Württemberg

The House of Württemberg grew from the lords of Beutelsbach in the Rems valley, first recorded in 1081 and named after Wirtemberg castle above Stuttgart. They ranked as counts from the twelfth century. Ulrich I's marriage in 1251 brought Stuttgart, which became their sole residence after Beutelsbach was ravaged in 1311.

Eberhard I enlarged the domain by almost half despite a royal war of 1310 to 1311. His son Ulrich III bought Vaihingen in 1339 and Tübingen in 1342; Eberhard II and Ulrich IV continued acquiring castles and towns, gaining the mint right in 1374.

The Treaty of Nürtingen split the house in 1442, but Eberhard V reunited its lands through treaties in 1482 and 1492. In 1495 the county became the Duchy of Württemberg; the dynasty later became electors and, in 1806, kings.