Holy Roman Empire - Hohenstaufen and Welf Dynasties

The Holy Roman Empire during the Hohenstaufen and Welf dynasties (1126 to 1254) represented a period of both significant internal strife and expansion. Spanning regions that include modern-day Germany, Italy, and parts of Eastern and Central Europe. The period is defined by an ongoing competition between the House of Welf and the Hohenstaufen dynasty. This rivalry, deeply rooted in contesting claims to territories and power, significantly influenced the Empire’s internal dynamics. ^[1]
This period begins after the death of the last Salian emperor, Henry V, in 1125. He had no heirs, and a period of intra-elite conflict followed, with rival factions supporting the Saxon noble Lothair III and Conrad III, of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. In 1138, Conrad III was elected king, shifting the centre of imperial power to Swabia. Unlike the Ottonian and Salian rulers who preceded them, the Hohenstaufens faced challenges in asserting their control over the Empire’s semi-autonomous territories. The lack of a central capital and unified legal system continued to characterize the Empire, with German kings maintaining their tradition of being crowned as Roman Emperors, a practice that underscored the Empire’s claim to the Roman legacy. The House of Welf, wielding significant influence and territorial control, particularly in Saxony and Bavaria, emerged as formidable contenders to Hohenstaufen authority. ^[1]
Frederick I Barbarossa, one of the most renowned Hohenstaufen emperors. His reign (1152-1190) was distinguished by efforts to assert imperial authority in Italy, leading to prolonged conflicts with the Lombard League and the Papacy. ^[2] The period was also notable for the Crusades, with emperors like Frederick I and Frederick II participating in these expeditions, which, while aimed at expanding Christendom, also served to enhance the imperial prestige. Frederick II (1212-1250), in particular, stood out for his cultural patronage and administrative reforms, earning him the title Stupor Mundi ("Wonder of the World"). However, his reign was also marked by continuous conflicts with the Papacy and internal princely factions, underscoring the fractious nature of imperial authority. ^[3] The struggle for control in Italy, especially over the Kingdom of Sicily, which was under Hohenstaufen rule through marriage alliances, further complicated the Empire’s internal dynamics. These Italian campaigns drained the Empire’s resources and diverted attention from northern territories, leading to increased autonomy for local princes and a gradual weakening of central authority. ^{[4] [5]}
The death of Frederick II and the subsequent demise of his heirs led to the Interregnum (1254-1273), a period of significant political fragmentation and decline in imperial power. This era saw the rise of princely states and the increasing irrelevance of the imperial title. ^[6]

[1]: Odilo Engels, Die Staufer, 9., erg. Aufl., Kohlhammer-Urban-Taschenbücher Geschichte, Politikwissenschaft Bd. 154 (Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 2010). Zotero link: HINBRJJK

[2]: Knut Görich, Friedrich Barbarossa: Eine Biographie (München: C.H. Beck, 2011). Zotero link: 9TFKFYQP

[3]: “Crusades - Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, Mediterranean | Britannica,” accessed February 4, 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/Crusades/The-Crusade-of-Frederick-II. Zotero link: VBH9IK4D

[4]: PAOLO GRILLO, LEGNANO 1176;UNA BATTAGLIA PER LA LIBERTA ([S.l.]: EDITORI LATERZA, 2012). Zotero link: 49Y52W3A

[5]: Herbert Grundmann and Friedrich Baethgen, Deutsches Archiv Für Erforschung Des Mittelalters, 24 (Köln ; Graz: Böhlau, 1968) Zotero link: PG54JSAE

[6]: Martin Kaufhold, Deutsches Interregnum Und Europäische Politik: Konfliktlösungen Und Entscheidungsstrukturen 1230-1280, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Schriften Bd. 49 (Hannover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung, 2000). Zotero link: 3VKQVTUM