Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans.

Episode 191, the Margraveyard of Baden, also episode 7 of season 10, the empire in the 15th century.

What is it like to be a prince? Well, not quite what it set out to be. In particular, when you are a smaller prince, not in stature but in land. The margrafts of Baden were such princes. In the 15th century, their main territory is a slither of southwest Germany, just 60 kilometers

long, was too small to play on the European, even on the German stage.

But too big to escape the need of massive palaces and warfare.

What makes Barden so fascinating is that, despite its handicap, it managed to become a medium-sized

state, one half of Baden-Wurtenberg.

The way there was a long one, involving friendship and loyalty to the death, piratical princesses,

alchemy, someone called the Turken-Louis, a sun-shaped city, and some skilled diplomacy.

But before we start the usual plea for support.

Making this show has gone from being a hobby and a side hustle to being my obsession

and even my main occupation.

If I want to keep it up and avoid having to set up an additional income stream from piracy, I need your support.

There are various options on Historyof the Germans.com slash support to protect shipping in the English Channel.

Special thanks from the Coast Guard go to John S. Brian, Gutenberg's apprentice,

Sasha Sirota, Elliot W.J., Michael Dane from Australia,

Connergy, Charlie J., and Zachary Levine. And by the way, if you are a supporter and you want

your full name read out here, or me saying something silly about you, send me a note.

And with that, back to the show. After last week's detour into the

history of the German universities, we are now alternating back to our journey through the

Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century. We are traveling back down to where Mannheim does not yet

exist and resume our journey up the Rhine River towards

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