Hohenzollern-Hechingen

Principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen Fürstentum Hohenzollern-Hechingen (German)
1576–1850
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Nihil Sine Deo (Latin) Nothing without God
Hohenzollern-Hechingen in 1848
Status	Principality
Capital	Hechingen
Common languages	Swabian German
Religion	Roman Catholic
Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen
• 1623	Johann Georg (first)
• 1838–1849	Constantine (last)
Legislature	Landesdeputation
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partition of County of     Hohenzollern	1576
• Raised to Principality	1623
• Incorporation into     Kingdom of Prussia	1850
Population
• 1835	15,000
• 1848	20,000
Preceded by Succeeded by Zollern Province of Hohenzollern

Hohenzollern-Hechingen (German: Fürstentum Hohenzollern-Hechingen) was a small principality in southwestern Germany. Its rulers belonged to the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty.

History

Hechingen and Hohenzollern Castle, c. 1830

The County of Hohenzollern-Hechingen was created in 1576, upon the partition of the County of Hohenzollern, a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. 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)
• Christopher of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch (1552–1592)

Unlike the Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg and Prussia, the Hohenzollerns of southwest Germany remained Roman Catholic. The county was raised to a principality in 1623. The main seat was the Friedrichsburg castle in Hechingen.

The principality joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806 and was a member state of the German Confederation between 1815 and 1850. The democratic Revolution of 1848 was relatively successful in Hohenzollern, and on 16 May 1848, the Prince was forced to accept the establishment of a constitution. However, the conflict between monarch and democrats continued, and on 6 August 1849, Hohenzollern was occupied by Prussian forces. On 7 December 1849, Prince Constantine sold the country to his relative, King Frederick William IV of Prussia. On 12 March 1850, Hohenzollern-Hechingen officially became part of Prussia, and formed together with Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen the Province of Hohenzollern.

Rulers

Coat of arms of a prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen

Counts of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1576–1623)

Source:

• Eitel Friedrich IV, Count 1576–1605 (1545–1605), eldest surviving son of Karl I of Hohenzollern
  • Johann Georg, Count 1605–1623 (1577–1623), created Reichsfürst von Hohenzollern-Hechingen 1623

Princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1623–1850)

• Johann Georg, 1st Prince Mar 23 – Sep 28 1623 (1577–1623)
  • Eitel Friedrich II, 2nd Prince 1623–1661 (1601–1661)
  • Philipp Christoph Friedrich, 3rd Prince 1661–1671 (1616–1671)
    • Friedrich Wilhelm, 4th Prince 1671–1735 (1663–1735)
      • Friedrich Ludwig, 5th Prince 1735–1750 (1688–1750)
    • Prince Hermann Friedrich of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1665–1733)
      • Josef Friedrich Wilhelm, 6th Prince 1750–1798 (1717–1798)
      • Prince Franz Xaver of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1720–1765)
        • Hermann, 7th Prince 1798–1810 (1751–1810)
          • Frederick, 8th Prince 1810–1838 (1776–1838)
            • Constantine, 9th Prince 1838–1849 (1801–1869), sons were without dynastic rights, the Counts of Rothenburg

After cession of territory to Prussia, the Prince continued to use his title.

Line became extinct 1869 at Prince Constantine's death, and titles passed to the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen line.