EPISODE · Jan 20, 2022 · 35 MIN
Ep. 43: Welf vs Staufer - Lothar III (1125-1137) - All Change, All Change
Welcome to Season 3 of the History of the Germans, diving into one of the most dramatic and consequential periods of medieval German history — the age of the Hohenstaufen. But before the Hohenstaufen can take centre stage, someone else has to get out of the way first.It is 1125, and the Salian dynasty is dying with Emperor Henry V in the palace of the Bishop of Utrecht. After a century of Salian rule — marked by civil war, the Investiture Controversy, and a catastrophic weakening of imperial authority — the princes of the realm face a fundamental question: what is an emperor actually for?In this episode, we set the scene for the next great chapter of German medieval history by exploring the three strategies available to any new emperor seeking to rebuild royal power, and then watch as those strategies are tested almost immediately — at one of the most chaotic and dramatic royal elections the Holy Roman Empire ever produced.At Mainz in August 1125, four great dynasties — the Hohenstaufen, the Welf, the Babenberg, and the Supplinburg — converge to elect a new king. What follows is a masterclass in medieval political theatre: tearful refusals, procedural confusion, a man jumping on a horse at entirely the wrong moment, and a last-minute betrayal that will echo through German and Italian politics for the next 150 years.Topics covered in this episode:The collapse of Salian imperial authority and the legacy of the Investiture ControversyThe three strategic options facing any new Holy Roman EmperorThe key players at the election of 1125: Lothar of Supplinburg, Frederick of Hohenstaufen, Henry the Black of Bavaria, and Leopold of AustriaWhy not wanting the crown was the surest way to win itThe Welf betrayal that ignited the Guelf vs Ghibelline conflict across medieval EuropeThe election of Lothar III — and why the age of the Hohenstaufen paradoxically begins without oneKeywords: Holy Roman Empire, Hohenstaufen, Salian dynasty, Lothar III, medieval German history, Welf dynasty, Guelph Ghibelline, election 1125, Frederick of Hohenstaufen, History of the Germans podcast, medieval Europe, Investiture Controversy, House of BabenbergThe music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.As always:Homepage with maps, photos, transcripts and blog: www.historyofthegermans.comIf you wish to support the show go to: Support • History of the Germans PodcastFor do it yourself merchandise go to: Merchandise • History of the Germans PodcastFacebook: @HOTGPod Threads: @history_of_the_germans_podcastBluesky: @hotgpod.bsky.socialInstagram: history_of_the_germansTwitter: @germanshistoryTo make it easier for you to share the podcast, I have created separate playlists for some of the seasons that are set up as individual podcasts. they have the exact same episodes as in the History of the Germans, but they may be a helpful device for those who want to concentrate on only one season.So far I have:The OttoniansSalian Emperors and Investiture ControversyFredrick Barbarossa and Early HohenstaufenFrederick II Stupor MundiSaxony and Eastward ExpansionThe Hanseatic LeagueThe Teutonic KnightsThe Holy Roman Empire 1250-1356The Reformation before the ReformationThe Empire in the 15th centuryThe Fall and Rise of the Habsburgs
What this episode covers
Hello and welcome to Season 3 of the History of the Germans Podcast - The Hohenstaufen 1125-1268. Between March and June of 1977 675,000 people visited the Alte Schloß in Stuttgart to see an exhibition entitled “Die Zeit der Staufer” (the Time of the Hohenstaufen in English). Over 1,000 items from 17 countries were on display, with the Cappenberger Kopf, the image of emperor Frederick Barbarossa, this episode’s artwork as its star exhibit. Nobody expected these numbers of visitors for what was just 3,000 square meters of exhibition space. At peak times there was barely a square meter per person. People fainted in the low and badly ventilated rooms. They sold 150,000 copies of the enormous four volume exhibition catalogue, one of which to my father who proudly displayed it in his office for 40 years and is now in a box en route over to mine. Whilst most other medieval German rulers are all but forgotten, interest in the Hohenstaufen never completely disappeared. Why is that? They were by no means the most successful emperors, that crown has to go the Ottonians nor was their reign the most fateful, that was the reign of the later Salians. Frederick Barbarossa and his grandson Frederick II have been such fascinating personalities that almost any age could project their own perceptions and expectations onto them, from champion of national unity to modern man before his time. Time to find out what really happened, who they really were. As always a great many things keep happening, some good, some bad. Episode webpage: Episode 43 - All Change All Change • History of the Germans Podcast The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0. As always: Homepage with maps, photos, transcripts and blog: www.historyofthegermans.com Facebook: @HOTGPod Twitter: @germanshistory Instagram: history_of_the_germans Reddit: u/historyofthegermans Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Historyofthegermans
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Ep. 43: Welf vs Staufer - Lothar III (1125-1137) - All Change, All Change
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