Hohenzollern, two united principalities (Hechingen and Sigmaringen) of south Germany, but belonging to Prussia, consist of a narrow strip of land entirely surrounded by Württemberg and Baden. Area, 441 sq. m.; pop. (1890) 66,085, mostly Roman Catholics. The territory, whose surface is generally mountainous, stretches southeast from the Black Forest, across the Neckar and the Danube. The principal industries are agriculture and the rearing of cattle. Iron ore, gypsum, salt, and coal exist, as well as some mineral springs. The seat of government is Sigmaringen (4146).
The Hohenzollern family traces its descent from Count Thassilo, who lived about the beginning of the 9th century, and founded a castle near Hechingen, on the Zollern hill in the Swabian Alb, whence his descendants derived their patronymic. About 1165 the first separation took place, Frederick IV. founding the elder or Swabian and Conrad III. the younger or Franconian line. The elder line was subdivided, in 1576, into the branches of Hechingen and Sigmaringen. Frederick VI., the representative of the younger line, in 1415 received from the Emperor Sigismund the investiture of the electorate of Brandenburg, thus founding the reigning dynasty of Prussia. The two branches of the elder line continued unbroken till 1849, when the reigning princes ceded their respective rights and principalities to the king of Prussia, who agreed to pay them annual pensions. See GERMANY, Vol. V. p. 184.