Elder Welfs

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For the Younger House of Welf, see Welf

The Elder House of Welf was a dynasty of European rulers in the 9th through 11th centuries. It consisted of two groups, a Burgundian group and a Swabian group. It is disputed whether the two groups formed one dynasty or whether they shared the same name by coincidence only.

The older of the two groups was the Burgundian group. Its oldest known member was Welf, who was mentioned in 819 as father of Judith (not to be confused with Welf I of the Swabian group). His great-grandson Rudolph became king of Burgundy in 888. The last member of the Burgundian group was King Rudolph III of Burgundy, who died childless in 1032.

The oldest known member of the Swabian group was Welf I, a count in Swabia who was first mentioned in 842. According to legend, Welf I was a son of Conrad, son of Welf, the ancestor of the Burgundian group. This relationship is considered probable because both Conrad and Welf I were counts of Linzgau and Alpgau. The relationship between Welf I and all later members of the Swabian group (Welf, Duke of Carinthia, and his relatives, who were counts of Altdorf) is, again, known only through legend.

The Elder House of Welf became extinct when Welf, Duke of Carinthia, died childless in 1055. The property of the House of Welf was inherited by the elder branch of the House of Este that came to be known as the younger House of Welf, or House of Welf-Este.

[edit] Notable members of the Burgundian group

[edit] Notable members of the Swabian group

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