As a result of a series of land divisions within the Thuringian county of Schwarzburg, the territorial state of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was formed between 1570 and 1599, which was elevated to the rank of a principality in 1710. The territory of the Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt dynasty, with its overlordship and underlordship, extended over a territory of almost 1.000 km². Rudolstadt remained the royal seat until 1918. The principality was absorbed into the Free State of Thuringia in 1920.