Hohenstaufen

Quick Facts: Who was Hohenstaufen?

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Hohenstaufen

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Medieval German imperial dynasty ruling the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 to 1254.

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Origins & Early Life

The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, US also , German: [ˌhoːənˈʃtaʊfn̩]), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of German origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynasty's most prominent rulers – Frederick I (1155), Henry VI (1191) and Frederick II (1220) – ascended the imperial throne and also reigned over Italy and Burgundy. The non-contemporary name of "Hohenstaufen" is derived from the family's Hohenstaufen Castle on Hohenstaufen mountain at the northern fringes of the Swabian Jura, near the town of Göppingen. Under Hohenstaufen rule, the Holy Roman Empire reached its greatest territorial extent from 1155 to 1268. The name Hohenstaufen was first used in the 14th century to distinguish the "high" (hohen) conical hill named Staufen in the Swabian Jura (in the district of Göppingen) from the village of the same name in the valley below.

Career & Major Achievements

The new name was applied to the hill castle of Staufen by historians only in the 19th century to distinguish it from other castles of the same name. The name of the dynasty followed suit, but in recent decades, the trend in German historiography has been to prefer the name "Staufer", which is closer to contemporary usage. The name "Staufen" itself derives from Stauf (OHG stouf, akin to Early Modern English stoup), meaning "chalice". This term was commonly applied to conical hills in Swabia during the Middle Ages. It is a contemporary term for both the hill and the castle, although its spelling in the Latin documents of the time varies considerably: Sthouf, Stophe, Stophen, Stoyphe, Estufin, etc. The castle was built or at least acquired by Duke Frederick I of Swabia in the latter half of the 11th century.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Members of the family occasionally used the toponymic surname de Stauf or variants thereof. Only in the 13th century would the name come to be applied to the family as a whole. Around 1215, a chronicler referred to the "emperors of Stauf". In 1247, the Emperor Frederick II himself referred to his family as the domus Stoffensis (Staufer house), but this was an isolated instance. 1158) associated the Staufer with the town of Waiblingen, and around 1230, Burchard of Ursberg referred to the Staufer as of the "royal lineage of the Waiblingens" (regia stirps Waiblingensium).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1079: 1079 Milestone — The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, US also , German: [ˌhoːənˈʃtaʊfn̩]), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of German origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254.
2. 1155: 1155 Milestone — The dynasty's most prominent rulers – Frederick I (1155), Henry VI (1191) and Frederick II (1220) – ascended the imperial throne and also reigned over Italy and Burgundy.
3. 1158: 1158 Milestone — 1158) associated the Staufer with the town of Waiblingen, and around 1230, Burchard of Ursberg referred to the Staufer as of the "royal lineage of the Waiblingens" (regia stirps Waiblingensium).
4. 1215: 1215 Milestone — Around 1215, a chronicler referred to the "emperors of Stauf".
5. 1247: 1247 Milestone — In 1247, the Emperor Frederick II himself referred to his family as the domus Stoffensis (Staufer house), but this was an isolated instance.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hohenstaufen

True or False: “The Hohenstaufen name was used consistently by the family as their primary identifier throughout the entire Middle Ages.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The use of the name to identify the family as a whole only became common in the 13th century; earlier references were more varied.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bolesław III Wrymouth — Historical peer (Died in 1138) (1138): Duke of Poland, known as Bolesław III Wrymouth, ruled during a period of intense political struggle.
• Hōjō Tokimasa — Historical peer (Born in 1138) (1138): First Shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate and head of the powerful Hōjō clan.
• Conrad IV of Germany — Historical peer (Died in 1254) (1254): Hohenstaufen King of Germany, Sicily, and Jerusalem in the 13th century.
• Marco Polo — Historical peer (Born in 1254) (1254): Venetian merchant and explorer whose writings revealed the wonders of Asia.
• Emperor Horikawa — Historical peer (Born in 1079) (1079): 73rd Emperor of Japan; reigned from 1087 to 1107, known for scholarship.
• Gampopa — Historical peer (Born in 1079) (1079): Foundational Tibetan Buddhist master who codified the Kagyu tradition.
• Benkei — Historical peer (Born in 1155) (1155): Legendary warrior monk renowned for immense strength and unwavering loyalty.
• Emperor Konoe — Historical peer (Died in 1155) (1155): The 76th Emperor of Japan, reigning from 1142 to 1155.
• Tolui — Historical peer (Born in 1191) (1191): Prominent general and regent of the Mongol Empire, son of Genghis Khan.
• Alexander Nevsky — Historical peer (Born in 1220) (1220): A pivotal Grand Prince of Novgorod and defender of Russian Orthodoxy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hohenstaufen