Eberhard II, Count of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
Eberhard II, called "der Greiner" (the Jarrer) (after 1315 – 15 March 1392, Stuttgart
), Count
of Württemberg
from 1344 until 1392.
Eberhard II was son of Count Ulrich III of Württemberg
and Sofie of Pfirt. He married Countess Elizabeth von Henneberg-Schleusingen
on September 17, 1342. They had two children: Ulrich, father of his successor Eberhard III
; and Sophie, who later married John I, Duke of Lorraine
.
From the beginning of his regency in 1344 up to 1361 he reigned together with his brother Ulrich IV
, whom he forced to sign a treaty which confirmed the inseparability of Württemberg. Soon afterwards Ulrich IV renounced his co-rule on May 1, 1362. To strengthen his might and to enlarge the territory of Württemberg Eberhard II joined several pacts and clashes with Emperor Charles IV
. As a result he and his brother received extra privileges, for example a sole jurisdiction, which gave more autonomy to the County of Württemberg.
A sensation was created 1367 by the assault of Count Wolf von Eberstein on Eberhard II and his son Ulrich during their stay "in Wildbad" (presumably Wildbad
or Teinach
). Both fled and seized Neueberstein Castle immediately with a large amount of men. However this siege turned out to be unsuccessful.
During his regency he strongly aligned his policy against the Free Imperial Cities, which stood in the way of the extension of Württemberg's territory. He fought battles against the towns united in the Schwäbischer Städtebund (Swabian City League) in 1376, 1372 in Altheim, 1377 in Reutlingen
and 1388 near Döffingen. The result of this was a stalemate which secured the independency of the towns. Nevertheless the territorial gains during his rule were substantial, for example Böblingen
and Calw
.
His heir apparent, Ulrich was killed in the victorious battle of Döffingen.
Sophie (1343–1369), daughter of Eberhard II, Count of Württemberg, in 1361, married John I (February 1346 – September 23, 1390, Paris) Duke of Lorraine.
and Uhland
.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
), Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
from 1344 until 1392.
Eberhard II was son of Count Ulrich III of Württemberg
Ulrich III, Count of Württemberg
Ulrich III, , Count of Württemberg from 1325 until 1344.Ulrich was already strongly involved in politics during the reign of his father Eberhard I. In 1319 he handled a treaty with King Frederick I, the Handsome. He renewed this treaty after assuming reign in 1325, when Württemberg had temporarily ...
and Sofie of Pfirt. He married Countess Elizabeth von Henneberg-Schleusingen
House of Henneberg
-Origins:The distant origins of this family are speculative yet seem to originate in the Rhine Valley, east of modern-day France. Charibert, a nobleman in Neustria is the earliest recorded ancestor of the family, dating before 636. Five generations pass between Charibert and the next descendant...
on September 17, 1342. They had two children: Ulrich, father of his successor Eberhard III
Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg
Eberhard III of Württemberg der Milde , ruled from 1392-1417 as the Count of Württemberg, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire.-Life:...
; and Sophie, who later married John I, Duke of Lorraine
John I, Duke of Lorraine
John I was the duke of Lorraine from 1346 to his death. As an infant of six months, he succeeded his father, Rudolph, who was killed in the Battle of Crécy. His mother was Mary, daughter of Guy I of Blois....
.
From the beginning of his regency in 1344 up to 1361 he reigned together with his brother Ulrich IV
Ulrich IV, Count of Württemberg
Ulrich IV of Württemberg , Count of Württemberg. He reigned, together with his brother Eberhard II from 1344 until 1362....
, whom he forced to sign a treaty which confirmed the inseparability of Württemberg. Soon afterwards Ulrich IV renounced his co-rule on May 1, 1362. To strengthen his might and to enlarge the territory of Württemberg Eberhard II joined several pacts and clashes with Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
. As a result he and his brother received extra privileges, for example a sole jurisdiction, which gave more autonomy to the County of Württemberg.
A sensation was created 1367 by the assault of Count Wolf von Eberstein on Eberhard II and his son Ulrich during their stay "in Wildbad" (presumably Wildbad
Bad Wildbad
Bad Wildbad is a town in Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located in the government district of Karlsruhe and in the district of Calw. Its coordinates are 48° 45' N, 8° 33' E. About 11,250 people live there...
or Teinach
Bad Teinach-Zavelstein
Bad Teinach-Zavelstein is a town in the district of Calw, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the northeastern Black Forest, 6 km southwest of Calw....
). Both fled and seized Neueberstein Castle immediately with a large amount of men. However this siege turned out to be unsuccessful.
During his regency he strongly aligned his policy against the Free Imperial Cities, which stood in the way of the extension of Württemberg's territory. He fought battles against the towns united in the Schwäbischer Städtebund (Swabian City League) in 1376, 1372 in Altheim, 1377 in Reutlingen
Reutlingen
Reutlingen is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the eponymous district of Reutlingen. As of April 2008, it has a population of 109,828....
and 1388 near Döffingen. The result of this was a stalemate which secured the independency of the towns. Nevertheless the territorial gains during his rule were substantial, for example Böblingen
Böblingen
Böblingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, seat of Böblingen District. Physically Sindelfingen and Böblingen are continuous.-History:Böblingen was founded by Count Wilhelm von Tübingen-Böblingen in 1253. Württemberg acquired the town in 1357, and on 12 May 1525 one of the bloodiest battles...
and Calw
Calw
Calw is a municipality in the middle of Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany, capital of the district Calw. It is located in the northern Black Forest.-History:...
.
His heir apparent, Ulrich was killed in the victorious battle of Döffingen.
Sophie (1343–1369), daughter of Eberhard II, Count of Württemberg, in 1361, married John I (February 1346 – September 23, 1390, Paris) Duke of Lorraine.
Reception
Eberhard entered literature through SchillerFriedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
and Uhland
Ludwig Uhland
Johann Ludwig Uhland , was a German poet, philologist and literary historian.-Biography:He was born in Tübingen, then Duchy of Württemberg, and studied jurisprudence at the university there, but also took an interest in medieval literature, especially old German and French poetry...
.