European Kingdoms

Thuringia

Kingdom of Thuringia
AD 400 - 531

The Thuringians are thought to be mainly of Anglian stock from what is now lower Denmark. The kingdom was formed during the collapse of the Roman Empire, when they settled in central Germany between the Main and the Harz. Their independence was short-lived, however. Much of their original territory was lost to incursions by the Avars and Slavs in the sixth century.

531

The Franks conquer the Thuringians.

Counts of Thuringia
AD 888 - 1247

A small stem duchy emerged from the fragmentation of the Frankish Empire. It was situated in the central north of modern Germany, sandwiched between Saxony (north and west), Franconia (south and west), and the marches (to the east).

1031 - 1056

Louis I the Bearded, the Salian

1056 - 1123

Louis II the Jumper

1123 - 1130

Louis III

m daughter of the last Count of Gudensberg in Hesse.

1130

Louis is effectively demoted to the rank of landgrave, and is recognised as overlord by the Hessians.

Landgraves of Thuringia

Thuringia was united with Hesse between 1130-1247.

1130 - 1140

Louis I

Formerly Count Louis III.

1140 - 1172

Louis IV the Iron

1172 - 1190

Louis V the Mild

1190 - 1216

Herman I

1216 - 1227

Louis VI the Pious

1227 - 1241

Herman II

1241 - 1247

Henry Raspe

Rival for HRE (1246-1247).

1247

The line becomes extinct upon Henry's death. Henry was the brother-in-law of St Elizabeth of Thuringia, and his niece, Duchess Sophia establishes Hesse as a separate landgraviate. The Hessians eventually select Henry of Brabant (Sophia's son and Elizabeth's grandson) as their landgrave. Thuringia's territory passes to the March of Meissen. Through this it eventually becomes part of the electorate Saxony when the Wettins gain the ducal title (1423).