Hermann was the son of
Herman II, Duke of Swabia and his wife
Gerberga of Burgundy, daughter of
Conrad I of Burgundy. He had many illustrious relatives. Through his father, Hermann was descended from
Henry the Fowler; through his mother from
Louis IV of France,
Alfred the Great and
Charlemagne. Hermann's sister,
Gisela of Swabia, married
Emperor Conrad II.
Inheritance and regency In 1003, when Hermann was about nine years old, his father died and Hermann inherited the duchy of Swabia. Since he was a minor, Hermann's reign as duke was effectively controlled by his cousin, the
King of Germany,
Henry II, who was his guardian. Henry II was mistrustful of the Conradines. Herman III's father, Herman II, had opposed the election of Henry II as king of Germany in 1002, and promoted himself as a rival candidate for the throne. Henry II thus used his position as Hermann's guardian to limit the power of the dukes of Swabia. He took control of key places in Swabia himself (including
Hohentwiel,
Breisach and
Zürich), and replaced the ducal mint with a royal mint. He separated
Alsace from the duchy of Swabia and gave control of Alsace to one of his relatives, Count Gerhard. Henry's control over Swabia was still present when Hermann died, aged about eighteen, in 1012. Hermann III did not marry and had no heirs. The male line of the Conradines of Swabia came to an end with his death. Henry II selected
Ernest to succeed him; two years later, Ernest married Hermann's sister
Gisela of Swabia. == Notes ==