Brun Count of Brunswick and Marquis of West Friesland, I

From the English Wikipedia page about Brun I, Count of Brunswick:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brun_I,_Count_of_Brunswick

Brun (Latin Bruno; born around 975, died around 1010), was count in the Derlingau, the Nordthüringgau, the Hastfalagau, the Salzgau, the Gau Gretinge, and the Gau Mulbeze, with Brunswick as his residence. Brun was a member of the Brunones dynasty.

Brun's father is assumed to have been Count Liudolf (died 993). In 1002, Brun married Gisela of Swabia, who later became wife of the Emperor. Their oldest son was Liudolf (about 1003 – 1038).

In 990, Brun was a member of the Saxon army that supported Mieszko I, Duke of Poland, against Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia, in Silesia. Brun participated in the election for King of the Romans of 1002 (after the death of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor) as a candidate and elector. When his own candidacy failed, he supported Herman II, Duke of Swabia, whose daughter he married in the same year. Brun had been considered a legitimate candidate because he was a male-line relative of Otto III.

References

Braunschweigisches Biographisches Lexikon, Appelhans 2006, ISBN 3-937664-46-7

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From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Brunswick:

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BRUNSWICK.htm#BrunoIdied1014

BRUNO, son of [EKBERT "der Einäugige Graf im Hastfalagau] & his wife --- ([975/85]-murdered near Niethorp[9] [1010/11][10]).

There is no proof that Bruno von Braunschweig was the son of Ekbert "der Einäugige" but this appears probable in view of the names which are common to the two families and also the common references to the Derlingau. Bruno is shown in Europäische Stammtafeln as the brother of Wichmann [III] Graf im Duffelgau and Ekbert Graf im Derlingau, while another table shows Wichmann [III] as son of Ekbert[11].

His birth date range is estimated from his estimated marriage date. The estimated birth date ranges of both Wichmann [III] and Bruno are consistent with their having been brothers.

Bruno founded Braunschweig. He was a candidate for the German throne in 1002[12] in opposition to Heinrich IV Duke of Bavaria, who was elected as Heinrich II King of Germany.

m ([1003/05]) as her first husband, GISELA of Swabia, daughter of HERMANN II Duke of Swabia & his wife Gerberga of Upper Burgundy (11 Nov 990-Goslar 16 Feb 1043, bur Speyer Cathedral).

The Annalista Saxo names her three husbands, although the order of her first and second marriages is interchanged which appears impossible chronologically[13].

The necrology of Fulda records the death "1043 16 Kal Mar" of "Gisela imp"[14].

She married secondly ([1014]%29 Ernst Duke of Swabia [Babenberg] and thirdly Konrad II Herzog von Franken, who succeeded in 1024 as Konrad II King of Germany.

Bruno & his wife had [two] children:

1. LIUDOLF von Braunschweig ([1003/05]-23 Apr 1038). He was installed as Markgraf in Friesland by his stepfather Emperor Konrad II after 1 Jul 1028. m GERTRUD von Egisheim, daughter of HUGO [VI] Graf im Nordgau und zu Egisheim & his wife Heilwig von Dagsburg (-21 Jul 1077). Liudolf & his wife had [five] children.

2. [daughter . The name and origin of the wife of Graf Thiemo [II] [Formbach] are unknown. Wegener suggests that she was the daughter of Bruno [I] Graf von Braunschweig to explain the transmission of the names Bruno and Ekbert into the family of the Grafen von Formbach[45]. This appears supported by "Conradus…Romanorum rex secundus" granting the right to market and minting coins in Dorf Neunkirchen to "consanguinei nostri Ekkerbti comitis" by charter dated [Jun/Jul] 1141[46], King Konrad III being the great grandson of Heinrich III King of Germany who was the son of Gisela of Swabia by her third husband King Konrad II. m THIEMO [II] Graf, ]

References:

[9] AS 1038.

[10] Szabolcs de Vajay 'Mathilde, Reine de France inconnue', Journal des Savants (Oct-Dec 1971), pp. 241-60, 250 footnote 31.

[11] ES VIII 131a and ES I.1 11 respectively.

[12] Vajay 'Mathilde', p. 251 footnote 35.

[13] AS 1026.

[14] Annales Necrologici Fuldenses, MGH SS XIII, p. 123.

[45] Wegener, p. 139.

[46] D K III 62, p. 109.