Berthold, Duke of Merania facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berthold IV of Andechs
Duke of Merania
Spouse(s)	Agnes of Rochlitz
Noble family	Andechs
Father	Berthold I of Istria
Mother	Hedwig of Wittelsbach
Born	c. 1159
Died	(1204-08-12)12 August 1204
Burial	Dießen Abbey

Berthold IV (born around 1159 – died August 12, 1204) was an important nobleman from the House of Andechs. He was a powerful ruler in parts of what is now Slovenia and Croatia. He was known as the Margrave of Istria and Carniola. Later, he became the Duke of Merania, which gave him more prestige.

Berthold IV: A Powerful Duke

Berthold was the son of Count Berthold III of Andechs and Hedwig of Wittelsbach. His father was a loyal supporter of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Because of his father's loyalty, the Emperor gave him control over the Istrian region.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Young Berthold IV first appeared in official records around 1170. By 1172, he was called the Count of Andechs. In 1175, he started helping to rule the region of Istria.

In 1180, Emperor Frederick removed a powerful duke named Henry the Lion from his position. After this, Berthold's mother's relative, Otto of Wittelsbach, became the Duke of Bavaria. At the same time, Berthold was given the title of Duke of Merania. This new title made his family, the House of Andechs, very important in the Holy Roman Empire.

Adventures and Crusades

In 1186, Berthold traveled to Italy with the Emperor's son, Henry VI. They were there for Henry's marriage to Constance of Sicily.

In 1189, Berthold joined the Third Crusade, a major military journey to the Holy Land. He was a leader in the imperial army and carried its flag. He led Crusaders in the Battle of Philomelion in 1190.

In 1195, he also served as a Vogt (a kind of manager) for Tegernsee Abbey in Bavaria. Berthold had planned to join another crusade in 1197, but the Emperor Henry VI died that same year.

Political Influence and Family Power

Even though he had disagreed with some of the Emperor's plans, Berthold supported Henry's younger brother, Philip of Swabia. This was against the wishes of Pope Innocent III, who supported Philip's rival, Otto IV. During this time, the House of Andechs was at its most powerful. They owned lands stretching from Germany all the way to the Adriatic Sea.

Berthold died in 1204. He was buried at the Andechs family monastery in Dießen, Bavaria.

Berthold's Family

Berthold, Agnes and their family, Hedwig Codex, 1353

Around 1180, Berthold married Agnes of Rochlitz. She was the daughter of Margrave Dedi III of Lusatia. Together, they had several children who became important figures:

• Otto I (died 1234): He became Duke of Merania after his father. He also became the Count Palatine of Burgundy in 1211.
• Ekbert (died 1237): He became the Bishop of Bamberg in 1203.
• Henry II (died 1228): He became Margrave of Istria and Carniola in 1204.
• Hedwig (1174–1243): She married Henry I the Bearded, the Duke of Silesia. She later became the High Duchess of Poland in 1232. She was made a saint by the Catholic Church in 1267.
• Gertrude (died 1213): She married Andrew II and became the Queen of Hungary in 1205. She sadly died in 1213.
• Agnes (died 1201): She married King Philip II of France and became the Queen of France in 1196.
• Berthold (died 1251): He became the Archbishop of Kalocsa in 1206 and later the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1218.