Liudolf, Duke of Saxony

Who was Liudolf, Duke of Saxony?

Liudolf was a Saxon count, son of Count Brun and his wife, Gisla von Verla; [needs source clarity of citation] later authors called him Duke of the Eastern Saxons and Count of Eastphalia. Liudolf had extended possessions in eastern Saxony, and was a leader in the wars of King Louis the German against Normans and Slavs. The ruling Liudolfing House, also known as the Ottonian dynasty, is named after him; he is its oldest verified member.

Before 830 Liudolf married Oda, daughter of a Frankish princeps named Billung and his wife Aeda. Oda died on 17 May 913, supposedly at the age of 107.

They had six children:

Brun

Otto I "the Illustrious"; father of Henry the Fowler

Liutgard of Saxony; married King Louis the Younger in 874.

Hathumoda of Saxony; became an abbess

Gerberga of Saxony; became an abbess

Christina of Saxony; became an abbess

By marrying a Frankish nobleman's daughter, Liudolf followed suggestions set forth by Charlemagne about ensuring the integrity of the Frankish Empire in the aftermath of the Saxon Wars through marriage.

In 845/846, Liudolf and his wife founded a house of holy canonesses, duly established at their proprietary church in Brunshausen around 852, and moved in 881 to form Gandersheim Abbey. Liudolf's minor daughter Hathumoda became the first abbess.