Billung

The Bill Unger is a Saxon noble family from the early Middle Ages. They are divided into the older and younger Bill Unger, the phylogenetic relationship between the two is not clear.

The older Bill Unger occurred at the time of Charlemagne. First well known name is Bill Unger Count Wichmann ( Wychmannus comes ), which should have resulted in 811 negotiations on the Eider. Another Wichmann is occupied 855 as Count in Hamaland. Also the " princeps " Billung who, through his daughter Oda († 913) belongs to the family of the father of the Saxon Count Liudolf († 866) was.

In the first half of the 10th century, the younger Bill Unger won in the same region of influence. Power base was the self- possession of the family as well as the count's rights to the same to Lüneburg and on the upper Weser. King Otto I commissioned in 936 Hermann Billung († 973 ) with the border guards of the empire in that region at the lower Elbe, which was then called Mark of the Bill Unger. While his older brother Wichmann I left the army in protest against this decision, Hermann was then repeatedly entrusted with the exercise of the royal interests ( procurator regis) in the Duchy of Saxony. This representation he could supplement with 961 ducal rights. He was succeeded by his son, Duke Bernhard I, the country Hadeln acquired by marriage to Hildegard von Stade. From this marriage comes Duke Bernhard II († 1059 ). His son, Duke Ordulf reigned until 1072. 's Sons Wichmann I., Wichmann II and Ekbert the one-eyed, began during the conflict of Emperor Otto I and his son Liudolf a vendetta against her uncle Hermann Billung because he fatherly to her heritage have been scammed, and allied themselves in the course even with the Abodrites.

The last male Bill Unger, Ordulfs son of Duke Magnus (1072-1106), was from 1073-1075 in opposition to the Salian what the end of the 11th century drew to decrease the influence of the family to be. After his death the property was divided: The duchy fell to Lothar of Supplinburg (also Süpplingenburg ), the future Emperor, the family estates by the marriages of the daughters of the Duke to the Ascanians and Guelph, which thereby justified their dominance in Saxony and Thuringia.