Adolf von Berg-Hövel, Graf von Berg

• Son of Adolf II, count of Berg and Adelheid von Lauffen
• Note: Adolf III, Count of Berg is named Adolf I, Count of Berg in the Netherlands and in Germany.
• Count of Berg 1093 until 1132. Count of Hövel 1090 until 1106, Vogt of Werden (1080 – 12 October 1152), He founded the Cistercian Kloster Altenberg in 1133.  Vogt von Cappenberg.
• The first direct evidence of its existence comes from a document from the year 1093 for the Werden monastery. There a minor bailiff who was a boy is described as follows: "Adolfus, qui tunc temporis puer erat". In this document he is shown as underage, but a short time later he acts independently. Since the Franconian age of consent was fifteen at the time, Aldolf puer ("Adolf under age") must have been born between 1078 and 1080.
• The county of Berg was located east of the river Rhine, with Duisburg and the river Ruhr in the north, the county of Sayn to the south, and the county of Mark to the east. The first known ancestor of the family, Adolf [I] Graf von Berg, is named “Adulfus de Huvili” by the Annalista Saxo when recording his marriage (see below). It is unclear whether Adolf held this property himself or through his wife. Secondary sources name Bernhard von Werl (Adolf’s wife’s maternal grandfather) as Graf von Hövel, although the primary source which provides the basis for this information has not been identified. According to other secondary sources, the castle of Hövel (now destroyed) was located near the present-day town of Hamm on the north-eastern outskirts of Dortmund.

Project MedLands, FRANCONIA, LOWER, RHINE

ADOLF [I] von Hövel [Huvili], son of --- (-[31 Jul] 1106). He is named “Adulfus de Huvili” by the Annalista Saxo when recording his marriage with “Bernardus comes...[filiam] Idam” and "Heinricus de castro...Loufe...filiam...Adelheidam"[101]. "Adolfus advocatus de Monte, Gerlach de Wikerothe..." witnessed the charter dated 1068 under which Anno Archbishop of Köln which confirmed the exclusive right of Werden abbey to "decimas...in Westphalica seu Ostphalica quod alio nomine...Aengarica..."[102]. "Arnoldi comitis, Gerhardi comitis, Adolfi comitis…" signed the charter dated 23 May 1072 under which Anno Archbishop of Köln donated property to Kloster St Martin, Köln[103]. Anno Archbishop of Köln divided the church of Neutz St. Qurin, founded by "Euerhardus comes Clivensis et matrona nobilis Berta comitissa uxor sua" between the church and the archbishopric by charter dated 27 Sep 1074, witnessed by "...Adolphus de Monte"[104]. "Arnoldi comitis, Gerhardi comitis, Adolfi comitis…" signed the charter dated 18 Aug 1075 under which Anno Archbishop of Köln donated property to Kloster St Martin, Köln[105]. Sigewin Archbishop of Köln confirmed donations to Kloster Rees, where her parents were buried, made by "Irmengarda…comitissa" by charter dated to [1079/89], witnessed by "…Adelbrat comes, Adolph de Monte, Gerhart de Gulecho, De Saphenberch Adelbrecht, Hesse comes…"[106]. [Sigewin Archbishop of Köln donated property to Köln St Georg by charter dated to [1079/89], witnessed by "…Adolf et filius suus Euerhard…"[107]. It appears likely that these names refer to Adolf [I] [von Berg] and his son.] "Laici: Gerhart de Hostade, Adolph de Berge...” witnessed the charter dated 18 Feb/4 Mar 1080 under which Sigewin Archbishop of Köln donated property to St. Cunibert[108]. Hermann [III] Archbishop of Köln settled the dispute between Kloster Brauweiler and Köln St Maria by charter dated 1090, witnessed by "…Stephanus comes, Gerhardus de Hostade, Arnoldi prefectus urbis, Adelbertus de Safinberg, Adolfus de Monte, Adelbero de Duno…"[109]. "Adolfus de Monte" granted privileges to Köln Cathedral by charter dated to [1100], witnessed by "…Comes Arnoldus Tuicensis…"[110]. Graf von Berg 1101/05. "Adulfus de Huvili" is named as first husband of Adelheid in the Annalista Saxo, which names his sons "Adulfum iuniorem et fratres eius"[111].
married as her first husband, ADELHEID von Laufen, daughter of HEINRICH Graf von Laufen & his wife Ida von Werl. The Annalista Saxo records that “Bernardus comes...[filiam] Idam” and "Heinricus de castro...Loufe...filiam...Adelheidam" married “Adulfus de Huvili”, and after he died, “comes palatinus Fridericus de Sumersenburch”, and names her children by each marriage[112]. She married secondly Friedrich von Sommerschenburg Pfalzgraf in Sachsen.

Adolf [I] & his wife had [four] children:

• 1. ADOLF [II] (-12 Oct after 1160, bur Altenberg). "Adulfus iunioremi" is named, and his parentage given, in the Annalista Saxo[113]. Vogt von Werden: Otto Abbot of Werden confirmed the donation made by "vir nobilis...Thuringus postquam filium suum...unicum...in bello contra Fresones perdidit...et uxori sue...Beynguir...et filie...Bertrade" by charter dated 1093 at “Mulenheim in placito Bernheri comitis” by “comite de Cleue Thiderico vice advocati ecclesie nostra Adolphi qui tunc temporis puer erat”, witnessed by "Comes Thidericus...Conradus de Mulenheym et fratres eius Wedgerus et Lambertus..."[114]. Graf von Berg. "Liberi: Tiedrich comes de Ara, Gerart de Guileche, Gerart de Blanchinheim, Gerard de Hohstade, Adolf comes de Saphinberk, Adolf de Berge, Engelbreit de Kente..." witnessed the charter dated 1115 under which Friedrich Archbishop of Köln confirmed revenue and tolls to Münstereisel[115]. Lüdbert Abbot of Werden and "domnum Thuringum" confirmed “precarii nostri in Dale” to Werden by charter dated 1115, witnessed by “Adolfus advocatus noster...Euerhardus frater eius, Bernherus comes...”[116]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln donated property to Kloster Siegburg by charter dated 1116 witnessed by "Franco burgicomes, comes Fridericus de Arnesberg, comes Adolfus de Monte, Theodericus de Gladbach, Arnulfus de Odenkirche…"[117]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln confirmed donations to Kloster Siegburg by charter dated 29 Mar 1117 witnessed by "Comes Fridericus de Arnesburg, Comes Adolfus de Monte, Comes Adolfus de Saphfenberg, Comes Gerhardus de Iuliaco, Theodericus de Gladebach et Edelgerus frater eius…"[118]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln confirmed the dismissal of "comes Gerhardus et frater eius Heinricus" from the Vogteischaft of Kloster Siegburg by charter dated 5 Apr 1118 witnessed by "Comes Gerhardus et frater eius Heinricus, Comes Adolfus de Monte, Comes Adolfus de Saphenberg, Comes Gerhardus de Iuliaco, Gerhardus iunior filius Gerhardi, Gerhardus de Caesle, Arnulfus de Odenkirche"[119]. Vogt von Dunwald: Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln confirmed donations to Kloster Dunwald and shared the Vogteischaft with "comitis Adolphi" by charter dated 1118 witnessed by "Adolfus comes de Monte et frater eius Euerhardus, Gerardus comes de Wassenberg [%E2%80%A6et filius eius Gerardus], Theodericus comes de Thonburch, Theodericus comes de Ara, domnus Goswinus de Hennesberg et frater eius Gerardus…Gerardus de Wyckerode…"[120]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln donated Kloster Rolandswerth on an island in the river Rhine to Kloster Siegburg by charter dated 1 Aug 1126 witnessed by "Tiedericus comes de Are, Adolfus comes de Berge, Adolfus comes de Safenberg, Arnoldus comes de Cleue, Cunradus comes de Bunna, Gerardus comes de Iuleche et filius eius Gerardus, Gerardus comes de Hostade…"[121]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln confirmed a donation to Kloster Siegburg by charter dated 1129 witnessed by "…Liberi. Paganus dux, Franco burgicomes, Gerhardus comes de Gelre, Adolfus comes de Monte, Adolfus comes de Saffenberg…"[122]. He founded the Cistercian Kloster Altenberg in 1133. Wolbero Abbot of Köln St. Pantaleon restored "subadvocat[um] in villa nostra Huttorp", removed from “subadvocatus...Gumpertus cum matre sua Gerdrude”, to “comite Adolpho” by charter dated to [1151/53], witnessed by “ipse comes Adolphus, filius eius Euerhardus...”[123]. "Adolfus comes de Monte" confirmed a donation to Köln St Pancraz by charter dated 1160 witnessed by "meus filius…Engilbertus…"[124]. Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka records that “Adulphus...comes de Altena” founded “cenobium Montis Veteris” and was buried there[125]. A memorial in Altenburg records the death “IV Id Oct” 1152 of “Adolphus ex comite monachus et fundator hujus cœnobii”[126], although if the 1160 charter is correctly dated the year is incorrect. married firstly ([before 1115]) ADELHEID, daughter of [GOTTFRIED [I] Graf von Cappenberg] & his wife Beatrix von Hildrizhausen]. Adelheid is shown in Europäische Stammtafeln[127] as the daughter of Gottfried [I] Graf von Cappenberg and his wife Beatrix von Hildrizhausen. However, another table[128] shows Adelheid as the daughter of Beatrix by her second husband Heinrich Graf von Rietberg. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. It is not therefore possible at this moment to judge which version is more likely to be correct. The answer may lie in the transmisison of the advocatiam of Werden abbey, previously held by Gottfried Graf von Cappenberg and which the following charter was transmitted to Adolf [II] Graf von Berg: Lüdbert Abbot of Werden and "domnum Thuringum" confirmed “precarii nostri in Dale” to Werden by charter dated 1115, witnessed by “Adolfus advocatus noster...Euerhardus frater eius, Bernherus comes...”[129]. It appears probable therefore that Adelheid was the daughter of Graf Gottfried [I] and that the advocatiam of Werden was her dowry. If that is correct, Adelheid presumably married before the date of this charter. It should be noted that Adolf was recorded as Vogt of Werden in 1093 when he was still a boy (see above), which suggests that arrnagements for the marriage were made when the parties were children. married secondly in [1130] [--- von Sponheim, daughter of ENGELBERT [II] von Sponheim Marchese of Istria, Duke of Carinthia & his wife Uta von Passau [Ratpotonen]]. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "comitissa Mathildis Campaniensis et uxor Renaldi comitis Nivernensis et comitissa Montis Veteris iuxta Coloniam et mater illorum Romanorum qui Froiepain dicuntur" as sisters of "archiepiscopi Coloniensis Frederici"[130]. In the case of the two sisters named first, other sources confirm that they were daughters of Engelbert Marchese of Istria, Duke of Carinthia. It is possible therefore that the other two named sisters (of which the countess of Berg was one) were also Engelbert’s daughters. Ascertaining the precise family relationship between all four presumed sisters and Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln depends on interpreting apparently contradictory sources which link the archbishop with the Sponheim and Schwarzenberg/Regensberg families, a problem which is discussed in detail in the document BAVARIA NOBILITY. Europäische Stammtafeln indicates that Adolf [II]’s second wife was the daughter of Engelbert, son of Berthold [I] [von Schwarzenberg][131]. No primary source has been identified which confirms that this is correct: it is presumably consistent with another theory about the origin of Archbishop Friedrich.

Adolf [II] & his [first/second] wife had one child:

• a) ADOLF ([after 1128/30]-killed in battle Damascus [24/28] Jul 1148). The Chronica regia Pantaleonis records that, during the course of Louis VII King of France’s crusade in 1148, “Adolfus fortissimus adolescens, filius Adolfi comitis de Berge” was killed in battle at Damascus as the army was travelling southwards through Syria[132]. The term “adolescens” suggests that Adolf could have been 15/20 years old. If that is correct, he might have been born from either marriage of his father. His name suggests that he was his father’s oldest son. The date of his death can be estimated more precisely from the early 14th century Kurdish historian Abu al-Feda who dates the start of the siege of Damascus to “le 6 de rebia premier” [25 Jul 1148][133].
  

Adolf [II] & his second wife had five children:

• b) EBERHARD von Berg (-23 Jan 1180, bur Altenberg). Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka names “Fredericum et Brunonem qui in Colonia promoti archiepiscopi...extiterunt...et Everhardum et Engelbertum” as the sons of “Adulphus comes”[134]. Wolbero Abbot of Köln St. Pantaleon restored "subadvocat[um] in villa nostra Huttorp", removed from “subadvocatus...Gumpertus cum matre sua Gerdrude”, to “comite Adolpho” by charter dated to [1151/53], witnessed by “ipse comes Adolphus, filius eius Euerhardus...”[135]. Graf von Altena 1161. Reinald Archbishop of Köln confirmed the property of Kloster Altenburg by charter dated 1166 witnessed by "…Albertus comes de Molbach, Willelmus comes Iuliacensis, Comes Euerardus de Altina et frater eius comes Engilbertus…"[136].
  
• c) FRIEDRICH (-Pavia 15 Dec 1158, bur Kloster Altenberg). Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka names “Fredericum et Brunonem qui in Colonia promoti archiepiscopi...extiterunt...et Everhardum et Engelbertum” as the sons of “Adulphus comes”[137]. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Fredericus…secundus de sorore superioris Frederici" when recording his election as Archbishop of Köln[138]. Provost of St Georg, Köln 1135/36. Elected Bishop of Utrecht 1150. Archbishop of Köln 1156. The Cæsarii Heisterbacensis Catalogus of archbishops of Köln records the election of "Fridericus prepositus sancti Georgii, filius fratris Brunonis" as archbishop of Köln[139]. He died after falling from his horse[140].
  
• d) ENGELBERT von Berg (-Brančevo, Serbia Jul 1189). Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka names “Fredericum et Brunonem qui in Colonia promoti archiepiscopi...extiterunt...et Everhardum et Engelbertum” as the sons of “Adulphus comes”[141]. "Adolfus comes de Monte" confirmed a donation to Köln St Pancraz by charter dated 1160 witnessed by "meus filius…Engilbertus…"[142]. Graf von Berg.
  
• e) BRUNO (-23 Apr 1196, bur Altenberg). Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka names “Fredericum et Brunonem qui in Colonia promoti archiepiscopi...extiterunt...et Everhardum et Engelbertum” as the sons of “Adulphus comes”[143]. Provost of St Georg, Köln 1156/91. Provost of St Apostelen 1160/66. Kustos of Köln Cathedral before 1179. Provost of Köln Cathedral 1168/92. Archbishop of Köln 1192, resigned 1193. The Cæsarii Heisterbacensis Catalogus of archbishops of Köln records the election of "Bruno maior prepositus" as archbishop of Köln, adding that he was the brother of archbishop Friedrich, next to whom he was later buried[144]. Monk at Altenberg.
  
• f) ADOLF von Berg (-1197 or after). Graf von Berg. Vogt von Dünwald 1193.
  

• 2. EBERHARD von Berg (-20 Mar or 22 May before 1152). [Sigewin Archbishop of Köln donated property to Köln St Georg by charter dated to [1079/89], witnessed by "…Adolf et filius suus Euerhard…"[145]. It appears likely that these names refer to Adolf [I] [von Berg] and his son.] Lüdbert Abbot of Werden and "domnum Thuringum" confirmed “precarii nostri in Dale” to Werden by charter dated 1115, witnessed by “Adolfus advocatus noster...Euerhardus frater eius, Bernherus comes...”[146]. Friedrich [I] Archbishop of Köln confirmed donations to Kloster Dunwald and shared the Vogteischaft with "comitis Adolphi" by charter dated 1118 witnessed by "Adolfus comes de Monte et frater eius Euerhardus…"[147]. Monk at Morimond 1121/24. Abbot of St Georgenberg im Thur 1145. A memorial in Altenburg records the death “XI Kal Jun” of “Everardus comes de Alzena”[148].
• 3. BRUNO (-Trani [29] May 1137, bur Bari San Niccolò). Provost of St Kastor at Koblenz 1119. Canon at Trier Cathedral. Provost of St Gereon at Köln 1127. Elected Bishop of Trier 1130. Archbishop of Köln 1131. Anselm of Gembloux’s continuation of Sigebert's Chronica records the death in 1131 of "Frittericus Coloniæ archiepiscopus” and the succession of “domnus Bruno ex clero sancti Petri” as archbishop in 1132[149]. The Cæsarii Heisterbacensis Catalogus of archbishops of Köln records the election of "Bruno…e Francia" as archbishop of Köln, recording in a later passage that a later archbishop was "Fridericus prepositus sancti Georgii, filius fratris Brunonis", adding that Bruno died a few days after Emperor Lothar at Bari and was buried there[150].
• 4. [GISELA (-after 20 Mar 1143). Heinrich Archbishop of Mainz confirmed the foundation of Kloster Georgenthal by "Sizzo comes de Keverenberc…cum coniuge sua Gisila", with the consent of "filiorum suorum Heinrici et Guntheri", by charter dated 20 Mar 1143[151]. She was related to the family of the Grafen von Berg: Levoldus’s mid-14th century Chronica Comitum de Marka records that “Adulphus comes” visited “ad Thuringie...consanguineos suos nobilem virum Zizonem comitem et Gisellam comitissam coniugem suam” donated “montem sancti Georgii” to Graf Adolf’s Cistercian abbey[152]. The editor of the Monumenta Germaniæ Historica edition of the Chronica indicates that Gisela was the sister of Graf Adolf but cites no source on which this statement is based[153]. The word “consanguineos” could refer to a more remote family relationship, although the inclusion of Gisela’s name does suggest that the family connection was through her not her husband. m SIZZO [III] Graf von Schwarzburg, son of GÜNTHER [I] Graf von Schwarzburg & his wife --- Iaropolkovna (-19 Jun 1160).]

Sources

Alberic of Troisfontaines (MGH, Scriptores XXIII). Annales Rodenses (MGH, Scriptores, XVI). Annalista Saxo (MGH, Scriptores VI). Gesta Trevirorum (MGH, Scriptores VIII). MGH, Diplomata. REK I-II. Rheinisches UB. Hömberg, “Geschichte.” Jackman, “Counts of Cologne.” – Jackman, Criticism. Klebel, E. “Niederösterreich und der Stammbaum der Grafen von Görz und Schwarzburg.” Unsere Heimat. Monatsblatt des Vereins für Landeskunde von Niederösterreich 23 (1952) 111-23. Kluger, “Propter claritatem generis.” – Kraus, Entstehung. Lück, D. “Der Avelgau, die erste fassbare Gebietseinteilung an der unteren Sieg.” In: Heimatbuch der Stadt Siegburg I. Ed. H. J. Roggendorf. Siegburg, 1964. Pp. 223-85. Lück, D. “In pago Tuizichgowe Anmerkungen zum Deutzgau.” Rechtsrheinisches Köln 3 (1977) 1-9. Milz, “Vögte.” Schmale, “Anfänge.” Tyroller, “Genealogie.” Wunder, G. “Die Nichten des Erzbischofs Friedrich von Köln.” AHVN 164 (1962) 192-6. Wunder, G. “Die Verwandtschaft des Erzbischofs Friedrich I. von Köln. Ein Beitrag zur abendländischen Verflechtung des Hochadels im Mittelalter.” AHVN 166 (1964) 25-54.