In 1218 Engelberts older brother died without male heirs - but he sired a daughter who was married to the son of the Duke of Limburg. According to the common law, the County of Berg would have fallen to the Limburgers but Engelbert intervened militarily and after two feuds secured his rulership over his fathers county. It probably helped that Engelbert was a close friend to Emperor Friedrich II. of the Staufer line, for whose cause he previously fought. Engelbert used his influence with the emperor to secure further concessions for the ecclesiastical rulers of the HRE (the Confoederatio Cum Principibus Ecclesiasticis in particular; like the right to mint coins, raise tolls and to freely build castles). Engelbert used those rights to greatly improve the territory of the Archdiocese of Cologne by founding cities and taking over territories previously owned by lesser nobles - often with the threat of violence.
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In 1218 Engelberts older brother died without male heirs - but he sired a daughter who was married to the son of the Duke of Limburg. According to the common law, the County of Berg would have fallen to the Limburgers but Engelbert intervened militarily and after two feuds secured his rulership over his fathers county. It probably helped that Engelbert was a close friend to Emperor Friedrich II. of the Staufer line, for whose cause he previously fought. Engelbert used his influence with the emperor to secure further concessions for the ecclesiastical rulers of the HRE (like the right to mint coins, raise tolls and to freely build castles). Engelbert used those rights to greatly improve the territory of the Archdiocese of Cologne by founding cities and taking over territories previously owned by lesser nobles - often with the threat of violence.
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