Louis II, Landgrave of Thuringia
Ludwig II, the Iron, (* 1128, † October 14, 1172 in Neuchâtel in Freyburg / Unstrut) from the family of Ludowinger was 1140-1172 Landgrave of Thuringia.
Life
In 1128 he was born as the son of Louis I, who in 1131 was the first Thuringian Landgraf. As the Landgraf died in 1140, enfeoffed King Conrad III. the twelve- year-olds with the county land. Between the Hohenstaufen and the Ludowingern existed good relations since the Landgrave had in 1138 the Hohenstaufen Konrad assisted in the election of a king. Ludwig was, therefore, engaged with Jutta, a niece of the king and sister of his successor Frederick Barbarossa. Until the death of Conrad, the young Landgraf held mostly at the royal court and received an education here by the Archbishop of Mainz and the Bishop of Merseburg. In 1150 he married Jutta; probably a year later by his son and successor, Louis III. born.
While Ludwig's rule was the population of Thuringia often bullied and harassed by the nobility. Then he started against these states intervene hard, which he finally earned his nickname. To these acts of Louis entwines itself also a legend which was recorded in 1421 by John Rothe. Thereafter, the Landgrave of an evening have unrecognized found in a forge in Ruhla the night. The blacksmith had cursed violently at his ruler, and the states in the country and finally shouted, " Landgraf, going to be hard! " These words have the Landgrave finally persuaded to take action against the robber barons. According to legend, he should have let the offender curious and dig up a field to a plow.
Probably still under Louis II the mint Gotha was built as a second coin of the Landgrave of Thuringia.
With his brother Frederick Barbarossa, who was king in 1152 and 1155 Emperor Ludwig time was allied his life. Together they fought the Guelph Henry the Lion and the archbishops of Mainz ( which, inter alia, Erfurt was one ). A piquant episode from the long controversy over the so-called Erfurt Erfurt is Latrinensturz of 1184th
Under the reign of Louis Wartburg was built: The construction of the three-storey palace was 1157/58 started. In addition, Ludwig II founded in 1168 the Runneburg in Weissensee and 1170 the Creuzburg.
1170 took Ludwig to the Emperor a campaign against Poland. After his return he fell ill and died on October 14, 1172 He was -. , Like almost all Thuringian landgrave - buried in Reinhardsbrunn monastery.
Progeny
Ludwig II married in 1150 Jutta von Schwaben, half-sister of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.
- Ludwig III. , Mildness (1151-1190)
- Heinrich Raspe III. , Count of Gudensberg (* 1155, † July 18, 1180 )
- Frederick, Count of goats Hain ( * 1155, † 1229 )
- Hermann I (* 1155, † 1217 )
- Jutta ( married to Hermann II, Count of Berg Ravens )
The grave plates of the Landgrave of Thuringia house can be found in the Church of St. George in Eisenach.