Egbert I, Margrave of Meissen facts for kids

Egbert I (also known as Ekbert) was an important leader who lived a long time ago. He was the Margrave of Meissen from 1067 until he died in 1068. Before that, he was the Count of Brunswick starting around 1038. His father was Liudolf, Margrave of Frisia. His mother, Gertrude, was the sister of Pope Leo IX, a very powerful religious leader.

Egbert's Powerful Family

Egbert came from a very important family called the Brunonen. They were a strong family in a region called Eastphalia. He inherited lands in Brunswick from his family.

Around 1051, Egbert shared power in Brunswick. He worked with the Bishop of Hildesheim to lead the region. Egbert also gained more control over lands in Frisia. He did this under the guidance of the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen.

A Big Event: The Kaiserswerth Coup

Even though Egbert was related to the royal Salian dynasty, he took part in a big event in 1062. This event was called the coup d'état of Kaiserswerth. A group of nobles, led by Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, tried to take control. They wanted to take power from the young King Henry IV and his mother, Empress Agnes.

Family Life and Legacy

In 1058, Egbert married a woman named Immilla. She was the daughter of Ulric Manfred II of Turin. Immilla had been married before to Otto of Schweinfurt.

Egbert had two children. His only son, Egbert II, became Margrave of Meissen after his father died. Egbert's daughter, Gertrude, later helped bring Meissen to her husband, Henry von Eilenburg.