Rudolf IV, Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg
Encyclopedia
Margrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg (1426 or 1427, Rötteln Castle
– 12 April 1487, ibid.) was the son the Margrave William
of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his wife Elisabeth of Montfort-Bregenz.
In 1441, Rudolph's father abdicated in favor of his sons Rudolph IV and Hugo. Since they were both minors at the time, their uncle Count John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel took up government as their guardian. Hugo died in 1444.
Rudolf was a Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg from 1441, and a Count of Neuchâtel from 1447.
and a daughter. Catherine.
. To the latter, he added the lower gate in the outer bailey. Between 1479 and 1482, he rebuilt the City Church in Schopfheim
, which had burned down. We also find traces of his construction activities in the monastery church at Weitenau and in the churches of Rötteln
and Egringen.
district, including Badenweiler Castle to his nephews Rudolf IV and Hugo. The districts of Badenweiler, Rötteln
and Hachberg-Sausenberg then formed an almost contiguous area Markgräflerland
, north of Basel
and south of Freiburg.
Count John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel and his wife Marie of Chalon had six children, but they all died in childhood.
In 1447, John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel transferred the county of Neuchâtel, including its Castle to Rudolf. After John's death (19 February 1458), Rudolf inherited further possessions in the Free County of Burgundy
.
on his journey to Rome where he was crowned to Emperor. In 1454, Duke Philip the Good
paid him a visit at Rötteln Castle
. In 1458, he was appointed Councillor and Chamberlain at the court of the Duke of Burgundy. He was a familiar figure, where he was known as the Marquis de Rothelin.
In 1467, Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy appointed him as governor of Luxembourg
. In 1468, he mediated in a dispute between Duke Sigismund of Austria-Tyrol
and the Old Swiss Confederation.
of Baden and his son Albert. Shortly before Rudolf's death, Charles I's grandson Philip I
, a son of Christopher I, stayed at Rudolf's court for a while. The negotiations did not reach a conclusion during Rudolf's lifetime, but Rudolf's son Philip
resume the negotations with Christopher I and the reached an agreement in 1490.
Rötteln Castle
Rötteln Castle , located above the Lörrach suburb of Haagen, lies in the extreme southwest corner of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The fortification was one of the most powerful in the southwest, and today is the third largest castle ruin in Baden....
– 12 April 1487, ibid.) was the son the Margrave William
William, Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg
Margrave William of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son of Margrave Rudolf III of Hachberg-Sausenberg and the Anne of Freiburg-Neuchâtel. He ruled from 1428 to 1441, and abdicated on 21 June 1441 in favor of his infant sons, Rudolf IV and Hugo...
of Hachberg-Sausenberg and his wife Elisabeth of Montfort-Bregenz.
In 1441, Rudolph's father abdicated in favor of his sons Rudolph IV and Hugo. Since they were both minors at the time, their uncle Count John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel took up government as their guardian. Hugo died in 1444.
Rudolf was a Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg from 1441, and a Count of Neuchâtel from 1447.
Marriage and issue
Rudolf married Margaret of Vienne. She brought Sainte Croix Castle and other property in Burgundy into the marriage. They had at least two children: a son, PhilipPhilip of Hachberg-Sausenberg
Margrave Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son of the Margrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Margaret of Vienne. Philip reigned 1487-1503 as Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Count of Neuchâtel...
and a daughter. Catherine.
The construction
Rudplf IV expanded Badenweiler Castle and Rötteln CastleRötteln Castle
Rötteln Castle , located above the Lörrach suburb of Haagen, lies in the extreme southwest corner of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The fortification was one of the most powerful in the southwest, and today is the third largest castle ruin in Baden....
. To the latter, he added the lower gate in the outer bailey. Between 1479 and 1482, he rebuilt the City Church in Schopfheim
Schopfheim
Schopfheim is a town in the district of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Wiese, 10 km north of Rheinfelden, and 13 km east of Lörrach.The town is the birthplace of Gisela Oeri....
, which had burned down. We also find traces of his construction activities in the monastery church at Weitenau and in the churches of Rötteln
Rötteln
Rötteln is a village beneath the ruins of the Rötteln Castle in Southern Baden, which today is part of the district of Haagen in the city of Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg.- History :...
and Egringen.
The expansion of the country
On 8 September 1444, Count John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel gave the BadenweilerBadenweiler
Badenweiler, a health resort and spa of the Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, historically in the Markgräflerland. It is 28 kilometers by road and rail from Basel, 10 kilometers from the French border, and 20 kilometers away from Mulhouse...
district, including Badenweiler Castle to his nephews Rudolf IV and Hugo. The districts of Badenweiler, Rötteln
Rötteln
Rötteln is a village beneath the ruins of the Rötteln Castle in Southern Baden, which today is part of the district of Haagen in the city of Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg.- History :...
and Hachberg-Sausenberg then formed an almost contiguous area Markgräflerland
Markgräflerland
Markgräflerland is a region in the southwest of Germany, in the south of the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, located between the Breisgau in the north and the Black Forest in the east.-History and geography:...
, north of Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and south of Freiburg.
Count John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel and his wife Marie of Chalon had six children, but they all died in childhood.
In 1447, John of Freiburg-Neuchâtel transferred the county of Neuchâtel, including its Castle to Rudolf. After John's death (19 February 1458), Rudolf inherited further possessions in the Free County of Burgundy
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
.
The Diplomat
In 1451 and 1452, Rudolf accompanied King Frederick IIIFrederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
on his journey to Rome where he was crowned to Emperor. In 1454, Duke Philip the Good
Philip III, Duke of Burgundy
Philip the Good KG , also Philip III, Duke of Burgundy was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty . During his reign Burgundy reached the height of its prosperity and prestige and became a leading center of the arts...
paid him a visit at Rötteln Castle
Rötteln Castle
Rötteln Castle , located above the Lörrach suburb of Haagen, lies in the extreme southwest corner of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The fortification was one of the most powerful in the southwest, and today is the third largest castle ruin in Baden....
. In 1458, he was appointed Councillor and Chamberlain at the court of the Duke of Burgundy. He was a familiar figure, where he was known as the Marquis de Rothelin.
In 1467, Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy appointed him as governor of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. In 1468, he mediated in a dispute between Duke Sigismund of Austria-Tyrol
Sigismund, Archduke of Austria
Sigismund of Austria, Duke, then Archduke of Further Austria was a Habsburg archduke of Austria and ruler of Tirol from 1446 to 1490....
and the Old Swiss Confederation.
Attempt to safeguard his possessions in Baden
Rudolph was aware that his position as vassal of the German Empire on the one hand and his Burgundian interests on the other hand it could bring him in a dangerous situation. To keep the possessions in Baden in the family, he was therefore negotiating with Margrave Charles ICharles I, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Charles I of Baden was a Margrave of Baden-Baden during 1454-1475.Charles was the elder son of Jacob, Margrave of Baden-Baden and his wife Catherine, daughter of Charles II, Duke of Lorraine. In 1462 he began the Baden-Palatinate war with Elector Frederick I of the Rhine...
of Baden and his son Albert. Shortly before Rudolf's death, Charles I's grandson Philip I
Philip I, Margrave of Baden
Margrave Philip I of Baden took over the administration of his father's possessions Baden , Durlach, Pforzheim and Altensteig and parts of Eberstein, Lahr and Mahlberg in 1515 and ruled as governor until he inherited the territories in 1527...
, a son of Christopher I, stayed at Rudolf's court for a while. The negotiations did not reach a conclusion during Rudolf's lifetime, but Rudolf's son Philip
Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg
Margrave Philip of Hachberg-Sausenberg was the son of the Margrave Rudolf IV of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Margaret of Vienne. Philip reigned 1487-1503 as Margrave of Hachberg-Sausenberg and Count of Neuchâtel...
resume the negotations with Christopher I and the reached an agreement in 1490.