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| Capital (and largest city) |
Mannheim | ||||
| Language | German | ||||
| Prince | Nicholas | ||||
| Chancellor | Conrad Pfeiffer | ||||
| Population | 315,000 | ||||
| Independence | 1539 | ||||
| Currency | HRM | ||||
The Principality of Hordt, Hordt, is a small constitutional monarchy on the left bank of the Rhine. It is virtually surrounded by the Palatinate though also borders Luxembourg, Mainz and the Imperial City of Spires. It is a member of the Holy Roman Empire. The population is around 315,000 and the capital is Mannheim.
The Head of State is Prince Nicholas.
The official language is German.
It has recently adopted the Imperial Mark (HRM), the largest state so far to do so.
History[]
The ruling house of Wantzenau-Liechtenstein-Wettin can claim descent from the Barrese freedom fighter Joanna of Wantzenau (also known as Joan of Arc in France ).
Joanna's statue in Mannheim Cathedral
Through her exploits against France and the Hussites Joanna was endowed with various territories on the Rhine and in Bohemia. Her daughter Joanna inherited the assorted Bohemian lands on her 14th birthday and added to them her father's lands when he died in 1463. She looked to join a nunnery but was dissuaded and would convert to Utraquism in autumn that year. Prominent noblemen looked to match her with a member of the Luxembourg family as it would have potentially given Utraquism a boost and the Luxembourgs a divine link. However, as her mother was not of noble birth this would disqualify any of her children from the Imperial succession. Instead she married Wenceslaus, from a cadet branch of the Liechtenstein family.
Their sons Nicholas and Wenceslaus were distinguished commanders during the War of Anglian Succession. Their daughter Joanna married the Czech nobleman Jan Korybut, and then, after his death, Georg, a minor landless noble of the House of Wettin. The brothers were jointly awarded with vacant land in the Palatinate Rhine at Hordt. Joanna would inherit Nicholas' share after his death.
In 1539 Georg & Joanna's son Rupert used a huge sum of money raised from the Czech estates to support the rise of the Wettin Emperor Albert, and thereby converts his Rhine holdings into the Margrave of Hordt, gaining immediacy within the Empire.
His son Rupert II embraced Lutheranism and was a staunch supporter of the Schmalkaldic League.
The Margrave was occupied repeatedly during the Fifty Years War and the family retreated to its Czech holdings for most of the duration. The Margrave was restored to Wantzenau-Liechtenstein-Wettin rule after the Peace and it was expanded to include the previously free cities of Worms and Mannheim. Mannheim had been virtually eradicated during the war, but was spectacularly rebuilt by the returning Wantzenaus.
The Margrave was raised to a Principality in 1824. It remains closely allied to Liechtenstein and Wettin Saxony.
Government[]
Hordt's head of state is Prince Nicholas. His Chancellor is Conrad Pfeiffer. Elections to the small Reichstag are held every five years.
Culture[]
On the anniversary of Joanna of Wantzenau's death the young females from the town of Hordt are dressed up as a small medieval army group. One of the girls is invested with a suit of armour and she will lead the parade as 'Joanna'. This parade is a hugely popular event, with mock battles and sieges staged along the Rhine.
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