Otto (c. 830/51 – 30 November 912), called the Illustrious (German: Otto der Erlauchte) by later authors, was a notable member of the Ottonian dynasty and Duke of Saxony from 880 until his death in 912. He played an important role in early medieval history of Germany during the 9th and 10th centuries, known for his military campaigns and diplomatic efforts.
Otto was the younger son of the Saxon count Liudolf (d. 866), the progenitor of the dynasty, and his wife Oda (d. 913),[1] daughter of the SaxonprincepsBillung. Among his siblings were his eldest brother Bruno, heir to their father's estates, and Liutgard, who in 876 became Queen of East Francia as consort of the Carolingian king Louis the Younger. The marriage expressed Liudolf's dominant position in the Saxon lands.
His family came to be known as the Liudolfinger after his father, Liudolf. Upon the accession of his grandson, Emperor Otto the Great, the dynasty came to be referred to as the Ottonian dynasty.
Reignedit
On 26 January 877, King Louis the Younger issued a charter to Gandersheim Abbey. The charter described the region of South Thuringia, known as ‘pago Suththuringa,’ as ‘in comitatu Ottonis,’ which means 'in Otto's country.' He succeeded his brother Bruno after the latter's death in the Battle of Lüneburg Heath (Ebsdorf) on 2 February 880, while fighting against the Viking invaders.[2] Following Bruno's death, Otto succeeded him as the Duke of Saxony, who was inferior to him in age, but superior to him in every virtue.[3]
Ruling over vast Saxon and Thuringian estates, Otto was mentioned as dux in later sources, while in a contemporary charter of 28 January 897, Otto is described as marchio and the pago Eichesfelden (Eichsfeld) is now found to be within his county (march). He was also the lay abbot of Hersfeld Abbey in 908[4] and fifty years later was described as magni ducis Oddonis (great duke Otto) by the chronicler Widukind of Corvey when describing the marriage of his sister Liutgard to King Louis.
Despite his dynastic relations, Otto only had loose connections to the Carolingian court and rarely left Saxony. He remained a regional East Frankish prince and his lieges, Louis the Younger and Emperor Arnulf, with both of whom he was on good terms, rarely interfered in Saxon autonomy. In his lands, Otto was prince in practice and he also established himself as a tributary ruler over the neighbouring Slavic tribes in the east, such as the Daleminzi.
According to Widukind of Corvey, the "Saxon and Franconian people" offered Otto the kingship of East Francia after the death of the last Carolingian monarch, Louis the Child, in 911. Otto did not accept the offer, possibly because he felt the burden of ruling was too heavy for him at his advanced age.[3] Instead, suggesting Duke Conrad of Franconia. The truthfulness of this report is considered doubtful.[a]
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Otto c 830 51 30 November 912 called the Illustrious German Otto der Erlauchte by later authors was a notable member of the Ottonian dynasty and Duke of Saxony from 880 until his death in 912 He played an important role in early medieval history of Germany during the 9th and 10th centuries known for his military campaigns and diplomatic efforts Otto IDuke of SaxonyDepiction of Otto I Dux in the Chronica Sancti Pantaleonis Cologne c 1237 Reign880 912PredecessorBruno Duke of SaxonySuccessorHenry the FowlerBornc 830 51 Saxony GermanyDied 912 11 30 30 November 912Wallhausen SaxonyBuriedGandersheim AbbeyNoble familyOttonian dynastySpouse s Hathui of BabenbergIssueThankmarLiudolfHenry the FowlerOda of SaxonyFatherLiudolf Duke of SaxonyMotherOda of Billung Contents 1 Family 2 Reign 3 Notes 4 References 5 SourcesFamily editOtto was the younger son of the Saxon count Liudolf d 866 the progenitor of the dynasty and his wife Oda d 913 1 daughter of the Saxon princeps Billung Among his siblings were his eldest brother Bruno heir to their father s estates and Liutgard who in 876 became Queen of East Francia as consort of the Carolingian king Louis the Younger The marriage expressed Liudolf s dominant position in the Saxon lands Around 873 Otto himself married Hathui d 903 1 probably daughter of the Frankish princeps militiae Henry of Franconia a member of the noble House of Babenberg Popponids By her he had two sons Thankmar and Liudolf who predeceased him but his third son Henry the Fowler succeeded him as duke of Saxony and was later elected king of East Francia 1 Otto s daughter Oda married the Carolingian King Zwentibold of Lotharingia 1 son of Emperor Arnulf His family came to be known as the Liudolfinger after his father Liudolf Upon the accession of his grandson Emperor Otto the Great the dynasty came to be referred to as the Ottonian dynasty Reign editOn 26 January 877 King Louis the Younger issued a charter to Gandersheim Abbey The charter described the region of South Thuringia known as pago Suththuringa as in comitatu Ottonis which means in Otto s country He succeeded his brother Bruno after the latter s death in the Battle of Luneburg Heath Ebsdorf on 2 February 880 while fighting against the Viking invaders 2 Following Bruno s death Otto succeeded him as the Duke of Saxony who was inferior to him in age but superior to him in every virtue 3 Ruling over vast Saxon and Thuringian estates Otto was mentioned as dux in later sources while in a contemporary charter of 28 January 897 Otto is described as marchio and the pago Eichesfelden Eichsfeld is now found to be within his county march He was also the lay abbot of Hersfeld Abbey in 908 4 and fifty years later was described as magni ducis Oddonis great duke Otto by the chronicler Widukind of Corvey when describing the marriage of his sister Liutgard to King Louis Despite his dynastic relations Otto only had loose connections to the Carolingian court and rarely left Saxony He remained a regional East Frankish prince and his lieges Louis the Younger and Emperor Arnulf with both of whom he was on good terms rarely interfered in Saxon autonomy In his lands Otto was prince in practice and he also established himself as a tributary ruler over the neighbouring Slavic tribes in the east such as the Daleminzi According to Widukind of Corvey the Saxon and Franconian people offered Otto the kingship of East Francia after the death of the last Carolingian monarch Louis the Child in 911 Otto did not accept the offer possibly because he felt the burden of ruling was too heavy for him at his advanced age 3 Instead suggesting Duke Conrad of Franconia The truthfulness of this report is considered doubtful a The next year in 912 Otto died at the Pfalz of Wallhausen He was buried in the church of Gandersheim Abbey Notes edit Reuter calls it panegryric rather than history 5 References edit a b c d Riche 1993 table 3 Brown amp Wailes 2013 p 229 a b von Corvey 2014 p 27 Wilson 1998 p 5 Reuter 1991 p 135 Sources editBrown Phyllis R Wailes Stephen L eds 2013 A Companion to Hrotsvit of Gandersheim fl 960 Contextual and Interpretive Approaches Brill von Corvey Widukind 2014 Deeds of the Saxons Washington D C The Catholic University of America Press p 27 ISBN 9780813226934 Reuter Timothy 1991 Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800 1056 Longman Riche Pierre 1993 The Carolingians A Family who Forged Europe Translated by Allen Michael Idomir University of Pennsylvania Press Wilson Katharina M 1998 Hrotsvit of Gandersheim A Florilegium of Her Works D S Brewer Otto I Duke of SaxonyOttonian dynastyBorn c 830 51 Died 30 November 912Regnal titlesPreceded byBruno Duke of Saxony880 912 Succeeded byHenry I Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otto I Duke of Saxony amp oldid 1185102539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
