Suabia

Swabia , or Suevia (Ger. Schwaben ). An ancient duchy in the southwest of Germany, so named from a horde of Suevi, who spread over it in the 5th century; was a great duchy of the Frank empire till the 8th century. In 918, it was acknowledged a ducal fief of the empire; and after changing hands several times, it was bestowed upon Count Frederick of Hohenstaufen, the founder of the illustrious house of that name, also known as the house of Suabia. Under the rule of this prince, Suabia became the most rich, civilized, and powerful country of Germany; but the wars of the Guelphs and Ghi bel lines, and the quarrel with the French respecting Naples, put an end to the dynasty in 1268. The ducal va als of Suabia rendered themselves almost independent, and profe ed to acknowledge no lord but the emperor. During these di ensions arose the lordships of Würtemberg and Baden, with numerous le er states, holding direct of the crown, and opposed to them the cities, which strove also for an equal independence, and obtained, in 1347, great additional privileges. A number of them united to make common cause against the neighboring feudal lords in 1376 (known as the “First Suabian League”); an opposite league was formed between Würtemberg, Baden, and seventeen towns in 1405, called the “League of Marbach”; and both took part in the war of Swi independence, the former in support of the Swi , the latter of the Austrians. At last the towns, which had been increasing in power, decided at Ulm, in 1449, to form a standing army, and a permanent military commi ion, for the forcible preservation, if nece ary, of peace and order; and the Count of Würtemberg, the most powerful of the opposite party, having joined them, was appointed military chief of the league, which ultimately grew up into the “Great Suabian League,” which effectively repre ed feudal quarrels. In 1512, Suabia became one of the ten circles into which Germany was now divided, received its complete organization in 1563, and retained it almost without change till the di olution of the empire in 1806. But during this period, the wars of the towns with Würtemberg, the Peasants’ war, of which Suabia was one of the foci, the Thirty Years’ War, and those between France and the empire, destroyed the democratic constitution of the towns, and with it their energy, and then their prosperity disappeared, leaving now no relic which could suggest their former great importance.