He was brother to Thietmar of Merseburg, whose Chronicon was the main source of information on him, and his predecessor Henry, Count of Walbeck.
Frederick and his brother Henry accompanied their cousin Werner, Margrave of the Nordmark, and "other excellent warriors" in their abduction of Reinhild, the mistress of Beichlingen, from her fortress at Quedlinburg.
Frederick supported Werner in his quarrel with Dedo I of Wettin, although it is not clear that he participated in his murder.
Dedo's dispute with the House of Walbeck continued with Lothair's son and successor as margrave Werner.
Dedo was killed by Werner on 13 November 1009, along with his vassals, near Mose at the confluence of the Tange and Elbe rivers.