Hedan II

Who was Hedan II?

Heden, Hedan, or Hetan II, called the Younger, was the Duke of Thuringia, one of the "older" stem duchies, from around 700 until his death. Two alternative hypotheses concerning his origins have been put forward: he was either a son of Gozbert and Geilana or of Theotbald and Bilihild.

One of the chief sources for his life is the Passio minor sancti Kiliani. According to the Passio, after the revenge of God came upon his father Gozbert, Hedan was chased from the realm and his mother Geilana ruled as duchess. Sometime later Hedan returned as an adult and took over. The duchy over which Hedan and his ancestors ruled was the region around the river Main. Only under Hedan did the duke take up an extensive interest in the lands to the east, the region today called Thuringia. Hedan's claim to rule Thuringia may have been claimed through his wife Theodrada.

Hedan's hypothetical relationship with Bilihild is established by the 12th-century Vital Bilihildis, based on earlier sources, which names Bilihild's husband as dux militum gentilis ... vocabulo Hetan. Theotbald on the other hand may have been a brother of Theodrada and the man who preceded Hedan in ruling Thuringia.