Gisilher

Who was Gisilher?

Gisilher, Gisiler, Giseler, or Giselmar was the second Archbishop of Magdeburg, succeeding Saint Adalbert, from 981 until his death in 1004.

From 971 to 981, Gisilher was the Bishop of the new see of Merseburg. When he was elevated to the archdiocese in that latter year, however, he suppressed the Merseburg bishopric on the basis that its creation had not received the written consent of the Diocese of Halberstadt. In 981, the Diocese of Merseburg was united to that of Magdeburg. It was only separated on Gisilher's death. The archbishop had the support of the Bishops of Zeitz and Meissen, who wished to aggrandise their own dioceses.

In 983, the Slavic tribes bordering eastern Saxony rebelled. Havelberg and Brandenburg were destroyed and the March of Zeitz devastated. In August, the margraves of Meissen, Lusatia, and the Nordmark joined with the troops of the Bishop of Halberstadt under the leadership of Gisilher and defeated the Slavs at Belkesheim, near Stendal. Nevertheless, the Germans were once again limited to the land west of the Elbe.

In March 984, Gisilher hosted Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, in Magdeburg on Palm Sunday. He supported Henry for the regency of the young Emperor Otto III and perhaps even as king, for Henry received the commendation of the magnates at Magdeburg.