Gero (archbishop of Magdeburg)

Gero († October 22, 1023 in Vatterode ) was from 1012 to 1023 Archbishop of Magdeburg.

Life

Gero came from a distinguished family from the archbishopric of Magdeburg; his father is called Dedo of Gutenswegen ( de Wodeneswege ). A brother of his mother Eilika named Konrad had influence in Magdeburg clergy and was confidant of Emperor Otto III .. The young Gero entered the chapel of King Henry II and was of this after the death of Walt Hards on 22 September 1012 the archbishopric of Magdeburg instituted after his erected by the electorate rival candidate had not received the royal confirmation. In October Gero received the pallium from the Pope.

Mainly in terms of complications, which existed between Henry II and Boleslav of Poland, Gero reached into the politics of the Empire, a decisive, as did the location of his archdiocese of yourself with it. After he had vainly to the Council of the Emperor to release Meckos, the son of Poland Duke opposes in November 1014, he was on the Polish campaign of 1015 the leaders of the rearguard, which was attacked on retreat from the poles and despite the bravery Magdeburg, the band suffered a heavy defeat. Gero himself escaped with difficulty to the emperor. In the beginning of the year 1017 Gero was commissioned to negotiate with Boleslav among other princes, but were unsuccessful. Then he took in July part in the campaign of the Emperor to Poland and mediated by its unfavorable outcome in the January 1018 peace with Boleslav in Bautzen.

With the neighboring Saxon magnates, spiritual and worldly stand Gero was often at war, so 1016-1018 with the Margrave Bernhard of the Nordmark, around the same time with the Margrave of Meissen; In November 1022 he also came with the bishop Arnulf of Halberstadt from us unknown reason in the presence of the emperor in fierce strife; the other hand, he had already been compared with the Bishop of Merseburg Thietmar in 1015 over the issue between the two high- pins goods. In Magdeburg, he had used during his episcopate for various churches, in particular for the St. John's Monastery, and for the completion of the Otto I started walling of the city. After his death in 1023 the Würzburg canon Humphrey became his successor.