 The abbots of the Benedictine Abbey known as "Stift Ellwangen" founded in 764 had become Princes of the Empire (style "Reichsabt") in 1215 with a direct vote in the Imperial Diet.Since its conversion into a college of secular canons in 1460, the superiors retained that status, with their full style changed to "Fürstliche Pröpste zu Ellwangen" ("Princely Provosts of Ellwangen") in the Swabian Circle.During the German Mediatisation on 27 April 1803 it was incorporated into the Duchy of Württemberg.