He was a sixth generation descendant of Charlemagne and was related, through blood and marriages, to the most important royal families in Europe.
His grandmother was Oda, married to Gerhard I, Count of Metz, and the widow of the Carolingian king of Lotharingia Zwentibold, also sister of Henry the Fowler, the Saxon king of Germany.
In 958, Bruno finished off the revolt of Count Reginar III and exiled him.
The next year, Lorraine was divided, to make it easier to defend from enemies within and without.
He accompanied the Emperor Otto I, his first cousin once removed, into Italy, against the usurper Adalbert, in 962 and died at Rome of an epidemic in 964.