(Image copyright: Wikipedia. Schedelsche Weltchronik Struktur des Reiches)
Our hero Martin Malterer was born in the year 1347 in the city of Freiburg in the area we now call the Black Forest. We find ourselves in the Late Middle Ages then, just a few years before radical new ideas would herald in the era of Renaissance and Humanism. For now, however, Southern Germany is still a land ruled by a strictly hierarchal system and both profane and ecclesiastical laws had to be obeyed at all costs.
In this blog article, we’re taking a closer look at the political situation our main characters and their Houses find themselves in.
Canon Law & Secular Law made the world go round
Life in the 14th century in central Europe was ruled by two sets of laws: that of the Church, called Canon Law, and that of the king and his nobles, called Secular Law.
Canon Law would regulate the administration of the sacraments, such as baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, marriage, and holy orders. It would also provide guidelines for identifying and combating heresy. It would define the procedures for investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of heresy, as well as the punishments.
Secular Law encompassed land tenure, military service, and the payment of feudal dues. It defined the hierarchy of feudal relationships and outlined the duties and responsibilities of each party. It addressed crimes and punishments and defined offenses such as theft, assault, murder, and treason, and outlined the appropriate penalties for these crimes. Other areas of Secular Law were: trade regulations, ownership and property, (royal) succession, and town charters.
The House of Malterer – Merchants, Councilmen, Knights and sons of Freiburg
(Image copyright: Wikipedia. Konrad of Zaehringen bestowing the city rights to Freiburg)
John Malterer, Martin’s father, has propelled his House to join Freiburg’s elite. Although John held no previous title like count, margrave, or duke, he became a knight nevertheless. His wealth he owed to a flourishing trading business he conducted from within the city. On top of that, John served as a councilman on the City Council of Freiburg.
Freiburg (which literally translates to: free city) has had a Council since 1178. This did not mean that the city was entirely self-governed, however. They still answered to the House of Zähringen, a Swabian noble dynasty, which was replaced by the Counts of Freiburg after their extinction. Pretty much from the beginning there was bad blood between the Counts of Freiburg and the city. Freiburg wanted to maintain their autonomy and govern herself by her Council and the Constitution which had been granted to them by the House of Zähringen. The Counts of Freiburg, however, wanted the to get their hands on the city’s money – coin which Freiburg refused to deliver. Numerous battles ensued which cumulated in the long, bloody feud between Count Egino II and the City of Freiburg.
Freiburg ultimately won and not only bested the hated Count, but also razed his castle to the ground. Freiburg then decided to turn to the House of Habsburg. For 20,000 silver marks, Freiburg bought the protection of the Austrian dukes.
The House of Habsburg and the eternal fight for the hereditary lands
(Image copyright: Wikipedia. Europe As A Queen Sebastian Munster 1570)
The House of Habsburg is, even today, one of the most prominent and important dynasties in European history. In the middle of the 14th century, however, the House’s noble sons have been reduced to ‘mere’ dukes. Not even a hundred years before, one of their ancestors had become Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. They had not been able to keep the title within their dynasty, however. They nevertheless managed to expand their territories and remain quite powerful within Europe.
During the years that ‘The 11tth Code’ takes place, there were two Habsburgian dukes left: Albrecht III and Leopold III. The two brothers were at odds and their hostility ultimately resulted in a separation of their lines. Leopold was granted the Inner Austrian and Further Austrian territories, as well as Tyrol and the western Habsburg lands in Alsace and Swabia.
Leopold, however, was hell-bent on one thing: gain back the Habsburgian heredity lands form the Swiss. The duke spent most of his adult life waging war against the Swiss and eventually the Swiss Confederacy that would form for the first time during these battles. It would end in catastrophe for Habsburg: the Battle of Sempach put a bloody end to Leopold’s ceaseless endeavours.
And where did that leave Martin Malterer?
(Image copyright: Wikipedia. Codex Manesse Ulrich von Liechten)
Although Martin was born to the son of a councilman, he did not seem to have inherited his father’s loyalties for the city of Freiburg. When John Malterer bought the Castle Kastelburg for his son, he did so knowing that the castle was in the possession of the Habsburgers. That meant that Martin would have to pay a tribute to the House of Habsburg, but could otherwise rule as lord of the castle as he wished.
For reasons not entirely clear (in the historical context) Martin chose to fight on the side of the Count Egino III when the Count of Freiburg clashed with the city. After Freiburg gave herself over into the protection of the House of Habsburg – represented at that time by Duke Leopold III – Martin’s bond to the Austrians appeared to intensify. He fought in Leopold’s battles against the Swiss and became Leopold’s ‘personal protector’.
It seems that Martin, if he had the choice, tended to take the side of the established nobility rather than follow into his father’s footsteps as a free burgher and councilman of an emancipated city.
Sources: Wikipedia, various articles, ChatGPT