Background
Eitel Friedrich was the eldest surviving son of Count Karl I of Hohenzollern (1516–1576) from his marriage to Anna (1512–1579), daughter of the Margrave Ernst of Baden-Durlach. After his father"s death in 1576, Hohenzollern was divided.
Eitel Friedrich was the eldest surviving son of Count Karl I of Hohenzollern (1516–1576) from his marriage to Anna (1512–1579), daughter of the Margrave Ernst of Baden-Durlach. After his father"s death in 1576, Hohenzollern was divided.
Hohenzollern-Hechingen included the original County of Zollern, with the town of Hechingen and monasteries at Rangendingen, Saint Luzen and Stetten. Eitel Friedrich reorganized the administration of the county, which his predecessors had neglected. He issued strict hunting and forestry regulation, which led to several uprisings.
In Hechingen, he built a Renaissance style residence, from which the New Castle later evolved.
He iniatiated other construction pjrect as well, including the Saint Lucerne abbey church, che hospital and the lower tower. His residence became a center of culture and music, earning him the nickname the Magnificent.
He died in 1605 and was buried in the church of the Saint Luzen monastery. In 1609 a bronze grave plate was added to his grave, covering his heart.
lieutenant bears the inscription Ubi thesaurus meus, ibi cor meum, "Where my treasure lies, there lies my heart" (compare Luke 12).