Bruno, Brun, or Braun (died 2 February 880) was the Duke of Saxony from 866 to his death. He was the elder son of Duke Liudolf of Saxony, progenitor of the Liudolfing dynasty and his wife Oda of Billung. While his father is described as dux orientalis Saxonum, duke of East Saxony, it is possible that Bruno, according to Widukind of Corvey, was dux totius Saxonum, duke of all Saxony. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church, being honored with a feast day on February 2nd under the name St. Bruno of Saxony.
He died, along with several other Saxon noblemen, in a battle against the Vikings (probably Danes) on 2 February 880.[1] The battle near Ebstorf was a crushing defeat and two bishops as well as twelve counts, among them Bruno, were killed. He is called ducem et fratrem reinæ: dux and "the queen's brother," meaning that his sister Liutgard was married to King 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.
NOTE: Bruno, son of Liudolph, died in one of two battles (one at the river Scheldt and one in Saxony) which are reported separately in the Annales Fuldenses. The Gesta Francorum lists "Bardonum…alterum Bardonum [et] tertium Bardonum" as three of the twelve counts who were killed fighting the Danes in 880[120]. The other two counts named "Bardo" or "Bruno" have not been identified.
Some mentions of Bruno, Duke of Saxony appear to refer to an earlier individual, possibly a grandfather, but this is unclear.
According to legend, Bruno is the founder of Brunswick and ancestor of the Brunonen, counts in the Derlingau, though an affiliation with Count Brun I of Brunswick is uncertain.
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Bruno, Duke of Saxony
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| Preceded by Liudolf |
Duke of Saxony 866–880 |
Succeeded by Otto I |