Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY
Ulrich, Herzog von Württemberg, was born on 8 February 1487 at Reichenweier, the only son of Heinrich, Graf von Württemberg-Mömpelgard and his first wife Elisabeth von Zweibrücken-Bitsch, only child of Simon VI Wecker, Graf von Zweibrücken-Bitsch, and Elisabeth von Lichtenberg-Lichtenau. Ulrich succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as duke of Württemberg in 1498, being declared of age in 1503.
Ulrich served the German king, Maximilian I, in the war over the succession to the duchy of Bavaria-Landshut in 1504, receiving some additions to Württemberg as a reward; he accompanied Maximilian on his unfinished journey to Rome in 1508; and he marched with the imperial army into France in 1513. Meanwhile in Württemberg Ulrich had become very unpopular. His extravagance had led to a large accumulation of debt, and his subject were irritated by his oppressive methods of raising money. In 1514 a rising under the name of 'poor Conrad' broke out, and was only suppressed after Ulrich had made important concessions to the Estates in return for financial aid. The duke's relations with the Swabian League, moreover, were very bad, and trouble soon came from another quarter.
In 1511 Ulrich had married Sabina von Bayern, a daughter of Albrecht IV 'der Weise', Herzog von Bayern, and niece of Emperor Maximilian. The marriage was a very unhappy one, and having formed an affection for the wife of a knight called Hans von Hutten, a kinsman of Ulrich von Hutten, the duke killed Hans in 1515 during an altercation. Hutten's friends now joined the other elements of discontent. Fleeing from her husband, Sabina won the support of the emperor and of her brother Wilhelm IV, duke of Bavaria, and Ulrich was twice placed under imperial ban. After the death of Maximilian in January 1519 the Swabian League intervened in the struggle, and Ulrich was driven from Württemberg, which was afterwards sold by the League to Emperor Charles V.
Ulrich spent some time in Switzerland, France and Germany, occupied with brigand exploits and in the service of François I of France. However he never lost sight of the possibility of recovering Württemberg, and about 1523 he announced his conversion to the Reformed Faith. His opportunity came with the outbreak of the Peasants' War. When he posed as the friend of the lower orders and signed himself 'Ulrich the peasant', his former oppressions were forgotten and his return was anticipated with joy. Collecting men and money, mainly in France and Switzerland, he invaded Württemberg in February 1525, but the Swiss in his service were recalled owing to the defeat of François I at Pavia; the peasantry were unable to give him any serious support, and in a few weeks he was again a fugitive. During his exile Ulrich had formed a friendship with Philipp I 'the Magnanimous', Landgraf von Hessen; and his restoration, undertaken by Philipp, is an event of some importance in the political history of the Reformation. In 1526 Philipp had declared that he was anxious to restore the exiled duke, and about the same time François I and Zwingli had intimated their willingness to assist in a general attack upon the Habsburgs. Many difficulties, however, barred the way, and it was 1534 before Philipp was prepared to strike. In January of that year François I had definitely promised assistance and the Swabian League had just been dissolved. After a manifesto had been issued by Ulrich and Philipp justifying the proposed undertaking Württemberg was invaded in April 1534. Charles V and his brother, the German king Ferdinand I, could send only minor assistance to their lieutenants, and on 13 May the troops of the Habsburgs were completely defeated at Lauffen. In a few weeks Ulrich was restored, and in June 1534 a treaty was negotiated at Kaaden by which he was recognised as duke by Ferdinand, but was to hold Württemberg under Austrian suzerainty. After some hesitation Ulrich yielded to the solicitations of Philipp, and signed the treaty in February 1535.
Ulrich now lost no time in pressing on with the teaching of the reformed doctrines of Luther and Zwingli. Many convents and monasteries were destroyed, and extensive seizures of church property formed a welcome addition to his impoverished exchequer. Taxation, however, was so heavy that he soon lost his temporary popularity. In April 1536 he joined the League of Schmalkalden, though he did not assent to some of the schemes of Landgraf Philipp von Hessen for attacking Charles V. In 1546 his troops fought against the emperor during the war of the League of Schmalkalden, but with disastrous results for Württemberg. The duchy was quickly overrun, and the duke compelled to agree to the treaty of Heilbronn in January 1547. By this treaty Charles, ignoring the desire of Ferdinand to depose Ulrich again, allowed him to retain his duchy, but stipulated that he should pay a large sum of money, surrender certain fortresses, and appear as a supplicant before the emperor at Ulm. Having submitted under compulsion to the Interim issued from Augsburg in May 1548, Ulrich died on 6 November 1550 at Tübingen, where he was buried. He left a son Christoph, who succeeded him and would have progeny.
|