EBERHARD

eberhard, surnamed im bart (_barbatus_), count and afterwards duke of wuerttemberg (1445-1496), was the second son of louis i., count of wuerttemberg-urach (d. 1450), and succeeded his elder brother louis ii. in 1457. his uncle ulrich v., count of wuerttemberg-stuttgart (d. 1480), acted as his guardian, but in 1459, assisted by frederick i., elector palatine, he threw off this restraint, and undertook the government of the district of urach as count eberhard v. he neglected his duties as a ruler and lived a reckless life until 1468, when he made a pilgrimage to jerusalem. he visited italy, became acquainted with some famous scholars, and in 1474 married barbara di gonzaga, daughter of lodovico