Baden History: Difference between revisions

<br>Sometime around AD 500 the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franks Franks] under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clovis_I Clovis I]&nbsp;defeated the Allemanni at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tolbiac#Date Battle of Tolbiac], which is usually identified as Zülpich, North Rhine-Westphalia. This defeat at the hands of the Franks placed the Allemanni, and the northern part of Baden, under Frankish hegemony. As a result of his victory at Tolbiac, Clovis converted from paganism to Catholicism (instead of to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism Arian Christianity], as were most of the other Germanic kings, if they were Christian). His conversion helped to ensure the growth of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism Catholicism] in Germany and engendered an amicable relationship between the Frankish kingdom and the Church of Rome. In time, Baden became part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolingian_Empire Carolingian ]and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire Holy Roman Empires]. <br>  

== The High Middle Ages  ==

<br>The situation at the advent of the 18th century looked very bleak for Baden. But all that changed in 1738 when [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Friedrich,_Grand_Duke_of_Baden Charles Frederick] succeeded his grandfather as Margrave of Baden-Durlach. He ruled, however, only from 1746, when he came of age. In 1771, he inherited Baden-Baden when that line died out. At this time, Baden was reunited. Charles changed society enormously. He supported schools, universities, civil service, the economy, culture and urban development. He outlawed some of the more unpleasant aspects of European culture of the time, torture and serfdom. In 1803, Charles became elector of Baden and in 1806 first Grand Duke of Baden. He also made some territorial acquisitions: the Bishoprics of Constance, Strassburg,&nbsp; Speyer, Breisgau and Ortenau. <br>  

== The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars  ==