Gerlach IV of Isenburg-Limburg
Gerlach IV of Isenburg-Limburg (died 1289), also known as Gerlach I of Limburg, was from 1258 Count of (Isenburg-)Limburg, ruling over the town of Limburg an der Lahn and some villages in its hinterlands. He was the founder of the short-lived House of Limburg.
Life
Gerlach was the son of
After the death of his father, Henry I, in ca. 1227, Gerlach reigned jointly with his brother Henry II over the paternal inheritance. From 1247, Gerlach took the title of “Lord of Limburg.” On May 22, 1258 the division of the inheritance was finally sealed: Gerlach won the dominion of Limburg and Henry II the Countship of Isenburg-Grenzau as their sole possessions.
From a trip to Italy in 1231, Gerlach brought monks of the
As the Lord of Limburg, Gerlach joined the opponents of the
In 1279, there was an uprising of the citizens of the town of Limburg, and Gerlach was expelled from the city. After negotiations, he was able to return to his castle in Limburg, but he had to grant the citizenry far-reaching freedoms. These freedoms included a pause in the collection of taxes and self-jurisdiction of marriages and housing. In the case of a dispute between the House of Limburg and the city, it would be decided by the jury of the City of Frankfurt. Upon his return, Gerlach expanded Limburg Castle, building the residential tower which is still extant today.
To secure his position, Gerlach sought dynastic connections with neighboring lordly houses, including
Gerlach I of Limburg died in 1289 during his participation in a campaign of King Rudolph in the Black Forest. He was succeeded by his son, John I.
Marriage and descendants
Gerlach married Imagina of Blieskastel (died 1281). The couple had at least five children:
- John I, Count of Limburg.
- Gerlach II of Greifenstein, married between 1267 and 1273 into the House of Hachenburg.
- Henry (died 1279/80), married with Adelheid of Diez.
- Agnes (died 1319), married in July 1267 to Henry I of Westerburg.
- Imagina (died September 29, 1318 in Klarenthal Abbey); married Count Adolf of Nassau; Queen of Germany, 1292–1298
Sources
- Crecelius, Wilhelm (1879). "Gerlach I.-IV". Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German). 9. Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot: 5.
- Großmann, G. Ulrich (2000). Limburg an der Lahn, Führer durch die Stadt und ihre Geschichte (Limburg an der Lahn, leaders of the city and its history) (in German) (5th ed.). Marburg: Trautvetter & Fischer. ISBN 3-87822-114-2..
- Nieder, Franz-Karl (2006). "Die Limburger Dynasten und die deutschen Könige 1292 bis 1356". Nassauische Annalen (in German). 117. Wiesbaden: Verlag des Vereines für Nassauische Altertumskunde und Geschichtsforschung. ISSN 0077-2887.
External links
- History of Limburg Castle
- Marek, Miroslav. "Genealogy of the House of Isenburg". Genealogy.EU.
Preceded by: |
Gerlach IV |
Succeeded by: |
---|---|---|
Henry I of Isenburg-Grenzau |
Count of Isenburg-Limburg 1220–1289 |
John I |