Wichmann the Youger and his brother Egbert the One-Eyed, still feeling deprived of their heritage, had marauded through Saxony and in 955 arrived in the lands of the Slavic Obotrites at Liubice (Lübeck), where they had instigated a revolt under Prince Prince Nako that was suppressed by King Otto at the Battle of Recknitz.

The young Billungs had fled to the court of Duke Hugh the Great of France.

When Hugh died the next year, Wichmann had had to return to Germany; he was, however, pardoned after he had sworn loyalty to King Otto.

He had remained an implacable opponent, attacking the lands of his uncle Hermann several times, until he had to retreat to the Slavic Lutici territories, where he was tolerated by Margrave Gero.

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.

For a brief interlude, he had been allowed to return to Germany and his wife's estates, but he had been exiled once more by his uncle Hermann during Otto's second Italian campaign In 967, he and the western Pomeranians are defeated at Wolin by an alliance of Mieszko and Duke Boleslaus I of Bohemia and Wichmann is killed in action.