Margrave Ekbert II. of Meißen and few of his men attack Emperor Henry IV. and his army at Gleichen on the day before Christmas, killing and capturing noble men while the rest is forced to flee.
In vigilia nativitatis Domini Eggebertus marchio Heinricum et omnem eius exercitum cum paucis militibus, a quibusdam religiosis confortatus, viriliter invasit, eumque de obsidione cuiusdam sui castelli, ubi ille nativitatem celebrare disposuit, turpissime fugavit. In hac invasione ex parte Heinrici Leomarus Bremensis archiepiscopus et Berthaldus comes capiuntur, Losannensis non tam episcopus quam antichristus, dum fortiter vult agere, occiditur. Ipse autem H. perditis regalibus insignibus vix de manibus insequentium eripitur; sicque usque ad Babinberc de Thuringia fugiendo tandem pervenit, ibique inglorius sollemnizare compellitur. Eggebertus autem marchio castello suo et castris inimicorum pene absque sanguine potitus, captis quoque pluribus et occisis, gratiarum actiones Deo et sancto Petro referre non cessavit, quibus et se deinceps puriori fidelitate adhesurum destinavit.
Translation :
-
Edition :
I. S. Robinson: Bertholds und Bernolds Chroniken (FSGA 14), Darmstadt, 280-432.
Remark :
context: For a different description by Bernold for the apparently same event, refer to: "Saxons led by Margrave Ekbert II. of Meißen drive Henry IV. from his siege of Gleichen around Christmas, capturing the royal insignia and forcing him to submit after two days."