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{{Short description|German nobleman (c. 900 – 965)}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
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[[Image:Gero.png|thumb|right|200px|14th-century wall painting depiciting Gero in the chuch he founded at Gernrode.]]
{{other uses}}
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'''Gero I''' (c. 900 &ndash; [[20 May]] [[965]]), called '''the Great''' (Latin ''magnus''),<ref>Thompson, 486. Also see [http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/gero_sippe/gero_1_der_grosse_markgraf_der_ostmark_965/schoelkopf_ruth.html Lexikon des Mittelalters.]</ref> ruled an initially modest march centred on [[Merseburg]], which he expanded into a vast territory named after him the ''[[marca Geronis]]''.<ref>Ibid, 639. ''marca'' is also spelled ''marcha''. His title in Lang, 625, is "Count of the East March."</ref> During the mid-10th century, he was the leader of the drive to regain control over Saxon land, later referred to as [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] ''[[Drang nach Osten]]''.
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[[Image:Gero.png|thumb|right|200px|14th-century wall painting depicting Gero in the church he founded at Gernrode]]

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'''Gero I''' ({{c.}} 900 – 20 May 965), sometimes called '''the Great''' ({{langx|la|magnus}}),<ref name=thompson>Thompson, 486. Also see [http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/gero_sippe/gero_1_der_grosse_markgraf_der_ostmark_965/schoelkopf_ruth.html Lexikon des Mittelalters.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000421/http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/gero_sippe/gero_1_der_grosse_markgraf_der_ostmark_965/schoelkopf_ruth.html |date=1 October 2007 }}</ref> was a German nobleman who ruled an initially modest [[March (territory)|march]] centred on [[Merseburg]] in the south of the present [[Germany|German]] state of [[Saxony-Anhalt]], which he expanded into a vast territory named after him: the ''[[marca Geronis]]''.<ref name=thompson639>Thompson, 639–640.</ref><ref>''Marca'' is also spelled ''marcha''. His title in Lang, 625, is "Count of the East March."</ref> During the mid-10th century, he was the leader of the [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] ''[[Ostsiedlung]]''.


==Succession and early conflicts==
==Succession and early conflicts==
Gero was the son of [[Thietmar, Margrave of Merseburg|Count Thietmar]], tutor of [[Henry I of Germany|Henry I]]. He was appointed by [[Otto I of Germany|King Otto I]] to succeed his brother [[Siegfried, Margrave of Merseburg|Siegfried]] as count and margrave in the district fronting the [[Wends]] on the lower [[Saale]] in 937. His appointment frustrated [[Thankmar]], the king's half-brother and Siegfried's cousin, and together with [[Eberhard of Franconia]] and [[Wichmann the Elder]], he revolted against the king (938).<ref>Reuter, 152.</ref> Thankmar was dead within a year and hic accomplices came to terms with Otto. Gero was kept in his march.
Gero was the son of Count [[Thietmar, Count of Merseburg|Thietmar]], tutor of [[Henry the Fowler]]. He was appointed by King [[Otto the Great|Otto of Saxony]] to succeed his brother, [[Siegfried, Margrave of Merseburg|Siegfried]], as count and [[margrave]] in the district fronting the [[Wends]] on the lower [[Saale]] in 937. His appointment frustrated [[Thankmar]], the king's half-brother and Siegfried's cousin, and together with [[Eberhard of Franconia]] and [[Wichmann the Elder]], he revolted against the king (938).<ref>[[Timothy Reuter|Reuter]], 152.</ref> Thankmar was dead within a year and his accomplices came to terms with Otto. Gero kept his march.


During the insurrection of his opponents, Gero had been prosecuting a losing war against the Slavs in 937&ndash;938. The losses his troops sustained could not be made up for by the produce of the land nor by tribute, since the Slavs refused to pay. As an important marcher lord, Gero's command included ''milites ad manum Geronis presidis conscripti'', that is, a "military following," "warband of vassals or companions," or "specially chosen group of fighters" differentiated from the rest of the army (''exercitus'').<ref>Leyser, "Henry I," 13.</ref> These men formed the elite of Gero's troops.
During the insurrection of his opponents, Gero had been prosecuting a losing war against the Slavs in 937–938. The losses his troops sustained could not be made up for by the produce of the land nor by tribute, since the Slavs refused to pay. As an important [[marcher lord]], Gero's command included ''{{lang|la|milites ad manum Geronis presidis conscripti}}'', that is, a "military following," "warband of vassals or companions," or "specially chosen group of fighters" differentiated from the rest of the army (''exercitus'').<ref>Leyser, "Henry I," 13.</ref> These men formed the elite of Gero's troops.


==Slav campaigns==
==Slav campaigns==
In [[804]] [[Obodrites]] were brought in and given Saxon land by [[Charlemagne]] and in 939, an Obodrite attack left a German army routed and its margravial leader dead. Gero in revenge invited thirty Slav chieftains to a banquet whereat he killed all but one, who managed to escape by accident.<ref>Howorth, 218.</ref> In response, the [[Stodorani]] revolted against German overlordship and chased the Germans across the Elbe, but Gero was able to reverse this before Otto's arrival in [[Magdeburg]] later in the year. He subsequently bribed [[Tugumir]], a baptised Slav prince, to betray his countryman and make his people subject to Germany. Soon after, the Obodrites and the [[Wilzes]] made submission.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
In 939, an [[Obodrite]] attack left a Saxon army routed and its margravial leader dead. Gero in revenge invited thirty Slav chieftains to a banquet whereat he killed all but one, who managed to escape by accident.<ref name=howorth218>Howorth, 218.</ref> In response, the [[Stodorani]] revolted against German overlordship and chased the Germans across the Elbe, but Gero was able to reverse this before Otto's arrival in [[Magdeburg]] later in the year. He subsequently bribed [[Tugumir]], a baptised Slav prince, to betray his countrymen and make his people subject to Germany. Soon after, the Obodrites and the [[Wilzes]] made submission.<ref name=howorth218/>


In 954, while Gero was away, the [[Ukrani]] (or Ucri) revolted, but Gero returned with [[Conrad the Red]] and pacified them.<ref>Ibid.</ref>
In 954, while Gero was away, the [[Ukrani]] (or Ucri) revolted, but Gero returned with [[Conrad the Red]] and pacified them.<ref name=howorth218/>


In 955, some Saxon counts rebelled and were banished by [[Herman, Duke of Saxony|Duke Herman]]. They found refuge in [[Swetlastrana]], a Slav town, location unknown, where the Obodrite chiefs [[Nakon]] and [[Stoinegin]] (or Stojgnev) resided. There Herman besieged them until an agreement was reached, but an ensuing skirmish spoiled the peace. The Obodrites, Wilzes, [[Chrepienyani]], [[Redarii]], and [[Dolenzi]] then banded together to oppose the coming army of Gero, the king, and [[Liudolf, Duke of Swabia]]. After negotiations failed because the Germans harsh terms, the Slavs were defeated in battle on the [[Drosa]].<ref>Ibid, 219.</ref>
In 955, some Saxon counts rebelled and were banished by [[Herman, Duke of Saxony|Duke Herman]]. They found refuge in [[Swetlastrana]], a Slav town, location unknown (maybe current Berlin-Lichtenberg), where the Obodrite chiefs [[Nakon]] and [[Stoinegin]] (or Stojgnev) resided. There Herman besieged them until an agreement was reached, but an ensuing skirmish spoiled the peace. The Obodrites, Wilzes, [[Chrepienyani]], [[Redarii]] and [[Dolenzi]] then banded together to oppose the coming army of Gero, the king, and [[Liudolf, Duke of Swabia]]. After negotiations failed because of the Germans' harsh terms, the Slavs were defeated in battle on the [[Drosa]].<ref>Howorth, 219.</ref>


Gero participated in general Saxon campaigns against the Slavs in 957, 959, and 960, as well as campaigning against the Wends and forcing [[Mieszko I]] of the [[Polans]] to pay tribute, received land lien and recognise German sovereignty during Otto's absence in Italy (962&ndash;963).<ref>Reuter, 164. Howorth, 226.</ref> Lusatia, according to [[Widukind of Corvey|Widukind]], was subjected "to the last degree of servitude."<ref>Leyser, "Ottonian," 740.</ref> Gero was responsible for subjecting the [[Liutizi]] and [[Milceni|Milzini]] (or Milciani) and extending German suzerainty over the whole territory between the [[Elbe]] and the [[Bober]].<ref>Thompson, 639.</ref> In these lands, the Slavic populace was reduced to serfdom and "tribute-paying peoples" were converted into "census-paying peasants."<ref>Ibid. Bernhardt, 38.</ref>
Gero participated in general Saxon campaigns against the Slavs in 957, 959, and 960, as well as campaigning against the Wends and forcing [[Mieszko I]] of the [[Polans (western)|Polans]] to pay tribute, grant land [[lien]], and recognise German sovereignty during Otto's absence in Italy (962–963).<ref>[[Timothy Reuter|Reuter]], 164. Howorth, 226.</ref> [[Lusatia]], according to [[Widukind of Corvey|Widukind]], was subjected "to the last degree of servitude".<ref>Leyser, "Ottonian," 740.</ref> Gero was responsible for subjecting the [[Liutizi]] and [[Milceni|Milzini]] (or Milciani) and extending German suzerainty over the whole territory between the [[Elbe]] and the [[Bober]].<ref name=thompson639/> In these lands, the native Slavic populace was reduced to serfdom and "tribute-paying peoples" were converted into "census-paying peasants".<ref name=thompson639/><ref>Bernhardt, 38.</ref>

[[File:Eingang Gernrode.jpg|thumb|left|160px|The [[church of St. Cyriakus]] at Gernrode]]


==Relationship with Church and family==
==Relationship with Church and family==
Gero had a close relationship to Otto I. Otto was godfather to Gero's eldest son, Siegfried, and he granted Siegfried the ''villae'' of [[Egeln]] and [[Westeregeln]] in the [[Schwabengau]] in 941.<ref>Leyser, "Henry I," 27.</ref> As an act of devotion, Gero made a pilgrimage to [[Rome]] in 959 after Siegfried's death.<ref>Leyser, "Henry I," 147.</ref> In Siegfried's name, in 960, he also founded a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] [[collegiate church]], [[Saint Cyriakus, Gernrode|St Cyriakus]], and the [[Gernrode Abbey|abbey of Gernrode]], in a forest named after him, ''Geronisrode'' ([[Gernrode]]), and left a large part of his great wealth to it on his death.<ref>[[Timothy Reuter|Reuter]], 241.</ref> The church and abbey were dedicated to [[St. Cyriacus]],<ref name=Stokstad>{{cite book|last=Stokstad|first=Marilyn|title=Art History, 4th Ed|year=2011|publisher=Pearson|location=Upper Saddle River, New Jersey|isbn=978-0-205-74420-6|pages=447}}</ref> and the abbey was a convent, housing nuns and canonesses.<ref>Bernhardt, 176 and n243.</ref>
Gero founded a monastery dedicated to [[St Cyriacus]] at [[Frose]], though it was later converted into a convent.<ref>Bernhardt, 176 and n243.</ref> Gero had a close relationship to Otto I. Otto was godfather to Gero's eldest son, Siegfried, and he granted Siegfried the ''villae'' of [[Egeln]] and [[Westeregeln]] in the [[Schwabengau]] in 941.<ref>Leyser, "Henry I," 27.</ref>


Amongst other acts of devotion, Gero made a pilgrimage to [[Rome]] in 959 after Siegfried's untimely death.<ref>Ibid, 147. </ref> In Siegfried's name, he also founded the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] nunnery of ''Geronisrode'' [[Gernrode]], in a forest named after him, in 960 and left a large part of his great wealth to it on his death.<ref>Reuter, 241.</ref> His second son, Gero II, had already died at that point. The name of Gero's wife has to be hypothesised from ''[[libri memoriales]]'': it was either Judith (Iudita) or Thietsuuind (Thietswind).
Gero's second son, Gero II, had already died at that point. The name of Gero's wife has to be hypothesised from ''[[libri memoriales]]'': it was either Judith (Iudita) or Thietsuuind (Thietswind).{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}


==Death and division of territory==
==Death and division of territory==
[[Image:HRR 10Jh.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The ''marca Geronis'' (hatched) corresponds to the southern 3/4 of the Saxon marches: Nordmark, Lausitz, Merseburg, Meissen, and Zeitz.]]
[[Image:Grabmal_Geros.png|thumb|left|160px|The tomb of Gero the Great.]]
[[Image:HRR 10Jh.jpg|thumb|right|160px|The ''marca Geronis'' (hatched) corresponds to the southern three quarters of the Saxon marches: Nordmark, Lausitz, Merseburg, Meissen and Zeitz.]]

At his death, Gero's march extended as far as the [[Neisse]] river. He was not popular with the Saxon nobility of his day, because he had a strong sense of moral rectitude and was of low birth.<ref>Thompson, 487.</ref> Nonetheless, he became celebrated in the ''[[Nibelungenlied]]'' as the ''marcgrâve Gêre'', though have disputed whether he was ever officially accorded that title.<ref>Dvornik, 138. Thompson, 486. He is referred to as ''ducis et marchionis nostri'' by Otto I in a charter dated [[9 May]] [[946]], though Widukind only ever refers to him as ''comes'' or ''praeses''.</ref> Gero's tomb can still be see in Gernrode today. A decorative painting was added to it c. 1350. It depicts Gero standing over a vanquished Wend.<ref>Jakubowska, 64 n16.</ref>
At his death, Gero's march extended as far as the [[Neisse]] river. He was not popular with the Saxon nobility of his day, because he had a strong sense of moral rectitude and was of low birth.<ref>Thompson, 487.</ref> Nonetheless, he became celebrated in the ''[[Nibelungenlied]]'' as the ''marcgrâve Gêre'', though it has been disputed whether he was ever officially accorded that title.<ref>Dvornik, 138. Thompson, 486. He is referred to as ''ducis et marchionis nostri'' by Otto I in a charter dated 9 May 946, though Widukind only ever refers to him as ''comes'' or ''praeses''.</ref> Gero's tomb can still be seen in Gernrode today. A decorative painting was added to it c. 1350. It depicts Gero standing over a vanquished Wend.<ref>Jakubowska, 64 n16.</ref>

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After his death, the huge territory he had conquered was divided by Emperor [[Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto II]] into several different marches: the [[Northern March]] (under [[Dietrich of Haldensleben]]), the [[Saxon Eastern March|Eastern March]] (under [[Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark|Odo I]]), the [[March of Meissen]] (under [[Wigbert of Meissen|Wigbert]]), the [[March of Merseburg]] (under [[Gunther, Margrave of Merseburg|Günther]]) and the [[March of Zeitz]] (under [[Wigger I]]). Later the Northern March was subdivided into the marches of [[March of Landsberg|Landsberg]], [[March of Lusatia|Lusatia]] and [[March of Brandenburg|Brandenburg]].


⚫
The division of Gero's "super-march" probably had something to do with its immense size and the political consideration of trying to please many without making enemies.<ref>[[Timothy Reuter|Reuter]], 160.</ref> The subdivisions into which it was divided, however, were natural. As early as 963, Lusatia—and even upper and lower Lusatia—and the Ostmark were distinguishable as governable provinces within Gero's march.<ref name=thompson639/>
⚫
After his death, the huge territory he had conquered was divided by the Emperor Otto into several different marches: the [[Northern March]] (under [[Dietrich of Haldensleben]]), the [[Saxon Eastern March|Eastern March]] (under [[Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark|Odo I]]), the [[March of Meissen]] (under [[Wigbert of Meissen|Wigbert]]), the [[March of Merseburg]] (under [[Günther of Merseburg|Günther]]) and the [[March of Zeitz]] (under [[Wigger I of Zeitz|Wigger I]]). Later the Northern March was subdivided into the marches of [[March of Landsberg|Landsberg]], [[March of Lusatia|Lusatia]], and [[March of Brandenburg|Brandenburg]].


==See also==
⚫
The division of Gero's "super-march" probably had something to do with its immense size and the political consideration of trying to please many without making enemies.<ref>Reuter, 160.</ref> The subdivisions into which it was divided, however, were natural. As early as 963, Lusatia &mdash; and even upper and lower Lusatia &mdash; and the Ostmark were distinguishable as governable provinces within Gero's march.<ref>Thompson, 639&ndash;640.</ref>
*[[Saint Cyriakus, Gernrode]]


==Sources==
==Sources==
The primary chronicle sources for Gero's life are those of [[Widukind of Corvey]] and [[Thietmar of Merseburg]], on which most of the work in the secondary sources is based.
The primary chronicle sources for Gero's life are those of [[Widukind of Corvey]] and [[Thietmar of Merseburg]], on which most of the work in the secondary sources is based.
*[[Timothy Reuter|Reuter, Timothy]]. ''Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800&ndash;1056''. New York: Longman, 1991.
* [[Reuter, Timothy]]. ''Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056''. New York: Longman, 1991.
*[[James Westfall Thompson|Thompson, James Westfall]]. ''Feudal Germany, Volume II''. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1928.
* [[James Westfall Thompson|Thompson, James Westfall]]. ''Feudal Germany, Volume II''. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1928.
*Bernhardt, John W. ''Itinerant Kingship and Royal Monasteries in Early Medieval Germany, c. 936&ndash;1075''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
* Bernhardt, John W. ''Itinerant Kingship and Royal Monasteries in Early Medieval Germany, c. 936–1075''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
*Leyser, Karl. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28198110%2996%3A381%3C721%3AOG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-4 "Ottonian Government."] ''The English Historical Review'', Vol. 96, No. 381. (Oct., 1981), pp 721&ndash;753.
* [[Karl Leyser|Leyser, Karl]]. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/569838 "Ottonian Government."] ''The English Historical Review'', Vol. 96, No. 381. (Oct. 1981), pp 721–753.
*Leyser, Karl. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28196801%2983%3A326%3C1%3AHIATBO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-L "Henry I and the Beginnings of the Saxon Empire."] ''The English Historical Review'', Vol. 83, No. 326. (Jan., 1968), pp 1&ndash;32.
* Leyser, Karl. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/561761 "Henry I and the Beginnings of the Saxon Empire."] ''The English Historical Review'', Vol. 83, No. 326. (Jan. 1968), pp 1–32.
*Lang, Henry Joseph. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0038-7134%28197410%2949%3A4%3C623%3ATFOTMO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7 "The Fall of the Monarchy of Mieszko II, Lambert."] ''Speculum'', Vol. 49, No. 4. (Oct., 1974), pp 623&ndash;639.
* Lang, Henry Joseph. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2852030 "The Fall of the Monarchy of Mieszko II, Lambert."] ''Speculum'', Vol. 49, No. 4. (Oct. 1974), pp 623–639.
*Dvornik, F. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1474-6913%281943%297%3A3%3C129%3ATFWOTD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R "The First Wave of the Drang Nach Osten."] ''Cambridge Historical Journal'', Vol. 7, No. 3. (1943), pp 129&ndash;145.
* Dvornik, F. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3020564 "The First Wave of the Drang Nach Osten."] ''Cambridge Historical Journal'', Vol. 7, No. 3. (1943), pp 129–145.
*Jakubowska, Bogna. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0391-9064%281991%2912%3A23%3C53%3ASMEOL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y "Salve Me Ex Ore Leonis."] ''Artibus et Historiae,'' Vol. 12, No. 23. (1991), pp. 53&ndash;65.
* Jakubowska, Bogna. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1483366 "Salve Me Ex Ore Leonis."] ''Artibus et Historiae,'' Vol. 12, No. 23. (1991), pp.&nbsp;53–65.
*Howorth, H. H. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0959-5295%281880%299%3C181%3ATSOTSP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-7 "The Spread of the Slaves. Part III. The Northern Serbs or Sorabians and the Obodriti."] ''The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland'', Vol. 9. (1880), pp 181&ndash;232.
* Howorth, H. H. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2841974 "The Spread of the Slaves. Part III. The Northern Serbs or Sorabians and the Obodriti."] ''The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland'', Vol. 9. (1880), pp 181–232.
*"[http://de.wikisource.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=ADB:Gero_%28Markgraf%29&oldid=165650 Gero (Markgraf)]." ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'', by the ''Historischen Kommission of the Bayrischen Akademie der Wissenschaften'', Band 9, Seite 38. (retrieved 29 May 2007, 15:09 UTC)
* "[http://de.wikisource.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=ADB:Gero_%28Markgraf%29&oldid=165650 Gero (Markgraf)]." ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'', by the ''Historischen Kommission of the Bayrischen Akademie der Wissenschaften'', Band 9, Seite 38. (retrieved 29 May 2007, 15:09 UTC)
*[http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/gero_sippe/gero_1_der_grosse_markgraf_der_ostmark_965/schoelkopf_ruth.html Genealogie Mittelalter: Mittelalterliche Genealogie im Deutschen Reich bis zum Ende der Staufer. "Die sächsischen Grafen 919-1024." Schölkopf Ruth.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000421/http://www.genealogie-mittelalter.de/gero_sippe/gero_1_der_grosse_markgraf_der_ostmark_965/schoelkopf_ruth.html Genealogie Mittelalter: Mittelalterliche Genealogie im Deutschen Reich bis zum Ende der Staufer. "Die sächsischen Grafen 919–1024." Schölkopf Ruth.]
*Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEISSEN.htm#_Toc155843803 Meissen.]


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:965 deaths|Gero, Margrave]]
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[[Category:German nobility|Gero, Margrave]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gero}}
[[de:Gero (sächsische Ostmark)]]
[[fr:Gero (margrave)]]
[[Category:900s births]]
[[pl:Gero]]
[[Category:965 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[ru:Геро I Железный]]
[[Category:Counts of the Holy Roman Empire]]
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[[Category:Saxon nobility]]
[[Category:Gernrode]]

Latest revision as of 11:22, 10 December 2024

For other uses, see Gero (disambiguation).
14th-century wall painting depicting Gero in the church he founded at Gernrode

Gero I (c. 900 – 20 May 965), sometimes called the Great (Latin: magnus),[1] was a German nobleman who ruled an initially modest march centred on Merseburg in the south of the present German state of Saxony-Anhalt, which he expanded into a vast territory named after him: the marca Geronis.[2][3] During the mid-10th century, he was the leader of the Saxon Ostsiedlung.

Succession and early conflicts

[edit]

Gero was the son of Count Thietmar, tutor of Henry the Fowler. He was appointed by King Otto of Saxony to succeed his brother, Siegfried, as count and margrave in the district fronting the Wends on the lower Saale in 937. His appointment frustrated Thankmar, the king's half-brother and Siegfried's cousin, and together with Eberhard of Franconia and Wichmann the Elder, he revolted against the king (938).[4] Thankmar was dead within a year and his accomplices came to terms with Otto. Gero kept his march.

During the insurrection of his opponents, Gero had been prosecuting a losing war against the Slavs in 937–938. The losses his troops sustained could not be made up for by the produce of the land nor by tribute, since the Slavs refused to pay. As an important marcher lord, Gero's command included milites ad manum Geronis presidis conscripti, that is, a "military following," "warband of vassals or companions," or "specially chosen group of fighters" differentiated from the rest of the army (exercitus).[5] These men formed the elite of Gero's troops.

Slav campaigns

[edit]

In 939, an Obodrite attack left a Saxon army routed and its margravial leader dead. Gero in revenge invited thirty Slav chieftains to a banquet whereat he killed all but one, who managed to escape by accident.[6] In response, the Stodorani revolted against German overlordship and chased the Germans across the Elbe, but Gero was able to reverse this before Otto's arrival in Magdeburg later in the year. He subsequently bribed Tugumir, a baptised Slav prince, to betray his countrymen and make his people subject to Germany. Soon after, the Obodrites and the Wilzes made submission.[6]

In 954, while Gero was away, the Ukrani (or Ucri) revolted, but Gero returned with Conrad the Red and pacified them.[6]

In 955, some Saxon counts rebelled and were banished by Duke Herman. They found refuge in Swetlastrana, a Slav town, location unknown (maybe current Berlin-Lichtenberg), where the Obodrite chiefs Nakon and Stoinegin (or Stojgnev) resided. There Herman besieged them until an agreement was reached, but an ensuing skirmish spoiled the peace. The Obodrites, Wilzes, Chrepienyani, Redarii and Dolenzi then banded together to oppose the coming army of Gero, the king, and Liudolf, Duke of Swabia. After negotiations failed because of the Germans' harsh terms, the Slavs were defeated in battle on the Drosa.[7]

Gero participated in general Saxon campaigns against the Slavs in 957, 959, and 960, as well as campaigning against the Wends and forcing Mieszko I of the Polans to pay tribute, grant land lien, and recognise German sovereignty during Otto's absence in Italy (962–963).[8] Lusatia, according to Widukind, was subjected "to the last degree of servitude".[9] Gero was responsible for subjecting the Liutizi and Milzini (or Milciani) and extending German suzerainty over the whole territory between the Elbe and the Bober.[2] In these lands, the native Slavic populace was reduced to serfdom and "tribute-paying peoples" were converted into "census-paying peasants".[2][10]

The church of St. Cyriakus at Gernrode

Relationship with Church and family

[edit]

Gero had a close relationship to Otto I. Otto was godfather to Gero's eldest son, Siegfried, and he granted Siegfried the villae of Egeln and Westeregeln in the Schwabengau in 941.[11] As an act of devotion, Gero made a pilgrimage to Rome in 959 after Siegfried's death.[12] In Siegfried's name, in 960, he also founded a Romanesque collegiate church, St Cyriakus, and the abbey of Gernrode, in a forest named after him, Geronisrode (Gernrode), and left a large part of his great wealth to it on his death.[13] The church and abbey were dedicated to St. Cyriacus,[14] and the abbey was a convent, housing nuns and canonesses.[15]

Gero's second son, Gero II, had already died at that point. The name of Gero's wife has to be hypothesised from libri memoriales: it was either Judith (Iudita) or Thietsuuind (Thietswind).[citation needed]

Death and division of territory

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The tomb of Gero the Great.
The marca Geronis (hatched) corresponds to the southern three quarters of the Saxon marches: Nordmark, Lausitz, Merseburg, Meissen and Zeitz.

At his death, Gero's march extended as far as the Neisse river. He was not popular with the Saxon nobility of his day, because he had a strong sense of moral rectitude and was of low birth.[16] Nonetheless, he became celebrated in the Nibelungenlied as the marcgrâve Gêre, though it has been disputed whether he was ever officially accorded that title.[17] Gero's tomb can still be seen in Gernrode today. A decorative painting was added to it c. 1350. It depicts Gero standing over a vanquished Wend.[18]

After his death, the huge territory he had conquered was divided by Emperor Otto II into several different marches: the Northern March (under Dietrich of Haldensleben), the Eastern March (under Odo I), the March of Meissen (under Wigbert), the March of Merseburg (under Günther) and the March of Zeitz (under Wigger I). Later the Northern March was subdivided into the marches of Landsberg, Lusatia and Brandenburg.

The division of Gero's "super-march" probably had something to do with its immense size and the political consideration of trying to please many without making enemies.[19] The subdivisions into which it was divided, however, were natural. As early as 963, Lusatia—and even upper and lower Lusatia—and the Ostmark were distinguishable as governable provinces within Gero's march.[2]

See also

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Sources

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The primary chronicle sources for Gero's life are those of Widukind of Corvey and Thietmar of Merseburg, on which most of the work in the secondary sources is based.

Notes

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  1. ^ Thompson, 486. Also see Lexikon des Mittelalters. Archived 1 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c d Thompson, 639–640.
  3. ^ Marca is also spelled marcha. His title in Lang, 625, is "Count of the East March."
  4. ^ Reuter, 152.
  5. ^ Leyser, "Henry I," 13.
  6. ^ a b c Howorth, 218.
  7. ^ Howorth, 219.
  8. ^ Reuter, 164. Howorth, 226.
  9. ^ Leyser, "Ottonian," 740.
  10. ^ Bernhardt, 38.
  11. ^ Leyser, "Henry I," 27.
  12. ^ Leyser, "Henry I," 147.
  13. ^ Reuter, 241.
  14. ^ Stokstad, Marilyn (2011). Art History, 4th Ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. p. 447. ISBN 978-0-205-74420-6.
  15. ^ Bernhardt, 176 and n243.
  16. ^ Thompson, 487.
  17. ^ Dvornik, 138. Thompson, 486. He is referred to as ducis et marchionis nostri by Otto I in a charter dated 9 May 946, though Widukind only ever refers to him as comes or praeses.
  18. ^ Jakubowska, 64 n16.
  19. ^ Reuter, 160.
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