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{{Infobox Former Country |
{{Infobox Former Country |
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|conventional_long_name = Duchy of Franconia |
|conventional_long_name = Duchy of Franconia |
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|status_text = [[Stem duchy]] of the [[Kingdom of Germany|German Kingdom]] |
|status_text = [[Stem duchy]] of the [[Kingdom of Germany|German Kingdom]] |
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|religion = [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] |
|religion = [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] |
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|year_start = |
|year_start = 861 |
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|year_end = |
|year_end = 1196 |
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|leader1 = [[Conrad, Duke of Thuringia|Conrad the Elder]] |
|leader1 = [[Conrad, Duke of Thuringia|Conrad the Elder]] |
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|title_leader = [[Duke of Franconia]] |
|title_leader = [[Duke of Franconia]] |
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The '''Duchy of Franconia''' was one of the [[stem-duchies]] of medieval Germany. It stretched along the valley of the Main from the Rhine to Bohemia, and was |
The '''Duchy of Franconia''' was one of the [[stem-duchies]] of medieval Germany. It stretched along the valley of the Main from the Rhine to Bohemia, and was bordered on the north by Saxony and Thuringia, and on the south by Swabia and Bavaria. It included a district around Mainz, Speyer and Worms, on the left bank of the Rhine. The word Franconia, first used in a Latin charter of 1053, was applied like the words France, Francia and Franken, to a portion of the land occupied by the Franks.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=15}} |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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The duchy evolved during the decline of the [[Carolingian dynasty]] in the areas of present-day [[Bavaria]]n [[Franconia]], southern [[Thuringia]], |
The duchy evolved during the decline of the [[Carolingian dynasty]] in the areas of present-day [[Bavaria]]n [[Franconia]], southern [[Thuringia]], Hesse (including [[Rhenish Hesse]]), [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]] and northern [[Baden-Württemberg]] (i.e. [[Rhine-Neckar]] and [[Heilbronn-Franken]]). Located in the centre of what was to become the German kingdom, it bordered the stem duchy of [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]] in the north, Austrasian [[Lorraine (duchy)|Lorraine]] (Upper and [[Lower Lorraine]]) in the west, [[Duchy of Swabia|Swabia]] in the south and [[Duchy of Bavaria|Bavaria]] in the southeast. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Unlike the other stem duchies, Franconia did not evolve into a stable political entity, though the local [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] counts held large estates in the western parts ([[Rhenish Franconia]]). In 906 the [[Conradines|Conradine]] relative Count [[Conrad I of Germany|Conrad the Younger]] in the [[Lahngau]] is mentioned as a ''dux Franconiae''. Upon the extinction of the East Frankish Carolingians in 911, he was elected the first [[List of German monarchs|German king]] (as Conrad I, ''Rex Francorum'' according to [[Salic law]]) and was succeeded as Franconian duke by his younger brother [[Eberhard of Franconia|Eberhard]]. However, the Conradines did not prevail against the rising Saxon [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonians]]: In 919 Duke [[Henry the Fowler|Henry of Saxony]] succeeded Conrad as German king and the Franconian stem duchy was seized by Henry's son King [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I of Germany]] after an unsuccessful revolt of |
Unlike the other stem duchies, Franconia did not evolve into a stable political entity, though the local [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] counts held large estates in the western parts ([[Rhenish Franconia]]). In 906 the [[Conradines|Conradine]] relative Count [[Conrad I of Germany|Conrad the Younger]] in the [[Lahngau]] is mentioned as a ''dux Franconiae''. Upon the extinction of the East Frankish Carolingians in 911, he was elected the first [[List of German monarchs|German king]] (as Conrad I, ''Rex Francorum'' according to [[Salic law]]) and was succeeded as Franconian duke by his younger brother [[Eberhard of Franconia|Eberhard]]. However, the Conradines did not prevail against the rising Saxon [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonians]]: In 919 Duke [[Henry the Fowler|Henry of Saxony]] succeeded Conrad as German king and the Franconian stem duchy was seized by Henry's son King [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I of Germany]] after an unsuccessful revolt of Duke Eberhard was shattered at the 939 [[Battle of Andernach]]. King Otto did not appoint a new duke of Franconia, and the duchy was fragmented into several counties and [[Diocese|bishoprics]], which reported to the German kings directly. |
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The Salian counts in Rhenish Franconia were sometimes mentioned as Franconian dukes and they became Germany's royal and imperial dynasty in 1024. |
The Salian counts in Rhenish Franconia were sometimes mentioned as Franconian dukes and they became Germany's royal and imperial dynasty in 1024. In 1093 their Franconian territories were granted as a fief to the [[palatine count]] of [[Aachen]], which would evolve into the important German principality of [[Electoral Palatinate]] (''Kurpfalz''). With the advancement of Count [[Conrad, Duke of Lorraine|Conrad the Red]], Rhenish Franconia became the heartland of the Salian dynasty, which provided four emperors in the 11th and 12th centuries: [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]], [[Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry III]], [[Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry IV]], and [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]]. It contained the cities of [[Mainz]], [[Speyer]] and Worms, the latter two being the administrative centres of countships within the hands of the Salian descendants of Conrad the Red. These counts were sometimes referred to as the Dukes of Franconia. |
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Emperor Conrad II was last to bear the ducal title. When he died in 1039, Rhenish Franconia was governed as a constellation of small states, like the cities of [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], Speyer and Worms, the [[Prince-bishop]]rics of [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Mainz]], [[Bishopric of Speyer|Speyer]], and [[Bishopric of Worms|Worms]], as well as the [[Landgraviate of Hesse]], then part of [[Thuringia]]. Alongside these powerful entities |
Emperor Conrad II was last to bear the ducal title. When he died in 1039, Rhenish Franconia was governed as a constellation of small states, like the cities of [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], Speyer and Worms, the [[Prince-bishop]]rics of [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Mainz]], [[Bishopric of Speyer|Speyer]], and [[Bishopric of Worms|Worms]], as well as the [[Landgraviate of Hesse]], then part of [[Thuringia]]. Alongside these powerful entities were many smaller, petty states. |
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In 1093, Emperor Henry IV gave the Salian territories in Rhenish Franconia as a [[fief]] to [[Henry of Laach]], the [[Count palatine]] of [[Lower Lorraine]] at [[Aachen]] |
In 1093, Emperor Henry IV gave the Salian territories in Rhenish Franconia as a [[fief]] to [[Henry of Laach]], the [[Count palatine]] of [[Lower Lorraine]] at [[Aachen]]. His lands would evolve into the important principality of Electoral Palatinate. While Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]] in 1168 granted the ducal title to the [[Bishopric of Würzburg|Prince-Bishops of Würzburg]] in Eastern Franconia, Rhenish Franconia was divided and extinguished. Its territories became part of the Imperial [[Upper Rhenish Circle]] in 1500. |
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==Dukes== |
==Dukes== |
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*[[Conrad, Duke of Thuringia|Conrad the Elder]] (d. 906), [[List of rulers of Thuringia|Duke of Thuringia]] from 892 |
*[[Conrad, Duke of Thuringia|Conrad the Elder]] (d. 906), [[List of rulers of Thuringia|Duke of Thuringia]] from 892 |
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*[[Conrad I of Germany|Conrad the Younger]] (d. 918), [[List of German monarchs|King of Germany]] from 911 |
*[[Conrad I of Germany|Conrad the Younger]] (d. 918), [[List of German monarchs|King of Germany]] from 911 |
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*[[Eberhard of Franconia|Eberhard]], killed in 939 |
*[[Eberhard of Franconia|Eberhard]], killed in 939 |
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The ducal title was held by the German kings and [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s until the death of Emperor [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] in 1039 |
The ducal title was held by the German kings and [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s until the death of Emperor [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] in 1039. It was later claimed by the [[Prince-Bishop]]s of [[Bishopric of Würzburg|Würzburg]]. Though in 1116 the Salian emperor [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]] once again vested [[Conrad III of Germany|Conrad of Hohenstaufen]] with the ducal dignity, Conrad's nephew Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]] finally received the rights from the Würzburg bishops in 1168. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 05:11, 11 October 2013
Duchy of Franconia | |||||||||||||
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861–1196 | |||||||||||||
Status | Stem duchy of the German Kingdom | ||||||||||||
Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||||||
Duke of Franconia | |||||||||||||
• 892–906 | Conrad the Elder | ||||||||||||
• 906–911 | Conrad the Younger | ||||||||||||
• 911–939 | Eberhard | ||||||||||||
Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||||
• Established | 861 | ||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1196 | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Today part of | Germany |
The Duchy of Franconia was one of the stem-duchies of medieval Germany. It stretched along the valley of the Main from the Rhine to Bohemia, and was bordered on the north by Saxony and Thuringia, and on the south by Swabia and Bavaria. It included a district around Mainz, Speyer and Worms, on the left bank of the Rhine. The word Franconia, first used in a Latin charter of 1053, was applied like the words France, Francia and Franken, to a portion of the land occupied by the Franks.[1]
Geography
The duchy evolved during the decline of the Carolingian dynasty in the areas of present-day Bavarian Franconia, southern Thuringia, Hesse (including Rhenish Hesse), Palatinate and northern Baden-Württemberg (i.e. Rhine-Neckar and Heilbronn-Franken). Located in the centre of what was to become the German kingdom, it bordered the stem duchy of Saxony in the north, Austrasian Lorraine (Upper and Lower Lorraine) in the west, Swabia in the south and Bavaria in the southeast.
History
Unlike the other stem duchies, Franconia did not evolve into a stable political entity, though the local Salian counts held large estates in the western parts (Rhenish Franconia). In 906 the Conradine relative Count Conrad the Younger in the Lahngau is mentioned as a dux Franconiae. Upon the extinction of the East Frankish Carolingians in 911, he was elected the first German king (as Conrad I, Rex Francorum according to Salic law) and was succeeded as Franconian duke by his younger brother Eberhard. However, the Conradines did not prevail against the rising Saxon Ottonians: In 919 Duke Henry of Saxony succeeded Conrad as German king and the Franconian stem duchy was seized by Henry's son King Otto I of Germany after an unsuccessful revolt of Duke Eberhard was shattered at the 939 Battle of Andernach. King Otto did not appoint a new duke of Franconia, and the duchy was fragmented into several counties and bishoprics, which reported to the German kings directly.
The Salian counts in Rhenish Franconia were sometimes mentioned as Franconian dukes and they became Germany's royal and imperial dynasty in 1024. In 1093 their Franconian territories were granted as a fief to the palatine count of Aachen, which would evolve into the important German principality of Electoral Palatinate (Kurpfalz). With the advancement of Count Conrad the Red, Rhenish Franconia became the heartland of the Salian dynasty, which provided four emperors in the 11th and 12th centuries: Conrad II, Henry III, Henry IV, and Henry V. It contained the cities of Mainz, Speyer and Worms, the latter two being the administrative centres of countships within the hands of the Salian descendants of Conrad the Red. These counts were sometimes referred to as the Dukes of Franconia.
Emperor Conrad II was last to bear the ducal title. When he died in 1039, Rhenish Franconia was governed as a constellation of small states, like the cities of Frankfurt, Speyer and Worms, the Prince-bishoprics of Mainz, Speyer, and Worms, as well as the Landgraviate of Hesse, then part of Thuringia. Alongside these powerful entities were many smaller, petty states. In 1093, Emperor Henry IV gave the Salian territories in Rhenish Franconia as a fief to Henry of Laach, the Count palatine of Lower Lorraine at Aachen. His lands would evolve into the important principality of Electoral Palatinate. While Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in 1168 granted the ducal title to the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg in Eastern Franconia, Rhenish Franconia was divided and extinguished. Its territories became part of the Imperial Upper Rhenish Circle in 1500.
Dukes
- Conrad the Elder (d. 906), Duke of Thuringia from 892
- Conrad the Younger (d. 918), King of Germany from 911
- Eberhard, killed in 939
The ducal title was held by the German kings and Holy Roman Emperors until the death of Emperor Conrad II in 1039. It was later claimed by the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg. Though in 1116 the Salian emperor Henry V once again vested Conrad of Hohenstaufen with the ducal dignity, Conrad's nephew Emperor Frederick Barbarossa finally received the rights from the Würzburg bishops in 1168.
References
- ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 15.
public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Franconia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 15. Franken. In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon. 4th edition. Volume 6, Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, Leipzig/Vienna 1885–1892, p. 491.
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