BADEN

Baden was a border state of the Holy Roman Empire and one of The Germanies along the frontier with France in the southwest of Germany, primarily consisting of territory along the right bank of the Rhine opposite Alsace and the Palatinate. The territory came into existence as a margravate in the 11th century as a fairly small state. For most of the early modern period, the Baden lands were divided into two parts, one ruled by the Catholic Margraves of Baden-Baden, and the other by the Protestant Margraves of Baden-Durlach.

In 1771, the main Baden-Baden line became extinct, and all of the Baden lands came under the rule of Baden-Durlach. During the Napoleaniac era, in the imperial reorganization of 1803, Baden gained a great deal of additional territory, and its rulers were made one of the few Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire, a title held to be far more important that even that of Archduke or Grand Duke.

However, this preeminent dignity lasted only for three years, until the end of the empire in August of 1806 eight months after the crushing Battle of Austerlitz; after Francis II of Austria had a chance to examin the political state of Europe, he chose to disband the Empire rather than let the hated Napolean ascend to the dignity. Thereafter he became the Emperor of Austria, his possessions in the Germanies either held by Napolean, or his allies, he held to be traitors. Consequently, in that year, the Margraves took on the title of Grand Duke of Baden, and gained additional territory. The Grand Duchy, within approximately the borders of 1806, continued to exist until the fall of the German monarchies in 1918, when it became a republic.

BADEN-DURLACH
Key identification notes: Letters "BAD", either the common Baden arms or a variation with arms divided per pall inverted with the common Baden arms in the upper left.

10 Kreuzer

5 Kreuzer

2 Kreuzer

1 Albus (2 Kreuzer)

Half Gulden

3 Kreuzer

1 Kreuzer