Welf I, Duke of Bavaria

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the genealogy of the Elder House of Welf he is counted as Welf IV.
• Land/House: 1055; When Welf's maternal uncle, Welf, Duke of Carinthia (also known as Welf III), died childless in 1055, Welf inherited his property.
• Title(s): 1070; He was rewarded for his fidelity by being appointed Duke of Bavaria in Otto's stead. This event took place at Goslar in 1070, when the Duchy of Bavaria submitted quietly to the newly made duke, who was the representative of one of the most ancient families in the province. His repudiation of Ethelinde, which could have been considered an act of injustice, does not seem to have been held against him.
• Military: From 1077 to 1085; During the Investiture Controversy, Welf changed sides turning against the Emperor, supporting Pope Gregory VII as well as lending his support for the election of Rudolf of Rheinfelden in March 1077. Pope and Emperor were superficially reconciled in 1076, but the following year saw them again engaged in active hostilities. Henry, in consequence of these repeated acts of rebellion, declared Welf deposed in his newly acquired duchy. However, supported by his faithful Bavarians and aided by his father in Italy, Welf was able to maintain his place, and openly defy the ban of the Empire in May 1077. Welf joined the discontented princes who supported the standard of Rudolph, at a time when any who refused to follow the pope's direction could expect to be excommunicated by the church—a potent and effective threat in the social and political conditions of the time. However, Gregory died in 1085 and his successors took a less intensive part in the affairs of Germany. Welf, though still adhering to the party of the church, began to relax in his exertions to support Rudolf of Rheinfelden.
• Military: 1099; In 1099, Welf joined what would become known as the Crusade of 1101, along with William IX of Aquitaine, Hugh of Vermandois and Ida of Austria. His main success was to prevent a clash between fellow Crusaders, who had been pillaging Byzantine territory on their way to Constantinople and the Byzantine emperor's Pecheneg mercenaries. The Crusade itself, entering Anatolia, ended disastrously; after passing Heraclea in September, Welf's Bavarians—like other crusader contingents—were ambushed and massacred by the Turkish troops of Kilij Arslan I, the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm. Welf escaped.
• Last Full Review: 12 Aug 2020

Notes:

Death: Weis (1976) gives his death date as 6 November 1101, while von Redlich (1941) gives his death date as 8 November 1101.

Name:

Welf married Ethelinde of Northeim in 1062, and was divorced about 1069. Ethelinde was born between 1050 and 1060. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Divorced:
When his father-in-law, Duke Otto, had become an enemy of Emperor Henry IV and forfeited his duchy, Welf remained loyal to Henry IV. In compliance with Henry's commands, he repudiated and divorced his wife, Ethelinde.

Welf married Judith of Flanders, Countess of Northumbria about 1071. Judith (daughter of Baldwin IV de Lille "Fair Beard", Count of Flanders and Valenciennes and Elena of Normandy) was born about 1033 in Bruges, Flanders, Belguim; died on 5 Mar 1094; was buried in Weingarten Abbey, Weingarten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Welf II, Duke of Bavaria was born in 1072.
2. Henry IX "the Black", Duke of Bavaria was born in 1074; died on 13 Dec 1126 in Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; was buried in Weingarten Abbey, Weingarten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
3. Kuniza was born in 1068 in Bavaria, Germany; died on 6 Mar 1120.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Travel: say 1050; He was sent on a mission to the Hungarians by the Pope.

Alberto married Kunigunde of Altdorf about 1035. Kunigunde (daughter of Welf II, Count of Altdorf, Count in the Lechrain and Ermentrude of Luxemburg) was born about 1020; died after 1055; was buried in 1060 in Vangadicendis, Italy (not found). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Her name was also spelt Kuniza. She was the heiress of Altdorf from her brother.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: He established the family at Este in the Veronese. Alberto opposed Emperor Henry II, and was captured in flight on the Englesbrucke and put into captivity in Germany.

Notes:

Died:
He died while in captivity.

Alberto married Adela before 996. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Living: From 996 to 1012

Notes:

Name:
Adela was a pagan.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Miscellaneous: 1020; He was an adherent of Bishop Werner of Strasburg and Duke Ernst of Swabia.

Notes:

Name:
He founded the Monastery of Ravensburg.

Welf married Ermentrude of Luxemburg about 1015. Ermentrude (daughter of Frederick I, Count of Luxembourg, Count in the Moselgau and Ermentrude von Gleiberg) was born about 1000; died on 21 Aug 1057 in Altenmünster, Bavaria, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: He was also the Marchese of Italy and Este in Liguria. His name is also spelt Oberto.

Humbert married Railinda on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• General Information: Previously, she was thought to have been Auxilia von Lenzburg, the daughter of Arlond I of Lenzburg.

Rudolph married Itha von Oeningen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
He was also Seigneur of Gleiberg.

Frederick married Ermentrude von Gleiberg after 985. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
She was the heiress of Gleiberg.