The real base of the duke of Saxony: the Ascanian family counties on the eastern Harz and the lower Saale.
Aschersleben (Ascaria), which gave the house its name, with the Gau Serimunt reaching to Köthen; Ballenstedt with the family abbey and burial church; Bernburg on the Saale crossing; Plötzkau, held since 1173 against Welf claims; and the lands towards the Elbe at Dessau and Aken. Bernhard is also advocate of the canonesses of Gernrode (the Ascanian family foundation; not pinned for 1200).
Who he is
- Name
- Bernhard
- Title
- Duke of Saxony; count of Aschersleben and Ballenstedt
- Since
- Aschersleben 1170, Ballenstedt 1171, Plötzkau 1173
- Born
- 1140
- Family
- See the saxony realm record
- Confidence
- high
de.wikipedia (Bernhard III. (Sachsen)).
Overlord
The king.
What it holds
- Aschersleben (the castle and town; Henry the Lion destroyed Aschersleben in 1180-81)
- Ballenstedt castle and abbey
- Bernburg castle on the Saale
- Plötzkau castle
- Hecklingen
- The Serimunt country round Köthen
- Dessau and Aken towards the Elbe
- Harzgerode in the eastern Harz (not pinned for 1200)
How it was acquired
Inherited from Albert the Bear (1170) and his brother Adalbert (1171); Plötzkau by reversion (1171/1173).
Allies and rivals
Philip; the Welfs contest Plötzkau.
How things stand that morning
Bernhard's own lands; he backs Philip.
Wealth
Saale crossings, rents of the Harz foreland and the Serimunt, salt at nearby Stassfurt (holder not pinned).
Military
Bernburg, Aschersleben, Ballenstedt, Plötzkau. No figures.
Threats
- Welf raids
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Acquisition dates from de.wikipedia; the exact extent east of the Saale is rough.
On the map: Ascanian rights east of the Saale interlock with Magdeburg's and the Wettins'; the blocks are approximate.
Primary sources for Saxony (Bernhard)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Stade, by Albert of Stade, Albert of Stade (about 1240 to 1256). A world chronicle written at Stade in the 1240s from older Stade and Bremen annals. Read online
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Helmold of Bosau, Helmold of Bosau (about 1167 to 1172). Background only. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Annals of Pegau; Annals of Magdeburg (12th and 13th centuries; Pegau continued to 1227). The annals of the Wettin lands and of Magdeburg. Read online
- Chronicle of the Lauterberg (Petersberg near Halle), Konrad of Lauterberg (about 1225). The house chronicle of the Wettin foundation on the Lauterberg, sharp-tongued and well informed on Saxony, Meissen and Magdeburg. Read online
- Deeds of the archbishops of Magdeburg (main text to 1142, continued in the 13th and 14th centuries). The Magdeburg house history, with a continuation covering Archbishop Ludolf of Kroppenstedt (1192 to 1205), a firm supporter of Philip who hosted the king's Christmas court at Magdeburg on 25 December 1199. Read online
4 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.