of the European high nobility. Following the
destruction of the east wing by a fire in 1893, this
Hohenzollern residence was rebuilt on an even greater
scale. Sigmaringen is in the south of Baden-
Württemberg
| Brandenburg |
Brandenburg, an independent state situated entirely in the territory of ancient Germania, was
bordered by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the north, Poland in the east, and the areas of
Saxony in the south, west and northwest. Today, in its smaller state, it is bordered on the east by
the Oder river, and on the west by a portion of the Elbe, and it contains parts of the Spree and Havel
rivers. Brandenburg was one of seven Electorships of the Holy Roman Empire from the late
medieval period, and since 1618, both Brandenburg and Prussia, then Brandenburg-Prussia, were
ruled by the Hohenzollern dukes who were later kings of Prussia. Frankish Nurnberg, Ansbach and
the southern German Hohenzollern as well as the eastern European connections to Berlin and the
prince-elector together were instrumental in the rise of modern Germany.
bordered by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the north, Poland in the east, and the areas of
Saxony in the south, west and northwest. Today, in its smaller state, it is bordered on the east by
the Oder river, and on the west by a portion of the Elbe, and it contains parts of the Spree and Havel
rivers. Brandenburg was one of seven Electorships of the Holy Roman Empire from the late
medieval period, and since 1618, both Brandenburg and Prussia, then Brandenburg-Prussia, were
ruled by the Hohenzollern dukes who were later kings of Prussia. Frankish Nurnberg, Ansbach and
the southern German Hohenzollern as well as the eastern European connections to Berlin and the
prince-elector together were instrumental in the rise of modern Germany.
Albert the Bear led a crusade against them in 1134. He and his descendants, the Ascanians,
continued to Christianized and cultivate the lands until their line died out in 1320. Brandenburg was
then under the control of the Bavarian Wittelsbach family from 1323 until 1415 when the
margravate, an electorship of the Holy Roman Empire, was granted by the Emperor Sigismund to
the house of Hohenzollern, which would rule until the end of World War I.
continued to Christianized and cultivate the lands until their line died out in 1320. Brandenburg was
then under the control of the Bavarian Wittelsbach family from 1323 until 1415 when the
margravate, an electorship of the Holy Roman Empire, was granted by the Emperor Sigismund to
the house of Hohenzollern, which would rule until the end of World War I.
During the Reformation, Brandenburg embraced Lutheranism in 1539, and then expanded its lands
to include the Duchy of Prussia in 1618 and the Duchy of Cleves in 1614 and elsewhere. It was too
widespread to defend itself properly during the Thirty Years' War, but after the devastation, its
brilliant leaders, the first being the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I, managed to take backwater
Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe. The capital was moved from the town
of Brandenburg to Potsdam and the electors became Kings of Prussia. The Margraviate of
Brandenburg became the Province of Brandenburg in 1815. In 1881, Berlin was separated from the
Province of Brandenburg. For most of recorded history, the founder of Berlin was considered to be
Margrave Albert the Bear. The first authentic document concerning the city is from the year 1237 at
the time of his great grandsons. From the year 1442 until World War One defeat, Berlin became the
residence of the Hohenzollerns.
to include the Duchy of Prussia in 1618 and the Duchy of Cleves in 1614 and elsewhere. It was too
widespread to defend itself properly during the Thirty Years' War, but after the devastation, its
brilliant leaders, the first being the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm I, managed to take backwater
Brandenburg to a pinnacle of power and prosperity in Europe. The capital was moved from the town
of Brandenburg to Potsdam and the electors became Kings of Prussia. The Margraviate of
Brandenburg became the Province of Brandenburg in 1815. In 1881, Berlin was separated from the
Province of Brandenburg. For most of recorded history, the founder of Berlin was considered to be
Margrave Albert the Bear. The first authentic document concerning the city is from the year 1237 at
the time of his great grandsons. From the year 1442 until World War One defeat, Berlin became the
residence of the Hohenzollerns.
In 948AD, Otto I the Great established German
control over the Slavic inhabitants in the area, who
had themselves only arrived around 600 AD, and he
founded the dioceses of Havelberg and Brandenburg.
Upon his death in 983, the Slavs, having burned the
monasteries and killed or expelled priests and
Germans officials, remained pagan and disorganized
for the next 150 years. Descendants of these early
Slave, the Lusations, still live there today as do some
of the Wends.
control over the Slavic inhabitants in the area, who
had themselves only arrived around 600 AD, and he
founded the dioceses of Havelberg and Brandenburg.
Upon his death in 983, the Slavs, having burned the
monasteries and killed or expelled priests and
Germans officials, remained pagan and disorganized
for the next 150 years. Descendants of these early
Slave, the Lusations, still live there today as do some
of the Wends.
| Hohenzollern: Nihil sine Deo |
