Former German state, southern Germany.
The name (meaning "baths") refers to the warm mineral springs, particularly in the town of Baden-Baden (pop., 2002 est.: 53,300), valued since Roman times. Baden first became a political unit when Frederick, son of the margrave of Verona, took the title of margrave of Baden in 1112. Subsequently split up many times, the territory was finally reunited under Margrave Charles Frederick in 1771. A centre of 19th-century liberalism, it was active in the revolutions of 1848–50. It joined the German Empire in 1871 and became part of the Weimar Republic in 1919. The southern part became a state of West Germany in 1949, while the northern part was incorporated into the West German state of Württemberg-Baden. Following a referendum, the two states merged to form Baden-Württemberg in 1952.