Europe at the First Millenium in 1000
Note that Klingenbach is in the Kingdom of Hungary, just slightly east of the border of the Holy Roman Empire. The Kingdom of Hungary existed in central Europe from 1000 to 1944.
I always like to show a few women from each era. There were a few powerful women in central Europe during this time, usually as a result of a husband, father or son dying. This is Richeza, Regent of Poland after her husband's death. She lived from 996-1063.
In the Holy Roman Empire, one of every emperor's primary tasks was to secure the kingdom and its borders. To that end the eastern part of the empire was given to the Babenbergs in 976. The territory was called the "eastern mark" or "Osterreich" (German name for Austria).
The Babenbergs controlled most of Austria, including the area close to Klingenbach, and were ambitious builders. They transformed Austria into a center of medieval culture. Forests were cleared, towns and monasteries were founded, and in 1156 Vienna became the capital. Leopold V participated in the Third Crusade where he was insulted by Richard the Lionheart of England. Leopold kidnapped Richard when the English king was trying to make his way home (blog #45). The legend of the derivation of the Austrian flag comes from Leopold doffing the belt from his blood-soaked tunic after a battle during the Crusade, leaving a white slash across the middle.
Babenberg Coat of Arms
Modern Austrian flag
So the Klingenbach area straddled the border of Babenburg Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1241 the Mongols, led by Batu Khan, attacked an unsuspecting and unprepared Hungary with three armies and during the invasion killed half of Hungary's population - although 20% to 40% of the population died in epidemics (always common during wartime). The armies swept the plains and had just begun an invasion of Austria when Batu Kahn learned the Mongol Ruler, the Great Khan, had died after a drinking binge. Batu Kahn immediately withdrew his troops and returned with his armies to Asia to contend for the throne, but not before ordering the wholesale execution of prisoners. Eastern Europe, including Hungary (and presumably the Klingenbach area) lay in ruins, but Western Europe was saved by an idiot drinking too much. And people say there's no good in alcohol!
One good thing that came out of the Mongol invasion was the discovery by the locals that although the Mongols had destroyed the countrysides and villages, they had bypassed the few forts and fortified cities. During the next 200 years many stone forts were built which later saved central and western Europe from the Ottoman Turks. Now that's what I call an unintended consequence. Some historians claim the Mongols didn't want to fight in the more densely-populated German states where wetter weather affected the glue in their sinew-backed bows. So I guess that means there's some good in humidity!
Apron Dress from this time
After the Babenberg line went extinct (a lot of that in those days because of the extremely high maternal and infant death rates), the Habsburgs seized control in 1278 and maintained it for 640 years.
The Holy Roman Empire technically existed from Charlemagne's coronation in 800 to 1806, but it never really existed as a cohesive empire. It was composed of a loose confederation of sovereign states and served mainly as a front for the imperial pretensions of the Habsburgs and attepts by the papacy to exercise religious control of Europe.
Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
Orb of the Holy Roman Empire
The empire did provide some useful functions, primarily the maintenance of a measure of unity among its component states, mainly the German-speaking states of central Europe. Later emperors, all rulers of Austria, were mere figureheads.
Avignon Bridge, built by Holy Roman Emperor from 1171-1185
There's an old saying about the Habsburg plan to dominate Austria by dynastic marriage. "Others make war but thou, O happy Austria, make love!" There was no shortage of wars in Europe during the Middle Ages, but Maximillian I in 1500 had a better plan. He married his children and grandchildren into the royal houses of Europe. His big mistake - to my mind - was marrying cousins to each other, then double cousins and triple cousins, uncles and nieces, etc. I suppose it didn't occur to him that interbreeding can cause all kinds of problems. After a few generations the royal houses of Europe, primarily Austria, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Burgundy and Southern Italy, contained quite a few idiots and madmen.
There was a significant Jewish presence in Austria during the Middle Ages. They were granted rights in 1244, 1338, and 1624 and expelled in 1492 and 1669. They finally received religious freedom in the 1780s.
Europe in 1200
Note that Klingenbach still lies just to the east of the border between the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary.
The territories of medieval Hungary were second only to the Holy Roman Empire itself, and its population was the third largest in Europe. The Kingdom of Hungary consisted of present-day Hungary, Transylvania, Slovakia, Ruthenia in present-day Ukraine, Vojvodina in present-day Serbia, Burgenland in present-day Austria (where Klingenbach is located), Slavonia, Dalmatia in present-day Croatia and other smaller territories.
The first Christian king of Hungary was Stephen I who was crowned in 1000 and later canonized as a Catholic saint. This is the Holy Crown of St. Stephen, scepter and orb of Hungary. It crowned over 50 kings of Hungary.
There was a flowering of architecture during the Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire. Many cathedrals were built throughout Europe. Here is one of the most famous, the Gothic Notre Dame de Paris, built from 1163 to the 1240s.
And here is the Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, popularly and affectionately known as Stephansdom. Construction began in 1147, and renovations have continued until the present day.
Here are the types of clothes rulers wore in 1200.
These shoes were popular in 1200. Talk about your painful-looking clogs!
Europe in 1300
Notice how the Holy Roman Empire has fractured into many smaller states. England, France and Hungary have unified and increased their territories while central Europe and Italy have split into ever smaller duchies and principalities. Klingenbach is still in the Kingdom of Hungary very close to the border of the Duchy of Austria.
Here are two powerful women of the time. Their power derived from dead husbands of course. Like so many people of that area, they died young. This is Regent Queen Ryksa Elzbieta of Bohemia [present-day Czech Republic] (1288-1335).
This is Queen Regnant Marie of Hungary (1372-95).
Art continued to flourish. This is a painting of Otto IV of Brandenburg and a lady playing chess in 1320.
And of course Gothic architecture ...
This is the City Hall in Saarland, Luxembourg, France, begun in 1300.
And this is Bran Castle in Transylvania, built in the 1330s. It is the family seat of the famous Count Dracula. One can just imagine dark deeds being dastardly committed in the dungeons!
So the Middle Ages were about to evolve into the Renaissance, at least in Italy, France and England. In the Klingenbach area of central Europe, the dark clouds of war and invasion loomed.
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