[2] As early as 1477 a family treaty secured him the succession in Württemberg-Urach, which was ruled by Count Eberhard V, nicknamed the bearded one, who left no legitimate offspring.

But he soon ran into trouble with the nobility, who disempowered him, working in close collaboration with the Habsburg King Maximilian I.

As Eberhard found no support he had to accept the Arbitration of Horb of Maximilian I in 1498.

In his place a council of the estates of the realm ruled with royal authority.

This situation did not change until his nephew Ulrich, the son of his brother Heinrich, was prematurely declared to be of age in 1503 and assumed power as Duke of Württemberg.