Through his father, Hermann was descended from Henry the Fowler; through his mother from Louis IV of France, Alfred the Great and Charlemagne.
[2] Hermann's sister, Gisela of Swabia, married Emperor Conrad II.
Since he was a minor, Hermann's reign as duke was effectively controlled by his cousin, the King of Germany, Henry II, who was his guardian.
[4] Henry II thus used his position as Hermann's guardian to limit the power of the dukes of Swabia.
[5] Henry's control over Swabia was still present when Hermann died, aged about eighteen, in 1012.