Meinrad I was the son of
Johann, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (1578–1638) and Countess Johanna of
Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1581–1634). The Prince was born in Munich, where his father as president acted of the Privy Council for Duke
Maximilian I of Bavaria. The
Thirty Years' War had a major influence on his life. When he was 17, he served in the Bavarian army. He served under
Tilly in the
Battle of Lutter. He later fought under
Pappenheim against
Protestant rebels in
Austria. He later became an influential advisor of the Duke of Bavaria. When he inherited Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in 1638, the principality had been ravaged and depleted by the war. He commissioned the renowned architect
Michael Beer from Vorarlberg to rebuild and modernize the castles at
Sigmaringen and
Haigerloch. The Swedes had occupied Sigmaringen Castle in 1633. In 1633, a Catholic army Under general
Gustav Horn had retook the castle. However, during the battle the eastern wing had been destroyed by fire. In 1658 and 1659, Meinrad had the east wing rebuilt and combined the two buildings on the east side, which had been built by the Counts of
Werdenberg. He paid this construction work out of his own pocket, using funds he had inherited from his father as well as his wife's fortune. He died on 30 January 1681. After his death, the county was divided, inaccordance with the provisions of Meinrad's will: his eldest son
Maximilian I inherited
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen; his youngest son
Franz Anton inherited
Hohenzollern-Haigerloch. == Marriage and descendants ==