Welf I Duke of Bavaria

Welf I, Duke of Bavaria

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Duke in Swabia from the Elder House of Welf, see Welf I.
Welf I
Duke of Bavaria
Welf4.jpg
Welf I, Duke of Bavaria
Born c. 1035/1040
Unknown, perhaps Solesino
Died 6 November 1101
Paphos, Cyprus, Byzantine Empire
Noble family House of Welf (founder)
Spouse(s) Ethelinde of Northeim
Judith of Flanders
Issue Welf II / V the Fat
Henry IX the Black
Kunizza
Father Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan
Mother Kunigunde of Altdorf

Welf I (c. 1035/1040 – 6 November 1101) was Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 1096 to his death. He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the genealogy of the Elder House of Welf, he is counted as Welf IV.
Biography

Welf was the son of Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan, and Kunigunde of Altdorf.[1] When Welf's maternal uncle, Welf, Duke of Carinthia (also known as Welf III), died childless in 1055, Welf inherited his property. In 1062 Welf married Ethelinde of Northeim, daughter of Otto, Duke of Bavaria.[1] Although Azzo II of Este continued firm in the interests of Pope Gregory VII, Welf's marriage, and his inheritance of property in Germany, meant that he was more concerned with German affairs and he supported Emperor Henry IV.

When his father-in-law, Duke Otto, had become an enemy of Emperor Henry IV and forfeited his duchy, Welf remained loyal to Henry IV. In compliance with Henry's commands, he repudiated and divorced his wife, Ethelinde,[2] [3] and soon thereafter (in 1070) he was rewarded for his fidelity by being appointed Duke of Bavaria in Otto's stead.[4] This event took place at Goslar in 1070, when the Duchy of Bavaria submitted quietly to the newly made duke, who was the representative of one of the most ancient families in the province. His repudiation of Ethelinde, which could have been considered an act of injustice, does not seem to have been held against him.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welf_I,_Duke_of_Bavaria]