Berthold VII, Graf von Henneberg-Schleusingen

• Son of Berthold V, Graf von Henneberg-Schleusingen and Sophia von Schwarzburg, 2
• His grave Is in the Stadtkirche St.Johannis, Ahlstadt.
• BERTHOLD [IV] von Henneberg, son of BERTHOLD [III] Graf von Henneberg & his wife Sophie [von Schwarzburg] (1271-Schmalkalden 3 Apr 1340). Graf von Henneberg. "Comes Bertoldus iunior de Hennenberc" donated property to Kloster Meiningen, for the souls of “pie memorie patris mei Ber[toldi] ac matris mee domine Sophie”, by charter dated 18 Nov 1287[487]. "Bertoldus...comes de Hennenberg et Alheidis comitissa coniuges" sold Schloß Schenkenwald to Fulda by charter dated 30 Nov 1300[488].
• Count Berthold VII. Von Henneberg-Schleusingen was the son of Berthold V. († 1284) and (?) Sophie von Schwarzburg († 1279), daughter of Günther VII. Von Schwarzburg . The Roman-German king and later Emperor Henry VII. Raised him on 25 July 1310 the Diet of Frankfurt in the kingdom prince stood . A year earlier, Heinrich had pledged the imperial city of Schweinfurt to him and granted the right to the imperial castle there. In 1312 he acquired through marriage policy (marriage of his son Heinrich VIII with Jutta von Brandenburg) theTake care of Coburg back for the Henneberg family, which practically doubled his domain.
• In 1313 Berthold VII was the governor (governor) of the Kingdom of Bohemia. [1] Berthold was one of the most influential advisers to Emperor Ludwig IV. [2] From 1323 to 1330 he was guardian of Ludwig the Brandenburger , the eldest son of Emperor Ludwig IV from his first marriage to Beatrix of Silesia-Schweidnitz , and governor of the Mark Brandenburg.

Project Medlands, THURINGIAN NOBILITY

BERTHOLD [IV] von Henneberg, son of BERTHOLD [III] Graf von Henneberg & his wife Sophie [von Schwarzburg] (1271-Schmalkalden 3 Apr 1340). Graf von Henneberg. "Comes Bertoldus iunior de Hennenberc" donated property to Kloster Meiningen, for the souls of “pie memorie patris mei Ber[toldi] ac matris mee domine Sophie”, by charter dated 18 Nov 1287[487]. "Bertoldus...comes de Hennenberg et Alheidis comitissa coniuges" sold Schloß Schenkenwald to Fulda by charter dated 30 Nov 1300[488]. Heinrich King of Germany installed "Berchtoldi comitis de Hennemberg" among "principum nostrorum" by charter dated 25 Jul 1310[489]. "Henricus…comes de Hennemberg iunior, dominus in Ascha" granted "opido Slusungen…et castro Hyltemburg" to "domino Berhtoldo comite de Hennemberg patruo nostro" by charter dated 29 Sep 1312[490]. "Iohannes…Boemie et Polonie rex" installed "Bertoldus comes de Hennemberg" as "provisorem et gubernatorem…regnorum nostrorum" by charter dated 17 Aug 1313[491]. “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[492]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[493]. Ludwig King of Germany granted Coburg, Schaumberg, Köingsberg to "Grafen Bertolt von Hennenberg" by charter dated 2 Feb 1323, and Hildburghausen and Eisfeld by charter dated 23 Oct 1323[494]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg" donated property to Kloster Schmalkalden, with the consent of "Heinrici nostri primogeniti ac Iutte coniugis eiusdem, nate…quondam Hermanni marchionis Brandemburgensis" and in the presence of "Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht eiusdem comiti liberi", by charter dated 7 Oct 1323 witnessed by "frater Bertoldus noster germanus, prior domorum Bohemie, Polonie, Austrie…"[495]. married firstly (1284) ADELHEID von Hessen, daughter of HEINRICH I "das Kind" Landgraf Herr von Hessen & his wife his first wife Adelheid von Braunschweig ([1268]-7 Dec 1315, bur Vessra). "Bertoldus...comes de Hennenberg et Alheidis comitissa coniuges" sold Schloß Schenkenwald to Fulda by charter dated 30 Nov 1300[496]. Her family origin is confirmed by the charter dated 7 Jun 1301 under which [her husband] "Bertoldus...comes in Henneberg" acknowledged rights of Hersfeld over Kloster Frauenbreitungen, naming “H. Lantgravium terre Hassie nostrum socerum”[497]. “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[498]. married secondly ANNA von Hohenlohe, daughter of ALBRECHT [II] von Hohenlohe & his wife Adelheid --- (-after 1340). The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not been identified.

Berthold [IV] & his first wife ADELHEID von Hessen had five children:

• 1. HEINRICH [VI] von Henneberg ([1288]-10 Sep 1347). “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[499]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[500]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg" donated property to Kloster Schmalkalden, with the consent of "Heinrici nostri primogeniti ac Iutte coniugis eiusdem, nate…quondam Hermanni marchionis Brandemburgensis" and in the presence of "Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht eiusdem comiti liberi", by charter dated 7 Oct 1323 witnessed by "frater Bertoldus noster germanus, prior domorum Bohemie, Polonie, Austrie…"[501]. Graf von Henneberg. "Heinrich…junger grafe von Hennenberg" confirmed a sale of property by charter dated 22 Jul 1340[502]. "Günther…graefe von Keyfernberg der iungere und Lorethte unser…wirtin" sold Schloß Ilmenau to "grafen Heinrich von Hennenberg dem iungern unserme…oheim…frawen Juetten sinre…wirtin und allen irn erben dochtern und suenen", naming "unserme…vetern grafen Gunther von Keyfernberg dem eldirn", by charter dated 18 Jun 1343[503]. married ([1 Jan 1317/1 Feb 1319], Papal dispensation 15 Apr 1319) JUTTA von Brandenburg, daughter of HERMANN Markgraf von Brandenburg & his wife Anna of Austria ([1298/1300]-1 Feb 1353, bur Coburg). Pulcawa's Bohemian Chronicle records that the third of the three daughters of "Hermannus filius Ottonis longi" & his wife married "filius comitis Bertholdi de Hennemberg"[504]. Pope John XXII issued a dispensation, at the request of "Caroli ducis Calabrie et…Catherine consortis ipsius", for the marriage of "Henricus natus…filii…Bertoldi comitis de Hennemberg" and "Iutta nata…filie --- ducisse Wratislauiensis sororis prefate ducisse Calabrie" for 4o consanguinity dated 15 Apr 1319[505]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[506]. Heiress of Coburg and Schmalkalden. "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "Jutte…unsere tohtere…Elizabet grauin von Wirtenberg, Katherin marggrafin von Missen und iungfrauwen Suefftin" and "grafe Johans…unsern…bruder grauen Bertholde von Hennenberg…[und] Ludowige von Hennenberg", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[507].

Heinrich [VI] & his wife JUTTA von Brandenburg had three children:

• a) ELISABETH von Henneberg ([1320]-Stuttgart 23 Mar 1384, bur Stuttgart Stiftskirche). "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "Jutte…unsere tohtere…Elizabet grauin von Wirtenberg, Katherin marggrafin von Missen und iungfrauwen Suefftin", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[508]. married (1340) EBERHARD von Württemberg, son of ULRICH III Graf von Württemberg & his wife Sophie de Ferrette ([1315]-Stuttgart 15 Mar 1392, bur Stuttgart Stiftskirche). He succeeded his father in 1344 as EBERHARD II "der Greiner" Graf von Württemberg.
  
• b) KATHARINA von Henneberg (-Coburg 15 Jul 1397, bur Altzelle). "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "Jutte…unsere tohtere…Elizabet grauin von Wirtenberg, Katherin marggrafin von Missen und iungfrauwen Suefftin", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[509]. Heiress of Coburg, Neustadt, Sonneberg, Neuhaus and Rodach. married (Eisenach 1344) FRIEDRICH von Meissen, son of FRIEDRICH II "der Ernsthafte" Markgraf von Meissen [Wettin] & his wife Mechtild von Bayern (Dresden 14 Oct 1332-25 May 1381, bur Altzelle). He succeeded his father in 1349 as FRIEDRICH III "der Strenge" Joint Markgraf von Meissen and Landgraf of Thuringia, jointly with his brothers.
  
• c) SOPHIE von Henneberg (-5 May 1372). "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "Jutte…unsere tohtere…Elizabet grauin von Wirtenberg, Katherin marggrafin von Missen und iungfrauwen Suefftin", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[510]. Heiress of Schmalkalden. m (contract Coburg 14 Apr 1348) ALBRECHT "der Schöne" joint Burggraf von Nürnberg, son of FRIEDRICH IV Burggraf von Nürnberg & his wife Margareta von Görz (-4 Apr 1361, bur Heilsbronn).
  

• 2. BERTHOLD (-after 20 Sep 1347). “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[511]. "Frater Bertoldus de Hennenberg prior domorum fratrum sancti Johannis hosipitalis Jerusalem per Bohemiam, Poloniam, Marauiam, Austriam et commendator domus in Slusungin..." confirmed that “Bertoldus comes de Hennenberg noster germanus...cum consensu Heinrici eiusdem nati nostri patrui” had donated property to the Knights of St. John at Schleusingen, for the entry as a knight of “Bertoldi de Hennenberg eiusdem filii nostri patrui”, by charter dated 30 Sep 1318[512]. "Bertoldus...comes de Hennenberg" donated property to the Knights of St. John at Kühndorf, at the request of “Bertoldi filii nostri...nec non fratrum ordinis sui domus Hosptalis sancti Johannis Jerusalemitani”, by charter dated 18 Nov 1331[513]. "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "grafe Johans…unsern…bruder grauen Bertholde von Hennenberg…[und] Ludowige von Hennenberg", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[514].
• 3. LUDWIG (-after 19 Nov 1347). “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[515]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[516]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg" donated property to Kloster Schmalkalden, with the consent of "Heinrici nostri primogeniti ac Iutte coniugis eiusdem, nate…quondam Hermanni marchionis Brandemburgensis" and in the presence of "Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht eiusdem comiti liberi", by charter dated 7 Oct 1323 witnessed by "frater Bertoldus noster germanus, prior domorum Bohemie, Polonie, Austrie…"[517]. Canon at Bamberg. "Lud[wig] korherre zcu Baben[berch]…grafen Berch[tolds] von Hennenberg suen" sold his succession rights by charter dated 23 Apr 1339[518]. Priest at Schmalkalden. "Lud[owig]…custer dez stiftes zuo Babenberch unde pharrer zuo Smalkalden" confirmed a sale of property by charter dated 7 Jun 1342[519]. "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "grafe Johans…unsern…bruder grauen Bertholde von Hennenberg…[und] Ludowige von Hennenberg", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[520]. Graf von Henneberg. Provost at Magdeburg. "Ludowig…graue von Hennenberg, tumprobist zu Meideburg" acknowledged payment from "onsir…bruder graue Johans zu Hennenberg" for renouncing various rights by charter dated 19 Nov 1347[521].

4. JOHANN [I] von Henneberg (-2 May 1359). “Berthold...Graue von Henneberg” sold property to the Knights of St. John, with the consent of “frawen Adellheiten unser...Wirtin und unser Kinder Heinrichs, Berthols, Ludwigs und Johanns”, by charter dated 25 Nov 1315[522]. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[523]. The identity of Johann´s mother has not been confirmed. The reference to "puberes" in this 1320 document indicates that all three children were young at the time. Bearing in mind the date of Johann´s marriage, it is possible that he was born from his father´s second marriage. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg" donated property to Kloster Schmalkalden, with the consent of "Heinrici nostri primogeniti ac Iutte coniugis eiusdem, nate…quondam Hermanni marchionis Brandemburgensis" and in the presence of "Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht eiusdem comiti liberi", by charter dated 7 Oct 1323 witnessed by "frater Bertoldus noster germanus, prior domorum Bohemie, Polonie, Austrie…"[524]. Graf von Henneberg. "Juette etwen wirtin grafen Heinrichs zu Hennenberg…und…Johans…graue zu Hennenberg" confirmed the decision of four arbitrators regarding the division of the county of Henneberg between them, naming "grafe Johans…unsern…bruder grauen Bertholde von Hennenberg…[und] Ludowige von Hennenberg", by charter dated 20 Sep 1347[525]. Heinrich Abbot of Fulda confirmed that "graffen Johannes tzu Hennenberg, frauwen Elsbethen seiner elichen wirtin" purchased property by charter dated 6 Aug 1350[526]. "Johans…grafe von Hennenberg und frawe Elzabeth…grafinnen sin…wirtin" recognised the rights of Kloster Schmalkalden over certain property by charter dated 24 Feb 1352[527]. married (before 6 Aug 1350) ELISABETH von Leuchtenberg, daughter of ULRICH [I] Landgraf von Leuchtenberg & his second wife Anna von Nürnberg (-25 Jul 1361). Heinrich Abbot of Fulda confirmed that "graffen Johannes tzu Hennenberg, frauwen Elsbethen seiner elichen wirtin" purchased property by charter dated 6 Aug 1350[528]. "Johans…grafe von Hennenberg und frawe Elzabeth…grafinnen sin…wirtin" recognised the rights of Kloster Schmalkalden over certain property by charter dated 24 Feb 1352[529]. "Grafe Johans lantgraffe tzu Luchtenberg" issued a judgment relating to rights of “frauwe Elsebeth graffin tzu Hennenberg” by charter dated 23 Jul 1359[530]. "Itel Schenke" named “hern Heinrich Grafen tzu Hennenberg...Elsebeth Gräfin von Hennenberg ir muther” in a charter dated 29 Jan 1360[531]. "Albrecht...Burggrafe tzu Nurenberg und wir frauwe Soffia sin eliche wirtin" sold property to “Elzebeth grefin von Hennenberg, Heinrich, Bertolden grafen von Hennenberg iren sunen” by charter dated 2 Dec 1360[532].

Johann [I] & his wife ELISABETH von Leuchtenberg had [five] children:

• a) ELISABETH (-Dessau after 20 Jan 1420). The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not been identified. married ([1366]%29 JOHANN [II] Graf von Anhalt Herr zu Köthen, son of ALBRECHT [II] Graf von Anhalt & his second wife Beatrix von Sachsen (-[3 Aug 1380/11 Apr 1382]).
  
• b) HEINRICH [VII] ([1350]-Henneberg 2/3 Aug 1405). Graf von Henneberg. "Itel Schenke" named “hern Heinrich Grafen tzu Hennenberg...Elsebeth Gräfin von Hennenberg ir muther” in a charter dated 29 Jan 1360[533].
  
• c) BERTHOLD . "Albrecht...Burggrafe tzu Nurenberg und wir frauwe Soffia sin eliche wirtin" sold property to “Elzebeth grefin von Hennenberg, Heinrich, Bertolden grafen von Hennenberg iren sunen” by charter dated 2 Dec 1360[534]. "Johans von Rosental..." reached agreement with “Heinrich Graff und herre tzu Hennenberg...hern Bertolde und hern Herman graffen und herren von Hennenberg” over certain properties by charter dated 16 Mar 1373[535].
  
• d) [HERMANN (-after 16 Mar 1373). "Johans von Rosental..." reached agreement with “Heinrich Graff und herre tzu Hennenberg...hern Bertolde und hern Herman graffen und herren von Hennenberg” over certain properties by charter dated 16 Mar 1373[536]. The contiguity of the names in this document suggests that Hermann was another brother of Heinrich and Berthold. If the document had referrred to Hermann [III] Graf von Henneberg-Aschach (see above), his name would presumably have appeared first in the list as the representative of the senior branch of the Henneberg family.]
  

• e) ANNA (-after 17 Jul 1388). The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not been identified. married (before 10 Jun 1369) GOTTFRIED [III] von Hohenlohe-Uffenheim, son of LUDWIG von Hohenlohe zu Uffenheim & his wife Elisabeth von Nassau-Weilburg (-before 27 Jan 1392).
  

• 5. ELISABETH (-[6 Dec 1377/30 May 1391]). The chronology of Elisabeth’s wife suggests that, assuming she was born from her father’s first marriage, she must have been born towards the end of her mother’s life. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg…et Heinricus noster primogenitus…et Iutte eius uxor…Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht liberi antedicti comitis Bertoldi puberes" donated property to the church of Schmalkalden by charter dated 1 Feb 1320[537]. As with her brother Johann, the marriage date of Elisabeth suggests that she may have been born from her father’s second marriage. "Bertoldus…comes de Hennemberg" donated property to Kloster Schmalkalden, with the consent of "Heinrici nostri primogeniti ac Iutte coniugis eiusdem, nate…quondam Hermanni marchionis Brandemburgensis" and in the presence of "Ludewicus, Iohannes et Elizabecht eiusdem comiti liberi", by charter dated 7 Oct 1323 witnessed by "frater Bertoldus noster germanus, prior domorum Bohemie, Polonie, Austrie…"[538]. married (before 3 Mar 1333) JOHANN II Burggraf von Nürnberg, son of FRIEDRICH IV Burggraf von Nürnberg & his wife Margareta von Görz (-7 Oct 1357, bur Heilsbronn).

BIOGRAPHY

Berthold VII, Graf von Henneberg-Schleusingen, was born in Schleusingen about 1271, the son of Berthold V, Graf von Henneberg-Schleusingen, and Gräfin Sophie von Schwarzburg. Berthold began his rule quite young on his father's death in 1284. Over his reign of more than 50 years he succeeded in halting the decline in the influence of Hennebergs, which had been weakened by many estate divisions, and to lead the county to unprecedented greatness.

The bringing together of the old Henneberg lands in south west Thuringia accounted for only the lesser part of this renaissance. The decisive factor was the acquisition of the lands of Coburg and Schmalkalden. Coburg had been lost in 1268, as the inheritance of Jutta von Henneberg, daughter and heiress of Hermann I, Graf von Henneberg, who married Otto V, Markgraf von Brandenburg. After difficult and protracted negotiations from 1311 to 1316, Berthold was able to reacquire these lands from the house of Brandenburg for 24,000 marks of silver. However, a quarter of this immense sum was brought as a dowry by Otto V's granddaughter Judith (Jutta) von Brandenburg, when she married Berthold's son Heinrich VIII in August 1317.

Berthold VII's expansion outwards coincided with his consolidation of his rule, reflected in the introduction of central land management and a bureaucracy. With the foundation of the collegiate religious chapter in Schmalkalden, Berthold had a religious endowment in mind on the one hand, and on the other, the canons were all Berthold's curates, and were also busy working in his offices and managing the finances of the county.

The elevation of the county to a princedom (Fürstenstand) by Emperor Heinrich VII in 1310 strengthened the position of the Hennebergs in disputes with other rules. This applied in particular to relations with the bishop of Würzburg, who up to then had claimed jurisdiction over Henneberg as duke of Franken.

Berthold succeeded in building up a sovereignty which extended northwards from Bad Salzungen over the Rhone, southwards to the Main at Schweinfurt, eastwards along the crest of the Thuringian wood and the Schiefer mountains to Coburg. His territory covered both the county of Thuringia and the diocese of Würzburg.

This enormous landholding was built up by Berthold through the influence and wealth he had been able to acquire as an adviser to three German kings and the emperor. Albrecht I as well as Heinrich VII and Ludwig 'der Bayer' were always keen to be able to count the Hennebergs among their supporters. In 1313 Berthold even rose to be Heinrich VII's governor for the young king Johann in Bohemia. After the early death of Heinrich VII, Berthold was also seen as a possible candidate for the crown.

In 1322/23 Ludwig 'der Bayer' entrusted Berthold with the guardianship of his son and appointed him administrator of the Brandenburg March. In the political fights of the time Berthold always managed to maintain a diplomatic tightrope act careful not to alienate any side, but ready to extract all available personal advantages from each situation. The epithet 'de Wise' (keen, smart), given him by his contemporaries, does not do him justice as a shrewd tactician and diplomat. Berthold died on 13 April 1340 in Schleusingen.

After the death of Berthold's son Heinrich in 1347, his wife Jutta was entitled to inherit Coburg and Schmalkalden, and as she and Heinrich had only daughters, these lands eventually passed out of the hands of the Hennebergs. In 1340 Heinrich and Jutta's daughter Elisabeth married Eberhard II 'der Greiner', Graf von Württemberg; in 1346 Katharina married Friedric

Links

• http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berthold_VII.
• http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00008775&tree=LEO

Sources

• ROYALTY (Travel) GUIDE, HENNEBERG-SCHLEUSINGEN - http://www.royaltyguide.nl/families/fam-H/henneberg/hennebergschleu...