Ernst II, Duke of Swabia

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Ernest II, Duke of Swabia

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Ernest II (died August 17, 1030) was Duke of Swabia from 1015 to 1030. A member of the Babenberg family, he was the son of Ernest I and Gisela of Swabia.

As the elder son of his father, Ernest became duke following the senior Ernest's death in 1015. Since he was a minor, the government of Swabia was run by regency. At first his mother Gisela assumed the position of regent; she later gave way to Poppo, Archbishop of Trier.

In 1024 Gisela's husband Conrad, who she had married in 1016, was elected King of Germany as Conrad II. Although Conrad was generous in his relations with Ernest, contentious issues soon split the duke and his stepfather. Ernest resented the power of the German Kings over Swabia. Both men also were potential claimants to the Kingdom of Burgundy once its childless ruler, Rudolph III, died. Gisela's mother was Gerberga, a sister of the king, and both Conrad and Ernest wished to become Rudolph's eventual successor.

In 1025 Ernest, who was still relatively young, entered into rebellion against Conrad. By 1026, however, the king had defeated the resistance and Ernest eventually submitted. He then participated in his stepfather's Italian expedition of 1026-1027. While in Italy, Conrad sent Ernest back to Swabia in order to crush the local resistance that still existed. When he returned, however, Ernest joined the opposition and rebelled against Conrad again. The refusal of the local Swabian rulers to support him caused his defeat. He was forced to surrender and was imprisoned. Gisela, despite supporting Conrad against her son, did not wish for him to be entirely humiliated; as a result Ernest remained duke, although Gisela probably governed the duchy while he remained imprisoned.

In 1028, Conrad's son Henry was crowned king. Around this time, due to Henry's and Gisela's requests, Ernest was set free, although he was not restored to his full powers as duke. At the Diet of Easter 1030 Ernest was offered these powers, if he would crack down on the enemies of Conrad. Ernest's refusal to do so, especially against his friend Werner von Kyburg, resulted in his final downfall. He was stripped of his title as duke. Only a few months later, while battling the people of the Bishop of Konstanz, both Ernest and Werner were killed. Ernest was buried in Constance. The Duchy of Swabia passed to his younger brother Herman.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SWABIA.htm#ErnstISwabiadied1015

ERNST von Babenberg, son of LIUTPOLD I Markgraf der bayerischen Ostmark [Austria] & his wife Richwara [im Sualafeldgau] ([985/90]-31 Mar 1015, bur Würzburg). ... m ([1012]%29 as her second husband, GISELA of Swabia, widow firstly of BRUNO [I] Graf [von Braunschweig], daughter of HERMANN II Duke of Swabia & his wife Gerberga of Upper Burgundy ([990]-Goslar 1043). ... Duke Ernst I & his wife had two children:

• 1. ERNST (]1013/15]-killed in battle auf der Baar 17 Aug 1030, bur Konstanz Mauritiusstift). The Chronicle of Otto of Freising names "geminosque ex ea [Ernusto duci Suevorum] filios Ernustum et Herimannum"[199], although it is not certain that this should be taken as meaning that the two brothers were twins, reference to which has not yet been identified in other sources. The Annales Zwefaltenses name "Ernest filius eius [=Ernest dux]" when recording that he succeeded his father as Duke of Swabia[200]. He succeeded his father in 1015 as ERNST II Duke of Swabia. Wipo, in his description of the election of Konrad II King of Germany in 1024, specifies that he was the son of Duke Ernst and that he was at that time under the guardianship of his paternal uncle Poppo Archbishop of Trier[201]. Initially opposed to the accession of his stepfather Konrad II King of Germany in 1024, he submitted in 1027. He supported one of his rebellious supporters, Werner Graf von Kiburg, against Emperor Konrad in 1030, was excommunicated and outlawed. They were both killed in battle against imperial forces[202]. Herimannus records the death in battle "XVI Kal Sep 1030" of "Manegoldo comite ex Augiensi, Ernust pridem dux, et Werinhere comes, caput rebellionis, Adalbertus quoque et Werin nobilies milites" specifying that Ernst was buried at Konstanz and Manegold at Augsburg[203]. The necrology of St Gall records the death "XVI Kal Sep" of "Ernest dux et decis Alamannorum"[204].
• 2. HERMANN ([1015]-28 Jul 1038). ...