Franconia was one of the five tribal duchies which made up Germany during the tenth century. But unlike the
others Franconia did not evolve into a stable political entity. The first to get the title was Konrad (the old) von Wetterau
in 906, who died in battle at Fritzler, and gave it to his son Konrad(the Younger) von Wetterau and was the first duke to
be elected to king of Germany in 911 and was succeeded in Franconia by his brother Eberhard von Wetterau, who
died 939 when he revolted against another German king. This king did not appoint a new duke of Franconia, instead the central
German region of Franconia was fragmented into several counties and bishoprics, which were subordinated to the German kings
directly. In the western part of Franconia (Rheinfranken) were there several counties that belonged to the Salian dynasty.
Its members were sometimes mentioned as dukes of Franconia and they became Germany's royal dynasty 1024. Their Franconian
territories were 1093 granted as a fief to the palatine count of Aachen, which would evolve into the important German principality
of Electoral Palatinate (Kurpfalz).
In eastern Franconia (Ostfranken) was the prince bishopric of Würzburg the most influential state. It was
in an effort to curve the clerical influence in that region emperor Heinrich IV granted his future son in law Friedrich of
Hohenstaufen the duchy of Ostfranken 1079. But this duchy was later dissolved and once again was the prince bishopric of Würzburg
the leading state in eastern Franconia and these bishops also held the title duke of Franconia 1442-1802. During the Thirty
Years War was their territory occupied by the Swedes who installed the commander Bernhard of Weimar as regent 1633 with the
title duke of Franconia. But the prince bishop of Würzburg was restored after the battle at Nördlingen 1634.
Duchy of Franconia
The duchy was dissolved after the death of Konrad II 1196
