  ezzo ( â 21 march 1034), sometimes called ehrenfried, count palatine of lotharingia of the ezzonen dynasty, brother-in-law of emperor otto iii, father of queen richeza of poland and many other illustrious children, is undoubtedly one of the most important figures of the rhenish history of his time. ==life== ezzo was the son of herman i, count palatine of lotharingia. born around 955, he was sent as a child to be educated by his relative, bishop ulrich of augsburg (episcopate 923â973). nothing is known about his youth. having married matilda of germany (died 1025), a daughter of emperor otto ii and theophanu, ezzo became prominent during the reign of his brother-in-law, emperor otto iii. the marriage was expressly consented by the dowager empress theophanu, probably to rally the powerful family of ezzo to the throne. matilda received as dowry out of ottonian possessions lands in thuringia and franconia (the east frankish territories of coburg, salz and orlamÃ¼nde), while her husband gave her as dowry the family estate of brauweiler. at the death of his father in 996, herman i's rich allodial property was shared between his sons. ezzo received lands in the moselle, in maifeld, the flamersheimer wald and the tomburg as well as half the usufruct of villewaldin. about the same time, he must have received the palatinate and previous countal rights, as he is referred as count in auelgau in 1015 and as count palatine in bonngau in 1020. he also received the county of ruhrgau with tutelage of the abbey of essen. unsuccessful candidate to the imperial throne at the death of otto iii, his relation with the new emperor henry ii was immediately very tensed. henry ii disputed ezzo's ownership of territories, that ezzo defended as his wife's inheritance of otto iii. the conflict dragged on for years, reached its peak in 1011. facing disturbances in lotharingia, and in need for ezzo's military support, the emperor was forced to come to terms. ezzo's victory led to henry ii to make concessions and to a complete transformation of its policy. he reco
1034_deaths 950s_births Counts_Palatine_of_Germany Ezzonids House_of_Limburg-Stirum Palatinate_of_Lotharingia