From Helfenstein castle above Geislingen at the steep climb of the road from the Fils valley up the Jura (the Geislinger Steige), the Helfensteins hold the upper and middle Fils valley, lands on the Jura and round Sigmaringen on the Danube (not pinned for 1200).
Ludwig was often at Barbarossa's court, signed the Peace of Constance in 1183, went on the crusade, and probably did homage to Henry VI and to Philip.
Who he is
- Name
- Ludwig of Helfenstein (Ludwig I in de.wikipedia; whether he or a son holds on 1 January 1200 is not pinned)
- Title
- Count of Helfenstein
- Since
- Not pinned
- Family
- Some members call themselves after Spitzenberg castle near Kuchen. Gottfried of Spitzenberg, bishop of Würzburg and imperial chancellor, who died on the crusade in 1190, was of this circle (de.wikipedia does not call him a Helfenstein).
- Confidence
- low
de.wikipedia (Helfenstein (Adelsgeschlecht)).
Overlord
The duke of Swabia and the king.
What it holds
- Helfenstein castle above Geislingen
- Spitzenberg castle near Kuchen
- The upper Fils valley
- Lands round Sigmaringen (not pinned for 1200)
How it was acquired
Inheritance.
Allies and rivals
Neighbours of the Staufen house lands in the Fils valley; later heirs of the Dillingen lands round Ulm (1258).
How things stand that morning
Hold the Fils lands on 1 January 1200. Throne war: Staufen, low to medium confidence (de.wikipedia: Ludwig probably did homage to Philip).
Wealth
The road up the Geislinger Steige from the Fils valley to Ulm (traffic and protection; not pinned).
Military
Helfenstein and Spitzenberg castles.
Places of note
- Spitzenberg castle: Family castle near Kuchen.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The genealogy round 1200 is not set out in the source used.
On the map: Core only; Sigmaringen not drawn.
Primary sources for Staufen
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.
- Annals of Marbach (compiled to 1238, the section on 1198 to 1210 written in the early 13th century). Alsatian annals on the Staufen side of the Upper Rhine. Read online
- Annals of Reiner of Saint James, Liège, Reiner of Liège (1197 to 1230, kept year by year). Contemporary annals kept inside Liège. Read online
- Chronicle of Burchard of Ursberg, Burchard of Ursberg (about 1229 to 1230, reworked by Conrad of Lichtenau). Written a generation later by a fierce partisan of the Staufen and a critic of Innocent III. Read online
- Chronicle of Otto of St Blasien, Otto of St Blasien (about 1209 to 1210). A Swabian continuation of Otto of Freising written from the Staufen side. Read online
- 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
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. 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 Jarloch (Gerlach), abbot of Milevsko, Jarloch of Milevsko (about 1200 to 1220). The last Bohemian narrative before 1200, continuing Vincentius of Prague. Read online
23 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.