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____ Bernard II
Birth: ABT 995 of Saxony
Death: 29 Jun 1059
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_II,_Duke_of_Saxony
Bernard II (c. 995 – 29 June 1059) was the Duke of Saxony between 1011 and 1059,
the third of the Billung dynasty as a son of Bernard I and Hildegard. Besides his
position in Saxony, he had the rights of a count in Frisia.
Bernard expanded the powers of the duke in Saxony and is regarded as the greatest
of the Billungers. He was originally a supporter of Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, and
he accompanied him into Poland to negotiate the Peace of Bautzen of 1018. In
1019–1020, however, he revolted against Henry[1] and gained the recognition of the
tribal laws of Saxony, something his father had failed to do. He then returned to war
with the Obodrites and Lutici (two Slavic tribes) and drew them into his sphere of
influence through their leader Gottschalk.
He supported Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II in 1024 and his son Henry III, though he
began to fear the latter for his closeness to the Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen, whom
he considered a spy and inveterate enemy of the dukes of Saxony.[1] Although he
was a critical ally of the Danes, who provided fundamental support for Henry's wars in
the Low Countries, Bernard was on the brink of rebellion until the death of Adalbert.
The remainder of his reign, however, was quiet.
In 1045, he erected the Alsterburg in Hamburg. He died in 1059 and was succeeded
without incident by his son Ordulf. He is buried in the Church of Saint Michael in
Lüneburg.
Marriage and issue[edit]
Bernard II, Duke of Saxony married to Eilika of Schweinfurt, daughter of Henry of
Schweinfurt. They had these children together:
Gertrude of Saxony (c. 1030 – August 4, 1113), married firstly to Floris I, Count of
Holland, secondly to Robert I, Count of Flanders
Ordulf, Duke of Saxony (c. 1020 – March 28, 1072), who married Ulfhilde or Wulfhilde
of Norway (c. 1023 – May 24, 1070), daughter of King Olaf II (St.Olaf) of Norway and
his wife Queen Astrid
Hermann
Ida of Saxony, who married Albert III, Count of Namur
Parents
BILLUNG Bernard (Benno) I (ABT 950 - 9 Feb 1011)
VON STADE Hildegarde (ABT 965 - 3 Oct 1011)
Siblings
____ Bernard II (ABT 995 - 29 Jun 1059)
Marriage To ____ Bertrade (ABT 990 - )
m.
Notes
Parents
____ Harold II "Graypelt" (ABT 940 - )
----- ----- ()
Children by ____ Bertrade ABT 990 -
OF SAXONY Ida (ABT 1030 - AFT 1102)
Marriage To VON SCHWEINFURT Eilika (Elica) (ABT 1005 - 1059)
m. ABT 1022
Notes
Parents
VON SCHWEINFURT Henry (Heinrich) (ABT 970 - 18 Sep 1017)
VON GLEIBERG Gerberga (ABT 970 - AFT 1036)
Children by VON SCHWEINFURT Eilika (Elica) ABT 1005 - 1059
____ Ordulph (Otto) (ABT 1022 - 28 Mar 1072)
OF SAXONY Gertrude (ABT 1028 - 4 Aug 1113)
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