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How did Frederick I’s Welf and Hohenstaufen family connections affect his election as German king?

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Medieval manuscript miniature showing Frederick I as a crowned crusader holding an orb and scepter, with Henry of Schaftlarn kneeling and presenting a book to him. — Frederick I Frederick I as a Crusader with (right) Henry of Schäftlarn dedicating to him a copy of the *History of the First Crusade* by Robert of St. Remy; miniature from a manuscript in the Vatican Library.

Frederick I’s election as German king in 1152 was significantly influenced by his unique position as a bridge between the two most powerful rival dynasties of the era: the Hohenstaufen and the Welfs.

As the son of the Hohenstaufen duke Frederick and the Welf princess Judith, Frederick I possessed familial ties to both houses. This dual heritage was a key factor in his selection by the princes, who sought to end the long-standing and disruptive dynastic conflict that had characterized the reigns of his predecessors. By choosing a candidate who embodied both lineages, the electors hoped to stabilize the political situation in Germany.12

Following his election, Frederick I actively maintained these connections to ensure domestic peace. He notably made significant political concessions to his powerful Welf cousin, Henry the Lion, including the restoration of the duchy of Bavaria in 1156, which had been a major point of contention during the reign of his uncle, Conrad III.12