The ascent to the throne of the Eastern Franks by Otto I was marked by strong opposition, particularly from within his own family. His first challenger was his brother Henry, backed by their mother Matilda; then came his half-brother Thankmar, supported by influential figures like Wichmann the Elder of the Billung lineage. Wichmann harbored resentment for being overshadowed by his younger brother Hermann (the future Duke of Saxony), who had the king’s favor and remained loyal to Otto. This choice led to a rift within the Billung family, dividing them into two branches: one loyal to Hermann and Otto, and the other, for generations, hostile to the Saxon sovereign.

When Thankmar was killed in the church of Eresburg (a former Irminsul worship site “exorcised” by Pope Leo III at Charlemagne’s request during his journey to Paderborn), Wichmann reconciled with Otto. His sons, Wichmann II the Younger and Ekbert “the One-Eyed” (who lost an eye in skirmishes against Otto), were raised at Otto's court but later exploited a rebellion by Liudolf, Otto's son, to turn against the king and their uncle Hermann. Although Wichmann II was captured and pardoned, he rebelled again in 955, allying himself with the Obodrite Slavs. However, the Obodrites were defeated at the Battle of the Raxa. While the Wichmann brothers managed to flee to the court of Hugh the Great in France, the Obodrite king Stoignew and others were less fortunate: Nakon, Stoignew's brother and co-ruler, escaped, but Stoignew was killed, and a member of his retinue was forced to deliver his head to Otto.

The fate of the captured Slavs was even grimmer: the next day, 700 were beheaded, their heads piled around their king’s, while Stoignew’s advisor, who had incited the rebellion, was blinded, mutilated, and left alive among the fallen. The two brothers, particularly Ekbert “the One-Eyed,” continued to be a thorn in the ruling dynasty's side until the time of Otto III.