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 to rule Swabia was the Hohenstaufen family, who held it, with a brief interruption, from 1079 until 1268. For much of that period, the Hohenstaufen were also Holy Roman Emperors. With the death of Conradin, the last Duke of Hohenstaufen, the duchy itself disintegrated although King Rudolf I attempted to revive it for his Habsburg family in the late 13th century.
Dukes of Swabia (909–1268)
Early dukes Burchard I (d. 911), a member of the Hunfridings described as a margrave () and duke () of Alamannia in 903 and 909, respectively Erchanger, a member of the Ahalolfings, dominant count in Alemannia after the execution of Burchard I, declared duke of Swabia in 915, exiled September 916, executed January 917. Burchard II (917–926), a member of the Hunfridings who recognized Henry the Fowler as king of Germany in 919 and was recognized by Henry as Duke of Swabia in return. Hermann I (926–949), a member of the Conradines Liudolf (950–954), part of the Ottonian dynasty Burchard III (954–973), a member of the Hunfridings Otto I (973–982), a member of the Ottonian dynasty
Conradines
Conrad I (982–997) Hermann II (997–1003) Hermann III (1003–12)
House of Babenberg
Ernest I (1012–15) Ernest II (1015–30) Hermann IV (1030–38)
Miscellaneous houses Henry I (1038–45), a member of the Salian dynasty, King of the Romans from 1039 and Holy Roman Emperor as Henry III from 1046 Otto II (1045–48), a member of the Ezzonid dynasty Otto III (1048–57) Rudolf I von Rheinfelden (1057–79), son of a count of Rheinfelden, German antiking 10771079 Berthold I von Rheinfelden (1079–90) Berthold II von Zähringen (1092–98), brother-in-law of Berthold I
House of Hohenstaufen, 1079–1268
| Frederick I1079–1105|| ||1050son of Frederick of Büren and Hildegard of Egisheim||Agnes of Germany108911 children|| 21 July 1105aged 54 or 55 |- | Frederick II the One-Eyed1105–1147|| ||1090son of Frederick I and Agnes of Germany || Judith of Bavaria11212 childrenAgnes of Saarbrückenc.11322 children || 6 April 1147aged 56 or 57 |- | Frederick III Barbarossa1147–1152|| ||1122son of Frederick II and Judith of Bavaria || Adelheid of Vohburg2 March 1147Egerno childrenBeatrice of Burgundy9 June 1156Würzburg12 children || 10 June 1190aged 67 or 68 |- | Frederick IV1152–1167|| ||1145son of Conrad III of Germany and Gertrude von Sulzbach || Gertrude of Bavaria1166no children|| 19 August 1167Romeaged 21 or 22 |- | Frederick V1167–1170||||16 July 1164Paviason of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy ||unmarried|| 28 November 1170aged 6 |- | Frederick VI1170–1191|| ||February 1167Modiglianason of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy ||unmarried|| 20 January 1191Acreaged 24 |- | Conrad II1191–1196|| ||February or March 1173son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy ||unmarried|| 15 August 1196Durlachaged 23 |- | Philip1196–1208|| ||August 1177son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy ||Irene Angelina25 May 11974 children||21 June 1208Bambergaged 30 |- |align="center" colspan="7"|Vacancy: 1208-1212 |- | Frederick VII1212–1216|| ||26 December 1194Jesison of Henry I and Constance of Sicily||Constance of Aragon15 August 12091 childIsabella II of Jerusalem9 November 12252 childrenIsabella of England15 July 12354 children|| 13 December 1250Torremaggioreaged 55 |- | Henry II1216–1235|| || 1211Sicilyson of Frederick I and Constance of Aragon ||Margaret29 November 12252 children|| 12 February 1242Martiranoaged 30 |- | Conrad III1235–1254 || ||25 April 1228Andriason of Frederick I and Isabella II of Jerusalem ||Elisabeth of Bavaria1 September 12461 child|| 21 May 1254Lavelloaged 26 |- | Conrad IV the Younger1254–1268|| ||25 March 1252Wolfsteinson of Conrad I and Elisabeth of Bavaria ||never married||29 October 1268Naplesaged 16(executed)
House of Habsburg (1283–1309) Rudolf (1283–90) John (1290–1309)
Family tree
Successor states
In the 13th century, the Duchy of Swabia disintegrated into numerous smaller states. Some of the more important immediate successor states were:
Bishopric of Augsburg Bishopric of Chur Bishopric of Constance Bishopric of Strasbourg Duchy of Teck (to Württemberg) Margraviate of Burgau (to Austria) Margraviate of Hochberg Landgraviate of Klettgau Landgraviate of Lower Alsace Landgraviate of Sundgau (to Austria) Landgraviate of Thurgau (to Austria) County Palatine of Tübingen (to Württemberg) Abbacy of Disentis Abbacy of Murbach Abbacy of St. Blaise Abbacy of St. Gall County of Bregenz (to Austria) County of Freiburg (to Austria) County of Fürstenberg County of Giengen County of Heiligenberg County of Hohenberg (to Austria) County of Kirchberg County of Marstetten County of Nellenburg County of Oettingen County of Pfirt (to Austria) County of Sulz (to Württemberg) County of Werdenberg County of Württemberg County of Zollern
During the following century, several of these states were acquired by the County of Württemberg or the Duchy of Austria, as marked above. In 1803 Bavarian Swabia was annexed by Bavaria and shortly afterwards became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.
See also Duchess of Swabia
References