Lothair I, Margrave of the Nordmark facts for kids

Lothair I (also known as Lothar or Liuthar) was an important leader in a region called the Nordmark (Northern March) from about 983 until he passed away in 1003. He was also a noble from Saxony, a powerful area in what is now Germany. He held titles like Count of Derlingau and Nordthüringgau.

Who Was Lothair I?

Lothair I was born around 940. He was the oldest son of Lothar II the Old, who was the Count of Walbeck, and Matilda von Arneburg. When his father died in 964, Lothair took over his father's position as Lothar III, Count of Walbeck.

Early Life and Family

Lothair was the uncle of a famous writer and bishop named Thietmar of Merseburg. Thietmar was the son of Lothair's younger brother, Siegfried. Even though Lothair was the oldest son, he didn't inherit the main Walbeck area. Instead, he became a count in other regions like Derlingau and Nordthüringgau in Eastphalia by 982. When his brother Siegfried died in 990, Lothair tried to take control of all his mother's lands. This was not fair to his nephews, Siegfried's sons.

Becoming a Margrave

In 983, a leader named Dietrich of Haldensleben was removed from his position as Margrave of the Northern March. He had failed to protect important church areas east of the Elbe river during a big uprising by Slavic people. Lothair was chosen to replace him. He was first officially called a margrave in 993.

However, Lothair faced many challenges. He tried to take back the eastern parts of the Northern March from the Slavic Lutici people, but he wasn't successful. This meant he mostly ruled over a smaller strip of land along the Elbe river in the southwest.

Challenges and Conflicts

Lothair also had a disagreement with another powerful leader, Margrave Eckard I, Margrave of Meissen. This conflict was about the planned marriage of Lothair's oldest son, Werner, to Eckard's daughter, Liutgard. Eckard did not want this marriage to happen.

Because of this, Lothair opposed Eckard when Eckard wanted to become the next emperor after Emperor Otto III died in 1002. Lothair convinced other important Saxon nobles to support a different leader, Duke Henry IV of Bavaria. Eckard was sadly killed in the same year. After Eckard's death, Werner and Liutgard were finally able to get married.

Lothair's Family and Legacy

Lothair married a woman named Godila, who passed away in 1015. She was the daughter of Werner, Count of Rothenburg. Lothair and Godila had five children:

• Werner, Margrave of the Nordmark
• Lothar (who died in battle in 1033), Count of Harzgau.
• Berthold von Walbeck (who died in 1018 or later). He married Irmgard von Aspel.
• Dietrich, who became a church official (a Canon) at Magdeburg.
• Birgida, who became the leader (Abbess) of St. Lawrence at Magdeburg.

Margrave Lothair passed away in 1003 and was buried in a city called Cologne. His wife, Godila, remained unmarried for four years after his death. She later married Herman II, Count of Werl. Lothair's oldest son, Werner, took over his position in the Northern March. His second son, Lothar, also later tried to claim the position. His third son, Berthold, faced challenges in 1017 but later accepted his role in 1018. His youngest son, Dietrich, became a canon in Magdeburg around 1008.

Sources

• Warner, David A., Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 2001
• Heinrich, Leo, Lectures on the History of the German people and Reich, E. Anton, 1867
• Big, Walther: The Counts of Walbeck, Resin Magazine, 1952
• Leyser, Karl, Medieval Germany and Its Neighbours 900-1250, The Hambledon Press, London, 1982
• Bury, J. B. (editor), The Cambridge Medieval History: Volume III, Germany and the Western Empire, Cambridge University Press, 1922