 The Hohenstaufer Duke Friedrich II had been considered a promising candidate for royal succession due to his kinship with Heinrich V and his involvement in the efforts towards imperial unification.However, his candidacy at the Mainz electoral assembly on August 24, 1125 was unsuccessful since he refused to accept free elections ("libera electio") of the princes and he further destroyed his chances due to his overconfidence of victory, which was generally perceived as haughty ("ambicone cecatus").Further royal candidates were Leopold III, Margrave of Austria, Charles I, Count of Flanders and the Saxon Duke Lothar III, who was eventually elected.