Berthold II, Duke of Swabia
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Berthold II (c. 1050 – 12 April 1111) was the Duke of Swabia
from 1092 to 1098.
Berthold was a son of Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia
and initially supported Rudolf of Rheinfelden against King Henry IV. Both the Zähringer
and Rheinfeldener were relieved of their titles and possessions by the king in 1077. Berthold I died in 1078 and Berthold inherited his claims, including a claim on the Duchy of Swabia. In 1079, Berthold married Agnes, Rudolf's daughter.
In the following years, he became a strong supporter of Berthold I, Duke of Swabia
, against the king. He was at odds with the royal duke, Frederick of Büren
, and the Bishops of Basel and Strasbourg. However, when the region quieted down in the late 1080s, Berthold is found as a witness to an exchange of land involving the bishop of Basel (1087).
Tensions rose again in 1090, when Berthold I von Rheinfelden died. Berthold of Zähringen asserted his claims to the Rheinfeldener inheritance in Burgundy, but not there titles, those went to Berthold's I younger brother Otto von Wetter(au)-Rheinfelden. He also placed a claim on the Duchy of Swabia. Supported by the Welfs and the Papacy, he was elected duke in opposition to Frederick in 1092. In that same year, he was chosen as Duke of Carinthia and Margrave of Verona (like his father) by those who opposed Duke Henry V. Berthold, also like his father, never held any real power in Carinthia.
In 1093, Berthold and Welf IV signed a "peace oath" at Ulm
. At first only valid in Swabia, it was soon extended to Bavaria and strengthened opposition to the emperor in southern Germany. Around 1098, Berthold and Frederick came to terms whereby Frederick kept Swabia, but Berthold was given the Reichsvogtei
(or imperial estates, depending on the source) of Zürich
and allowed to keep the ducal title. By this step, the relationship between the Zähringers and Henry IV improved. In 1105, Berthold was the closest ally of Henry's son Henry V
, who rebelled against his father.
Berthold, beginning in 1090, extended his power into the Breisgau
so that the Zähringer territory extracted itself from the influence of the Swabian duke. In 1091, he built the castle of Zähringen, as well as a protective castle for the nearby settlement of Freiburg
in the Breisgau. Berthold was the first of the Zähringers to hold the title "Duke of Zähringen" (from 1100). He established his rule with the foundation of monasteries and other settlements in the Black Forest
. His territory was small and he had little opportunity for expansion. His ducal title was described by Otto of Freising
as one of the first "empty titles" in medieval Germany: a title signifying little in the way of governmental or territorial significance. His was not a political or military office nor a tribal or territorial command. Rather, his ducal title was a mere dignity and his estates family possessions.
In 1093, he founded the Benedictine
monastery of Saint Peter
, which became the family mausoleum. The monasteries he founded were usually reformed monasteries hostile to the emperor. With the displacement of the Counts of Hohenburg from the region of the Black Forest, Berthold successfully turned it into his centre of power.
By the end of his life, Berthold's estates amounted to a justification of his grandiose title. He was succeeded as duke by his eldest son Berthold III. His second son Conrad succeeded Berthold III after eleven years.
Duke of Swabia
The following is a list of Dukes of Swabia in southwest Germany.Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany. The most notable family to hold Swabia were the Hohenstaufen, who held it, with a brief...
from 1092 to 1098.
Berthold was a son of Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia
Berthold II, Duke of Carinthia
Berthold II was an ancestor of the House of Baden, in addition to being Duke of Carinthia and Margrave of Verona....
and initially supported Rudolf of Rheinfelden against King Henry IV. Both the Zähringer
Zähringen
Zähringen is the name of an old German family that founded a large number of cities in what are today Switzerland and Baden-Württemberg. While the junior line that first assumed the title Duke of Zähringen, a cadet branch of the House of Baden, became extinct in 1218, the senior line persists and...
and Rheinfeldener were relieved of their titles and possessions by the king in 1077. Berthold I died in 1078 and Berthold inherited his claims, including a claim on the Duchy of Swabia. In 1079, Berthold married Agnes, Rudolf's daughter.
In the following years, he became a strong supporter of Berthold I, Duke of Swabia
Berthold I, Duke of Swabia
Berthold I , better known as Berthold of Rheinfelden, was the Duke of Swabia from 1079 until his death. He was the only son of Rudolf of Rheinfelden, the German anti-king who opposed the Emperor Henry IV....
, against the king. He was at odds with the royal duke, Frederick of Büren
Frederick I, Duke of Swabia
Frederick I von Staufen was Duke of Swabia from 1079 to his death. He was the first ruler of Swabia from the House of Hohenstaufen, and was the builder of dynasty's ancestral Hohenstaufen Castle near Göppingen.-Parents:...
, and the Bishops of Basel and Strasbourg. However, when the region quieted down in the late 1080s, Berthold is found as a witness to an exchange of land involving the bishop of Basel (1087).
Tensions rose again in 1090, when Berthold I von Rheinfelden died. Berthold of Zähringen asserted his claims to the Rheinfeldener inheritance in Burgundy, but not there titles, those went to Berthold's I younger brother Otto von Wetter(au)-Rheinfelden. He also placed a claim on the Duchy of Swabia. Supported by the Welfs and the Papacy, he was elected duke in opposition to Frederick in 1092. In that same year, he was chosen as Duke of Carinthia and Margrave of Verona (like his father) by those who opposed Duke Henry V. Berthold, also like his father, never held any real power in Carinthia.
In 1093, Berthold and Welf IV signed a "peace oath" at Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
. At first only valid in Swabia, it was soon extended to Bavaria and strengthened opposition to the emperor in southern Germany. Around 1098, Berthold and Frederick came to terms whereby Frederick kept Swabia, but Berthold was given the Reichsvogtei
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
(or imperial estates, depending on the source) of Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and allowed to keep the ducal title. By this step, the relationship between the Zähringers and Henry IV improved. In 1105, Berthold was the closest ally of Henry's son Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
, who rebelled against his father.
Berthold, beginning in 1090, extended his power into the Breisgau
Breisgau
Breisgau is the name of an area in southwest Germany, placed between the river Rhine and the foothills of the Black Forest around Freiburg im Breisgau in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, which partly consists of the Breisgau, is named after that area...
so that the Zähringer territory extracted itself from the influence of the Swabian duke. In 1091, he built the castle of Zähringen, as well as a protective castle for the nearby settlement of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
in the Breisgau. Berthold was the first of the Zähringers to hold the title "Duke of Zähringen" (from 1100). He established his rule with the foundation of monasteries and other settlements in the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
. His territory was small and he had little opportunity for expansion. His ducal title was described by Otto of Freising
Otto of Freising
Otto von Freising was a German bishop and chronicler.-Life:He was the fifth son of Leopold III, margrave of Austria, by his wife Agnes, daughter of the emperor Henry IV...
as one of the first "empty titles" in medieval Germany: a title signifying little in the way of governmental or territorial significance. His was not a political or military office nor a tribal or territorial command. Rather, his ducal title was a mere dignity and his estates family possessions.
In 1093, he founded the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery of Saint Peter
St. Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest
St Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest or St. Peter's Abbey, Schwarzwald is a former Benedictine monastery in the village of St. Peter im Schwarzwald, in the district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-History:...
, which became the family mausoleum. The monasteries he founded were usually reformed monasteries hostile to the emperor. With the displacement of the Counts of Hohenburg from the region of the Black Forest, Berthold successfully turned it into his centre of power.
By the end of his life, Berthold's estates amounted to a justification of his grandiose title. He was succeeded as duke by his eldest son Berthold III. His second son Conrad succeeded Berthold III after eleven years.