Berthold I of Istria

Berthold III (c. 1110/1122 – 14 December 1188), a member of the Bavarian House of Andechs, was Margrave of Istria (as Berthold I) from 1173 until his death.

Berthold I
Margrave of Istria
Coat-of-arms of Andechs
Born	c. 1110/1122
Died	14 December 1188
Buried	Dießen Abbey
Noble family	House of Andechs
Spouse(s)	Hedwig of Wittelsbach Luitgard of Denmark
Issue Berthold, Duke of Merania Matilda of Andechs
Father	Berthold II, Count of Andechs
Mother	Sophie of Istria

He was the son of Count Berthold II of Andechs, ruler over Dießen in Bavaria, Plassenburg in Franconia and Stein in Carniola, and his first wife Sophia,[1] a daughter of Margrave Poppo II of Istria. His brother Otto became Prince-Bishop of Brixen in 1165. A loyal supporter of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Count Berthold rose to one of the most important nobles, holding extended estates in Bavaria as well as in Franconia and in Carniola south of the Eastern Alps.

In 1173, he was appointed Margrave of Istria,[2] succeeding Engelbert III, the last Margrave from the House of Sponheim and cousin of his mother Sophia. When in 1180 Emperor Frederick deposed the Welf duke Henry the Lion, he vested Berthold's son, Count Berthold IV, with the title of a Duke of Merania,[3] thereby elevating the House of Andechs to princely status.

Marriage and issue

Berthold III was married twice. In 1152 he married Hedwig of Wittelsbach,[1] daughter of the Bavarian Count palatine Otto IV of Scheyern and Heilika of Pettendorf-Lengenfeld-Hopfenohe. They had:

1. Berthold IV, Duke of Merania (1153–1204)[1]
2. Sophia (died 1218). Married Poppo VI, Count of Henneberg (died c. 1190)[1]
3. Kunigunde (died after 1207), married Eberhard, Count of Eberstein[1]
4. Matilda, Countess of Pisino (died 1245), married Berthold, Margrave of Vohburg.[1] In c. 1190 married secondly Engelbert III, Count of Gorizia (died 1217/20).[4]

His second wife was Luitgard of Denmark,[1] daughter of king Sweyn III of Denmark and Adela of Meissen. They had:

1. Poppo, Bishop of Bamberg (died December 2, 1245)[1]
2. Berta, Abbess in Gerbstadt (died 1190)[1]

References

1. Newman 2020, p. 30.
2. Arnold 2003, p. 124.
3. Arnold 2003, p. 103.
4. Lyon 2013, p. 182.

Sources

• Arnold, Benjamin (2003). Princes and Territories in Medieval Germany. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521521482.
• Lyon, Jonathan R. (2013). Princely Brothers and Sisters: The Sibling Bond in German Politics, 1100–1250. Cornell University Press.
• Newman, Martha G. (2020). Cistercian Stories for Nuns and Monks. University of Pennsylvania Press.