Editing Widukind (section)

==Life==
Very little is known about Widukind's life. His name literally translates as "child of the forest". In the chronicles he is accompanied by [[Abbi (Saxon)|Abbi]] who may have been a close relative.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lexikon des Mittelalters. 7, Planudes bis Stadt (Rus').|date=1999|publisher=Metzler|isbn=3476017427|location=Stuttgart|oclc=313569328}}</ref> However, it is uncertain how they were related because all sources about him stem from his enemies, the [[Franks]], who painted a negative picture representing him as an "insurgent" and a "traitor". While Widukind was considered the leader of the Saxon resistance by the Franks, his exact role in the military campaigns is unknown.

According to the ''[[Royal Frankish Annals]]'', the Franks campaigned in [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]] in 772, when Charlemagne ordered the destruction of the [[Irminsul]] sanctuary. The Saxon Wars continued when [[Westphalia]]n tribes devastated the church of [[Deventer]] and the [[Angria|Angrarii]] laid siege to the Frankish court at [[Fritzlar]]. The king retaliated against the local nobility, enforcing the decree to incorporate the Saxon lands as a Frankish [[March (territory)|march]].

Widukind was first mentioned by the ''Annals'' in 777 when he was the only one of the Saxon nobles not to appear at Charlemagne's court in [[Paderborn]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Instead, he stayed with the Danish king [[Sigfred]] (possibly [[Sigurd Hring]]). The next year, the Westphalians again invaded the Frankish [[Rhineland]] and subsequently fought a running battle against the Franks and their local allies while Charlemagne [[Battle of Roncevaux Pass|was busy in Spain]].

By 782, Widukind had returned from [[Denmark]] and goaded the Saxon nobles into rebellion. From 782 to 784, battles between Saxons and Franks occurred annually, while Charlemagne had 4,500 Saxons executed at the [[Massacre of Verden]]. Widukind allied himself with the [[Frisians]] but Charlemagne's winter attacks of 784/785 were nevertheless successful, and the ''dux'' and his allies were pushed back to their homelands. Charlemagne, leading an expedition towards the mouth of the [[Elbe]], learned that Widukind was in the land of the [[Nordalbingia]]ns, on the right bank of the river.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} In the [[Bardengau]] in 785, Widukind agreed to surrender in return for a guarantee that no bodily harm would be done to him. He and his allies were then baptized, possibly in [[Attigny, Ardennes|Attigny]],<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15618a.htm Kampers, Franz. "Widukind." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 5 Jan. 2013]</ref> with Charlemagne as his [[godparent|godfather]]. Widukind thereby reached a peace agreement and the acknowledgement of the Saxon noble rank by their Frankish overlords.

There are no contemporary sources about Widukind's life or death after his baptism. Historian Gerd Althoff assumed that he was imprisoned at a [[monastery]]—a fate that happened to other rulers deposed by Charlemagne. He tried to identify [[Reichenau Abbey]] as a likely location where Widukind may have spent the rest of his life,<ref>Gerd Althoff: ''Der Sachsenherzog Widukind als Mönch auf der Reichenau. Ein Beitrag zur Kritik des Widukind-Mythos.'' In: ''Frühmittelalterliche Studien'', Bd. 17 (1983), S. 251–279. ([http://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/a/a047931.pdf online])</ref> but his results are inconclusive and widely rejected.<ref>Eckhard Freise: ''Die Sachsenmission Karls des Großen und die Anfänge des Bistums Minden.'' In: ''An Weser und Wiehen. Beiträge zur Geschichte und Kultur einer Landschaft. Festschrift für Wilhelm Brepohl.'' Minden 1983, S. 57–100, hier: S. 81. ([http://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/a/a142466.pdf online]) Ausführlicher Eckhard Freise: ''Widukind in Attigny.'' In: ''1200 Jahre Widukinds Taufe.'' Paderborn 1985, S. 12–45, hier: S. 35ff. ([http://www.mgh-bibliothek.de/dokumente/k/keh01000843.pdf online]).</ref> Alternatively, he may have received a position in the administration of occupied Saxony. The ''Vita Liudgeri'' biography of Saint [[Ludger]] mentions him accompanying Charlemagne on his campaign against the [[Veleti]] leader [[Dragovit]]. According to the 12th-century ''[[Kaiserchronik]]'', he was slain by Charlemagne's brother-in-law [[Gerold, Prefect of Bavaria|Gerold of Baar]].