The Medieval Elbe
Slavs and Germans on the Frontier

Wichmann

Wid III.24


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.

Analysis

Wichmann and Ekbert's father, also named Wichmann, had died in 944.  He had for a short while also been a rebel against Otto; Widukind says that he was jealous of Hermann's office.