Adalbert II, Count of Ballenstedt

Adalbert II, Count of Ballenstedt (* 1030, † 1080 ) was of the family of the Earl of Ascanians Ballenstedt.

Life

He was the son and successor of Count Esico of Ballenstedt. Adalbert is mentioned for the first time after 1033. In 1069 he was Count in Nordthüringgau, later in the two districts Nizizi and Serimunt. He took part in the revolt of the Saxons in 1072 under Otto II of Northeim against King Henry IV. Approximately one year later, he transferred the provost of the monastery Ballenstedt Nienburg. He married Adelheid, the daughter and heiress of Count Otto I of Weimar- Orlamünde. From Adalbert II a seal image is known that in general it is the oldest image of a Ascanian.

The marriage with Adelheid sprang two children:

• Otto the Rich (c. 1070/73, † 1123), who received the Ascanian his father's legacy; he became Count of Ballenstedt, Count of Askanien and from 1112 duke of Saxony
• Siegfried von Ballenstedt (* around 1075, † 1113 ), who inherited his mother's weimar - orlamündischen claims; he became Count Palatine of the Rhine in 1097 to

Adalbert was slain around 1080 (after 1076, before 1083 ), probably in a feud, of Egeno II of Konradsburg. The reasons for this fact are not clear; suspected political reasons or that Egeno had acquired during captivity Adalbert askanischen owned and therefore the two got into feud. According to legend, the stone cross west village reminded of this fact. Adalbert's widow married afterwards the Count Palatine Herman II of Lorraine (c. 1049, † 1085 ) from the House of Ezzonen and after his death the Luxembourg Henry II of Laach († 1095 ), Count of Mayengau and Engersgau, which then (at least from 1087) Hermann's successor as Count Palatine and was named as the first " Count Palatine of the Rhine ". Heinrich adopted Adelaide's son from her first marriage to Adalbert, Siegfried, who succeeded him as Count Palatine of the Rhine after the death of Henry.