Siege of Weinsberg

Siege of Weinsberg
Date December 21, 1140 Location Weinsberg, Germany Result Raised peacefully in December; Settlement, imposed at the Diet of Frankfurt of 1142
Belligerents
House of Hohenstaufen	House of Welf
Commanders and leaders
Conrad III of Germany	Welf VI

Siege of Weinsberg, within the then-Holy Roman Empire, was a decisive battle between Welfs and Hohenstaufen. During it the Welfs for the first time changed their war cry 'Kyrie Eleison' for their party cries. The Hohenstaufen used the 'Strike for Gibbelins' war cry as well.

Exasperated at the heroic defence of Welfs, Conrad III had resolved to destroy Weinsberg and imprison its defenders. He suspended, however, the last assault,, ultimately permitting the Weinsberg women to retire, carrying their husbands. The episode became known as the 'Wives of Weinsberg'. The siege, together with that episode, became subjects of one of the World History/Bank Imperial commercials.

Background

On the death of Lothar II in 1137, the Welf Henry the Proud, heir of the patrimony of his deceased father-in-law, and possessor of the crown jewels, stood boldly forward as a candidate for the imperial dignity. But the local princes, opposing him, elected the Hohenstaufen Conrad III in Frankfurt, on February 2, 1138. When Conrad gave the Duchy of Saxony to Count Albert the Bear, the Saxonians rose in defence of their young prince, and Count Welf of Altorf, the brother of Henry the Proud, began the desolating war.