Gerlach IV of Isenburg-Limburg
Encyclopedia
Gerlach IV of Isenburg-Limburg (died 1289), also known as Gerlach I of Limburg, was from 1258 Count of (Isenburg-)Limburg
, ruling over the town of Limburg an der Lahn
and some villages in its hinterlands. He was the founder of the short-lived House of Limburg.
and his wife, Irmingard of Büdingen, Countess of Cleeberg (now part of Langgöns
). Gerlach was a namesake of a senior Gerlach of Isenburg who served as Vogt
of the Archbishopric of Trier
from c. 1130 to 1147.
After the death of his father, Henry I, in ca. 1227, Gerlach reigned jointly with his brother Henry II over the paternal inheritance. From 1247, Gerlach took the title of “Lord of Limburg.” On May 22, 1258 the division of the inheritance was finally sealed: Gerlach won the dominion of Limburg and Henry II the Countship of Isenburg-Grenzau as their sole possessions.
From a trip to Italy in 1231, Gerlach brought monks of the Franciscan
Order to whom he gave permission to construct a monastery in Limburg. This makes it one of the oldest Franciscan monasteries in Germany (the first being at Augsburg
in 1221). The monastery was later endowed by the House of Limburg.
As the Lord of Limburg, Gerlach joined the opponents of the Hohenstaufen
. He was probably involved in the looting of Worms
in 1243/44. After the Great Interregnum (1254–1273), Gerlach supported King Rudolph of Habsburg
. In 1276, he was commissioned by the king to confirm the Counts of Diez in their imperial fief.
In 1279, there was an uprising of the citizens of the town of Limburg, and Gerlach was expelled from the city. After negotiations, he was able to return to his castle in Limburg, but he had to grant the citizenry far-reaching freedoms.These freedoms included a pause in the collection of taxes and self-jurisdiction of marriages and housing. In the case of a dispute between the House of Limburg and the city, it would be decided by the jury of the City of Frankfurt
. Upon his return, Gerlach expanded Limburg Castle, building the residential tower which is still extant today.
To secure his position, Gerlach sought dynastic connections with neighboring lordly houses, including Nassau
, Westerburg
, and Diez. His daughter Agnes married Henry I of Westerburg in 1267. Around the year 1270, his daughter Imagina married Count (and later King) Adolf of Nassau. By Adolf of Nassau, Gerlach was appointed Burgmann of the Imperial Castle of Kalsmunt in Wetzlar
in 1287. On June 5, 1288 Gerlach, together with Adolf of Nassau and Henry of Westerburg, participated in the Battle of Worringen
. They supported Henry of Westerburg's brother, Siegfried
, the Archbishop of Cologne. Siegfried’s defeat in the battle had no significant consequences for Gerlach.
Gerlach I of Limburg died in 1289 during his participation in a campaign of King Rudolph in the Black Forest
. He was succeeded by his son, John I
.
(died 1281). The couple had at least five children:
Isenburg-Limburg
The Countship of Isenburg-Limburg was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries, based around the city of Limburg an der Lahn in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-House of Limburg:...
, ruling over the town of Limburg an der Lahn
Limburg an der Lahn
Limburg an der Lahn is the district seat of Limburg-Weilburg in Hesse, Germany.-Location:Limburg lies in western Hesse between the Taunus and the Westerwald on the river Lahn....
and some villages in its hinterlands. He was the founder of the short-lived House of Limburg.
Life
Gerlach was the son of Henry (Heinrich) I of Isenburg-GrenzauIsenburg-Grenzau
Isenburg-Grenzau was the name of several states of the Holy Roman Empire, based around the Lordship of Grenzau, in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The first state called Isenburg-Grenzau existed 1158–1290; the second 1341–1439; and the third 1502–1664....
and his wife, Irmingard of Büdingen, Countess of Cleeberg (now part of Langgöns
Langgöns
Langgöns is a municipality in the district of Gießen, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated 10 km south of Gießen....
). Gerlach was a namesake of a senior Gerlach of Isenburg who served as Vogt
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...
of the Archbishopric of Trier
Archbishopric of Trier
The Archbishopric of Trier was a Roman Catholic diocese in Germany, that existed from Carolingian times until the end of the Holy Roman Empire. Its suffragans were the dioceses of Metz, Toul and Verdun. Since the 9th century the Archbishops of Trier were simultaneously princes and since the 11th...
from c. 1130 to 1147.
After the death of his father, Henry I, in ca. 1227, Gerlach reigned jointly with his brother Henry II over the paternal inheritance. From 1247, Gerlach took the title of “Lord of Limburg.” On May 22, 1258 the division of the inheritance was finally sealed: Gerlach won the dominion of Limburg and Henry II the Countship of Isenburg-Grenzau as their sole possessions.
From a trip to Italy in 1231, Gerlach brought monks of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order to whom he gave permission to construct a monastery in Limburg. This makes it one of the oldest Franciscan monasteries in Germany (the first being at Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
in 1221). The monastery was later endowed by the House of Limburg.
As the Lord of Limburg, Gerlach joined the opponents of the Hohenstaufen
Hohenstaufen
The House of Hohenstaufen was a dynasty of German kings in the High Middle Ages, lasting from 1138 to 1254. Three of these kings were also crowned Holy Roman Emperor. In 1194 the Hohenstaufens also became Kings of Sicily...
. He was probably involved in the looting of Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
in 1243/44. After the Great Interregnum (1254–1273), Gerlach supported King Rudolph of Habsburg
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
. In 1276, he was commissioned by the king to confirm the Counts of Diez in their imperial fief.
In 1279, there was an uprising of the citizens of the town of Limburg, and Gerlach was expelled from the city. After negotiations, he was able to return to his castle in Limburg, but he had to grant the citizenry far-reaching freedoms.These freedoms included a pause in the collection of taxes and self-jurisdiction of marriages and housing. In the case of a dispute between the House of Limburg and the city, it would be decided by the jury of the City of Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. Upon his return, Gerlach expanded Limburg Castle, building the residential tower which is still extant today.
To secure his position, Gerlach sought dynastic connections with neighboring lordly houses, including Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
, Westerburg
Westerburg
Westerburg is a small town of roughly 6,000 inhabitants in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The town is named after the castle built on a hill above the mediaeval town centre -Location:...
, and Diez. His daughter Agnes married Henry I of Westerburg in 1267. Around the year 1270, his daughter Imagina married Count (and later King) Adolf of Nassau. By Adolf of Nassau, Gerlach was appointed Burgmann of the Imperial Castle of Kalsmunt in Wetzlar
Wetzlar
Wetzlar is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany. Located at 8° 30′ E, 50° 34′ N, Wetzlar straddles the river Lahn and is on the German Timber-Framework Road which passes mile upon mile of half-timbered houses. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis on the north edge of...
in 1287. On June 5, 1288 Gerlach, together with Adolf of Nassau and Henry of Westerburg, participated in the Battle of Worringen
Battle of Worringen
The Battle of Worringen was fought on June 5, 1288, near the town of Worringen , which is now the northernmost borough of Cologne...
. They supported Henry of Westerburg's brother, Siegfried
Siegfried II of Westerburg
Siegfried II of Westerburg was Archbishop of Cologne from 1275 to 1297.Siegfried was the second son of Siegfried IV, Count of Runkel in Westerburg...
, the Archbishop of Cologne. Siegfried’s defeat in the battle had no significant consequences for Gerlach.
Gerlach I of Limburg died in 1289 during his participation in a campaign of King Rudolph 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 ....
. He was succeeded by his son, John I
John I of Isenburg-Limburg
John I of Isenburg-Limburg, "The blind Lord" was from 1289 Count of Limburg and the head of the House of Limburg...
.
Marriage and descendants
Gerlach married Imagina of BlieskastelBlieskastel
Blieskastel is a municipality in the Saarpfalz district, in Saarland, Germany. It is situated on the river Blies, approximately 8 km west of Zweibrücken, and 20 km east of Saarbrücken.-International relations:...
(died 1281). The couple had at least five children:
- John IJohn I of Isenburg-LimburgJohn I of Isenburg-Limburg, "The blind Lord" was from 1289 Count of Limburg and the head of the House of Limburg...
, Count of Limburg. - Gerlach II of GreifensteinGreifensteinGreifenstein is a community in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis in Hesse, Germany. Its administrative seat is Beilstein. Greifenstein covers 67.43 km² on the eastern slope of the Westerwald range...
, married between 1267 and 1273 into the House of HachenburgHachenburg-Geography:The town lies in the Westerwald between Koblenz and Siegen, roughly 10 km west of Bad Marienberg on the river Nister. Hachenburg is the administrative seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Hachenburg, a kind of collective municipality .-The castle and the town:The castle , former seat of...
. - Henry (died 1279/80), married with Adelheid of Diez.
- Agnes (died 1319), married in July 1267 to Henry I of Westerburg.
- ImaginaImagina of Isenburg-LimburgImagina of Isenburg-Limburg was the Queen consort of Adolf of Nassau, King of Germany.-Life:Imagina was born in about 1255 to Gerlach I of Limburg and Imagina of Blieskastel. Her father, from the House of Limburg held power over Limburg an der Lahn...
(died September 29, 1318 in Klarenthal AbbeyKlarenthal AbbeyKlarenthal Abbey is a former convent of the Order of Poor Ladies in the borough of Klarenthal in Wiesbaden, Germany...
); married Count Adolf of Nassau; Queen of Germany, 1292-1298
External links
Preceded by: |
Gerlach IV |
Succeeded by: |
|---|---|---|
| Henry I of Isenburg-Grenzau Isenburg-Grenzau Isenburg-Grenzau was the name of several states of the Holy Roman Empire, based around the Lordship of Grenzau, in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The first state called Isenburg-Grenzau existed 1158–1290; the second 1341–1439; and the third 1502–1664.... |
Count of Isenburg-Limburg Isenburg-Limburg The Countship of Isenburg-Limburg was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries, based around the city of Limburg an der Lahn in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-House of Limburg:... 1220–1289 |
John I John I of Isenburg-Limburg John I of Isenburg-Limburg, "The blind Lord" was from 1289 Count of Limburg and the head of the House of Limburg... |