Liudolf (930–
6 September 957) was the
duke of Swabia from 950 until 954. He was the only son of
Otto I,
king of Germany, from his wife
Eadgyth, daughter of
Edward the Elder,
king of England.
Liudolf married Ida, daughter of Duke
Herman I. When Herman died, Otto appointed his eldest son and heir apparent duke. Liudolf was a popular ruler with the tribe. After the usurpation of
Berengar II of Italy, he invaded
Lombardy in 951. His father foiled his plans and invaded as well, leaving Liudolf without much gain. When Otto married
Adelaide, the heiress to Italy, Liudolf felt his position threatened and raised the flag of revolt in 953. Though he had the support of his Swabians, his ally (and brother-in-law),
Conrad the Red, was opposed by his own subjects in
Lorraine. The Bavarians of
Henry I, Duke of Bavaria, Liudolf's uncle, support Liudolf, but Henry and Otto together put down the rebellion. In 954, he was deprived of his duchy and, though reconciled with his father, he did not regain it. He invaded Italy for a second time in 957 and many cities capitulated before him and Berengar fled. He died unexpectedly of
fever amidst his victorious campaign at
Pombia, near
Novara, on September 6 and was buried in
St. Alban's Abbey, Mainz.
His son by Ida,
Otto, was later duke of Bavaria and Swabia, his daughter Mathilde abess of a canoness monastery in
Essen. He also founded the city of
Stuttgart in southern
Germany.
Category:930 birthsCategory:957 deathsCategory:Dukes of SwabiaCategory:Ottonian DynastyCategory:Burials at Saint Alban's Abbey, MainzCategory:10th-century rulers in EuropeCategory:Articles lacking sources (Erik9bot)de:Liudolf (Schwaben)fr:Ludolphe de Souabeit:Liudolfo di Svevianl:Liudolf van Zwabenpl:Ludolf (syn Ottona I)ru:Людольф (герцог Швабии)
