Riquewihr was ruled by the Counts of Württemberg from the 14th century. The dynasty originates in Swabia (Schwaben), a region in southwest Germany. In 1495, Count Eberhardt of Württemberg, known as “The Bearded Man”, was elevated to the rank of Duke. Napoleon granted his family the title of ruler of the newly created Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806, after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. The Treaty of Vienna confirmed the title in 1815, and Württemberg remained an independent kingdom until 1918.