Imma Von Billung, Abbess Hereford

From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Saxony (covering her birth family):

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SAXONY.htm#BernhardIdied1011A

HERMANN [Billung] ([905/10]-Quedlinburg 27 Mar 973, bur Lüneburg St Michael).

The Cronica Principum Saxonie names "Bilingus…filium Hermannum"[200]. His birth date range is estimated on the assumption that he was adult when appointed military commander in 936.

He was given military command in Saxony ("princeps militiæ") by Otto I King of Germany in 936, which triggered the revolt of his brother Wichmann[201].

Graf in Wetigau 940.

Procurator of the king in Saxony 953, 961 and 966.

"Otto…rex" granted property "Ozmina marcam…et Tarata marcam cum castello Grodista" to "vassallo Billing" by charter dated 26 Jun 952[202]. "Otto…rex" granted property to the church of St Moritz, Magdeburg by charter dated 953, which names "Billingus…noster miles"[203].

Graf in dem Gauen Tilithi und Marstem 955.

Markgraf 956:

"Otto…rex" granted rights to salt duties to Lüneburg St Mikhael at the request of "Herimanni marchionis" by charter dated 13 Aug 956[204]. "Otto…rex" gave property "in pago Usiti in comitatu comitis Willihelmi" to "nostro fideli vasallo comitique Billinc" by charter dated 2 Dec 958[205], which may refer to Hermann Billung although he is not titled Markgraf in the document. "Otto…rex" granted property "in locis Vurmerstat, Otunpach, Gozarstat, Haholtestat…in pago Usiti in comitatu comitis Uuillihelmi" to "vasallo comitisque…Billinc" by charter dated 2 Dec 958[206]. "Otto…rex" granted property "Asundorf marcam et Dornsteti marcam Liubissa…in pago Hassigeuui in comitatu comitis Sigiuuridi…loco Biscopstat…in pago Altgeuui in comitatu comitis Uuillihelmi" to "vassallo Billing" by charter dated 23 Apr 961[207]. "Otto…imperator augustus" granted property "in pago Neletici in comitatu Billingi comitis" to Magdeburg St Moritz by charter dated 28 Jul 965[208].

Dux in Saxony 965.

He founded St Michaeliskloster at Lüneburg.

The necrology of Fulda records the death in 973 of "Heriman dux"[209]. Thietmar records the death of Duke Hermann, father of Bernhard, at Quedlinburg on 1 Apr, the transportation of his body to Lüneburg, and the refusal by Bruno Bishop of Verden (maybe his nephew) to allow his burial in church because of his prior excommunication[210]. The necrology of Lüneburg records the death "27 Mar" of "Herimannus dux"[211].

m firstly ODA, daughter of --- (-15 Mar ----). The primary source which confirms the name of Hermann's first wife has not so far been identified.

m secondly HILDESUIT, daughter of ---. The primary source which confirms the name of Hermann's second wife has not so far been identified. "Otto…imperator augustus" confirmed the donation of property "aliquando Bilingo nostro comiti…in Neletici…quitquid coniunx sua hereditarii iuris habere" to Magdaburg St Moritz by charter dated 28 Jul 966[212].

Duke Hermann & his [first/second] wife had five children:

a) BERNHARD (-Corvey 9 Feb 1011, bur Lüneburg St Michael). He succeeded as BERNHARD I Herzog in Sachsen.

b) LIUTGER (-26 Feb 1011, bur Lüneburg St Michael).

m EMMA, daughter of IMMED [III] & his wife Agnes --- (-3 Dec 1038, bur Bremen Cathedral).

Liutger & his wife had two children.

c) MECHTILD of Saxony ([942]-Gent 25 May 1008, bur Gent St Peter).

m firstly ([951/59]%29 BAUDOUIN III joint Count of Flanders, son of ARNOUL I "le Grand" Count of Flanders & his second wife Adela de Vermandois [Carolingian] ([940]-1 Jan 962).

m secondly ([963]%29 GODEFROI Comte de Verdun, son of comte GOZELON [Wigeriche] & his wife Uda --- [Matfriede] (-3 Sep 995, bur Gent St Peter).

d) SCHWANEHILDE [Suanhild] ([945/50]-26 Nov 1014, bur Kloster Jena, transferred 1028 to Naumburg Georgskirche).

m firstly THIETMAR [III] Markgraf [der Ostmark], son of CHRISTIAN Graf im Nordthüring- und Schwabengau & his wife Hidda [der Ostmark] (-3 Aug after 979, bur Kloster Nienburg an der Saale).

m secondly (before 1000) EKKEHARD [I] Markgraf von Meissen, son of GUNTHER Markgraf im Bischofstum Merseburg & his wife --- (-murdered Pöhlde 30 Apr 1002, bur Kloster Jena, transferred 1028 to Naumburg Georgskirche).

e) IMMA . The primary source which confirms her parentage has not so far been identified.

Nun at Herford. 995.

References:

[200] Cronica Principum Saxonie, MGH SS XXV, p. 472.

[201] Reuter (1991), p. 152.

[202] D O I 152, p. 231.

[203] D O I 165, p. 246.

[204] D O I 183, p. 266.

[205] D O I 198, p. 278.

[206] D O I 198, p. 278.

[207] D O I 223, p. 307.

[208] D O I 303, p. 418.

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

[210] Thietmar 2.31, p. 115, footnote 121 commenting that the date is mistaken for 27 Mar.

[211] Althoff, G. (ed.) (1983) Die Totenbücher von Merseburg, Magdeburg und Lüneburg (Hannover), Lüneburg.

[212] D O I 329, p. 443.

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From the English Wikipedia page on Herford Abbey:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herford_Abbey

Imma is listed as the first known Abbess following the reconstruction of the Abbey in 927 (it was destroyed by a Magyar incursion); there were certainly other abbesses before her after the reconstruction:

Imma (before 973 – after 995) (Billunger)