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Otton BogatiyCount von Ballenstedt, Duke of Saxony (1112), Count of Ascanius and Ascherleben.
Country:
 Germany |
Content:
Biography of Otto the Rich
Otto the Rich (German: Otto der Reiche; c. 1075 – February 9, 1123) was the Count of Ballenstedt, the Duke of Saxony (1112), and the Count of Aschersleben. He was born to Adalbert II of Ballenstedt (c. 1030–1076/1080) and Adelaide of Weimar (c. 1055–March 28, 1100), the daughter of Otto II, Count of Weimar. Otto was the first to be called the Count of Ascania and Aschersleben, and also the first in his lineage to bear the title "Count of Anhalt."
Claiming the Duchy of Saxony
After the death of his father-in-law, Duke Magnus of Saxony, in 1106, the male line of the Billung dynasty came to an end. Otto asserted his claims to Magnus' possessions, including the Duchy of Saxony. However, Lothair of Supplinburg was recognized as the duke, even though Otto did acquire some of the Billung lands. In 1112, Emperor Henry V appointed Otto as the Duke of Saxony, but the same year he entered into a dispute with the emperor and was stripped of his title. Otto then allied himself with Lothair against the emperor.
Expansion of Territories
After the extinction of the Weimar dynasty, Otto laid claim to their territories. He successfully conquered the regions around Zerbst and Salzwedel from the Slavs.
Marriage and Children
Otto was married to Eilika (1080–January 16, 1142), the youngest daughter of Duke Magnus of Saxony, the last of the Billung dynasty. They had two children:
- Albert the Bear (c. 1100–November 18, 1170), Count of Ballenstedt and Aschersleben (1123–1170), Margrave of the Lusatian March (1124–1131), Margrave of the Northern March (1134–1157), 1st Margrave of Brandenburg (1157–1170), and Duke of Saxony (1138–1141).
- Adelheid, who was first married to Henry II of Stade (1102–1128), Count of Stade from 1106 and Margrave of the Northern March from 1118. She later married Werner of Veltheim (died 1170).
Overall, Otto the Rich was a prominent medieval nobleman who played a significant role in the struggles for power and territory in Saxony during the 12th century.
