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LVI. Conrad III
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382 LVI Conrad III ConradIII(r.asGermancounter-king1127–1135andasGerman king 1137–1152) was the first German ruler of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He had been elected by many of the German princes as king in opposition to Lothair II in 1127. He and his brother Frederick fought Lothair off and on, but, in 1135, he submitted to Lothair, who pardoned him and allowed him to take back his lost estates. When Lothair died two years later, most of the German princes again elected Conrad king, this time not in opposition to any other claimant. The major holdouts were Bavarian and Saxon dukes from the Welf dynasty, who refused his allegiance. One of them, Henry the Proud, was made an outlaw through Conrad’s imperial ban. He died in 1139, but Henry’s brother, Welf, continued the family struggle. Conrad prevailed over Welf in the siege of Weinsburg, as our author indicates, although he does not record the episode that became probably the most famous emperor-legend associated with Conrad. According to that story, Conrad promised the women of Weinsburg that they could leave without interference, taking with them only what they could carry on their backs. Welf’s wife, the duchess, left carrying him on her shoulders, and the other women of Weinsburg followed, each carrying a husband or other close male relative on her back. A nephew of Conrad protested that no one had intended this outcome, at which Conrad shouted loud and clear, “A word—an emperor!” Conrad was never actually consecrated emperor by a pope. In spite of repeated invitations from Romans he always found himself too busy to go to Rome for the ceremony, but like Henry I and a fair number of other German kings, he functioned de facto as one. Conrad III 383 Conflict continued intermittently in Bavaria and Saxony until in 1146 Bernard of Clairvaux succeeded in persuading many European nobles to answer his call to what became the Second Crusade, instead of fighting among themselves. Both Conrad and King Louis VII of France heeded the call and set out in 1147. This is the point where the Book of Emperors breaks off. The army was decimated by defeats and disease, and Conrad returned to Constantinople and then Italy. The French king turned against Conrad and allied himself with Roger of Sicily and Welf of Bavaria, his old adversary. the princes met and agreed on a Conrad, who earlier had been against the Empire. Bishop Henry of Regensburg from the noble house of Diessen advised them to make this choice as did the Bohemian spokesman. That was done against the wishes of Duke Henry of Bavaria and his brother, Welf. They obtained considerable help from exploiting old resentments from when they were held in great honor in Emperor Lothair’s time. The princes sought ways to entrap him. It was the advice of the princes that King Conrad give Duke Henry a court reception that was less than gracious. He had him come to Regensburg , where Henry entrusted the spear and also the crown to him for the sake of the Empire’s honor. He never saw him again. The king ordered that he surrender the land of Bavaria to him. Leopold was already holding that land and took it much amiss since he was lord of that land and held it as part of his inheritance. Duke Henry rode to Swabia, where Conrad’s men treated him very badly. The duke was driven out and made his way to Saxony. That lord then departed this world—may God in heaven grant mercy to his soul! Welf then rose in rebellion against the Empire. Duke Leopold besieged Vallei, and Welf fought against him there. Leopold was defeated in the conflict because so many of his men were killed and he barely escaped himself; however, Leopold was a determined hero and lost no time in rising in revolt once again, this time sustaining severe injuries. He was unable to retain support. How quickly all those who had pledged allegiance to him [44.221.43.208] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 07:17 GMT) 384 Chapter Fifty-six completely deserted him! Again he had to flee and was unable to obtain any honor for himself. It soon came to pass that the king became angry with the noble prince Welf. Neither friends nor relations wanted to help him. They were slow to respond because Welf was opposing the Empire. King Conrad besieged Weinsberg. Welf re-gathered...