From “Birk Family History” manuscriptÓ by Wolf-Dieter Birk, 2000 <dbirk@sympatico.ca>:

 

Herzog Eberhard im Bart (1445-1496)

 in 1474, age 29  (painting in Schloss Urach)

14th great grandfather of  Wolf Dieter Birk

 

            "Eberhard with Beard", born December 11, 1445, was to be remembered for more than 500 years as Germany's best example of a state leader, earning by his death on February 25, 1496, the following epitaph from Emperor Maximilian I:

"Here lies a Prince, who in wisdom and virtue, has no equal in the Holy Roman Empire".

 

            He was the third son of Graf Ludwig von_Württemberg and his wife Mechthild.  His older brother Ludwig II suffered from incurable epileptic fits and his second brother had died at a young age.   Eberhard was only five years old when his father died and he inherited the title of Graf (Count).  The guardianship fell to his uncle, Ulrich V von_Württemberg in Stuttgart.  Ulrich hired the instructor Johann Vergenhans (Naukler) who later was to become Rektor of the University of Tübingen.  By 1457, Württemberg was establishing Parliamentary democracy, which Ulrich opposed.

By age 14, Eberhard complained to his mother and forced Ulrich to give him control of the southern part near Urach.  He took on the heavy responsibilities at this young age to which some biographers attribute his subsequent poor health.

 

            In 1468, he went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from which time on he used the symbol of the palm tree and the motto "Attempto".  After three attempts at finding an appropriate bride, he finally married in April 12, 1474 to Barbara Gonzaga of Mantua in the Dome of Mantua.  That spring he had traveled with a large entourage to meet his bride.  The wedding festivities in Urach did not take place until July.  Barbara bore him a daughter on August 2, 1475 who died in infancy.  Inspired by his wife, he developed a great admiration for Italy and in 1482 went on a pilgrimage to Rome.  The influence of Italian Renaissance culture was brought to Württemberg as well as the Humanist movement.  Eberhard took a great interest in the monasteries, churches and educational institutes.   On November 13, 1476 he founded the University of  Tübingen, modeled after Freiburger University near Basel which his mother and stepfather had established.

 

            In his youth, Eberhard had fathered two illegitimate sons, Ludwig and Hans by two unmarried women.  Both sons later studied law at the new University of  Tübingen.  When it became obvious that Barbara would not be able to provide him a legitimate heir, he petitioned the German Emperor (Kaiser) to remove the stigma of illegitimacy.  On February 16, 1484 the royal decree was issued.   Both sons had taken on the name "Wirtemberger".  To his son Ludwig Wirtemberger, who had achieved the title of Doctor of Law, Eberhard gave the Castle and town of Sulz am Nekkar on December 1493.  To Hans Wirtemberger, our ancestor, he gave the knight's title "Ritter von Karpfen" and the estate Herrschaft Karpfen near Tuttlingen. 

 

            Eberhard survived long enough to see his state raised to a Dukedom (Herzogtum) in 1495.  The death of Eberhard on February 25, 1496 at age 51 was attributed to high fever, tooth-aches, bladder infection and diarrhea.  His wife Barbara who survived him for seven years, had great homesickness for Mantua but stayed until her death in May of 1503.  By her wishes, she was buried in the Dominikanerfrauenkloster Kirchheim unter Teck.  The private belongings of Eberhard went to Herzog Ulrich (1498-1550).  He was laid to rest at the centerpiece of the Grablege in the Tübinger Stifskirche. 

 

            Five-hundred years later, he was still remembered by his people in the state anthem written  in 1818 by Justinus Kerner: "Reichsten Fürsten".  During the 1848 Revolution, he was held up as an example of a constitutional ruler; a super diplomat who in contrast to Prussia, achieved state expansion without war.  His lasting achievements were cited as:

·       Founding of University of  Tübingen

·       Reform of Klösters.

·       Unified Württemberg

Among his virtues were cited: Man of peace; protector of rights and knowledge; gentleness towards the poor, and firmness towards thieves; devout Christian and eager to learn.

 

REFERENCE:

Avenarius, Wilhelm, et al. (1990) Streifzüge durch das historische Deutschland,  ADAC Verlag, Munich.521p.

Fisher, Joachim; Amelung, Peter and Irtenkauf, Wolfgang (1985)  Württemberg im Spätmittelalter

Hauptstaatarchivs Stuttgart , Stuttgart.p.191.

Hoffmann, Frank (1996) Preisend mit viel schönen Reden: vor 500 Jahren starb Herzog Eberhard im Bart. (article), Sudwest Magazin, Feb. 24, 1996.

 

                  

Graf Eberhard  von_Württemberg                          His wife Barbara (as sketched by Eberhard)