Ludwig II, Landgrave of Thuringia, nicknamed Louis the Iron. He was born in 1128, as the son of Louis I, who in 1131 became the first Landgrave of Thuringia, and his wife, Hedwig of Gudensberg.
Ludwig II was engaged with Judith, who was a niece of Conrad III and a half-sister of his successor Frederick Barbarossa. He married Judith in 1150, and a year later his son and successor Louis III was born.
During Louis II's reign, the population of Thuringia was frequently bullied and harassed by the nobility. Louis began to intervene against these practises, earning him his nickname "Louis the Iron".
According to a legend, which was recorded by Johannes Rothe in 1421, Louis II was travelling anonymously and one night, he found shelter in smithy in Ruhla. The blacksmith told him about his plight and cursed the nobility and finally shouted: Landgrave, take a stance!. These words spurred Louis into action against the robber barons. According to the legend, after the offenders had been arrested, they were harnased to a plow and forced to plow a field.
In 1170, Frederick Barbarossa and Louis undertook an expedition against Poland. After Louis's return, he fell ill and hed died on October 14, 1172. Like almost all Thuringian Landgraves, he was buried in the monastery in Reinhardsbrunn. Tomb stones for members of the family were transferred to the St. George church in Eisenach when the monastery was demolished.
Children of Ludwig and Judith of Hohenstaufen
Louis III "the Mild" (1151–1190), his successor
Henry Raspe III (c. 1155 – 18 July 1217), Count of Gudensberg
Frederick (c. 1155 – 1229), Count of Ziegenhain
Herman I (c. 1155 – 1217)
Judith, married Herman II, Count of Ravensberg
Ludwig II was engaged with Judith, who was a niece of Conrad III and a half-sister of his successor Frederick Barbarossa. He married Judith in 1150, and a year later his son and successor Louis III was born.
During Louis II's reign, the population of Thuringia was frequently bullied and harassed by the nobility. Louis began to intervene against these practises, earning him his nickname "Louis the Iron".
According to a legend, which was recorded by Johannes Rothe in 1421, Louis II was travelling anonymously and one night, he found shelter in smithy in Ruhla. The blacksmith told him about his plight and cursed the nobility and finally shouted: Landgrave, take a stance!. These words spurred Louis into action against the robber barons. According to the legend, after the offenders had been arrested, they were harnased to a plow and forced to plow a field.
In 1170, Frederick Barbarossa and Louis undertook an expedition against Poland. After Louis's return, he fell ill and hed died on October 14, 1172. Like almost all Thuringian Landgraves, he was buried in the monastery in Reinhardsbrunn. Tomb stones for members of the family were transferred to the St. George church in Eisenach when the monastery was demolished.
Children of Ludwig and Judith of Hohenstaufen
Louis III "the Mild" (1151–1190), his successor
Henry Raspe III (c. 1155 – 18 July 1217), Count of Gudensberg
Frederick (c. 1155 – 1229), Count of Ziegenhain
Herman I (c. 1155 – 1217)
Judith, married Herman II, Count of Ravensberg
Ludwig II, Landgrave of Thuringia, nicknamed Louis the Iron. He was born in 1128, as the son of Louis I, who in 1131 became the first Landgrave of Thuringia, and his wife, Hedwig of Gudensberg.
Ludwig II was engaged with Judith, who was a niece of Conrad III and a half-sister of his successor Frederick Barbarossa. He married Judith in 1150, and a year later his son and successor Louis III was born.
During Louis II's reign, the population of Thuringia was frequently bullied and harassed by the nobility. Louis began to intervene against these practises, earning him his nickname "Louis the Iron".
According to a legend, which was recorded by Johannes Rothe in 1421, Louis II was travelling anonymously and one night, he found shelter in smithy in Ruhla. The blacksmith told him about his plight and cursed the nobility and finally shouted: Landgrave, take a stance!. These words spurred Louis into action against the robber barons. According to the legend, after the offenders had been arrested, they were harnased to a plow and forced to plow a field.
In 1170, Frederick Barbarossa and Louis undertook an expedition against Poland. After Louis's return, he fell ill and hed died on October 14, 1172. Like almost all Thuringian Landgraves, he was buried in the monastery in Reinhardsbrunn. Tomb stones for members of the family were transferred to the St. George church in Eisenach when the monastery was demolished.
Children of Ludwig and Judith of Hohenstaufen
Louis III "the Mild" (1151–1190), his successor
Henry Raspe III (c. 1155 – 18 July 1217), Count of Gudensberg
Frederick (c. 1155 – 1229), Count of Ziegenhain
Herman I (c. 1155 – 1217)
Judith, married Herman II, Count of Ravensberg
Ludwig II was engaged with Judith, who was a niece of Conrad III and a half-sister of his successor Frederick Barbarossa. He married Judith in 1150, and a year later his son and successor Louis III was born.
During Louis II's reign, the population of Thuringia was frequently bullied and harassed by the nobility. Louis began to intervene against these practises, earning him his nickname "Louis the Iron".
According to a legend, which was recorded by Johannes Rothe in 1421, Louis II was travelling anonymously and one night, he found shelter in smithy in Ruhla. The blacksmith told him about his plight and cursed the nobility and finally shouted: Landgrave, take a stance!. These words spurred Louis into action against the robber barons. According to the legend, after the offenders had been arrested, they were harnased to a plow and forced to plow a field.
In 1170, Frederick Barbarossa and Louis undertook an expedition against Poland. After Louis's return, he fell ill and hed died on October 14, 1172. Like almost all Thuringian Landgraves, he was buried in the monastery in Reinhardsbrunn. Tomb stones for members of the family were transferred to the St. George church in Eisenach when the monastery was demolished.
Children of Ludwig and Judith of Hohenstaufen
Louis III "the Mild" (1151–1190), his successor
Henry Raspe III (c. 1155 – 18 July 1217), Count of Gudensberg
Frederick (c. 1155 – 1229), Count of Ziegenhain
Herman I (c. 1155 – 1217)
Judith, married Herman II, Count of Ravensberg
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