00:00:00: On the fifth June of twelve eighty-eight, The Battle Of Warrington took place.

00:00:05: It was the climax of the Limburg War of Succession which we examined in a previous episode.

00:00:24: Modern national borders disappear and even blur, other powerblocks emerge that have long since passed into history.

00:00:38: From our present day perspective it would be a chaotic mosaic of dominions hardly anyone is familiar with today anymore.

00:00:45: That was precisely the situation here in the Rhineland at end of high middle ages.

00:00:50: It's time we shed some light on this.

00:00:54: The years.

00:00:54: as I said On the Warringan Plain, north of Cologne two mighty armies face each other.

00:01:23: Today I'll introduce you to the key figures who challenged heaven and earth back there.

00:01:28: Many of their realms have vanished from the map, And are often forgotten by general public or not widely known anymore.

00:01:35: So let's take a look at Who the key players were in battle?

00:01:38: On one side The Archbishop of Cologne, Geldan & Luxembourg Against Brabant Berg, City Of Cologne Bülish & Marc Never heard some of these regions or principalities No problem.

00:01:51: That's why I am here.

00:01:56: And please pray for me, this will be a very complicated episode and I did really my best to present it in an easier way.

00:02:33: Let's begin!

00:02:54: and as such trained in the art of war.

00:03:00: from childhood he would personally take part in a battle at Worringen, swinging his sword in lance.

00:03:07: Archbishop of Cologne since twelve.

00:03:08: seventy-five was power hungry politician following in footsteps of his predecessors such as Conrad von Hochstaden and Engelbert von Falkenburg to realize division over unified territories stretching from the Rhineland deep into Westphalia.

00:03:25: but there was unrest within this domain.

00:03:27: The citizens of Cologne had enough of his tolls and lust for power.

00:03:32: Worringen Castle in particular, an arch-episcopal custom fortress was a thorn on their side – they called it A Den Of Thieves.

00:03:41: that was stifling the trade And quite few vassals who were actually subject to the Archbishop of Cologne used the Limburg War of Succession as opportunity to claim more freedoms against him at the expense of secular power.

00:03:58: This development did not go unnoticed by Arkbishop, following the death of local ruler Siegfried van Westerwok had marched into neighbouring Jullich to annex the county.

00:04:08: Other vessels continued their policy breaking away from his suzerainty.

00:04:15: leading in this conflict were the Count of Berg and the Count.

00:04:24: So you see, contrary to what is often portrayed in popular culture the Limbo-Gwarf succession was not a battle between good and evil.

00:04:31: It was simply struggle for power.

00:04:34: The archbishop's motives were clear To retain the supremacy of the Cologne church which had been gradually built up over centuries.

00:04:45: Let us move on an ally of the Archbishop of Cologne from Cologne, and far in today's Northern Westphalia.

00:05:00: One of the triggers for the Limburg-Wolf succession was that with the death of the last male lion Duke of Limburg – the Count of Geldern named Reinhardt now laid claim to the title through his marriage to Irmgard ,the daughter & only child of the Last Duke of Limburg .

00:05:18: But where exactly was Geldern?

00:05:20: And what did the territory?

00:05:21: The history of the county of Gelden does not begin in Gelden itself, a small town today near the Dutch border but in Wassenberg and even smaller town – eighty-five kilometers west of Cologne also at present day Dutch border.

00:05:37: In the district of Heinsberg.

00:05:39: around year ten twenty the Bravers Gerad and Rutger Flemens settled there under the protection of Emperor Henry II and were grounded lands and rights.

00:05:49: that was beginning.

00:05:52: It was not until the eleventh and twelfth century that their descendants began to refer themselves as the Counts of Gelden in reference to their holdings around the town of Geldan, which they had acquired in the meantime alongside Wassenberg.

00:06:06: Over generations their influence grew through shrewd politics and marriages until they rose to become one of the most significant powers on the lower Rhine in the thirteenth century.

00:06:16: Wassenberg and Geldan – those two cities and castles remained their core territories and in between there were many scattered holdings.

00:06:24: However, there was no single contiguous territory belonging to the Counts of Geldan which is typical of the Middle Ages – modern nation states with contiguous territories simply did not exist

00:06:36: yet.".

00:06:37: In twelve seventy-one young Reinhardt I of Gelden became a new count of Geldan as he wasn't still age but initially referred to him as a noble young man.

00:06:48: Yet Reinhart had great plans!

00:06:50: From his estates in Gelda, and his gaze turned southwards.

00:06:54: He consolidated this rule of what is now Gourmand's in the Netherlands as strategically important hub for trade – thus a significant source.

00:07:07: The decisive turning point for Geldan came three years after Reinhardt took office as Count in twelve seventy-four.

00:07:14: As already mentioned, Reinhards married Irmgard of Limburg the only daughter indeed –the only child–of Duke Weirham of Limborg.

00:07:22: a truly excellent match for Reinhart one that could catapult his county and thus himself into the highest echelons Because when Weyram of Limburg died in twelve seventy-nine, Reinhardt and Irmgard jointly starved themselves now Counts and Countess of Gederland as well as Duke & Duchess of Limbourg.

00:07:47: Jackpot right?

00:07:49: Reinhart had gambled and won Limburg!

00:07:53: But his luck was not to last.

00:07:55: In July twelve eighty three Irmgaert of Limborg His wife died leaving no heir.

00:08:02: Suddenly, the succession to the Duchy of Limburg was wide open again as Irmgard's widower Reinhardt continued to lay claim to the duchy but he no longer alone in his claim.

00:08:13: Adolf von Berg also laid claims on the inheritance and promptly sold his rights for the powerful Duke of John of Brabant.

00:08:23: We will return to the accounts of Berg.

00:08:29: We had already covered the course of the Limburger of succession up to twelve eighty eight.

00:08:34: in a last episode.

00:08:36: Unable to defeat the opposing camp led by Brabant and Berg, and assert his claim to the Duchy of Limburg Reinhardt sells His claims to the rising house of Luxembourg who hope this will help them gain a foothold here In The Rhineland as well.

00:08:51: And To round off one set Of the conflict let us continue straight away with the Luxemburgs.

00:08:56: Our Luxemburg One likes to think of Echternach, free public transport and the charm one of Europe's smallest countries.

00:09:06: But we're not talking here about a modern little country in Luxembourg but about the family – the dynasty!

00:09:13: It was just really on their rise… And it would still be long way from heights they reached for example in the fourteenth century when members of the House of Luxemburg could even become emperor Far beyond Luxembourg's present-day borders, it would go on to write European history.

00:09:32: In the late thirteenth century The Luxemburgs were still an up and coming dynasty between the Meuse and Moselle River.

00:09:39: Under Count Henry VI And his brother Weyram.

00:09:44: Please not be confused with the late Weyrem of Limburg.

00:09:47: Why do they all have same names those normal men in middle ages?

00:09:51: The Luxenbergs gaze was turned northwards.

00:09:55: The house was bound to the fate of the lower Rhine through the closest of family ties, because their grandmother was Hermes Sindorf Luxemburg whose descendants also ruled in the Duchy of Limburg.

00:10:07: This kinship now became a key to an expansion or power.

00:10:11: to try that.

00:10:13: For the Limburg War of Succession which had been shaking the north-western region from the empires since twelve eighty three entered a decisive phase.

00:10:21: on May.

00:10:21: twelve eighty eight Reinhardt of Geldern, who regarded himself as the rightful heir to Limburg was financially ruined and military-concerned.

00:10:30: Or cornered.

00:10:31: better said!

00:10:32: In this desperate situation he turned to the Luxembourg's.

00:10:36: A spectacular deal struck between Geldern & Luxemburg.

00:10:39: Reinhart of Geldernt sells his claims to the Duchy of Limburg To Henry VI of Luxembourg And his brother Wael Ramm For their staggering sum Of forty thousand brabant pennies.

00:10:51: for the Luxenburgers This is an opportunity to massively expand the territory.

00:10:56: And actually, The question that occurs for me How much are forty thousand Brabant pennies?

00:11:02: Forty-thousand brand marks and pennies?

00:11:06: If a mark was unit of weight back then A cologne mark which served as standard in region Was approximately two hundred thirty three grams.

00:11:16: That makes forty thousand marks a weight and pennies were minted from silver.

00:11:26: And here the fineness of the silver is what matters, though at today's Silver prize which ranges from ninety cents to two point twenty euros depending on the finest fineness that could amount.

00:11:48: But before the history buffs start crying foul play, let me say that this calculation doesn't make any sense anyway because purchasing power in middle ages is something quite different from what today's consumer and industrial society with a capitalistic economic system.

00:12:04: I would therefore recommend a contemporary comparison instead.

00:12:08: Shortly afterwards The Archbishop of Cologne had to pay not forty thousand but twelve thousand marks on silver.

00:12:15: I won't mention yet the reasons for this to avoid spoilers.

00:12:19: That's still, though around three tons of pure silver.

00:12:24: after all he had to pay!

00:12:26: This sum of THREE TONS OF PURE SILVER burdened Siegfried von Westerburg – one of the most powerful and therefore wealthiest rules of his time to such an extent that he nearly went bankrupt.

00:12:38: To cut a long story short here, forty thousand marks or over nine tons of silver.

00:12:50: That is a lot!

00:12:51: With the purchase of Reinhard von Geldern's claim and with his sixth of Luxembourg now nominally also Duke of Limburg.

00:12:59: but to assert this claim against opposing side he needs allies.

00:13:03: He finds them in the former Aller of the Count of Geldern namely The Archbishop Cologne Siegfried von Westerburg.

00:13:09: Although the Luxemburg Positions like far from the archbishop of Cologne, the Archbishop sees the Luxemburgers as the ideal partners.

00:13:18: They are really powerful enough to stand upto their opposing side consisting of Berg and Brabant mainly but geographically The Luxembourg's too far away to jeopardize Ligfrieds own plans to become or remain the hegemonic power in the lower Rhine region.

00:13:36: In twelve eighty eight they decide to raise a joint army to force a decisive battle in the sum of twelve eighty eight.

00:13:45: So, that's situation is some of two eighty-eight this side speaking off gildan, laxenburg and the archbishop of cologne not the city of colognes.

00:13:53: thats important.

00:13:55: they form an alliance And They prepare To have a joint army around Cologne In The Sum of Twelve Eighty Eight.

00:14:04: These three now form one side in conflict.

00:14:07: They aim to secure the Duchy of Limburg for their Luxembourgers.

00:14:11: Luxemburg wants territory again, reasonable for them.

00:14:15: Geldern has made a tidy profit from selling its claims to Limburg though.

00:14:19: thus they are helping and the Archbishop of Cologne sees this alliance as best way to maintain his previous supremacy in the northwest of the empire or Luxemburgers, but I don't want to make it any more complicated here as already is.

00:14:39: These three are the main forces on this side of two conflicting parties so shall we therefore take a look at the opposing side?

00:14:52: Let's start by looking at The County Of Berg – A domain which has already dedicated several podcast episodes.

00:15:00: due its close proximity to Cologne and history that runs partly parallel.

00:15:06: The territory of the Lords of Berg lay mainly on the right bank of the Rhine of Cologne, enclosed between two large territories.

00:15:24: Conversely, this also meant that if the Archbishop of Cologne wished to travel from the Rhineland to his exclave in Westphalia he inevitably always had to pass through back territory.

00:15:39: This led to constant interplay of tensions but also cooperation between two political entities.

00:15:48: A previous high point in terms of cooperation had been Engelbert von Berg, who at the beginning of the thirteenth century was both archbishop of Cologne and count of Berg.

00:15:58: Although the territories of Cologna-Berg have not been united they were –at least under the rule–of this same person for a time

00:16:05: being.".

00:16:06: You know how the story of Engelberts from Berg ended.

00:16:09: He was brutally murdered while traveling.

00:16:14: This meant that the Berg noble dynasty had died out in a male lion.

00:16:19: The Duchy of Limburg then took over, so we have similar case here which now took place six years later who inherits a vacant territory with the death of Engelbert from Berg in twelve twenty-five and succession dispute of time came to an abrupt end.

00:16:42: and was henceforth also kind of back.

00:16:45: When this Duke died, he left his Duchy of Limburg to one son... ...and gave the county of Berg to another son.

00:16:52: This gave rise a new noble dynasty of Berg which was however of Limbourg origin.

00:16:58: I hope you're still following.

00:17:00: Whereas in twelve twenty-five The old Bergdynasty had died out And Limburg took over in Berg?

00:17:07: The situation here is now the reverse!

00:17:09: Limburg died out and the Count of Berg, out-of-the-fifth also laid claim to the now vacant duchy because he is a relative to the Limburgs.

00:17:23: Thus in my humble opinion Adolf V of Berg had a legitimate claim to Limburg's personal opinion.

00:17:31: This was particularly true from XIIIII onwards as the count of Geldern had after all produced no offspring with his Limburg wife meaning he had no legitimate heirs.

00:17:42: But what carried more legal weight now?

00:17:45: Being related by direct bloodline to the last male Limburgers as was the case with Adolf V Berg or having married a last living Limburg woman, As the count of Gerdan Reinhardt could claim for himself before his claims to Luxemburgs?

00:18:01: The answer is pointless For another side sought an illegal solution but rather a military one.

00:18:10: Let's nevertheless take virtue of their proximity and close ties to the Archbishop of Cologne.

00:18:32: as his vassals, they are a family whose roots are deeply intertwined with church and nobility.

00:18:39: This is often forgotten by laying claim to Limburg that the dynasty were thereby contradicting the wish for their liege lord – the archbishop at Cologne – that Limburg should fall to Geldan.

00:18:52: As mentioned, the house was no ordinary noble-family between The still ancient Berg family, together with its collateral lines had already produced five archbishop of Cologne among the midst.

00:19:08: This close connection to the Archdiocese of Colognes has been a foundation for their rise but at the same time it was the fuel for marked rivalry that became increasingly pronounced in thirteenth century when the Archbishop were not from the Berg Family anymore was now becoming increasingly a rebel against his own feudal lord.

00:19:32: I hope you can follow me here... In the second half of the thirteenth century, tensions escalated.

00:19:38: Adolf V of Berg ruled the county of Berg with strategic foresight for several decades from twelve fifty nine onwards that is to say almost forty years.

00:19:49: he seized every opportunity to consolidate independence because Archbishop of Cologne came and went during his reign, but out-of-the-fifth of Berg remained.

00:20:00: He was able to pursue the vision for a stronger Berg territory.

00:20:06: There had been friction between the archbishop and Berg particularly in recent times before the Battle of Warringen when king pledged that town of Kaiserswert along with its castle to the Church of Cologne.

00:20:18: in twelve seventy three alarm bells rang.

00:20:24: Kaiserswert, it is that very Kaiserschwert city or town by the set at the Rhine River where two hundred years earlier Emperor Henry IV had been abducted kidnapped as a child.

00:20:36: By The Archbishop of Cologne.

00:20:38: I know this second to Have listened to the episode again.

00:20:42: if you forgot in this story already It was Episode forty four thing.

00:20:48: But what was the problem for the kind of back-in-the situation?

00:20:52: a city, town to the Yakhbyshev of Cologne.

00:20:56: What's his problem?

00:20:57: The king was always in need for money!

00:20:59: It is perfectly normal for him –the King–to pledge his possessions including entire towns and castles….

00:21:05: …to his princes for this

00:21:06: purpose.".

00:21:07: The problem here however was that it was right on the dorsh step of estates belonging to the Count of Berk at the Rhine River.

00:21:14: Out of the fifth of Berks, Rickard immediately He granted town privileges to the city of Ratingen, which was directly adjacent to Kaiserswehr in his possession.

00:21:25: Good for the residents and good for Berk who thereby fortified their town massively!

00:21:31: And it wasn't just Ratingend that was expanded.

00:21:35: Dear people let's pause you for a moment.

00:21:38: Dear listeners The time has come.

00:21:42: after over hundred episodes I believe This City The arch nemesis of Cologne finally gets its moment of historical significance in this podcast Düsseldorf.

00:21:57: If any resident of the city is listening, please take it with a pinch.

00:22:18: That little town too.

00:22:20: Although he still has a long way to go there, the Little Village on the Rhine is exactly that just A LITTLE VILLAGE ON THE RINE!

00:22:27: Not the big city it's today... But The Back Dynasty and Archdiocese of Cologne had also clashed elsewhere in recent time.

00:22:36: You'd already heard about this in the relevant podcast episode back then.

00:22:40: Arkbishop Engelbert II died in twelve seventy-four.

00:22:43: The Cologne Cafeteria chapter duly elected a new arkbishop.

00:22:47: The choice fell on the provost of the cathedral named Konrad von Berg.

00:22:53: And according to his name you might guess where he came from, Conrad van Berg who must have been in his early twenties.

00:23:00: at that time celebrated a huge success for the noble dynasty which was once again secured.

00:23:07: a Cologne bishopric back would be in charge.

00:23:15: Siegfried von Westerburg, who had received just a single vote in the bishop's election himself wrote personally to The Pope and showed that the Cepheus' election was annulled.

00:23:28: And he himself – i.e.

00:23:29: Siegfridt – appointed the new Archbishop of Cologne by the head of the Catholic Church.

00:23:34: What is setback for the Berg cause?

00:23:37: Conrad von Berg, the brother of the Count of Berg did not become Archbishop of Cologne despite having won the election in the Cologne Cathedral chapter.

00:23:46: So let us be clear there was a massive crisis between the county of Berg and the archdiocese of Cologne.

00:23:53: Berg found itself surrounded on almost all fronts by arch-episcopal estates even more so that there were few of the colognes' church's recent drive for expansion.

00:24:04: as seen here In the Limburg succession dispute, the Archbishop of Cologne sided with Gerdan rather than Berk.

00:24:14: That alone can be considered a main reason for hostility that would rise in the Battle of Warrior.

00:24:21: Yet the bishop's election of twelve seventy four also shows this was not merely matter-of-power politics alone.

00:24:28: personal animosities were at play and there scores to be settled.

00:24:33: Siegfried Westerburg had snatched away Archbishop Rick from Berg, after all.

00:24:39: But out of the fifth would not have reigned for forty years had he known full well that he and his forces were too weak to take a field against the archbishop of Cologne on their own.

00:24:51: Right at the start of this conflict made the very same move that Gildan would make Out of the Fifth sold his claim to the Duchy of Brabant.

00:25:02: What on earth is brabant?

00:25:04: And what claim does Duke John the First of Brabant have?

00:25:08: Short answer, none at all.

00:25:10: Whilst The Opposing House Of Luxembourg had been distantly related to the Limburgs in some way, Duke John of Brabanth has absolutely nothing to show for himself!

00:25:20: It would be like oh we don't have a mayor in Cologne anymore and the Mayor of Amsterdam should become the new mayor because he paid money.

00:25:32: Then as now it was pure power politics and Pure Power Politics, As we know will always exist.

00:25:39: Let's take a look at the Duchy of Brabant Now which We have never talked about here in this podcast before.

00:25:45: Where is It?

00:25:46: And what made it so special ?

00:25:48: And why did Brabants agree to get involved In such A long military Conflict ?

00:26:01: In The Thirteenth Century Brabante ,the Duchy Of Brabantes Was an emerging power in the Northwest of the Holy Roman Empire?

00:26:09: or was it in northeastern France?

00:26:11: For this political entity, which had by then become virtually independent wavered back and forth between the two great powers.

00:26:29: It all began in eleven or six when Emperor Henry V and Thief Count Gottfrieder bearded with the Duchy of Low Lorraine, and the Margraviate of Antwerp.

00:26:41: From this centre-in what is now Belgium an ever expanding territory developed encompassing cities such as Brussels, Antwerpe & Nivelle.

00:26:51: The year twelve sixty one marked a turning point some twenty seven years before the Battle of Worringen.

00:26:56: Brabant nearly came to end there for in twelve sixty One Duke Henry III of Brabant died, leaving his widow a ladess of Burgundi as regent for their sons who were still miners.

00:27:10: But there was a problem – the rightful heir, Henry IV of Braband, was considered mentally and physically unfit to meet demands of ruler….

00:27:19: I don't have real details on what that meant... Other dynasties had often been torn apart by such circumstances.

00:27:27: Yet in a decision, remarkable for its time, Henry IV of Brabant renounced his inheritance and trapped sixty-seven.

00:27:35: He entered the monastery whilst his younger brother ascended the throne – none other than John I of Braband who in twelve eighty three purchased the claims to Limburg from the Counts of Berg.

00:27:56: Chivalric riches, oh my what a word.

00:27:59: Under his rule which lasted until its death in twelve ninety-four Brabant experienced it's golden age.

00:28:06: but how did he achieve this?

00:28:08: from the crisis of twelve sixty one on the brink of destruction to a Golden Age?

00:28:13: whilst other princes oppressed their own cities during that period as for instance The Archbishop Of Cologne attempted to do with cologne itself John promoted trade and forged alliances with the cities within his realm.

00:28:28: Brussels, Leuven and Antwerp were great extensive riots and flourished.

00:28:33: John I pursued a shrewd policy – he recognized that his power was closely linked to prosperity of its own city.

00:28:42: In the late Middle Ages this region around Brabant would become one of the richest regions in medieval Europe.

00:28:52: The fact that Brabant entered the Limburg War of Succession in twelve eighty-three on this side of Berg thereby turning against the archbishop of Cologne was pure opportunism.

00:29:02: Because for a long time, Brabants had enjoyed truly deep friendship with Archdiocese of Colognes.

00:29:08: They supported one another and respected each other's spheres of influence.

00:29:14: But it is now a thing of the past.

00:29:16: Meanwhile John's ambitions are stronger than ever.

00:29:21: He wants to extend his territory further east.

00:29:24: also set out for the Rhineland.

00:29:30: On May, twenty-fifth of May twelve eighty eight.

00:29:55: he arrived in Brühe a town just outside of Cologne to the southwest.

00:30:00: so there we have it!

00:30:02: The coalition consisting of Geldern, Luxembourg and the Archbishop of Cologne formed a joint army.

00:30:08: now under the leadership of Berband another army south west of cologne is forming.

00:30:14: those two armies will then inevitably clash at Boringen.

00:30:20: as I said Far more rules and factions took part in the Battle of Varian, but these were most important participants.

00:30:27: However I would like to mention a few more – let's deal with those two quickly!

00:30:33: Firstly there was the Count of Julich whose domain lay directly on west of Cologne.

00:30:37: The Counts of Julich had often supported the citizens of Cologna their strike against Archbishop Of Cologne.

00:30:42: Foremost among them was Count Wilhelm IV.

00:30:45: He had even managed with the help of the citizens to capture two archbishops and hold them captive in his castle at Niding.

00:30:54: However, he personally would not take part for a shrewd strategically successful and cunning war as were on the Fourth Yulich Wars so inglorious was its end.

00:31:06: Together with few sons he was murdered by an enraged morb in Aachen when trying to collect taxes.

00:31:14: At that time Siegfried of Westerburg, of Cologne was already ruling as archbishop.

00:31:19: He exploited the power vacuum and occupied large parts.

00:31:44: Eberhardt, also found himself in the Bergbergbandkamp against the Archbishop.

00:31:49: The county of Mark had once emerged from a catted branch of Berg and had their center-of-power around Ham and its mark castle – hence the name of the noble family Mark .

00:32:00: In the immediate vicinity of the Westphalian possessions of the archbishop of Cologne ,the count of Mark naturally had an interest.

00:32:14: So is your head spinning now?

00:32:17: Yes, I believe so.

00:32:19: So many participants territories names that sound like and motors as well.

00:32:23: But there's one group One important group we still need to discuss Which also became involved in the Limbo-Gwarf succession at the very end.

00:32:33: The citizens of Cologne Listen closely.

00:32:37: the citizens of cologne not the archbishop of cologna.

00:32:39: he has been involved in that conflict for long.

00:32:42: But until twelve eighty-eight the citizens of Cologne had largely stayed out of conflict.

00:32:47: In doing so they also remained faithful to their lord, The Archbishop Of Cologne.

00:32:53: as late as twelve eighty seven They swore to Siegfried von Westerburg that they would remain neutral in this Conflict.

00:33:00: but now That the archbishop had gathered his army with the Luxembourgers near Neus and the coalition from Bergrabantnir Brüe the wealthy citizens of cologne felt compelled To act.

00:33:11: after all two large armies were virtually right on their city's doorstep, better to negotiate a little.

00:33:18: But where did the delegation of Cologne citizens turn up?

00:33:23: Not in noise with The Lord Of The City and Archbishop Siegfried von Westerbroek know they showed up in Brüle With his opponent John of Brabant –the enemy of the feudal lord And what the people of cologne decided there would change the history of the ryan land or nonsense off the entire north west of central europe.

00:33:44: but more on that in next episode.

00:33:48: Thank you for listening and as always Auf Wiedersehen!