Bernard I (c. 950 – 9 February 1011) was the

Duke of Saxony This article lists dukes, electors, and kings ruling over different territories named Saxony from the beginning of the Saxon Duchy in the 6th century to the end of the German monarchies in 1918. The electors of Saxony from John the Steadfast ...

between 973 and 1011, the second of the

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. Oda, the wife of Count Liudolf, oldest known member of the Liudol ...

dynasty, a son of Duke Herman and Oda. He extended his father's power considerably. He fought the

Danes Danes (, ), or Danish people, are an ethnic group and nationality native to Denmark and a modern nation identified with the country of Denmark. This connection may be ancestral, legal, historical, or cultural. History Early history Denmark ...

in 974, 983, and 994 during their invasions. He supported the succession of

Otto III Otto III (June/July 980 – 23 January 1002) was the Holy Roman emperor and King of Italy from 996 until his death in 1002. A member of the Ottonian dynasty, Otto III was the only son of Emperor Otto II and his wife Theophanu. Otto III was c ...

over Henry the Wrangler. In 986, he was made

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

and in 991 and 995 he joined the young Otto on campaign against the

Slavs The Slavs or Slavic people are groups of people who speak Slavic languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout the northern parts of Eurasia; they predominantly inhabit Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeastern Europe, and ...

. He increased his power ''vis-à-vis'' the crown, where his father had been the representative of the king to the tribe, Bernard was the representative of the tribe to the king.we.archive.org Bernhard I. (Benno), Herzog von Sachsen aus der Familie der BILLUNGER
/ref> Bernard died in 1011 and was buried in the Church of

Saint Michael Michael, also called Saint Michael the Archangel, Archangel Michael and Saint Michael the Taxiarch is an archangel and the warrior of God in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The earliest surviving mentions of his name are in third- and second- ...

Lüneburg Lüneburg, officially the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg and also known in English as Lunenburg, is a town in the German Bundesland (Germany), state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of another Hanseatic League, Hanseatic city, Hambur ...

Family

In 990, Bernard married Hildegard (died 1011), daughter of Henry I the Bald, Count of

Stade Stade (; ), officially the Hanseatic City of Stade (, ) is a city in Lower Saxony in northern Germany. First mentioned in records in 934, it is the seat of the Stade (district), district () which bears its name. It is located roughly to the wes ...

. They had: *Herman, died young * Bernard II, his successor *Thietmar, a count, died in a duel on 1 April 1048 in

Pöhlde Pöhlde is a village in southern Lower Saxony in Germany. It is part of the town Herzberg am Harz. It has a population of 2207 (1 October 2006). Archaeological excavation has revealed traces of settlement dating to the 2nd through 4th centuries AD. ...

*Gedesdiu (or Gedesti) (died 30 June c. 1040), abbess of

Metelen Metelen is a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the river Vechte in the Steinfurt (district), district of Steinfurt. Metelen Land station is located on the Münster–Enschede railway and has an hourly train service ...

(from 993) and

Herford Herford (; ) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is situated in the cultural region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) and the Detmold (administrat ...

(from 1002) and probably: *Matilda, nun *Othelindis (died 9 March 1044), married Dirk III of Holland.

References

Sources

* {{Authority control Bernhard 01 House of Billung 950s births 1011 deaths Year of birth uncertain Burials at the Church of Saint Michael, Lüneburg 10th-century dukes in Europe 11th-century dukes in Europe 10th-century Saxon people 11th-century Saxon people