Dragon Quest
Our DragonQuest began after we discovered an old trunk whilst shopping in an antique store in northern Swabia. After purchasing and taking it home, we began to look closer and while cleaning in, came across an old tome titled, "Dragons of the Antiquity and Medieval Europe and their Legends". As we researched further, we found the evidence so compelling that we began to wonder and even believe that Dragons might have actually existed. Research has been our inspiration as we dig into the history of Swabia, the Counts of Württemberg, the castle lands and the history of Dragons.
Counts of Hohenburg
Margraves of Hohenberg, descended from the House of Zollern in the mid-12th century, were first mentioned in 1170.
Acquisitions from the Counts of Sülchgau and inheritance from the Counts of Haigerloch shifted their interests to the north during the course of the 12th century. Successful marriage policies brought additional expansion of the territory at the expense of the Palatinate County of Tübingen.
The generations following Burkhard III reached the Hohenberg peak of political importance and territorial expansion.
Burkhard III's oldest daughter married Count Rudolf von Habsburg, who was elected King of Germany in 1273. Burkhard’s III eldest son, Albert, was as close adviser to King Rudolf and he was commissioned to regain lost imperial property as a bailiff in lower Swabia. However, Rudolf's plan to revive the Duchy of Swabia and capture it for the Habsburgs failed. Albert was killed in battle 1298.
Due to the repeated division of inheritances, severance payments from heiresses and the effort required for a court appropriate to the ambitious counts, the Hohenbergs became increasingly in debt and towns and villages had to be mortgaged or even sold again and again. Fought against W-burgs and Lords of Gundelfingen (see LoG) and supporters of Rudolf of Habsburg
Lorem
Constructed by Eberhard (The Elder) at the turn of the 12th century, it was located at a key point along the imperial road and allowed them to observe and control trade in the region.
The family gained prominence under the Hohenstauffen Emperors, eventually becoming Counts, but after the fall of the Hohenstaufen’s, the family became indebted—their land and castles lost. Around 1200, Eberhard II (the younger) married the daughter of Count Ludwig IV of Spitzenberg (Top Mountain), an area about 60km north of here. In 1226, the last living Spitzenberg died, so all the Helfenstein and Spitzenberg lands would be combined under Ludwig (Lewis) I of Helfenstein. He was an ambitious leader and served during the third crusade under Frederick Barborossa. According to his journal, Ludwig was marginally injured during sparring practice near Vratsa, Bulgaria. In the summer of 1188, he was forced to convalesce at one of the only remaining Pagan churches where he received care from a Zirnitra (Dragon Wizard) named Dusan who worshipped the pagan god Kresnik a god of rebirth who "waits ... in a mountain cavern for the hour of his awakening and return to true life”. He wrote little else after and military chronicles indicate he re-joined the crusade in 1191. After his ascension as the Count of Helfenstein and for the next 25 years, he quickly and ruthlessly expanded his territory. We have found evidence that the Helfenstein’s had a female dragon named Pozar Daha (Fire Lady) and used her to protect their wealth and expand their lands. Following the collapse of the House of Hohenstauffen in 1268, southern Germany, specifically Swabia, fell into chaos, during the Interregnum. For more than two centuries, noble fought noble and we think that Pozar Daha was in a tragic aerial battle in the skies above against Vu-tha-ver-thi-cha (Black Mountain) as the Württemberg’s continued their pursuit of power.