Württemberg

Württemberg, historic region of Germany, bounded by Bavaria, Lake Constance (Bodensee), which separated the area from Switzerland, and Baden. The capital was Stuttgart.

Occupied originally by the Celts and the Suevi, the Württemberg region was conquered in the 1st century ad by the Romans. In the 3rd century it was overrun by the Alamanni, who in turn were subdued by the Franks. The Frankish emperors organized the area as part of the duchy of Swabia, and in or before the 13th century gave the title of counts of Württemberg to a local family. The counts became increasingly powerful, and in 1495 Württemberg was raised to the rank of a duchy. The area became Protestant during the 16th century and was ravaged during the Thirty Years' War, but it began to develop as a manufacturing and textile centre by the late 17th century.

The dukes of Württemberg were raised to the rank of electors in 1803 and of kings in 1806. Württemberg was allied with Austria against Prussia in 1866, during the Seven Weeks' War, but it joined the Prussian-dominated North German Confederation in 1867. The kingdom supported Prussia against France in 1870 and in 1871 became part of the new German Empire.

After World War II, Württemberg was divided into the newly created states of Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern; both became parts of West Germany in 1949. These states merged in 1952 with the state of Baden to form the new state of Baden-Württemberg. In 1990, West and East Germany united and became the Federal Republic of Germany.