Herman II, Count of Winzenburg

From 1138, sought and gained the favour of King Conrad III of Germany, who saw them as a counterweight to the House of Welf.

Herman II was a vassal of the Archbishops of Mainz and an opponent of the houses of Welf and Northeim during the succession crisis of 1138.

A short time later, Herman's younger brother henry of Assel married Siegfried's widow Richenza.

King Conrad III also invested the two brothers with some large imperial fiefs Siegfried IV had held, in order to tie them closer to the crown.

On the night of 29 January 1152, two of them broke into Winzenburg castle and killed Herman II and his pregnant wife with their swords.

One of the murderers was beheaded in 1156; the other, Count Henry of Bodenburg, was defeated in a trial by battle and went into Neuwerk Monastery in Halle.