General Description
This period commenced with the death of Emperor Henry VI in 1197, precipitating a succession crisis due to the lack of a clear heir. In 1198, the empire’s electors split, leading to the dual election of Philip of Swabia, of the Hohenstaufen dynasty, and Otto IV, affiliated with the Welf family. Philip’s claim was bolstered by his election by a faction of prince-electors and his possession of the Imperial Regalia, symbols of legitimate imperial authority. The Hohenstaufen Faction, under Philip’s leadership, garnered substantial support within the southern regions of the empire, notably among the Swabian nobility and other allies loyal to the Hohenstaufen lineage. The faction’s legitimacy was further reinforced by strategic marriages and alliances, extending its influence beyond the empire’s borders. Philip’s reign, however, was marred by ongoing conflict with Otto IV’s faction and the fluctuating support of the papacy, which initially backed Otto IV but later distanced itself due to Otto’s policies in Italy. The assassination of Philip of Swabia in 1208 marked a critical point for the Hohenstaufen Faction, yet it did not lead to its dissolution. Instead, the faction’s resilience was demonstrated by the eventual rise of Frederick II, Philip’s younger brother, who was elected king in 1212. Frederick’s coronation in 1215 in Aachen symbolically concluded the factional dispute, as he managed to consolidate support from various quarters of the empire, thereby restoring a semblance of unity to the Holy Roman Empire.
[1]
[1]: Peter Csendes, Philipp von Schwaben: Ein Staufer Im Kampf Um Die Macht (Darmstadt: Primus Verlag, 2003). Zotero link: L7ELHNJU