# John Parricida

John Parricida (German: Johann Parricida) or John the Parricide, also called John of Swabia (Johann von Schwaben), (ca. 1290 – 13 December 1312/13) was the son of the Habsburg duke Rudolf II of Austria and Agnes, daughter of King Ottokar II of Bohemia. By killing his uncle, King Albert I of Germany, he foiled the first attempt of the Habsburg dynasty to install a hereditary monarchy in the Holy Roman Empire.

## Life

John was born shortly before or after the death of his father Rudolf II, the younger son of King Rudolf I of Germany. His mother was Agnes, daughter of King Ottokar II of Bohemia. He passed his early days at the Bohemian court and the town of Brugg in the Swabian home territory of the Habsburgs, where he is mentioned as titular duke in a 1294 deed.
As John's father had been forced to waive his right to the Habsburg duchies of Austria and Styria in favour of his elder brother Albert I according to the 1283 Treaty of Rheinfelden, he felt deprived of his inheritance. When he came of age, he demanded a portion of the family estates from his uncle, who had finally prevailed in the election as King of the Romans against Adolph of Nassau in 1298. His wishes, however, were not granted nor did he receive any of the compensations in the Swabian territories of Further Austria, awarded to his father by the Rheinfelden Treaty. In 1306, King Albert even placed his son, Duke Rudolf III, on the Bohemian throne, denying his nephew's right of inheritance. Thereupon John, mocked as "Duke Lackland" (Hertzog Anlant), with several companions of Swabian nobility formed a plan to murder the king.
A Habsburg family banquet in Winterthur, held by Albert on the evening of 30 April 1308, gave rise to a scandal, when the invitee John rejected a floral wreath offered by his uncle, exclaiming that he would not be fobbed off with flowers. The next day, King Albert on his way home became separated from his attendants when crossing the Reuss River near Windisch, and was at once attacked by John and his conspirators. John rode toward his uncle and split his skull without a word. He escaped the vengeance of Albert's sons, and from that point his fate remained unknown. In the same year, the prince-electors chose the Luxembourg count Henry VII as Albert's successor, who placed John under the imperial ban (Reichsacht). John allegedly fled to Italy and found refuge in a Pisa monastery, where, in 1313, he is said to have been visited by Emperor Henry VII. After the defeat of Albert's son Frederick the Fair at the 1322 Battle of Mühldorf, the Habsburg dynasty was not able to regain the German crown until the election of Albert II in 1438.

## Fictional character

The character of John is rendered by Friedrich Schiller in his 1804 drama William Tell: John on the run arrives at Tell's house begging for help and arguing that he had to take revenge on his enemy — like Tell on bailiff Albrecht Gessler. Tell rejects the comparison but directs him to Italy, advising him to seek papal absolution.
John's fate was further perpetuated in the poem Der Graf von Thal (1838) by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff and by the Austrian writer Johann Nepomuk Vogl, whose ballad Der Mönch zu Pisa was set to music by Carl Loewe (Op. 114) in 1846. Historical dramas were written by August Gottlieb Meißner (Johann von Schwaben, 1770) and Julius Grosse (Johann von Schwaben, 1870).

## Male-line family tree

vteHouse of Habsburg :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line | Original line | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 | Albert Count of Habsburg c. 1188–1239 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 | Rudolf I of Germany c. 1218–1291 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | Albert I of Germany 1255–1308 | | | | | | | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Hartmann 1263–1281 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 | Rudolf II Duke of Austria 1270–1290 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Rudolf I of Bohemia 1281–1307 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Frederick the Fair c. 1289–1330 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Leopold I Duke of Austria 1290–1326 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Albert II Duke of Austria 1298–1358 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Henry the Friendly 1299–1327 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | Otto Duke of Austria 1301–1339 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 | John Parricida c. 1290–1312/1313 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | Albertinian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | Leopoldian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | Rudolf IV Duke of Austria 1339–1365 | | | Frederick III 1347–1362 | Frederick III 1347–1362 | Frederick III 1347–1362 | Frederick III 1347–1362 | Frederick III 1347–1362 | Frederick III 1347–1362 | | | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | Albert III Duke of Austria 1349–1395 | | | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Leopold III Duke of Austria 1351–1386 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Frederick II Duke of Austria 1327–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 | Leopold II Duke of Austria 1328–1344 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | Albert IV Duke of Austria 1377–1404 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | William Duke of Austria c. 1370–1406 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Leopold IV Duke of Austria 1371–1411 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | Ernest Duke of Austria 1377–1424 | | | | | | | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 | Frederick IV Duke of Austria 1382–1439 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | Albert II of Germany 1397–1439 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Frederick III HRE 1415–1493 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Albert VI Archduke of Austria 1418–1463 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 | Sigismund Archduke of Austria 1427–1496 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | Ladislaus the Posthumous 1440–1457 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | Maximilian I HRE 1459–1519 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | Philip I of Castile 1478–1506 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line |
| | | | | | | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | Spanish / Iberian line | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | Austrian / HRE line | | | | | | | | | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | Charles V HRE 1500–1558 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 | Ferdinand I HRE 1503–1564 |
| | | | | | | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | Philip II of Spain 1527–1598 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | Maximilian II HRE 1527–1576 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | Ferdinand II Archduke of Austria 1529–1595 | | | | | | | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 | Charles II Archduke of Austria 1540–1590 |
| Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Carlos Prince of Asturias 1545–1568 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Philip III of Spain 1578–1621 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Rudolf II HRE 1552–1612 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Ernest of Austria 1553–1595 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Matthias HRE 1557–1619 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Maximilian III Archduke of Austria 1558–1618 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Albert VII Archduke of Austria 1559–1621 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Wenceslaus Archduke of Austria 1561–1578 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Andrew Margrave of Burgau 1558–1600 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Charles Margrave of Burgau 1560–1618 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | Ferdinand II HRE 1578–1637 | | | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | Maximilian Ernest of Austria 1583–1616 | | | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | Leopold V Archduke of Austria 1586–1632 | | | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 | Charles of Austria 1590–1624 |
| | | | | | | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Philip IV of Spain 1605–1665 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Charles of Austria 1607–1632 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | Ferdinand of Austria 1609–1641 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | John-Charles of Austria 1605–1619 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | Ferdinand III HRE 1608–1657 | | | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | Leopold Wilhelm of Austria 1614–1662 | | | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | Ferdinand Charles Archduke of Austria 1628–1662 | | | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 | Sigismund Francis Archduke of Austria 1630–1665 |
| Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Balthasar Charles Prince of Asturias 1629–1646 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | Charles II of Spain 1661–1700 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Ferdinand IV King of the Romans 1633–1654 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | Leopold I HRE 1640–1705 | | | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 | Charles Joseph of Austria 1649–1664 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | Joseph I HRE 1678–1711 | | | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 | Charles VI HRE 1685–1740 |
Notes:
↑ "Habsburg family tree". Habsburg family website. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023. :