the Lion in 1180, Count Bernhard even assumed the Saxon ducal title. When the Ascanians divided their territories in 1212, the former Schwabengau became the western part of the newly founded state of Anhalt ruled by Duke Bernhard's elder son Henry I and named after Anhalt Castle near Harzgerode. The rough outline of Schwabengau could still be seen in the western borders of the Free State of Anhalt in the mid 20th century. Counts Known counts of the Schwabengau include: Siegfried, Count of Merseburg (died 937) Christian of Thuringia (died 950) Thietmar, Margrave of Meissen (died c. 978) Rikdag (died 985), Margrave of Meissen from 979 Charles, his son (died 1014), count in Schwabengau in 992 Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark (died 993) Gero II, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark (died 1015) Thietmar, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark (died 1030) Esico of Ballenstedt (died c. 1060), progenitor of the House of Ascania References Carolingian counties Duchy of Saxony History of Anhalt Former states and territories of Saxony-Anhalt