Gero was the Archbishop of Magdeburg from 1012 until his death. He was a son of Dedo Wodenswege and Eilika (Eilica) and possibly a relative of the family of Gero the Great.

Gero was the candidate of King Henry II following the death of the Archbishop Walthard

Walthard, Archbishop of Magdeburg

Walthard was the Archbishop of Magdeburg very briefly from June to August in 1012.Walthard was the initial archiepiscopal candidate of the cathedral chapter on the death of Archbishop Giseler in 1004, but King Henry II elected to appoint his chaplain Tagino instead...

 on 12 August 1012. He was appointed over the candidate, Otto, of the cathedral canons. Between 1016 and 1017, the ambitious Gero and Bernard

Bernard, Margrave of the Nordmark

Bernard was the Margrave of the Nordmark from 1009 until his death. He was the son of Dietrich of Haldensleben and a rival of the counts of Walbeck, one of whom, Werner, he succeeded in the march following his deposition....

, Margrave of the Nordmark

Nordmark

Nordmark can mean:*Nordmark Hundred - a district of Värmland in Sweden*the German name for the Northern March - a territorial organisation in Holy Roman Empire*Arbeitserziehungslager Nordmark a work camp from the Nazis...

, feuded over territory. Bernard's men attacked Magdeburg

Magdeburg

Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....

, but in 1017 he agreed to compensate Gero with 500 pounds of silver.

Sources

• Reuter, Timothy. Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056. New York: Longman, 1991.