[April 29] Burchard II, duke of Swabia

Swabia (Orange) during this period, 911.
The Green area is the kingdom of Burgundy.

Parents: Burchard I, duke of Swabia, and Liutgard of Saxony

Date of Birth: circa 883

House: Hunfriding
Spouse: Regelinda, daughter of Eberhard I, count of Zürich

Predecessor: Erchanger

Reign: 917 – 926

Summary: Burchard was born into a Franconian family which was fighting over rights to the whole of Germany, especially Swabia in the heart of the country. Prior to his elevation to the dukedom, he founded the monastery of Saint Margarethen in Waldkirch in an attempt to expand his family's influence into the Rhineland. His father, Burchard I, was arrested and executed for high treason in 911, where after he fled to Italy with his wife, Regelinda. He returned to Germany in 913 to take control over his father's property and, in 915, he joined forces with Erchanger and Arnulf of Bavaria against the Magyars of Hungary. They defeated the Magyars then turned on Conrad I, king of Germany, at the Battle of Wahlwies and defeated him. Erchanger was finally proclaimed duke of Swabia in 916. Within a few months, Erchanger was killed and Burchard took the opportunity to claim the duchy of his father. He was recognized as duke within a month.

Duke Burchard continued his fight for control over Germany. A move by Rudolph II, king of Burgundy, in 919 threatened the integrity of Swabia. Burchard attacked him at Winterthur and defeated them, and then centralized the duchy to secure it against further invasion. When Henry the Fowler, duke of Saxony, claimed the German crown, Burchard supported him. In return, he was recognized universally as duke of Swabia and given taxation and investiture rights within his realm. Burchard and Rudolph came to terms through a marriage alliance in 922. Burchard then went with Rudolph into Italy where Rudolph was elected anti-emperor to the claims of Berengar, Holy Roman Emperor. Hugh of Arles took up the senior claim in 924 when Berengar died, but Burchard attempted to depose the newly-crowned monarch. He was killed in battle at Novara supporting his son-in-law, Rudolph. His wife, Regelinda, married herself to Burchard's successor, Herman I. Their son, Burchard, eventually reclaimed the title of duke of Swabia for the Hunfridings.

Date of Death: 29 April 926

Successor: Herman I

Other Monarch Deaths:

Frederick William, elector of Brandenburg (1688)