Steinfurt

Who he is

Name

not pinned for 1 January 1200 (Rudolf of Steinfurt led the see of Münster's vassals on the Third Crusade in 1189)

Title

Lords (Edelherren) of Steinfurt

Since

not pinned

Born

not pinned

Family

Edelherren von Steinfurt (Stenvorde)

Confidence

low

Their castle on the Aa was first named in 1129; destroyed in 1164 in a feud with the lords of Ascheberg, it was rebuilt with the help of Archbishop Rainald of Cologne. A castle chapel was added at the end of the 12th century. Rudolf (II) of Steinfurt is named as the castle's builder and led the Münster vassals on crusade in 1189.

Overlord

Free lords; ties to Cologne (1164) and service to the bishop of Münster.

What it holds

• Steinfurt castle on the Aa and its lordship

How it was acquired

Family lands.

Allies and rivals

The bishop of Münster (served on crusade); Cologne (helped rebuild in 1164).

How things stand that morning

Holds Steinfurt; side in the throne war not pinned.

Wealth

Manors.

Military

Water castle. No numbers.

Threats

• The bishop of Münster's growing lordship
• Tecklenburg

Places of note

• Steinfurt castle: Water castle of the lords of Steinfurt.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: The castle is documented; the lord in 1200 is not pinned.

On the map: Castle district only.

Primary sources for Empire

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
• Chronicle of Hainaut, Gislebert of Mons (about 1195 to 1196). Ends in 1195, so it has no 1200 entries, but it is the indispensable background for Flanders and Hainaut: the career of Count Baldwin V of Hainaut (VIII of Flanders), his union of the two counties, the settlement with Philip over Artois, the rights, castles, fiefs and vassals of Hainaut listed by a man who ran its chancery, and the youth of Baldwin IX, who held both counties in 1200. Read online

8 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.