House of Hochberg

House Hochberg is the ruling house of Pracht and the former ruling house of Brabant before declaring independence and forming the Kingdom of Pracht. The House was founded in 1148 by Augustus of Burgundy, brother to the Duke of Burgundy. The House is thus a cadet branch of House Burgundy, now extinct.

History of Hochberg
Hochberg was founded in 1148 following a power struggle between the Duke of Burgundy and his younger brother, Augustus. To compensate for not being the ruling Duke of Burgundy, the Duke gave his brother the Duchy of Brabant and allowed him to form a new house, which he dubbed Hochberg (High Hill in German). The name is believed to be symbolic for his castle rested on top of a hill.

Hochberg remained the ruling house of Brabant, holding close relationships with the parent house of Burgundy and also the Duke of Burgundy, who was always of some relation to the head of Hochberg. Around 1300, the Duke of Brabant, Charles, was not contempt with just having Brabant as his predecessors were. Charles aspired for something bigger and thus declared Brabant's independence from Burgundy in 1309. This resulted in a war, which was won by Hochberg and thus Brabant became an independent state. Brabant was renamed to the Kingdom of Pracht.

Pracht soon began gaining more territories, eventually holding all of Belgium and the Netherlands by the beginning of the reign of Emperor Augustus I, founder of the Empire. Augustus was not finished with his expansion yet, however. Augustus set his sights on France, which he began eating into the Eastern and Northern Provinces of. Towards the end of Augustus' reign, Pracht held three quarters of France and towards the beginning of Johann II's reign, Pracht held all of the former French territories. Due to the growing French population, it became more necessary for French nationalization, even in the Imperial Family. Eventually, the official language of the Empire had become French due to the growing majority of French people within the borders of Pracht and the growing requirement for the language. Eventually, more French customs were adopted in terms of Etiquette, Military Policy and other things.

Notable Members

 * Louis V of Pracht [Emperor of Pracht, Head of the House]
 * Marie Johanne of Pracht [Empress-Consort of Pracht, Wife of the Head of House]
 * Marie Helene of Pracht [Madame la Dauphine, heir to the house.]
 * Jean-Auguste of Holland [Monsieur le Dauphin, spouse of the heir to the house]
 * Jean-Ferdinand Francois of Pracht [le Petit Dauphin, Duc d'Anjou]
 * Henri Antoine of Pracht [Duc de Bourgogne, Son of Pracht]
 * Louis-Auguste Ferdinand [Comte de Dunois, Son of Pracht]
 * Marie Sophie of Pracht [Madame Quatrieme, Daughter of Pracht]
 * Jacques Alexandre of Pracht [Comte de Provence, Son of Pracht]
 * Marie Amelie of Pracht [Madame Sixieme, Daughter of Pracht]
 * Marie-Henriette Eloise of Pracht [Madame Septieme, Daughter of Pracht]
 * Charles Philippe of Pracht [Comte de Lyon, Son of Pracht]
 * Marie-Claudine Therese of Pracht [Mademoiselle Premiere, Daughter of the Dauphine]
 * Isabelle-Etiennette Johanne of Pracht [Mademoiselle Deuxieme, Daughter of the Dauphine]
 * Auguste Charles of Pracht [Duc de Paris, Former Regent of Louis V]

House of Hochberg-Bourbon [Extinct]
Founded in 1487 after a marriage between a member of Hochberg and a member of House Bourbon. Briefly the ruling House of Pracht from 1610 - 1614 during Elisabeth I's reign. Became extinct in 1622 after years of disgrace and exile from court due to the actions of Elisabeth I.

House of Hochberg-Brunswick
Founded in 1605 after a marriage between a member of House Hochberg and a member of House Brunswick-Luneburg. It remains a Cadet Branch of Hochberg today.