Counts · Bishopric of Hildesheim · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Wohldenberg

The counts of Wöltingerode-Wohldenberg sided with Barbarossa against Henry the Lion, who destroyed their castle in 1180; they rebuilt it and their power grew.

From Wohldenberg they hold the northern entry to the Ambergau on the Innerste between Hildesheim and the Harz, and the family nunnery of Wöltingerode near Goslar. Count in 1200 and side not pinned; their anti-Welf past points to Philip's camp. A daughter of the house, Mechthild I, has been abbess of Gandersheim since 1196 (to 1223).

Who he is

Name
not pinned for 1200 (Ludolf II, Hoger and Burchard founded Wöltingerode monastery in 1174)
Title
Counts of Wohldenberg (Woldenberg; 'Waldeberch' in 1172)
Since
not pinned
Born
not pinned
Family
The counts of Wöltingerode, who built Wohldenberg between 1153 and 1160 and moved their seat there after giving their old castle at Wöltingerode to a nunnery (1174)
Confidence
low

de.wikipedia (Burg Wohldenberg). 'Woldenberg' and 'Wohldenberg' in the assignment are one family and one castle, spelled two ways.

Overlord

Hildesheim fiefs and their own county rights at the entry to the Ambergau (not pinned in detail).

What it holds

  • Wohldenberg castle (rebuilt after 1180)
  • Wöltingerode nunnery (family foundation, 1174)
  • County rights at the entry to the Ambergau
  • Family influence at Gandersheim through Abbess Mechthild I (1196-1223)

How it was acquired

Inherited.

Allies and rivals

Enemies of Henry the Lion in 1180; neighbours of Hildesheim and Goslar.

How things stand that morning

Hold Wohldenberg; side not pinned. The ADB says most of the great men of Saxony gathered round Philip at Magdeburg at Christmas 1199; whether this house was among them is not pinned.

Wealth

The Innerste valley and the Ambergau.

Military

Wohldenberg castle. No figures.

Places of note

  • Wöltingerode nunnery: Family foundation of 1174

Where the sources disagree

  • The assignment lists 'Wohldenberg and Woldenberg' as two counts; they are one family (spellings of the same castle).

Evidence: Castle history only.

On the map: Realm hildesheim follows the ground of their Hildesheim fiefs.

Sources and studies

  1. Burg Wohldenberg, de.wikipedia
  2. Liste der Äbtissinnen von Gandersheim, de.wikipedia
  3. Otto IV.: NDB and ADB, via Deutsche Biographie

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.