Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
(1813-1849)
The Principality of Sigmaringen, a German state since 1576, became a member state of the Germanic Confederation between 1815 and 1849. In 1849, it was incorporated into Prussia, not as an independent province, but as a governmental district of the province of the Rhineland. This branch of the royal family was Catholic.
Hohenzollern was the name of a castle that stood on the hill of Zollern just south of Hechingen and gave its name to the Kaiser’s family. Due to the political troubles of 1848, Prince Frederick William of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Prince Charles Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen abdicated their principalities in favor of the King of Prussia. There was a serious proposal to raise Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1835-1905) to the Spanish throne. This initiative was the alleged cause of the Franco-Prussian War. In 1908, the head of this branch of the Hohenzollerns was called simply Prince of Hohenzollern. In 1866, Prince Charles of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was chosen Prince of Rumania, becoming king in 1881. As this territory was Prussian, the 114th Infantry Regiment from Baden provided a castle guard company.