Conrad III

Life and political setting

Conrad was the first German king of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. His reign was affected by conflict with the Welf family and other princes of the empire. He took the cross in 1146 and led a large German army east in 1147, although the expedition did not suspend the political problems of his kingdom.

Career during the Crusading era

After tensions over Byzantine provisioning, Conrad advanced into central Anatolia. Seljuk attacks and shortage of supplies broke up his army near Dorylaeum on 25 October 1147. He later reached Acre with the surviving forces and joined Louis VII and the Jerusalem leadership in the unsuccessful siege of Damascus.

Documented activity: a chronological record

On 25 October 1147, Conrad III appears in the atlas record “Defeat of the German army at Dorylaeum” at Eskişehir region. The event is documented through Odo of Deuil, Niketas Khoniates, TDV İA, ‘Haçlılar’. On 1147–1149, Conrad III appears in the atlas record “Second Crusade” at Anatolia, Levant and Iberia. The event is documented through Cambridge History of War, ‘Crusaders and settlers in the East, 1096–1291’, TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, ‘Haçlılar’, Encyclopaedia Britannica, ‘Crusades’.

On 24 June 1148, Conrad III appears in the atlas record “Council of Acre” at Palmarea / Acre. The event is documented through Norman P. Tanner, Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils, Fordham Medieval Sourcebook, Evolution of Crusader Privileges 1095–1270, Encyclopaedia Britannica, ‘Crusades’. On 24–28 July 1148, Conrad III appears in the atlas record “Siege of Damascus” at Damascus. The event is documented through Willermus Tyrensis, İbnü’l-Kalânisî, TDV İA, ‘Haçlılar’.

Allies, opponents and geographical range

Conrad III appears in the same records as I. Mesud, Louis VII, III. Baudouin, Muînüddin Üner. Co-occurrence does not always indicate alliance: the connection may involve command, dynastic rivalry, captivity, negotiation or direct conflict.

The principal geographical range represented in the atlas is Eskişehir region; Anatolia, Levant and Iberia; Palmarea / Acre; Damascus. These places record not only presence but also the supply lines, diplomatic contacts and limits of authority relevant to the biography.

Results of recorded decisions

The “Defeat of the German army at Dorylaeum” dossier records the consequences of this episode and identifies the source problems that limit a definitive reconstruction. Use this record as a starting point for comparing narrative sources, military practice, captivity, negotiation and the legal treatment of war.

The “Second Crusade” dossier records the consequences of this episode and identifies the source problems that limit a definitive reconstruction. Use this record as a starting point for comparing narrative sources, military practice, captivity, negotiation and the legal treatment of war.

The “Council of Acre” dossier records the consequences of this episode and identifies the source problems that limit a definitive reconstruction. Use this record as a starting point for comparing narrative sources, military practice, captivity, negotiation and the legal treatment of war.

The “Siege of Damascus” dossier records the consequences of this episode and identifies the source problems that limit a definitive reconstruction. Use this record as a starting point for comparing narrative sources, military practice, captivity, negotiation and the legal treatment of war.

Sources and historiography

Papal letters, conciliar canons and preaching texts record normative aims, while chronicles describe their social reception. Later versions of speeches are not verbatim minutes and should be compared through their shared provisions, date and circulation.

Names and titles vary between languages; variant spellings and titles should be searched together in catalogues and texts. Approximate dates remain marked as such, and later literary or visual fame is separated from contemporary testimony.