Egbert II () (c. 1060 – 3 July 1090) was Count of
Brunswick and
Margrave of Meissen. He was the eldest son of the Margrave
Egbert I of the
Brunonen family.
Still a minor, he succeeded his father on the latter's death 11 January 1068 in Brunswick and Meissen. He was married to Oda, daughter of Count Otto of
Meissen-
Orlamünde, whose lands he inherited, including the castle of
Wanderslebener Gleichen.
In 1073, the Saxons, led by
Duke Magnus and
Otto of Nordheim, rebelled against
King Henry IV. The insurrection was crushed by Duke
Vratislaus II of Bohemia in the
First Battle of Langensalza on 9 June 1075. Whether Egbert had participated in the Saxon rebellion remains unclear based on extant sources, but since he had nonetheless proved himself an opponent of the king, he was deprived of Meissen, which was given to Vratislaus. However, Egbert drove Vratislaus from Meissen the next year and was condemned. A Frisian county then in his possession was confiscated and given to the
Bishop of Utrecht.
Egbert originally supported
anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfeld, but eventually he and many other Saxon nobles withdrew their support and remained neutral.
After the death of Otto of Nordheim in 1083, Egbert was the most important, but also inconsistent, Saxon opponent of Henry IV. In 1085, the two were briefly reconciled and Egbert entertained Henry in Saxony in July. In September, the conflict was resumed, but in 1087, Egbert and Henry made peace.
Some sources report that after the death of......
Read More