House of Swabia

German dynasty

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July 14, 2026

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The House of Swabia, also known as the Hohenstaufen dynasty, was a German dynasty that ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 to 1208 and again from 1212 to 1254. The dynasty's founder, Frederick I, was made duke of Swabia in 1079. Notable rulers from this house include Holy Roman Emperors Frederick I Barbarossa, Henry VI, and Frederick II. The Hohenstaufens were known for their conflicts with the papacy and their involvement in Italian affairs. The dynasty's rule was interrupted by Otto IV of the House of Welf from 1208 to 1212. The dissolution of the Swabian duchy led to the ascendancy of the Habsburgs and the Counts of Württemberg in southern Germany.12

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Italy
Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa)
…and nephew, the duke of Swabia, Frederick I (1152–90), brought a major reassertion of imperial rule in Italy. Frederick saw himself not as the heir to a compromise but as a restorer of the Romano-Carolingian heritage of the German monarchy.
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…and nephew, the duke of Swabia, Frederick I (1152–90), brought a major reassertion of imperial rule in Italy. Frederick saw himself not as the heir to a compromise but as a restorer of the Romano-Carolingian heritage of the German monarchy.
Read More