Wülfgang of Frankonia
b. January 1st, 1048
King of Germany, 1065
Wülfgang was the second son and fourth child of Heinreich the Elder of Frankonia and Agnes de Acquitine of Poitieu. His father was Holy Roman Emperor, and King of Germany, Burgundy, and Italy. He was God's foremost secular champion, and Wülfgang was raised with the certain knowledge that he was the son of the greatest man alive. Heinreich the Elder kept his youngest son with him always, and often doted on the boy. Wülfgang's father taught him the history of his family, and the history of his people. The history Wülfgang was taught emphasized the glory his ancestors had brought to the German people, and the greatness promised Wülfgang by his birthright. Wülfgang's mother also doted on the boy, teaching him how to manage land and oversee pesants and serfs. Wülfgang proved to be an apt pupil.
Wülfgang's father was killed in battle in the year 1056, when Wülfgang was eight years of age. He died in battle against the King of France, contesting an inheritance of the province of Languendoc. Heinreich the Elder posthumously carried the day, and the Capets of France were forced to surrender both Languendoc and Bourgogne to the Emperor- though Germany was forced in turn to compensate the French with the Duchy of Upper Lorraine. Wülfgang took the death of his father hard, and became a sullen boy.
Wülfgang's older brother, Heinreich the Younger, assumed the throne at the age of 21. He was a capable soldier, but less skillful a politician. Conflict soon arose between the King of the Germans and the Bishop of Rome over the former's Crown. Heinreich the Younger felt that the mantle of Holy Roman Emperor was his birthright, while the Pope saw things differently. Harsh words were exchanged, and the Pope took the dramatic step of excommunicating the German King in order to repudiate what the Bishop of Rome saw as Heinreich's excessive arrogance and impudence.
Heinreich the Younger had always been a pious man, and took the declaration very hard. Young Wülfgang, already embittered by his father's death the previous year, saw only cynical politics. He was enfuriated by what he saw as a slight against the honor of the noblest House in all of Christendom, but as a boy of 9 years was incapable of doing anything about it. As depression set in for Heinreich, the Pope took to encouraging dissatisfied nobles in the south of the Empire to cast off the rule of King Heinreich. Rebellion soon burned throughout the south, and Heinreich the Younger was forced to set aside his personal malaise and fight those who would deft his rule.
The French, eager to avenge the stinging defeat of the previous year, eagerly supported the rebelling nobles. To the south, the House of de Hauteville sided with the German King, hoping that they would be granted further holdings in Italy by the Emperor in exchange for their martial service. As Heinreich mustered his armies, he also recieved word that the Premsylids of Bohemia had also rebelled against Heinreich's rule, recieving support from the Piasts of Poland. With his de Hauteville allies pushing up from the south, Heinreich decided to settle with Bohemia first.
Heinreich won a series of battles against the Premsylids in 1059 and 1060, and started to besiege their castles when he received word that the King of Naples had been annhiliated in battle. Heinreich abandoned his siege and raced back west, where the joint army of Burgundy and Italy mere marching north. Heinreich met the host near the village of Markdorf in Briesgau on June 15th, 1061, a few scant miles from the Bodensee. There, in a fierce clash, Heinreich was soundly defeated. With his armies exhausted, Heinreich was forced to accept the peace terms of the rebel leaders, and recognized the independence of Burgundy, Italy, and Bohemia as Kings of Christendom.
After his defeat at the Battle of Markdorf, Heinreich was a broken man. He retired to a private castle in Württemberg, where he spent the remainder of his days. After the defeat in the War of Cecession, young Wülfgang began to take a greater hand in the governance of Germany. As soon as he came of age in 1064, his brother appointed him Steward. Wülfgang soon became the only courtier Heinreich had any interest in seeing. Not even Heinreich the Younger’s wife was allowed to see him.
In September of 1065, Heinreich became despondant. He called for Wülfgang, and have him one last command as his King. After Wülfgang agreed to what his brother said, Heinreich ended his own life. Dispite Heinreich’s status as an excommunicated suicide, Wülfgang demanded and received a Catholic burial.
Wülfgang was crowned King of Germany on November 15th, 1065.