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- BIOGRAPHY
Gerlach I von Isenburg in Limburg was born before 1227, the son of Heinrich I von Isenburg in Grenzau and Irmengard von Büdingen. With his wife Imagina von Blieskastel, daughter of Heinrich, Graf von Blieskastel, and Gräfin Agnes von Sayn, he had at least five children, of whom Johann I, Agnes and Imagina would have progeny.
After the death of his father in 1227 Gerlach ruled jointly with his brother Heinrich II. From 1247 Gerlach held the title of Lord of Limburg. On 22 May 1258 the division of the house of Isenburg was finally settled; Gerlach became ruler of Limburg, and Heinrich II came into sole possession of the county of Isenburg.
From a visit to Italy around 1231, Gerlach brought back Franciscan monks whom he encouraged to build an abbey in Limburg. It would be one of the oldest abbeys of this order in Germany. The abbey was later extended by the house of Limburg.
As lord of Limburg, Gerlach joined the opponents of the Hohenstaufen family. He was probably involved in a looting of Worms in 1243/44. After the Interregnum, Gerlach supported King Rudolf von Habsburg. In 1276 he was instructed by the king to confirm the counts of Diez in their imperial fiefs.
In 1279 the citizens of the town of Limburg revolted, and Gerlach was expelled. He was only able to return to his castle above the town after lengthy negotiations, and had to grant it far reaching freedoms. These included cessation of the lifting taxes, the town's own jurisdiction over its citizens, and freedoms relating to marriage ceremonies and housing. A jury from the city of Frankfurt was to adjudicate between the house of Limburg and the town. After his return, Gerlach had the castle of Limburg renovated; the residential tower built by him still stands.
To secure his position Gerlach sought out dynastic links with neighbouring rulers, including Nassau, Westerburg and Diez. About 1267 his daughter Agnes married Heinrich I, Herr von Westerburg. About 1270 his daughter Imagina married Graf Adolf von Nassau, the future King of the Germans. In 1287 Gerlach was appointed by Adolf as administrator of the imperial castle of Kalsmunt near Wetzlar. On 5 June 1288 Gerlach fought in the Battle of Woeringen together with Adolf von Nassau and Heinrich von Westerburg, in support of Heinrich's brother, the Cologne archbishop Siegfried von Westerburg. Their defeat in the battle had no immediate major consequences for Gerlach.
Gerlach died in January 1289 while on campaign with King Rudolf von Habsburg in the Black Forest. His son Johann I took over the rule in Limburg.
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