Bruno, Duke of Saxony

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Bruno, Brun, or Braun (died 2 February 880) was the Duke of Saxony from 866 to his death. He was the elder son of Liudolf, progenitor of the Liudolfing dynasty and described as dux orientalis Saxonum, duke of East Saxony. It is possible that Bruno was dux totius Saxonum, duke of all Saxony.

He died, along with several other Saxon noblemen, in a battle against the Vikings (probably Danes) on 2 February 880.^[1] The battle was a defeat and two bishops were killed. Bruno is listed as one of twelve counts also killed. He is called ducem et fratrem reinæ: dux and "the queen's brother," meaning that his sister Liutgard was married to Louis the Younger. According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Bruno died in a flooded river while on campaign against the Danes in 880. This probably took place during the battle or during a retreat.

According to legend, Bruno is the founder of Brunswick and ancestor of the Brunonen, counts of Brunswick.

[edit] Sources

• Reuter, Timothy (trans.) The Annals of Fulda. (Manchester Medieval series, Ninth-Century Histories, Volume II.) Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1992.

[edit] Notes

Preceded by Liudolf

Duke of Saxony 866–880

Succeeded by Otto I