Thietmar of Merseburg facts for kids
Thietmar (born July 25, 975 – died December 1, 1018) was an important German bishop and writer. He served as the Prince-Bishop of Merseburg from 1009 until his death. Thietmar is famous for writing a detailed history, called a chronicle, about the German kings and Holy Roman Emperors from the Ottonian family. His great-grandfathers, both named Liuthar, were Saxon nobles who died fighting the Slavs in a battle.
Thietmar's Early Life and Role
Thietmar was the son of Siegfried I the Older, a count from Walbeck, and his wife Kunigunde. His father fought in a battle in 972. When Thietmar was born, his family supported Duke Henry II of Bavaria. This duke was fighting against his cousin, Emperor Otto II. Later, things settled down. Thietmar's father became a burgrave, which was like a castle commander.
Thietmar was baptized in Halberstadt and prepared for a life in the church. He studied at a famous abbey in Quedlinburg and later at a Benedictine monastery near Magdeburg. From 990, he attended the Magdeburg cathedral school. He read works by important thinkers like Augustine and classical writers such as Virgil and Horace.
Thietmar saw the struggles of the young King Otto III and his mother, Theophanu, as they tried to keep their power. He even took part in some political events. In 994, he was held hostage by the Norsemen, showing he knew about real-world conflicts. After his parents died, he inherited much land. In 1002, he became the head of his family's monastery. He was made a priest on December 21, 1004.
In 1009, Thietmar became the Bishop of Merseburg. This area had been re-established by King Henry II. Thietmar worked hard to fully restore his bishopric. He was a loyal supporter of the German kings. He usually stayed out of political matters. Thietmar died on December 1, 1018, and was buried in Merseburg Cathedral.
Thietmar's Important Chronicle
Between 1012 and 1018, while he was Bishop of Merseburg, Thietmar wrote his famous chronicle. It is called Chronicon Thietmari and has eight books. This chronicle covers the period from 908 to 1018. It tells the stories of Saxon Emperors like Henry the Fowler, the three Ottos, and Henry II the Saint. Since Thietmar was a trusted advisor to the Emperor and involved in many important events, he was well-suited to write a history of his time.
The first three books of his chronicle are based on earlier writings. These include histories by Widukind of Corvey and the Annals of Quedlinburg. The fourth book, which describes the reign of Otto III, contains many new details. The last four books are Thietmar's own original story. They cover the reign of Henry II up to 1018. These books are the main source for Saxon history during Henry II's time. They also give valuable information about the Slavic tribes east of the Elbe River, as well as the Poles, Hungarians, and Bulgarians.
The original handwritten book shows that Thietmar kept adding notes and changes even after he finished writing it. Some people have said his writing style was not perfect, and he included small, unimportant events. However, his chronicle is still a very important historical source. It tells us a lot about Saxony during the reigns of Emperors Otto III and Henry II. It also gives a detailed history of the Merseburg bishopric and the wars against the Wends (Slavic people) and the Poles.
The original manuscript was moved to Dresden in 1570. Sadly, when Dresden was bombed during World War II, the manuscript was badly damaged. Only a few pages are still whole. Luckily, a complete copy had been made and published in 1905.
Thietmar also wrote that the Gero Cross in Cologne Cathedral was ordered by Archbishop Gero, who died in 976. For a long time, art historians thought Thietmar was mistaken. They believed he meant a different cross. But in 1976, scientists used tree-ring dating (dendrochronology) to confirm that Thietmar was correct!
