Freiherr Sigismund Karl Johann von Reitzenstein (3 February 1766 in Nemmersdorf - 5 March 1847 in Karlsruhe) was the first minister of state of the

Grand Duchy of Baden The Grand Duchy of Baden (german: Großherzogtum Baden) was a state in the southwest German Empire on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918. It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and sub ...

. From 1781, Reitzenstein studied law in Göttingen and Erlangen before getting a position in the

Principality of Bayreuth The Principality of Bayreuth (german: Fürstentum Bayreuth) or Margraviate of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (''Markgraftum Brandenburg-Bayreuth'') was an immediate territory of the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by a Franconian branch of the Hohenzollern dyna ...

. In 1788 he took service in the Margravate of Baden in Karlsruhe. He advanced quickly, first taking part in the secret council of the court and then advancing to chamberlain in 1790 and bailif in Lörrach in 1792. Reitzenstein did much to bring Baden closer to its powerful neighbor France. He struck a separate peace with France in Basel in August 1796. He then worked in Paris from 1797 to 1803 as ambassador of Baden. During this period, not only did Baden become an Electorate, Reitzenstein oversaw the quadrupling of the size of the duchy. Reitzenstein resigned his post in 1803. Reitzenstein was named cabinet minister twice in 1805/1806 and 1809/1810. In 1806 he returned to Paris to negotiate the marriage of

Charles, Grand Duke of Baden Charles (german: Karl Ludwig Friedrich; 8 July 1786 – 8 December 1818) was Grand Duke of Baden from 11 June 1811 until his death in 1818. He was born in Karlsruhe. Life His father was Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden, the heir to ...

to Napoleon's adopted daughter,

Stéphanie de Beauharnais Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Baden (Stéphanie Louise Adrienne de Beauharnais; 28 August 1789 – 29 January 1860) was a French princess and the Grand Duchess consort of Baden by marriage to Karl, Grand Duke of Baden. Biography Early life Born i ...

. In November 1809, he reorganized the state into circles along the lines of the French departments. From 1807-1809 and again in 1810, Reitzenstein was curator of the

University of Heidelberg } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, B ...

. There he had an important role in forming the educational policy of the state.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reitzenstein, Sigismund von 1766 births 1847 deaths People from Bayreuth (district) category:Ministers-President of Baden category:Ministers of the Grand Duchy of Baden