Wichmann II the Younger was a member of the Saxon House of Billung.
Background
He was a son of Count Wichmann the Elder and his wife Frederuna, probably a sister of Queen Matilda. Wichmann was perhaps born at present-day Wichmannsburg, part of Bienenbüttel, at the residence of his father. Upon his father"s death in 944, Wichmann the Younger remained under the tutelage of his uncle Hermann.
Career
Wichmann the Elder at first rebelled against the king, joining the uprising of Duke Eberhard of Franconia, but gave up soon afterwards. When he came of age, he was only able to succeed to the rank of a count in Angria, though his county is unknown. Wichmann was captured.
Otto prevented him from being punished more severely, contrary to Hermann"s wishes.
He was released in 954, though he was not included in the general settlement that followed the revolt. The young Billungs fled to the court of Duke Hugh the Great of France.
When Hugh died the next year, Wichmann had to return to Germany. He was however pardoned after he had sworn loyalty to King Otto.
In 963, Wichmann was an outlaw leading a band of West Slavs (likely Pomeranians) in battle against Duke Mieszko I of Poland, defeating him twice and even exacting tribute.
In 967, he and the western Pomeranians were defeated at Wolin by an alliance of Mieszko and Duke Boleslaus I of Bohemia and Wichmann was killed in action. Wichmann"s lands were confiscated by Otto and divided in two, half going to the monastery of Saint Michael founded by Hermann Billung at Lüneburg, and half going to found the convent of Keminada (near Bodenwerder) on the Weser.