Philipp von Schwaben

Shortly before the year 1200, the throne of the Holy Roman Empire became the object of a fierce struggle between Philip of Swabia, the youngest son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and Guelph Otto IV, who had grown up at the English court of King Richard I (the Lionheart). The war between the two opponents lasted for ten years, ending abruptly when Philip was murdered by Count Otto of Wittelsbach in Bamberg in June 1208. In May 2008, an international conference to mark the 800th anniversary of Philip’s death was held by the Institute for Medieval Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences together with the Institute for Austrian Historical Research. The Institute of Studies of the Middle Ages is currently preparing an edition of PhilipÀs charters for the Monumenta Germaniae Historica. The present volume contains 18 papers that investigate the motives and consequences of the assassination, as well as the principles and guidelines of Philip’s reign. The conflict overshadowed all other political activities in the Roman Empire during that period. An analysis of the conflict offers remarkable insights into the surprisingly varied means of negotiation, mediation and reconciliation that were undertaken, including attempts on both sides to gain alliances with potentates outside the Empire, thus giving the struggle for the throne between Philip and Otto a truly European dimension. Printed with the support of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).