Herzogtum Sachsen Duchy of Saxony Stem duchy of the Frankish Empire, State of the Holy Roman Empire ← 7th century – 1260 →   → The stem duchy of Saxony in 1000 Welf possessions in the 12th century, showing the duchies of Saxony and Bavaria Capital Not specified Government Principality Historical era Middle Ages  - Established 7th century  - Disestablished 1260

Map of Central Europe from 919-1125, by William R. Shepherd. Stem duchies (from the German Stammesherzogtum, literally "tribal duchy" were associated with the Frankish Kingdom, especially the East Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire (imperium Francorum Frankish Kingdom (Latin regnum Francorum, "Kingdom of the The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a Town in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the Elbe Stem duchies (from the German Stammesherzogtum, literally "tribal duchy" were associated with the Frankish Kingdom, especially the East See also Elder House of Welf The House of Welf (or House of Guelph) is a European Dynasty that has included many German and British The following is a list of rulers during the History of Bavaria. Throughout the world there are many cities that were once national Capitals but no longer have that status because the country ceased to exist the capital was moved or the capital For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or Sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of Prince Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and For a collection of maps by Shepherd see:CategoryHistorical maps by William R The stem duchies are: Saxony in yellow, Franconia in blue, Bavaria in green, Swabia in light orange, Lower Lotharingia in dark pink, Upper Lotharingia in light pink, and Thuringia in dark orange. Franconia (Franken is a historic region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria and the area to its immediate west Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 Swabia, Suabia, or Svebia ( German: Schwaben, Schwabenland or Ländle) is both a historic and linguistic The Duchy of Lower Lorraine or Lower Lotharingia encompassed part of modern-day Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany west of the Rhine Lorraine (Lorraine Lothringen is a historical area in present-day northeast France. The Free State of Thuringia (Freistaat Thüringen is located in central Germany.

The mediæval Duchy of Saxony was a late Early Middle Ages "Carolingian stem duchy" covering the greater part of Northern Germany. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 Stem duchies (from the German Stammesherzogtum, literally "tribal duchy" were associated with the Frankish Kingdom, especially the East Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. It covered the area of the modern German states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt. Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen usually shortened to NRW, official short form NW is the westernmost and - in terms of population and economic output - the is the northernmost of the 16 ''Bundesländer'' in Germany. The former English name was Sleswick-Holsatia the Danish name is Saxony-Anhalt ( Sachsen-Anhalt) is one of the sixteen ''Bundesländer'' (federal states that make up the Federal Republic of Germany. Duke Henry the Lion occupied the area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Henry the Lion ( German: Heinrich der Löwe; 1129 &ndash 6 August 1195) was a member of the Guelph dynasty and Duke of Saxony Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, sometimes translated as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, is a state in Northern Germany comprising

The Saxon people were one of the most robust groups in the late tribal culture of the times, and eventually bequeathed their tribe's name to a variety of more and more modern geo-political territories from Old Saxony near the mouth of the Elbe River, up the Elbe successively to eventually, the Kingdom of Saxony and the three Germany free states which bear the name today (see map at left). The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. Old Saxony is the original homeland of the Saxons and the place from which their raids and later colonisations of Britannia were mounted The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. The Kingdom of Saxony (Königreich Sachsen lasting between 1806 and 1918 was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic

Map showing the location of the three states, Lower Saxony in the northwest, Saxony-Anhalt in the center, and the Free State of Saxony in the southeast, within today's Germany

History

Roman times

The first references to the Saxons were in Roman times. Lower Saxony ( German: Niedersachsen ch is pronounced before an s --> lies in north-western Germany and is second Saxony-Anhalt ( Sachsen-Anhalt) is one of the sixteen ''Bundesländer'' (federal states that make up the Federal Republic of Germany. The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany. About 200–400, the Saxons, until then living north of the Elbe river in Holstein, gradually expanded and also occupied the area south of the river, the future Westphalia and Eastfalia. Events By Place World Human population reaches about 257 million Events By Place Western Roman Empire Italy is first invaded by Alaric (probable date The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes. The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe. Holstein (ˈhɔlʃtain ( Low German: Holsteen, Danish: Holsten, Latin and historical English: Holsatia) Westphalia (Westfalen) is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Bielefeld, Bochum, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Münster Eastphalia (Ostfalen Eastphalian: Oostfalen) is a historical region in northern Germany, encompassing eastern Lower Saxony and western This was a likely result of internecine tribal warfare coupled with defeats inflicted by Roman arms on the tribes hitherto that were stronger and located in the area. In the 5th century, The Saxons, together with the neighboring tribes of the Angles and Jutes (both from territories on Jutland), invade and conquer much of the island of Britain in the Early Middle Ages after the Roman Empire withdrew from the isle. The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini / Common Era. The Angles is a modern English word for a Germanic-speaking people who took their name from the cultural ancestral region of Angeln, a modern district located in The Jutes, Iuti, or Iutae were a Germanic people who according to Bede were one of the three most powerful Germanic peoples of the time This article is about the region of Denmark. For the World War I naval battle see Battle of Jutland. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 By the Early 6th century, The Saxons also expanded and settle territories on the banks of the Rhine, and possibly subsumed the Angles tribe north of Old Saxony. The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Rhine (Rhein Rijn Rhin Reno Rain Rhenus is one of the longest and most important Rivers in Europe at 1320 kilometres (820 mi with an average discharge

Early Middle Ages

In 531, The Saxons and Franks allied and destroy the neighboring Kingdom of Thuringia. Events By Place Byzantine Empire April 19 — Belisarius is defeated at the Battle of Callinicum; Mundus The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Thuringii or Toringi were a Germanic tribe which appeared late during the Völkerwanderung in the Harz Mountains of central Saxons inhabit the Thuringia area down to the Unstrut river, thereby expanding both southerly and eastwards, an event which eventually bequeathed their names in the many German principalities containing the derivative "Saxe" within their names. The Free State of Thuringia (Freistaat Thüringen is located in central Germany. The Unstrut is a River in Germany, left tributary of the Saale.

The 7th century brought the beginning of the Stem Duchy with the election of the first dukes, but their office had force only in wartime. The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era.

Carolingian subjagation

• 718: The Frankish Charles Martel — Mayor of the Palace or de facto king — makes war against Saxony, because of its help for the Neustrians. For the area code see Area code 718 Events By Place Europe Tervel 's reign as monarch of Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval Title and Office, also called Majordomo, from the Latin title Maior domus ("superior The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new land" originated in 511 made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel,
• 743: Carloman, son of Charles Martel, starts a new war against Saxony, because the Saxons gave aid to Duke Odilo of Bavaria. Events By Place Europe After an Interregnum of seven years Childeric III re-succeeds to the throne of the Frankish Empire Carloman (between 706 and 716 &ndash 17 August 754 was the eldest son of Charles Martel, Major domo or Mayor of the palace and duke Odilo (d 18 January 748) a son of Gotfrid of the house of Agilolfing, ruled Bavaria from 736 until his death in 748 succeeding Duke
• 772–804: Saxon Wars waged by Emperor Charlemagne, grandson of Charles Martel, against the Saxons:
  • 772: Charlemagne occupies the Eresburg castle near Paderborn, the central Saxon stronghold, and destroys the Irminsul, the main Saxon place of worship to their traditional Northern deities. Events By Place Europe Charlemagne starts fighting the Saxons and the Frisians; Saxony is subdued and converted This article is about the year AD 804 For other uses of the term see 804 (disambiguation. The Saxon Wars were the campaigns and insurrections of the more than thirty years from 772, when Charlemagne first entered Saxony with the intent to conquer Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca Events By Place Europe Charlemagne starts fighting the Saxons and the Frisians; Saxony is subdued and converted Obermarsberg, previously Eresburg, is one of seventeen quarters in the municipality of Marsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Paderborn (paːdɐˈbɔʁn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. An Irminsul ( Old Saxon, probably "great/mighty pillar" or "arising pillar" was a kind of Pillar which is attested as playing an important role
  • 773: Charlemagne goes to Italy. Events By Place Europe Charlemagne crosses the Alps and invades the kingdom of the Lombards. The Saxons take advantage of his absence and reoccupy the Eresburg.
  • 774/775: Charlemagne again marches against Saxony. Events By Place Europe Charlemagne conquers the kingdom of the Lombards, and takes title King of the Lombards Events By Place Asia Estimation Baghdad, capital of the Abbasid Empire, becomes the largest city of the world taking the lead The Franks reoccupy the Eresburg castle, and the Sigiburg castle as well. At Höxter the Franks cross the Weser river and ravage the Eastphalian part of the Duchy. Höxter (ˈhœkstɐ is the seat of the Höxter district and a town in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia on the left bank of the river Weser, 52 km The Weser (ˈveːzɐ is a River in north-western Germany. Formed at Hann Eastphalia (Ostfalen Eastphalian: Oostfalen) is a historical region in northern Germany, encompassing eastern Lower Saxony and western
  • 776: Charles again in Italy. Events April 14 - Charlemagne spends Easter in Treviso after putting down a revolt by Friuli and Spoleto removing Hrodgaud the Duke of Friuli from The Saxons reoccupy Eresburg and Sigiburg.
  • 777: Charlemagne establishes the Karlsburg near Paderborn. Events Europe Charlemagne defeats the Saxons; their leader Widukind flees to Denmark. He calls for the Heerschau. Some Saxons come and convert to the Christian religion.
  • 779: The Saxon Duke Widukind of the House of the Bruons leads a new uprising and begins a war of attrition against the Franks. Events By Place Europe Offa of Mercia defeats Cynewulf of Wessex and takes Bensington Blessed Widukind or Wittekind (c 730&ndash808 was a Saxon leader Duke of Saxony (corresponding to modern-day Westphalia and the chief antagonist Charlemagne's army marches north to the Elbe river. The Elbe ( die Elbe Low German: de Ilv) is one of the major Rivers of Central Europe.
  • 782: Charlemagne conducts his Blutgericht ("bloody trial") at Verden on the Aller river, ordering more than 4,500 Saxon prisoners killed. Events By Place Europe Charlemagne summons the monk and scholar Alcuin of York to head the palace school at Aachen The Massacre of Verden (Blutgericht von Verden was an alleged massacre of Saxons in 782 near the present town of Verden in Lower Saxony, Verden (Aller, or Verden (ˈfeːɐdn is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on For the English village see Aller Somerset. For the Spanish municipality see Aller Spain. Charlemagne becomes known as "Charles the Butcher" in Saxony.
  • 783: Battles near Detmold and at the Hasel river. Events Births Deaths April 30 — Hildegard, wife of Charlemagne July 12 — Bertrada Detmold (ˈdɛtmɔlt is a City in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a population of about 74000 Hasel is a town in the district of Lörrach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The Saxons lose both. Duke Widukind retreats to the castle Widukindsburg near Osnabrück. Osnabrück (ɔsnaˈbʁʏk is a City in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due
  • 784: Battle in the Dreingau
  • 785: The Franks capture Widukind. Events By Place Asia The Japanese capital moves away from Nara, ending the Nara period. Events By Place Europe Widukind and many other Saxons are baptized He is christened.
  • 792–795: The Saxons again rise against the Franks. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Irene is confirmed empress of the Byzantine Empire. Events By Place Europe In the earliest recorded Viking raid on Ireland, they attack Iona, Inisbofin and Inismurray
  • 796–799: Charlemagne orders a new campaign against the Saxons. Events By Place Europe December - Coenwulf becomes king of Mercia. Events By Topic Religion 29 November — Pope Leo III, aided by Charles the Great, returns to Rome.
  • 804: The last resistance of the Saxons is broken by the Franks. This article is about the year AD 804 For other uses of the term see 804 (disambiguation.

Replacement of the stem duchy

• 804: The Duchy of Saxony, consisting of Engern, Westphalia, Eastphalia and Northalbingia (today Schleswig-Holstein) becomes part of the Franconian Empire. This article is about the year AD 804 For other uses of the term see 804 (disambiguation. is the northernmost of the 16 ''Bundesländer'' in Germany. The former English name was Sleswick-Holsatia the Danish name is
• 852: Liudolf, Duke of Saxony, descendant of Widukind and first of the Ottonian dynasty, founds Gandersheim Abbey. Events By Place Europe Saint Swithun becomes Bishop of Winchester England Liudolf (died 12 March 864 or 866 was a Saxon Count; later authors called him duke of the Eastern Saxons The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of Germanic Kings (919-1024 named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin Bad Gandersheim is a city in southern Lower Saxony, Germany, located in the district of Northeim.
• 880: Bruno, son of Liudolf, is killed in a battle with Vikings. See Interstate 880 for the American Freeway Events By Place Europe Oldest known mention of the city of Bruno, Brun, or Braun (died 2 February 880) was the Duke of Saxony from 866 to his death A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas His younger brother Otto becomes Duke of Saxony. Otto or Oddo (c 851 &ndash 30 November 912) called the Illustrious ( der Erlauchte) by later authors was the Duke of Saxony
• 912: Henry, son of Otto, succeeds him as Duke. For the automobile see Porsche 912. Events By Place Europe Orso II Participazio becomes the Doge of
• 919: Henry of Saxony is elected King of the Germans by the assembled Saxon and Frankish princes in Fritzlar. Events By Place Europe Edward the Elder of England conquers Bedford. This article lists the German monarchs, ruling over the territory of Germany from the creation of a separate Eastern Frankish Kingdom in 843 until the end of monarchy Fritzlar is a small German town (pop 15000 in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, 160 km (100 miles north of Frankfurt
• 936: Henry's son, Otto I the Great, succeeds him and is crowned in Aachen as King of the Germans. Events By Place Asia King Taejo of Goryeo (Wanggeon defeats Hubaekje. Otto I the Great ( 23 November 912 &ndash 7 May 973) son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke ( Ripuarian: Oche, Dutch: Aken, Spanish: Aquisgrán, Italian: Aquisgrana, French,
• 938: Hermann Billung becomes margrave ("Markgraf") of Saxony. Events By Place Asia The Liao Dynasty takes over Peking; they name Nanjing as their South Palace Hermann Billung (900 or 912 &ndash 27 March 973) was a Margrave of Saxony and one of the most well-known members of the House of Billung Margrave (marchio is the English and French form (recorded since 1551 of the German Title Markgraf (from Mark "
• 953: Otto I elevates Hermann Billung to viceduke of Saxony. Events Europe First documented mention of the village of Aach in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
• 973: Otto I dies in Memleben; Otto II becomes Emperor. Events By Place Africa The Fatimids move their capital to Cairo. Hermann Billung dies in Quedlinburg; Bernhard I Billung becomes duke of Saxony. Quedlinburg (ˈkveːdlɪnbʊʁk is a Town located north of the Harz mountains in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt Bernard I (c 950&ndash 9 February 1011) was the Duke of Saxony (973&ndash1011 the second of the Billung dynasty a son of Duke Herman
• 983: Danish uprising in Hedeby. Events By Place Asia Wood carvers commissioned by China's Song Dynasty complete a carving of the entire Buddhist canon Hedeby (ˡheðəby Old Norse Heiðabýr, of heiðr = heathland and býr = yard thus "heath yard" sometimes known Slavonian uprising in Northalbingia. Otto III becomes Emperor. Otto III (980 &ndash January 23, 1002) was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire.
• 1002: The death of Otto III marks the end of the Saxon emperors.

High Middle Ages

• 1011: Duke Bernhard I Billung dies; his son Bernhard II becomes duke. Bernard I (c 950&ndash 9 February 1011) was the Duke of Saxony (973&ndash1011 the second of the Billung dynasty a son of Duke Herman Bernard II (c 995 &ndash 29 June 1059) was the Duke of Saxony (1011 &ndash 1059 the third of the Billung dynasty a son of Bernard
• 1042: Ordulf Billung, son of Bernhard II, marries Wulfhild, the half-sister of King Magnus of Denmark and Norway. Ordulf (sometimes Otto) (c 1022&ndash 28 March 1072) was the Duke of Saxony from 1059 when he succeeded his father Bernard II Magnus I (1024 - October 25, 1047) was the King of Norway from 1035 to 1047 and the King of Denmark from 1042 to 1047 The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Danes and Saxons fight against the Wends. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants
• 1059: Ordulf Billung becomes Duke after the death of his father.
• 1072: Magnus Billung becomes Duke. Magnus (c 1045 &ndash 23 August 1106) was the Duke of Saxony from 1072 to 1106
• 1106: Duke Magnus dies without heir, ending the Billung dynasty. The Billung territory becomes part of the Welf and Ascanian countries. See also Elder House of Welf The House of Welf (or House of Guelph) is a European Dynasty that has included many German and British The House of Ascania (Askanier was a Dynasty of German rulers Lothar of Supplinburg becomes Duke of Saxony. Lothair III of Supplinburg (1075 &ndash 1137 was Duke of Saxony (1106 King of Germany (1125 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1133 to 1137 Süpplingenburg is a municipality of 700 inhabitants (2003 in the district of Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany.
• 1112: Otto of Ballenstedt created Duke by Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry V ( 8 November 1086 &ndash 23 May 1125) was King of Germany (from 1098-1125) and Holy Roman Emperor
• 1115: Victory of Lothar of Supplinburg in the battle of Welfesholz over King Henry V.
• 1125: Lothar of Supplinburg elected as German King and crowned Emperor, as Lothar II.
• 1137 Death of Lothar. The Welf Henry X the Proud, Duke of Bavaria since 1126, becomes Duke of Saxony, as Henry II. See also Elder House of Welf The House of Welf (or House of Guelph) is a European Dynasty that has included many German and British Henry the Proud (c 1108 &ndash 20 October 1139) was the Duke of Bavaria ( Henry X, 1126&ndash1139 Duke of Saxony ( Henry
• 1138: Henry X tries to become king, but without success. The Ascanian Albert the Bear becomes new Duke of Saxony. Albert the Bear (Albrecht der Bär c 1100&ndash18 November 1170 was the first Margrave of Brandenburg (as Albert I from 1157 to his death and was briefly Duke
• 1139: Death of Henry X.
• 1141: Albert the Bear resigns.
• 1142: Conrad III, King of the Romans and of Germany, grants the ducal title to the Welf Henry the Lion (as Henry III). Conrad III (1093 &ndash 15 February 1152) was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty Henry the Lion ( German: Heinrich der Löwe; 1129 &ndash 6 August 1195) was a member of the Guelph dynasty and Duke of Saxony Henry the Lion gradually extends his rule over northeastern Germany. After gaining also the Duchy of Bavaria, Henry's realm covers more than two thirds of Germany from the Alps to the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, making him the mightiest ruler in central Europe. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. The Baltic Sea is a Brackish inland sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N Latitude and from 20°E to 26°E Longitude.
• 1180: Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, strips his cousin Henry the Lion of his duchies of Saxony and Bavaria, giving Saxony to the Ascanians who were based further east. Frederick I Barbarossa (1122 &ndash 10 June 1190) was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned The House of Ascania (Askanier was a Dynasty of German rulers The Welfs later became kings of Hanover, Great Britain and Ireland (House of Hanover). The Kingdom of Hanover (Königreich Hannover was established in October of 1814 by the Congress of Vienna, with the restoration of George III to his Hanoverian See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The House of Hanover (the Hanoverians) is a Germanic royal Dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg

See also

• Saxony (disambiguation)
• History of Saxony
• Rulers of Saxony

Notes and references