The town of Magdeburg, founded by Charlemagne in 805 as Magadoburg (probably from Old High German magado for big, mighty and burga for fortress'), has been fortified in 919 by King Henry I the Fowler against the Magyars and Slavs.

The city had gone to Edward the Elder's daughter Edith in 929 through her marriage to Henry's son Otto I, as a Morgengabe—a Germanic customary gift received by the new bride from the groom and his family after the wedding night.

Edith loves the town and often lives there; at her death she will be buried in the crypt of the Benedictine abbey of Saint Maurice, later rebuilt as the cathedral.

In 937, Magdeburg is the seat of a royal assembly.