Swabia

Swabia (German Schwaben; Latin Suevia), medieval duchy in southwestern Germany, covering the area now occupied by Baden-Württemberg and parts of Bavaria and Switzerland. The region was known in ancient times as Alamannia; it received its present name from the Suevi, who became amalgamated with the Alamanni in the 5th century. Swabia was a duchy from the 10th century until 1268, when it broke up into lesser principalities. In 1488 these principalities formed the Swabian League for the purpose of maintaining internal stability. When the Holy Roman Empire was organized in circles in the 16th century, the Swabian circle was created. The capital of Swabia was Augsburg.