Reign 973–1011 House House of Billung Predecessor Herman Name Bernard Duke | Successor Bernard II Parents Hermann Billung Spouse Hildegard of Stade Uncles Wichmann the Elder | |
Burial Church of Saint Michael in Luneburg Died February 9, 1011, Imperial Abbey of Corvey, Hoxter, Germany Children Bernard II, Duke of Saxony Grandchildren Ordulf, Duke of Saxony, Gertrude of Saxony Cousins Wichmann the Younger, Egbert the One-Eyed | ||
Bernard I (c. 950 – 9 February 1011) was the Duke of Saxony between 973 and 1011, the second of the Billung dynasty, a son of Duke Herman and Oda. He extended his father's power considerably.
He fought the Danes in 974, 983, and 994 during their invasions. He supported the succession of Otto III over Henry the Wrangler. In 986, he was made marshal and in 991 and 995 he joined the young Otto on campaign against the Slavs. He increased his power vis-à-vis the crown, where his father had been the representative of the king to the tribe, Bernard was the representative of the tribe to the king [1]. Bernard died in 1011 and was buried in the Church of Saint Michael in Lüneburg.
Family
In 990, Bernard married Hildegard (died 1011), daughter of Henry I the Bald, Count of Stade (died 976). They had the following issue:
and probably: