In 772 the Frankish King Charlemagne captured the “Royal castle Iburg”, from his chief antagonist, the Saxon leader Widukind.
Wittekind, Oratorio - on Widukind, the Saxon leader against Charlemagne during the Saxon Wars.
According to the Res gestae saxonicae by the chronicler Widukind of Corvey, Matilda's father, the Westphalian count Dietrich, was a descendant of dux Widukind.
Some aspects of the Irminones' culture and beliefs may be inferred from their relationships with the Roman Empire, from Widukind's confusion over whether Irmin was comparable to Mars or Hermes, and from Snorri Sturluson's allusions, at the beginning of the Prose Edda, to Odin's cult having appeared first in Germany, and then having spread up into the Ingvaeonic North.
It is said that it originates from the black (heathen) and white (Christian) horse the Saxon leader Widukind rode on, or Odin's horse Sleipnir.