Landgrafen of Thuringia

Thuringia was the area which lay to the east of the Merovingian kingdom of Austrasia. Kings of Thuringia in the 5th century are named by Gregory of Tours, who also records that the Merovingian kings Theoderic I and Clotaire I invaded and conquered the territory in 531. The chronicle known as Fredegar records that King Dagobert I installed Radulf as duke to rule Thuringia and that by the mid-7th century he had rebelled and asserted its independence again. After King Sigebert defeated duke Radulf, Thuringia was governed by dukes from Würzburg.

Reconstruction of the family of the early counts and landgrafen of Thuringia is heavily dependent on records written in the mid-13th century at the monastery of Reinhardsbrunn, which was founded by Graf Ludwig "der Springer" in the late 11th century. The Cronica Reinhardsbrunnensis records the origin of Ludwig "cum-barba" as "ex Francia oriundi Cis Renum", presumably indicating that he was from the left bank of the Rhine either in Lotharingia or further west in France itself. It also states that he and his brother arrived in Thuringia in 1034.

It is likely that Ludwig "cum-barba" did have an aristocratic background. His burial at Mainz St Alban, the burial place of numerous German nobles, suggests that his family was well connected. In addition, the family quickly rose to prominence in Thuringia, his grandson being appointed Landgraf in 1131. This rise to power is difficult to understand unless the family had influential relations. .... more

Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia, and Katherina von Henneberg in Albrechtsburg castle

• A1 = Ludwig "cum-barba", Count in Thuringia, lvd:1034, m. Cäcilie von Sangerhausen;
  • B1 = Ludwig "der Salier", Count in Thuringia, d:1123, m. Adelheid von Stade;
    • C1 = Ludwig I, Landgrave of Thuringia, d:1140, m. Hedwig von Gudensberg;
      • D1 = Jutta of Thuringia, m. Duke Vladislav II of Bohemia;  <==  Premyslid Dynasty
      • D2 = Ludwig II "der Eiserne", Landgrave of Thuringia, d:1172, m. Jutta of Swabia;  ==>  Hohenstaufen Dynasty
        • E1 = Hermann I, Landgrave of Thuringia, Palatine of Saxony, d:1217, m. Sofie of Bavaria;  ==>  Wittelsbach Dynasty
          • F1 = Jutta of Thuringia, m. Markgraf Dietrich von Meissen;  <==  House of Wettin
          • F2 -- Irmgard of Thuringia, m. Heinrich I von Anhalt;  <==  Markgrafs of Brandenburg