Waldburg-Zeil

Stewardship of Waldburg-Zeil → County of Waldburg-Zeil → Principality of Waldburg-Zeil
Truchsessenamt Waldburg-Zeil → Grafschaft Waldburg-Zeil → Fürstentum Waldburg-Zeil
State of the Holy Roman Empire
1589–1806
Coat of arms
Capital		Zeil
Languages		Alemannic German
Government		Principality
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	Partitioned from     Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil	1589
•	Raised to County	1628
•	Annexed half of     Waldburg-Waldburg	1660
•	Partitioned to create     Waldburg-Wurzach	1674
•	Raised to principality	1803
•	Mediatised to     Kgdm Württemberg	1806
Preceded by Succeeded by Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil Kingdom of Württemberg

File:Schloss Zeil (Der Fürst).JPG

Zeil Castle near Leutkirch

Waldburg-Zeil was a County ruled by the House of Waldburg, located in southeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located around Schloss Zeil, near Leutkirch im Allgäu.

History

Waldburg-Zeil was a partition of Waldburg-Wolfegg-Zeil. Originally ruled by Truchesses (Stewards), Waldburg-Zeil was elevated to a County in 1628, and a Principality in 1803 shortly before being mediatised to Württemberg in 1806.

In 1674, Waldburg-Zeil was partitioned between itself and Waldburg-Wurzach. Count Francis Anthony inherited Waldburg-Trauchburg in 1772 (the districts of Friedburg and Scheer were later sold to Thurn und Taxis in 1785), and Steward Froben and Steward Henry of Waldburg-Wolfegg partitioned Waldburg-Waldburg after the death of Steward Gebhard.

Rulers of Waldburg-Zeil

Stewards of Waldburg-Zeil (1589–1628)

• Froben (1589–1614)
• John James I (1614–28)

Counts of Waldburg-Zeil (1628–1803)

• John James I (1628–74)
• Paris James (1674–84)
• John Christopher (1684–1717)
• John James II (1717–50)
• Francis Anthony (1750–90)
• Maximilian Wunibald (1790–1803)

Princes of Waldburg-Zeil (1803–1806)

• Maximilian Wunibald (1803–06)

The present prince is Georg, Fürst von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (b. 1928), married to princess Marie Gabrielle of Bavaria, daughter of Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria. The heir apparent is their only son Erich, Hereditary Count von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg (born 1962), who married Mathilde, duchess of Württemberg, daughter of Carl, Duke of Württemberg and Princess Diane of Orléans. As Erich has five daughters, his heir presumptive is his first cousin, count Clemens von Waldburg-Zeil (b. 1960), married to Georgina, princess of Liechtenstein, who has two sons.

Lustenau-Hohenems branch

Hohenems Palace, Austria

In 1779 a side branch of the Counts of Waldburg-Zeil inherited the sovereign county of Lustenau by marriage. The county was mediatized to Bavaria in 1806 and became part of Austria in 1830. The present Count is Franz Josef von Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems.[1][2]