The description of the first rebellion of Otto's reign is the longest continuous narrative about the East Frankish king in Antapodosis. Liudprand constructed a very detailed image, where he was able to make him a special ruler superior in his qualities over all others. When looking at the historiographical representation of this conflict, it began soon after the coronation. Various members of the kingdom's elite began to conspire almost at the same time. Arnulf of Bavaria's sons opposed the limiting of their power, while Wichmann Billung felt omitted by the King when the command of the Saxon army was given to his younger brother Gero.

But the most important part of the rebellion began when the Dux Eberhard joined with Thankmar, Otto's older brother, who rebelled because he did not acquire any inheritance from his mother's family. These two men began to attack the ruler, capturing his younger brother Henry. After the rebels’ first success, Otto moved with his forces and defeated Thankmar, who was later killed when he sought refuge in a church. After this, Eberhard made peace with the King, but after a short exile, he returned to wage war again, this time with the help of Henry and the Dux of Lotharingia, Giselbert.

Reasons for Rebellion

In Antapodosis, Otto's rule begins violently. Soon after his ascension there was a great rebellion, in which his younger brother Henry participated. This is different in Res Gestae. In Widukind's chronicle there is a much longer time span between the coronation and the first internal struggles. Before the rebellion, Otto subjugated Bohemia and had expeditions to ‘the barbarian nations’. The internal dissent begins between the ninth and tenth chapter of the second book. Both texts also differ in that Liudprand never mentioned other rebels apart from Eberhard, Giselbert of Lotharingia, and Henry. For Hrotsvit, before the civil war broke out, there was peace throughout the kingdom in contrast to war-torn foreign lands. This is a motif of a peaceful land where no discord can take place. Peace can be connected with the rule of a certain king and it seems that this is what happened here.

The most elaborate explanation for the rebellion is provided by Widukind. Henry and Thankmar are joined in a fight by Giselbert and Eberhard.