Conrad II was King of Germany, Italy, and Burgundy and was also Holy Roman Emperor, in the 11th Century.

He was born in 989 in Speyer, in the Duchy of Franconia. His father was Henry, Count of Speyer, and his mother was Adelaide of Metz. Henry died not long after Conrad was born, and the infant inherited his father's titles, which included Count of Worms, a nearby entity. The boy grew up in the shadow of family connections that tied him to the imperial throne. His grandfather was Otto of Worms, whose uncle was Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor. Conrad was also a direct descendant of King Henry I, the founder of the Ottonian dynasty.

In 1016, Conrad married Gisela of Swabia, who had family connections of her own. She, too, was descended from King Henry I and also from the famous Charlemagne. These family connections fell afoul of then-Emperor Henry II, who sent Conrad into exile. While he was away, Gisela gave birth to their son, Henry. Conrad and the emperor had found peace between them, allowing Conrad's return.

Henry II died in 1024 and had no heir. As was the case with that monarch, again the German nobles gathered to select their next ruler. Enough of them found the fact that Conrad had a 7-year-old son–promising an orderly succession–appealing and elected Conrad king. He was crowned King of Germany on Sept. 8, 1024.

Not everyone favored Conrad. The Duchies of Lorraine and Saxony, in particular, were against him, as was Ernest II, the Duke of Swabia, Gisela's son from a previous marriage. Conrad put down Ernest's challenge. The new king then went, with his queen, on a tour of the kingdom, eventually convincing those who opposed him to reverse their positions. He then turned his eyes southward, to Italy.

The last few rulers had had the support of the Italian people. Such was not the case with Conrad, who had to march at the head of an army into Italy in 1026. They traveled to Milan and Ravenna and then Ivrea, eventually helping end a populist revolt in Pavia. All of this helped Conrad become King of Italy and, later, Holy Roman Emperor. He was so crowned in Rome on March 26, 1027.

The emperor returned to Germany a few months later to attend the funeral of the Duke of Bavaria. Conrad then shocked the German nobles by naming his own son, Henry (then just 10) to succeed the deceased Henry V, passing over others who had stronger claims. Conrad then claimed the right to review all property in the duchy and made a claim to a significant portion of it. This angered many, stirring another rebellion, over which Conrad prevailed again. At about the same time, he cracked down on the Duke of Carinthia, Adalbero, for operating in his own interests with regard to relations with Hungary, with which Germany had enjoyed peace for a time.

All of these actions increased Conrad's power within Germany, making him feel confident enough to have his son, Henry, crowned King of Germany, in 1028. The boy was 11. At the same time, the young king married Gunhilda of Denmark, whose father was Canute, King of England, Denmark, and Norway.

Trouble came from the east in the form of unease in Poland, whose ruler Boleslaus I had hammered out an agreement with Henry II. That emperor's death freed the Polish leader from his bond and he again sought to exert his influence, having himself crowned the first King of Poland. He didn't live long enough to enjoy the crown, however, dying just a few months after his coronation. His son, Mieszko, went to war with the empire, and Conrad again triumphed, but not before separately defeating a suddenly opportunistic Hungary. By a treaty in 1031, Poland and the Empire again found peace. He added the title of King of Burgundy the following year, claiming an inheritance forged by his predecessor.

His last years were relatively peaceful. Conrad gave his son more and more power, while still holding court officially on several occasions. Emperor Conrad II died on June 4, 1039, of gout. His son became Henry III.