Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor

Conrad II (c.990-1039), the son of count Henry of Speyer,became king of Germany in 1024 and was crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1027, the first member of the Salian dynasty to hold that position.

Conrad grew up poor by the standards of the nobility and was raised by the bishop of Worms and was reputed to be prudent and firm out of consciousness of deprivation. In 1016 he married Gisela of Swabia, a widowed duchess. Both parties claimed descent from Charlemagne and were known to be related in the recent past. Strict canonists took exception to the marriage and the emperor Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor used their findings to force Conrad into temporary exile. They were eventually reconciled and upon Henry's death in 1024 was elected by the majority of the electoral assembly of princes at Kamba in the Rhineland, and was crowned king in Mainz on September 8, 1024.

The Italian bishops paid homage at Conrad's court in Constance in June 1025, but lay princes sought to elect William III (V), Duke of Aquitaine, as king instead. However early in 1026 Conrad went to Milan, where archbishop Ariberto crowned him king of Italy. After overcoming some opposition from the cities Conrad reached Rome, where Pope John XIX crowned him emperor on Easter Sunday, 1027.

He formally confirmed the popular legal traditions of Saxony and issued new constitutions for Lombardy. In 1028 at Aachen he had his son Henry elected and anointed king of Germany. Henry married Cunigunde or Gunhilda, daughter of King Canute the Great of England, Denmark Sweden,Norway. Henry became chief counsellor of his father.

Conrad campaigned against Poland in 1028 and forced Mieszko II, son and heir of Boleslaus I, to make peace and return land that Boleslaw I had conquered from the empire during Henry II's reign. At the death of Henry II the bold and rebellious Duke of Poland Mieszko II had tried to throw off vassalage, but then submitted and swore to be emperor Conrad's faithful vassal.

When King Rudolph of Burgundy died in 1032, he left his kingdom to Conrad. Despite some opposition, the Burgundian lords paid homage to Conrad in Zurich in 1034. This kingdom of Burgundy included Switzerland. It did not include the Duchy of Burgundy. That belonged at that time to the French King.

Conrad upheld the rights of the valvassores (knights and burghers of the cities) of Italy against archbishop Aribert of Milan and the princes. The princes as vassal lords and the bishop had conspired to rescind rights from the burghers. With diplomacy and luck Conrad restored order. He went on to southern Italy, to Salerno and Anversa and appointed Richer from Germany as abbot of Monte Cassino.

During the return trip to Germany an epidemic broke out amongs the troops. Conrad's daughter-in-law and stepson died. Conrad himself returned safely and held several important courts in Solothurn, Strasbourg and in Goslar. His son Henry was invested with the kingdom of Burgundy.