He most likely was the son of Burkhard I,[2]: XXIX  and was married to Udilhild (or Udahild) of the House of Urach (died: 11.

Frederick was the first reeve of the Swabian Alpirsbach Abbey,[2]: LXXXVIII  which had been founded by Adalbert of Zollern (from the short-lived Zollern-Haigerloch line) and other lords.

[2]: XXIX The Zollern (later: Hohenzollern) dynasty based their rise to power on their loyalty to the ruling royal or imperial family.

Frederick I served the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, and was sent on a diplomatic mission to France.

[3] He is also mentioned as an advisor to Henry V in both 1111 and 1114, both times while the imperial party was in Strasbourg.