Otto of Nordheim
Encyclopedia
Otto of Northeim (c. 1020 – 11 January 1083) was Duke of Bavaria from 1061 until 1070. He was one of the leaders of the Saxon
revolt against Emperor Henry IV
.
Otto belonged to the rich and influential Saxon
family of the counts of Northeim
, and having distinguished himself in war and peace alike, in 1061 received the Stem Duchy of Bavaria
from the Dowager Empress Agnes of Poitou, widow of Emperor Henry III
and mother of the child Emperor Henry IV. In spite of that one year later he conspired with Archbishop Anno II of Cologne to seize Henry IV at Kaiserswerth
in order to deprive his mother of power. The coup succeeded, Otto led a successful expedition into Hungary
in 1063 and took a prominent part in the Empire's government during the king's minority. In 1064 he went to Italy
to settle a papal schism
and was largely instrumental in securing the banishment from court of Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen-Hamburg
. He crossed the Alps
in the royal interests on two other occasions and in 1069 shared in two expeditions to the eastern Wend
lands.
Otto neglected his duchy, but added to his personal possessions in the southern Harz
region, which ultimately led into conflict with Henry IV. In 1070 he was accused by a certain Egeno von Konradsburg of being privy to a plot to murder the king, and it was decided he should submit to the ordeal of battle with his accuser at Goslar
. The duke smelled treason and asked for a safe-conduct to and from the place of meeting. When this was refused he declined to appear and was consequently placed under the imperial ban and deprived of Bavaria, while his Saxon estates were plundered. He obtained no support in Bavaria, but raised an army among the Saxons and carried on a campaign of plunder against Henry until 1071, when he submitted. In the following year he received back his private estates though not the ducal title.
When the Saxon revolt
broke out in summer 1073 Otto is represented by Bruno
, the author of De bello Saxonico, as delivering an inspiring speech to the assembled Saxons at Wormsleben
, after which he took command of the insurgents. By the peace of Gerstungen
on February 2, 1074 Bavaria was formally restored to him, which however met strong opposition with the result that Otto's former son-in-law Welf I
de facto remained duke. He also participated in the second rising of 1075 following the demolition of Harzburg Castle
, after which he was again pardoned by Henry and made administrator of Saxony.
After the excommunication of Henry IV by Pope Gregory VII
in 1076, Otto attempted to mediate between Henry and the Saxons at Trebur
, but when these efforts failed he again placed himself at their head. He assented to the election of Count Rudolf of Rheinfelden as King of the Romans
, when his restoration to Bavaria was assured, and by his skill and bravery inflicted defeats on Henry's forces at Mellrichstadt
, Flarchheim
and Hohenmolsen
.
Otto is described as a noble, prudent and warlike man, and he possessed great abilities. His repeated pardons showed that Henry could not afford to neglect such a powerful personality, and his military talents were repeatedly displayed. He remained in arms against the king until his death on 11 January 1083. Otto is buried in the Nicolai Chapel in Northeim
.
dynasty, widow of Count Hermann of Werl
, he left four sons and three daughters.
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
revolt against Emperor Henry IV
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
.
Otto belonged to the rich and influential Saxon
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...
family of the counts of Northeim
Northeim
Northeim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, seat of the district of Northeim, with, as of 2002, a population of 31 000. It's located on the German Half-Timbered House Road.-History:...
, and having distinguished himself in war and peace alike, in 1061 received the Stem Duchy of Bavaria
History of Bavaria
The history of Bavaria stretches from its earliest settlement and its formation as a stem duchy in the 6th century through its inclusion in the Holy Roman Empires to its status as an independent kingdom and, finally, as a large and significant Bundesland of the modern Federal Republic of...
from the Dowager Empress Agnes of Poitou, widow of Emperor Henry III
Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...
and mother of the child Emperor Henry IV. In spite of that one year later he conspired with Archbishop Anno II of Cologne to seize Henry IV at Kaiserswerth
Düsseldorf-Kaiserswerth
Kaiserswerth is one of the oldest parts of the City of Düsseldorf. It is in the north of the city and next to the river Rhine. It houses the Deaconess's Institute of Kaiserswerth where Florence Nightingale studied....
in order to deprive his mother of power. The coup succeeded, Otto led a successful expedition into Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1063 and took a prominent part in the Empire's government during the king's minority. In 1064 he went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to settle a papal schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
and was largely instrumental in securing the banishment from court of Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen-Hamburg
Adalbert of Hamburg
This article is about Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen. For other uses, see Adalbert .Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen was a German prelate, who was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen from 1043 until his death...
. He crossed the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
in the royal interests on two other occasions and in 1069 shared in two expeditions to the eastern Wend
Wends
Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used...
lands.
Otto neglected his duchy, but added to his personal possessions in the southern Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
region, which ultimately led into conflict with Henry IV. In 1070 he was accused by a certain Egeno von Konradsburg of being privy to a plot to murder the king, and it was decided he should submit to the ordeal of battle with his accuser at Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
. The duke smelled treason and asked for a safe-conduct to and from the place of meeting. When this was refused he declined to appear and was consequently placed under the imperial ban and deprived of Bavaria, while his Saxon estates were plundered. He obtained no support in Bavaria, but raised an army among the Saxons and carried on a campaign of plunder against Henry until 1071, when he submitted. In the following year he received back his private estates though not the ducal title.
When the Saxon revolt
Great Saxon Revolt
The Great Saxon Revolt was a civil war between 1077 and 1088 early in the history of the Holy Roman Empire led by a group of opportunistic German princes who elected as their figurehead the duke of Swabia and anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfeld, a two-way brother-in-law of the young Henry IV, Holy Roman...
broke out in summer 1073 Otto is represented by Bruno
Bruno the Saxon
Bruno the Saxon was a German chronicler of the eleventh century and author of the "Historia de Bello Saxonico" or History of the Saxon Wars. Little is known of his life...
, the author of De bello Saxonico, as delivering an inspiring speech to the assembled Saxons at Wormsleben
Lüttchendorf
Lüttchendorf is a village and a former municipality in the Mansfeld-Südharz district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Seegebiet Mansfelder Land....
, after which he took command of the insurgents. By the peace of Gerstungen
Gerstungen
Gerstungen is a municipality in the Wartburgkreis district of Thuringia, Germany.-History:Between 1945 and 1990 Gerstungen served as East German inner German border crossing on the Thuringian Railway...
on February 2, 1074 Bavaria was formally restored to him, which however met strong opposition with the result that Otto's former son-in-law Welf I
Welf I, Duke of Bavaria
Welf I was duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 1096 to his death. He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the Welf genealogy he is counted as Welf IV.-Life and reign:...
de facto remained duke. He also participated in the second rising of 1075 following the demolition of Harzburg Castle
Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :...
, after which he was again pardoned by Henry and made administrator of Saxony.
After the excommunication of Henry IV by Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
in 1076, Otto attempted to mediate between Henry and the Saxons at Trebur
Trebur
Trebur is a community in Groß-Gerau district in Hesse, Germany. It is 13 km southeast of Mainz, and 8 km south of Rüsselsheim.-Location:Trebur is located in the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region...
, but when these efforts failed he again placed himself at their head. He assented to the election of Count Rudolf of Rheinfelden as King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
, when his restoration to Bavaria was assured, and by his skill and bravery inflicted defeats on Henry's forces at Mellrichstadt
Mellrichstadt
Mellrichstadt is a town in the district Rhön-Grabfeld, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 17 km southwest of Meiningen, and 13 km northeast of Bad Neustadt. It town includes the following villages: Bahra, Eußenhausen, Frickenhausen, Mühlfeld, Sondheim im Grabfeld und Roßrieth....
, Flarchheim
Flarchheim
Flarchheim is a municipality in the Unstrut-Hainich district of Thuringia, Germany.Flarchheim was the site of the Battle of Flarchheim in January 1080, one of the very few times the Holy Roman Empire attempted to wage a midwinter military campaign in northern Europe....
and Hohenmolsen
Hohenmölsen
' is a town in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated approx. 10 km southeast of Weißenfels, and 27 km southwest of Leipzig....
.
Otto is described as a noble, prudent and warlike man, and he possessed great abilities. His repeated pardons showed that Henry could not afford to neglect such a powerful personality, and his military talents were repeatedly displayed. He remained in arms against the king until his death on 11 January 1083. Otto is buried in the Nicolai Chapel in Northeim
Northeim
Northeim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, seat of the district of Northeim, with, as of 2002, a population of 31 000. It's located on the German Half-Timbered House Road.-History:...
.
Marriage and children
By his wife Richenza, probably of the BillungBillung
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...
dynasty, widow of Count Hermann of Werl
Werl
Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area...
, he left four sons and three daughters.
- Henry the FatHenry, Margrave of FrisiaHenry the Fat , also known as Henry of Nordheim or Northeim, was from 1083 Count in Rittigau and Eichsfeld and from 1099 the Margrave of Frisia. He was the eldest son of Otto of Nordheim and Richenza of Swabia....
(1055–1101), Margrave of FrisiaFrisiaFrisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea, i.e. the German Bight. Frisia is the traditional homeland of the Frisians, a Germanic people who speak Frisian, a language group closely related to the English language...
(1055–1101) - Otto II, Count of Nordheim
- Siegfried III (1050–1107), Count of Boyneburg
- Kuno (1150/60–1103), Count of BeichlingenBeichlingenBeichlingen is a municipality in the Sömmerda district of Thuringia, Germany....
- Ida, married Thimo of WettinThimo of WettinThimo , was count of Wettin and Brehna.He was the son of Dietrich II, Margrave of Lower Lusatia, and Mathilde, daughter of Eckard I, Margrave of Meissen, and married Ida, daughter of Otto of Northeim...
, was mother of Conrad, Margrave of MeissenConrad, Margrave of MeissenConrad the Great was the Margrave of Meissen from 1123 until his retirement in 1156. He was the son of Thimo, Count of Brehna, of the House of Wettin and Ida, daughter of Otto of Nordheim. He was also Count of Wettin, Brehna, and Camburg from before 1116.In 1123, he became Count of Eilenburg... - Ethelinde (born 1160, date of death unknown), married Duke Welf I of BavariaWelf I, Duke of BavariaWelf I was duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 1096 to his death. He was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este. In the Welf genealogy he is counted as Welf IV.-Life and reign:...
in 1062, divorced 1070; married Hermann I, Count of CalvelageCounty of CalvelageThe County of Calvelage existed at the end of the 11th century and in the first half of the 12th century in the region of Vechta in Lower Saxony, Germany.The Court of Kalvelage in the farming community of Brockdorf in Lohne provided the name for the county...
in 1070 - Mathilde, married Count Konrad II of Werl-Arnsberg