Duke of Swabia

The Dukes of Swabia were the rulers of the Duchy of Swabia during the Middle Ages. Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany. The most notable family to rule Swabia was the Hohenstaufen family, who held it, with a brief interruption, from 1079 until 1268. For much of that period, the Hohenstaufen were also Holy Roman Emperors. With the death of Conradin, the last Duke of Hohenstaufen, the duchy itself disintegrated although King Rudolf I attempted to revive it for his Habsburg family in the late 13th century.

Dukes of Swabia (909–1268)

Early dukes

Burchard I (d. 911), a member of the Hunfridings described as a margrave (Latin: marchio) and duke (dux) of Alamannia in 903 and 909, respectively

Erchanger, a member of the Ahalolfings, dominant count in Alemannia after the execution of Burchard I, declared duke of Swabia in 915, exiled September 916, executed January 917.

Burchard II (917–926), a member of the Hunfridings who recognized Henry the Fowler as king of Germany in 919 and was recognized by Henry as Duke of Swabia in return.

Hermann I (926–949), a member of the Conradines

Liudolf (950–954), part of the Ottonian dynasty

Burchard III (954–973), a member of the Hunfridings

Otto I (973–982), a member of the Ottonian dynasty

Conradines

Conrad I (982–997)

Hermann II (997–1003)

Hermann III (1003–12)

House of Babenberg

Ernest I (1012–15)

Ernest II (1015–30)

Hermann IV (1030–38)

Miscellaneous houses

Henry I (1038–45), a member of the Salian dynasty, King of the Romans from 1039 and Holy Roman Emperor as Henry III from 1046

Otto II (1045–48), a member of the Ezzonid dynasty

Otto III von Schweinfurt (1048–57)

Rudolf I von Rheinfelden (1057–79), son of a count of Rheinfelden, German antiking 1077–1079

Berthold I von Rheinfelden (1079–90)

Berthold II von Zähringen (1092–98), brother-in-law of Berthold I

House of Hohenstaufen, 1079–1268

House of Habsburg (1283–1309)

Rudolf (1283–90)

John (1290–1309)

Family tree

Successor states

In the 13th century, the Duchy of Swabia disintegrated into numerous smaller states. Some of the more important immediate successor states were:

During the following century, several of these states were acquired by the County of Württemberg or the Duchy of Austria, as marked above.