Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (German:Fürstentum Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen) was aprincipality in southwesternGermany. Its rulers belonged to the seniorSwabian branch of theHouse of Hohenzollern. The Swabian Hohenzollerns were elevated to princes in 1623. The small sovereign state with the capital city ofSigmaringen wasannexed to theKingdom of Prussia in 1850 following the abdication of its sovereign in the wake of therevolutions of 1848, then became part of the newly createdProvince of Hohenzollern.

Principality of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Fürstentum Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (German)
1576–1850
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Nihil Sine Deo (Latin) Nothing without God
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (including Haigerloch from 1767 onwards) in 1848
Status	State of theHoly Roman Empire (1576–1806) State of theConfederation of the Rhine (1806–1813) State of theGerman Confederation (1815–1850)
Capital	Sigmaringen
Common languages	German
Government	Principality
Prince
• 1623–1638	Johann (first)
• 1848–1849	Karl Anton (last)
Historical era	Early modern period
• Partition ofCounty     of Hohenzollern	1576
• Raised to principality	1629
• Incorporation into     Prussia	1850
Population
• 1835	41,800[1]
Preceded by Succeeded by County of Zollern Hohenzollern-Haigerloch Province of Hohenzollern
Today part of	Germany

The seniorSwabian branch is less well known to history than the juniorFranconian line, the latter of which becameBurgraves of Nuremberg and later ruledBrandenburg andPrussia, and theGerman Empire.

The County of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was created in 1576, upon the partition of theCounty of Hohenzollern, afief of theHoly Roman Empire. When the last count of Hohenzollern,Karl I (1512–1579) died, the territory was divided among his three sons:

• Eitel Friedrich IV of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1545–1605)
• Charles II of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1547–1606)
• Christoph of Hohenzollern-Haigerloch (1552–1592)

The princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ruled over a small principality in south-western Germany, with a seat atSigmaringen Castle. Unlike the Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg-Prussia, the Hohenzollerns of Sigmaringen remainedRoman Catholic, along with their cousins ofHohenzollern-Hechingen (the senior line of the Swabian branch of the House of Hohenzollern) andHohenzollern-Haigerloch.

The principality became a sovereign state in 1815 after the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and an independent realm following theNapoleonic Wars in 1815. Its ruler, Charles, was deposed in therevolutions of 1848. His son, Karl Anton, succeeded him, and turned to Prussia for aid. Prussian troops arrived in August 1849, and in a treaty signed in December Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was annexed by Prussia, effective in March 1850. The annexation of their state did not, however, mean the end of the importance of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

The last prince,Karl Anton, served asMinister President of Prussia from 1858 to 1861. Karl Anton's second son,Karl Eitel of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became prince (1866–1881) and thenKing of Romania, under the name Carol (reigned 1881–1914). The house remained on the throne until the end of the Romanian monarchy in 1947. The last King of Romania,Michael, died on 5 December 2017.

Because the eldest Hechingen line of the Hohenzollerns became extinct in 1869 with the death ofConstantine, Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, the head of the Sigmaringen branch, Karl Anton, dropped his line's suffix and took the title of Prince (Fürst) of (all) Hohenzollern.

French opposition to the candidacy of Carol's elder brother PrinceLeopold for the throne of Spain triggered theFranco-Prussian War (1870–1871), which led to the founding of theGerman Empire in January 1871.

The head of the Swabian branch of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ruled over the following territories:

• County of Hohenzollern (1061)
• Burgraviate of Nuremberg (1192)
• County ofVeringen (1535)
• Lordship ofHaigerloch (1634)
• Lordship of Wehrstein (1634)
• County of Bergh (1781)

From 1061 until 1806 five of these fiefs (not including Nuremberg) constituted animmediate territory of theHoly Roman Empire under the counts of Zollern,vassals of theHoly Roman Emperor.

From 1806 until 1813 the Hohenzollern lands were arealm of theConfederation of the Rhine, a short-lived state set up byNapoleon I Bonaparte. From 1815 until 1849 the principality was asovereign country and a member of theGerman Confederation. In 1849 it lost its independence, and was incorporated into theKingdom of Prussia as theProvince of Hohenzollern.

The German Confederation was succeeded in 1866 by theNorth German Confederation, which itself was succeeded by theGerman Empire in 1871. In 1918, the Kingdom of Prussia became theFree State of Prussia, and the German Empire was replaced by theWeimar Republic. In 1933 the republic was replaced by theThird Reich. After the defeat of the Nazis the province of Hohenzollern was merged with other territories into the state ofWürttemberg-Hohenzollern. This state was part of theAllied Occupation Zones in Germany until 1952. In that year, the state of Württemberg-Hohenzollern was merged intoBaden-Württemberg, a state of theFederal Republic of Germany.

Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern, is the head of the princely Swabian line.

Thehead of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the historical heir to the titles of:

• Prince (Fürst) of Hohenzollern
• Burgrave (Burggraf) of Nuremberg
• Imperial Count (Reichsgraf) of Hohenzollern
• Count (Graf) of Sigmaringen
• Count (Graf) of Veringen
• Count (Graf) ofBergh
• Lord (Herr) of Haigerloch
• Lord (Herr) of Wehrstein

The historical titulature of rulers of the House of Hohenzollern was, in the German original:Seine Durchlaucht (S.D.)[name] von Gottes Gnaden, Fürst von Hohenzollern, Burggraf von Nürnberg, Graf zu Sigmaringen, Veringen und Berg, Herr zu Haigerloch und Wehrstein.

The English translation is:His Serene Highness (HSH)[name]by the Grace of God, Prince of Hohenzollern, Burgrave of Nuremberg, Count of Sigmaringen, Veringen and Berg, Lord of Haigerloch and Wehrstein.

The modern state ofRomania was formed by union of the principalities ofMoldavia andWallachia in 1859, under theprince domnitorAlexandru Ioan Cuza. He was replaced by Karl Eitel of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in 1866, who ascended the throne as Carol I, Prince of Romania.

During theRusso-Turkish War (1877–78), Romania, which was a functionally independent vassal of theOttoman Empire, proclaimed its full independence. After the commander of the Russian armies had requested Romania's help, Carol accepted to enter the war with the condition of being appointed as commander of the armies that werebesieging Plevna. After the end of theRomanian War of Independence in the 1878, at theTreaty of Berlin, Romania was subsequently recognized as an independent state by theGreat Powers.

In return for reverting to theRussian Empire three southernBessarabian districts that had been regained by Moldavia after theCrimean War in 1852,Dobruja was acquired.

In 1881, theprincipality was raised to akingdom and Prince Carol became KingCarol I. He reigned until his death in 1914, and was succeeded by his nephew,Ferdinand. Shortly after taking the throne, Ferdinand, a Roman Catholic like his predecessor, agreed to have his children reared in theRomanian Orthodox Church.

In 1918Transylvania andBessarabia were incorporated. In 1918–19, confirmed by theTreaty of Versailles of 1919 and theTreaty of Trianon of 1920, most of theBanat became part of Romania. Also,Bukovina was incorporated in 1918.

Ferdinand died in 1927. His eldest son, Crown Prince Carol, having renounced his rights, Carol's only sonMichael ascended the throne. In 1930, however, Carol reclaimed the throne and was crownedCarol II. Carol was forced to abdicate in 1940, and Michael re-mounted the throne. His reign, and that of the dynasty, ended when he was forced to abdicate by a communist regime in 1947.

On 10 May 2011, following lawsuits brought in Germany against his family by his German relatives regarding attribution of the titlePrince of Hohenzollern-Veringen to his son-in-law,Radu Duda, Michael severed dynastic ties with the princely house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, changed the name of his family to "of Romania", and ceased the use of all princely titles borne by him and his family that derived from the German Hohenzollerns.^[2][3]

Thehead of the Romanian branch continued, sinceabolition of the monarchy, to use the hereditary title he bore while reigning:

• Michael I,King of Romania

During the reign ofCarol II of Romania his son,Michael, was styledMăria Sa (M.S.) Marele Voievod de Alba Iuli or, in English translation, "His Highness The GrandVoivode of Alba Julia".

The Romanian original is:Majestatea Sa (M.S.) N.N., Regele Românilor (orMaiestatea Sa (M.S.) N.N., Regele României; both forms are accepted by theRomanian Academy)

The English translation is:His Majesty (H.M.) N.N., King of Romania

The combinedcoat of arms of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is:

• Escutcheon:quartering of theshield, parted per pale, twice parted per fess, with an inescutcheon
  • first sixth:Burgraviate of Nuremberg (1214), on or (gold) a lion rampant sable (black) and abordure ofargent (silver) andgules (red)
  • second sixth:Hereditary Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire (1504), on gules (red, two crossedscepters inor (gold) ^[4]
  • third sixth:Lordship of Haigerloch and Wehrstein (1634), parted per fess gules (red) and argent (silver) 
  • fourth sixth:Countship of Sigmaringen (1535), on gules (red) adeer or (gold) 
  • fifth sixth:Countship of Veringen (1535), on or (gold) three deerhorns horizontally with twice four, and once threeantlerpoints gules (red) 
  • sixth sixth:County of Berg (1781), on argent (white) alion rampant gules (red) and a bordure of sable (black) withroundels or (gold) 
  • inescutcheon:Countship of Zollern (1061), quarterly sable (black) and argent (silver)
• helm: or (gold) a helmet barred andaffronté (sovereign), crowned with acoronet of a German prince (Fürstenkrone)
• crest: sable (black) and argent (white) a head and shoulders of aGerman hound (Deutsche Bracke) (1317)
• wreath: sable (black) and argent (white)
• mantling: manteld sable (black), doubled argent (white) upon a crowned (Fürstenkrone) baldeqin gules (red), doubledermine
• motto:
  • until the 19th century:Hie guet Zollere allwege (We were always good Zollern)
  • from the 19th century onwards:Nihil Sine Deo (Nothing without God)

The combinedcoat of arms with inclusion of the House coat of arms of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is:

• Escutcheon:quartering of theshield, parted per pale, twice parted per fess, with an inescutcheon
  • first sixth:Burgraviate of Nuremberg (1214), on or (gold) a lion rampant sable (black) and abordure ofargent (silver) andgules (red)
  • second sixth: Hereditary Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire, on gules (red, two crossedscepters inor (gold) ^[4]
  • third sixth:Lordship of Haigerloch and Wehrstein (1634), parted per fess gules (red) and argent (silver) 
  • fourth sixth:Countship of Sigmaringen (1535), on gules (red) adeer or (gold) 
  • fifth sixth:Countship of Veringen (1535), on or (gold) three dearhorns horizontally with twice four, and once threeantlerpoints gules (red) 
  • sixth sixth:County of Berg (1781), on argent (white) alion rampant gules (red) and a bordure of sable (black) withroundels or (gold) 
  • inescutcheon:Countship of Zollern (1061), quarterly sable (black) and argent (silver)
• helm: seven particular helmets, equivalent to the seven particular coat of arms (Hohenzollern, Nuremberg, Sigmaringen, Veringen, Berg, Haigerloch and Wehrstein)
• crest: seven particular crests, equivalent to the seven particular coat of arms (Hohenzollern, Nuremberg, Sigmaringen, Veringen, Berg, Haigerloch and Wehrstein)
• wreath: sable (black) and argent (white)
• mantling: manteld sable (black), doubled argent (white)
• supporter: two German hounds
• compartment: grassy

The majorcoat of arms of the Kingdom of Romania consisted, from 1922 onwards, of:

• an escutcheon of the combination of the territories of:
  • Wallachia 
  • Moldavia 
  • Dobruja 
  • Transylvania 
  • Bessarabia 
  • Banat 
  • Oltenia 
  • Bukovina 
  • an inescutcheon of theHouse of Hohenzollern: quarterly sable (black) and argent (silver)
• crest: TheSteel Crown of Romania
• mantling: a crowned baldeqin gules (red), doubledermine
• motto:Nihil Sine Deo (Nothing without God)
• supporter: two rampant lions
• compartment: ground

Members of the House of Hohenzollern reigned asmonarchs in Europe.

Following cession of their sovereignty over the principality to their kinsmen the kings of Prussia in 1849, the heirs of Karl Anton continued to bear the same title, "Prince (Fürst) of Hohenzollern":

• Carol I 1866–1881

• Carol I 1881–1914
• Ferdinand 1914–1927
• Michael 1927–1930
• Carol II 1930–1940
• Michael 1940–1947

• House of Hohenzollern
• Sigmaringen
• Sigmaringen Castle

• Official website of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen – heraldic background information
• The official website of The Romanian Royal Family
• "Das Fürstliche Haus Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen" by Hartmut Platte (in German)

48°5′17″N9°13′0″E / 48.08806°N 9.21667°E /48.08806; 9.21667