Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern

Life

After only slightly over a year ruling his family's small principality, Karl Anton abdicated in December 1849 in favor of his distant cousin, the King of Prussia, and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, along with the neighboring principality of Hohenzollern-Hechingen, was annexed by Prussia. After his abdication, Karl Anton became a prominent figure in Prussian politics. After the fall of the reactionary Manteuffel ministry in 1858, and the accession of Prince William as regent for his incapacitated brother, King Frederick William IV, a new, moderately liberal ministry was appointed, with Karl Anton as Minister-President. The Prince continued in this role until 1862, when he resigned in the midst of a struggle with parliament over the military budget.

After this, Karl Anton largely resigned from active politics and focused on his role as head of the Catholic branch of the Hohenzollern family, accentuated by the extinction of the Hohenzollern-Hechingen line in 1869. In 1866, his second son, Karl, was offered the throne of Romania, where he would rule for nearly forty years as Carol I. A few years later, in 1870, his eldest son, Leopold, was given a similar offer of the Spanish throne. This so-called "Hohenzollern candidacy" for the Spanish throne was one of the main factors in instigating the Franco-Prussian War.

Marriage and issue

Prince Karl Anton was married to Josephine Friederike Luise, Princess of Baden (1813–1900), daughter of Grand Duke Charles of Baden.

• Leopold (1835–1905).
• Stephanie (1837–1859) - married Peter V of Portugal.
• Karl (1839–1914), future King of Romania.
• Anton (1841–1866), died in battle.
• Friedrich (1843–1904).
• Marie (1845–1912) - married Philippe of Belgium.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 7 September 1811 – 27 August 1848: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 27 August 1848 – 20 March 1850: His Serene Highness The Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 20 March 1850 – 18 October 1861: His Highness The Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 18 October 1861 – 3 September 1869: His Royal Highness The Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• 3 September 1869 – 2 June 1885: His Royal Highness The Prince of Hohenzollern

Ancestry