Individual Details
Duke Bernhard II von Sachsen
(Abt 995 - 29 Jun 1059)
Bernhard was born about 995, the son of Bernhard I, Herzog von Sachsen, and Hildegard von Stade. He was duke of Saxony from 1011 to his death, the third of the Billung dynasty. He had the rights of a count in Frisia. About 1020 he married Eilica von Schweinfurt, daughter of Heinrich von Schweinfurt, Markgraf auf dem Nordgau, and his wife Gerberge, they had four children of whom Ordulf, Gertrud and Ida would have progeny.
Bernhard expanded the powers of the duke in Saxony and is regarded as the greatest of the Billungs. He was originally a supporter of Emperor Heinrich II and he accompanied him into Poland and negotiated the treaty of Bautzen of 1018. In 1019-1020 he revolted and gained the recognition of the tribal laws of Saxony, something his father had failed to do. He returned then to war with the Slavs and drew them into his sphere of power and influence through their leader Godescalc (Gottschalk).
He supported Emperor Conrad II in 1024 and his son Heinrich III, though he began to fear the latter for his closeness to Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen (c.1000-1072), an enemy of a succession of dukes of Saxony.
In 1045 he erected the Alsterburg in Hamburg. He died on 29 June 1059, and was succeeded without incident by his son Ordulf. He is buried in the Church of Saint Michael in Lüneburg.
Sourse: Leo van de Pas
Bernhard expanded the powers of the duke in Saxony and is regarded as the greatest of the Billungs. He was originally a supporter of Emperor Heinrich II and he accompanied him into Poland and negotiated the treaty of Bautzen of 1018. In 1019-1020 he revolted and gained the recognition of the tribal laws of Saxony, something his father had failed to do. He returned then to war with the Slavs and drew them into his sphere of power and influence through their leader Godescalc (Gottschalk).
He supported Emperor Conrad II in 1024 and his son Heinrich III, though he began to fear the latter for his closeness to Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen (c.1000-1072), an enemy of a succession of dukes of Saxony.
In 1045 he erected the Alsterburg in Hamburg. He died on 29 June 1059, and was succeeded without incident by his son Ordulf. He is buried in the Church of Saint Michael in Lüneburg.
Sourse: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | Abt 995 | ||||
| Marriage | 1020 | Eilika von Schweinfurt | |||
| Death | 29 Jun 1059 |
Families
| Spouse | Eilika von Schweinfurt (1004 - 1055) |
| Child | Gertrud von Sachsen (1030 - 1113) |
| Father | Duke Bernhard I von Sachsen (950 - 1011) |
| Mother | Hildegard von Stade (974 - 1011) |