Adolf of Germany (1255-2 July 1298) was King of the Romans from 5 May 1292 to 23 June 1298, succeeding Rudolf I of Germany and preceding Albert I of Germany.
Biography[]
Adolf's death at the Battle of Gollheim
Adolf was born in 1255, the son of Walram II of Nassau and Adelheid of Katzenelnbogen. In 1276, he succeeded his father as Count of Nassau, and he came to the court of Rudolf I of Germany, where he was awarded Gutenfels and Kalsmunt Castles. On 5 May 1292, he was elected King of the Romans after Rudolf's death, as the nobles did not want Albert of Habsburg, a Habsburg candidate like his father Rudolf, to create a hereditary Habsburg kingdom. Adolf had neither influence nor power, selling church roles (the crime of simony) and allowing for his nobles to fight amongst themselves. In 1294, he allied with King Edward I of England against the Kingdom of France, and on 31 August 1294 he declared war on France. In 1295, he was forced to make peace due to Pope Boniface VIII's threats of excommunication, and his weakness culminated in a nobles' revolt against him, led by Albert. On 2 July 1298, he was overwhelmed and killed by Albert's soldiers at the Battle of Gollheim, and Albert secured his election as King of the Romans in Adolf's place.