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Markward Of Anweiler




Markward von Annweiler (d. 1202 ) was Imperial Seneschal and Regent of the Kingdom Of Sicily .

Markward was a Ministerialis , that is, he came not from the free nobility, but from a class of unfree service men whose purpose was to serve loyally the Imperial administration in any capacity. This Markward did during the reign of the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa , becoming one of the most important figures in the administration.

From 1184 , Markward served Barbarossa's son Henry VI in Italy . Henry appointed him Margrave of Ancona and Count of Abruzzo , placing him in a highly strategic position in north-central Italy. After the death of Heinrich, Markward at first supported his widow Constance Of Sicily , but later found himself her enemy. He had been excommunicated by Popes Celestine III and Innocent III , who were trying to take over lands in central Italy.

Markward stayed in Italy, and became a supporter of Philip Of Swabia , the brother of Henry. Markward's political and military activities caused great problems for the Popes, whose control of Sicily gradually weakened. Two years after Constance's death ( 1198 ), Philip gave Markward the lordship of Palermo , where the under-age heir, the future Emperor Frederick II , was resident. Despite the opposition of Innocent III, Markward became Guardian of Frederick II and Regent of Sicily. However, Markward died the following year.


EXTERNAL LINKS


  • Abulafia, David, 1988. ''Frederick II: A Medieval Emperor'' (Oxford University Press)