Lords of the castle of Heldrungen at the southern foot of the Hainleite, where the Unstrut leaves the Thuringian basin, first named with Hartmann in 1128.
Benefactors of the Cistercian abbey of Pforta (from 1208).
Who he is
- Name
- Henry (Heinrich) of Heldrungen (named 1203), with his brother Gerlach, canon of Naumburg 1196-1216; Hartung, knight, is named in 1193
- Title
- Lords (Edle Herren) of Heldrungen
- Since
- not pinned
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- An old Thuringian family described as ministerial though styled noble lords; Henry's sons are Hartmann and Theoderich (named 1208). The later grand master Hartmann of Heldrungen is born only about 1210.
- Confidence
- low
de.wikipedia Heldrungen (Adelsgeschlecht)
Overlord
Not pinned (the landgrave or the king).
What it holds
- Heldrungen castle and its villages
How it was acquired
Built by Hartmann of Heldrungen (first named 1128).
Allies and rivals
Neighbours of the Beichlingen counts and the landgrave's Weissensee.
How things stand that morning
Hold Heldrungen; allegiance not pinned.
Wealth
Unstrut meadows.
Military
Castle. No numbers.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Members named in 1193 and 1203, none on 1 January 1200.
On the map: One cell.
Primary sources for Thuringia
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Annals of Pegau; Annals of Magdeburg (12th and 13th centuries; Pegau continued to 1227). The annals of the Wettin lands and of Magdeburg. Read online
- Chronicle of the Lauterberg (Petersberg near Halle), Konrad of Lauterberg (about 1225). The house chronicle of the Wettin foundation on the Lauterberg, sharp-tongued and well informed on Saxony, Meissen and Magdeburg. Read online
- Regesta Imperii V: calendar of the acts of Philip, Otto IV and Frederick II, 1198 to 1272 (calendar of documents of 1198 to 1272, published 1881 to 1901). A dated calendar of every known act of King Philip and King Otto IV, with the acts of popes and princes that bear on the Empire. Read online
- The political songs of Walther von der Vogelweide, 1198 to 1201, Walther von der Vogelweide (about 1198 to 1201). Three stanzas of the Reichston, composed between 1198 and 1201 after Walther left Vienna, lament the disorder of the double election and call on Philip to take the crown. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.