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Bernard I (c. 950 - 9 February 1011) was the Duke of Saxony (973-1011), 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. 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: Herman, died young Bernard II, his successor Thietmar, a count, died in a duel on 1 April 1048 in Pöhlde Gedesdiu (or Gedesti) (died 30 June c. 1040), abbess of Metelen (from 993) and Herford (from 1002) and probably: Matilda, nun Othelindis (died 9 March 1044), married Dirk III of Holland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Billung Dynasty: The primary ruling dynasty in Saxony in the 10th and 11th centuries. It was founded by Hermann Billung, who in 936 received from the German king (and future emperor) Otto I a march, or border territory, on the lower Elbe River to be held against the pagan Slavic Wends. In 961 Otto granted Hermann the Saxon ducal title, which on Hermann's death (973) passed to his son and thereafter to his descendants, who continued the struggle against the Slavs. Although the family extended its conquests toward the Oder River, thus preparing these territories for Christianization, their lands consisted of only the northeastern part of the former stem duchy of Saxony. Hermann's son Bernard I (d. 1011) obtained guarantees of the special privileges and customs of the Saxons from the emperor Henry II; Bernard II (d. 1059) obtained similar guarantees from the emperor Conrad II. Both Bernard II and his son Ordulf (d. 1072) had to defend their territories against the encroachments of Adalbert, archbishop of Bremen. The family came to embody the Saxon national resentment toward the Salian kings and emperors Henry III and particularly Henry IV, who wanted to reestablish imperial authority in Saxony. In August 1106, with the death of Magnus Billung, the family died out. http://en.wikipedia.org
William B.
