Conrad II, Duke of Swabia

Who was Conrad II, Duke of Swabia?

Conrad II was duke of Swabia from 1191 to his death and Duke of Rothenburg. He was the fourth son of Frederick III Barbarossa and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy, and brother of Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. He was engaged to Berengaria of Castile but died before they could be married.

In 1191, Conrad was present in Rome for the coronation of his brother, Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. He then joined the Norman campaigns in Sicily in 1191 and 1194. A chronicler described Conrad as "a man thoroughly given to adultery, fornication, defilement, and every foulness; nevertheless, he was vigorous and brave in battle and generous to his friends."

Conrad was murdered in Durlach in 1196, allegedly by the husband of a woman he had raped. Another story says that Conrad was bitten in the eye by a virgin he was attempting to rape, and that he died of the resulting infection.