Early in the 3rd century, the Alemanni drove the Romans beyond the Rhine and the Danube , but they in turn succumbed to the Franks under Clovis I , the decisive battle taking place in The area later became part of the Holy Roman Empire.
The history of Baden as a state began in the 12th century, as a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. As a fairly inconsequential margraviate that was divided between various branches of the ruling family for much of its history, it gained both status and territory during the Napoleonic era, when it was also raised to the status of grand duchy.
In , it became one of the founder states of the German Empire. The monarchy came to an end with the end of the First World War, but Baden itself continued in existence as a state of Germany until the end of the Second World War. The state had a basic parliamentary system that changed to absolutism in the 18th century.
Scholars have universally rejected the once-popular derivation from "Wirth am Berg". Some authorities derive it from a proper name: "Wiruto" or "Wirtino," others from a Celtic place-name, "Virolunum" or "Verdunum". In any event, from serving as the name of a castle near the Stuttgart city district of Rotenberg , the name extended over the surrounding country and, as the lords of this district increased their possessions, so the name covered an ever-widening area, until it reached its present extent.
Early forms included Wirtenberg , Wirtembenc and Wirtenberc. In the first century AD, the Romans conquered the land and defended their position there by constructing a rampart limes. Early in the third century, the Alemanni drove the Romans beyond the Rhine and the Danube , but they in turn succumbed to the Franks under Clovis , the decisive battle taking place in For about years, the district was part of the Frankish empire and was administered by counts until it was subsumed in the ninth century by the German Duchy of Swabia.
