Meissen is the predecessor to the present German part state of Saxony and it was
during the tenth century populated by Slavic tribes who were
subdued by the German margrave Gero the Great. The region between the
rivers Elbe and Oder were then ruled by Gero as the margraviate of Ostmark
937-965. When Gero died 965 was Ostmark partitioned into five new
margraviates whereupon Meissen was created but also
Nordmark, which was
the predecessor to Brandenburg. Meissen became 1089 the core land of the
house of Wettin's possessions and remained as such even after it had been
incorporated into the electorate of Saxony 1423.
Margraviate of Ostmark
(after 965 also called Lusatia or Lower Lusatia)
Gero der Grosse
(the Great)
Parted in
Nordmark, Ostmark, Meissen, Zeitz and Merseburg
Günther (margrave of Merseburg)
Wigger (margrave of Zeitz)
Merseburg and Zeitz unites with Meissen
Hodo I
Gero II
Thietmar II (Dietmar)
Hodo II
Dietrich
Dedo
1075-1081
1081-1103
1103-1123
1124-1136
1123-1156
Wratislaw
Heinrich I
Heinrich II
Albrecht der Bär (the Bear)
Konrad der Grosse (the Great)
Ostmark (Lusatia)
is definitively united with Meissen 1136.
Read more about the region's later history at the bottom of the page.
Margraviate of Meissen
965-970
970-979
979-982
982-985
Wigbert
Thietmar (Dietmar)
Günther (margrave of Merseburg 965-976)
Rikdag
985-1002
1002-1010
1010-1031
1031-1046
Ekkehardingian Dynasty
Ekkehard I
Gunzelin von Kuckenburg
Hermann
Ekkehard II
Heinrich I von Eilenburg
Thimo
Heinrich II
Wiprecht von Groitzsch
Hermann von Winzenburg
Konrad der Grosse (the Great)
Otto der Reiche (the Rich)
Albrecht I der Stolze (the Proud)
Direct rule by the emperor (Heinrich VI)
Dietrich der Bedrängte (the Oppressed)
Heinrich der Erlauchte (the Illustrious)
Albrecht der Entartete (the Decadent)
Friedrich der Stammerer (the Stammerer)
Dietrich III (Diezmann)
Friedrich der Freidige
Friedrich der Ernsthafte (the
Serious)
Friedrich der Strenge (the
Stern)
Balthasar
Wilhelm der Einäugige (the
One-eyed)
Georg **
Wilhelm der Reiche (the Rich) **
Friedrich der Streitbare (the warlike)
**
Meissen is incorporated into
Saxony
The smaller margraviate of Ostmark, which was created 965, was also called
Lusatia and from the 15th century was it called Lower Lusatia because the
area between Lower Lusatia and Bohemia (Upper Lusatia) was then perceived
as a part of Lusatia. Lower Lusatia was sold 1303 by Albrecht von Habsburg
to Brandenburg, which already in 1255 had gained Upper Lusatia from Bohemia.
The German emperor enfiefed Upper Lusatia to Bohemia 1319 and this kingdom
purchased Lower Lusatia 1370. A member of the Bohemian royal family (Johann)
was granted the duchy of Görlitz 1378, which included the Eastern part of
Lower Lusatia and Neumark. After his death 1396 was the duchy restored to
the Bohemian crown. All of Lusatia was ceded to Saxony 1635, but Saxony was
1815 forced to cede Lower Lusatia to Prussia.
* = Friedrich was margrave of Landsberg 1283-1288. This margraviate had
been created 1261 for his father Dietrich the Wise through a partitioning
of Meissen and was reunited with Meissen 1288.
** = Georg, Wilhelm and Friedrich was 1381-1382 also landgraves of
Thuringia. But because they were under aged and did not take part in the
government of Thuringia are they not included in Thuringia's list of
regents.
