Otto of Nordheim facts for kids

Otto of Nordheim (born around 1020 – died January 11, 1083) was an important German noble. He was the Duke of Bavaria from 1061 to 1070. Otto was also a main leader in the Saxon revolts against King Henry IV of Germany. These revolts were big conflicts in medieval Germany.

Life of Otto of Nordheim

Early Life and Family Background

Otto was born around the year 1020. His father was Count Bernard of Nordheim, and his mother was Eilika. The Nordheim family was very rich and powerful in Saxony. They owned many lands and were important leaders. They also acted as Vogts, which means they managed lands for important churches and monasteries. Otto became the Count of Nordheim around 1049, taking over from his father. This made him one of the most influential nobles in Saxony.

Otto's Role During King Henry IV's Youth

After Emperor Henry III died in 1056, his wife, Empress Agnes, was in charge because their son, Henry IV, was too young to rule. Agnes made Otto the Duke of Bavaria in 1061. She hoped he would support her.

However, in 1062, Otto joined other powerful nobles who took control of young King Henry IV and the government. This event is known as the Coup of Kaiserswerth.

Otto played a big part in ruling the kingdom while Henry was still young.

• In 1063, he led a successful trip to Hungary. His goal was to help King Solomon get his throne back. Solomon was supposed to marry Henry's sister.
• The next year, Otto traveled to Italy. He helped solve a big disagreement within the church.
• He also helped remove a very powerful archbishop, Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen, from the royal court.
• Otto crossed the Alps mountains two more times for the king's business.
• In 1069, he joined two trips to fight against the Polabian Slavs (also called Wends) who lived east of Germany.

Otto's Conflict with King Henry IV

The Duchy of Saxony between 919 and 1125.

At first, Otto and King Henry IV got along well. But Otto spent less time in his Bavarian duchy. Instead, he focused on adding more land to his family's estates in Saxony. King Henry IV wanted to control these lands himself, which led to problems.

In 1070, Otto was accused of being part of a plan to murder the king. The accuser was a man named Egeno I. Otto was told he had to fight Egeno in a special duel called a trial by combat to prove his innocence. This was supposed to happen in Goslar.

Otto was worried about his safety. He asked for a guarantee that he would be safe traveling to and from the duel. When this was refused, he did not show up. Because of this, he was declared an outlaw by the emperor (placed under the imperial ban). He lost his title as Duke of Bavaria, and his Saxon lands were attacked and taken.

Otto did not get support in Bavaria. But he gathered an army in Saxony and fought against Henry. In 1071, he finally gave up. The next year, he was released from prison and got his private lands back. However, he did not get his title as Duke of Bavaria. That title was given to his former son-in-law, Welf I, who had divorced Otto's daughter Ethelinde.

Otto Joins the Saxon Rebellion

When the Saxon rebellion started in the summer of 1073, Otto became a leader. He gave an inspiring speech to the nobles and took command of the rebels.

In 1074, a peace treaty was signed. Otto was formally given back the Duchy of Bavaria. But the local nobles in Bavaria did not agree, so Welf I remained the actual Duke of Bavaria.

Otto also took part in a second rebellion in 1075. After a castle called Harzburg was destroyed, the Saxons rose up again. Otto's forces were defeated in the Battle of Langensalza on June 9. He surrendered again, and King Henry pardoned him. Henry then made Otto the administrator of the Saxon duchy.

Later, a big conflict happened between King Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. This was called the Investiture Controversy. The Pope even removed Henry from the church (excommunicated him) in 1076. Otto tried to help Henry and the Saxon nobles make peace. But when his efforts failed, he joined the rebels once more.

Otto was not the main leader of this Saxon revolt. But once he was sure he would get Bavaria back, he supported the election of Rudolf of Rheinfelden as an antiking (a rival king) to Henry IV. Otto showed great skill and bravery in battle. He defeated Henry's forces in several battles, including Mellrichstadt, Flarchheim, and Hohenmölsen.

Death

Otto continued to fight against the king until he died on January 11, 1083. He was buried in the Nicolai Chapel in Northeim. His personal lands in Saxony later went to Lothair of Supplinburg. Lothair married Otto's granddaughter, Richenza of Northeim, around 1100. After Richenza died in 1141, her daughter Gertrude and her husband, Henry the Proud, inherited the lands.

Otto's Character

People described Otto as a noble, wise, and brave warrior. He had great abilities. King Henry IV pardoned him many times. This shows that Henry knew he needed such a powerful person on his side. Otto's military skills were clear in many battles.

Marriage and Children

Around 1055, Otto married Richenza. She was likely from the Billung family. Otto and Richenza had four sons and three daughters:

• Henry the Fat (1055–1101), who became Margrave of Frisia.
• Otto II, who became Count of Nordheim.
• Siegfried III (1050–1107), Count of Boyneburg.
• Kuno (1050/60–1103), Count of Beichlingen.
• Ida, who married Count Thimo of Wettin. She was the mother of Margrave Conrad of Meissen.
• Ethelinde (born 1050/60). She married Duke Welf I of Bavaria in 1062 but divorced him in 1070. She then married Herman I, Count of Calvelage, in 1070.
• Matilda, who married Count Konrad II of Werl-Arnsberg.

See also

In Spanish: Otón de Nordheim para niños