Siege of Weinsberg
Encyclopedia
Siege of Weinsberg, within the then-Holy Roman Empire
, was a decisive battle between Welfs and Hohenstaufen
. During it the Welfs for the first time changed their war cry 'Kyrie Eleison' for their party cries. The Hohenstaufen used the 'Strike for Gibbelins' war cry as well.
Exasperated at the heroic defence of Welfs, Conrad III
had resolved to destroy Weinsberg and imprison its defenders. He suspended, however, the last assault,, ultimately permitting the Weinsberg women to retire, carrying their husbands. The episode became known as the 'Wives of Weinsberg'. The siege, together with that episode, became subjects of one of the World History/Bank Imperial
commercials.
, on February 2, 1138. When Conrad gave the Duchy of Saxony
to Count Albert the Bear, the Saxonians rose in defence of their young prince, and Count Welf of Altorf
, the brother of Henry the Proud, began the desolating war.
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, was a decisive battle between Welfs and 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...
. During it the Welfs for the first time changed their war cry 'Kyrie Eleison' for their party cries. The Hohenstaufen used the 'Strike for Gibbelins' war cry as well.
Exasperated at the heroic defence of Welfs, Conrad III
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
had resolved to destroy Weinsberg and imprison its defenders. He suspended, however, the last assault,, ultimately permitting the Weinsberg women to retire, carrying their husbands. The episode became known as the 'Wives of Weinsberg'. The siege, together with that episode, became subjects of one of the World History/Bank Imperial
World History. Bank Imperial
World History. Bank Imperial was a Russian television commercial series, advertising the now defunct Russian Bank Imperial and aired in 1992—1997. Directed and produced by Timur Bekmambetov, it consisted of 18 history-themed spots with an average running time of one minute...
commercials.
Background
On the death of Lothar II in 1137, the Welf Henry the Proud, heir of the patrimony of his deceased father-in-law, and possessor of the crown jewels, stood boldly forward as a candidate for the imperial dignity. But the local princes, opposing him, elected the Hohenstaufen Conrad III in FrankfurtFrankfurt
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...
, on February 2, 1138. When Conrad gave the Duchy of Saxony
Duchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
to Count Albert the Bear, the Saxonians rose in defence of their young prince, and Count Welf of Altorf
Welf VI
Welf VI was the margrave of Tuscany and duke of Spoleto , the third son of Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, and a member of the illustrious Italo-German family of the Welf....
, the brother of Henry the Proud, began the desolating war.