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.
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.
