Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden

Margrave Bernhard III. of Baden ( * October 7, 1474, † June 29, 1536 ) inherited in 1515 together with his two brothers, Ernst I. and Philip of his father parts of the Margraviate of Baden. He ruled his part from 1515 to 1536.

After his brother Philip died in 1533 and its part fell back on him and his brother Ernst I, the two government lines originated

  • " Bernhardi Linie " ( Catholic) Baden- Baden and
  • " Ernestine line " ( Protestant ) Baden -Durlach.

Only after the extinction of the line of Baden- Baden, the Margraviate of Baden in 1771 united under Margrave Karl Friedrich again.

Bernard was educated at the court of Emperor Maximilian and went with his friend Philip, the son of Maximilian, to Spain. Philip was appointed in 1504 to the king of Spain. Margrave Bernhard declined in later years to Protestantism and resulted in the upper Margraviate of the Reformation.

Marriage and issue

Bernhard III. married in 1535, two years before his death, Frances of Luxembourg, Countess of Brienne and Luxembourg († June 17, 1566 ), the daughter of Count Charles of Luxembourg. The marriage produced two sons have emerged, the second son, Christopher, after the death of the Marquis saw the light of the world.

  • Philibert (* January 22, 1536, † October 3, 1569 )
  • Christoph (* February 26, 1537; † August 2, 1575 )

However, Bernhard had numerous extramarital children, of whom six sons ( Bernard, Philip, John, George, Caspar, Melchior ) are known. Emperor Charles V declared in 1532 Georg Caspar, Melchior for lawful prince, later also Bernhard and Philipp. However, these sons were not entitled to inherit, but received after the death of his father, for maintenance.

119100
de