Principality of Waldeck-Pyrmont

The Principality of Waldeck (or Waldeck-Pyrmont) was a state of the German Empire, with an area of 433 square miles; in 1910 it had 61,723 inhabitants; in 1905, 59,127. The principality consisted of two parts: (1) the southern principality, called Waldeck, surrounded by the Prussian Provinces of Hesse-Nassau and Westphalia, and having an area of 407 square miles, with a population, in 1905, of 49,965; (2) the northern principality, called Pyrmont, surrounded by the Principality of Lippe, the Duchy of Brunswick, and the Prussian Province of Hanover, with an area of 26 square miles and a population, in 1905, of 9162.

The entire principality contained, in 1905: 56,341 Protestants; 1,890, or 2 percent, Catholics; and 629 Jews. The country was named from the fortified castle of Waldeck situated on the Eider, a western branch of the Fulda. About 1150, Widukind V of Schwalenberg took the castle and called himself Count of Waldeck. From 1438 Waldeck was a fief of Hesse, a relation virtually dissolved by the Confederation of the Rhine in 1806, and finally in 1846 by a decision of the Diet of the German Confederation. In 1631, when the Countship of Gleichen became extinct, the Countship of Pyrmont fell to Waldeck. In the war of 1866, between Prussia and Austria, Waldeck supported Prussia and entered the North German Confederation. The administration was transferred to Prussia by the Treaty of Accession of 1867. In 1877 this treaty was renewed for ten years, and in 1887 for an indefinite period, subject to two years' notice of abrogation. Since 1893 the ruler was Prince Friedrich (b. 1865).

Before the great religious schism of the sixteenth century Waldeck belonged in ecclesiastical matters partly to the Archdiocese of Cologne, partly to the Diocese of Paderborn; while scattered parishes also belonged to the Archdiocese of Mainz. The new doctrine was introduced into the country in 1527-43 by Count Philip III. The Catholic Faith was maintained longest in the town of Korbach (until 1543). A portion of the Countship of Dudinghausen, consisting of the parish of Ebbe with the townships of Hillershausen and Niederschleidern, was annexed by an agreement with its feudal lord, the Archbishop of Cologne. Thus Waldeck once more had a Catholic parish.

The Principality of Pyrmont was in the Middle Ages a fief of the Dishops of Paderborn. It became entirely Protestant. Towards the end of the eighteenth century Franciscans from Ludge held missions there during the season of the year when it was frequented as a watering-place. In 1853 the State permitted regular Sunday services, and in 1861 the parish of Pyrmont was formed. Before appointing a parish priest the bishop must present the name of one candidate to the Government of Waldeck, or, in the case of Arolsen, the names of two candidates. The Government had the right of objecting to each appointment. The candidate must swear to observe the Constitution of Waldeck. The stipends of the priest were paid out of the revenue of the church fund, the church taxes, and allowances made by the Government and the prince.

The Catholic community was increased in summer by the numerous Polish agricultural labourers and in Pyrmont and Bad Wildungen by a large number of visitors for the cures. The public primary schools were Lutheran. In places where there was a Catholic minority, the Catholics may demand the opening of a Catholic public school at the public expense, if for the last previous ten years there had been on an average at least fifty Catholio children of school-age.