Rudolf I of Germany

Rudolf of Habsburg (1 May 1218 – 15 July 1291) was a German nobleman and the first member of the House of Habsburg to become King of the Romans. He ruled from 1273 until he died.

Rudolf was born into a small noble family. He became Count of Habsburg in 1240 and worked to grow his power. He built important forts like Neuhabsburg Castle and made useful alliances, including marrying Gertrude of Hohenberg. This helped him gain support from the Swabian nobility.

During a time of chaos called the Great Interregnum, Rudolf showed strong leadership. He worked to bring peace and stop trouble caused by robber barons and feuding nobles. Even though he faced excommunication for arguing with church leaders, he later made peace with them.

In 1273, Rudolf was elected King of the Romans, ending years without an emperor. As king, he strengthened the empire in Germany. He brought lands like Austria, Styria, and Carinthia under Habsburg control. His reign helped the Habsburg family become very important in European history.

Rudolf died in 1291, leaving a legacy of peace and ambition in the Holy Roman Empire.

Early life

Rudolf was born on 1 May 1218 at Limburgh Castle near Sasbach am Kaiserstuhl in the Breisgau area of modern-day southwestern Germany. His parents were Count Albert IV of Habsburg and Hedwig, daughter of Count Ulrich of Kyburg. The Habsburgs got their name from Habichtsburg Castle near Brugg in Aargau, built by Guntram the Rich around 1020. Rudolf grew up away from the royal court and probably did not learn Latin. He had two brothers, Albrecht and Hartmann, and two sisters, Kunigunde and another whose name is unknown. When his father died in 1240, Rudolf became the main ruler of the Habsburg family.

Count of Habsburg

When his father died in 1239, Rudolf inherited lands near Habsburg Castle in the Aargau area of what is now Switzerland and in Alsace. In 1240, he started having disagreements with nearby nobles, which sometimes led to fights. Around 1244, Rudolf built Neuhabsburg Castle on Lake Lucerne, which helped his family’s position in central Switzerland. In 1253, he married Gertrude of Hohenberg, improving his political standing and giving him important connections in Swabia. During this time, there were many conflicts between leaders and church officials, and Rudolf sometimes disagreed with church leaders. At one point, his actions against the Bishop of Basel led to his excommunication, but he later made peace with the Church. In 1254, Rudolf joined the Prussian Crusade led by the Teutonic Order against Prussian tribes, which helped build his reputation as a brave knight.

Rise to power

Main article: Great Interregnum

After Frederick II died in 1250, the Holy Roman Empire had a time of confusion called the Great Interregnum. Many leaders wanted to be in charge, but none could fully rule. This chaos helped Count Rudolf grow his power. He took lands from his uncle and settled arguments with local leaders, becoming stronger.

In 1273, the empire's leaders chose Rudolf to be their king. They elected him in Frankfurt and crowned him in Aachen later that year. Even though the pope wanted to approve him, Rudolf became king without waiting. He later met the pope and promised to protect the Church's rights.

King of the Germans

In 1274, leaders met in Nuremberg and agreed that lands taken after Emperor Frederick II died should be returned. King Ottokar II kept Austria, Styria, and other areas, which Rudolf did not agree with. This led to war in 1276.

Rudolf worked with former enemies to take these lands from Ottokar. In 1278, they fought at the Battle on the Marchfeld, and Ottokar was defeated. Rudolf gave control of some lands to his sons, starting the rule of the House of Habsburg in Austria and Styria. He also worked to strengthen his power in other areas, like Switzerland.

Rudolf tried to bring peace to the empire but had many challenges. He issued orders for peace in several regions but did not have enough power to enforce them fully. In 1284, he married Isabella, daughter of Duke Hugh IV of Burgundy. When Rudolf passed away in 1291, leaders chose Count Adolf of Nassau as the new king instead of his son Albert.

Persecution of the Jews

In 1286, Rudolf I changed laws that took away freedoms from Jewish people in Germany. Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg left Germany with his family but was later caught in Lombardy. He was kept in a fortress in Alsace. Even though people offered money to free him, he refused. He stayed in prison for many years.

Death

Rudolf passed away in Speyer on 15 July 1291 and was buried in Speyer Cathedral. Only one of his sons, Albert I, lived longer than he did. Some of his daughters also lived longer, except for Catherine, who died during childbirth in 1282.

Rudolf helped make the House of Habsburg a strong and important family in the southern part of his lands. In other areas, the power of rulers had been getting weaker since the time of the Investiture Controversy. In the Divine Comedy, the writer Dante talks about Rudolf.

Family and children

Rudolf was married twice. First, in 1251, to Gertrude of Hohenberg and second, in 1284, to Isabelle of Burgundy. All his children were from the first marriage.

His children included Matilda, who married Duke Louis II of Bavaria; Albert I of Germany, who became Duke of Austria and Duke of Styria; and Judith, who married King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. Several of his other children married into important families across Europe.