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Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen is the cadet branch of the senior Swabian branch of the Hohenzollern dynasty (less known however than the Franconian branch which became Burgraves of Nuremberg and later ruled Brandenburg, Prussia and ultimately Germany in the centuries to 1918); the Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ruled over a small principality in southwest Germany. Unlike the Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg, the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringens and their cousins of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (the seniormost branch of the House of Hohenzollern) remained Catholic.
In 1849, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen were annexed by Prussia. 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 as Minister-President of Prussia from 1858 to 1861. Karl Anton's second son, Karl Eitel Friedrich, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became prince (1866-1881) and then king (1881-1914) of Romania, and the house remained on the throne until the end of the monarchy in 1947. French opposition to the candidacy of Carol's elder brother Prince Leopold for the throne of Spain triggered the Franco-Prussian WarMars-la-Tour, August 16, 1870 The Franco-Prussian War ( July 19, 1870 May 10, 1871) was waged between the Empire of France and the Prussian led North German Confederation allied with the south German states of Baden, Bavaria and Wurttemberg. The conflict (1870-1871), which led to the founding (January 1871) of the German Empire.
Counts of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, 1576-1623
- Karl II 1576-1606
- Johann 1606-1623
Princes (Fürsten) of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, 1623-1849
- Johann 1623-1638
- Meinrad I 1638-1681
- Maximilian 1681-1689
- Meinrad II 1689-1715
- Joseph Franz Ernst 1715-1769
- Karl Friedrich 1769-1785
- Anton 1785-1831
- Karl 1831-1848
- Karl Anton 1848-1849
Princes (Fürsten) of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern after the annexation of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
- Karl Anton 1849-1885 (became Prince of Hohenzollern on the death of the last Prince of Hohenzollern-Hechingen in 1869)
- Leopold 1885-1905
- Wilhelm 1905-1927
- Friedrich 1927-1965
- Friedrich Wilhelm 1965-present
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Princes of Romania, 1866-1881
Kings of Romania, 1881-1947 (Princes to 1881)
- Carol I 1881-1914
- FerdinandFerdinand or Ferdinand I ( August 24 1865- July 20 1927) was the king of Romania from October 10 1914 until his death Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, Prince Ferdinand of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen became heir to the throne of his childless uncl 1914-1927
- MichaelKing Michael ( Romanian Mihai of Romania (born October 25, 1921) was the son of King Carol II and reigned from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until December 30, 1947. Michael became King for the first time on the death of 1927-1930
- Carol IICarol II of Romania ( 15 October 1893 4 April 1953) reigned as King of Romania from June 8, 1930 until September 6, 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand von Hohenzollern, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinbu 1930-1940
- MichaelKing Michael ( Romanian Mihai of Romania (born October 25, 1921) was the son of King Carol II and reigned from July 20, 1927 to June 8, 1930, and again from September 6, 1940 until December 30, 1947. Michael became King for the first time on the death of 1940-1947
See also: SigmaringenSigmaringen is a city in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, formerly Hohenzollern, capital of the Sigmaringen district. It was first mentioned in 1077 and is particularly renowned for its wonderfully preserved castle. On September 7, 194
