Baden Facts for Kids

Baden was a historical region in southwestern Germany. It existed as different states for many centuries, from a small margraviate to a larger grand duchy and then a republic. Today, it is part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

Map showing Baden (in orange) and its neighbors between 1806 and 1945. Other areas include Palatinate, Hesse, Hohenzollern, and Württemberg. Neighboring countries like France and Switzerland are also shown.

History of Baden
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History of Baden

Early Beginnings: The Margraviate

The story of Baden began in 1112. This was when the Margraviate of Baden (which means "March of Baden" in German) was first created. A margraviate was a special kind of border territory ruled by a margrave.

For a long time, from 1190 to 1771, Baden was not one single state. Instead, it was split into many smaller states. These smaller parts were all still called Baden, but they were ruled separately.

Becoming a Grand Duchy

A big change happened in 1806. This was when the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. Because of this, the Margraviate of Baden grew much larger and more powerful. It became known as the Grand Duchy of Baden (meaning "Grand Duchy of Baden" in German). A grand duchy was a territory ruled by a grand duke.

From Monarchy to Republic

After World War I ended in 1918, another major change occurred. The system where a grand duke ruled (called a monarchy) ended in Baden. Because of this, Baden became a republic. A republic is a country where the people, or their elected representatives, hold the power.

Baden After World War II

When World War II finished in 1945, Baden was divided. The northern part of Baden became part of a new state called Württemberg-Baden. The southern part became its own state, known as South Baden.

In 1947, South Baden officially changed its name back to "Baden." This state of Baden was one of the original states that formed the Federal Republic of Germany. This new country is what we know as Germany today.

Joining Baden-Württemberg

The final big change for Baden happened in 1952. In that year, Baden joined with two other states: Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern. Together, they formed a new, larger state called Baden-Württemberg. This is one of the 16 states that make up modern Germany.