European Kingdoms

Duchy of Franconia (Germany)
AD 888 - 1196

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A new region which became known as Franconia eventually formed into one of several stem duchies which appeared during the break-up of Charlemagne's Carolingian empire. The first ruler of what had became the 'County of Franconia' had appeared in the first half of the seventh century, following a slow eastwards progression of Frankish settlement along the River Main from its junction with the Rhine.

The first count of Franconia as a whole was appointed in the mid-eighth century, at the same time as figures of authority were emerging in the other German regions as central authority became weaker and more divided. Medieval Franconia emerged as a stem duchy from the fragmentation of the later Western Frankish empire when the Eastern Frankish kingdom of Germany was formally secured by German rulers.

As with many territories at this time within the later Germany, there was a good deal of disorganisation in Franconia. The German states were drastically reorganised, in some cases disposing of former Germanic tribal affiliations. The new duchy, one of five and therefore extremely powerful in medieval Germany, included the Rhenish Franconia region which would eventually largely be dominated by Hessians and the Palatinate. The duchy of Saxony lay to the north, and Swabia and Bavaria to the south.

Thanks largely to the fracturing of the Frankish empire and the emergence of regional variations, Frankish identity was already undergoing a significant shift during this period. Descendants of those Franks who had settled the region from the sixth century onwards were now being referred to as Franconians, East Franks, or even Germans, forming an emerging German national identity which would take several centuries to fully coalesce.

However, Franconia suffered from being the power base of several Germanic emperors as they attempted to control the overall empire. For this reason it was never able to form its own dynasty of dukes who would ensure a focussed effort on securing its borders and also dominance over the other stem duchies.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Historisches Lexikon der deutschen Länder, Gerhard Köbler (Darmstadt 1999), from Bayern und das Deutsche Reich, Josef Kirmeier (in Politische Geschichte Bayerns, Hefte zur Bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur No 9 - see external links), from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, and from External Links: Fränkische Dialekte, Alfred Klepsch (in German - dead link), and Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte (in German - dead link), and the Swabian League of Cities, Alexander Schubert (Historisches Lexikon Bayerns, in German - dead link), and Medieval Lands, and Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and from Encyclopaedia.com, and The Holy Roman Empire (Heraldica), and The Holy Roman Empire, Christopher Brooks (Portland Community College via LibreTexts Humanities).)

? - 901?

Earliest-known duke of former 'County Franconia'. Died 901.

900

Arnulf of Carinthia, king of Germany, has died (in December 899), beset by problems and setbacks, weakened by his stroke and by a nasty eye infection. The empire has been left rudderless by the removal of his authority.

Arnulf, duke of Carinthia, overthrew his uncle, Emperor Charles 'the Fat', to become Carolingian king of East Francia from 887, disputed king of Italy from 894, and disputed Germanic emperor from 22 February 896 until his death at Ratisbon in Bavaria in 899

His six year-old son, Louis of Provence, acts as a figurehead, and is crowned on 4 February 900 while in the same year his subjects and supporters defeat their main opponent, Berengar of Friuli. They appoint Louis' nephew, Conrad 'the Elder', as duke of Franconia, but he is unable to take up that post until 906.

901? - 906?

Duke of Lotharingia. Count in Hessi lands.

903

Gebhard of the Hessian Wetterau (also known as Gebhard of Franconia) is confirmed as duke of Lotharingia by Louis 'the Child', king of Germany, in 903. He is killed in 910 in battle against the Magyars, somewhere in the region of Augsburg.

His eldest son is Herman, who becomes duke of Swabia in 926. His younger son succeeds him as count of the Wetterau (from 914) and succeeds Eberhard III, duke of Franconia, as count of Oberlahngau (presumably in 918). This Eberhard remains in control of Franconia, however.

906

Conrad 'the Elder', duke of Thuringia, is the son of Udo of Neustria. His mother is most likely to be a daughter of Conrad I of Logenahe (832-860). Conrad had also become a count of the Oberlahngau in 886, Hessengau in 897, Gotzfeldgau in 903, Wetterau in 905, and Wormsgau in 906.

The River Lahn ran through the gau or district of the same name, forming an important part of the origins of medieval Hesse even though, in the eighth century it was part of Rhenish Franconia (western Franconia)

In gaining all these titles he had united all of the lands of the Hessi and their immediate neighbours under a single political control, creating a bastion of the duchy of Franconia and an entity which will evolve into the landgraviate of Hesse.

Now the Conradines defeat the Babenberg counts at the Battle of Fritzlar and establish themselves as dukes of Franconia (the Babenbergs being the descendants of Poppo I of the Grapfeld in early Franconia, and of Henry of Babenberg, count of Franconia in 882-886. Conrad 'the Elder' is killed in the battle.

His son, Conrad 'the Younger' succeeds him. Numbering is not generally applied to them, although they are the first and second of that name to govern in Franconia. Unfortunately the numbering system appears to break down quite badly for later Conrads.

The Conradine success at the Battle of Fritzlar in Frankish Hessengau in AD 906 saw them reach the peak of their power, although this depiction of Fritzlar dates from the seventeenth century

906

Son of Udo of Neustria. Duke of Thuringia & Hesse lands.

906 - 911

Son. King of Germany (911-918). Count of Hesse lands.

911

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. Conrad hands Franconia into the care of his younger brother, Eberhard.

911 - 939

Brother. Count of Hesse lands. Killed.

939 - 949

The rebellious dukes Gilbert II of Maasgau, duke of Lorraine, and Eberhard of Franconia loot the counties of Udo IV of the Wetterau (or Odo) and his nephew Conrad of Niederlahngau, both Hesse lands.

Their force is so large that Udo and Conrad are unable to resist them. But then the rebel dukes re-cross the Rhine at Andernach on 2 October in order to return to Lorraine and Udo and Conrad take the opportunity that has been presented to them.

The Wetterau formed an important part in the creation of early Hesse, although it lay to the north, immediately beyond Frankfurt and outside the core Hessian lands

The Battle of Andernach takes place with Gilbert and Eberhard still on the east bank of the Rhine and the bulk of their forces already across. Udo and Conrad attack and defeat them, killing Eberhard while Gilbert drowns when trying to escape. Their deaths allow Otto I, king of Germany, to restore order and show his favour to Udo. He succeeds Conrad as count of Niederlahngau in 949.

949

The result of all this chaotic conflict is that Franconia itself is fragmented into separate regions and the title of duke lapses until 1024.

The duchy is split into its two main constituent regions, West Franconia or Rhenish Franconia (Francia Rhenensis, essentially meaning Franconia near the Rhine), and East Franconia (Francia Orientalis).

The eastern half is formed of several counties and bishoprics which that are answerable directly to the German king, while portions of the western half gradually coalesce into an early form of the state of Hesse.

Germany in AD 962 may have had its new emperor to govern those territories which are shown within the dark black line, but it was still a patchwork of competing interests and power bases (click or tap on map to view full sized)

It may be now that a large part of East Franconia is considered by the bishops of Würzburg to be within their sphere of authority as Franconia 'proper', although it is much reduced in terms of territory. As Würzburg lies at the heart of East Franconia, it is possible that they represent the only viable source of leadership at this time. Some northern areas remain outside their control.

1024

Following the ending of the Ottonian line of Saxon emperors, East Franconia becomes the territorial heartland of the succeeding emperors, many of whom have their power base here or in Rhenish Franconia.

Conrad VI, otherwise known as Conrad the Salian (of Rhenish Franconia), husband of Gisela, who herself is the daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia, seemingly now gains the duchy of Franconia. Whether or not he seizes it from the bishops of Würzburg is unknown.

Having gained the position, he is now a candidate for the throne of the Holy Roman empire, which he successfully gains. (He should not be confused with his cousin, Conrad 'the Younger', the future Duke Conrad II of Carinthia, who is also a candidate for the imperial throne in this year.)

Conrad (or Konrad) II 'the Salian' of Rhenish Franconia was also Duke Conrad VI of Franconia, and was married to Gisela, daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia

As a result of the emperors largely hailing from Franconia, this stem duchy fails to find its footing as a powerful state of its own in line with others such as Saxony (already powerful after delivering a line of emperors), and Swabia (which will provide much of the opposition to the Franconian emperors).

To confuse the issue, the Salian counts in Rhenish Franconia to the west are sometimes referred to as dukes of Franconia (Conrad VI being a prime example), but seemingly only after gaining the title of Holy Roman emperor and thereby control over the (eastern) duchy of Franconia. In 1093 their Rhenish Franconian territory is granted as a fief to the palatine count of Aachen, progenitor of the Electoral Palatinate.

1024 - 1039

HRE Conrad II (1024-1039). Conrad I of Carinthia.

1039 - 1056

Son. Duke of Bavaria (VI), Carinthia, & Swabia, & HRE Henry III.

1056 - 1076

Son. HRE Henry IV (1056-1106).

1064

The margraviate of Baden is formed in eastern central Swabia during the general political collapse in Germany which dominates this century. The rebellion of Rudolf of Rheinfelden becomes known as the Great Saxon Revolt, with him being succeeded in his opposition against Emperor Henry IV by Berthold I of Rheinfelden, Hermann of Luxemburg, and Conrad of Franconia.

A sketch of Burg Hollende (dated 1247), the family seat and probable home of Hessen's Giso dynasty, showing what was probably the complete castle

1076 - 1088

Conrad II of Lorraine (1076-1087).

1076 - 1105

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 that 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.

c.1080

The sons of Louis 'the Salian' (a Rhenish Franconia) are Louis 'the Springer' of Thuringia and Beringer of Sangerhausen. Together they found Kloster Schönrain Abbey in Main Franconia, in which lands their Merovingian ancestors had settled some centuries before. A deed of AD 1100 names both brothers as counts of Schauenburg.

1105 - 1138

Son. HRE Conrad III (1138-1152).

1130

Count Louis III is raised to the rank of landgrave and his Thuringia is recognised as overlord by the Hessians. This unites Hesse and Thuringia from 1130-1247 (clearly to the detriment of Hesse's traditional link with Franconia).

The Hohenstaufen family of Swabia gained a strong foothold on power in the late eleventh century and went on to supply an entire dynasty of German emperors which included Frederick Barbarossa

1137

The rivalry for the Holy Roman imperial title between Emperor Lothar and his main rival, Frederick II of Swabia, has a destabilising effect on Germany as a whole. Emperor Lothar and his Hohenstaufen successors in Franconia are supported by Louis I of Thuringia.

The county of Württemberg is formed in western central Swabia as another step towards the total disintegration of this duchy during the general political crisis in the country. Because Franconia has provided a power base for the previous dynasty of emperors, it also remains a centre of power for the early Hohenstaufen emperors, Conrad Hohenstaufen and Frederick Barbarossa, thereby preventing it from establishing a clear regional governing structure which might ensure its survival.

1138 - 1150

Duke of Franconia under Conrad.

1150 - 1167

Duke of Franconia under Conrad.

1167 - 1196

Duke of Franconia under Conrad & Frederick Barbarossa.

1196 - 1247

As an administrative area Franconia gradually collapses, along with large swathes of other German stem duchies. It is broken up into several smaller states which include the semi-independent Hesse and Nassau, with the district administrators, the counts (grafs), assuming more and more regional responsibility and authority (see feature link for more on the replacement system of imperial states).

Duchess Sophia led the fight to secure the various Hessian lands as a unified landgraviate for her son, Henry of Brabant, otherwise known as Henry 'the Child' due to his young age

The bishopric of Würzburg also flourishes (and claims the title of duke of Franconia for itself until it is secularised in 1803), as do various minor counties which include Hohenlohe.

In 1209 the Teutonic Knights secure a slice of Franconia for their order, known as the bailiwick of Franconia. The Hohenstaufen emperors continue to hold central power in Germany only until 1254, when the political collapse of Germany is complete.

A core of Franconia does survive, however, although this is far less important than its larger predecessor. It plays a role in the career of Rudolf of Habsburg and his ducal successors, and contains many imperial cities which form the basis of the 'Franconian Circle' which ensures Franconian survival into the modern day. As a name, Franconia remains valid for the region.

Following 1806 it is appended to the southern German kingdom of Bavaria, which contains noticeably different dialects and customs from this central German region. The hereditary heirs to the Bavarian throne continue today to add 'duke in Franconia' to their titles.

Following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte 1814, the Congress of Vienna took on board much of his vital restructuring of the German principalities, with the result that a map of the new Confederation of German States in 1815-1817 looked very different to maps of the previous century (click or tap on map to view full sized)