Burchard Burchard I, Duke of Swabia

855 (age 56)

Thurgau

Burchard married Liutgard of Saxony. By 900, Burchard was already the most powerful man in Swabia. In 904, he was the administrator of the lands of the abbey of Lorsch in Swabia. He succeeded, around 909, Ruadulf (a Welf) as dux or marchio (duke or margrave) of Raetia Secunda (the borderlands of Rhaetia). Burchard entered into a conflict with the Count Palatine Erchanger and Bishop Solomon III of Constance, who were loyal to King Conrad I. Burchard was captured and charged with high treason. Their Rhaetian estates were lost, though later recovered. Burchard I"s second son, Odalric, had already died young. Their children included Ulrich of Augsburg. The state of Swabia relative to the other stem duchies was highly disorganized at the time of Burchard I and he was never duke in the sense of the later dukes. He is usually called such only to distinguish him as the most powerful man in the duchy and the forerunner of the later dukes: the first being Erchanger, proclaimed duke by the nobility, but not the king, in 915.

Burchard Burchard I, Duke of Swabia Edit Profile

Duke of Swabia

Background

Born between 855 and 860, he was the son of Adalbert II, Count in the Thurgau.

Career

Burchard married Liutgard of Saxony. By 900, Burchard was already the most powerful man in Swabia. In 904, he was the administrator of the lands of the abbey of Lorsch in Swabia.

He succeeded, around 909, Ruadulf (a Welf) as dux or marchio (duke or margrave) of Raetia Secunda (the borderlands of Rhaetia).

Burchard entered into a conflict with the Count Palatine Erchanger and Bishop Solomon III of Constance, who were loyal to King Conrad I. Burchard was captured and charged with high treason. Their Rhaetian estates were lost, though later recovered.

Burchard I"s second son, Odalric, had already died young. Their children included Ulrich of Augsburg.

The state of Swabia relative to the other stem duchies was highly disorganized at the time of Burchard I and he was never duke in the sense of the later dukes.

He is usually called such only to distinguish him as the most powerful man in the duchy and the forerunner of the later dukes: the first being Erchanger, proclaimed duke by the nobility, but not the king, in 915.

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