The Dukes of Swabia were the rulers of the

Duchy of Swabia The Duchy of Swabia ( German: ''Herzogtum Schwaben'') was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German Kingdom. It arose in the 10th century in the southwestern area that had been settled by Alemanni tribes in Late Antiquity. While th ...

during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

. 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 The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, , ), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of unclear origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynast ...

family, who held it, with a brief interruption, from 1079 until 1268. For much of this period, the Hohenstaufen were also Holy Roman Emperors. With the death of

Conradin Conrad III (25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268), called ''the Younger'' or ''the Boy'', but usually known by the diminutive Conradin (german: link=no, Konradin, it, Corradino), was the last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen. He was Duk ...

, the last Hohenstaufen duke, 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

Hunfriding The Hunfridings or Burchardings (''Bouchardids'') were a family of probably Alemannic origin who rose to prominence in their homeland, eventually becoming the first ducal dynasty of Swabia. The first known member of the family was Hunfrid, Margr ...

(d. 911), mentioned as ''marchio'' (margrave) in 903 and ''dux'' (duke) in 909 * Erchanger Ahalolfing, dominant count in Alemannia after the execution of Burchard I, declared duke in 915, exiled September 916, executed January 917. * Burchard II (917–926,

), recognized

Henry the Fowler Henry the Fowler (german: Heinrich der Vogler or '; la, Henricus Auceps) (c. 876 – 2 July 936) was the Duke of Saxony from 912 and the King of East Francia from 919 until his death in 936. As the first non- Frankish king of East Francia, ...

as king of Germany in 919 and was recognized by Henry as Duke of Swabia in return. * Hermann I (926–949,

Conradine The Conradines or Conradiner were a dynasty of Franconian counts and dukes in the 8th to 11th Century, named after Duke Conrad the Elder and his son King Conrad I of Germany. History The family is first mentioned in 832, with Count Gebhard in ...

) * Liudolf (950–954,

Ottonian The Ottonian dynasty (german: Ottonen) was a Saxon dynasty of German monarchs (919–1024), named after three of its kings and Holy Roman Emperors named Otto, especially its first Emperor Otto I. It is also known as the Saxon dynasty after the ...

) * Burchard III (954–973,

) *

Otto I Otto I (23 November 912 – 7 May 973), traditionally known as Otto the Great (german: Otto der Große, it, Ottone il Grande), was East Frankish king from 936 and Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death in 973. He was the oldest son of Henr ...

(973–982,

)

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 Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the No ...

(1038–45,

Salian The Salian dynasty or Salic dynasty (german: Salier) was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages. The dynasty provided four kings of Germany (1024–1125), all of whom went on to be crowned Holy Roman emperors (1027–1125). After the death of the la ...

), King of the Romans from 1039 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1046 *

Otto II Otto II (955 – 7 December 983), called the Red (''der Rote''), was Holy Roman Emperor from 973 until his death in 983. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto II was the youngest and sole surviving son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Ital ...

(1045–48,

Ezzonen The Ezzonids (, ) were a dynasty of Lotharingian stock dating back as far as the ninth century. They attained prominence only in the eleventh century, through marriage with the Ottonian dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors. Named after Ezzo, Count ...

) *

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was Holy Roman Emperor from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of the Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was crowned as King ...

(1048–57,

Schweinfurt Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultural and educational hub. The urban a ...

) * Rudolf I (1057–79,

Rheinfelden Rheinfelden may refer to: Places * Rheinfelden (Baden), a town in the county of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg, Germany * Rheinfelden (Aargau), a town in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland * Rheinfelden District, a district in the Swiss canton of Aa ...

) * Berthold I (1079–90,

) * Berthold II (1092–98, Zähringen)

House of Hohenstaufen, 1079–1268

Frederick I Frederick I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I, Count of Zol ...

1079–1105
, , , , 1050
son of Frederick of Büren and Hildegard of Egisheim-Dagsburg, , Agnes of Germany
1089
11 children
, , 21 July 1105
aged 54 or 55 , - , Frederick II the One-Eyed
1105–1147
, , Frederick II of Swabia

, , 1090
son of

and Agnes of Germany , , Judith of Bavaria
1121
2 children

Agnes of Saarbrücken Agnes of Waiblingen (1072/73 – 24 September 1143), also known as Agnes of Germany, Agnes of Poitou and Agnes of Saarbrücken, was a member of the Salian imperial family. Through her first marriage, she was Duchess of Swabia; through her seco ...

c.1132
2 children
, , 6 April 1147
aged 56 or 57 , - , Frederick III Barbarossa
1147–1152
, ,

, , 1122
son of Frederick II and Judith of Bavaria , ,

Adelheid of Vohburg Adelaide of Vohburg (german: Adela or ''Adelheid''; – 25 May after 1187) was Duchess of Swabia from 1147 and German queen from 1152 until 1153, as the first wife of the Hohenstaufen king Frederick Barbarossa, the later Holy Roman Emperor. ...

2 March 1147

Eger Eger ( , ; ; also known by other alternative names) is the county seat of Heves County, and the second largest city in Northern Hungary (after Miskolc). A city with county rights. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, baroque bu ...

no children
Beatrice of Burgundy
9 June 1156

Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the '' Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzbur ...

12 children
, , 10 June 1190
aged 67 or 68 , - , Frederick IV
1152–1167
, , Frederick IV of Swabia

, , 1145
son of

Conrad III of Germany Conrad III (german: Konrad; it, Corrado; 1093 or 1094 – 15 February 1152) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was from 1116 to 1120 Duke of Franconia, from 1127 to 1135 anti-king of his predecessor Lothair III and from 1138 until his death in 115 ...

and Gertrude von Sulzbach , , Gertrude of Bavaria
1166
no children
, , 19 August 1167

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

aged 21 or 22 , - , Frederick V
1167–1170
, , , , 16 July 1164

Pavia Pavia (, , , ; la, Ticinum; Medieval Latin: ) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy in northern Italy, south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It has a population of c. 73,086. The city was the cap ...

son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy , ,
unmarried
, , 28 November 1170
aged 6 , - , Frederick VI
1170–1191
, , FridrichSwabia

, , February 1167

Modigliana Modigliana ( rgn, Mudgiâna) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about southeast of Bologna and about southwest of Forlì. From 1850 until 1986 Modigliana Cathedral wa ...

son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy , ,
unmarried
, , 20 January 1191

Acre The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, of a square mile, 4,840 square ...

aged 24 , - ,

Conrad II Conrad II ( – 4 June 1039), also known as and , was the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1027 until his death in 1039. The first of a succession of four Salian emperors, who reigned for one century until 1125, Conrad ruled the kingdoms ...

1191–1196
, , Vad-0321 052 Konrad von Schwaben

, , February or March 1173
son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy , ,
unmarried
, , 15 August 1196

Durlach Durlach is a borough of the German city of Karlsruhe with a population of roughly 30,000. History Durlach was bestowed by emperor Frederick II on the margrave Hermann V of Zähringen as an allodial possession. It was chosen by the margrave Ch ...

aged 23 , - , Philip
1196–1208
, , Vad-0321 040 Philipp von Schwaben

, , August 1177
son of Frederick III and Beatrice of Burgundy , ,

Irene Angelina Irene Angelina ( el, ; c. 1181 – 27 August 1208) was a Byzantine princess and member of the Angelos dynasty and by her two marriages Queen of Sicily in 1193 and Queen of Germany from 1198 to 1208. Life Irene was born in Constantinople, th ...

25 May 1197
4 children
, , 21 June 1208

Bamberg Bamberg (, , ; East Franconian: ''Bambärch'') is a town in Upper Franconia, Germany, on the river Regnitz close to its confluence with the river Main. The town dates back to the 9th century, when its name was derived from the nearby ' castl ...

aged 30 , - , align="center" colspan="7", ''Vacancy: 1208-1212'' , - , Frederick VII
1212–1216
, , , , 26 December 1194

Jesi Jesi, also spelled Iesi (), is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Ancona in Marche, Italy. It is an important industrial and artistic center in the floodplain on the left (north) bank of the Esino river before its mouth on the Adriati ...

son of

and

Constance of Sicily Constance I ( it, Costanza; 2 November 1154 – 27 November 1198) was reigning Queen of Sicily from 1194–98, jointly with her spouse from 1194 to 1197, and with her infant son Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1198, as the heiress of th ...

, , Constance of Aragon
15 August 1209
1 child

Yolande of Jerusalem Yolande or Yolanta may refer to: Royalty and nobility * Yolande of Aragon (disambiguation), several people * Yolande de Montferrat (c.1274–1317), Byzantine Empress consort * Yolande de Courtenay (c.1200–1233), wife of Andrew II of Hungary * Yo ...

9 November 1225
2 children

Isabella of England
15 July 1235
4 children, , 13 December 1250
Torremaggiore
aged 55 , - , Henry II
1216–1235
, , , , 1211

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

son of

and Constance of Aragon , ,

Margaret Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular through ...

29 November 1225
2 children, , 12 February 1242
Martirano
aged 30 , - ,

Conrad III Conrad III (german: Konrad; it, Corrado; 1093 or 1094 – 15 February 1152) of the Hohenstaufen dynasty was from 1116 to 1120 Duke of Franconia, from 1127 to 1135 anti-king of his predecessor Lothair III and from 1138 until his death in 1152 k ...

1235–1254 , , , , 25 April 1228

Andria Andria (; Barese: ) is a city and ''comune'' in Apulia (southern Italy). It is an agricultural and service center, producing wine, olives and almonds. It is the fourth-largest municipality in the Apulia region (behind Bari, Taranto, and Foggia) ...

son of

and

, ,

Elisabeth of Bavaria Duchess Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie in Bavaria (24 December 1837 – 10 September 1898) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I on 24 April 1854 until her assassination in 1898. Elisabeth wa ...

1 September 1246
1 child, , 21 May 1254
Lavello
aged 26 , - , Conrad IV the Younger
1254–1268, , , , 25 March 1252
Wolfstein
son of Conrad I and

, , never married, , 29 October 1268

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

aged 16
(executed) , -

House of Habsburg (1283–1309)

* Rudolf (1283–90) * John (1290–1309)

Family tree

Successor states

In the 13th century, the

disintegrated into numerous smaller states. Some of the more important immediate successor states were: During the following century, several of these states were acquired by the

County of Württemberg The County of Württemberg was a historical territory with origins in the realm of the House of Württemberg, the heart of the old Duchy of Swabia. Its capital was Stuttgart. From the 12th century until 1495, it was a county within the Holy Roma ...

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 The Kingdom of Bavaria (german: Königreich Bayern; ; spelled ''Baiern'' until 1825) was a German state that succeeded the former Electorate of Bavaria in 1805 and continued to exist until 1918. With the unification of Germany into the German E ...

References

{{reflist History of Swabia

Dukes of Swabia (909–1268)

Early dukes

Conradines

House of Babenberg

Miscellaneous houses

House of Hohenstaufen, 1079–1268

House of Habsburg (1283–1309)

Family tree

Successor states

See also

References