The Margraviate of Baden is a historical territory of the Holy Roman Empire.
Spread along the east side of the Upper Rhine River in southwestern Germany, it is named a margraviate in 1112 and exists until 1803, when it is raised to an electorate.
In 1462 the dispute over the election of the new Archbishop of Mainz sends Charles I (reigned 1453-1475) to fight the war against Frederick I, the Count Palatine of the Rhine.
Known as the “Mainz Archbishops’ Feud,” it is brief, lasting only a few months, but the effects are ruinous for the loser – Charles.
He has to surrender several of his territories to the Palatinate and its allies.
These territories are recovered by his son and successor, Christopher I (reigned 1475-1515).
In 1503, the Baden-Sausenberg dies without male heirs and all the Badener lands are united by Christopher.
He tries to keep them united under one of his sons, Philip, but his efforts are foiled by the King of France.
Before his death, Christopher divides the Margraviate between his three sons.
Philip succeeds him in 1515 but dies childless in 1533, and his share goes to his brothers, Bernard and Ernest.
In 1535, they make a fresh division of their inheritance.
It will be the first of several partitions, establishing the two main lines of the House of Baden – Baden-Baden and Baden-Durlach (Baden-Pforzheim until 1565) – which will last until 1771.
However, the relations between the two lines are not peaceful, and the constant fragmentation does not help.
