Eberhard III, Count of Württemberg
Encyclopedia
Eberhard III of Württemberg der Milde (the Clement) (1364 – 16 May 1417, Göppingen
), ruled from 1392-1417 as the Count of Württemberg
, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire
.
He was a son of Count Ulrich of Württemberg and Elisabeth of Bavaria. His reign was noted by a peace-preserving policy of alliances with the neighboring principalities and imperial towns. Examples are an alliances with 14 Upper-Swabian towns, concluded 27 August 1395 and the Marbachs alliance in 1405. An important military success was the victory against the Schlegel-Gesellschaft in 1395 near Heimsheim
. Eberhard's most significant territorial acquisition was the county of Mömpelgard
(now Montbeliard
), which he secured through the engagement of his son, the later count Eberhard IV with Henriette, Countess of Montbéliard
. Henriette was the granddaughter and heiress of Stephen of Montfaucon
, count of Mömpelgard
. Eberhard III governed the county of Mömpelgard till 1409, when he handed it over to his son Eberhard IV.
, daughter of Bernabò Visconti
. They had had 3 sons: Eberhard IV
and two others, who died young. Secondly, he married Elisabeth of Nuremberg (*1391,† 1429), the daughter of John III of Nuremberg. The marriage agreement was dated 27 March 1406, and the marriage itself on 22 November 1412. In this marriage he had one daughter, Elisabeth (d. after 29 April 1476), who, though engaged to Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
, eloped and married Count Johann III of Werdenberg (before 2 August 1429 ) who had served as a page
at her father's court.
Göppingen
Göppingen is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg. It is the capital of the district Göppingen. It is situated at the bottom of the Hohenstaufen mountain, in the valley of the river Fils....
), ruled from 1392-1417 as the Count of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
, then a part of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
Life
Heimsheim
Heimsheim is a town in the Enz district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 16 km southeast of Pforzheim, and 24 km west of Stuttgart....
. Eberhard's most significant territorial acquisition was the county of Mömpelgard
Montbéliard
Montbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
(now Montbeliard
Montbéliard
Montbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
), which he secured through the engagement of his son, the later count Eberhard IV with Henriette, Countess of Montbéliard
Henriette, Countess of Montbéliard
Henriette was the daughter of Henry of Orbe , and the heiress of her grandfather, Stephen, Count of Montbéliard. Her great-grandfather was Henry I of Montbéliard. She married Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg and governed the city of Montbéliard together with her husband.It was because of the...
. Henriette was the granddaughter and heiress of Stephen of Montfaucon
Stephen of Montfaucon
Stephen of Montfaucon was lord of Montfaucon and count of Montbéliard from 1367 until his death. He was the son of Henry of Montfaucon and Agnes of Chalon. He married Marguerite of Chalon-Arlay, daughter of John II of Chalon-Arlay, and they had three children:*Louis, died young*Henry of Orbe *...
, count of Mömpelgard
County of Montbéliard
The County of Montbéliard , also known as County of Mömpelgard , was a feudal county of the Holy Roman Empire based around the city of Montbéliard in the present-day Franche-Comté region of France...
. Eberhard III governed the county of Mömpelgard till 1409, when he handed it over to his son Eberhard IV.
Family and children
He was married twice. Firstly, in Urach on 27 October 1380 with Antonia ViscontiAntonia Visconti
Antonia Visconti was a daughter of Bernabò Visconti and his wife Beatrice Regina della Scala. Antonia was Countess of Württemberg by her marriage.- Family :...
, daughter of Bernabò Visconti
Bernabo Visconti
Bernabò Visconti was an Italian soldier and statesman, who was Lord of Milan.-Life:He was born in Milan, the son of Stefano Visconti and Valentina Doria. From 1346 to 1349 he lived in exile, until he was called back by his uncle Giovanni Visconti...
. They had had 3 sons: Eberhard IV
Eberhard IV, Count of Württemberg
Eberhard IV of Württemberg , Count of Württemberg.-Life:He was elder son of Count Eberhard III and Antonia Visconti. On 13 November 1397 he became engaged to Henriette of Mömpelgard...
and two others, who died young. Secondly, he married Elisabeth of Nuremberg (*1391,† 1429), the daughter of John III of Nuremberg. The marriage agreement was dated 27 March 1406, and the marriage itself on 22 November 1412. In this marriage he had one daughter, Elisabeth (d. after 29 April 1476), who, though engaged to Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
Albert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich , , since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was born to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:Albert was born in Munich....
, eloped and married Count Johann III of Werdenberg (before 2 August 1429 ) who had served as a page
Page (servant)
A page or page boy is a traditionally young male servant, a messenger at the service of a nobleman or royal.-The medieval page:In medieval times, a page was an attendant to a knight; an apprentice squire...
at her father's court.