The Lords of Baden, in the extreme…
1112 CE
The Lords of Baden, in the extreme southwest of Germany, have benefited from the breakup of the Duchy of Swabia of Swabia, which had fallen under the control of various counts and dukes, the strongest of them being the House of Zähringen.
Herman II, son of Herman I and grandson of Berthold II, is in 1112 the first to be called Margrave.
He had inherited the March of Verona, the area around Venice,Italy, from his father, but had chosen to establish his residence in the Black Forest region of Germany, where he had been born and raised.
His town of choice had been Baden, as his father had gained the right to rule Baden by marrying its heiress, Judit von Backnang-Sulichgau, Countess of Eberstein-Calw.
Since in 1070, Herman II has been building Castle Hohenbaden; when completed in 1112, he marks the occasion by adopting the title of the Margrave.
Because Baden is the capital, the new Margraviate is also known as Baden.
Herman II will continue to be Margrave until his death in 1130.
The Zahringens are thus able to take their place as one of the four most important dynasts in southern Germany (along with the Habsburgs, Wittelsbachs and Württembergs).