City · Other imperial lands · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Worms

An old royal and episcopal city on the Rhine whose burghers have been the Salian and Staufen kings' allies since they sided with Henry IV in 1073-1074.

Barbarossa's privilege of 1184 gave them wide freedoms, the basis of their later status as a free city, and their oldest surviving seal dates from 1198. The bishop and the council are already quarrelling over who rules the city. Worms has one of the great Jewish communities of the Rhine, with its synagogue (1034, rebuilt later in the 12th century), its ritual bath (1185/86) and its cemetery, the Holy Sand.

Philip issued his first royal charter here on 27 June 1198 and made his alliance with Philip Augustus about 29 June 1198.

Who holds it

Name
Lupold of Schoenfeld
Title
Bishop of Worms, lord of the city (a Church map record)
Since
1196
Confidence
high

Church map record; de.wikipedia Geschichte der Stadt Worms; the Cologne study for 1199

Lord in 1200

Bishop Lupold of Schoenfeld, a fighting Staufen bishop; the count palatine (Henry, Otto's brother) is advocate of the church of Worms. The bishop's officers in the city are not named in the sources consulted.

How things stand that morning

Staufen: the bishop is Philip's man and the city has been a Staufen base since 1198. In 1199 Lupold was at feud with Count Frederick (Emich) of Leiningen, a Welf partisan, and Werner of Bolanden.

Charter

Henry IV's privilege of 18 January 1074 freeing the men of Worms from tolls at royal toll stations; Barbarossa's privilege of 1184 granting extensive freedoms; oldest city seal 1198.

Council

A city council forming since the 12th century, in dispute with the bishop over who rules; its composition in 1200 not pinned.

Communities

The Jews of Worms (synagogue consecrated 1034, new building later in the 12th century, ritual bath 1185/86, the Holy Sand cemetery); the cathedral chapter and the collegiate churches.

Militia

The burghers armed for Henry IV in 1073; their force in 1200 not pinned.

Walls and castle

City walls (dates of the circuit in 1200 not pinned); the bishop's palace by the cathedral.

Trade and crafts

Rhine trade and wine; toll-free trade at royal tolls since 1074.

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. Late 1200, after Conrad's death on 25 or 27 October (the day of the election is not pinned)After Conrad of Mainz's death the Staufen majority of the chapter elects Bishop Lupold to Mainz, while a minority at Bingen elects Siegfried of Eppstein for Otto; Lupold keeps Worms as well.Depends on: Conrad's death and Philip's support Stopped by: A papal veto in time, or Lupold's death

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Privileges, seal and the Jewish community are well attested; the council's form in 1200 is not.

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.

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

Sources and studies

  1. Geschichte der Stadt Worms (de.wikipedia)
  2. Philipp von Schwaben (de.wikipedia), for 27 and 29 June 1198
  3. Study of Archbishop Adolf of Cologne's politics 1198-1202 (University of Duesseldorf digital library)
  4. Siegfried II. von Eppstein, de.wikipedia

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