Frederick I, Margrave of Baden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frederick I |
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| Margrave of Baden | |
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| Falconry hunt of Frederick and King Conradin, Codex Manesse (c. 1305) | |
| Spouse(s) | Kunigunde of Eberstein |
| Noble family | House of Zähringen |
| Father | Herman VI, Margrave of Baden |
| Mother | Gertrude of Austria |
| Born | 1249 Alland, Austria |
| Died | 29 October 1268 (aged 18/19) Naples, Kingdom of Sicily |
| Burial | Santa Maria del Carmine, Naples |
Frederick I of Baden lived from 1249 to 1268. He was a member of the House of Zähringen, an important noble family. Frederick was a ruler known as a Margrave in the region of Baden. He also claimed to be the Duke of Austria from 1250 until he died.
Frederick was a close friend and supporter of a young king named Conradin. Sadly, both Frederick and Conradin were executed by King Charles I of Naples.
Frederick's Claim to Austria
Frederick was born in a place called Alland, in Austria. He was the only son of Herman VI, Margrave of Baden, who was a margrave from a region called Swabia. His mother was Gertrude of Austria. Gertrude was the niece and heir of the last Duke of Austria, Frederick II, Duke of Austria.
Duke Frederick II of Austria had died in a battle in 1246. This meant his family line, the Babenbergs, had no more direct heirs. Because Frederick's father, Herman VI, was married to Gertrude, he claimed the right to rule Austria. But after the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, died in 1250, there was no strong ruler to support Herman's claim.
Even though the Pope and other leaders supported Herman, he could not win against a powerful king named Ottokar II of Bohemia. King Ottokar II also wanted to rule Austria.
When Frederick's father died, young Frederick was staying in Meissen, where his mother had gone for safety. Frederick became the new Margrave of Baden. His uncle, Rudolf I, Margrave of Baden-Baden, helped him rule as a regent (someone who rules for a young leader). Frederick also claimed to be the Duke of Austria through his mother. He moved close to Vienna, the capital of Austria.
However, in 1252, King Ottokar II married Gertrude's aunt, Margaret. Ottokar then moved into Austria and took control. Frederick had to leave Austria and seek safety in other regions like Styria and Carinthia.
Friendship with King Conradin
Around 1266, Frederick grew up at the home of Duke Louis II, Duke of Bavaria. There, he became good friends with Conradin. Conradin was the young Duke of Swabia and was supposed to be the next emperor from the Hohenstaufen family. Frederick hoped that Conradin would help him get back his claim to Austria.
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In 1267, Frederick made a very important decision. He decided to go with Conradin on a journey to fight against Charles of Anjou. Charles had been crowned King of Sicily by the Pope. Charles had also killed Conradin's uncle, Manfred, in a battle in 1266.
Conradin and Frederick entered Rome on July 24, 1268. But Charles's army strongly defeated Conradin's troops in a battle on August 23. After this defeat, Conradin and Frederick tried to escape. They were captured on September 8.
They were betrayed by some of their own followers and handed over to King Charles. Both Frederick and Conradin were held in a prison in Naples. King Charles himself ordered them to be executed. A story says they were playing chess when they heard their death sentence. They supposedly kept playing calmly.
Conradin and Frederick were publicly executed in a market square on October 29, 1268. They were both very young.
Their bodies were first quickly buried. Later, Conradin's mother arranged for them to be moved to a church in Naples. The Pope who had crowned Charles died a month after the execution. Charles himself was later forced out of his kingdom in 1282.
Images for kids
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Frederick and King Conradin on a falconry hunt.
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Conradin and Frederick hearing their death sentence while playing chess. Painting by J.H.W. Tischbein (1784).
