Charles Frederick of Baden, regarded as an exemplary enlightened despot, supporting schools, universities, jurisprudence, civil service, economy, culture, and urban development, had in 1767 outlawed torture in the Margraviate of Baden-Durlach, which he has ruled from 1746 until 1771, when he inherits Baden-Baden from the Bernhard Line.

The original land of Baden, of which Charles Frederick becomes Grand Duke, is reunited upon his inheritance of the latter Margraviate.