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Birth:          ABT  890 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmo,_Count_of_Hesbaye
Emmo (9th-10th century, a contemporary of Gilbert, Duke of Lorraine), Count of 
Hesbaye and Count of Liège. Emmo was son of a Reginar, a Frankish count, possibly 
the ruler of "the counties of Reginar" described in the 853 Capitulary of Servais of 
Charles the Bald. Emmo is noted as from Vliermaal, a district of the Belgian town 
Kortessem in the province of Limburg. Vliermaal became fief of the County of Loon in 
the 11th century. Vliermaal was an independent municipality in Haspengouw 
(Hesbaye), and included the hamlet Eggertingen which may be related to Ekkehard 
(Eggebard), Count of Hesbaye. Numerous graves marked Emmo can be found in 
Vliermaal. It is not clear whether or not Emmo was a single person, or a father and son 
of the same name.

Emmo is probably related to Count Raganar, and thus a descendent of Count 
Meginhere, a confidant of Charlemagne. Meginhere is believed to be a relative of 
Gilbert, Count of the Maasgau, father of the founder of the House of Reginar.

Once a vassal to Gilbert, Emmo took up arms against the duke. Widukind describes 
Emmo as simultaneously astute, exceptionally sly and unsavory, and Emperor Otto 
“decided it was better to use this man’s cunning rather than fight with arms.” The duke 
was not pleased with this state of affairs as he had trusted Emmo’s counsel and 
loyalty.[1]

It is reported that Emmo captured an entire herd of the duke’s pigs, infuriating the 
duke and causing a mobilization against Emmo. Continuing this rather astonishing 
story, Emmo apparently had a large number of beehives, which he had thrown at the 
duke’s mounted men, causing the horses to be stung. The duke broke off the siege, 
having been tricked by Emmo’s stratagems.

Gilbert is reputed to have said “When [Emmo] was with me, I was able to maintain the 
loyalty of all of the Lotharingians easily...Now I am not able to capture him, while he 
stands alone.” Emmo then took up arms against the king (Otto), but, apparently 
surrounded, became faithful and useful to the crown. (Or, as Widukind said, was 
fidelis et utilis, used to denote the behavior of those who Otto defeated and then 
forgave.

Here Widukind’s narrative becomes confusing. He claims that Gilbert’s sister married 
Nibelung, son of Ricfried, Count of Betuwe, when it was in fact Gilbert’s niece 
Liethard, daughter of Gilbert’s brother Reginar II that was Nibelung’s wife.

Emmo married Gerberga van Vliermael of an unknown family. Emmo and Gerberga had 
one daughter:
Marie, married to Rudolf, Count of Betuwe.

The precise dates of Emmo’s countship are unknown. However, given the probable 
kinship between Emmo and Duke Reginar, it is likely that Emmo was Count of Hesbaye 
either concurrently with Reginar (as Duke of Hesbaye) or immediately following his 
rule.

Parents
____ Reginar ()
----- ----- ()

Siblings
____ Emmo (ABT  890 - )

Marriage To VAN VLIERMAEL Gerberga ()
    m.  

Notes


Children by VAN VLIERMAEL Gerberga 
----- Marie (ABT  930 - )

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