Berthold of Schweinfurt

Last updated
Berthold of Schweinfurt
Died(980-01-15)15 January 980
Noble family Luitpoldings or
Popponids
Spouse(s)Eilika of Walbeck
Father(?) Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria

Berthold of Schweinfurt (died 15 January 980) was a German nobleman.

Contents

Life

He was first mentioned as a Count in 941. In 960, he was mentioned as Count in the Radenzgau. In 961, he appears as count on the lower Raab and in 973 as count in the Volkfeld shire. After successful battles in Bohemia and Hungary, he was named as Margrave in 976. In 980, he appears as count in eastern Franconia.

His background is disputed. The most likely theory is that he was a son (or grandson) of Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria. That would make him a member of the Luitpolding dynasty. Another theory sees him as the son of Arnulf's brother Berthold, Duke of Bavaria, which would still make him out to be a Luitpolding. This linkage with the Luitpoldings would explain the Schweinfurts' connection with Bavaria. Yet another theory puts him into the Popponids family. It is certain that his brother, or nephew, Leopold I, Margrave of Austria was the founder of the Austrian House of Babenberg. The name 'Leopold' is a modernization of 'Luitpold', and would strengthen the argument for ties with the Luitpoldingers.

The Comes Bertholdus who was mentioned in 941, was tasked by Emperor Otto I with guarding Lothar II, Count of Walbeck, who had been taken prisoner. Lothar was pardoned the following year, and Berthold married his daughter Eilika (d. 19 August 1015). She later initiated the construction of the minster in Schweinfurt, where she was buried.

In 964, Berthold was tasked by Otto with guarding another prisoner, King Berengar II of Italy, who was kept prisoner in Bamberg. In 973, Berthold participated in the ousting of the rebellious Henry II, Duke of Bavaria.

Marriage and issue

Berthold was married to Eilika of Walbeck, daughter of Lothar II, Count of Walbeck. They had at least two children:

In 1010, a lady named Eilika was abbess of Niedernburg Abbey in Passau. It is thought this Eilika may have been a daughter of Berthold and his wife.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babenberg</span> Austrian noble dynasty from c. 962 to 1246

The House of Babenberg was a noble dynasty of Austrian Dukes and Margraves. Originally from Bamberg in the Duchy of Franconia, the Babenbergs ruled the imperial Margraviate of Austria from its creation in 976 AD until its elevation to a duchy in 1156, and from then until the extinction of the line in 1246, whereafter they were succeeded by the House of Habsburg, to which they were related.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopold I, Margrave of Austria</span> 10th-century Austrian nobleman

Leopold I, known as the Illustrious was a member of the House of Babenberg who ruled as Margrave of Austria from 976 until his death. He was the first margrave of the Babenberg dynasty which ruled the March and Duchy of Austria until its extinction in 1246.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria</span> German duke (d. 937)

Arnulf II, also known as the Bad, the Evil or the Wicked, a member of the Luitpolding dynasty, held the title of Duke of Bavaria from about 907 until his death in 937. He is numbered in succession to Arnulf of Carinthia, counted as Arnulf I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith, Duchess of Bavaria</span> Duchess of Bavaria

Judith of Bavaria, a member of the Luitpolding dynasty, was Duchess consort of Bavaria from 947 to 955, by her marriage with Duke Henry I. After her husband's death, she acted as regent of Bavaria during the minority of her son Henry the Wrangler in 955-972.

Otto III, called the White and known as Otto of Schweinfurt, was the margrave of the Nordgau (1024–1031) and duke of Swabia (1048–1057). He was the son of Henry of Schweinfurt, margrave of the Nordgau, and Gerberga of Henneberg. Otto was one of the most powerful East Franconian princes by inheritance: having extensive land in the Radenzgau and Schweinfurt. In 1014, he first appears as count of Lower Altmühl and, in 1024, he inherits his father's march. In 1034, Otto became count of the Lower Naab. From then on to his appointment to Swabia, he takes part in many imperial expeditions into Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland. He was betrothed to Matilda, daughter of Bolesław I the Brave, but the arrangement fell through.

Henry III, called the Younger, a member of the Luitpolding dynasty, was the first Duke of Carinthia from 976 to 978, Duke of Bavaria from 983 to 985 and again Duke of Carinthia from 985 to 989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berthold, Duke of Bavaria</span>

Berthold, of the Luitpolding dynasty, was the younger son of Margrave Luitpold of Bavaria and Cunigunda, sister of Duke Erchanger of Swabia. He followed his nephew Eberhard as Duke of Bavaria in 938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luitpold, Margrave of Bavaria</span>

Luitpold, perhaps of the Huosi family or related to the Carolingian dynasty by Liutswind, mother of Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia, was the ancestor of the Luitpolding dynasty which ruled Bavaria and Carinthia until the mid-tenth century.

The Luitpoldings were a medieval dynasty which ruled the German stem duchy of Bavaria from some time in the late ninth century off and on until 985.

Cunigunde of Swabia, a member of the Ahalolfing noble family, was Margravine of Bavaria until 907 by her first marriage with Margrave Luitpold and German queen from 913 to 918 by her second marriage with King Conrad I, the first and sole ruler of the Conradine dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counts of Andechs</span>

The House of Andechs was a feudal line of German princes in the 12th and 13th centuries. The counts of Dießen-Andechs obtained territories in northern Dalmatia on the Adriatic seacoast, where they became Margraves of Istria and ultimately dukes of a short-lived imperial state named Merania from 1180 to 1248. They were also self-styled lords of Carniola.

Henry of Schweinfurt was the Margrave of the Nordgau from 994 until 1004. He was called the "glory of eastern Franconia" by his own cousin, the chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margraviate of the Nordgau</span> Administrative unit of the Duchy of Bavaria

The Margraviate of the Nordgau or Bavarian Nordgau was a medieval administrative unit (Gau) on the frontier of the German Duchy of Bavaria. It comprised the region north of the Danube and Regensburg (Ratisbon), roughly covered by the modern Upper Palatinate stretching up to the river Main and, especially after 1061, into the Egerland on the border with Bohemia.

Lothair I was Margrave of the Nordmark from about 983 until his death. He was also a member of Saxon nobility as Count of Derlingau and of Nordthüringgau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith of Schweinfurt</span>

Judith of Schweinfurt was Duchess consort of Bohemia from 1034 until 1055, by her marriage with the Přemyslid duke Bretislav I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heilika of Lengenfeld</span>

Heilika of Pettendorf-Lengenfeld was by marriage Countess Palatine of Bavaria.

The German royal election of 1002 was the decision on the succession which was held after the death of Emperor Otto III without heirs. It was won by Duke Henry IV of Bavaria among accusations of uncustomary practices.

Lothar II the Elder, Count of Walbeck, son of Lothar I, Count of Walbeck.

Heinrich I, Count of Pegnitz is a contested early ancestor of the House of Wittelsbach. He was born in Pegnitz to allegedly either Henry von Schweinfurt, Margrave of the Nordgau or Count Berthold of Schweinfurt. Thus meaning he was the paternal great-grandson or grandson of Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria, making him and the House of Wittelsbach descendants of the Luitpoldings. His first wife was the daughter of Conrad, Count of Altdorf and his second wife was an unnamed Countess of Welf. Heinrich I died circa 1043 in Scheyern. He had 6 children who are as follows:

  1. Otto I, Count of Scheyern - Founder of the House of Wittelsbach.
  2. Konrad, Count of Lechsgemünd- Lord of Frontenhausen and of Reichspoldesberg.
  3. Heinrich II, Count of Pegnitz.
  4. Eberhard I von Vohburg-Schweinfurt - Bishop of Eichstätt from 1100 to 1112.
  5. Marquis Otto of Schweinfurt.
  6. Friedrich I, Count of Burg-Lengenfeld.

References