Henry I the Bald, Count of Stade

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Henry I the Bald (died 11 May 976) was Count of Stade. He was son of Lothar II, Count of Stade, and Swanhild of Saxony. Henry is recorded as a cousin of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, but their exact relationship remains a mystery. Henry was also appointed Count of Heilangau, the ancient capital of Stade, in 959.

Apparently, when Henry’s father died at the Battle of Lenzen, the county of Stade was taken by Wichmann the Elder and his two sons, not to return to the family of Lothar until 967. Henry's grandson Thietmar of Merseburg recounts that Henry tried to capture Margrave Hermann Billung because of “arrogance” in ceremonial matters, but failed.

Henry married first Judith von der Wetterau (925-973), [1] sister of Conrad I, Duke of Swabia. Their father was either Conrad or Udo, son of Gebhard, Duke of Lorraine. Henry and Judith had seven children:

Henry married second Hildegard von Reinhausen, daughter of Elli I, Count of Reinhausen. Henry and Hildegard had one child:

Henry was succeeded as Count of Stade by his brother Siegfried I. The date of succession is unclear, but possibly as early as 973.

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Gero was a Count of Alsleben, conjectured to be the son of Siegfried and therefore grandson of Gero the Great. If so, his mother was Hedwig, daughter of Wichmann the Elder. Gero was the brother of Tetta, who established a monastery at Alsleben in his name. Thietmar of Merseburg, whose Chronicon is the major source of information here, refers to Gero as a Count in Northern Thuringia and Morzani. Gero was married to Adela of an unknown family. Gero and Adela had one daughter, Adela of Alsleben, who married Siegfried II, Count of Stade. No other counts of Alsleben are recorded until the 12th century.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Warner, David. Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg, Manchester University Press, 2001, p. 50 ISBN   9781526112774

Sources