Duke of Merania

(8 customer reviews)

$79.90

During the Middle Ages, the nobility title “Duke of Merania” was personally awarded by Frederick Barbarossa – and now it can be affixed to your name! Until this day, the origin of the name “Merania” is uncertain. It may mean something like “Land by the sea”. Considering the fact that Adriatic regions where ruled all the way from Bavaria, this name certainly seems appropriate.
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Description

Duchy of Merania

Even though the Duchy of Merania had a fairly short-lived existence, some exceptionally influential noble families were involved. It was founded in the 12th century when the House of Hohenstaufen – first Conrad III and then his successor Frederick I Barbarossa – reorganised Bavaria. Both of them rewarded vassals and partisans with nobility titles and fiefs. Barbarossa also awarded Wittelsbach’s Count Conrad II of Scheyer-Dachau dukedom. In 1153, he received the highest noble rank and became Duke of Merania. This was a new name for the Duchy as well. Merania’s history didn’t last very long either. Politically speaking, these were tumultuous times and the power relations could change entirely within just one generation. The Duchy of Merania existed for merely 95 years. In addition to Merania, Conrad II also reigned over Dalmatia and Croatia and was considered a powerful local ruler. Because his relatives ruled the neighbouring regions, his House’s influence in Bavaria was quite extensive.His son Conrad II, however, had a more reclusive lifestyle, spent most of his time in Dachau and went by “Duke of Dachau”. As he did not have a male heir, the duchy fell into new hands after his death.

In around 1180, Barbarossa awarded Count Berthold IV of Andechs the title “Duke of Merania”. Berthold already had a special connection to the name of the duchy because of his mother Hedwig: the name “Merania” is believed to come from a region near the Adriatic coast in Istria, which Berthold’s maternal great-grandfather had ruled. The counts of Andechs-Merania were considered faithful followers of the German emperor and ruled the area from Bavaria all the way to the Adriatic Sea.

In connection with the murder of Frederick Barbarossa’s son, Philipp of Swabia, the last duke of Andechs-Merania, Otto VIII, was suspected of connivance and lost his office and titles. From a historical standpoint, these accusations were not justified but in those days these types of schemes were commonplace. The Duchy of Merania ended here and the fiefdoms were distributed to various noble families. It is in part thanks to religious legends that accounts of this short-lived heyday, during which the House of Andechs played an important role in history, survived until today. In the 9th century, one descendent of the family, Count Rasso (a.k.a. Grafrath) – who is the namesake for a Bavarian town – was already an admired saint in the Middle Ages.

Saint Hedwig of Silesia, originally Hedwig of Andechs, was the daughter of Berthold IV of Andechs-Merania and married to Duke of Silesia and Poland, Henry I. She is said to have lived an ascetic life dedicated to the poor; she is also patron saint of Silesia and Andechs. Her niece, Elizabeth of Hungary, was even more famous. The daughter of Hedwig’s sister Gertrude of Andechs was worshipped as Saint Elizabeth worldwide. There are numerous legends surrounding Elizabeth’s life, which she lived dedicated to the poor and the sick. Even Protestants recognise her as a role model for a good, Christian life. Furthermore, there was a popular chivalric story that mentioned a character called Berchtung of Meran. During the Middle Ages, several different versions of this tale existed. Berchtung was a faithful vassal of the hero Wolfdietrich, who experienced various adventures before he could finally be the ruler he was born to be.

8 reviews for Duke of Merania

  1. Felix C.

    If you need a gift and are in a hurry, this is the perfect solution. The certificate will be downloaded immediately.

  2. Vincent B.

    The price-performance ratio is outstanding. I can only recommend germannobility!

  3. Denis M.

    Ordering is a doddle, prices are reasonable and delivery speeds unbeatable – HIGHLY recommended!

  4. Max B.

    Beautiful certificate for my title – merci beaucoup😉

  5. Oscar P.

    This website has a great range of German titles. They are all historically accurate and the quality of customer service is excellent. Definitely worth checking out!

  6. Coby P.

    The download of the licence was successful. The quotation itself just arrived after the event, meaning my sweetheart had to wait for it! I presumed you’d receive both within a day.

  7. Tate M.

    I am very pleased with Duke of Merania. I will only sign if I accept my mail, etc.😉

  8. Sean G.

    If you’re looking for a great gift idea for your friends or family, look no further! The titles are high quality and the delivery is super fast! I highly recommend this product.

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