Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden

Bernhard III
Margrave of Baden-Baden
Margrave Bernhard III of Baden-Baden
Born	(1474-10-07)7 October 1474
Died	29 June 1536(1536-06-29) (aged 61)
Noble family	Zähringen
Spouse(s)	Franziska of Luxemburg
Father	Christopher I, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Mother	Ottilie of Katzenelnbogen

Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden (7 October 1474 – 29 June 1536) inherited in 1515 part of his father's margraviate of Baden. He ruled his part from 1515 until 1536.

His two brothers, Ernest and Philip inherited the other parts; after Philip died, he and Ernest each inherited half of Philip's part. This created two lines of rulers:

• "Bernhardine line" (Catholic) ruled Baden-Baden
• "Ernestine line" (Protestant) ruled Baden-Durlach

The Bernhardine line died out in 1771, allowing Margrave Charles Frederick of the Ernestine line to reunite the Margraviate of Baden.

Bernard was brought up at the court of Emperor Maximilian I and went to Spain with his friend, Maximilian's son Philip I. Philip was appointed King of Spain in 1504.

Margrave Bernhard tended in his later years to Protestantism and introduced the Reformation into the upper Margraviate.

Marriage and issue

Bernhard III married in 1535, two years before his death, Franziska of Luxemburg, Countess of Brienne and Ligny (d. 17 June 1566), the daughter of Charles I, Count of Ligny. They had two sons; the younger, Christopher, was born after Bernard's death:

• Philibert (born: 22 January 1536, died: 3 October 1569)
• Christopher (born: 26 February 1537; died: 2 August 1575)

Bernhard, however, had numerous extra-marital children, of whom six sons (Bernard, Philip, John, George, Caspar, and Melchior) are known. In 1532, Emperor Charles V declared George, Caspar and Melchior to be legitimate princes, and later, Bernhard and Philip as well. These sons were not entitled to inherit, but they received a maintenance payment after their father's death.

Ancestors

Family of Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden

16. Bernard I, Margrave of Baden-Baden 8. Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden 17. Anna of Oettingen 4. Charles I, Margrave of Baden-Baden 18. Charles II, Duke of Lorraine 9. Catherine de Lorraine 19. Margaret of the Palatinate 2. Christopher I, Margrave of Baden 20. Leopold III, Duke of Austria 10. Ernest, Duke of Austria 21. Viridis Visconti 5. Catherine of Austria 22. Siemowit IV of Masovia 11. Cymburgis of Masovia 23. Alexandra of Lithuania 1. Bernhard, Margrave of Baden-Baden 24. John IV, Count of Katzenelnbogen 12. Philip I, Count of Katzenelnbogen 25. Anne of Katzenelnbogen 6. Philip II of Katzenelnbogen 26. Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg 13. Anna of Württemberg 27. Henriette of Mömpelgard 3. Ottilie of Katzenelnbogen 28. Engelbert I of Nassau 14. Henry II, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg 29. Johanna van Polanen 7. Ottilie of Nassau 30. Rupert IV of Virneburg 15. Genoveva of Virneburg 31. Agnes of Solms-Braunfels

See also

• Baden
• List of rulers of Baden

References and sources

• Friedrich von Weech (1875), "Bernhard III., Markgraf von Baden", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 2, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, p. 416
• Johann Christian Sachs: Einleitung in die Geschichte der Marggravschaft und des marggrävlichen altfürstlichen Hauses Baden, Karlsruhe 1764–1770, vol. 3, p. 195-214