upon the early death of king louis in 911, the saxon, swabian and bavarian princes elected conrad the younger king of east francia. under the rule of his brother, eberhard from 913 appeared as count in the franconian hessengau and persgau, 913 and 928 als as count in the upper lahngau. he supported his brother against the rivalling dukes arnulf of bavaria and henry of saxony (henry the fowler). in 914 he assumed the office of a franconian margrave; nevertheless, unable to assert his claims, he had to witness henry's conquest of the thuringian lands of late duke burchard.