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E D I T I O N D E L A P A C I F I C A T I O N
T H E W O R K S O F
VOLTAIRE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION
W ITH NOTES BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, R EVISED AND MODERNIZED
NEW TRANSLATIONS BY W ILLIAM F. FLEMING, AND AN
INTRODUCTION BY OLIVER H. G. LEIGH
A CRITIQUE AND BIOGRAPHY
BY
T H E R T . H O N . J O H N M O R L E Y
F O R T Y - T H R E E V O L U M E S
ONE HUNDRED ANS SIXTY-EIGHT DESIGNS, COMPRISINGS REPRODUCTIONS
OF RARE OLD ENGRAVINGS, STEEL PLATES, PHOTOGRAVURES,
AND CURIOUS FAC-SIMILES
VOLUME XXXI
AKRON, OHIO
THE WERNER COMPANY
1!"
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I am a heritage because I
brin you years cj tboupbt
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and tbe lore of time *~^
I impart yet I can rot 5pea!
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he 3)4,& of 2)0I4+
+6II)7 6+ 0 08I'I80I)7
imited to one thousand sets
for 0merica and 1reat (ritain
9(et:een t:o servants of /umanity; :ho appeared
eighteen hundred years apart; there is a mysterious relation
* * * * et us say it :ith a sentiment of
profound respect =+&>& 3+ 2)0I4+ &I+6
)f that divine tear and of that human smile is composed the
s:eetness of the present civili@ationA B AA
2I8)4 />1)
8/04+017+
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)
/+74. 2II; B%B%
I7 3) 2)>+&
2) I
)0I4+ spent a happy month in B5% as the
* guest of the 6uchess of &aKe-1otha; :ho eK-
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pressed regret that there :as no popular history of
the 1erman +mpire; such as might intensify her sonAs
interest in the deeds of his ancestors he :ish :as
accepted as a command by the courtly guest; :ho
forth:ith began the remarLable compendium of his-
torical facts; sLetches; criticisms; and cogent reMections
:hich form these 90nnals9 9he :orld abounds
:ith troubles and :ith crimes Nhe :rote to the
6uchess$; and history is no other than a picture of
the outrages and distress of manLind9 he popu-
larity of his 90ge of ouis EI29 led to the unau-
thori@ed issue of three editions of the 90nnals 9
:ithin a month of its appearance; from :hich he
not only received no proOt; but probably sustained
loss
I& )' 0+&
2) EEEI
'01(
8/04+017+ 'rontispiece
)/) /+ 14+0 #G
6+0/ )' 8)7406 III B
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9/+ >46+4& /+ ++4)4A& >46+4+49 HHF
0770& )' /+ +I4+
'4) /+ I+ )'
8/04+017+
I74)6>8I)7
)' all the revolutions :hich have changed the
face of the earth; that alone :hich transferred the
empire of the 4omans to 8harlemagne seems to
have been just; if the :ord 9just9 may be pro-
nounced of events :hich partooL so much of vio-
lence 8harlemagne :as actually called to the
empire by the voice of the 4oman people; :hom
he had at once saved from the tyranny of the om-
bards and the negligence of the eastern emperors
his is the great epoch of the :estern nations " at
this time a ne: order of government began; the
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foundation of the temporal po:er of the 8hurch "
for no bishop in the +ast had ever been a prince; or
possessed any of the rights of royalty his ne:
4oman empire bore no resemblance to that of the
Orst 8aesars In these annals :ill be seen the true
nature of this empire; ho: the 4oman pontiPs
acQuired that temporal po:er :ith :hich they have
been so much reproached " ho: so many :estern
G 0nnals of the +mpire
bishops; especially those of 1ermany; erected them-
selves into sovereigns " and in :hat manner the
4oman people struggled to preserve their liberty
bet:een the emperors and popes :ho disputed :ith
one another the dominion of 4ome
0ll the 3est; since the Ofth century; :as either
barbarous or desolate" so many nations; formerly
subdued by the ancient 4omans; had at least lived
till the Ofth century in a state of happy subjection
It is a singular eKample in all ages; that conQuerors
should have built for the conQuered those vast baths;
amphitheatres; and high:ays; :hich no nation since
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those times has even presumed to imitate" there
:as in ePect but one people " the atin language;
in the time of heodosius; :as spoLen from 8adi@ to
the +uphrates" trade :as carried on from 4ome
to rier and 0leKandria :ith more ease than many
provinces no: Ond in traRcLing :ith their neKt
neighbors" even the tributes; though burdensome;
:ere much less intolerable than since that time;
:hen the people are obliged to pay for the luKury;
and undergo the violence of so many particular
masters et us only compare the state of aris;
:hile governed by =ulian; the philosopher; :ith its
situation a hundred and Ofty years after et us
consider rier; the largest city of the 1auls; in the
time of heodosius; :hen it :as called a second
4ome; and then observe the state of that city after
the inundation of the (arbarians 0utun; under
8onstantine; contained Ove and t:enty thousand
Introduction
masters of families " 0ries :as still more populous
he (arbarians brought along :ith them devasta-
tion; poverty; and ignorance he 'ranLs :ere of
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the number of those famished and ferocious people;
:ho ran to the pillage of the empire hey subsisted
upon rapine and theft; although the country in :hich
they settled :as very fair and fertile hey did not
Lno: ho: to cultivate the lands hat country is
marLed in an ancient chart still preserved at 2enice
here :e see the 'ranLs settled from the mouth of
the ain as far as 'riesland; and in part of 3est-
phalia; the 'raud seu 8hamavi It is by means of
the ancient 4omans; and them only; that :e have a
distinct notion of our o:n origin he 'ranLs then
:ere part of those people called &aKons; :ho inhab-
ited 3estphalia " and :hen 8harlemagne made :ar
upon them three hundred years after; he eKtermi-
nated the descendants of his o:n ancestors
hose tribes of 'ranLs; of :hich the &alians :ere
the most illustrious; established themselves grad-
ually in 1aul; not as allies of the 4oman people;
as generally supposed; but after having plundered
the 4oman colonies; rier; 8ologne; ent@; on-
gres; ournay; 8ambray " defeated indeed by 0ctius;
one of the last supports of the 4oman grandeur;
but after:ards united :ith him; through necessity;
against 0Attila" then again taLing advantage of the
anarchy to :hich those irruptions of the /uns; the
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1oths; the 2andals; and the ombards and (ur-
gundians reduced the empire; they used against the
S 0nnals of the +mpire
emperors themselves the rights and titles of masters
of the militia; and the patriciate; :hich they had
received from them his empire :as torn into
shreds; and every horde of those Oerce savages
sei@ed upon part as its o:n prey )ne incontest-
able proof that those people :ere a long time in a
state of barbarity is that they destroyed a great
number of cities; and founded none
0ll these dominions :ere of small importance till
the end of the eighth century before the po:er of
the caliphs; :hich threatened the :hole earth
he Orst successors of ahomet possessed the
right of the throne and of the altar; of the s:ord
and of enthusiasm " their orders :ere so many
oracles" their soldiers so many fanatics In the
year G5B; they besieged 8onstantinople; destined to
be one day ussulman he inevitable divisions
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among so many ne: chiefs; of so many peoples and
armies; did not interfere :ith their conQuests" the
ahometans; in that particular; resembled the
ancient 4omans; :ho subdued 0sia inor and the
1auls; even in the midst of their civil :ars
In BB; :e see them passing from +gypt into
&pain; :hich :as easily subdued successively by the
8arthaginians; 4omans; 1oths; and 2andals; and at
last by those 0rabs called oors; :ho there estab-
lished the Lingdom of 8ordova he sultan of
+gypt; indeed; shooL oP the yoLe of the grand caliph
of (agdad " and 0bd-er-4ahman; governor of con-
Quered &pain; no longer acLno:ledged the &ultan of
Introduction #
+gypt " nevertheless; everything yielded to the arms
of the ussulmans
his 0bd-er-4ahman; grandson of the caliph /es-
ham; tooL the Lingdoms of 8astile; 7avarre; ortu-
gal and 0ragon " made a settlement in anguedoc "
conQuered 1uienne and oitou" and; if 8harles
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artel had not deprived him of his conQuests and
his life; 'rance :ould have been a ahometan prov-
ince
0s the ahometans increased in po:er; they
improved in politeness hose caliphs; :ho :ere
al:ays acLno:ledged as the sovereigns of relig-
ion by such as received their orders from afar; Ond-
ing themselves at their ease in their ne: (abylon;
revived the arts in that capital
/aroun-al-4aschid; contemporary :ith 8harle-
magne; more illustrious than his predecessors; :ho
caused himself to be respected even in &pain and at
the river Indus; reanimated all the sciences; culti-
vated the agreeable and useful arts; invited and
encouraged learned men; and sa: politeness suc-
ceed barbarity through his vast dominions >nder
him the 0rabians; :ho had already adopted the
Indian ciphers; carried them into +urope he Orst
rudiments of astronomy Lno:n in 1ermany and
'rance :ere learned from the 0rabians" the :ord
9 0lmanac 9 is still a proof of this assertion In a
:ord; during the second century after ahomet;
the 8hristians of the 3est :ere obliged to go and
taLe instructions from the ussulmans
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io 0nnals of the +mpire
he more ahometAs empire Mourished; the more
8onstantinople and 4ome :ere abased 4ome had
never recovered from that fatal stroLe she received
from 8onstantine; in his removing the seat of
empire" the 4omans :ere no longer animated by
glory and patriotism he inhabitants of that
ancient capital had nothing more to hope from for-
tune 8ourage became enervated; the arts sanL into
oblivion; and nothing :as no: seen in the abodes of
the &cipios and 8aesars; but contests bet:een the
secular judges and the bishop aLen; retaLen; and
sacLed so often by the (arbarians; 4ome still
obeyed the emperors 0fter =ustinian; a viceroy
governed it under the name of 9 eKarch "9 but he
no longer deigned to looL upon it as the capital of
Italy /e resided at 4avenna; and from there he
sent his orders to the prefect of 4ome he
emperors had nothing no: remaining in Italy; but
the country that eKtends from the boundaries of
uscany to the eKtremities of 8alabria he om-
bards :ere in possession of iedmont; the ilanese;
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antua; 1enoa; arma; odena; uscany; and
(ologna " these dominions composed the Lingdom
of ombardy hose ombards are said to have
come from annonia; :here they had embraced
0rianism; :hich :as the prevailing religion /av-
ing penetrated into Italy by yrol; there they settled;
and conOrmed their dominion by submitting to the
8atholic religion 4ome; :hose :alls :ere demol-
ished; and :ho had no other defence but the troops
Introduction B B
of the eKarch; :as often menaced :ith subjection
to the po:er of the ombards It :as then so poor
that the annual imposition levied by the eKarch
amounted to no more than a golden sol from every
master of a family" and even this :as a burden-
some taK It :as liLe those barren and remote lands
:hich are a charge to the o:ners
he 4oman diurnal of the seventh and eighth
centuries; a precious monument; part of :hich is
printed; sho:s; in the most authentic manner; :hat
the sovereign pontiP :as in those days lie :as
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called he 2icar of eter; (ishop of the 8ity of
4ome; as soon as he :as elected by the citi@ens"
the clergy in a body intimated his election to the
eKarch; in this form 9 3e entreat you :ho are
charged :ith the imperial ministry; to order the
consecration of our father and pastor9 hey liLe-
:ise communicated the ne:s of the election to the
metropolitan of 4avenna; in these :ords 9 &t
eter; :e beseech thy holiness to obtain of our lord;
the eKarch; the ordination no: depending9 hey
:ere also obliged to send an account of it to the
judges of 4avenna; :hom they styled .our +mi-
nences
0t that time the ne: pope; before his ordination;
:as obliged to pronounce t:o confessions of faith"
and in the second he condemned among the heretics
ope /onorius I because; at 8onstantinople; the said
/onorius; bishop of 4ome; :as supposed to have
acLno:ledged but one :ill in =esus 8hrist
BH 0nnals of the +mpire
here is a great distance from this to the tiara"
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but there is liLe:ise a great diPerence bet:een the
Orst monL :ho preached on the banLs of the 4hine
and the electoral cap" as also bet:een the Orst
chief of the :andering &alians and a 4oman
emperor 0ll greatness is formed gradually; and
the origin of everything is small and inconsiderable
he pontiP of 4ome established his greatness
insensibly; during the abasement of the city the
4omans :ere poor; but the 8hurch :as not 8on-
stantine had given; to the basilica of the ateran
only; above a thousand marLs of gold; and about
thirty thousand of silver; and assigned to it fourteen
thousand sols of yearly revenue he popes; :ho
fed the poor; and sent missions through- all the
3est; having had occasion for more considerable
supplies; had obtained them :ithout diRculty he
emperors; and even the ombard Ling; had granted
them lands" and they possessed; in the neighbor-
hood of 4ome; certain revenues and castles called
he =ustices of &t eter &everal citi@ens eagerly
strove to enrich; by donation or :ill; a church :hose
bishop :as looLed upon as the father of their coun-
try he credit of the popes :as greatly superior
to their :ealth It :as impossible to fail; in point
of veneration; for an almost uninterrupted succes-
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sion of pontiPs; :ho had consoled the 8hurch;
eKtended religion; and softened the manners of the
/eruli; 1oths; 2andals; ombards; and 'ranLs
0lthough the 4oman pontiPs; in the time of the
Introduction B%
eKarchs; eKtended their right of metropolitan no
farther than the suburban to:ns; that is; over the
to:ns subjected to the government of the prefect of
4ome; nevertheless; they :ere often digniOed :ith
the appellation of >niversal ope; on account of the
primacy and dignity of their fee 1regory the
1reat refused that title; :hich; ho:ever; he merited
by his virtues " and his successors eKtended their
credit in the 3est" therefore :e ought not to be
surprised to Ond in the eighth century (oniface;
archbishop of ent@; the same :ho consecrated
epin; eKpress himself thus in the form of his oath
9 I promise to &t eter; and his vicar 1regory the
/appy;9 etc
0t length; in process of time; the popes formed
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the design of delivering 4ome at once from the
ombards; by :hom it :as incessantly threatened;
and the 1reeL emperors; by :hom it :as so ill
defended he popes at that time perceived that
:hich at other conjunctures :ould have been no
other than a revolt or impotent sedition; might no:
become a revolution eKcusable from necessity; and
respectable through success his is the revolu-
tion :hich :as begun under epin II; usurper of
the throne of 'rance; and completed by his son
8harlemagne; at a time :hen everything :as in con-
fusion; and the face of +urope must have neces-
sarily been changed
he Lingdom of 'rance at that time eKtended
from the yrenees and the 0lps to the 4hine; the
BJ 0nnals of the +mpire
ain and the &aale (avaria depended upon this
vast Lingdom It :as the Ling of 'rance :ho
besto:ed that duchy :hen he :as strong enough to
give it a:ay his Lingdom of the 'ranLs; :hich
had been almost al:ays divided since the time of
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8lovis; and torn by intestine :ars; :as nothing but
a vast; barbarous province of the ancient 4oman
empire; :hich 8onstantinople al:ays recLoned
among the rebellious states; though she treated :ith
it as a po:erful Lingdom
8/04+017+
JH 8harlemagne; born 0pril BF; near 0iK-la-
8hapelle; :as the son of epin; mayor of the palace;
duLe of the 'ranLs; and grandson of 8harles artel
0ll that :e Lno: of his mother is; that her name
:as (ertha" but :e are not even precisely
acQuainted :ith the place of his birth /e :as born
during the session of the council of 1ermany; though
thanLs to the ignorance of those times; :e Lno: not
:here that famous council :as held
)ne half of the country; :hich is no: called 1er-
many; :as idolatrous; from the banLs of the 3eser;
and even of the ain and the 4hine; to the (altic;
and the other half 8hristian
here :ere already bishops at rier; 8ologne;
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and ent@; frontier cities; founded by the 4omans;
and instructed by the popes" but that country :as
8harlemagne B 5
then called 0ustrasia; and belonged to the Lingdom
of the 'ranLs
)ne 3illebrod; an +nglishman; had; in the time of
8harles artelAs father; gone to preach to the idol-
aters of 'riesland :hat little 8hristianity he Lne:
here :as; to:ards the end of the seventh century;
a titular bishop of 3estphalia :ho raised little
children from the dead 3illebrod tooL the vain
title of (ishop of >trecht" and there he built a
small church; :hich :as destroyed by the pagan
'rieslanders 0t length; in the beginning of the
eighth century; another +nglishman; Lno:n after-
:ards by the name of (oniface; :ent and preached
in 1ermany; and :as looLed upon as an apostle
he +nglish :ere at that time the preceptors of the
1ermans" and it :as to the popes that all those
people; as :ell as the 1auls; o:ed the little learning
and 8hristianity :hich they Lne:
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J% 0 synod at estine in /ainault serves to
sho: the manners of those times here it :as
regulated; that those :ho had taLen the ePects of
the 8hurch; in order to maintain a :ar; should give
a cro:n to the 8hurch by :ay of farm his reg-
ulation regarded the oRcers of 8harles artel and
his son epin; :ho enjoyed during life the abbeys
they had sei@ed It :as then eQually usual to endo:
monLs; and to deprive them of their endo:ments
(oniface; that apostle of 1ermany; founded the
abbey of 'ulda; in the county of /esse 0t Orst it
:as no more than a church covered :ith thatch and
B G 0nnals of the +mpire
surrounded :ith cabins; inhabited by some monLs;
:ho grubbed an ungrateful soil It is no: a prin-
cipality " and no man can be a monL unless he is a
gentleman" the abbot has been long a sovereign;
and since the year B5% a bishop
JJ 8arloman; uncle of 8harlemagne; duLe of
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0ustrasia; reduced the (avarian vassals; :ho :ere
in rebellion against the Ling of 'rance; and defeated
the &aKons; of :hom he :anted to maLe vassals
also
J5 0t this time (oniface :as bishop of ent@
he dignity of metropolitan; hitherto attached to the
see of 3orms; is transferred to ent@
8arloman; brother of epin; abdicates the duchy
of 0ustrasia" it :as a po:erful realm; :hich he
governed under the name of ayor of the alace;
:hile his brother epin ruled in :estern 'rance"
and 8hilderic; Ling of all 'rance; could scarce com-
mand the servants of his o:n family 8arloman
renounces his sovereignty to go and turn monL at
onte 8assino
/istorians still aRrm that epin loved him ten-
derly " but; in all probability; he loved better to rule
alone he cloister :as then the asylum of those
:ho had too po:erful competitors in the :orld
J-JS In most to:ns of 'rance they rene:
the custom of the ancient 4omans; Lno:n under the
name of 9 patronage;9 or 9 clientship9 he citi@ens
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chose patrons among the noblemen" and this cir-
cumstance alone proves that the people in 1aul :ere
8harlemagne B
not divided; as it is pretended they :ere; into masters
and slaves
J# epin at length undertaLes :hat his father
8harles artel could not perform /e resolves to
deprive the erovingian race of the cro:n " and
the Orst step he taLes is to gain the apostle (oniface
over to his party; together :ith several bishops; and
at last ope Dacharias himself
5F epin causes his Ling /ilderic or 8hilderic
III to be deposed and made a monL at &t (ertin;
and seats himself on the throne of the 'ranLs
5B epin resolves to subdue the people then
called &aKons; eKtending from the neighborhood of
the ain to the 8imbric 8hersonesus; :ho had
already conQuered +ngland ope &tephen III
demands the protection of epin against uitprand;
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Ling of ombardy; :ho :anted to maLe himself
master of 4ome he emperor of 8onstantinople
:as too remote and too :eaL to succor him" and
the Orst domestic of the Ling of 'rance; no: become
usurper; :as the only person :ho could give him
protection
5J he Orst Lno:n action of 8harlemagne
:as to go; by order of his father epin; and pros-
trate himself before ope &tephen at &t aurice in
2alais his :as an eastern custom eople often
Lneeled before bishops; and these bishops bended
the Lnee not only before emperors; but even before
the governors of provinces; :hen these last came
to taLe possession
2ol %B H
B S 0nnals of the +mpire
0s for the custom of Lissing feet; it :as not yet
introduced in the 3est 6iocletian :as the Orst
:ho eKacted that marL of respect opes 0drian I
and eo III Orst arrogated to the pontiOcate that
honor :hich 6iocletian had assumed to the empire "
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after :hich; Lings and emperors submitted liLe other
people to that ceremony; in order to render the
4oman religion the more venerable
epin caused himself to be consecrated Ling of
'rance; by the pope; in the month of 0ugust; in the
abbey of &t 6enis" he had already been conse-
crated by (oniface; but the hand of the pope ren-
dered his usurpation the more respectable in the eyes
of the people +ginard; secretary to 8harlemagne;
says in eKpress terms; that /ilderic :as deposed by
order of ope &tephen epin :as the Orst +uro-
pean Ling :ho :as consecrated his ceremony
:as an imitation of the unction applied to the
/ebre: Lings he; at the same time; tooL care to
see his t:o sons; 8harles and 8arloman; conse-
crated he pope; before he consecrated him Ling;
absolved him of his perjury to his sovereign /il-
deric" and; after the consecration; fulminated an
eKcommunication against :hosoever should at any
time attempt to taLe the cro:n from the family of
epin 7either /ugh 8apet nor 8onrad has sho:n
great respect to that eKcommunication he ne:
Ling; in recompense for the popeAs complaisance;
passes the 0lps :ith his vassal; hasillon; duLe of
(avaria; besieges 0stolphus in avia; and returns
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8harlemagne B #
the same year :ithout success either in maLing
:ar or peace
55 &carce had epin repassed the 0lps; :hen
0stolphus besieges 4ome ope &tephen conjures
the ne: Ling of 'rance to come to his relief 7oth-
ing can be a more convincing proof of the simplicity
of those ignorant times; than a letter :hich the pope
caused to be :ritten to the Ling of 'rance in the
name of &t eter; as if it had come do:n from
heaven" a simplicity; ho:ever; :hich did not
eKclude the frauds of policy and attempts of
ambition
epin delivers 4ome; again besieges avia; maLes
himself master of the eKarchate; and gives it as
they say to the pope his is the Orst title of
the temporal po:er of the holy see; by :hich epin
eQually :eaLened the Lings of ombardy and the
emperors of the +ast his donation is very doubt-
ful" for the archbishops of 4avenna at that time
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tooL the title of eKarchs " conseQuently the bishops
of 4ome and 4avenna :ere resolved to aggrandi@e
themselves It is highly probable that epin gave
some lands to the popes; and favored those in Italy
:ho strengthened his dominions in 'rance If he
really made that present to the popes; it is very clear
that he gave a:ay :hat did not belong to him " but
he had also taLen :hat :as not his o:n 3e Ond
scarce any other source of the Orst rights ime
renders them legitimate
5G (oniface; archbishop of ent@; goes upon
Ho 0nnals of the +mpire
a mission among the 'riesland idolaters; from :hom
he receives the cro:n of martyrdom but; as his-
torians say that he :as martyred in his camp; and
that abundance of the 'rieslanders :ere Lilled; it
is reasonable to believe that the missionaries :ere
soldiers hasillon; duLe of (avaria; does homage
for his duchy to the Ling of 'rance; in the form of
those homages :hich have been since called 9 lieg-
ance9 (y this time there :ere great hereditary
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Oefs; and (avaria :as one of that number
epin once more defeats the &aKons 0ll the
:ars of those people against the 'ranLs seem to
have been little more than the incursions of barbari-
ans; :ho came by turns to carry oP cattle and rav-
age the harvests here :as no place of strength;
no policy; no formed design his part of the :orld
:as still savage
epin; by all his victories; gained no more than
the payment of an old tribute of three hundred
horses" to :hich :ere added Ove hundred co:s
his :as hardly :orth the trouble of slaying so
many thousand men
5S-GF 6idier; or 6esiderius; successor of
0stolphus; retaLes the to:ns :hich epin gave to
&t eter " but epin :as so formidable; that 6idier
is said to have restored them in conseQuence of his
threats only /ereditary vassalage began to be so
ePectually introduced; that the Lings of 'rance
pretended to be lords paramount of the duchy of
0Quitaine epin; by force of arms; compels
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8harlemagne H B
1eoPrey; duLe of 0Quitaine; to taLe the oath of
Odelity to him in presence of the duLe of (avaria"
so that he had t:o great sovereigns at his feet
3e may easily perceive that these homages :ere
no other than the submission of :eaLness to supe-
rior po:er
GH-G% he duLe of (avaria; thinLing himself
strong enough; and seeing epin at a distance;
revoLes his homage" but; :hen the other is on the
brinL of maLing :ar upon him; rene:s his oath
of Odelity
GG-G he erection of the bishopric of &al@-
burg ope aul I sends to the Ling; as a present;
booLs; chanters; and a clocL 8onstantine 8oproni-
mus liLe:ise sends to him an organ and some musi-
cians his :ould not be a fact :orthy of history
if it did not sho: ho: little the arts :ere Lno:n in
that part of the :orld 0t that time the 'ranLs
Lne: nothing but :ar; hunting; and feasting
GS he preceding years are barren of events;
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conseQuently happy for the people" for almost all
the great events of history are public misfortunes
he duLe of 0Quitaine revoLes his homage after the
eKample of the duLe of (avaria epin Mies upon
him; and reunites 0Quitaine to the cro:n
epin; surnamed the &hort; died at &aintes; &ep-
tember HJ; in the Ofty-fourth year of his age (efore
his death he maLes his :ill by :ord of mouth; and
not by :riting; in presence of the great oRcers of
his house; his generals; and those :ho held eKten-
HH 0nnals of the +mpire
sive lands for life /e divides his dominions
bet:een his t:o sons 8harles and 8arloman 0fter
epinAs death; the nobles modify his :ill hey
gave to 8harles; after:ards called 8harlemagne;
(urgundy; 0Quitaine; rovence; and 7eustria;
:hich then eKtended from the euse to the oire
and the ocean 8arloman had 0ustrasia from
4heims to the eKtremities of huringia It is plain
that the Lingdom of 'rance at that time compre-
hended nearly one-half of 1ermany
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F 6idier; Ling of the ombards; oPers his
daughter 6esiderata in marriage to 8harles; :ho
:as already married he espouses 6esiderata; so it
appears he had t:o :ives at one time his :as
not uncommon" 1regory de ours says that the
Lings 1ontram; 8aribert; &igebert; and 8hilperic
had several :ives
B /is brother 8arloman died suddenly at
the age of t:enty his :ido: Mies into Italy :ith
t:o princes; her children his death and that
Might do not absolutely prove that 8harlemagne
:as resolved to reign alone; and entertained evil
designs against his nephe:s" but neither do they
prove that he deserved to have his festival cele-
brated as it is in 1ermany
H 8harles causes himself to be cro:ned Ling
of 0ustrasia; and reunites all the vast realms of the
'ranLs; :ithout leaving anything to his nephe:s
osterity; da@@led by the glare of his glory; seems
to have forgotten that injustice /e repudiated his
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8harlemagne H%
:ife; the daughter of 6idier; in order to revenge
himself for the asylum :hich the ombard Ling
had aPorded to the :ido: of his brother 8arloman
/e taLes the Oeld against the &aKons; and Onds
at their head a man :orthy to Oght against him "
this :as 3ittiLind; the greatest defender of the
1erman liberty; neKt to /ermann; :hom :e call
0rminius
he Ling of 'rance attacLs him in that country
:hich is no: called the principality of ippe hose
people :ere :retchedly armed" for; in the capit-
ularies of 8harlemagne; :e see a most rigorous
prohibition to sell cuirasses and helmets to the
&aKons he arms and discipline of the 'ranLs
could not fail to be victorious over ferocious
courage 8harles cut in pieces the army of 3itti-
Lind; and taLes the capital; called +rresburg hat
capital :as a number of huts surrounded :ith a
ditch he inhabitants are slaughtered /e demol-
ishes the principal temple of the country; said to
have been formerly dedicated to the god anfana;
the universal principle; if ever those barbarians
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acLno:ledged a universal principle" but at that
time dedicated to the god Irminful; a temple revered
in &aKony; liLe that of &ion among the =e:s he
priests :ere murdered upon the fragments of the
idol :hich had been overthro:n he victorious
army penetrated as far a? the 3eser 0ll those
districts submitted 8harlemagne resolved to bind
them to his yoLe :ith the tie of 8hristianity 3hile
HJ 0nnals of the +mpire
he hastened to the other end of his dominions; and
to other conQuests; he left among them missionaries
to persuade; and soldiers to compel them 0lmost
all the people :ho lived near the 3eser found them-
selves in one year 8hristians and slaves
% 3hile the Ling of the 'ranLs restrains
the &aKons on the banLs of the 3eser; he is recalled
to Italy he Quarrels bet:een the ombards and
the pope still subsisted " and the Ling; in succoring
the 8hurch; might have made himself master of
Italy; :hich :as better :orth his trouble than the
countries of (remen; /anover; and (runs:icL /e
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marched therefore against his father-in-la:; 6idier;
:ho :as then before 4ome /is aim :as not to
avenge 4ome; but to hinder 6idier from accommo-
dating matters :ith the pope; in order to restore to
the t:o sons of 8arloman the Lingdom :hich :as
their due /e ran to attacL his father-in-la:; and
cloaLed his usurpation :ith piety /e :as fol-
lo:ed by seventy thousand men; regularly trained to
:ar" an almost incredible circumstance in those
times 0rmies of one hundred and t:o hundred
thousand men had been assembled before this
period; but then they consisted of peasants; :ho
retired to their harvest after a battle :as lost or
:on 8harlemagne retained them longer under his
standard; and this discipline greatly contributes to
his victories
J he 'rench army besieges avia he
Ling goes to 4ome; rene:s and augments the dona-
8harlemagne H5
tions of epin; and :ith his o:n hand places a
copy of it on the tomb; :hich; as they pretended;
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contained the ashes of &t eter ope 0drian
thanLs him in panegyric verses of his o:n :riting
he 9 radition of 4ome 9 says that 8harles gave
8orsica; &ardinia; and &icily " but surely he did not
besto: any of these countries; :hich :ere not in his
possession (ut there is still eKtant a letter from
0drian to the +mpress Irene; :hich proves that
8harles gave some dominions :hich are not spec-
iOed in the letter 9 8harles; duLe of the 'ranLs and
atrician;9 said he; 9 hath given us provinces; and
restored the to:ns :hich the perOdious IK:nbards
detain from the 8hurch;9 etc
3e Ond that 0drian still carefully husbanded his
inMuence over the empire; in giving 8harles the title
of 6uLe and atrician only; and seeLing to fortify
his possession :ith the name of restitution
he Ling returns from avia 6idier surrenders
himself; is made a monL; and sent to the abbey of
8orbie; in 'rance hus ended the Lingdom of the
ombards; :ho had destroyed the 4oman po:er in
Italy; and substituted their o:n la:s in the room of
those made by the emperors +very Ling :ho had
the misfortune to be dethroned became a monL in
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those days
8harlemagne caused himself to be cro:ned Ling
of Italy in avia; :ith a cro:n on :hich there :as
an iron circle; still preserved in the little to:n of
on@a
HG 0nnals of the +mpire
=ustice :as still administered in 4ome in the
name of the 1reeL emperor +ven the popes
received from him the conOrmation of their election "
for though the emperor :as deprived of the sub-
stance; he still retained the shado: of po:er
8harlemagne; liLe epin; assumed no other title
but that of atrician; :hich heodoric and 0ttila
had deigned to receive" so that the name of
9 +mperor;9 :hich originally signiOed no more than
the general of an army; still implied the aster of
the +ast and 3est >nsubstantial as it :as; they
respected it; and even :ere afraid to usurp it hey
aPected no more than the term 9 atrician;9 :hich
formerly meant a 4oman senator; and :hich at
that time signiOed a lieutenant; independent of an
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emperor; :ithout po:er
7evertheless; money :as then coined at 4ome
in the name of 0drian " :hence; :hat are :e to con-
clude; but that the pope; delivered from the om-
bards; and no longer obeying the emperors; :as him-
self master in 4ome? 8ertain it is; the 4oman
pontiPs; liLe the bishops of the 'ranLs and 1er-
mans; sei@ed the regal rights as soon as they :ere
in their po:er" all authority seeLs to augment
itself" and for that reason only; nothing but the
name of 8harlemagne :as stamped upon the ne:
money coined at 4ome in the year SFF; :hen he :as
elected emperor by the pope and the 4oman people
5 he second ePort of the &aKons against
8harlemagne; for the recovery of their liberty; :hich
8harlemagne H
is called a revolt hey are again defeated in 3est-
phalia " and; after abundance of blood had been
shed; gave cattle and hostages; having nothing else
to pay
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G 0n attempt of 0dalgise; the son of 6idier;
to recover the Lingdom of ombardy ope 0drian
construes it into a horrible conspiracy 8harles
hastens to taLe vengeance " Mies from 1ermany into
Italy " beheads a duLe of 'riuli; :ho :as an accom-
plice " and everything submits to his fortune
6uring that very period; the &aKons return to
3estphalia; and he returns to defeat them hey
submit; and promise again to become 8hristians
8harles builds forts in their country; before any
churches :ere built among them
/e gives la:s to the &aKons; and compels
them to s:ear they :ill become slaves; should they
ever cease to be 8hristians and submissive 0t a
grand 6iet; held at aderborn; in tents; a ussul-
man emir; :ho commanded at &aragossa; came to
conjure 8harlemagne to support his rebellion against
0bd-er-4ahman; Ling of &pain
S 8harles marches from aderborn into
&pain" espouses the cause of this emir" besieges
and taLes ampeluna 3e may observe that the
spoils of the &aracens :ere divided bet:een the Ling;
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his oRcers; and soldiers; according to the ancient
custom of maLing :ar only for the saLe of booty;
and of dividing it eQually among all those :ho had
an eQual share of the danger (ut all that booty is
HS 0nnals of the +mpire
i
lost in repassing the yrenees he rear-guard
of 8harlemagne is cut to pieces at 4oncesvalles by
the 0rabians and 1ascons here; it is said; per-
ished his nephe: )rlando; so celebrated for his
courage and incredible strength
0s the &aKons had recourse to arms :hile 8harles
:as in Italy; so they taLe them up :hile he is in
&pain 3ittiLind; :ho had retired to the duLe of
6enmarL; his father-in-la:; returns to reanimate
his countrymen he reassembles them " Onds in
(remen; the capital of the country :hich bears that
name; a bishop; a church; and his &aKons in despair
of being dragged to ne: altars he eKpels the
bishop; :ho has time to embarL and get a:ay
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8harlemagne comes up :ith great eKpedition; and
defeats 3ittiLind again
SF 2ictor on all hands; he sets out for 4ome
:ith one of his :ives; called Ildegard; and t:o
younger children; epin and ouis ope 0drian
bapti@es these t:o children; and consecrates epin
Ling of ombardy; and ouis Ling of 0Quitaine
his 0Quitaine had been erected into a Lingdom
for some time
SB-SH he Ling of 'rance Leeps his court
at 3orms; 4atisbon; and 8uerci here he is visited
by 0lcuin; archbishop of .orL he Ling; :ho
could scarce sign his o:n name; :as resolved to
maLe science Mourish; because he :ould be great in
everything eter de isa taught him a smattering
of grammar It is not surprising that the Italians
8harlemagne H#
should instruct the 1auls and 1ermans" but it is
very eKtraordinary that they should have al:ays had
occasion for +nglishmen to learn that :hich at this
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day is not honored :ith the name of &cience
hey held conference before the Ling; :hich may
be called the origin of the academies; especially
those of Italy; in :hich every academician assumed
a ne: name 8harlemagne tooL the appellation of
6avid; 0lcuin; that of 0lbinus; and a young- man
called Ilgeberd; :ho :rote doggerel verses; boldly
appropriated to himself the name of /omer
S% ean:hile 3ittiLind; :ho did not learn
grammar; raised an insurrection among the &aKons;
and defeated the generals of 8harles on the banLs
of the 3eser 8harles comes to repair this loss
/e is again victor over the &aKons; :ho lay do:n
their arms before him he commands them to
deliver up 3ittiLind hey ans:er that he has
escaped to 6enmarL 9 /is accomplices are still
here;9 replied 8harlemagne; and ordered four thou-
sand Ove hundred to be butchered before his eyes
In this manner he prepared &aKony for the reception
of 8hristianity
SJ his massacre had the same ePect as that
produced a long time after by the massacre called
&t (artholome: in 'rance 0ll the &aKons
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resumed their arms :ith fury and despair; and :ere
joined by the 6anes and neighboring nations
S5 8harles marches against this multitude;
:ith his son of the same name /e obtains a ne:
%F 0nnals of the +mpire
victory; and again imposes fruitless la:s establish-
ing marQuises or commanders of the militia upon the
frontiers of his realms
SG 3ittiLind yields at length /e comes :ith
a duLe of 'riesland; and submits to 8harlemagne at
0ttigny on the 0isnes hen the Lingdom of 'rance
eKtended as far as /olstein he Ling of 'rance
repairs again to Italy and rebuilds 'lorence" it is
remarLable; that he is no sooner at one end of his
dominions; than there are al:ays revolts at the
other" a sure sign that the Ling had not po:erful
bodies of troops on all his frontiers he ancient
&aKons joined the (avarians" the Ling repasses the
0lps
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S he empress Irene; :ho still governed
the 1reeL +mpire; at that time the only empire; had
formed a po:erful league against the Ling of
'rance It :as composed of those very &aKons and
(avarians; and the /uns so famous heretofore under
0ttila; :ho inhabited; as no:; the banLs of the 6an-
ube and the 6rave" nay; part of Italy itself had
engaged in the association 8harles vanQuished the
/uns upon the 6anube; and the :hole :as dissi-
pated
SS-#H 6uring these four years of peace; he
opened schools in the houses of bishops and in mon-
asteries he 4oman chanting :as established in
the churches of 'rance 0t the 6iet of 0iK-la-
8hapelle he instituted the 8apitulary la:s; :hich
savor strongly of that barbarism that they :ere
8harlemagne % B
meant to reform; and in :hich the nation had been
long buried
hese that follo: are the customs; manners; la:s;
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and spirit :hich then prevailed
03& 076 8>&)& )(&+42+6 I7 /+ I+ )'
8/04+017+
rovinces :ere governed and troops levied by
duLes; some of :hom :ere removable and others
hereditary vassals; much in the same manner as the
urLish provinces are no: governed by (eglerbeys
hese duLes had been instituted in Italy by 6iocle-
tian he counts; :hose origin appears to have
been in the time of heodosius; commanded under
the duLes; each assembling the troops in his o:n dis-
trict he farms; the to:ns; and villages furnished
a number of soldiers proportioned to their po:er
:elve farms found one horseman armed :ith
casQue and cuirass he other soldiers :ere armed
:ith nothing but a long sQuare bucLler; a battle-aKe;
a javelin; and s:ord hose :ho used arro:s :ere
obliged to have at least a do@en in their Quivers
he province that furnished the soldiery provided
them :ith corn and provisions for siK months he
Ling maintained them for the rest of the campaign
hey :ere revie:ed on the Orst of arch and the
Orst of ay It :as usually at these seasons that
the parliaments :ere held In besieging to:ns they
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employed the ram; the balista; the tortoise; and
almost all the machines of the 4omans; for; of all
%H 0nnals of the +mpire
their arts;; that of :ar alone subsisted; and that for
their o:n ruin
he noblemen called (arons; eudes; 4icohom-
bres; :ith their follo:ers; composed :hat little cav-
alry :as then to be seen in armies he ussulmans
of 0frica and &pain had a greater number of horse
It appears that after:ards they learned of them to
cover their men and horses :ith iron; and Oght :ith
lances
8harles had naval forces at the mouths of all the
great rivers of his empire; from the +lbe to the
iber (efore his time they :ere not Lno:n among
the barbarians; and long after his death no such
armaments :ere to be seen (y means of these
:arliLe police :hich he maintained on all the coasts;
he put a stop to those inundations of northern people
:ho then eKercised the trade of pirates /e
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restrained them :ithin their o:n fro@en climates"
but; under his pusillanimous descendants; they del-
uged all +urope
he general aPairs :ere regulated in those assem-
blies :hich represented the nation; according to the
custom of the ancient 4omans; the 1auls; and peo-
ple of the 7orth >nder him; parliaments had no
:ill but that of their master; :ho Lne: ho: to com-
mand and persuade
/e caused trade to Mourish a little in his vast
dominions; because he :as master of the seas hus
merchants from the coast of uscany :ent to trade
at 8onstantinople among the 8hristians; and at the
8harlemagne %%
port of 0leKandria among the ussulmans; by
:hom they :ere civilly received; and from :hom
they dre: the riches of 0sia
2enice and 1enoa; so po:erful in the seQuel; by
means of trade; had not yet engrossed the riches of
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the nations; although 2enice began to gro: :ealthy
and great
4ome; 4avenna; yons; 0ries; and ours had a
great many :oollen manufactures; iron :as dam-
asLed; glass :as made; silL stuPs :ere not :oven
in any city of the 3est
he 2enetians began to bring them from 8on-
stantinople; :here they :ere not Lno:n till after the
+mperor =ustinian" but it :as not till nearly four
hundred years after 8harlemagne that the oors
fabricated silL at 8ordova; and the 7orman princes
:ho conQuered the Lingdom of 7aples and &icily
after:ards established a silL manufactory at al-
ermo 0lmost all the :orLs of industry and craft
:ere performed in the empire of the +ast inen
:as uncommon &t (oniface; in a letter :ritten to
a bishop settled in 1ermany; desires he :ill send him
some shagged cloth to :ipe his feet after :ashing
his :ant of linen :as; in all probability; the cause
of that disease of the sLin; Lno:n by the name of
leprosy; so rife in those days " for there :as already
a great number of those hospitals called a@ars
It is pretended that even in the time of 8harle-
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magne great projects :ere formed for the beneOt of
commerce; as they had actually begun the famous
2ol %B %
%J 0nnals of the +mpire
canal; :hich :as to join the 4hine to the 6anube;
and thus open a communication bet:een the (lacL
&ea and the ocean (ut the spirit of conQuest might
have had a greater share in this undertaLing than
any vie: to public utility
oney had nearly the same value as that of the
4oman empire after 8onstantine he golden sol
:as the solidum 4omanum; :hich the barbarians
called 9 sol 9 from their Lno:n habit of contracting
all names hus of 90ugustus9 they made
90out"9 of 9'orum =ulii;9 9 'rejus"9 and this
golden sol :as eQuivalent to forty deniers of silver
through the :hole eKtent of 8harlemagneAs do-
minions
/+ 8/>48/
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he churches of 'rance :ere rich; those of 1er-
many began to be rich; and :ere destined one day
to be more so; because they :ere endo:ed :ith
larger territories he bishops and abbots had a
great number of slaves he abbot 0lcuin; pre-
ceptor to 8harlemagne; is reproached :ith having
had t:enty thousand his number is not incredible
0lcuin possessed three abbeys; the lands of :hich
had been inhabited by t:enty thousand men; all
belonging to the lord or superior hese slaves;
Lno:n under the name of 9 serfs;9 could not marry
nor change the place of their abode :ithout the per-
mission of the abbot hey :ere obliged to go Ofty
leagues :ith their carts; if he commanded them
8harlemagne % 5
hey :orLed for him three days in the :eeL; and
he shared all the fruits of the earth
In 'rance and in 1ermany the bishops more than
once have been Lno:n to go to battle :ith their serfs
8harlemagne; in a letter to one of his :ives; called
'rastada; mentions a bishop :ho had valiantly
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fought by his side; in a battle against the 0vars; a
people descended from the &cythians; :ho :ere
settled to:ards the country :hich is no: called
0ustria
3e Ond in his time fourteen monasteries :hich
:ere obliged to furnish soldiers If the abbot :as
in the least inclined to :ar; nothing hindered him
from heading them in person " true it is in the year
SF%; a parliament complained to 8harlemagne; that
too great a number of priests had been slain in :ar
hen the ministers of the altar :ere forbidden to
go to battle; but custom :as the stronger la:
3e see in the (avarian la:s and the 9 8apitula-
ries9 of 8harlemagne; that the priests :ere forbid-
den to have any :omen in their houses other than
their mothers and sisters this :as one of those la:s
:hich are contradicted by custom
7o person :as allo:ed to call himself clerL :ho
:as not really so; or to :ear the tonsure :ithout
belonging to a bishop &uch clerLs :ere called
9 acephali;9 and punished as vagabonds hey :ere
ignorant of the station so common in our days;
:hich is neither secular nor ecclesiastic he title
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of 9 abbot9 :hich signiOes father; belonged to none
%G 0nnals of the +mpire
but the chiefs of monasteries; or even to seculars
constituted in dignity" for eKample; that title :as
given to the chief of the republic of 1enoa
he abbots of that time had the pastoral staP
:hich the bishops carried; and :hich had been the
marL of the augural dignity in pagan 4ome &uch
:as the po:er those abbots had over their monLs;
that they sometimes condemned them to the most
cruel aTictive pains hey :ere the Orst :ho
adopted the barbarous custom of the 1reeL emper-
ors; namely; that of burning the eyes; and a council
:as obliged to prohibit this outrage; :hich they
began to looL upon as a right and prerogative
0s to the ceremonies of the 8hurch; the mass :as
diPerent from :hat it is at present; and still more
diPerent from :hat it had been in the Orst ages
there :as no more than one said in every church
0nd Lings very rarely caused them to be said in
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private
he Orst auricular confession; :hich is called gen-
eral confession; is that of &t +loy in the siKth cen-
tury he enemies of the 4oman 8hurch; :ho have
revolted against such a salutary institution; seem to
have divested manLind of the most ePectual bridle
to restrain their secret crimes +ven the very sages
of antiQuity had felt the importance of it" and
although they had not been able to impose it as a
duty on all men; they had established the practice
of it among those :ho pretended to lead a life of
purity it :as the Orst eKpiation of those :ho :ere
8harlemagne %
initiated among the ancient +gyptians; and in the
+leusinian ysteries of 8eres hus has the 8hris-
tian religion consecrated things; the shado: of :hich
1od had permitted human :isdom to perceive and
embrace
4eligion :as not yet eKtended to the north farther
than the conQuests of 8harlemagne 6enmarL and
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all the country of the 7ormans :ere plunged in gross
idolatry he inhabitants adored )din " they imag-
ined that after death; the happiness of man consisted
in drinLing beer out of the sLulls of their enemies in
)dinAs hall 3e still have translations of their old
songs :hich eKpress this notion It :as a great
deal for them to believe in another life oland :as
neither less barbarous nor less idolatrous he
uscovites; more savage than all the other inhab-
itants of 1reat artary; Lne: scarcely enough of
religion to be agans .et all these nations lived
Quietly and peaceably in their ignorance; happy in
being unLno:n to 8harlemagne; :ho sold the
Lno:ledge of 8hristianity so dear
03& 076 8>&)&
=ustice :as usually administered by counts
appointed by the Ling hey had their respective
districts assigned; and :ere supposed to be acQuaint-
ed :ith the la:s; :hich :ere neither so numerous
nor obscure as ours the proceedings :ere simple;
and every man pleaded his o:n cause in 'rance and
1ermany
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%S 0nnals of the +mpire
4ome alone and her dependencies still retained
abundance of the la:s and formalities of the 4oman
+mpire" the ombard la:s prevailed through the
rest of northern Italy
+very count had under him a lieutenant called
9 viguier;9 seven assessors Nscabini$ chosen in the
city iLe the ancient 4oman senators; they :ere
at once :arriors and judges 7ay; they :ere for-
bidden to appear upon the tribunal :ithout their
bucLlers " but; under 8harlemagne; no other citi@ens
or even soldiers :ere allo:ed to go armed in time of
peace his :ise la:; conformable to that of the
4omans and ussulmans; prevented those Quarrels
and continual duels :hich after:ards desolated
+urope; :hen the fashion :as introduced of never
Quitting the s:ord; but of going armed into the
houses of friends; courts of judicature; and
churches " an abuse carried to such a length that in
&pain; 1ermany; and 'landers; the judge; the coun-
sellor; the solicitor; and physician :alL at this day
:ith their s:ords by their sides; as if they :ere
going to Oght
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hose counts published in their jurisdiction the
order of marching to :ar; enlisting soldiers under
captains or companies of a hundred; conducted them
to the rende@vous of the troops; and in the meantime
left their lieutenants to act as judges in the boroughs;
for I dare not call them cities
he Ling sent commissaries :ith eKpress let-
ters; issi 6ominici; to eKamine the conduct of
8harlemagne %#
the counts but those commissaries and counts
seldom condemned a criminal to death or to any
corporal punishment 'or; eKcepting &aKony;
:here 8harlemagne eKacted sanguinary la:s; almost
all sorts of crimes :ere punished by One through
the rest of his empire" that of rebellion alone :as
punished :ith death; and the Lings reserved the
judgment to themselves he &alic la:; that of
the ombards and of the 4ipuarii; had set OKed
prices upon the greatest part of all the other outrages
:hich are no: punished :ith the loss of life; or by
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severe penalties his jurisprudence; :hich appears
humane; :as in ePect more cruel than our o:n
it left everybody :ho could pay for it; at liberty to
do mischief he gentlest la: is that :hich by
bridling iniQuity in the most terrible manner; pre-
vents the freQuent commission of crimes
(y the ancient la:s reduced under 6agobert; Ling
of the 'ranLs; it cost one hundred sols to cut oP a
manAs ear " and if the loss of the ear :as not
attended :ith deafness; the perpetrator :as Quit for
Ofty
he murder of a deacon :as taKed at four hun-
dred sols; and that of a parish priest at siK hundred
he third chapter of the 4ipuary la: allo:s the
murderer of a bishop to atone the crime by pay-
ing as much gold as :ill balance a leaden tunic as
long as the delinQuent; and of a determined thicL-
ness
he &alic la:; revived under 8harlemagne; OKes
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JF 0nnals of the +mpire
the price of a bishopAs life at four hundred sols It
is so true that a criminal could redeem his life in
this manner; that a number of those la:s are thus
eKpressed 8omponat tercentum; NAucentum; centum
solidis he delinQuent may compound for three
hundred; t:o hundred; or one hundred sols
he torture :as applied to slaves only; and he
:ho by the torture occasioned the death of an inno-
cent slave belonging to another man; :as obliged
to give him t:o by :ay of satisfaction
8harlemagne; :ho corrected the &alic and om-
bard la:s; did nothing but raise the price of crimes
hey :ere all speciOed; and a distinction made
bet:een the price of a stroLe that bared the brain;
and one that only cut oP one of the tables of the
sLull the Orst :as valued at forty-Ove sols; and
the other at t:enty
0 :itch convicted of having eaten human Mesh
:as condemned to pay t:o hundred sols 0nd this
article is a proof very humbling to human nature; of
the eKcess to :hich :e may be driven by super-
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stition
0ll outrages against chastity had liLe:ise their
OKed prices he rape of a married :oman cost
t:o hundred sols 'or having violated a girl en the
high:ay; they paid but forty sols 3hosoever car-
ried oP a girl of servile condition; :as Oned four
sols; and obliged to restore her to her mother he
most severe of those barbarous la:s :as precisely
that :hich ought to have been the most gentle 8har-
8harlemagne JB
lemagne himself; in the siKth booL of his 9 8apitula-
ries;9 says that a manAs marrying his godmother is
a crime :orthy of death; :hich can be atoned for
in no other :ay but by spending his :hole life in
pilgrimage
0mong the &alic la:s there is one :hich strongly
denotes the contempt into :hich the 4omans :ere
fallen :ith those barbarous people he 'ranL :ho
had slain a 4oman citi@en; paid no more than B;F5F
deniers" :hereas the 4oman paid H;5FF for the
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blood of a 'ranL
In criminal causes that could not be other:ise
decided; the accused party purged himself by oath;
and not only himself; but he :as obliged to produce
a certain number of :itnesses to s:ear to the same
ePect 3hen both parties opposed oath to oath; the
combat :as sometimes permitted
hese combats :e Lno: :ere appeals to the judg-
ment of 1od this is the name they gave to the most
deplorable follies of those barbarous governments
he accused :ere subjected to the proof of cold
:ater; boiling :ater; or red hot iron he cele-
brated &tephen (alu@e has collected all the ancient
ceremonies of those trials hey began :ith the
mass; the accused person :as eKcommunicated; the
cold :ater :as blessed and eKorcised; and then;
being bound :ith cords; he :as thro:n into the
:ater If he sanL to the bottom; he :as reputed
innocent" but if he Moated on the surface; he :as
found guilty de 'leury; in his 9 +cclesiastical
JH 0nnals of the +mpire
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/istory;9 says it :as a sure :ay to Ond no person
criminal 9 I dare say; it :as a :ay by :hich many
innocent persons perished here are many men
:hose breasts are so large; and :hose lungs are so
light; as to hinder them from sinLing; especially
:hen a thicL cord :ith :hich they are tied in several
circumvolutions; constitutes; :ith the body; a volume
speciOcally lighter than the same Quantity of :ater9
his :retched custom; since proscribed in large
cities; is preserved even to our days in many prov-
inces" and those :ho incurred the imputation of
sorcery have been often subjected to it; even by the
sentence of the judge" for nothing endures so long
as superstition; and more than one unfortunate
:retch has lost his life by the trial
he judgment of 1od; by means of hot :ater; :as
eKecuted by compelling the accused to plunge his
naLed arm into a tub of boiling :ater and taLe up
from the bottom a consecrated ring he judge; in
presence of the priests and the people; enclosed
the patientAs arm in a bag sealed :ith his o:n seal
and if in three days thereafter no marL of a scald
appeared; or if the marL :as thought inconsiderable;
his innocence :as acLno:ledged 3e plainly see
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that the judges could :arp these strange la:s
according to their o:n pleasure; seeing it :as in
their po:er to decide :hether or not the cicatriK
:as considerable enough to constitute the crime
#% 8harles being neighbor to the /uns; of
conseQuence becomes their natural enemy /e levies
8harlemagne J%
troops against them; and girds his son ouis :ith
the s:ord in the fourteenth year of his age /e
maLes him :hat :as then called iles; that is;
instructs him in the art of :ar" but this :as not
creating him Lnight; as some authors have imagined
8hivalry :as not established until a long time after
this period /e again defeats the /uns upon the
6anube and upon the 4aab
8harles assembles the bishops to judge the doc-
trine of +lipand; archbishop of oledo )ne may
be ama@ed to Ond an archbishop of oledo at that
time :hen the ussulmans :ere masters in &pain"
but :e must Lno: that the ussulmans; though vic-
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tors; left liberty of conscience to the vanQuished"
that they did not thinL the 8hristians :ere :orthy
to be ussulmans; and contented themselves :ith
imposing a slight tribute upon them
his +lipand imagined; liLe 'eliK dA>rgel; that
=esus 8hrist; as man :as the adopted son; but; as
1od; :as the natural son; of 1od the 'ather It
:as a diRcult point to resolve by oneAs self" there-
fore it :as referred to judges; by :hom the doc-
trine :as condemned
3hile 8harles obtains victories; enacts la:s; and
assembles bishops; a conspiracy is formed against
him /e had a son by one of his :ives or concu-
bines; called epin the /unchbacL; to distinguish
him from his other son; epin; Ling of Italy &uch
children as are no: called bastards; and deprived of
inheritance; :ere capable of inheriting at that time;
JJ 0nnals of the +mpire
and :ere not reputed bastards /unchbacL; though
the eldest of all the sons; had no portion; and this
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is the origin of the conspiracy /e is apprehended
:ith his accomplices at 4atisbon; tried by a parlia-
ment; shaved; and sent to the monastery of rum in
the 0rdennes &ome of his adherents have their
eyes cut out; and others are beheaded
#J he &aKons revolt again; and are again
easily defeated 3ittiLind :as no longer at their
head
he famous 8ouncil of 'ranLfort /ere :as con-
demned the &econd 8ouncil of 7ice; in :hich the
+mpress Irene had re-established the :orship of
images
8harlemagne causes the 9 8arolin-(ooLs 9 to be
:ritten against image-:orship 4ome did not then
thinL liLe the Lingdom of the 'ranLs " (ut this dif-
ference of opinion did not create any Quarrel bet:een
8harlemagne and the pope; to :hom his friendship
:as necessary
#5 he duLe of 'riuli; a vassal of 8harles; is
sent against the /uns; and maLes himself master of
their treasures; supposing they had any ope
0drian dies 6ecember H5 8harlemagne is said to
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have :ritten his epitaph in atin verse " but one can
hardly believe that this Ling of the 'ranLs; :ho
could not :rite; should nevertheless be capable of
maLing atin verses
#G eo III succeeds 0drian; and 8harles
:rites to him thus 9 3e rejoice at your election;
8harlemagne J5
and that you pay us that obedience and Odelity :hich
is our due9 In this manner he eKpresses himself
as a patrician of 4ome; and thus his father eKpressed
himself to the 'ranLs as mayor of the palace
#-#S epin;Ling of Italy; is sent by his father
against the /uns " a sure sign that the former vic-
tories :ere not very complete /e obtains a ne: one
he celebrated +mpress Irene is shut up in a cloister
by her son 8onstantine 2 &he reascends the
throne " causes her sonAs eyes to be put out he dies
of the operation; and she laments his death his
Irene; although the natural enemy of 8harlemagne;
:as desirous of being allied to him
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## 0t this period the 7ormans; t/at is 9 men
of the 7orth;9 :ho inhabited the coasts of the (al-
tic; :ere pirates 8harles eQuips a Meet and clears
the seas of them
he ne: pope; eo III; incurs the resentment of
the 4omans " his canons resolve to put out his eyes;
and cut out his tongue he attempt is made; but
he recovers of his :ounds " he comes to aderborn
to demand justice of 8harles; :ho sends him bacL
to 4ome :ith an escort 8harles follo:s him in a
little time" sends his son epin to sei@e the duchy
of (eneventum; :hich is still held by the emperor of
8onstantinople
SFF /e arrives at 4ome " declares the pope
innocent of the crimes laid to his charge; and the
pope declares him emperor amidst the acclamations
of the people 8harlemagne aPects to conceal his
JG 0nnals of the +mpire
joy under the cloaL of modesty; and seems astonished
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at his glory " he acts as the sovereign of 4ome; and
rene:s the empire of the 8aesars" but to render
that empire durable; there :as a necessity for his
remaining at 4ome
SF B /istorians allege that as soon as he :as
emperor; Irene eKpressed a desire of being married
to him &uch a marriage :ould rather have been
bet:een the t:o empires than bet:een 8harlemagne
and Irene; :ho :as an old :oman
SFH 8harlemagne eKerts all the authority of the
old emperors 7o country from (eneventum to
(ayonne; and from (ayonne to (avaria; :as eK-
empted from his legislative po:er =ohn; duLe of
2enice; having assassinated a bishop; is accused
before 8harles; and does not object to him as a
judge
7icephorus; successor to Irene; acLno:ledges
8harles as emperor; :ithout coming to any agree-
ment about the limits of the t:o empires
SF%-SFJ he emperor applies himself to the
establishment of police in his dominions; as much as
the times :ould permit /e again disperses the
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factions of the &aKons; and at last transports part
of that people to 'landers; rovence; Italy; and
4ome itself
SF5 /e dictates his last :ill; :hich begins thus
9 8harles; +mperor; 8aesar; the most invincible Ling
of the 'ranLs;9 etc /e beQueaths to ouis all the
country from &pain to the 4hine" he leaves Italy
8harlemagne J
and (avaria to epin; and to 8harles; 'rance from
the oire to Ingoldstadt; and all 0ustrasia from the
&cheldt to the conOnes of (randenburg In these
three lots there :as subject for eternal divisions
8harlemagne thought to prevent all dissensions; by
ordaining that if any diPerence should happen about
the limits of these Lingdoms; :hich could not be
decided by evidence; they should appeal to the
9 =udgment of the 8ross9 his consisted in maL-
ing the opposite advocates stand :ith their arms
eKtended; and he :ho :as Orst :earied lost the
cause he natural good sense of so great a con-
Queror could not overbalance the customs of the
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age
8harlemagne still retains the empire and the sove-
reignty; and :as Ling of the Lings; his children
his famous :ill :as made at hionville :ith the
approbation of a parliament he parliament :as
composed of bishops; abbots; oRcers of the palace;
and the army; :ho attended for no other reason but
to attest the :ill of an absolute master he diets
:ere not then :hat they are no:" and that vast
republic of princes; noblemen; and free to:ns under
one chief; :as not then established
SFG he famous /aroun; caliph of (agdad; the
ne: (abylon; sends ambassadors and presents to
8harlemagne he nations besto:ed upon /aroun
a title superior to that of 8harlemagne " the emperor
of the 3est :as surnamed 9 he 1reat;9 but the
caliph :as surnamed 9 he =ust9
JS 0nnals of the +mpire
It is not surprising that /aroun-al-4aschid should
send ambassadors to the 'rench emperor " they :ere
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both enemies to the emperor of the +ast " but :hat
:ould be surprising is that a caliph; as our historians
allege; should propose the cession of =erusalem to
8harlemagne It :ould have been a profanation in
the caliph to yield up to 8hristians a city full of
mosQues; and this profanation :ould have cost him
his throne and life (esides; enthusiasm had not
as yet summoned the 8hristians of the 3est to
=erusalem
8harles convoLes a council at 0iK-la-8hapelle
his council adds to the creed; 9 that the /oly 1host
proceeds from the 'ather and the &on9 his addi-
tion :as not then received at 4ome; but the 4omans
adopted it soon after hus some dogmas are estab-
lished by little and little
0t this period the people called 7ormans; 6anes;
and &candinavians; reinforced by the ancient &aK-
ons; :ho had retired among them; presumed to
menace the coast of the ne: empire 8harles crosses
the +lbe; and 1odfrey; chief of all those (arbarians;
in order to defend himself; dra:s a large trench
bet:een the ocean and the (altic; on the conOnes of
/olstein; the ancient 8imbrian 8hersonesus; and
fortiOes this trench :ith a strong palisade In the
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same manner the 4omans had dra:n an entrench-
ment bet:een +ngland and &cotland feeble imita-
tions of the famous 8hinese :all
SF-SF# reaties :ith the 6anes a:s for
8harlemagne J#
the &aKons olice established in the empire
&mall Meets stationed at the mouths of rivers
SBF epin; that son of 8harlemagne to :hom
his father had given the Lingdom of Italy; dies of
the plague; in the month of =uly; leaving a bastard
called (ernard he emperor; :ithout diRculty;
besto:s Italy on this bastard; as the natural heir;
according to the custom of the time
SBB 0 Meet stationed at (oulogne in the chan-
nel 0 light-house rebuilt at (oulogne 3ur@burg
built he death of rince 8harles; destined for
the empire
SB% he emperor associates his son ouis in the
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empire; in the month of arch; at 0iK-la-8hapelle
0ll present are obliged to give their votes for this
association /e gives the city of >lm to the monLs;
:ho treat the inhabitants liLe slaves /e gives lands
to +ginard; the supposed lover of his daughter
+mma he romances are full of fable :orthy of
0rchbishop urpin; concerning this +ginard and
that pretended daughter of the emperor " but; unfor-
tunately for the author; 8harlemagne never had a
daughter of that name
SBJ /e dies of a pleurisy after seven daysA
illness; on =anuary HS; at three in the morning /e
had no physician near him :ho Lne: :hat a pleurisy
:as edicine; liLe almost all the other arts; :as
Lno:n to none but the 0rabians and 1reeLs of 8on-
stantinople
2ol %B-J
5F 0nnals of the +mpire
)>I& + 6+()770I4+; )4 /+ 3+0,
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&+8)76 ++4)4
SBJ ouis hastens from 0Quitaine to 0iK-la-
8hapelle; and puts himself in full possession of the
empire /e :as born in S to 8harlemagne by
one of his :ives; called Ildegarde; daughter of a
1erman duLe /e is said to have had beauty;
strength; health; and address at all his eKercises; and
to have understood atin and 1reeL" but he :as
:eaL and unfortunate /is empire :as bounded on
the north by the (altic and 6enmarL; the ocean on
the :est; the editerranean; 0driatic; and yrenees
on the south; and the 2istula and anais on the east
he duLe of (eneventum :as his feudatory; and
paid him annually seven thousand cro:ns of gold
for his duchy " a very considerable sum at that time
he territory of (eneventum eKtended much farther
at that time than no:; and constituted the boundary
of the t:o empires
SB5 he Orst step that ouis tooL :as to shut
up all his sisters in convents; and all their lovers
in jail; a measure for :hich he :as not beloved;
either in his o:n family; or in the state " the second
:as to augment the privileges of all the churches "
the third :as to incense his nephe:; (ernard; Ling
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of Italy; :ho came to taLe the oath of Odelity; and
sa: all his friends eKiled
SBG &tephen I2 is elected bishop of 4ome and
pope by the 4oman people; :ithout consulting the
ouis the 3eaL 5B
emperor " but he maLes the people s:ear obedience
and Odelity to ouis; to :hom he carries the oath in
person to 4heims /e cro:ns the emperor and his
:ife +rmengarde" and returns to 4ome in the
month of )ctober; :ith a decree importing that for
the future the popes shall be elected in presence of
the emperorAs ambassadors
SB ouis associates his eldest son otharius in
the empire his :as hastening matters consider-
ably /e made epin; his second son; Ling of 0Qui-
taine" and erects (avaria; :ith some neighboring
countries; into a Lingdom for his youngest son
ouis 0ll three are dissatisOed" otharius; at
being an emperor :ithout po:er" the t:o others;
:ith the smallness of their dominions " and (ernard;
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Ling of Italy; nephe: to the emperor; more dissat-
isOed than all the rest
SBS he emperor ouis thought himself em-
peror of 4ome; and (ernard; grandson of 8harle-
magne; :ould have no master in Italy It is plain
that 8harlemagne in his division had acted more
lULe a parent than a politician; and laid the founda-
tion of civil :ars for his family he emperor and
(ernard had recourse to arms; and meet at 8halons-
fur-&aone (ernard; :ho :as probably more ambi-
tious than :arliLe; loses part of his army :ithout
Oghting" and submits to the mercy of ouis le
6ebonnaire; :ho orders the eyes of his nephe:;
(ernard; and all his partisans to be put out he
operation :as not eKpertly performed upon (ernard;
5H 0nnals of the +mpire
:ho dies three days after he had undergone it his
custom of putting out the eyes of princes :as very
much practiced by the 1reeL emperors; unLno:n to
the caliphs; and prohibited by 8harlemagne
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SB# he emperor loses his :ife; +rmengarde;
and hesitates :hether he shall become a monL or
marry again /e taLes to :ife one =udith; daughter
of a (avarian count /e paciOes some troubles in
annonia; and holds diets at 0iK-la-8hapelle
SHF /is generals retaLe 8arniola and 8arinthia
from the barbarians; :ho had conQuered these prov-
inces
SHB &everal ecclesiastics inspire the emperor
ouis :ith remorse for the punishment he had
inMicted upon his nephe:; ,ing (ernard; and the
monasterial captivity in :hich he held three of his
o:n brothers; :hose names :ere 6rogan; hierri;
and /ugues; contrary to the promise he had made
to 8harlemagne to taLe care of their fortune hose
ecclesiastics :ere in the right It is a consolation to
manLind that there are every:here men :ho can;
in the name of the 6ivinity; inspire princes :ith
remorse " but there they ought to stop; :ithout per-
secuting and debasing them
SHH he bishops and abbots impose a public
penance on the emperor /e appears in the assem-
bly of 0ttigny covered :ith haircloth /e gives
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archbishoprics and abbeys to his brothers; :hom he
had made monLs against their inclination /e im-
plores forgiveness of 1od for the death of (ernard "
ouis the 3eaL 5%
this might have been done :ithout haircloth and
public penance; :hich rendered the emperor ridic-
ulous
SH% 3hat :ere more dangerous circumstances;
otharius; :hom he had associated in the empire;
caused himself to be cro:ned at 4ome by ope
aschal" the empress =udith; his mother-in-la:;
brought him a brother" and the 4omans neither
loved nor valued the emperor )ne of the great
faults of ouis :as his neglecting to OK the state of
empire at 4ome ope aschal; :ithout remission;
put out the eyes of all those :ho preached obedience
to emperors" but after:ards he s:ore before 1od
that he had no share in these eKecutions; and the
emperor said not a :ord
he empress =udith is delivered at 8ompiegne of
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a son; :ho is called 8harles otharius :as then
returned from 4ome /is father; ouis; the em-
peror; eKacts of him an oath; importing that he
:ould consent to give some Lingdom to this child "
a Lind of oath; the violation of :hich he might have
foreseen
SHJ ope aschal dies he 4omans :ill not
allo: him to be buried otharius; on his return
to 4ome; causes informations to be taLen against
his memory he process is dropped otharius;
as emperor and sovereign of 4ome; maLes la:s
for the protection of the popes" but in these very
la:s; he names the pope before himself" an eK-
tremely dangerous piece of inattention
5J 0nnals of the +mpire
ope &tephen II taLes the oath of Odelity to the
t:o emperors; but there it is eKpressly said it :as
of his o:n free :ill he clergy and the 4oman
people s:ear they :ill never suPer a pope to be
elected :ithout the consent of the emperor hey
s:ear fealty to their lords ouis and otharius; but
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add; 9 saving the Odelity :e have promised to our
lord the pope9
It seems that in all the oaths of those times there
:ere clauses by :hich they :ere in ePect annulled
0rmorica or (rittany :ould not then acLno:ledge
the empire hose people had no right; but that in
common to all men; to be free " but in less than forty
days they :ere obliged to yield to the stronger
po:er
SH5 )ne /eriolt; duLe of the 6anes; comes to
the court of ouis to embrace the 8hristian religion "
but this :as because he had been eKpelled from his
o:n dominions he emperor sends 0nscharius; a
monL of 8orbie; to preach 8hristianity in the deserts
:here &tocLholm is no: actually built /e founds
the bishopric of /amburg for this 0nscharius; and
from /amburg the missionaries are to set out; in
order to convert the 7orth
7e: 8orbie is founded in 3estphalia for the
same purpose he abbot; instead of being a mis-
sionary; is no: a prince of the empire
SHG 3hile ouis is employed at 0iK-la-8hap-
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elle; about the missions of the 7orth; the oorish
Lings of &pain send troops into 0Quitaine; and :ar
ouis the 3eaL 55
is carried on near the yrenees bet:een the ussul-
mans and the 8hristians " but it is soon terminated
by agreement
SH he emperor ouis causes councils to be
held at ent@; aris; and oulouse /e repents of
this measure he 8ouncil of aris :rites to him
and his son otharius 9 3e entreat your eKcellen-
cies to remember; after the eKample of 8onstantine;
that the bishops have a right to judge you; and that
bishops cannot be judged by man9
ouis besto:s upon his young son 8harles; in the
cradle; :hat :as then called 1ermany; situate
bet:een the ain; the 4hine; the 7ecLar; and the
6anube" to this he added rans jurane (urgundy;
comprehending the country of 1eneva and &:it@er-
land
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he three other children of ouis resent this par-
tition; and at Orst eKcite the eKclamations of the
:hole empire
SHS =udith; mother of 8harles; that infant Ling
of 1ermany; governed her husband; the emperor;
and :as governed by one (ernard; count of (arce-
lona; her gallant; :hom she had placed at the head
of aPairs
SH# &o many :eaLnesses gave birth to factions
0n abbot; called 2ala; a relative of ouis; begins
a conspiracy against the emperor /is three chil-
dren otharius associated :ith him in the empire;
epin; to :hom he had given 0Quitaine; and ouis;
^G 0nnals of the +mpire
:ho had received (avaria from his bounty; declared
against their father
0n abbot of &t 6enis; :ho had at the same time
&t edard de &oissons and &t 1ermain; promises
to levy troops for their service he bishops of
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2ienna; 0miens; and yons declare all those :ho
:ill not join them; 9 rebels to 1od and the 8hurch9
his :as not the Orst time the :orld had seen civil
:ar preached up in the name of 1od " but it :as the
Orst time any father had at one time seen three of his
o:n children rebellious and unnatural in the name
of 1od
S%F +ach of these rebellious sons had an army "
and the father had but a handful of troops; :ith
:hich he Med from 0iK-la-8hapelle to icardy /e
s