Princess Maria of Baden was born on March 9, 1872, in Baden-Baden, Germany. She was a member of the House of Zähringen and the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Baden and Princess Maria of Hohenzollern. In 1897, she married Prince Maximilian of Baden, who later became the last Chancellor of the German Empire. Together, they had five children and played a significant role in the social and political life of their time, particularly during the tumultuous years leading up to and following World War I.