14th-century wall painting depiciting Gero in the chuch he founded at Gernrode.

Gero I (c. 900 – 20 May 965), called the Great (Latin magnus),^[1] ruled an initially modest march centred on Merseburg and which he expanded into a vast territory named after him the marca Geronis.^[2] During the mid-10th century, he was the leader of the Saxon Drang nach Osten. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 387 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1058 × 1637 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 387 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1058 × 1637 pixel, file size: 3. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 1 - Pope Leo VIII is restored in place of Pope Benedict V October 1 - Pope John XIII succeeds Pope Leo VIII as the 133rd pope. ... Merseburg is a city in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. ... The hatched portion of the map in the northeast excepting the March of the Billungs was the marca Geronis, notice the Mark Merseburg which was one of its partitions. ... The Duchy of Saxony was a medieval Duchy covering the greater part of Northern Germany. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Succession and early conflicts

Gero was the son of Count Thietmar, tutor of Henry I. He was appointed by King Otto I 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).^[3] Thankmar was dead within a year and hic accomplices came to terms with Otto. Gero was kept in his march. Thietmar (I) (also Thiatmar, Dietmar, or Thiommar; died 1 June 932), Count and Margrave, was the military tutor (vir disciplinae militaris peritissmus) of Henry the Fowler while he was the heir and then duke of the Duchy of Saxony. ... Henry I, the Fowler (German, Heinrich der Vogler) (876 - July 2, 936), was duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death in 936. ... The Magdeburger Reiter: a tinted sandstone equestrian monument, c. ... Siegfried (died 3 December 937) was the Count and Margrave of Merseburg from an unknown date before 934 until his death. ... Wends (German: Wenden, Latin: Venedi) is the English name for some Slavic people from north-central Europe. ... Length 413 km Elevation of the source 728  m Average discharge  ?  m³/s Area watershed  ?  km² Origin  Germany Mouth  Elbe Basin countries Germany Saale is the name of two rivers in Germany: the Saxonian Saale (German: Sächsische Saale) and the Franconian Saale (German: Fränkische Saale). ... Thankmar or Tammo (c. ... Eberhard (* about 885; † 939), a member of the Conradine dynasty, became duke of Franconia as Eberhard III following the death of his older brother, King Conrad I (or Konrad) in December 918. ... Wichmann I the Elder (also spelled Wigmann or Wichman; died 23 April 944) was a member of the Saxon House of Billung. ...

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).^[4] These men formed the elite of Gero's troops.

Slav campaigns

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.^[5] 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.^[6] The Obotrites (German: Abodriten, Polish: Obodryci) were a group of Slavic peoples related to the Wends. ... Lands of the Hevelli (Heveller), ca. ... This article is about the German city. ... The Veleti (German: ; Polish: ), also known as the Liutizians (also Liutizi, Lyutitzi, or Liutitians; German: Liutizen or Lutizen) or Wilzi(ans) (also Wiltzes; German: Wilzen), were a group of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern northeastern Germany (see Polabian Slavs). ...

In 954, while Gero was away, the Ukrani (or Ucri) revolted, but Gero returned with Conrad the Red and pacified them.^[7] Conrad the Red (German: Konrad der Rote) (died 10 August 955) was Duke of Lotharingia and Franconia. ...

In 955, some Saxon counts rebelled and were banished by 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.^[8] Hermann (died 27 March 973, Quedlinburg) was a Saxon nobleman and the oldest well-known member of the House of Billung. ... The Veleti (German: ; Polish: ), also known as the Liutizians (also Liutizi, Lyutitzi, or Liutitians; German: Liutizen or Lutizen) or Wilzi(ans) (also Wiltzes; German: Wilzen), were a group of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern northeastern Germany (see Polabian Slavs). ... Liudolf (930 – 6 September 957) was the duke of Swabia from 950 until 954. ...

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 Poland to pay tribute and recognise German sovereignty during Otto's absence in Italy (962–963).^[9] Lusatia, according to Widukind, was subjected "to the last degree of servitude."^[10] 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.^[11] In these lands, the native Slavic populace was reduced to serfdom and "tribute-paying peoples" were converted into "census-paying peasants."^[12] Reign From c. ... Widukind of Corvey was a Saxon historical chronicler, named after the famous Saxon national hero Widukind. ... The Veleti (German: ; Polish: ), also known as the Liutizians (also Liutizi, Lyutitzi, or Liutitians; German: Liutizen or Lutizen) or Wilzi(ans) (also Wiltzes; German: Wilzen), were a group of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern northeastern Germany (see Polabian Slavs). ... The Milceni or Milzeni (Czech: ; German: ; Polish: ) were a West Slavic tribe in Upper Lusatia. ... This article is about a river in Central Europe. ... Bóbr in Å»agaÅ„ Bóbr (Czech: Bobr, German: Bober) is a river in the northern Czech Republic and southwestern Poland, a tributary of the Oder River, with a length of 272 kilometres (2 in Czech Republic, 270 in Poland, 10th longest Polish river) and the basin area of 5...

Relationship with Church and family

Gero founded a monastery dedicated to St Cyriacus at Frose, though it was later converted into a convent.^[13] 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.^[14] Saint Cyriacus is a saint who lived under Roman Emperor Diocletian. ... Egeln is a town in the Aschersleben-Staßfurt district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ... Westeregeln is a municipality in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ...

Amongst other acts of devotion, Gero made a pilgrimage to Rome in 959 after Siegfried's untimely death.^[15] In Siegfried's name, he also founded the Romanesque nunnery of Gernrode, in a forest named after him, in 960 and left a large part of his great wealth to it on his death.^[16] 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). Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... South transept of Tournai Cathedral, Belgium, 12th century. ... Gernrode is a city in Germany, in the district (Kreis) of Quedlinburg in the state (Bundesland) of Saxony-Anhalt. ...

Death and division of territory

The marca Geronis (hatched) corresponds to the southern 3/4 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 stron sense of moral rectitude and was of low birth.^[17] Nonetheless, he became celebrated in the Nibelungenlied as the marcgrâve Gêre, though have disputed whether he was ever officially accorded that title.^[18] 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.^[19] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x1785, 901 KB) Summary La bildo estas kopiita de wikipedia:de. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1500x1785, 901 KB) Summary La bildo estas kopiita de wikipedia:de. ... Nysa (Polish Nysa, German Neiße, Czech Nisa) is a name of a few rivers and a town in Silesia. ... The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ...

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 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 Northern March within the Empire, 10th century. ... Dietrich or Theodoric of Haldensleben (also Theoderic[h]; died 985) was the first Margrave of the Nordmark from 965 until his deposition in 983. ... The Saxon Eastern March or Ostmark (German: ) was a march of the Holy Roman Empire from the 10th until the 12th century. ... Odo I or Hodo I (also Huodo or Huoto; died 13 March 993) was the Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark from 965 until his death. ... Meissen, with the Albrechtsburg and the Cathedral of Sts. ... The hatched portion of the map in the northeast excepting the March of the Billungs was the marca Geronis, notice the Mark Merseburg which was one of its partitions. ... Gunther (German: Günther; died 13 July 982) was the Margrave of Merseburg from 965 until his death, upon which the march of Merseburg was united to that of Meissen. ... The Ottonian Empire, with the March of Zeitz (hatched), in the tenth century. ... Wigger I (died 981) was the father of a line of counts ruling from his new castle of Bilstein, west of Albungen (today part of Eschwege) to the Werra. ... The Margraviate of Landsberg (German: ) was a march of the Holy Roman Empire that existed from the 12th to the 14th century. ... The Ottonian Empire, including the March of Lusatia (hatched), in the tenth century. ... Coat of arms Capital Brandenburg Berlin (from 1417) Religion Roman Catholic Lutheran Calvinist Government Monarchy Margrave  - 1157–70 Albert I  - 1797–1806 Frederick William III History  - Margraviate established 3 October, 1157  - Electorate established 25 December 1356  - Brandenburg-Prussia 27 August 1618  - Kingdom of Prussia 1 January 1701  - Dissolution of the...

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.^[20] 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.^[21]

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. Widukind of Corvey was a Saxon historical chronicler, named after the famous Saxon national hero Widukind. ... Thietmar (Dietmar or Dithmar) of Merseburg (July 25, 975 - December 1, 1018), German chronicler, was a son of Siegfried, count of Walbeck, and was related to the family of the emperor Otto the Great. ...

• Reuter, Timothy. Germany in the Early Middle Ages 800–1056. New York: Longman, 1991.
• 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. 936–1075. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
• Leyser, Karl. "Ottonian Government." The English Historical Review, Vol. 96, No. 381. (Oct., 1981), pp 721–753.
• Leyser, Karl. "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. "The Fall of the Monarchy of Mieszko II, Lambert." Speculum, Vol. 49, No. 4. (Oct., 1974), pp 623–639.
• Dvornik, F. "The First Wave of the Drang Nach Osten." Cambridge Historical Journal, Vol. 7, No. 3. (1943), pp 129–145.
• Jakubowska, Bogna. "Salve Me Ex Ore Leonis." Artibus et Historiae, Vol. 12, No. 23. (1991), pp. 53–65.
• Howorth, H. H. "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.
• "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)
• Genealogie Mittelalter: Mittelalterliche Genealogie im Deutschen Reich bis zum Ende der Staufer. "Die sächsischen Grafen 919-1024." Schölkopf Ruth.
• Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Meissen.

Timothy Reuter (1947-2002) was a British historian who specialized in the study of medieval Germany, particularly the social, military and ecclesiastical institutions of the Ottonian and Salian periods (10th-12th centuries). ... James Westfall Thompson (1869–1941) was an American historian specializing in the history of medieval and early modern Europe, particularly of the Holy Roman Empire and France. ...

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