| Magnus | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Saxony | |
 | |
| Reign | 1072–1106 |
| Predecessor | Ordulf |
| Successor | Lothair |
| Born | c. 1045 |
| Died | (1106-08-23)23 August 1106 |
| Spouse | Sophia of Hungary |
| Issue | |
| House | House of Billung |
| Father | Ordulf |
| Mother | Wulfhild of Norway |
Magnus (c. 1045 – 23 August 1106) was theduke of Saxony from 1072 to 1106.[1]
Eldest son and successor ofOrdulf andWulfhild of Norway, he was the last member of theHouse of Billung.
In 1070, before he was duke, he joinedOtto of Nordheim,duke of Bavaria, in rebellion against theSalianEmperor Henry IV. Otto was accused of being privy to a plot to murder the king, and it was decided he should submit to the ordeal of battle with his accuser. The duke asked for safe-conduct to and from the place of meeting. When this was refused he declined to appear, and was consequently deprived of Bavaria, while his Saxon estates were plundered. The rebellion was put down in 1071, and Magnus was captured. Magnus was imprisoned in the castle ofHarzburg, the imposing imperial fortress which so inflamed the Saxon freemen, who pillaged the castle and minster (church).[2]
He was not released upon his accession to the Saxon duchy until seventySwabians captured inLüneburg were released.
In 1073, Harzburg was destroyed and the anger of Henry aroused. He renewed the conflict with Saxony once more. At thefirst battle of Langensalza in 1075, Magnus was captured again. After being released again, he joinedRudolf von Rheinfeld,duke of Swabia andanti-king, and was present at theBattle of Mellrichstadt (7 August 1078), where he saved Rudolf's life. However, he and the Saxons never fully supported the Swabian Rudolf and he reconciled with Henry, even fighting theSlavs with the royal forces.
Magnus was an embittered enemy of thearchbishop of Bremen,Adalbert, whose see he afflicted with repeated plundering raids. In 1106, the same year as Henry IV, he died.
His duchy was given toLothair of Supplinburg,[3] and his lands were split between his two daughters bySophia (married 1071), who was the daughter ofBéla I of Hungary.
Half of his lands went to thehouse of Welf, viaWulfhilde (1075–1126), who married DukeHenry IX of Bavaria, and were parents ofHenry the Superb,[4] also known as Henry the Bear and Henry the Proud.[5]
The other half of his lands went to the house ofAscania viaEilika (1080 – 16 January 1142), who married CountOtto of Ballenstedt.
Magnus, Duke of Saxony Born:c. 1045 Died: 23 August 1106 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Saxony 1072–1106 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
