Community Detection in the Network of German Princes in 1225: a Case Study

TL;DR

This paper applies a spin-glass community detection algorithm to analyze the network of German princes in 1225, aiming to understand the political factions and conflicts during that period.

Contribution

It introduces the use of a spin-glass-based community detection method in historical social network analysis, comparing it with traditional social balance theory approaches.

Findings

The spin-glass method effectively identified factions aligning with historical conflicts.

Results show the method's potential in uncovering underlying community structures in historical networks.

Comparison indicates advantages over traditional social balance analysis.

Abstract

Many social networks exhibit some underlying community structure. In particular, in the context of historical research, clustering of different groups into warring or friendly factions can lead to a better understanding of how conflicts may arise, and whether they could be avoided or not. In this work we study the crisis that started in 1225 when the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Frederick II and his son Henry VII got into a conflict which almost led to the rupture and dissolution of the Empire. We use a spin-glass-based community detection algorithm to see how good this method is in detecting this rift and compare the results with an analysis performed by one of the authors (Gramsch) using standard social balance theory applied to History.