Berthold I of Istria

Berthold III (c. 1110/1122 – 14 December 1188), a member of the Bavarian House of Andechs, was Margrave of Istria (as Berthold I) from 1173 until his death.

He was the son of Count Berthold II of Andechs (died 1151), ruler over Dießen in Bavaria, Plassenburg in Franconia and Stein in Carniola, and his first wife Sophia (d. 1132), a daughter of Margrave Poppo II of Istria. His brother Otto became Prince-Bishop of Brixen in 1165. A loyal supporter of the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Count Berthold rose to one of the most important nobles, holding extended estates in Bavaria as well as in Franconia and in Carniola south of the Eastern Alps.

In 1173, he was appointed Margrave of Istria, succeeding Engelbert III, the last Margrave from the House of Sponheim and cousin of his mother Sophia. When in 1180 Emperor Frederick deposed the Welf duke Henry the Lion, he vested Berthold's son, Count Berthold IV, with the title of a Duke of Merania, thereby elevating the House of Andechs to princely status.

Marriage and issue

Berthold III was married twice. In 1152 he married Hedwig of Wittelsbach, daughter of the Bavarian Count palatine Otto IV of Scheyern and Heilika of Pettendorf-Lengenfeld-Hopfenohe. They had four children:

1. Berthold IV, Duke of Merania (1153–1204).
2. Sophia (died 1218). Married Poppo VI, Count of Henneberg (died c. 1190).
3. Kunigunde (died after 1207). Possibly married Eberhard, Count of Eberstein.
4. Matilda, Countess of Pisino (died 1245). Married Berthold, Margrave of Vohburg. In c. 1190 married secondly Engelbert III, Count of Gorizia (died 1217/20).

His second wife became in c. 1180 princess Luitgard of Denmark, daughter of king Sweyn III of Denmark and Adela of Meissen. They had two children:

1. Poppo, Bishop of Bamberg (died December 2, 1245).
2. Berta, Abbess in Gerbstadt (died 1190).