Thietmar Von Merseburg
Thietmar Von Merseburg
Born July 25, 975; died Dec. 1, 1018. German chronicler. Appointed bishop of Merseburg in 1009.
Thietmar von Merseburg was related to the emperors of the Saxon dynasty. His chronicle, written in Latin, covers the period from the reign of Henry I until 1018 and is most valuable for the reigns of Otto III and Henry II. It is a particularly important source for the history of German-Slav relations; it also contains information on the history of Rus’. Thietmar was a proponent of strong royal authority and an apologist for an imperialist policy with regard to the Slavic peoples.