European Kingdoms

Franconian Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire
AD 1024 - 1138

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The Holy Roman empire had a tortuous and complex history, with origins in the Merovingian Frankish empire. The early eighth century AD saw the rise of the Carolingians under Charles, later known as Charles 'the Great', or Charlemagne. He was able to reverse Frankish fortunes to found a vast European empire.

Shortly after he had completed his conquest of much of the Germanic-speaking lands by defeating the mighty Saxons, in AD 800 he was crowned 'Roman Emperor' by Pope Leo III. The rule of Charlemagne laid the foundations of future monarchies in Western Europe and Central Europe.

Following his death, during the governance of the Frankish Roman emperors, the Treaty of Verdun in AD 843 confirmed the official division of the empire between Charlemagne's surviving three grandsons. Overall control in the east was labelled the Holy Roman empire, with a series of individually-ruled territories below the figure of the emperor himself.

Five stem duchies also emerged at the same time in German lands, all of which were powerful divisions of the old territory of East Francia. These were Bavaria, Franconia, Saxony, Swabia, and Thuringia, the most powerful of which would often act as king-maker within the empire.

With the accession of the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I, the power of the Germanic Roman empire was confirmed, subsuming previous names including East Francia and, to an extent, the 'Kingdom of Germany'. Carolingian Italy was also under their mastery as was Corsica, restored to full imperial control. This was the true beginning of a Holy Roman empire which was centred on Germany, as opposed to the Frankish-centric empire from which it sprang.

Following the end of the line of Ottonian 'Saxon Emperors', Franconia became the territorial heartland of the succeeding emperors, many of whom had their powerbase here. As a result, this stem duchy failed to find its footing as a powerful state of its own in line with others such as Billung-governed Saxony (already powerful of course), and Swabia (which would provide much of the opposition to the Franconian emperors).

It seems that Conrad 'the Salian', former duke of Carinthia as Conrad I, gained the duchy of Franconia which had seemingly been in the hands of the bishops of Würzburg since its division in AD 949, and then mounted his claim for the imperial title.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from Noble Strategies in an Early Modern Small State: The Mahuet of Lorraine, Charles T Lipp, 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, from Popular Revolt, Dynastic Politics, and Aristocratic Factionalism in the Early Middle Ages: The Saxon Stellinga Reconsidered, Eric J Goldberg (Speculum, Vol 70, No 3, Jul 1995), from Sword, Miter, and Cloister: Nobility and the Church in Burgundy, 980-1198, Constance Brittain Bouchard (New York 1987), from Frankish Kingdoms under the Carolingians 751-987, R McKitterick (1983), and from External Links: the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and from Encyclopaedia.com, and Cranach Digital Archive (in German and English), and Special Collections (University of Arizona).)

1024 - 1039

Conrad VI of Franconia. Inherited Frankish Burgundy (1032).

1024

Conrad II 'the Salian' (of Rhenish Franconia) is also duke of Franconia, and should not be confused with his cousin, Conrad II 'the Younger', future duke of Carinthia, although both are candidates for the imperial throne in this year. Conrad 'the Salian' is married to Gisela, daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia.

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

1027 - 1030

Ernest II of Swabia takes part in an unsuccessful rebellion against Conrad II (who is married to Gisela of Swabia, Ernest's mother in her second marriage). As a result, he is captured, but Gisela intercedes to prevent his execution and he is imprisoned instead. It is possible that Gisela governs the duchy during this period.

1032

As agreed by Rudolf III of Burgundy in 1006, following his death and with no heir to succeed him, the kingdom (including its Swiss territories) is inherited by Conrad 'the Salian'. Although the kingdom continues to operate with a fair degree of autonomy, from this point onwards, the emperors also count themselves as kings of Arles.

1035

Count Siegfried I of Spanheim (1010-1065) serves with distinction under Conrad II against Adalberon of Eppenstein, duke of Carinthia. He also soon marries one Richgard, daughter of Count Engelbert of the Sieghardingers of Bavaria.

Through this he inherits large tracts of territory in Carinthia and Tyrol and, in 1045, is appointed margrave of the Hungarian march. His son Engelbert becomes margrave of Istria in 1090 and a descendant becomes duke of Carinthia in 1122.

Berthold II of Zahringen gained the duchy of Carinthia and the margraviate of Verona in 1061, but he could do little more than argue ineffectively against the removal of these titles in 1073, five years before his death

1038

Duke Herman IV of Swabia, still a minor at the time of his accession, is campaigning in southern Italy alongside Conrad II. When the young duke is struck down by an epidemic, Conrad ignores the rights to the duchy which are held by Gebhard, son of Herman, and instead transfers it to his own son, Henry 'the Black'. Gebhard retains the county of Sulzbach, whilst his younger brother remains Adalbert I, count of Windberg. Henry also gains Burgundy.

1039 - 1056

Son. Henry of Bavaria (VI), Franconia (I) Swabia (I), & Burgundy.

1046 - 1047

William Iron Arm has not been recognised as count of Apulia by Henry III, probably due to the fact that the emperor has played no part in creating the title of duke or count of Apulia or in granting either title to their holders.

Now, upon William's death, and in an effort to take control he removes the ducal title from Guaimar IV of Salerno and grants it to Drogo. He is created Dux et Magister Italiae comesque Normannorum totius Apuliae et Calabriae - although he is still regarded as only a count - and becomes a direct vassal of the emperor.

The Benedictine St Paul's Abbey in the Lavanttal (Benediktinerstift Sankt Paul im Lavanttal) was founded in Carinthia in 1091 by Count Engelbert I of Spanheim-Ortenburg, margrave of Istria and father to dukes Henry IV and Engelbert of Carinthia, and now lies in eastern Austria of which Carinthia is a part

In 1047, Henry visits southern Italy to demand homage from the dukes of the south. He returns Capua to Pandulf and takes Aversa and Melfi directly under his suzerainty. Finally, he deprives Guaimar of his title over Apulia and Calabria.

The emperor also besieges Benevento, where Empress Agnes is being held while the gates are shut to him. At that point, Daufer, the future Pope Victor III, and brother of Pandulf III of Benevento, flees the city and seeks Guaimar's protection.

1053

In opposing Henry III, Baldwin 'the Pious' of Flanders seizes Thuin and Huy, important towns in the principality of Liège, destroying them almost entirely. These had been the emperor's main strongholds in the Sambre-Meuse region.

The powerfully fortified centre of Huy defends both the passage of the Meuse and access to the Condroz region and the Ardennes, creating a strong barrier to the territorial ambitions of the counts of Namur and Leuven, as well as to military expeditions by the counts of Flanders and Hainaut.

Notger, the founding prince-bishop of Liege (980-1008) and advisor to four of the Saxon kings of Germany, as featured on a postage stamp of 1947

1056 - 1106

Son. Henry of Franconia. 'King of Germany' until 1084.

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.

1070 - 1073

Duke Otto II of Bavaria is intent on extending his duchy. This brings him into conflict with Henry IV who covets the same lands on his southern border. A dubious charge of plotting to assassinate the emperor is levelled against him by the Hessian Count Giso II and Adalbert of Schauenburg, probably with the emperor's full knowledge.

Otto is deposed as duke of Bavaria, deprived of his Saxon lands, and pronounced an outlaw. At Pentecost in 1071 he submits to Henry who has him arrested until July 1072. Then he is released and his personal domains returned to him - but not his extensive fiefs. In 1073 his followers murder Count Giso and Adalbert.

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

1075

German chronicler Adam of Bremen discusses a people who are known as Kvens in his work, Gesta. He refers to Kvenland as 'Terra Feminarum', or 'Women's Territory', paralleling remarks made by Tacitus in AD 98.

1076 - 1122

A long-running investiture controversy is triggered when the Pope challenges the authority of European monarchs to control appointments (investitures) for church officials in their own countries (such as deciding who to appoint as a bishop, for example).

It is another step in restoring the power of the church and one which is not resolved until a compromise is reached under the terms of the Concordat of Worms in 1122, but the Holy Roman empire, the main papal opponent in the dispute, is permanently weakened by it.

The Catholic Church's college of cardinals (seen here in 1922) was formed in Rome in 1061 to elect the pope, one of the highly important reforms which were enacted by Pope Nicholas II

1077 - 1080

Rival. Duke of Swabia (1057-1079). Died following battle.

1080

Anti-Pope Clement III is appointed by the exasperated Henry IV. The emperor has already been excommunicated twice by Pope Gregory VII for opposing his reforms which will involve a loss of established imperial power over the papacy.

In the same year, the bid by Rudolf of Rheinfelden to oppose Henry IV and secure the throne fails when he is fatally wounded during the Battle on the Elster on 15 October 1080. Despite his forces beating those of Henry, his rebellion falls apart without his leadership.

1081 - 1093

Rival.

1093

To confuse the issue of who governs the duchy of (eastern) Franconia, the Salian counts in Rhenish Franconia to the west are sometimes referred to as dukes of Franconia (HRE Conrad II 'the Salian' being a prime example), but seemingly only after gaining the title of Holy Roman emperor and thereby the (eastern) duchy of Franconia.

Now, in 1093, the Rhenish Franconian territory of those western Franconians is granted as a fief to the palatine count of Aachen, progenitor of the 'Electoral Palatinate'.

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

1093 - 1101

Rival.

c.1100

Torbeno, giudice of Arborea on Sardinia, signs a charter which permits Nivata, Torbeno's mother, to dispose as she wishes of her castles of Massone de Capras and Nuraghe Nigellu. She donates them in perpetuity to the Holy Roman emperor, whom she refers to as Torbeno's overlord.

This is the earliest acknowledgement in writing that Arborea at least is subject to the Holy Roman empire, along with much of northern Italy at this time. It is entirely possible that the rest of Sardinia also acknowledges this position.

1106 - 1125

Son of Henry IV. m Matilda, daughter of Henry I of England.

1107

The establishment of the German duchy of Pomerania leads to more and more conquest of native lands on the southern Baltic coast and a gradual end to native rule. This is the beginning of the German crusades at the eastern end of the Baltic Sea but it also destroys various Polabii groups along the Elbe.

Stettin in Pomerania was for a brief time controlled by Poland during one of that state's many forays into Pomeranian lands in an attempt to control the pagan natives (and possibly also to block similar German incursions)

1115

Duke Lothar of Saxony effectively transforms himself into the head of a Saxon nation when he breaks Germanic imperial power following a long-simmering dispute between himself, Henry V, and several other notable German leaders.

The Battle of Welfesholz, near Mansfeld, is fought on 11 February 1115 between Saxon forces and the imperial army, with the latter being sent into flight. Henry V is denied power over Saxony.

1122

Henry II of Carinthia, also Henry II of Eppenstein, dies without an heir. With him dies the family of Eppenstein in the male line. Only his sister, Hedwig, survives him. Her son, Henry, becomes the next ruling duke of Carinthia through this relationship whilst also holding the title count of Spanheim thanks to his father, Count Engelbert I.

However, at the same time as this Henry is acceding to his title, Carinthia is again sub-divided. A large proportion of the former Eppensteiner lands in Upper Styria (on the eastern edge of Carinthia) pass to Ottokar VI, margrave of Styria. Unfortunately Ottokar is only briefly able to enjoy his expanded domains. He dies in November of the same year.

Styria was initially centred on Traungau when the region was elevated to a margraviate in the late ninth century, after which the region became one of the lesser players in German imperial politics

1125

Upon the death of Emperor Henry V, his young bride, Empress Matilda, is recalled to the English royal court where she plays a key role in the civil war against King Stephen.

Frederick II of Swabia puts himself forward as a candidate for the imperial title but is defeated by the successful election of Lothar. Conflict erupts between the two and their supporters.

1125 - 1137

Duke of Saxony. Reigned during instability in German lands.

1127

Gertrude, Lothar's daughter, marries Henry 'the Proud', duke of Bavaria, margrave of Tuscany and, through that latter title, duke of Spoleto. A strong supporter of Lothar who had helped him in his bid for the German throne in 1125, Henry 'the Proud' now gains control of Saxony as the first of the Welf dukes.

1137 - 1138

The rivalry for the imperial title between Emperor Lothar and his main opponent, Frederick II of Swabia, has a destabilising effect on Germany as a whole. Emperor Lothar and his dynastic successors in Franconia are supported by Louis I of Thuringia, but Lothar dies in 1137 on the way back from a campaign against the kingdom of Sicily.

Lothar III of Supplinberg became duke of Saxony through his marriage to Richenza, daughter of Count Henry of Northeim, his inheritance of that title and of the domains of the Billungs, and his initial support for Emperor Henry V

The county of Württemberg is formed in western-central Swabia as another step towards the total disintegration of the duchy during the general political crisis in German lands.

The election is held in 1138 to select the next emperor, with one of the candidates being Henry 'the Proud' of Saxony (senior heir to the Saxon House of Billung), Tuscany, and Spoleto. He is defeated by Conrad Hohenstaufen of Franconia, first of the 'Hohenstaufen Emperors'.