Stade had developed since the 8th century as a principal centre of trade and communications. The Grafen von Stade created their domain between the lower Elbe and Weser rivers. They extended their power northwards with the acquisition of Dithmarschen in the mid-11th century. They became Markgrafen of the Nordmark in 1056. The Annales Stadenses recount a major dispute in the early 12th century, concerning the inheritance of the county of Stade, between the heir of Ida von Elstorp [Brunswick], her grandson Egilmar II Graf von Oldenburg, and the incumbent Grafen von Stade. It is assumed that Graf Egilmar prevailed in the dispute, at least temporarily, although this is not explicitly stated in the narrative, as the Annales record that he granted administration of the county to his representative Friedrich, presumably while the Graf von Stade concentrated his attention on responsibilities to the east in his capacity as Markgraf der Nordmark.... This transfer of power, if it occurred at all, was presumably short-lived as descendants of Graf Lothar-Udo III are recorded as Grafen von Stade until 1144/45. No further mention is made of Friedrich, apart from the record of the death of "Fridericus comes Stadensis" in the Annales Stadenses in 1135, presumably the same person. Some corroboration of a transfer of power in Stade is found in the Annalista Saxo which records that Heinrich Graf von Stade, after his death in 1087, gave "comitatum suum Stadhe" to "Friderico, quem habuit quadraginta annis" while his brother Lothar-Udo succeeded as Markgraf. This is chronologically inconsistent with the involvement of Egilmar II Graf von Oldenburg, who only succeeded his father as Graf in or after 1108. Other sources which record the history of the family of the Grafen von Stade make no mention of the episode. After the death of Rudolf II Graf von Stade in 1144, his brother and successor Hartwig transferred his inheritance to the archbishopric of Bremen in return for a regrant of a life interest, presumably to obtain a powerful protector against the aggression of Heinrich "der Löwe" Duke of Saxony. The move was ineffective, as Duke Heinrich challenged the grant, took possession of the lands and captured both Hartwig and the archbishop, releasing them only after they agreed to recognise his claim. The absence of references in the sources to any claim by successors of Friedrich at this time also suggests that the rise to power of his family had been ephemeral. Duke Heinrich enclosed Stade in a ring of fortifications and conferred civic rights on the town in the [1160s]. These were confirmed in 1209 by his son Otto IV King of Germany.
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Graf von Stade. The Gesta Francorum lists "Liutharium" as one of the twelve counts who were killed fighting the Danes in 880. 1
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