Berthold I (c. 1060 – 18 May 1090), better known as Berthold of Rheinfelden, was the
Duke of Swabia
The Dukes of Swabia were the rulers of the Duchy of Swabia during the Middle Ages. 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 ...
from 1079 until his death. He was the eldest son of
Rudolf of Rheinfelden
Rudolf of Rheinfelden ( – 15 October 1080) was Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079. Initially a follower of his brother-in-law, the Salian dynasty, Salian emperor Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV, his election as German anti-king in 1077 mar ...
, duke of Swabia, and
German anti-king (r.1077–1079) in opposition to
Henry IV of Germany.
The identity of Berthold's mother is disputed. She is sometimes said to be Rudolf's first wife,
Matilda of Germany (sister of Henry IV), and sometimes said to be Rudolf's second wife,
Adelaide of Savoy (if this were the case, then Berthold must have been born after c.1062), and sometimes said to be Rudolf's son by another, unknown, wife.
After the death of Rudolf's second wife Adelaide in 1079, Rudolf needed a new supervisor of the south German resistance, since he was himself confined to Saxony and cut off from his allies in Swabia. Rudolf therefore made his son, Berthold, Duke of Swabia. Henry, however, appointed
Frederick of Stauf, who had lands strategically located much to his advantage.
Throughout the civil war against Henry IV, Swabia was thrown into chaos. In 1084, Berthold was besieged by supporters of Henry IV. Although he had a larger power base, he was of lower rank. He eventually left the fight to his brother-in-law,
Berthold II, Duke of Swabia
Berthold II ( – 12 April 1111), also known as Berchtold II, was the Duke of Swabia from 1092 to 1098.
After he conceded the Duchy of Swabia to the Staufer in 1098, the title of " Duke of Zähringen" was created for him, in use from c. 1100 and ...
, and
Welf IV
Welf I (c. 1035/10406 November 1101) was Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 1096 to his death. He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the genealogy of the Elder House of Welf, he is counted as Welf IV.
Biog ...
. When Berthold died without descendants in 1090 and was buried in the monastery of
Saint Blaise
Blaise of Sebaste ( hy, Սուրբ Վլասի, ''Surb Vlasi''; el, Ἅγιος Βλάσιος, ''Agios Vlasios''; ) was a physician and bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia (modern Sivas, Turkey) who is venerated as a Christian saint and m ...
, Berthold II, who was married to his sister,
Agnes of Rheinfelden
Agnes of Rheinfelden (*; † 19 December 1111) was the daughter of Rudolf of Rheinfelden, and the wife of Berthold II of Zähringen, Duke of Swabia.
Life
Agnes was the daughter of Rudolf von Rheinfelden, duke of Swabia, and anti-king of German ...
succeeded him as duke of Swabia.
[Schmid, ''Die Zähringer'', p. 60; Boshof, ''Die Salier'', p. 259.]
Notes
References
*
*G. Wunder, 'Beiträge zur Genealogie schwäbischer Herzogshäuser,' ''Zeitschrift für Württembergische Landesgeschichte'' 31 (1972), pp. 11-15
*A. Zettler, ''Geschichte des Herzogtums Schwaben'' (Stuttgart, 2003)
*A. Thiele, ''Genealogische Stammtafeln zur europäischen Geschichte Band I, Teilband 1'' (Frankfurt am Main, 1993).
*K. Schmid, ed., ''Die Zähringer'' (Sigmaringen, 1990)
*H. Frommer, ''Die Salier und das Herzogtum Schwaben'' (Karlsruhe, 1992)
*E. Boshof, ''Die Salier'' (Stuttgart, 1987).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berthold 1, Duke Of Swabia
1090 deaths
Dukes of Swabia
Year of birth uncertain
Sons of kings