Battle of Langensalza (1075) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Langensalza
Part of the Saxon rebellion
Plan of the attack during the battle of Langensalza (made by Czech military historian Otakar Frankenberger, c. 1938)
Date 9 June 1075 Location Homburg an der Unstrut, Langensalza, Thuringia Result Imperial victory
Belligerents
Holy Roman Empire	Duchy of Saxony
Commanders and leaders
Henry IV of Germany Rudolf of Rheinfelden Vratislaus II of Bohemia Ernst of Austria † Theodoric II of Lorraine Godfrey IV of Lower Lorraine	Otto of Nordheim Burchard II of Halberstadt Magnus of Saxony Lothair Udo II of the Nordmark
Strength
25000	7000
Casualties and losses
2765	5860

The Battle of Langensalza happened on June 9, 1075. It was a fight between King Henry IV of Germany and a group of rebellious Saxon nobles. The battle took place near the town of Langensalza in Thuringia, close to the River Unstrut. King Henry IV won a huge victory. This win helped him control the Saxons right before a big conflict called the Investiture Controversy began. In Germany, this battle is also known as the Schlacht bei Homburg an der Unstrut. This name comes from a nearby royal palace and monastery.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

King Henry IV and the Saxons

King Henry IV was part of the Salian family. He took over the throne in 1065 when he was just 15 years old. From the start, he had problems with the Saxons. His father, Emperor Henry III, had spent a lot of time at his palace in Goslar. This had already annoyed the local Saxon nobles.

Henry IV wanted to make his power stronger in Saxony. He tried to get back control of the Harz forests. He also wanted to expand royal lands and collect more taxes. The Saxons, especially the freedmen (people who were once slaves but became free), did not like these changes.

Building Castles and Growing Resentment

Henry IV also continued his father's plan of building castles. He put loyal officials, mostly from Swabia, in charge of these castles. This made many Saxon groups angry. The large Harzburg castle became a symbol of the King's harsh rule. The Saxons felt it was taking away their traditional rights. Like his father, Henry wanted to make Goslar the main capital of the German Kingdom.

Saxon Leaders Rebel

In 1070 and 1071, King Henry IV had arguments with two important Saxon leaders. These were Count Otto of Nordheim, who was also the Duke of Bavaria, and Magnus Billung, the Duke of Saxony. The King took away Otto's title and land. He also kept Magnus prisoner at Harzburg Castle. This happened even after Magnus became Duke of Saxony in 1072.

These actions made the tension between the King and the Saxons much worse. Magnus was later released. But this did not help improve relations. The King refused many of the Saxons' requests for fairness.

The Rebellion Begins

In 1073, several bishops and princes decided to fight back. They attacked some of the King's castles. King Henry IV had to escape from Harzburg to Hessewech. In February 1074, he went to Gerstungen. There, the Saxon rebels, who had twice as many soldiers as he did, met him. Henry agreed to some of their demands. He thought the Saxons would break their promises later.

The freedmen, who felt betrayed by the peace treaty, attacked Harzburg Castle. They destroyed it and even dug up the bones of royal family members. This shocked many people and religious leaders. Henry used this destruction as a reason to start fighting again. He got support from some bishops, lower nobles, and city people.

Renewed Hostilities

In 1075, Otto of Nordheim, along with the count palatine in Saxony and Bishop Burckhard II of Halberstadt, openly declared war. They said Henry had broken the Treaty of Gerstungen. Many Saxon and Thuringian freedmen joined them. However, many nobles and peasants did not.

King Henry set up his camp in Bredingen. He convinced some lower Saxon nobles to join him by promising to listen to their complaints. In June, he moved his army to Langensalza.

The Battle of Langensalza

Meeting on the Battlefield

When Henry moved his army to Langensalza, he was closer to the Saxon camp. The two armies met for battle at Homburg on June 9.

The Saxon army had several thousand men. But most of them were foot soldiers, which was common for Saxon armies. Their army included nobles, their knights, freedmen, and some serfs (farmers tied to the land). Many of these soldiers were not well trained. Their opponents described them as "an unskilled crowd used to farming, not fighting." They were forced into battle by their leaders, not by a desire to fight.

The Fight

King Henry IV's army marched forward in five lines. This happened even though the land south of the River Unstrut was open. The Saxons rushed out of their castle at Homburg. They were all on horseback, seemingly leaving their foot soldiers behind in their hurry.

The fight that followed was not really a long battle. It was more like a quick defeat. A charge by the Swabian soldiers, led by Duke Rudolf, quickly broke through the middle of the Saxon army. The Saxon leaders quickly got on their horses and ran away. But the foot soldiers were killed. Reports said that several thousand Saxons died when they drowned in the Unstrut River. Henry's army gained many valuable things from the defeated Saxons.

What Happened After the Battle?

The Saxon defeat was a huge shock. Supporters of the rebellion became very worried. The Archbishop of Mainz threatened to remove the Thuringians from the church. He did this to get money to fund the rebellion.

However, Henry and his army marched through the Saxon and Thuringian countryside. They destroyed things and caused starvation. The Archbishop of Magdeburg eventually gave in. He asked King Henry what terms he would offer the rebels. Henry demanded that all the rebel leaders be imprisoned for a short time. He also wanted to take away their lands and give them to his loyal supporters.

Even though these terms were harsh, Henry's complete victory at Langensalza convinced the Saxons to accept them. In a very humbling moment, the rebel bishops, nobles, and peasants walked barefoot between the lines of the King's army. They then surrendered to him.

The King later held a meeting of princes in Goslar at Christmas. They decided the future of Saxony. Henry ended up freeing Otto of Nordheim. He even made Otto his main representative in Saxony. Henry thought the Saxon problem was solved. But the Investiture Controversy would soon undo this peace.