First Battle of Langensalza

The First Battle of Langensalza was fought on June 9, 1075 between forces of German King Henry IV and several rebellious Saxon noblemen on the River Unstrut near Langensalza. The battle was a complete success for Henry, resulting in the subjugation of Saxony shortly before the Investiture Controversy commenced.

Background

From the start of his reign, Henry had suffered numerous setbacks in Saxony. Attempts to restore royal rights over the forests were not received well by the Saxon freedmen, and efforts to extend the crownlands in general as well as the increased demands laid upon the fisc were opposed. A policy of building castles, continued from the time of his father, implemented by the King fostered resentment among multiple groups. In particular, the Harzburg became a symbol of Imperial tyranny and impeding on traditional Saxon rights. Like his father, Henry desired to set Goslar as the fixed capital of the German Kingdom. Henry had already had to put down a rebellion led by Otto of Nordheim and Magnus Billung (1070–1071). The King kept Magnus prisoner at the Harzburg, even after the latter succeeded his father to the Duchy of Saxony in 1072. This heightened tensions between the royal court and the Saxons; Magnus' subsequent release in exchange for seventy Swabians captured in Lüneburg did little to provide a thaw in relations. In anger, the King rejected several Saxon petitions for redress.

Related Topics:
Freedmen - Fisc - Castle - Harzburg - Goslar - Otto of Nordheim - Magnus Billung - 1070 - 1071 - Duchy of Saxony - 1072 - Swabia - Lüneburg

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In 1073 several bishops and nobles organized a resistance. Several castles were besieged, and the King was forced to escape from the Harzburg to Hessewech. In February 1074 he proceeded to Gerstungen, where the insurrection, numbering twice the size of his forces, met him; he agreed to several concessions, reasoning that the Saxons would break their end of the deal eventually. The freedmen, who felt betrayed by the nobles due to the peace, sacked the Harzburg in a frenzy, destroyed the castle, and committed such acts of sacrilege (tossing the bones of members of the royal family, along with those of an abbot and St. Anastasius) that they shocked the local population and the religious authorities. Henry used the destruction as a pretext for renewed hostilities. He gained the support of several bishops, the lower feudality and city burghers. While Henry was conducting a campaign against the Magyars to the side, papal legates were attempting to create support for the Saxon rebels. In 1075 Otto of Nordheim, together with the count palatine in Saxony and Bishop Burckhardt of Halberstadt openly declared their hostility, using Henry's violations of the Gerstungen treaty as an excuse. They gained many Saxon and Thuringian freedmen, but many nobles and peasants did not join.

Related Topics:
1073 - Hessewech - 1074 - Gerstungen - St. Anastasius - Magyars - Otto of Nordheim - Count palatine - Burckhardt - Halberstadt - Thuringia

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The King made camp in Bredingen, and managed to gain the defections of some lower Saxon nobles with promises to listen to their grievances. In June, he moved to Langensalza.

Related Topics:
Bredingen - Langensalza

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