Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont: Map & History

History

The noble family of the Counts of Waldeck and the later Princes of Waldeck and Pyrmont were male line descendants of the Counts of Schwalenberg (based at Schwalenberg Castle), ultimately descendent from Widekind I of Schwalenberg (reigned 1127–1136/7). Waldeck Castle, overlooking the Eder river at Waldeck, was first attested in 1120. A branch of the family was named after the castle in 1180, when Volkwin II of Schwalenberg acquired the castle through his marriage with Luitgard, daughter of Count Poppo I of Reichenbach and Hollende, who was heiress of Waldeck. Over time, the family built up a small lordship in modern day North Hesse.

Initially, Waldeck was a fief of the Electorate of Mainz. In 1379, it became the County of Reichslehen.

Military

Waldeck had raised a battalion of infantry in 1681 but for much of the subsequent history leading up to the Napoleonic Wars, Waldeckers generally served as what is commonly described as 'mercenaries', but was actually 'auxiliaries' hired out by the rulers of Waldeck for foreign service. Such was the demand that the single battalion became two in 1740 (the 1st Regiment), three battalions in 1744, four in 1767 (forming a 2nd Regiment). Most notably the foreign service was with the Dutch (the 1st and 2nd Regiments) and British (after an agreement was signed with Great Britain in 1776 to supply troops for the American War of Independence, the 3rd Waldeck Regiment, of a single battalion, was raised).