To turn off the MUSICAL accompaniment to this page, click on the GLOBE above  The Von Hohenstaufen Dynasty
by Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa, GCMS, GCEG, GCDA, RCST, BVK I, OStJ (H), etc. First Knight of the Order of St. Gereon in the United States of America and Dame Heide Anna Maria Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa, GCMS, GBQT, GOEG, GCDA, RCST, etc. Chancellor of the Order of St. Gereon in the United States of America
13 December being the 759th anniversary of Frederick's II death, the authors felt strongly obliged to prepare this brief tribute on behalf of one of the most illustrious and flamboyant dynasties of German as well as European history.
The historical exploits of Emperor Barbarossa were great and his death by drowning in the Goeksu River, modern-day Turkey, during the Third Crusade, was exceedingly tragic.
St. Gereon (called the "Golden Saint") was selected to be the Patron Saint for the Military Order of Swabia. Sainthood was bestowed upon this Centurion of the Theban Legion for refusing to obey the order of Emperor Maximian to pray and sacrifice to pagan gods. Fifty comrades of St. Gereon were massacred with him. They were punished by beheading. In general, St. Gereon emerged a popular military saint in Germany.
St. Gereon is frequently represented in the arts as a medieval knight and not as a Roman soldier. The persons featured with him in the above painting are his Theban companions, who were beheaded along with him, among them the Saints Cassius, Gregorius. Maurus, Florentinus, Innocentius, Constantinus and Victor.
In front of the above basilica one encounters a large sculpture of St. Gereon's fallen head, which is visible a long way off as one travels upon the street leading to the church bearing his name.
Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa, GCMS,
The Kyffhaeuser monument, dedicated to Barbarossa, is situated on the border of the German land state of Thuringia with Saxony-Anhalt, on the southern edge of the Harz mountain range. It holds a special significance in traditional German mythology as the final spiritual resting place of the great emperor.
According to commonly held belief, Barbarossa is not really dead, but he only rests in a light sleep in a hidden chamber deep below the Kyffhaeuser Mountain, supporting his head in his hands while his arms are propped up on a marble table.
Reportedly, Barbarossa anxiously awaits his homeland's most desperate hour, when he will reemerge from his sub-surface hideout to respond to his nation's dire emergency.
The ever Kyffhaeuser-circling ravens are considered a trusted signal for Barbarossa's eternal presence in the mountain.
Frederick's I Weltschmerz agony is mirrored by similar patriotic pains experienced by Germany's foremost romantic poet, Heinrich Heine, who lived from 1797 to 1856.
The date 13 December holds also special significance for him, except, it does not denote his day of death but his date of birth.
While in exile in Paris, France, he wrote the following poem
Emperor Frederick II was known the world over as Stupor Mundi (the Wonder of the World). In his capacity as Emperor of the Sacred Roman Empire of the German Nation, King of Italy, King of the Two Sicilies, King of Jerusalem and Duke of Swabia, he demonstrated not just phenomenal wisdom but also benevolent tolerance vis-a-vis other religions. His primary belief in this regard was influenced by his appreciation for global monotheism. At his court in Sicily, he frequently entertained Islamic, Hebrew and Christian scholars and took seriously the philosophies and theologies they espoused.
Frederick II was the ideal warrior as he conquered with wisdom and little or no bloodshed. He was given governance of the Holy City of Jerusalem by negotiations, allowing the faithful of all religions to worship at their religions' shrines without imposing any type of hardship on them whatsoever. His coronation day as King of Jerusalem was 16 March 1229.
The final resting place of the great monarch known as the Wonder of the World is Palermo, Sicily. During his lifetime, Frederick II was in all likelihood the greatest intellectual ruler that western civilization had brought forth up to that time.
Emperor Conrad V, having been cowardly betrayed by false friends, became prisoner of Charles of Anjou, who had him and his friend executed in Naples on 29 October 1268. This may have been the end of the von Hohenstaufen Imperial government, but not necessarily the extinction of the entire von Hohenstaufen Dynasty.
On 1 May 2010, at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Racine, Wisconsin, the First Knight of the Order of St. Gereon in the United States of America (USA), Prof. Dr. Paul W. Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa, Major General of the Imperial International Ceremonial and Peaceful Guard of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam, assisted by Dame Heide Anna Maria Margravine Gulgowski-Doliwa, Chancellor of the Order of St. Gereon in the USA, invested Chevalier Commander Larry D. Baron Perkins into the ancient and prestigious Order of St. Gereon in the rank of Commander. His wife, Nena Baroness Perkins, and many of their friends were present at this memorable and solemn occasion.
On 19 August 2010, in the residence of Aviation Captain Colonel James (Jim) A. Baron Michaels, DDS, it was our privilege to bestow upon Jim in the presence of his family and friends the Commander's Cross of the Order of St. Gereon. Heide was equally so honored during this ceremony. Although, this was an Investiture conducted under semi-formal auspices, it, nevertheless, did not lack the ambience of sophistication and solemnity. Everyone was inspired and gratified by this special and definitely out-of-the-ordinary festive experience. After the conclusion of this event, the lady of the house, Dr. Barbara Baroness Michaels, JD, served almond Champaign and an arrangement of delightful hors d'oeuvres that pleased everyone's palate.
On this stunningly beautiful Wisconsin autumn day, when everything was well with nature, mankind and beast, the Grand Cross Insignia of the Sovereign Military Order of Swabia,
The Knights of St. Gereon, was presented to the Hereditary Duke / Margrave Paul II Gulgowski-Doliwa during a reception hosted by his father and the Duchess Heide Anna Maria
for special family friends.
Obviously, the REAL person of interest during this presentation ceremony was the new and ravishingly beautiful young bride of our son Paul II, Mrs. Natalia Gulgowski-Ortega-Doliwa, who, for the first time in her life, had to meet her new in-laws. Naturally, it was "love at first sight" for all of us and this get-together could not have been more cordial and sincere.
The following photographs portray the high points of our long overdue get-together based on solid chivalric and personal family reasons. Clearly, everyone enjoyed the best of times.
Commander Valery Yegorov, GCMS, a Master Mariner and Saint Andrew Principal Herald Master of the Collegium Heraldicum Russiae (CHR) also serves as the Heraldry Master General on behalf of the Order of the Knights of St. Gereon in the United States of America.
And last, but most definitely not least, we wish to acknowledge our valuable friendship with retired Maritime Captain Orland. Absolutely noteworthy and admirable about him we found that he stood by our side when lesser elements within the international chivalric community were attempting to tear us down and to shamelessly exploit our generosity.
All rights reserved • Copyright © 2006-2011 by Commodore Prof. Dr. Paul Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa, GCMS • Music: Heil Dir im Siegerkranz
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