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Weißensee became the focus of German history in 1180 when Henry the Lion defeated the Thuringian Landgrave Ludwig III and his knights in the Battle of Weißensee. What had happened? Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa wanted to break the power of Henry the Lion, who had refused to help him in the Italian campaign. In 1180, the Guelph Henry the Lion defeated the army of the Thuringian landgraves, who were loyal to Emperor Barbarossa, in an open field battle. 600 knights are taken prisoner. The conflict between the Staufen and Guelphs culminated in 1197 in the beginning of the Staufen-Welf throne dispute, which lasted 18 years. During this time, the Thuringian landgraves changed sides seven times.
The Guelph Otto IV ascended the German royal throne in 1208. He became emperor in 1209, but the Thuringian Landgrave Hermann I did not remain loyal to the emperor. Weissensee experienced the consequences of this in 1212, when the emperor’s army, divided into several columns, invaded Thuringia. These armies, 2500 knights alone, were to unite in front of Weißensee. Emperor Otto IV used a stone-throwing machine called a trebuchet or blide for the first time. With this war machine, stone projectiles could be thrown an average of 400 meters. Projectiles of this type were found during excavations at the castle. In a letter, Emperor Otto IV expresses his hope that he will soon be able to take the castle and town of Weißensee. However, this did not happen. A letter from Pope Innocent III makes clear the significance of this heavy siege, which resulted in many losses. In it, he commemorates the many people who lost their lives in the battle for Weißensee in 1212. In the end, Otto had to abandon the siege without success.
