| • | Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Baden (November 22,1728 in Karlsruhe--June 10,1811 in Karlsruhe) was the son of Margrave Friedrich of Baden and Anna of Nassau-Dietz-Orange (October 13,1710--September 17,1777), the daughter of William Friso of Nassau-Dietz-Orange.
He ruled as the Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1746 until 1771, when he inherited Baden-Baden from Bernhard Line. Upon inheriting the latter Margravate, the orginal land of Baden was reunited. He was regarded as a good example of an absolute ruler, supporting schools, universities, jurisprudence, civil service, economy, culture, and urban development, He outlawed torture in 1767, and serfdom in 1783.
In 1803 Karl Friedrich became elector of Baden, and in 1806 the first Grand Duke of Baden. Through the politics of minister Sigismund Freiherr von Reitzenstein, Baden acquired Bistum Constance, Basel, Strassburg, Speyer, Breisgau and Ortenau.
In 1806 Baden joined the Confederation of the Rhine.
Source: [wikipedia: karl friedrich, grand duke of baden]
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