Wichmann the Younger facts for kids

Wichmann II the Younger (also called Wigmann or Wichman) lived from about 930 to 967. He was a member of a powerful family called the Billungs in Saxony. Wichmann was the son of Count Wichmann the Elder. His mother, Frederuna, was a niece of Queen Matilda. This made Wichmann a cousin to Emperor Otto I. However, Wichmann became a strong opponent of Emperor Otto's family, known as the Ottonian dynasty.

Early Life and Family Troubles

Wichmann was born in a place now called Wichmannsburg. His father, Wichmann the Elder, was the oldest of three brothers in the Billung family. Even though his father was related to King Otto I, he did not receive an important area of land called the Saxon Billung March. This land was given to his younger brother, Hermann, in 936.

Wichmann the Elder was unhappy about this. He even joined a rebellion against the king but soon stopped. After his father died in 944, young Wichmann was cared for by his uncle Hermann. When Wichmann grew up, he only became a count in a region called Angria. He felt his family had been treated unfairly.

Rebellion Against the Emperor

Wichmann grew up at the court of King Otto I. He became friends with the king's son, Liudolf, who became the duke of Swabia in 950. In 953, Wichmann joined Liudolf's rebellion against King Otto.

During this time, Wichmann fought against the Saxon troops when the king was attacking Mainz. This brought back the old family feud between Wichmann and his uncle Hermann. Hermann had become a very important leader in Saxony. Wichmann was captured during the fighting. King Otto stopped him from being punished too harshly, even though Hermann wanted a severe punishment.

Wichmann was released in 954. However, he was not included in the peace agreement that followed the rebellion. He and his brother, Egbert the One-Eyed, still felt they had been cheated out of their rightful family lands.

Life as an Outlaw

Wichmann and his brother caused trouble in Saxony. In 955, they went to the lands of the Slavic Obotrites people near Liubice (which is now Lübeck). There, they encouraged a revolt led by Prince Nako. King Otto stopped this revolt at the Battle of Recknitz.

The young Billung brothers then ran away to the court of Duke Hugh the Great in France. When Hugh died the next year, Wichmann had to return to Germany. He was pardoned after promising loyalty to King Otto. But Wichmann remained a strong opponent. He attacked his uncle Hermann's lands many times. Eventually, he had to retreat to the Slavic Lutici territories, where a leader named Margrave Gero allowed him to stay.

Later Years and Death

In 963, Wichmann was an outlaw leading a group of West Slavs, possibly Pomeranians. He fought against Duke Mieszko I of Poland and defeated him twice. He even made Mieszko pay him tribute.

For a short time, Wichmann was allowed to return to Germany and live on his wife's lands. But his uncle Hermann exiled him again while Emperor Otto was on a trip to Italy. In 967, Wichmann and the western Pomeranians were defeated at Wolin. This battle was fought by an alliance of Mieszko and Duke Boleslaus I of Bohemia. Wichmann was killed during the fighting.

After Wichmann's death, Emperor Otto took his lands. The lands were divided into two parts. Half went to the Saint Michael monastery founded by Hermann Billung in Lüneburg. The other half was used to start a convent called Keminada near Bodenwerder on the Weser river.

Family Life

Records show that Wichmann was married. Some historians believe his wife was named Hathwig. They may have had a son named Amelung, who was a count in Bikethop. Wichmann also had two daughters, Imma and Frederuna. They were allowed to use their inheritance, which helped found the Keminada convent.