Conrad II had had to enforce his royal prerogatives in the Duchy of Carinthia just as he did in the Duchy of Swabia.

Duke Adalbero of Carinthia had been appointed as duke in 1012 under Emperor Henry II and had remained loyal to imperial authority, supporting Conrad's election as German king in 1024.

At a synod in Frankfurt in September 1027 at which Conrad had attempted to resolve the decades' long Gandersheim Conflict, Adalbero had accompanied the Emperor and acted as his sword-bearer during the proceeding, indicating Conrad's trust in him.

However, from 1028 on, Adalbero has governed his Duchy as an independent state.

In particular, he has attempted to conduct peaceful relations with the King Stephen I of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Under Emperor Henry II, who was the brother-in-law to Stephen, relations between the Empire and Hungary had been friendly.

Upon Henry's death in 1024, Conrad had adopted a more aggressive policy, prompting border raids into the Empire from Hungary.

The raids particularly have affected Adalbero's domain of Carinthia, which shares a long border with eastern border with Hungary.

Conrad summons Adalbero to court at Bamberg on May 18, 1034, to answer an indictment of treason for his actions regarding Hungary.

In the presence of the German dukes, Conrad demands that Adalbero be stripped of all his title and lands.

The dukes, however, hesitate and demand that Conrad's son Henry, the Germany's co-King and Conrad's designated successor, join the assembly before a decision is made.

Henry likewise refuses to depose Adalbero, citing an earlier agreement with Adelbero to be his ally in negotiating a settlement between him and his father.

Only by resorting to exhortations, pleas, and threats to Henry is Conrad able to persuade him to support deposing Adalbero.

Henry's support is soon followed by that of the other dukes.

Conrad then orders Adalbero removed as Duke and sentences him and his son to exile.

After attacking Conrad's allies in Carinthia, Adalbero flees to his mother's estates in Ebersberg in the Duchy of Bavaria, where he will remain until his death in 1039.