Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen

Who was Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen?

Eckard II was the margrave of Meissen from 1038 until his death, succeeding his brother, Herman I. His line was descended from Eckard I. He was the last of his dynasty, with his death the Ekkehardinger margraves died out.

As guardian of the eastern frontiers against Poland and Bohemia, he was often serving Conrad II or Henry III against these menaces, including the Bohemian Achilles, Duke Bretislaus I. This last, allied with Peter Urseolo of Hungary, who was raiding Bavaria, made great gains in Lusatia and Poland such that the emperor feared him. Eckard took part in both of Henry's campaigns, for he was Henry's loyalest and most trusted ally, in 1040 and 1041: the first unsuccessful, the latter a victory which forced a peace treaty. Eckard remained one of Henry's closest advisors until his death during a Saxon epidemic of 1046. He bequeathed his exceptional wealth and his title and land to Henry, who bestowed the margravate on William, count of Orlamünde.

He and his wife Uta von Ballenstedt were immortalized by their famous donor portraits by the Naumburg Master in the Naumburg Cathedral.