Spouse(s) Eilika of Walbeck Children Henry of Schweinfurt Died January 15, 980 AD | Name Berthold Schweinfurt Noble family Popponids | |
Grandchildren Judith of Schweinfurt, Otto III, Duke of Swabia Great grandchildren Vratislaus II of Bohemia, Spytihnev II, Duke of Bohemia, Conrad I, Duke of Bohemia, Otto I of Olomouc People also search for Henry of Schweinfurt, Judith of Schweinfurt, Otto III, Duke of Swabia | ||
Berthold of Schweinfurt (died 15 January 980) was a German nobleman.
Contents
Life
He was first mentioned as a count in 941. In 960, he was mentioned as count in the Radenzgau. In 961, he appears as count on the lower Raab and in 973 as count in the Volkfeld shire. After successful battles in Bohemia and Hungary, he is named as margrave in 976. In 980, he appears as count in eastern Franconia.
His background is disputed. The most likely theory is that he was a son (or grandson) of Arnulf, Duke of Bavaria. That would make him a member of the Luitpolding dynasty. Another theory sees him as the son of Arnulf's brother Berthold, Duke of Bavaria. Yet another theory puts him into the Popponids family. It is certain that his brother, or nephew, Leopold I, Margrave of Austria was the founder of the Austrian House of Babenberg.
The Comes Bertholdus who was mentioned in 941, was tasked by Emperor Otto I with guarding Lothar II, Count of Walbeck, who had been taken prisoner. Lothar was pardoned the following year, and Berthold married his daughter Eilika (d. 19 August 1015). She later initiated the construction of the minster in Schweinfurt, where she was buried.
In 964, Berthold was tasked by Otto with guarding another prisoner, King Berengar II of Italy, who was kept prisoner in Bamberg. In 973, Berthold participated in the ousting of the rebellious Henry II, Duke of Bavaria.
Marriage and issue
Berthold was married to Eilika of Walbeck, daughter of Lothar II, Count of Walbeck. They had at least two children:
In 1010, a lady named Eilika was abbess of Niedernburg Abbey in Passau. It is thought this Eilika may have been a daughter of Berthold and his wife.