Fürst von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck was a German noble title of the House of Leyen.
In 1657, Hugo Ernst von der Leyen-Adendorf, Lord of Blieskastel, was created Reichsfreiherr (Imperial Baron) von der Leyen. In 1693, his son, Karl Kaspar received the Habsburg dominion of Hohengeroldseck as a fiefdom from Austria, and was created Reichsfreiherr von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck in 1697. In 1711, he was further ennobled he was created Reichsgraf (Imperial Count) von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck. With most of the count's territories lost to Napoleon France, Reichsgraf Philipp Franz still retained the county Geroldseck. Upon joining the Rheinbund in 1806, he was created Fürst (Prince) von der Leyen. In 1819 the principality's holdings were mediatized under the sovereign stateGrand Duchy of Baden (until 1871) and, later, as part of the German Empire (from 1871 until 1918), although the title is still being nominally held by von der Leyens.[1]
Reichsfreiherr (Imperial Baron) von der Leyen
1657 – 1665: Hugo Ernst
1665 – 1687: Damian Adolf
1687 – 1697: Karl Kaspar Franz (1655–1739)
Reichsfreiherr (Imperial Baron) von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck
1697 – 22 November 1711: Karl Kaspar Franz(above)[2]
Reichsgraf (Imperial Count) von der Leyen und zu Hohengeroldseck
22 November 1711 – 20 November 1739: Karl Kaspar Franz(above)
20 November 1739 – 16 February 1760: Friedrich Ferdinand Franz (1709–1760)
16 February 1760 – 26 September 1775: Franz Georg Karl Anton (1736–1775)
Philipp Erwein von Freyberg-Eisenberg, the son of Baron Georg von Freyberg zu Eisenberg and Marie Adelheid Princess of Leyen and of Hohengeroldseck, continued the use of Leyen family name following his adoption by his grandfather, Erwein Otto Philipp, in 1969.[4] The Prince of Leyen is the owner of Waal Castle and Hohengeroldseck Castle.[5]