Bruno, Duke of Saxony
Encyclopedia
Bruno, Brun, or Braun (died 2 February 880) was the Duke of Saxony
from 866 to his death. He was the elder son of Duke Liudolf of Saxony
, progenitor of the Liudolfing dynasty and his wife Oda of Billung
. While his father is described as dux orientalis Saxonum, duke of East Saxony, it is possible that Bruno, according to Widukind of Corvey
, was dux totius Saxonum, duke of all Saxony. He is venerated as a saint
and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church
, being honored with a feast day on February 2nd under the name St. Bruno of Saxony.
He died, along with several other Saxon noblemen, in a battle against the Vikings (probably Danes) on 2 February 880. The battle near Ebstorf
was a crushing defeat and two bishops as well as twelve counts, among them Bruno, were killed. He is called ducem et fratrem reinæ: dux and "the queen's brother," meaning that his sister Liutgard
was married to King Louis the Younger
. According to Thietmar of Merseburg
, Bruno died in a flooded river while on campaign against the Danes in 880. This probably took place during the battle or during a retreat.
NOTE: Bruno, son of Liudolph, died in one of two battles (one at the river Scheldt and one in Saxony) which are reported separately in the Annales Fuldenses. The Gesta Francorum lists "Bardonum…alterum Bardonum [et] tertium Bardonum" as three of the twelve counts who were killed fighting the Danes in 880[120]. The other two counts named "Bardo" or "Bruno" have not been identified.
Some mentions of Bruno, Duke of Saxony appear to refer to an earlier individual, possibly a grandfather, but this is unclear.
According to legend, Bruno is the founder of Brunswick
and ancestor of the Brunonen
, counts in the Derlingau
, though an affiliation with Count Brun I of Brunswick
is uncertain.
Duchy of Saxony
The medieval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. It covered the area of the modern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony-Anhalt and most of Schleswig-Holstein...
from 866 to his death. He was the elder son of Duke Liudolf of Saxony
Liudolf, Duke of Saxony
Liudolf was a Saxon count, son of one count Brun and his wife Gisla von Verla ; later authors called him duke of the Eastern Saxons and count of Eastphalia...
, progenitor of the Liudolfing dynasty and his wife Oda of Billung
Billung
The House of Billung was a dynasty of Saxon noblemen in the 9th through 12th centuries.The first known member of the house was Count Wichmann, mentioned as a Billung in 811...
. While his father is described as dux orientalis Saxonum, duke of East Saxony, it is possible that Bruno, according to Widukind of Corvey
Widukind of Corvey
Widukind of Corvey was a Saxon historical chronicler, named after the Saxon duke and national hero Widukind who had battled Charlemagne. Widukind the chronicler was born in 925 and died after 973 at the Benedictine abbey of Corvey in East Westphalia...
, was dux totius Saxonum, duke of all Saxony. He is venerated as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, being honored with a feast day on February 2nd under the name St. Bruno of Saxony.
He died, along with several other Saxon noblemen, in a battle against the Vikings (probably Danes) on 2 February 880. The battle near Ebstorf
Ebstorf
Ebstorf is a municipality in the district of Uelzen, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 12 km northwest of Uelzen, and 25 km south of Lüneburg....
was a crushing defeat and two bishops as well as twelve counts, among them Bruno, were killed. He is called ducem et fratrem reinæ: dux and "the queen's brother," meaning that his sister Liutgard
Liutgard
Liutgard of Saxony was the wife and Queen of Louis the Younger, the Frankish King of Saxony and East Francia....
was married to King Louis the Younger
Louis the Younger
Louis the Younger , sometimes Louis III, was the second eldest of the three sons of Louis the German and Emma. He succeeded his father as the King of Saxony on 28 August 876 and his elder brother Carloman as King of Bavaria from 880...
. According to Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg
Thietmar of Merseburg was a German chronicler who was also bishop of Merseburg.-Life:...
, Bruno died in a flooded river while on campaign against the Danes in 880. This probably took place during the battle or during a retreat.
NOTE: Bruno, son of Liudolph, died in one of two battles (one at the river Scheldt and one in Saxony) which are reported separately in the Annales Fuldenses. The Gesta Francorum lists "Bardonum…alterum Bardonum [et] tertium Bardonum" as three of the twelve counts who were killed fighting the Danes in 880[120]. The other two counts named "Bardo" or "Bruno" have not been identified.
Some mentions of Bruno, Duke of Saxony appear to refer to an earlier individual, possibly a grandfather, but this is unclear.
According to legend, Bruno is the founder of Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
and ancestor of the Brunonen
Brunonen
The Brunonen were a Saxon noble family in the 10th and 11th centuries, who owned property in Eastphalia and Frisia....
, counts in the Derlingau
Derlingau
The Derlingau was an early medieval county of the Duchy of Saxony.-Geography:The Derlingau approximately consisted of the area between the river Oker in the west and the Lappwald forest in the east. It was bordered by : Bardengau, Gau Osterwald, Nordthüringgau, Harzgau, Salzgau, Hastfalagau, Gau...
, though an affiliation with Count Brun I of Brunswick
Brun I, Count of Brunswick
Brun , was count in the Derlingau, the Nordthüringgau, the Hastfalagau, the Salzgau, the Gau Gretinge, and the Gau Mulbeze, with Brunswick as his residence. Brun was a member of the Brunones dynasty....
is uncertain.
Sources
- Reuter, Timothy (trans.) The Annals of Fulda. (Manchester Medieval series, Ninth-Century Histories, Volume II.) Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1992.