Gero
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Gero can also mean The Gerogerigegege or the fictional Dragon Ball Z character.
Margrave Gero (the Great) (born circa 900, died 965) was since 937 Margrave of the Sächsische Ostmark, also Margraviate of Meissen. As margrave or prince of the Holy Roman Empire Gero ruled over a vast territory and is considered to be the founder of the later Mark Brandenburg.
He was born about 900 but nothing is known of his origins. In 939, Otto I the Great, Holy Roman Emperor entrusted him with the wars against the Slavic Wends, on the Elbe and lower Saale rivers, who had since the 6th century arrived in Magna Germania along with a number of other groups, such as Magyars, Avars, Hungarians etc. Much of eastern Germania became inhabited by assorted people, then referred to as slavic people with their own political entities, religion and education system. The kings and emperors of Germany established Marken, marches and commisioned margraves to govern and re-establish order. It took a number of effords to conquer the multitude of people referred to as Slavs and Gero forced the inhabitants to pay tribute to the Holy Roman Empire. He eventually succeeded in subjugating the entire population between the Elbe and Oder rivers. At the same time the Frankish/German countries of Northern Europe had to protect against many severe attacks by Viking. With the establishment of new neighbors, the Polish Piasts, their leaders as well sought to conquer the surrounding peoples, and margraves had to protect the lands. Margrave Gero's victorious campaign against Mieszko I of Poland led to Polish recognition of German sovereignty. Gero's last victory was in war in Lusatia in 963, in which he forced the western Slavic tribes Milzener and Lusitzi (in Latin, Milceni et Lusici) to obedience. Gero died in 965.
Upon margrave Gero's death, the huge territory was sectioned by the emperor Otto into several different marches (Nordmark, Saxon March, Landsberger Land, Lausitz, Osterland etc).
Gero founded the ottonian and romanesque Collegiate church of St. Cyriacus in a town named after him Geronisrode or Gernrode in 960. His grave may still be seen there.
Margrave Gero is not to be confused with Bishop Gero of Cologne, who gave the famous Gero Cross (Gero-Kreuz) to Cologne Cathedral circa 970.
