European Kingdoms

Franconia

Franconia was the heartland of East Francia (Germany). It emerged as a large stem duchy after the fragmentation of the Eastern Frankish kingdom when the Germanic Roman Empire was formally secured by German rulers. It was situated in the centre of modern Germany, with Saxony to the north, and Swabia and Bavaria to the south. In the first century BC it was occupied by various Celtic and Germanic tribes, including the Helveconae.

The list of rulers is patchy, with several apparent gaps.

Duchy of Franconia
AD 888 - 1196

Bogo

Count of Franconia.

Eberhard I

861 - 879

Udo

876

The death of Louis the German results in his territory being divided between his three sons. This is something that he had already foreseen, and portions of territory had been appointed to each of them in 865. Now in a peaceful succession, Carloman inherits Bavaria and the Ostmark, Louis the Younger gains Franconia, Saxony, and Thuringia, while Charles the Fat succeeds to Rhaetia and Swabia. As the oldest son, Carloman also retains de facto dominance over the Eastern Franks as a whole.

881 - 882

Charles the Fat succeeds as titular head of the Frankish Empire, holding the position as Emperor Charles III. He is crowned by Pope John VIII. In the following year, 882, Louis the Younger dies and Charles, as the last remaining of the three brothers, inherits his territories of Bavaria, Franconia, Saxony, and Thuringia, thereby reuniting East Francia following its division in 876.

Eberhard II

Died 901.

906 - 911

Conrad I

King of Germany (911-918).

911

The Frankish empire disintegrates and the German kingdom of East Francia is formally secured by elected native German rulers. Conrad I is the first to be elected, and a large-scale political reorganisation of south-western Germany creates the stem duchy of Swabia.

911 - 939

Eberhard III

Brother. Granted the title in 911. Deposed for rebelling.

1024

Conrad VI becomes duke of Franconia and is also a candidate for the throne of the Holy Roman empire, which he successfully gains. He should not be confused with his cousin, Conrad II the Younger, future duke of Carinthia, who is also a candidate for the imperial throne in this year.

1024 - 1039

Conrad VI

HRE Conrad II (1024-1039).

1039 - 1056

Henry I the Black

Son. HRE Henry III & Henry I of Swabia (1039-1056).

1056 - 1076

Henry II

HRE Henry IV (1056-1106).

1076 - 1088

Conrad VII

Conrad II of Lorraine (1076-1087).

1076 - 1105

Frederick I Hohenstaufen

Duke of Swabia (1079-1105).

1079

With the removal of Swabia from the control of Duke Rudolph, the Frederick's Hohenstaufen family of nobles gains the duchy through his marriage to Agnes of Germany, granddaughter of Henry I the Black. It swiftly becomes one of the most powerful families, holding onto the duchy for most of the remainder of its existence and supplying several Holy Roman Emperors.

1105 - 1138

Conrad I Hohenstaufen

Son. HRE Conrad III (1138-1152).

1138 - 1150

Henry III

1150 - 1167

Frederick II

1167 - 1196

Conrad II

1196 - 1247

Franconia breaks up into several smaller states, such as Hesse and Nassau.