Genealogy, heraldry, ancestry

Without any doubt the Duchy of Wuerttemberg during the reign of Duke Ludwig (1568–1593) is a striking example of a multimedia strategy in securing the power of a dynasty. The Duke found himself in a most critical situation because he remained without a male heir. Due to political circumstances he also suffered from an immense political pressure by the House of Habsburg. He had to fear that after his death the Duchy of Wuerttemberg would get lost forever for his family and become part of the Habsburg territories. The article shows a quite impressive range of all kinds of representation in order to preserve the country for the Wuerttemberg dynasty. Even when Wuerttemberg actually remained in the possession of the traditional dynasty after Duke Ludwig’s death in 1593 and his successor Duke Friedrich I managed to outbuy the House of Habsburg’s rights to the Duchy, Duke Ludwig’s successors benefited from his wise and provident strategy. The article shows very clearly that genealogy, heraldry and ancestry were more than traditional elements of ruling families. They constituted power and were the bloodlines of the reigning dynasty. Over three generations of the Wuerttemberg dynasty many artifacts like paintings, coats of arms, buildings and sculptures have been preserved in their original form, or they are described in documents. The impressive range of these artifacts is a testimony to the intense activities of the Dukes of Wuerttemberg to preserve their family’s position and possessions for future generations.