Old Saxony

Old Saxony
6th century–804
The later stem duchy of Saxony (c. 1000 AD), which was based in the Saxons' traditional homeland bounded by the rivers Ems, Eider and Elbe
The later stem duchy of Saxony (c. 1000 AD), which was based in the Saxons' traditional homeland bounded by the rivers Ems, Eider and Elbe
StatusTribal territory of the Saxons
Early medieval duchy
CapitalMarklo[1]
Common languagesOld Saxon
Religion
Germanic Paganism
GovernmentTribal confederation
Historical eraEarly Middle Ages
• Hadugato, first documented duke
6th century
• End of the Saxon Wars
804
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ingaevones
Duchy of Saxony
Medieval duchies (in colour) and gaue in the Holy Roman Empire around year 1000, including Old Saxony (Saxonia) in the north (in light orange).

Old Saxony was the homeland of the Saxons during the Early Middle Ages. It corresponds roughly to the modern German states of Lower Saxony, eastern part of modern North Rhine-Westphalia state (Westphalia), Nordalbingia (Holstein, southern part of Schleswig-Holstein) and western Saxony-Anhalt (Eastphalia), which all lie in northwestern Germany. It had four provinces: Nordalbingia, Eastphalia, Westphalia and Angria (or Angaria), these provinces, in turn, were divided into smaller territories, the gaue, which are equivalent to modern Districts of Germany (Kreise), and were equivalent to the English shires (modern counties).

It should not be confused with the modern German state of Saxony, which is in eastern Germany, adjoining the northwest border of the Czech Republic.

  1. ^ According to the primary source Vita Lebuini antiqua, the annual tribal council was held at Marklo near Weser.