Widukind
Sign in to saveWidukind, also known as Wittekind and Wittikund, was a leader of the Saxons and the chief opponent of the Frankish king Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars from 777 to 785. Charlemagne ultimately prevailed, organized Saxony as a Frankish province, massacred thousands of Saxon nobles, and ordered conversions of the pagan Saxons to Christianity. In later times, Widukind became a symbol of Saxon independence and a figure of legend. He is also venerated as a Blessed in the Catholic Church.
Person · Open Library
- Born
- ca. 925
- Died
- ca. 973.
- Works
- 11
Top works
- VVitichindi Saxonis rerum ab Henrico et Ottone I Impp. gestarum libri III
- Annalium libri tres
- VVitichindi Saxonis rervm ab Henrico et Ottone I impp. gestarum libri III
- Widukind Sächsische Geschichten
- Dei︠a︡nii︠a︡ saksov
via Open Library + Wikidata
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 204
- Total plays
- 884
<a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Widukind">Read more on Last.fm</a>
Key facts
- Noble.name
- Widukind
- Noble.noble family
- House of Odon, possibly progenitor of Immedingians
- Noble.title
- dux Saxonum
- Noble.image
- File:Widukind statue, Herford.jpg
- Noble.caption
- Modern statue of Widukind in Herford, North Rhine-Westphalia
- Noble.reign
- ?–785
- Noble.predecessor
- Theoderic
- Noble.successor
- Egbert
- Noble.birth_date
- Unknown
- Noble.death_date
- 807 or 808
- Noble.death_place
- possibly Enger, near Herford
- Noble.place of burial
- Stiftskirche, Enger
via Wikipedia infobox
Key dates
- Born
- 1 January 755
- Died
- 810
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Given name
- Widukind
- Gender
- male
- Place of birth
- Westphalia
- Place of death
- Enger
- Occupation
- military leader
- Noble title
- duke
- Image
- Widukind statue, Herford.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- P411
- blessed
- P841
Article
10 sectionsContents
- Life
- Legend
- Later perception
- Medieval
- In German nationalism
- Present
- Sainthood
- See also
- References
- External links
Widukind, also known as Wittekind and Wittikund, was a leader of the Saxons and the chief opponent of the Frankish king Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars from 777 to 785. Charlemagne ultimately prevailed, organized Saxony as a Frankish province, massacred thousands of Saxon nobles, and ordered conversions of the pagan Saxons to Christianity. In later times, Widukind became a symbol of Saxon independence and a figure of legend. He is also venerated as a Blessed in the Catholic Church.
==Life== Very little is known about Widukind's life. His name literally translates as "child of the forest". In the chronicles he is accompanied by Abbi who may have been a close relative. However, it is uncertain how they were related because all sources about him stem from his enemies, the Franks, who painted a negative picture representing him as an "insurgent" and a "traitor". While Widukind was considered the leader of the Saxon resistance by the Franks, his exact role in the military campaigns is unknown.