Swabian Circle


The Circle of Swabia or Swabian Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1500 on the territory of the former German stem-duchy of Swabia. However, it did not include the Habsburg home territories of Swabian Austria, the member states of the Swiss Confederacy nor the lands of the Alsace region west of the Rhine, which belonged to the Upper Rhenish Circle. The Swabian League of 1488, a predecessor organization, disbanded in the course of the Protestant Reformation later in the 16th century.

Administration

The directors of the Swabian Circle were the Bishop of Constance and the Duke of Württemberg; meetings of the circle's diet were usually held at the Imperial city of Ulm. Though it was shattered into a multitude of mainly very small states, the circle had an effective government, which, in view of the eastward expansion of France, from 1694 on even maintained its own army based at the Kehl fortress.
As of 1792 the Swabian Circle consisted of 88 territories, of which only the Duchy of Württemberg, the Margraviate of Baden and the Bishopric of Augsburg were of any significance. The Reichsdeputationshauptschluss reduced the number to 41 and the 1806 Rheinbundakte to seven.

Composition

The circle was made up of the following states:
NameType of entityComments
AalenImperial CityImperial immediacy granted by Emperor Charles IV of Luxembourg in 1360.
AugsburgPrince-BishopricEstablished in the 11th century, from the 15th century residence at Dillingen.
AugsburgImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1276.
AulendorfLordshipHeld by the Lords of Königsegg from about 1350.
BaarLandgraviateTerritory around Rottweil, held by the Counts of Fürstenberg since 1283.
BadenMargraviateEstablished in 1112, partitioned into Baden-Durlach and Baden-Baden from 1535 to 1771.
Baden-BadenMargraviateSubdivision of Baden from 1535, residence at Rastatt from 1705, fell to Baden-Durlach in 1771.
Baden-DurlachMargraviateSubdivision of Baden from 1535, residence at Karlsruhe from 1715.
Baden-Hachberg-SausenbergMargraviateMarkgräflerland territory, inherited by Baden in 1503.
BaindtImperial AbbeyGained Reichsfreiheit in 1376.
Biberach an der RißImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1281.
BonndorfLordshipAcquired by St. Blaise's Abbey in 1609 to gain Reichsfreiheit.
BopfingenImperial CitySince 1241.
BuchauImperial AbbeyEstablished in 819 by Louis the Pious.
BuchauImperial CitySince the 13th century.
BuchhornImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1275.
ConstancePrince-BishopricEstablished about 585, Reichsfreiheit confirmed by Frederick I Barbarossa in 1155, residence at Meersburg from 1526.
DinkelsbühlImperial CitySince 1351.
EbersteinCountyLine extinct in 1660, inherited by Württemberg.
EglingenLordshipHeld by Thurn und Taxis from 1726.
EglofsLordshipHeld by the Counts of Abensberg from 1661.
ElchingenImperial AbbeyEstablished about 1120, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1485.
EllwangenPrince-ProvostryEstablished in 1460 as successor of Ellwangen Imperial Abbey.
EßlingenImperial CitySince 1229.
FuggerFreiherrenAcquired the former County of Kirchberg and Weißenhorn in 1507, ennobled by Maximilian I in 1511, hereditary Imperial counts from 1530.
FürstenbergCountyVarious territories, established from the bequest of Berthold V of Zähringen in 1218, Fürstenberg-Baar since 1441.
Fürstenberg-BlumbergCountySubdivision from 1559, again partitioned in 1614.
Fürstenberg-MesskirchCountySubdivision of Fürstenberg-Blumberg from 1614, raised to Principality in 1716, inherited by Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg in 1744.
Fürstenberg-StühlingenCountySubdivision of Fürstenberg-Blumberg from 1614, again partitioned between Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg and Fürstenberg-Weitra in 1704.
Fürstenberg-HeiligenbergCountySubdivision from 1559, raised to Principality in 1664, inherited by Fürstenberg-Fürstenberg in 1716.
GengenbachImperial AbbeyEstablished about 730 by Saint Pirmin, granted to Prince-Bishopric of Bamberg by Henry II in 1007.
GengenbachImperial CitySince 1360.
Giengen an der BrenzImperial CitySince 1391.
GundelfingenLordshipAcquired by Baden in 1507.
GutenzellEstablished in 1237, Reichsfreiheit granted by Emperor Sigismund in 1437.
HausenLordshipTerritory around Hausen Castle, near Beuron. Acquired by Fugger in 1682 following extinction of the line of Lords; to Castell in 1735.
HeggbachImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1231, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1428.
HeilbronnImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Charles IV in 1371.
HeiligenbergCountyHeld by the Counts of Fürstenberg from 1535.
HohenemsCountyReichsfreiheit granted by Ferdinand I in 1560, acquired by Habsburg in 1765.
HohengeroldseckCounty948AD to 1634AD then to the House of Kronberg, then held by the House of Leyen from 1697, Imperial Counts from 1711, Principality of Leyen in 1806.
HohenhöwenLordshipEstablished in 1415, with Stühlingen acquired by Pappenheim in 1582, to Fürstenberg-Stühlingen in 1639.
HohenzollernCountyCounty of Zollern established in the 11th century, partitioned in 1576.
Hohenzollern-HechingenCountySubdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, raised to principality in 1623.
Hohenzollern-HaigerlochCountyFormer Lordship of Haigerloch, subdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, inherited by Hohenzollen-Sigmaringen in 1767.
Hohenzollern-SigmaringenCountySubdivision of Hohenzollern from 1576, raised to principality in 1623.
IrseeImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1186, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1694.
IsnyImperial CityFrom 1365.
JustingenLordshipTerritory around Justingen Castle near Schelklingen, acquired by Württemberg in 1751.
KaisheimImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1133, Imperial abbey since 1346.
KaufbeurenImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
KemptenPrince-AbbeyEstablished in 752, Reichsfreiheit granted by Henry IV in 1062.
KemptenImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1289.
KinzigtalLordshipTerritory around Wolfach, held by Fürstenberg since 1291.
KlettgauLandgraviateHeld by the Counts of Sulz since 1410, acquired by the House of Schwarzenberg in 1698.
KönigseggLordshipTerritory around Guggenhausen, acquired the Imperial county of Rothenfels in 1565, Freiherren from 1621, partitioned in 1622.
Königsegg-AulendorfLordshipSubdivision of Königsegg from 1622, Imperial county from 1629.
Königsegg-RothenfelsLordshipSubdivision of Königsegg from 1622, Imperial county from 1629.
LeutkirchImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Adolf of Nassau in 1293.
LiechtensteinPrincipalityFormer County of Vaduz and Lordship of Schellenberg, acquired by the Counts of Sulz and Klettgau in 1510, sold to Hohenems in 1613, finally to the Princely Family of Liechtenstein in 1699 and 1712.
LindauImperial AbbeyEstablished about 822, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1466.
LindauImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1275.
MainauCommanderyAn administrative grouping of lands held by the Teutonic Order since 1272.
MarchtalImperial AbbeyEstablished about 776, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1500.
MemmingenImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
MeßkirchLordshipHeld by the Counts of Zimmern since 1354, fell to the House of Helfenstein in 1594, Fürstenberg-Messkirch from 1627.
MindelheimLordshipHeld by the House of Frundsberg since 1467, fell to the Duchy of Bavaria in 1586, held by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough as Prince of Mindelheim from 1705 to 1714.
NeresheimImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1095, Reichsfreiheit contested by the House of Oettingen-Wallerstein, confirmed by the Reichskammergericht in 1764.
NördlingenImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1215.
OchsenhausenImperial AbbeyEstablished about 1090, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1495.
OettingenCountyPartitioned in 1522.
Oettingen-OettingenCountySubdivision of Oettingen from 1522, raised to principality in 1674, extinct in 1731.
Oettingen-WallersteinCountySubdivision of Oettingen from 1522, raised to principality in 1774.
Oettingen-SpielbergCountySubdivision of Oettingen-Wallerberg from 1623, raised to principality in 1734.
OffenburgImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1240.
PetershausenImperial AbbeyEstablished in 983 by Saint Gebhard of Constance, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen.
PfullendorfImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1220.
RavensburgImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1278.
ReutlingenImperial CityFrom about 1240.
RoggenburgImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1126, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1482.
Rot an der RotImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1126, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1376.
RothenfelsCountyTerritory around Immenstadt held by the Counts of Montfort since 1332, acquired by Königsegg in 1565.
RottenmünsterImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1224, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in 1237.
RottweilImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Sigismund of Luxembourg in 1434, associate of the Swiss Confederacy 1519–1689.
SalemImperial abbeyEstablished about 1134, Reichsfreiheit granted by Conrad III of Hohenstaufen in 1142.
SchussenriedImperial AbbeyEstablished by Rot an der Rot Abbey in 1183, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1440.
Schwäbisch GmündImperial CitySince about 1250.
Schwäbisch HallImperial CitySince 1280.
SickingenLordshipTerritory in the Kraichgau, held by the successors of Imperial Knight Franz von Sickingen, Freiherren from 1606, Imperial counts from 1790.
SöflingenImperial AbbeyEstablished about 1258 by the Counts of Dillingen, gained Reichsfreiheit against Ulm in 1773.
St George in IsnyImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1096, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1781.
StadionCountyReached Reichfreiheit in 1705 by purchasing the Lordship of Thannhausen, split into Stadion-Thannhausen and Stadion-Warthausen in 1741.
StaufenLordshipHeld by the Freiherren von Staufen, extinct in 1602, then part of Further Austria, acquired by St Blaise's Abbey in 1738.
StühlingenLandgraviateHeld by the Counts of Lupfen since 1251, extinct in 1582, acquired by Pappenheim, to Fürstenberg-Stühlingen in 1639.
TeckDuchyFormer branch of the House of Zähringen, extinct in 1439, ducal title granted to Eberhard I of Württemberg by Maximilian I in 1495.
TettnangLordshipHeld by the Counts of Monfort, fell to Further Austria in 1780.
ThannhausenLordshipReichsfrei territory around Tannhausen.
ThengenCountyRear county held by the Mainau commandery of the Teutonic Order since 1488, front county to Further Austria in 1522 and held by the Princes of Auersperg from 1663.
ÜberlingenImperial CityReichsfreiheit confirmed about 1400.
UlmImperial CityGained Reichsfreiheit in the 12th century.
UrsbergImperial AbbeyEstablished about 1128, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1143.
Waldburg-SonnenburgArchstewardshipTerritory around Nüziders, lordship held by the Truchsess of Waldburg since 1455, Reichsfreiheit granted by Frederick III of Habsburg in 1463, line extinct in 1511.
Waldburg-TrauchburgArchstewardshipTerritory around Trauchburg castle near Isny, held by Waldburg since 1306, Imperial county from 1628, extinct in 1772.
Waldburg-ScheerArchstewardshipFormer County of Friedberg around Scheer castle, held by Waldburg-Sonnenburg since 1454, inherited by Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1511, to Thurn und Taxis in 1785.
Waldburg-Wolfegg-ZeilArchstewardshipTerritory around Zeil castle near Leutkirch, held by Waldburg since 1337, acquired Wolfegg and Waldsee from Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1508, partitioned in 1589.
Waldburg-WolfeggArchstewardshipSubdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil from 1589, Imperial county from 1628, again partitioned in 1667, extinct in 1798.
Waldburg-WaldseeArchstewardshipSubdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg from 1667, inherited Waldburg-Wolfegg in 1798, raised to principality in 1803.
Waldburg-ZeilArchstewardshipSubdivision of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil from 1589, Imperial county from 1628, again partitoned in 1674, inherited Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1772, raised to principality in 1803.
Waldburg-WurzachArchstewardshipSubdivision of Waldburg-Zeil from 1674, raised to principality in 1803.
WangenImperial CityReichsfreiheit granted by Rudolph of Habsburg in 1286.
WeilImperial CitySince about 1275.
WeingartenImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1056 by Duke Welf I of Bavaria, gained Reichsfreiheit in 1274.
WeißenauImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1145, gained Reichsfreiheit about 1257.
WettenhausenPrince-ProvostryEstablished in 1130.
WiesensteigLordshipHeld by the House of Helfenstein, partitioned between Fürstenberg and the Duchy of Bavaria in 1627.
WimpfenImperial CitySince about 1300.
WürttembergDuchyCounty of Wirtemberg established in the 12th century, raised to duchy in 1495 by Maximilian I.
Zell am HarmersbachImperial CitySince the 14th century.
ZwiefaltenImperial AbbeyEstablished in 1089, gained Reichsfreiheit'' from Württemberg in 1750.