margraviate · Germany and Central Europe

Northern March

965 CE – 1157 CE

A Saxon frontier march east of the Elbe, lost to the Slavs in 983 and revived as the territory that became the March of Brandenburg.

Origins

When Margrave Gero died in 965 his huge march was split, and the northern part, between the Elbe and the Oder north of the Havel, became the Northern March. Its first margrave was Dietrich of Haldensleben, who ruled over the Hevelli and Lutician Slavs.

Rule and society

The Northern March was a military frontier, defended by castles and supported by the bishoprics of Havelberg and Brandenburg. Dietrich's harsh rule helped provoke the Great Slav Rising of 983, after which German power collapsed east of the Elbe and the margraves held only the Altmark on the west bank, around Salzwedel and Stendal.

Decline and legacy

In 1134 Lothair III granted the Northern March to the Ascanian Albert the Bear. After he secured Brandenburg in 1157, he took the title of Margrave of Brandenburg. The old march, with the Altmark as its western core, became part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Lineage

Marca Geronis 937 CE – 965 CENorthern MarchMargraviate of Brandenburg 1157 CE – 1806 CE

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Northern March. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-march
MLA
“Northern March.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-march. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Northern March.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-march.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Northern March’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-march (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻