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Wichmann

First Rebellion


III.19. However, the king’s maternal cousin, Ekbert, since he was held as a hostage inside the burg, corrupted by persuasive words, became hostile to the king—since Ekbert was also enraged at him before, because he was castigated for a heedless battle where he had lost his eye.
III.23. With the king campaigning against Mainz, dux Hermann was administering Saxony. Since a new army from Saxony was supposed to be sent to reinforce the old, Thiadric and Wichmann the Younger were put in charge of it. Reaching the borders of the Franks, surrounded suddenly by Liudolf and dux Conrad, they were forced into a certain deserted fortress. When they [Liudolf and Conrad] advanced to storm it, their standardbearer lost an arm in front of the gate by a thrown wheel. With this, the battle was ended, and a truce of three days was granted for their return to Saxony.
III.24. Thiadric was tempted by Liudolf with great promises, but Wichmann was completely corrupted. From then on, he began to castigate his paternal uncle [Hermann], to declare him a thief of paternal inheritance, and to call him a plunderer of his treasures. However, [Hermann] was in no way ignorant of this plan; it is difficult to describe at all the wisdom and prudence with which he was guarding against his kinsmen and manifest enemies.
III.25. So: Ekbert is joined to Wichmann, and with the same purpose they rise up against the dux and give him no leisure for rest. But he, breaking the fury of the youths by noble patience, guards against the growth of any disturbance in those parts during the king’s absence.
III.29. With Hermann and his nephews laying their cases before the king, everyone just and firm1 praised the judgment of the dux, judging that the adolescents should be chastised. But the loving king spared them, placing Wichmann under military guard only within the palace.

Analysis

Judging by its position within the Deeds, Widukind links Wichmann's first revolt with the rebellion led by Otto's son Liudolf and son-in-law Conrad in 953-4.  The siege of Mainz began in July 953, and continued for two months.  Widukind implies that the discussion of the brothers' case took place after Otto's return to Saxony in January 954.

This section is characterized by brief, almost annalistic entries informing the reader of the brothers' activities.  The story of their rebellion begins abruptly, and is somewhat incomplete: for example, though Ekbert and Wichmann are referred to as Hermann's nephews, they are never explicitly introduced as brothers, a departure from the otherwise specific tenor of the passsages.