Siegfried of Ballenstedt
Siegfried I of Ballenstedt (c. 1075 – 9 March 1113), was the son of Adalbert II of Ballenstedt, and a member of the House of Ascania. He was count palatine of the Rhineland (r.1095/7-1113), and count of Weimar-Orlamünde (r.1112-1113).
Siegfried I of Ballenstedt | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of the Counts of Ballenstedt | |
| Born | c. 1075 |
| Died | 9 March 1113 |
| Noble family | House of Ascania |
| Spouse(s) | Gertrude of Northeim |
| Issue
Siegfried II of Weimar-Orlamünde Adela of Weimar-Orlamünde William of Weimar-Orlamünde | |
| Father | Adalbert II of Ballenstedt |
| Mother | Adelaide of Weimar-Orlamünde |
Life
Siegfried was born around 1075. He was the son of Adalbert II of Ballenstedt and Adelaide of Weimar-Orlamünde, daughter of Otto I of Meissen and his wife, Adela of Louvain.[1] Siegfried's father, Adalbert, was murdered by Egeno II of Konradsburg in 1080, and Siegfried's brother, Otto the Rich, succeeded him as count of Ballenstedt.[2] Siegfried inherited his father's property in Nordthüringengau.[3]
After Adalbert's death, Siegfried's mother remarried twice, to two successive counts palatine of the Rhineland: first, Hermann II (d.1085), and then Henry of Laach (d.1095).[4] After Henry's death, Siegfried claimed his title of count palatine of the Rhineland (r.1095/7-1113).[5]
Influenced by the First Crusade, Siegfried is thought to have travelled to Jerusalem.[6] In 1112 he is also said to have completed the foundation of Maria Laach Abbey, begun in 1093 by his mother, Adelaide, and his stepfather, Henry of Laach.[7]
In 1112 Ulric II of Weimar-Orlamünde died without heirs. By virtue of his mother, Adelaide's, kinship, Siegfried then claimed Ulric's title.[8] This led Siegfried into conflict with Emperor Henry V. Imperial partisans attacked Siegfried at the Teufelsmauer in the Harz on 21 February 1113. Siegfried survived the attack, but died of his injuries on 9 March 1113.[9]
Marriage and children
Siegfried married Gertrude, a daughter of Henry, Margrave of Frisia, with whom he had three children:[10]
- Siegfried II of Weimar-Orlamünde (1107-1124)
- Adela of Weimar-Orlamünde, married Conrad I of Peilstein
- William of Weimar-Orlamünde (1112-1140)
References
- Gerold Meyer von Knonau, 'Sigfrid (Graf von Ballenstedt), Pfalzgraf von Lothringen,' in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, vol. 34 (Leipzig, 1892), pp. 257f.
- J. Dendorfer, ‘Si(e)gfrid (Graf von Ballenstedt, Pfalzgraf von Lothringen),’ in Neue Deutsche Biographie, vol 24 (Berlin, 2010), ISBN 978-3-428-11205-0, pp. 345f.
- A. Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln zur europäischen Geschichte Band I, Teilband 1 Deutsche Kaiser-, Königs-, Herzogs- und Grafenhäuser I
- L. Partenheimer, Albrecht der Bär. Gründer der Mark Brandenburg und des Fürstentums Anhalt
- Loud, Graham A.; Schenk, Jochen, eds. (2017). The Origins of the German Principalities, 1100-1350: Essays by German Historians. Routledge.
- Jackman, Donald C. (2012). The Kleeberg Fragment of the Gleiberg County. Editions Enlaplage.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Notes
- Jackman 2012, p. 33.
- Loud & Schenk 2017, p. xxvi.
- Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 158.
- Partenheimer, Albrecht der Bär, pp. 285f.; Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 167.
- Partenheimer, Albrecht der Bär, p. 287; Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 158.
- Annales Lacensis - Wikisource
- Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 158.
- Loud and Schenk, Origins of the German, p. xxvi.
- Ekkehardi Chronica, a.1113, p. 261; Thiele, Erzählende genealogische Stammtafeln, table 158.
- Dendorfer, 'Si(e)gfrid,' p. 345.
Siegfried of Ballenstedt Born: c. 1155 Died: 1206 | ||
| Preceded by Henry of Laach |
Count Palatine of the Rhineland 1095/7-1113 |
Succeeded by Godfrey of Calw |
| Preceded by Ulric II |
Count of Weimar-Orlamünde 1112-1113 |
Succeeded by Siegfried II of Weimar-Orlamünde |
