Origins As Dukes of Swabia
In 1079, the Salian king Henry IV of Germany appointed Count Frederick I at Hohenstaufen Castle as Duke of Swabia. At the same time, Frederick was engaged to the king's approximately seven-year old daughter, Agnes. Nothing is known about Frederick's life before this event, but he proved to be Imperial ally throughout Henry's struggles against other Swabian lords, namely Rudolf of Rheinfelden, Frederick's predecessor, and the Zähringen and Welf lords. Frederick's brother Otto was elevated to the Strasbourg bishopric in 1082.
Upon Frederick's death, he was succeeded by his son, Duke Frederick II, in 1105. Frederick II remained a close ally of the Salians, he and his younger brother Conrad were named the king's representatives in Germany when the king was in Italy. Around 1120, Frederick II married Judith of Bavaria from the rival House of Welf.
| Coat of arms of the Hohenstaufen emperors | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Adopted | 1196 |
| Escutcheon | The Imperial Eagle of the Holy Roman Empire |
| Other elements | An inescutcheon of three léopards |
| Earlier versions | A single black lion on a gold background (Or, a lion sable) used until 1196 |
Read more about this topic: Hohenstaufen Dynasty
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