Maps Population Regents
   

 












 

Örjan Martinsson

Regents of Thuringia

The Thuringians were one of those Germanic tribes that created large kingdoms during the fifth century. The Thuringian kingdom stretched from the mouth of Elbe to Danube but was destroyed by Franks and Saxons AD 531, its last king was Hermenefried. Later a considerably smaller duchy was created in Thuringia under Frankish suzerainty. This duchy became independent 639 but was subjugated by the Franks in the 8th century. The duchy was restored in the 9th century and since it also was united with a Thuringian margraviate was its regent called mark-duke. However it ceased to be a separate political entity when the duke of Saxony became its mark-duke 909. Its function of defending Germany's eastern border was taken over by the margraves of Ostmark and then the margraves of Meissen. The latter made several attempts to restore the Thuringian ducal title in the 11th century.

Thuringian Kingdom

c. 450-500
c. 500-530
c. 500-530
c. 500-531
Bisin
Baderich
Berthachar
Hermenefried
Thuringia is conquered by the Frankish kingdom 531

Duchy of of Thuringia
(independent from 639)
 

c. 634-642
c. 642-687
c. 687-689
c. 689-719
Radulf
Hetan I
Gozbert
Hetan II
Thuringia is subjugated by the Frankish kingdom

Mark-dukes of Thuringia
 

c. 849-874
874-880
880-892
892-906
907-908
Thakulf
Radulf
Poppo
Konrad
Burchard von Wettin
The duke of Saxony become new mark-duke 909
whereupon Thuringia is united with this land.

Dukes of Thuringia

1000-1002 Ekkehard   
1002-1003
 
Wilhelm (II) von Weimar
 
1046-1062 Wilhelm (IV) von Weimar  
1062-1067 Otto von Weimar  

Landgraviate of Thuringia

During the 11th century did the Ludowingian dynasty acquire several counties in Thuringia and Hesse and these were 1130 transformed into the landgraviate of Thuringia. When the Ludowingian dynasty became extinct 1247 a long war of the succession erupted and it resulted in the separation of Thuringia and Hesse. Thuringia became instead a part of the lands of the house of Wettin, which included the margraviate of Meissen. Albrecht the Decadent sold all of his possessions to the German king Adolf 1293 but the House of Wettin managed to regain these lands after throne wars during the early 14th century.

Ludowingian Dynasty
(Landgraves from 1130)

1031-1056
1056-1123
1123-1140
1140-1172
1172-1190
1190-1216
1216-1227
1227-1241
1241-1247

Ludwig der Bärtige (the Bearded)
Ludwig der Springer
Ludwig I
Ludwig II der Eiserne (the Iron)
Ludwig III der Fromme (the Pious)
Hermann I
Ludwig IV der Heilige (the Holy)
Hermann II
Heinrich Raspe


House of Wettin
 

1247-1265 Heinrich der Erlauchte (the Illustrious)

1265-1294

Albrecht der Entartete (the Decadent)


Houses of Nassau and Habsburg
 

1294-1298 Adolf von Nassau

1298-1307

Albrecht (I)


House of Wettin
 

1298-1307 Dietrich (Diezmann)
1298-1323 Friedrich der Freidige
1323-1349 Friedrich der Ernsthafte (the Serious)
1349-1381 Friedrich der Strenge (the Stern) *
1349-1382 Wilhelm der Einäugige (the One-eyed)
1349-1406
1406-1440
Balthasar
Friedrich der Friedfertige (the Peaceful)

 
1440-1445 Friedrich der Sanftmütige
1440-1482 Wilhelm der Tapfere (the Courageous)
1482-1485 Albrecht der Beherzte (the Brave)
1482-1486 Ernst (elector since 1464)
1486-1525 Friedrich III der Weise (the Wise)
1525-1532 Johann der Beständige (the Steady)
1532-1547 Johann Friedrich der Grossmütige
1542-1553 Johann Ernst
1554-1566 Johann Friedrich II
1554-1572
 
Johann Wilhelm
 

 

1572-1920
1920-1952
1952-1990
1990-

Fragmented in several Saxon duchies
German part state
Divided in three East German districts
German part state

* = When Friedrich the Stern died 1381 became his son Georg, Wilhelm and Friedrich (the Quarrelsome) landgraves of Thuringia and margraves of Meissen. But the next year, when they were still under aged and had not started to reign, were the Wettin lands partitioned so that their uncle Balthasar became sole regent over Thuringia.

= Germany = Luxemburg = Nassau = Saxony   = Meissen = Austria