Waldburg-Zeil

Waldburg-Zeil was a County and later Principality within Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located around Schloss Zeil, near Leutkirch im Allgäu.

Stewardship of Waldburg-Zeil → County of Waldburg-Zeil → Principality of Waldburg-Zeil Truchsessenamt Waldburg-Zeil → Grafschaft Waldburg-Zeil → Fürstentum Waldburg-Zeil
1589–1806
Coat of arms
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire
Capital	Zeil
Common languages	Alemannic German
Government	Principality
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from     Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil	1589
• Raised to County	1628
• Annexed half of     Waldburg-Waldburg	1660
• Partitioned to create     Waldburg-Wurzach	1674
• Raised to principality	1803
• Mediatised to     Kgdm Württemberg	1806
Preceded by Succeeded by Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil Kingdom of Württemberg

Coat of arms of the Princes of Waldburg-Zeil

Zeil Castle near Leutkirch

History

Waldburg-Zeil was a partition of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil. Originally ruled by Truchesses (stewards), Waldburg-Zeil was elevated to a County in 1628, and a Principality in 1803 shortly before being mediatised to Württemberg in 1806.

In 1674, Waldburg-Zeil was partitioned between itself and Waldburg-Wurzach. Count Francis Anthony inherited Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1772 (the districts of Friedburg and Scheer were later sold to Thurn und Taxis in 1785), and Steward Froben and Steward Henry of Waldburg-Wolfegg partitioned Waldburg-Waldburg after the death of Steward Gebhard.

Rulers of Waldburg-Zeil

Stewards of Waldburg-Zeil (1589–1628)

• Froben (1589–1614)
• John James I (1614–28)

Counts of Waldburg-Zeil (1628–1803)

• John James I (1628–74)
• Paris James (1674–84)
• John Christopher (1684–1717)
• John James II (1717–50)
• Francis Anthony (1750–90)
• Maximilian Wunibald (1790–1803)

Princes of Waldburg-Zeil(-Trauchburg) (1803–1806)

• Maximilian Wunibald (1803–06)

The present prince is Erich, Fürst von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (born 1962), the only son of Georg, Prince von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (1928-2015) and Princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria (b. 1931), daughter of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria. In 1988 he married Mathilde, Duchess of Württemberg, daughter of Carl, Duke of Württemberg and Princess Diane of Orléans. As Erich has five daughters, his heir presumptive is his first cousin, Count Clemens von Waldburg-Zeil (b. 1960), married to Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein, who has three sons.

Princes of Waldburg-Zeil(-Trauchburg) (1803–1806)

• Maximilian Wunibald, 1st Prince 1803-1818 (1750-1818)
  • Franz-Thäddaus, 2nd Prince 1818-1845 (1778-1845)
    • Constantin Maximilian, 3rd Prince 1845-1862 (1807-1862)
      • Wilhelm, 4th Prince 1862-1906 (1835-1906)
        • Georg, 5th Prince 1906-1918 (1867-1918)
          • Erich August, 6th Prince 1918-1953 (1899-1953)
            • Georg, 7th Prince 1953-2015 (1928-2015) - married to princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria, daughter of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria.
              • Erich, 8th Prince 2015–present (b.1962) - married to duchess Mathilde of Württemberg, daughter of Carl, Duke of Württemberg
            • Count Aloysius (1933-2014)
              • Count Clemens (b.1960)
                • Count Eduard (b.1985)
                • Count Maximilian (b.1992)
                • Count Constantin (b.1994)

Lustenau-Hohenems branch

 

Hohenems Palace, Austria

In 1779 a side branch of the Counts of Waldburg-Zeil inherited the sovereign county of Lustenau by marriage. The county was mediatized to Bavaria in 1806 and became part of Austria in 1830. The present Count is Franz Josef von Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems.^[1][2]

47°52′N 10°0′E / 47.867°N 10.000°E / 47.867; 10.000

References

1. . Archived from the original on 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2010-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. . Royaltravel.blogspot.com. July 24, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2022-07-20.