Esico of Ballenstedt
| Esico of Ballenstedt | |
|---|---|
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Coat of arms of the Counts of Ballenstedt | |
| Spouse(s) | Matilda of Swabia |
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Issue | |
| Noble family | House of Ascania |
| Father | Adalbert of Ballenstedt (?) |
| Mother | Hidda (?) |
| Died | c. 1060 |
Esico of Ballenstedt (died around 1060) is the progenitor of the House of Ascania, i.e., the oldest known member of the dynasty.
Life
Little is known about him, but he is assumed to have been count of the Saxon Schwabengau, Harzgau and Nordthüringgau with his seat at Ballenstedt Castle. His father is sometimes assumed to have been one Adalbert of Ballenstedt, who had married Hidda, a daughter of Margrave Odo I of the Saxon Eastern March, but there is no hard evidence for this. Thereby, Esico would have been a brother of Uta von Ballenstedt, the consort of Margrave Eckard II of Meissen, and of Hazecha, abbess of Gernrode.
Esico was first mentioned in a 1036 deed issued by Emperor Conrad II and also appeared in the 12th century chronicle of Annalista Saxo. He is assumed to have inherited large properties in the Saxon Eastern March from his maternal grandfather Margrave Odo I. He successfully increased his property by marrying Matilda (988/89–1032), a daughter of Duke Herman II of Swabia and sister-in-law of the emperor.
Esico's possessions became the nucleus of the later Principality of Anhalt. He was succeeded by his son Count Adalbert II of Ballenstedt.