Werner, Margrave of the Nordmark
Encyclopedia
Werner (died 11 November 1014) was the Margrave of the Nordmark from 1003 until 1009. He was a cousin of the contemporary bishop and historian Thietmar of Merseburg
.
Werner was the eldest son of the Margrave Lothair
and his wife Godila of Rothenburg, a Franconia
n. He was born when his mother was only thirteen years old. Werner abducted Liutgard, the eldest child of Eckard I of Meissen, from the castle of Quedlinburg
and, in January 1003, married her. That same year, Werner succeeded his father in the Nordmark, but was removed from office and deprived of his titles in 1009 following accusations brought forth by Dedo, Count of Wettin
. He was replaced as margrave by his rival, Bernard of Haldensleben. In 1013, Werner and Eckard II
, his brother-in-law, were considered by the Emperor Henry II to be too closely allied with Boleslaus I of Poland.
Werner's wife predeceased him on 13 November 1012 and Werner abducted Reinhild, the "mistress of Beichlingen
," in November 1014. He was captured, but before he could be put on trial, was murdered as Allerstedt on 11 November 1014, "having patiently endured whatever misfortunes had hitherto come his way", according to Thietmar. He was buried beside his wife in the familial monastery of Walbeck
. He left no children.
Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg was a German chronicler who was also bishop of Merseburg.-Life:...
.
Werner was the eldest son of the Margrave Lothair
Lothair, Margrave of the Nordmark
Lothair was a Saxon count and Margrave of the Northern March from about 983 until his death.Born the eldest son of Count Lothair II of Walbeck and Matilda von Arneburg, he succeeded his father as Count Lothair III of Walbeck in 964...
and his wife Godila of Rothenburg, a Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
n. He was born when his mother was only thirteen years old. Werner abducted Liutgard, the eldest child of Eckard I of Meissen, from the castle of Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
and, in January 1003, married her. That same year, Werner succeeded his father in the Nordmark, but was removed from office and deprived of his titles in 1009 following accusations brought forth by Dedo, Count of Wettin
Wettin
Wettin is:*House of Wettin, a German Royal House*Wettin Castle, near Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, ancestral seat of the House of Wettin*Asteroid 90709 Wettin, named in the castle's and House's honour...
. He was replaced as margrave by his rival, Bernard of Haldensleben. In 1013, Werner and Eckard II
Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen
Eckard II was the margrave of Meissen from 1038 until his death, succeeding his brother, Herman I. His line was descended from Eckard I...
, his brother-in-law, were considered by the Emperor Henry II to be too closely allied with Boleslaus I of Poland.
Werner's wife predeceased him on 13 November 1012 and Werner abducted Reinhild, the "mistress of Beichlingen
Beichlingen
Beichlingen is a municipality in the Sömmerda district of Thuringia, Germany....
," in November 1014. He was captured, but before he could be put on trial, was murdered as Allerstedt on 11 November 1014, "having patiently endured whatever misfortunes had hitherto come his way", according to Thietmar. He was buried beside his wife in the familial monastery of Walbeck
Walbeck
Walbeck may refer to the following places in Germany:*Walbeck, Börde, a municipality in the Börde district, Saxony-Anhalt*Walbeck, Mansfeld-Südharz, a municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt...
. He left no children.
Sources
- Reuter, TimothyTimothy ReuterTimothy Alan Reuter , grandson of the former mayor of Berlin Ernst Reuter, was a German-British historian who specialized in the study of medieval Germany, particularly the social, military and ecclesiastical institutions of the Ottonian and Salian periods .Reuter received his D.phil from Oxford in...
. Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056. New York: Longman, 1991.