Bruno of Augsburg

Who was Bruno of Augsburg?

Bruno was the son of Henry II, Duke of Bavaria and Gisela of Burgundy. He was the brother of St. Henry II of Germany, the only Holy Roman Emperor to be made a saint. Bruno was Bishop of Augsburg from 1006 or 1007 until 1029.

Bruno of Augsburg lived at a time when Christianity was still making inroads into various parts of Europe. As a bishop, he encouraged his brother-in-law St. Stephen's efforts to convert rebellious pagans to the new faith. Curiously, as a member of the Ottonian dynasty he was considered a descendant of Widukind, the ferocious and final pagan king of Old Saxony who had fought long and hard against Charlemagne during the late 8th century to prevent the forced conversion of his people to Christianity.

The diocese of Augsburg attained great splendor under Bishop Bruno; he restored a number of ruined monasteries, founded the church and college of St. Maurice, placed Benedictine monks in the collegiate church of St. Afra, and added to the episcopal possessions by the gift of his own inheritance of Straubing.