The beginner of the dynasty of Franconia (born 990 circa – died Utrecht 1039). Energetic and ambitious, he could obtain the crown of Germany (1024) and then acquired Bavaria, Swabia and Carinthia to his house. He had his son Henry acknowledged as his successor, who was crowned in 1028 at Aachen. In 1031 he added the two Lusatias to the empire and in 1033-34, after a long struggle against the count Eudes of Champagne, the kingdom of Burgundy, too. The king Mieszko of Poland had acknowledged himself his vassal (1030). After coming to Italy, he was crowned king of Italy at Milan (1026) and emperor at Rome (26 March 1027); following a dispute between Aribert, archbishop of Milan, so far his loyal supporter, and the archbishop’s vassals, Conrad descended to Italy again (1036) and took up arms against the archbishop. In 1037, while besieging Milan, he issued the Edictum de beneficiis (or Constitutio de feudis), with which he awarded even minor fees hereditability: that was consonant with his policy of strengthening minor vassals to have their support against the high lay and ecclesiastic feudality.