Dietrich's Family

Dietrich

also spelled Thiederich

Mother: Mathilde

Married: Reinhild

Thietmari Chron. Lib. 1 in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 3 p737 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1839)
per affines legatosque suos filiam Theodrici et Reinildae, ex Widicinni regis tribu exortam, interpellat,
This roughly translates as:
Through his relatives and ambassadors, he appeals to the daughter of Theodoric and Reinhilda, descended from the tribe of King Widicinn.

Children:
Occupation: Count in Westpahlia, a region of Saxony

Notes:
Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 p285 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
A posteris ergo eiusdem Witikini, egregii ducis, processit stirps beatissimae Mahthildis. Cuius pater, nomine Thietricus, in occidentali regione comes fuerat gloriosus, et venerabilem Reinhildam, Danorum Fresonumque germine procreatam, moribus probabilem, sibimet adiunxerat coniugem. Qui meruit dono Dei gignere infantem hominibus amabilem. O felix partus huius infantis, cui gratia Christi postmodum contigit dignitas regalis! Nam extitit gloria parentum, laetitia propinquorum, spes hereditatis, et decus totius futurae sobolis, amabilis dum nascitur, et amabilior dum nutritur. Quid plura? Tunc temporis raro videbatur infans talis. Cum ergo illustris parvula esset ablactata, desideravit abbatissa Mahthild, mater Thietrici comitis, quae in Herivordinense sedem possedit abbatiae, praefatam puellam nutriendam suscipere. Parentes autem illius consentientes petitioni abbatissae, sibimet ad procurandum commendabant, ut illam doceret sacras lectiones et manuum operationes.
This roughly translates as:
From the descendants of the same Witikin, the illustrious duke, the line of the most blessed Mathilda proceeded. Her father, named Thietric, had been a glorious count in the western region, and had taken to himself as his wife the venerable Reinhilda, a descendant of the Danes and Frisians, of good character. Who deserved, by the gift of God, to give birth to an infant beloved by men. O happy birth of this infant, to whom, by the grace of Christ, royal dignity afterwards befell! For she was the glory of her parents, the joy of her relatives, the hope of her inheritance, and the glory of all her future offspring, beloved while she was born, and more beloved while she was nourished. What more could there be? At that time such an infant was rarely seen. When therefore the illustrious little girl was weaned, the abbess Mathilda, mother of count Thietric, who had the seat of an abbey in Herford, desired to take the aforementioned girl for nursing. Her parents, however, consenting to the abbess's request, recommended to themselves that she should be taught sacred lessons and manual labor.

Sources:

Mathilde

Children:
Widukindi Res Gestæ Saxonicæ Liber 1 in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 3 p431 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1839)
Erat namque ipsa domina regina filia Thiadrici, cujus fratres erant Widukind, Immed et Reginbern. Reginbern autem ipse erat, qui pugnavit contra Danos, multo tempore Saxoniam vastantes, vicitque eos, liberans patriam ab illorum incursionibus usque in hodiernum diem; et hi erant stirpis magni ducis Widukindi, qui bellum potens gessit contra magnum Karolum per triginta ferme annos.
This roughly translates as:
For the lady queen herself was the daughter of Thiadric, whose brothers were Widukind, Immed, and Reginbern. Reginbern was the one who fought against the Danes, who for a long time were ravaging Saxony, and defeated them, freeing his country from their invasions to this day; and these were the descendants of the great Duke Widukind, who waged a mighty war against the great Charlemagne for about thirty years.

Occupation: Abbess of Herford

Notes:
Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 p285 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
Cum ergo illustris parvula esset ablactata, desideravit abbatissa Mahthild, mater Thietrici comitis, quae in Herivordinense sedem possedit abbatiae, praefatam puellam nutriendam suscipere. Parentes autem illius consentientes petitioni abbatissae, sibimet ad procurandum commendabant, ut illam doceret sacras lectiones et manuum operationes.
This roughly translates as:
When therefore the illustrious little girl was weaned, the abbess Mathilda, mother of count Thietric, who had the seat of an abbey in Herford, desired to take the aforementioned girl for nursing. Her parents, however, consenting to the abbess's request, recommended to themselves that she should be taught sacred lessons and manual labor.

Sources:

Mathilde

Heinrich I "der Vogelsteller" and his second wife Mathilde
Heinrich I "der Vogelsteller" and his second wife Mathilde as depicted in the Wolfenbüttel manuscript of the Chronica sancti Pantaleonis from the second half of the 12th century
illustration from the Chronica St. Pantaleonis posted on wikipedia
Father: Dietrich

Mother: Reinhild

Married: Heinrich I "der Vogelsteller" in 909 in Wallhausen, Saxony

Thietmari Chron. Lib. 1 in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 3 p737 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1839)
mens regis ab amore uxoris decrescens, ob pulcritudinem et rem cuiusdam virginis, nomine Mathildis, secreto flagravit. Iam iamque latentis animi fervor erupit; et iniusto se hactenus multum peccasse conubio, tandem professus, per affines legatosque suos filiam Theodrici et Reinildae, ex Widicinni regis tribu exortam, interpellat, ut sibi voluisset satisfacere. Et quia flexibilis est mulieris animus, et quia sciebat eum in cunctis eligantem, consensit, coniunctaque ei tam in divinis quam in humanis profuit. Que tres filios congruo pariens in tempore, Ottonem, Heinricum et Brunonem, prospere educavit, doloremque partus tantae stirpis dulcedine superavit.
This roughly translates as:
the king's mind, declining from his love for his wife, was secretly inflamed by the beauty and virtue of a certain maiden, named Mathilde. Now and then the ardor of his latent mind burst forth; and, at length confessing that he had hitherto sinned greatly by his unjust marriage, he, through his relatives and ambassadors, appealed to the daughter of Theodoric and Reinhilde, descended from the tribe of King Widicin, to make amends for her. And because a woman's mind is flexible, and because she knew that he was selective in all things, she consented, and being united to him benefited both in divine and human matters. She gave birth to three sons at the right time, Otto, Henry, and Bruno, and successfully raised them, and overcame the pain of childbirth with the sweetness of such a lineage.

Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 p284 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
Interim illorum pervenit ad aures, in coenobio Herivordinense egregiam hospitare puellam, nomine Mahthildam, genere nobilem, specie exoptabilem, et moribus illustrem, ut cum ava sua abbatissa disceret psalmodialem librum et industrias operum. Haec etiam virgo traxit egregium genus a venerabili viro Witikino, qui in occidentali regione dux fuerat gloriosus, opibus pollens et dignitatis honore multos praecellens.  
This roughly translates as:
Meanwhile, it came to their ears that in a convent in Herford there was an excellent girl, named Mathilda, of noble lineage, desirable in appearance, and illustrious in character, who, with her grandmother the abbess, was learning the psalmody and the arts of works. This maiden also descended from an excellent lineage from the venerable man Witikinus, who had been a glorious leader in the western region, powerful in wealth and surpassing many in honor and dignity.

Children:
Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 p287 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
  6. De procreatione liberorum suorum. Deus autem omnipotens, sibi servientes numquam derelinquens, elementer inspexit bona opera regis Heinrici et beatissimae Mahthildis, atque illis multiplicavit excellentiam nobilissimae prolis. Beatus etiam partus, qui in utroque sexu enituit pulcherrimus, nec particulatim comprehenditur, nec penitus reticetur. Otto praeclarus, ante regalem dignitatem procreatus, natu fuerat maximus, forma insignis et moribus illustris. Heinricus autem, in regali solio natus, iunior fuit annis, sed haud inferior excellentia probitatis. Huic nimirum tanta inerat pulchritudo, ut tunc temporis vix posset alicui comparari viro. Industria, armis, vultu patri fuerat consimilis; in omni autem tolerantia adversitatis caute observabat vestigia inclitae genitricis, et propter haec specialiter dilectus sanctae Dei; quasi esset unicus illius, confovens eum omnibus deliciis, ceteris in amore praeposuit filiis, atque desideravit ipsum regno potiri post obitum incliti regis Heinrici, si permissu Dei voluntas illius posset adimpleri. Hinc etiam venit puero prima labes mali, et ob hoc Otto egregius contra fratrem parumper est commotus, talique modo inter ipsos crescebat invidia et lis assidua. Bruno vero, aetate minimus, sed honestate morum haud infimus, in annis puerilibus scolasticae deditus censurae, divino famulatui insudabat die tenus.
This roughly translates as:
  6. On the procreation of his children. But God Almighty, never abandoning those who serve Him, clearly looked upon the good works of King Henry and the most blessed Matilda, and multiplied to them the excellence of the most noble offspring. The blessed birth, which shone forth most beautifully in both sexes, is neither comprehended in detail nor completely concealed. The illustrious Otto, begotten before the royal dignity, had been born the eldest, distinguished in form and illustrious in character. But Henry, born on the royal throne, was younger in years, but not inferior in the excellence of probity. Surely there was such beauty in him that at that time it could hardly be compared to any man. In industry, in arms, and in appearance he was like his father; but in all his endurance of adversity he carefully observed the footsteps of his illustrious mother, and for this reason he was specially beloved of the holy God; As if he were her only son, she cherished him with all her delights, and in love she preferred him to her other sons, and desired that he should inherit the kingdom after the death of the illustrious King Henry, if by God's permission his will could be fulfilled. Hence also came the first stain of evil in the boy, and for this reason the illustrious Otto was for a while agitated against his brother, and in this way envy and constant quarrel grew between them. But Bruno, the youngest in age, but not the least in the honesty of his manners, in his boyhood years given to scholastic censure, toiled in divine service until daybreak.

Notes:
Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 pp285-6 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
A posteris ergo eiusdem Witikini, egregii ducis, processit stirps beatissimae Mahthildis. Cuius pater, nomine Thietricus, in occidentali regione comes fuerat gloriosus, et venerabilem Reinhildam, Danorum Fresonumque germine procreatam, moribus probabilem, sibimet adiunxerat coniugem. Qui meruit dono Dei gignere infantem hominibus amabilem. O felix partus huius infantis, cui gratia Christi postmodum contigit dignitas regalis! Nam extitit gloria parentum, laetitia propinquorum, spes hereditatis, et decus totius futurae sobolis, amabilis dum nascitur, et amabilior dum nutritur. Quid plura? Tunc temporis raro videbatur infans talis. Cum ergo illustris parvula esset ablactata, desideravit abbatissa Mahthild, mater Thietrici comitis, quae in Herivordinense sedem possedit abbatiae, praefatam puellam nutriendam suscipere. Parentes autem illius consentientes petitioni abbatissae, sibimet ad procurandum commendabant, ut illam doceret sacras lectiones et manuum operationes.
  3. De desponsatione Mahthildis. Puella igitur insignis mirum in modum proficiebat in cunctis, aetate tenera, probitate grandaeva, capax in studio disciplinae litteralis et operum industriis. Cum autem ubique divulgaretur virtus illius laudabilis, etiam pervenit ad aures praeclari ducis Ottonis, qui statim misit suum comitem Thietmarum haec ad explorandum [909]. Ille vero, praecepto ducis obediens, ad supra memoratum coenobium iter acceleravit ardens, et statim adiens cubiculum matronarum eidem puellae iussu abbatissae servientium, ac adminiculo earum clam se inferens monasterio, diligenter perspexit formam virginis herilem et mire laudabilem. Igitur tacite investigatis et caute consideratis omnibus quae desiderabat, domino suo reportavit hilaris cuncta quae viderat. Die vero sequenti dux Otto disposuit ire suum filium Heinricum ad praefatum coenobium una cum comite Thietmaro, suo magistro, ut cauta consideratione perspicerent, si forma moresque puellae sibimet convenirent. Elegit itaque non paucos iuvenes, genere et specie elegantes, qui comitarentur iuvenem Heinricum, quo se iactantius ferret ad praedestinatum locum. Appropinquantes autem monasterio, castra metati sunt in campo; pauci vero illorum quasi causa orationis ingressi oratorium, viderunt virginem intus sedentem et psalterium manu tenentem, honestissimam habitu et admodum reverendo cultu. Heinricus autem, eximiae virginis amore succensus, interdixit sociis ne cuiquam indicarent qua causa huc venissent; statimque ad castrum revertebatur, ubi cetera pars iuvenum commorabatur. Et induens se herili ornatu, templum denuo intravit multo comitatu, postulans sibi copiam dari abbatissam alloquendi. Quae etiam procedens, ipsum cunctosque suos satellites suscepit gaudens. Postquam autem invicem dedissent verba salutationis, secum duxit iuvenem Heinricum una cum comite Thietmaro in suum cubiculum, et familiare cum eis in longum produxit colloquium. Egregius vero iuvenis interim sumens fiduciam animi, paulatim incepit sermonem de virgine, interrogans quantum provecta esset aetate aut qualis staturae; postremo etiam desideravit sibi licentiam dari ipsam conspiciendi. Qua evocata praecepto abbatissae, apparuit in ea virginalis incessus et verae pudicitiae habitus, frons serenus et speciosus ad intuendum vultus in candore liliis extitit persimilis, in vivido autem colore assimulabatur rosarum foliis. Hanc tanti decoris ut vidit egregius iuvenis, minime valens diutius celare amorem cordis, postulavit prece instanti, ipsam virginem sibi desponderi. Contra haec abbatissa oculos deiecit, et nutanti animo in responsione diu haesitavit. Cum autem magis ac magis perseveraret adolescens in incepto petitionis, tandem domina talibus respondebat verbis: Non est nostrum, eam nuptam dare alicui absque consilio et consensu parentum; dignum est enim ut a nobis integra fide illis restituatur, ex quibus nostrae procurationi commendata est. Quin etiam nobis versatur in dubio, si alterius viri eam decreverunt thalamo; nam illam desiderabant perplures genere et forma illustres. Quamquam autem nobis sit incognitum, quem de his velint eligere generum, adimplebimus tamen vestrum votum; et si Dei aderit voluntas, nostra de parte non tardamus nuptias, quia excellentia vestri generis crebro insonuit auribus nostris, et hoc non est minima pars foederis, quod ipse ad nos iter direxistis. Haut mora, ornamentis honeste paratis, quae congrua erant desponsationi virginis, sequenti die Heinricus secum duxit venerabilem virginem in partes Saxoniae. Tunc circumducebatur per civitates egregii ducis Ottonis a comite Thietmaro et militibus ceteris, donec in Walohusun praeparabatur convivium nuptiale magno honore, uti decuit illos, qui postea imperabant gentibus plurimis; ibi perfruebantur connubiis et licito foedere amoris. Heinricus autem tradidit venerabili nuptae in dotem omne quod attinet ad eandem civitatem, patre suo consentiente, et ipse venerabilis dux Otto enutrivit eam in vice filiae usque ad obitum suae vitae. Tribus autem annis post haec transactis, vir venerandus mortem subiit temporalem, [912] et Dei ordinatione Heinricus ducatus percepit honorem. Ascendens autem gradum dignitatis, tantam humilitatem exhibebat subditis, ut etiam, si posset evenire, exoptarent ipsum regale solium iam possidere.
This roughly translates as:
From the descendants of the same Witikin, the illustrious duke, the line of the most blessed Mathilda proceeded. Her father, named Thietric, had been a glorious count in the western region, and had taken to himself as his wife the venerable Reinhilda, a descendant of the Danes and Frisians, of good character. Who deserved, by the gift of God, to give birth to an infant beloved by men. O happy birth of this infant, to whom, by the grace of Christ, royal dignity afterwards befell! For she was the glory of her parents, the joy of her relatives, the hope of her inheritance, and the glory of all her future offspring, beloved while she was born, and more beloved while she was nourished. What more could there be? At that time such an infant was rarely seen. When therefore the illustrious little girl was weaned, the abbess Mathilda, mother of count Thietric, who had the seat of an abbey in Herford, desired to take the aforementioned girl for nursing. Her parents, however, consenting to the abbess's request, recommended to themselves that she should be taught sacred lessons and manual labor.
  3. On the betrothal of Mathilde. The remarkable girl therefore made wonderful progress in all things, at a tender age, with great probity, capable of studying literary discipline and industrious works. But when her praiseworthy virtue was spread everywhere, it also reached the ears of the illustrious Duke Otto, who immediately sent his count Thietmar to investigate [909]. But he, obeying the Duke's command, hastened his way to the aforementioned monastery, and immediately approaching the chamber of the matrons who served the girl at the command of the abbess, and with their help secretly entering the monastery, he carefully observed the maiden's graceful and wonderfully praiseworthy form. Therefore, having silently investigated and carefully considered everything that he desired, he joyfully reported to his master all that he had seen. But the following day Duke Otto arranged for his son Henry to go to the aforementioned monastery together with count Thietmar, his master, so that they could carefully examine whether the girl's form and manners suited them. He therefore chose not a few young men, elegant in birth and appearance, to accompany the young Henry, that he might carry himself more proudly to the predestined place. But approaching the monastery, they pitched camp in the field; but a few of them, as if for the purpose of prayer, entered the oratory, and saw a maiden sitting within, holding a psaltery in her hand, most honorable in dress and with very reverent worship. But Henry, inflamed with love for the excellent maiden, forbade his companions to tell anyone why they had come hither; and he immediately returned to the castle, where the rest of the young men were staying. And putting on his knightly attire, he entered the temple again with a large company, requesting that he be given the opportunity to address the abbess. She also went forth and joyfully received him and all his companions. But after they had exchanged words of greeting, she led the young Henry with her, together with count Thietmar, into her chamber, and had a long familiar conversation with them. Meanwhile, the distinguished young man, gaining confidence in his mind, gradually began to talk about the virgin, asking how advanced in age she was or what her stature was like; finally, he even desired to be given permission to see her. When she was summoned by the abbess's command, a virginal gait and a habit of true chastity appeared in her, a serene and beautiful forehead appeared to the eye, a face very similar in whiteness to lilies, but in vivid color it resembled the leaves of roses. Seeing her of such beauty, the distinguished young man, unable to conceal the love of his heart any longer, asked with urgent prayer that the virgin herself be betrothed to him. At this, the abbess lowered her eyes and hesitated for a long time in her response, wavering in her mind. But when the young man persisted more and more in the request, the lady finally answered in these words: It is not our business to give her in marriage to anyone without the advice and consent of her parents; for it is fitting that she be restored by us in full faith to those from whom she was entrusted to our care. Nay, we are also in doubt if she has been given to another man's chamber; for many illustrious men of birth and form desired her. But although it is unknown to us which of these men they wish to choose as their son-in-law, we will nevertheless fulfill your wish; and if God wills, we will not delay the marriage on our part, because the excellence of your family has often rung in our ears, and this is not the least part of the treaty that you yourself have directed the journey to us. Without delay, having honestly prepared the ornaments that were suitable for the betrothal of a virgin, the following day Henry led the venerable maiden with him to the parts of Saxony. Then she was led around through the cities of the excellent Duke Otto by count Thietmar and the other soldiers, until at Wallhausen a wedding feast was prepared with great honor, as was befitting those who afterwards ruled over many nations; There they enjoyed marriages and a lawful covenant of love. Henry, however, gave the venerable bride as a dowry everything that pertained to that city, with her father's consent, and the venerable Duke Otto himself raised her in place of his daughter until the end of his life. But three years after this, the venerable man suffered a temporal death, [912] and by the ordinance of God Henry received the honor of the duchy. But ascending the rank of dignity, he showed such humility to his subjects that even, if it could happen, they would have wished to possess the royal throne itself.

Thietmari Chron. Lib. 1 in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 3 pp740-1 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1839)
  11. Et inclita venerabilis gesta Machtildis, quae post excessum senioris sui sumopere fecit, equidem paucis comprehendam ad imitationem bonam fidelibus cunctis; quia sancta est, ut scriptura docet, et salubris cogitatio, pro defunctis orare et elemosinis absolutionem hiis impetrare. Legimus, quod unius captivi vincula, quem uxor sua putans mortuum assiduis procuravit exequiis, tocies solverentur, quocies pro eo acceptabiles Deo patri hostiae ab ea offerrentur, ut ipse ei post retulit, cum domum suam liber revisit. Hoc exemplo domna Mahtildis, viro suimet vinculo momentaneae mortis depresso, succurrit, non solum pauperibus, verum eciam avibus victum subministrans. Congregationem quoque sanctimonialium in die tricesima in supra memorata urbe statuit, et huic, quantum ad victus et sui vestitus necessaria suppetebat, ex sua proprietate4, laudantibus hoc suimet filiis, concessit et scriptis confirmavit. Asserunt nonnulli eandem hoc sumopere diu enisam fuisse, quod iunior filius suimet Heinricus patris sedem possideret. Sed hoc Deus, electos sibi ad unaquaeque semper preordinans, noluit, nec summatum optima pars consensit, sed racione prudenti et ideo facile suadenti haec merentis reginae animum paulo minus a proposito declinavit, et huic Bawarios ad tuendum apcius assignari, prehabito sibi nato maiori, consuluit.
… 4) Urbem Quedlinburg Heinricus rex 929. SepL 16 (DHI, 20) uxori suae Mahthildae in ius proprium concessit.
This roughly translates as:
11. And the famous and venerable deeds of Matilde, which she did after the death of her elder, I will indeed briefly summarize for the good imitation of all the faithful; because it is holy, as Scripture teaches, and a salutary thought, to pray for the dead and to obtain absolution for them by alms. We read that the bonds of a certain prisoner, whom his wife, supposing him dead, had diligently arranged for funerals, were as often as she offered acceptable sacrifices to God the Father in his behalf, as he himself later reported to him, when he revisited his free house. By this example, Lady Matilde, when her husband was oppressed by the bonds of a momentary death, came to the aid of him, supplying food not only to the poor but also to the birds. She also established a congregation of nuns on the thirtieth day in the above-mentioned city, and to this, as far as the necessities of food and clothing were available, she granted them from her own property4, her sons praising this, and confirmed it in writing. Some assert that this same thing had been long desired, that the younger son of Henry should possess his father's seat. But God, who always preordaines his elect to each office, did not will this, nor did the best part of the sums consent, but prudent reason, and therefore easily persuasive, turned the mind of this deserving queen a little less from her purpose, and she consulted that the Bavarians should be assigned to her more aptly for the protection of her eldest son.
… 4) King Henry granted the city of Quedlinburg to his wife Mathilda in her own right on 16 Sep 929 (DHI, 20).

The lives of the fathers, martyrs, and other principal saints vol 3 pp190-3 (Alban Butler, 1842)
        MARCH XIV.
  ST. MAUD, OR MATHILDIS,
      QUEEN OF GERMANY.
From her life written forty years after her death, by the order of St. Henry; Acta Sanct. t. 7. p. 361.
        A. D. 968.
  THIS princess was daughter of Theodoric, a powerful Saxon count. Her parents, being sensible that piety is the only true greatness, placed her very young in the monastery of Erford, of which her grandmother Maud, who had renounced the world in her widowhood, was then abbess. Here our saint acquired an extraordinary relish for prayer and spiritual reading; and learned to work at her needle, and to employ all the precious moments of life in. something serious and worthy the great end of her creation. She remained in that house an accomplished model of all virtues, till her parents married her to Henry, son of Otho, duke of Saxony, in 913. Her husband, surnamed the Fowler, from his fondness for the diversion of hawking, then much in vogue, became duke of Saxony by the death of his father, in 916; and in 919, upon the death of Conrad, was chosen king of Germany. He was a pious and victorious prince, and very tender of his subjects. His solicitude in easing their taxes, made them ready to serve their country in his wars at their own charges, though he generously recompensed their zeal after his expeditions, which were always attended with success. Whilst he by his arms checked the insolence of the Hungarians and Danes, and enlarged his dominions by adding to them Bavaria, Maud gained domestic victories over her spiritual enemies, more worthy of a Christian, and far greater in the eyes of heaven. She nourished the precious seeds of devotion and humility in her heart by assiduous prayer and meditation; and, not content with the time which the day afforded for these exercises, employed part of the night the same way. The nearer the view was which she took of worldly vanities, the more clearly she discovered their emptiness and dangers, and sighed to see men pursue such bubbles to the loss of their souls; for, under a fair outside, they contain nothing but poison and bitterness.
  It was her delight to visit, comfort, and exhort the sick and the afflicted; to serve and instruct the poor, teaching them the advantages of their state from the benedictions and example of Christ; and to afford her charitable succours to prisoners, procuring them their liberty where motives of justice would permit it; or at least easing the weight of their chains by liberal alms; but her chief aim was to make them shake off their sins by sincere repentance. Her husband, edified by her example, concurred with her in every pious undertaking which she projected. After twenty-three years’ marriage, God was pleased to call the king to himself by an apoplectic fit, in 936. Maud, during his sickness, went to the Church to pour forth her soul in prayer for him at the foot of the altar. As soon as she understood, by the tears and cries of the people, that he had expired, she called for a priest that was fasting, to offer the holy sacrifice for his soul; and at the same time cut off the jewels which she wore, and gave them to the priest, as a pledge that she renounced from that moment the pomp of the world. She had three sons; Otho, afterward emperor; Henry, duke of Bavaria, and St. Bruno, archbishop of Cologne. Otho was crowned king of Germany in 937, and emperor at Rome in 962, after his victories over the Bohemians and Lombards. Maud, in the contest between her two elder sons for the crown which was elective, favoured Henry, who was the younger, a fault she expiated by severe afflictions and penance. These two sons conspired to strip her of her dowry, on the unjust pretence that she had squandered away the revenues of the state on the poor. This persecution was long and cruel, coming from all that was most dear to her in this world. The unnatural princes at length repented of their injustice, were reconciled to her, and restored her all that had been taken from her. She then became more liberal in her alms than ever, and founded many churches, with five monasteries; of which the principal were that of Polden in the dutchy of Brunswick, in which she maintained three thousand monks; and that of Quedlinbourg in the dutchy of Saxony.1 She buried her husband in this place, and when she had finished the buildings, made it her usual retreat. She applied herself totally to her devotions, and to works of mercy. It was her greatest pleasure to teach the poor and ignorant how to pray, as she had formerly taught her servants. In her last sickness she made her confession to her grandson William, the archbishop of Mentz, who yet died twelve days before her, on his road home. She again made a public confession before the priests and monks of the place, received a second time the last sacraments, and lying on a sack-cloth with ashes on her head, died on the 14th of March in in 968. Her body remains at Quedlinbourg. Her name is recorded in the Roman Martyrology on this day.
  1 The abbess of this latter is the first princess of the empire.

Death: 14 March 968, in Quedlinburg, Saxony

Annales Necrologici Fuldenses in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 13 p201 (1881)
  Anno 968.
… 2. Id. Mar. ob. Mahthild regina.
This roughly translates as:
  Year 968.
… 2 day of the Ides of March [14 March]. died queen Mathilde

Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 pp299-302 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
  24.  De unctione reginae.  Igitur discessit Deo dilecta regina de civitate Northusunense in 11. Kalendarum Ianuarii [Dec. 22], et maximum moerorem illic commorantibus reliquit sanctimonialibus, quas semper materno dilexit amore; quia illam in hoc mortali corpore, pro dolore! ulterius non erant visurae, quae illarum fuit honor, laetitia, decus et gloria. Tunc in Quitilingoburc properabat, ubi Deus sanctam animam de carnis ergastulo dissolvi praeordinaverat; ibique nimia aegritudine correpta, usque ad obitus diem infirmabatur [968].

  27.  Qualiter obierit.  Post haec verba praecepit presbiteros et sanctimoniales propius accedere, ut eius confessionem audirent et sibi a Deo remissionem postularent. Quo facto, iussit missam celebrari et corpus Christi sibi afferri, ut per sacri mysterii communionem securius evaderet callidi hostis laesionem. His omnibus rite peractis, sibi astantes admonuit, ut psalmos vigilanter decantarent et evangelium legerent, usque dum anima iussu Dei de corpore discederet. Post haec nullum verbum protulit, sed oculis expansis et manibus elevatis, animo et spiritu in coelum intendit. Appropinquante autem hora nona, iussit cilicium humi poni et corpus moribundum supra collocari, propriis manibus cinerem imponens capiti: Non decet, inquit, christinianum nisi in cilicio et cinere mori. Dein sanctae crucis se muniens signaculo, cum pace et requie obdormivit in Domino 2 Idus Martii. Ut rectissime potuit investigari, anima sanctae Dei egressa est de corpore in ipsa hora diei, qua semper consuetudinem habuit pauperes recreare in nomine Domini diebus quadragesimae. Cum autem corpus lavissent et ad ecclesiam detulissent, venerunt nuntii reginae Gerburgis, filiae venerabilis domnae Mahthildis, afferentes pallium auro intertextum, aptum cooperire loculum. Tunc electae Christi famulae prophetia in omnibus fuit adimpleta, et de transmigratione archiepiscopi Willehelmi et veste lugubri.
  28.  De sepultura eius.  Igitur sepelierunt corpus in basilica sancti Servatii, iuxta sepulcrum regis Heinrici, cum magno honore, ubi ipsa decreverat requiescere et diem iudicii expectare. Ergo discessit de corpore, nobilis genere, nobilior moribus et sanctitate, senex et plena dierum, omnibus suis posteris bonum relinquens exemplum. Cum honore enim praesentem vitam duxerat, et cum honore de mundo migrabat; et quidquid temporaliter vixerat, in bonis operibus consummabat.
This roughly translates as:
  24.  Of the anointing of the queen.  Therefore the queen, beloved of God, departed from the city of Nordhausen on the 11th of the Kalends of January [Dec. 22], and left the greatest sorrow to the nuns who dwelt there, whom she had always loved with a motherly love; because in this mortal body, for sorrow! they would never see her again, who was their honor, joy, glory and glory. Then she hastened to Quitilingoburc, where God had preordained the release of her holy soul from the labor prison of the flesh; and there, seized with great illness, she was infirm until the day of her death [968].

  27.  How she died.  After these words she ordered the priests and nuns to come closer, so that they might hear her confession and ask forgiveness for themselves from God. When this was done, she ordered mass to be celebrated and the body of Christ to be brought to her, so that through the communion of the sacred mystery she might more safely escape the injury of the cunning enemy. When all these things were duly accomplished, she admonished those present to chant the psalms vigilantly and read the Gospel until the soul departed from the body at the command of God. After this she uttered no word, but with eyes wide open and hands raised, she turned her mind and spirit to heaven. But as the ninth hour approached, she ordered that a sackcloth be laid on the ground and the dying body be placed on it, applying ashes to her head with her own hands: "It is not becoming," she said, "for a Christian to die except in sackcloth and ashes." Then, securing herself with the seal of the holy cross, she fell asleep in the Lord on the 2nd day of the Ides of March [14 March] with peace and rest. As could be most correctly ascertained, the soul of the holy woman of God departed from the body at the very hour of the day at which it was always the custom for the poor to rest in the name of the Lord during the days of Lent. But when they had washed the body and taken it to church, messengers arrived from Queen Gerburg, daughter of the venerable Lady Mathilde, bringing a cloak interwoven with gold, suitable for covering the coffin. Then the prophecy of the chosen handmaid of Christ was fulfilled in all things, both concerning the transmigration of Archbishop William and the mourning garment.
  28.  Of her burial.  Therefore they buried her body in the basilica of St. Servatius, next to the tomb of king Henry, with great honor, where she had decided to rest and await the day of judgment. Therefore she departed from the body, noble in lineage, nobler in character and holiness, old and full of days, leaving a good example to all her descendants. For she had led her present life with honor, and with honor she departed from the world; and whatever she had lived temporally, she accomplished in good works.

Buried: in the basilica of St Servatius, in Quedlinburg, Saxony, next to her husband, Heinrich.

Vita Mathildis Reginæ Antiquior in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 10 p581 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1853)
His itaque omnibus iuxta divinum ordinem dispositis, plena dierum et perfecta aetate, exemplum boni operis posteris relinquens, soboles suas atque ex eis videns nepotes usque in quartem generationem, Mactildis regina Deo et angelis spiritum reddidit, migravitque ad Dominum 2. Idus Marcii in Quidilingaburg civitate, ibique in basilica sancti Servacii episcopi et confessoris honorifice tradita sepulturae, iuxta sepulcrum domini sui Heinrici requiescit.
This roughly translates as:
Therefore, having arranged all these things according to divine order, at full days and perfect age, leaving an example of good works to posterity, having seen her offspring and grandchildren from them down to the fourth generation, Queen Mathilde gave up her spirit to God and the angels, and passed away to the Lord. On the 2nd day of the Ides of March in the city of Quedlinburg, she rests honorably buried in the basilica of St. Servatius, bishop and confessor, next to the tomb of her lord Henry.

Sources:

Reinhild

Married: Dietrich

Thietmari Chron. Lib. 1 in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 3 p737 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1839)
per affines legatosque suos filiam Theodrici et Reinildae, ex Widicinni regis tribu exortam, interpellat,
This roughly translates as:
Through his relatives and ambassadors, he appeals to the daughter of Theodoric and Reinhilda, descended from the tribe of king Widicinn.

Children:
Notes:
Reinhild is stated to have been of Danish-Frisian origin, although her actual parents are unknown.
Vita Mathildis Reginæ in Monumenta Germaniæ Historica SS 4 p285 (ed. G. H. Pertz, 1841)
Cuius pater, nomine Thietricus, in occidentali regione comes fuerat gloriosus, et venerabilem Reinhildam, Danorum Fresonumque germine procreatam, moribus probabilem, sibimet adiunxerat coniugem.
This roughly translates as:
Her father, named Thietric, had been a glorious count in the western region, and had taken to himself as his wife the venerable Reinhilda, a descendant of the Danes and Frisians, of good character.

Death: 11 May, although the year is unknown

Neue Mittheilungen aus dem Gebiete historisch-antiquarischer Forschungen p248 (1867)
Das alte Merseburger Todtenbuch  herausgegeben von Ernst Dümmler.
Necrologium Mersebvrgense
Reinhild, Gem. Theoderichs, Mutter der Kön. Mathilde 11 Mai (Diptych. Trevir. a. a. O. I, 470).
This roughly translates as:
The old Merseburg death register edited by Ernst Dümmler.
Merseburg Obituary
Reinhild, wife of Theoderich, Mother of the Queen Mathilde 11 May (Diptych. Trevir. a. a. O. I, 470).

Sources:

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