Conrad III.

Conrad III., king of the Germans, the founder of the Hohenstaufen (q.v.) dynasty, was the son of Frederick of Swabia, and was born in 1093. While under twenty years of age, Conrad, with his elder brother Frederick, had bravely supported Henry V. against his numerous enemies, and in return that monarch granted Conrad the investiture of the duchy of Franconia. He subsequently contested the crown of Italy with the Emperor Lothaire of Saxony, but was compelled to resign his pretensions. On the death of Lothaire, the princes of Germany, fearing the increasing preponderance of the Guelph party, and attracted by his brilliant courage, moderation, and goodness, offered Conrad the crown, and he was accordingly crowned at Aix-la-Chapelle, 21st February 1138. He was immediately involved in a quarrel with Henry the Proud, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony, and head of the Guelph party in Germany; and the struggle was continued under Henry's son and successor, Henry the Lion (q.v., and see GUELPHS AND GHIPELLINES). While Germany was thus convulsed, the state of Italy was not a whit more peaceable. The several belligerents besought Conrad's assistance, but he well knew the natural inconstancy of the Italians, and determined to stand aloof. Soon after this St Bernard of Clairvaux commenced to preach a new crusade, and Conrad, seized with the general infatuation, set out for Palestine at the head of a large army (see CRUSADES). A new attempt by the Duke of Bavaria to regain his dukedom was defeated by the nephew of Conrad, whose health had broken during the crusade. Conrad died at Bamberg in 1152. See GERMANY.