PE RI O QS OF E U RO P E A N H I S T O RY

PERI OD I .
, 47 6 9 1 8
-
 C r ow n

P E R I O DS OF E U R OP E AN H I S T O RY

G EN E R AL EDI T OR ART H U R H AS S ALL

, ,
M A . .

S T E T
UD H RI T H R H
N OF C R S C U C , OX F O D

P e r iod I . A D . .
476 9 1 8
-
. By C . C O MA N M A
\V . .
, . .
, Fel lo w o f
’
All S o u ls C o l l e g e O x fo rd ,
.
7 s 6d . .

A D . .
9 1 8- 1 2 72 . By T F . . T O UT M A P r o fe ss o r o f
, . .
,

H i s t o ry a t Vi c t o r i a U n i v e rs i t y M a n ,

C h e ste r .

A D . . 1 2 7 2 - 1 49 4 . By R . O D G E M A F e l l w a n d Tu t o r
L , . .
, o

o f B r a s e n o s e C o l l eg e O x fo rd , .

A . 1 49 4 - 1 5 9 8 . By A H J O H NS O N M A s o m e ti me
. .
, . .
,

’
F e l l o w o f A l l S o u ls C o ll eg e a n d ,

H i s t o r i c a l L e c t ur e r t o M e r t o n Tr i n i t y , ,

a n d U n i v e rs i t y C o l l e e s O x fo rd
g , .

A O . . 1 59 8 - 1 7 1 5 . By H . O . WA K E MA N ,
MA . .
, Fe l lo w
’
of A l l S o ul s C o l l ege , an d Tu t o r of

K bl C l l
e e o e
ge, O x fo rd .

A D . . 1 7 5 1 7 89
1 -
. By A . H A S S AL L , MA . .
, S t ud e n t a nd

Tu t o r of Chr i s t Church , O x fo rd .

1 7 89 - 1 8 1 5 . By H . MO RS E S T EP H ENS , MA . .
,
Ba l l i o l
C o l l eg e , O x fo rd . 6s .

VIII . 1 8 1 5 - 1 89 3 .
 6
47 9 1 8 -

MA N M FS A
C H ARLK S
F E LL OW
O
OF A L L S
,

O U L S C O LL E G E
,
. .

A N D LE C T U RE R A T N E W C O L L E G E O X F OR D ,

A TH R
U O OF
‘
AH TR IS O Y R EE E ’
OF G C ,
‘
T H E ART OF WA R IN THEM E I DDL AG E s , ETC .

P E R I OD

j9 2 m y ork
M A C M I L L A N BD C O

1 893
 r h:
Ed i n b u g T . a nd A . C ON S T A E P ri r
BL , nte s to H e r M a je s t y .
 ’
AU THOR S P R E FA C E

IN spit e of t he v e ry m o d e s t s c a l e o n w hich thi s b o ok

has b e en w ri t t e n , I t r u s t t h a t i t m a y be Of s om e u se
to stu d e n t s o f E u r o p e a n H i s t o ry . T h o u g h t h e re a re

e e ra l e x c e l l e n t m o n og r a p h s
s v in e x i ste n ce d ea l i n g with

va ri ou s s e cti o n s of t he p e r i o d 47 6 9 1 8 -
, t here is n o co n

t inu o u s g e n e ra l s k e t ch i n E ng l i s h which c o v e rs t he w h o l e
’
of it . Gi b b o n s i m m o rt a l w o rk is p o p u l a rl y s u p p o s e d
to do so , b u t t h o s e w ho h av e r e a d it m o st c a re fu l l y
a re b est aw are t h at it d oe s no t . I am not a cqua i nted
w it h an
y m o d e rn E nglis h b o ok where t he i n q u i re r
ca n find an a ccou nt of t he Lom bard k i ngs ,
or of t he

M o h a m m e d a n i n va s i o n s O f I t a l y a n d S i c i l y i n t h e n inth
c e n t u ry ,
o r o f sev e ra l o t h e r not u n i m p o rt a n t c h a p t e r s in

the ea rl y h i s t o r y Of E u r ope . I am in h o p e s , t h e re fo r e ,

t h at my att em pt to c ov e r t he w h o l e fi e l d b etw e e n 47 6
a nd
9 1 8 m ay not b e e n ti r ely u s el ess to the rea ding
pu b hc .

I m u st a ck n o w l e dg e m y i n d e b t e d n e s s to t wo l i vi n g
a u th ors ,
w h o s e w o rk s have been of the g r e at e st possi bl e
hel p me in d eal ing with of
to two g re a t s ecti o n s
this p e ri o d ,
D o ct o r G u s t av R i c h t e r ,
w hose a dm i rable
c o l l e ct i o n Of o ri g i n a l a u t h o r i t i e s i n h i s A n n a /en d es
’
R e z cfzs m ak e s such an e x c el l e n t i n t r o
d u ct i o n t o the s t u dy of M e ro v i n g i a n a n d C a r o l i n g i a n
t i m e s, a nd P r o fe s s o r B u ry of D u b l i n , w h o s e H i s t ory f
o

t /z e L a t er R o m a n E mp i r e h a s done so m u c h fo r t h e

k n o wl e dg e of E a s t R o m an
-
a ffa i rs b e t w e e n 47 6 a nd 8 00 .

N o r m u s t I o m i t t o e x p r e s s m y i n d e b t e d n e s s t o t he

k i n d ly a n d d i l ig e n t h a n d s w h i ch sp e n t so many summe r
h o u r s i n t he l a b o r i o u s ta sk Of c o m p i l i ng my i n d ex .

A word o u g h t p e rha p s
, , to be a dded on t he v exed
qu e stion Of t he sp el l i ng of r
p po e r n a m e s . I have
a l w ays c h o s e n t h e m o s t m o d e r n fo r m i n speak ing of

p l a c e s b,u t i n s p e a k i n g of i n d i v i d u a l s I h a v e e m p l oye d
t h at u sed by c o n t e m p o r a ry a u t h o r i t i e s s a v e i n the c a s e
,

of a fe w v e r y w ell k n own n ames ,

such as C h a rl e s ,

H e n r y G re g o r y , L e w i s , w h e r e
,
a rc h ai s m wou ld savou r
Of p e d a n t ry .

OX FO R D , N o v em ber 1 89 3 .
 C O N T E N T S

CH AP TE R
O D OAC E R T H EO D O R I C 4 7 6 4 9 3
A ND ,
-
,

T H E O DO R I c KI N G O F I TAL Y 49 3 5 2 6 ,
-
,

T H E E M P E R O R S AT C O N S TA N TI N O P L E 4 7 6 ,
-
527,
C H LO DOV E C H A N D T H E F R AN K S I N GA U L , 4 8 1 -
5 1 1,
J U S TI N I AN A N D H I S WAR S 5 2 8 5 40 ,
-
,

J U STI M AN 54 56 5 ,
0 -

T H E E AR L I ER F R AN K I S H KI N G S AND T I HE R O R GA N IA
S

TI O N O GAU 5 5 6 F L, 11- 1,

T VI S I GOT
HE N S AI N 5 3 6 3 HS I P , 1- 0 ,

TH S U E O S O J U TI I A N 5 6 5 6
C C ESS R F S N ,
-
1 0,

D C IN
E L N D D C AY
E A M O I G I AN E OF TH E ER V N S, 56 1 6 56,
-

T LO M A D
HE I N I TA YB N R RI
S L A D TH E SE OF TH E

P A PAC Y , 5 68 -6 5 3 ,
H E RAC L S A N D IU M O AM M H ED, 6 1 0 64 1 , -

TH E DEC L I N E A ND F AL L O F TH E VI S I G OT H S , AD . 6 03
71 1,
X IV . C O N T E S T O F T H E EAS T E R N E M P I R E A N D T H E
TH E
CAL I P H AT E 6 4 1 7 1 7 ,
-
,

V T H E H I S T O R Y O F T H E GR EAT M A Y O R S O F T H E P ALAC E
.

6 56 7 20, -

T H E L O M BA R D S AND TH E P A PAC Y , 6 5 3 7 4 3 , -

C H AR LE S M A R T EL A N D H I S WARS 7 2 0 4 1 -

T H E I C O N O C LAS T E M P E R O R s—S TAT E O F T H E EAS T E R N

, ,

E M P I R E I N T H E E I G H T H C E N TU R Y 7 1 7 8 0 2 ,
-
,

X I X P I P P I N T H E S H O R T —WA R S O F T H E F RA N K S A N D LO M
.

BAR D S 7 4 1 7 6 8 ,
-
,

C H A R L E S T H E GR E AT—E AR L Y Y EAR S 7 68 7 8 5 —C O N -

QU E S T O F L O M B AR D Y A N D S A X O N Y ,

T H E LAT E R WAR S A N D C O N QU E S T S O F C H A R L E S T H E
G R E AT 7 8 5 8 1 4 ,
-
,

C H A RLE S TH E G R EAT A N D TH E E M P I R E ,

L E W I S T H E P I O U S 8 1 4 8 40 ,
-
,
viii Co n t en ts
P AG E
I U TI O
D SR P N OF TH E F RA N R I S H E M P I RE —T H E C OM I NG
V I K I NG 8 4
OF THE S, 0 -8 5 5 ,

X XV T . DA K THE OU R ES H R, 8 5 5 -88 7 . FR OM TH E D EA T H

LOT A I
OF o H R 1 . T THE D E PO S ITI O N OF C HAR LE S TH E

F AT , 4 24
I TA LY A N D S I C I L Y I N T H E N I N T H C E N TU R Y 8 2 7 9 2 4 ,
-
, 44 6
G E R MA N Y 88 8 9 1 8 ,
-
, 46 8
T H E E AS T E R N E M P I R E I N T H E N I N T H C E N TU R Y 8 0 2 ,

9 1 2,
XX I X . TH E END OF T H E N I NT C TU Y
H EN R IN WE ST E R N E U O
R PE

CO NC LU S I ON ,

MAPS
NO .

1 . The Pe rs o R o m a n F r o n t ie r u n d e j u s t i n i a
-
r n ,

2 . T h e F r a n k i sh K n g d o m s i n 5 1 1
i ,

3 . T h e F r a n k i sh K i n g d o m s i n 5 7 5 ,

4 . I t a ly i n 5 90 ,

5 . T h e As i a t i c Th e m e s ,

6 . S a x o n y i n t h e N n t h C e n t ury
i ,

7 . Th e P a r t i t i o n Tr ea t y o f V e rdu n 8 5 3 , ,

8 . W e st e r n E ur o p e i n 8 90 ,

GE N E ALO G I C AL TAB LE S
T he Va n d a l K i n g s ,

The E a s t e r n E m p e r o rs 4 5 7 5 1 8 ,
-
,

T he H o us e o f t h e M e ro vi n g s ,

T he L o m b a rd K i g s n ,

The H o us e o f H e c h s ra u ,

T he M a y o rs o f t h e P a l a c e o f t h e H o us e Ar n ulf ,

T he De sc e n d a n t s o f Ch a rl e s t h e G r e a t ,

AP P E ND I X .

N a mes a nd Da t e s o f t he E m p r o rs a t C o n s t a n t i no pl e
e , t he Os tro g o t h i c
a nd V i s g o t h i c K i n g s t h e Po pe s a n d t he C a l i p hs
i , , ,
1
5 5 517
-
 l l . .

C H AP
‘ ’

yT
ER -
I

ODOA CE R A N D H E OD O R I C

4 76 49 3
-

I m po rt a n c e o f t h e y ear 47 6 —T he E m pe r o r Z en o reco gn zs es Od oa ce r as
P a tri c i an in I t al y —Od o a ce s p o si t o n —I f i fi o n o f E ur o pe i n
'
i
r n s

Th e V a n da l s i n Ai rxn an d Ki g G ai ser i c —R u i e o f O d o a ce r i n I t a l y—H is

n

w ar w i t h T e o d o r1c a n d fal l
-
h , .

IN th e su mm er o f 4 7 7 A D a ban d of am bas sa dors w h o .

cl ai m ed to sp eak th e wil l o f th e de cayed b o dy whi ch s till

ca l l ed itself th e Roman senate appear e d b efore t he j u dgm en t ,

s ea t o f t he em peror Ze n o th e rul er o f Co n stan ti n ople an d

,

the E a tern E mp i re Th e y ca m e to ann o rmc e to h im tha t

s .

the arm y o f th e West ha d slai n th e pan i ci an O re stes an d

dep ose d from hi s t hr on e t he so n o f O res tes the b oy —
,

emperor ,

Romul u s Bu t th e y d i d n ot t h en procee d t o i nf o rm Zen o

.

t ha t an o ther Caesar had b een du l y el ecte d to repla c e th e i r

late soverei gn E mb as sies wi th such n ews had b een co mm on
.

o f l ate y ears b u t thi s par ti cu lar dep u ta t i on u nli ke any other

, ,

wh i ch ha d ye t vi si ted th e B osph orus cam e t o an n ou nce t o ,

the E astern em peror that h i s o w n mi gh t y nam e s uffi ced fo r

t h e protect ion of bo th E as t an d West Th e y l ai d a t hi feet .
s

th e dia dem an d p u rp l e rob e of Rom ul u s an d p rofe ss ed to ,

t ran sfer t he i r h omage an d l oyal ty to hi s augu st p erson Th en .

,

as if by way o f suppl em en t an d adden dum they i n forme d ,

Ze no that they ha d ch osen Fl a yi u s O doacer for their govern or ,

an d tru s t e d that t heir au gu st ma ster wo ul d dei g n t o rati fy

t h e ch oi ce an d c onf er o n O doacer t h e t i t l e of Pa t rici an
,
.

P E R I OD I .
A
 ’
2 E n rop ea n H z s t o/j f , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

I t has o fte n bee n re p eated o f la te y ears th at th i s date 4 7 6 ,

A D . . does n o t form a very n otable lan dmark i n th e h is tory of

,

t he worl d t ha t i ts sol e even t was th e tran s fer o f th e n om in al

,

suprem acy o f th e We stern Worl d fr om a p owerless Caesar wh o

l i ve d a t Rave n na t o a powe rl ess Caesar wh o l ived a t C o n
s t a n t i n o pl e We are rem i nd ed tha t th e pat r icia n O d oacer
.

a nd th e deputi es of the R o ma n S enate assu re d th e E as tern

E m peror n ot tha t t hey h ad cas t off allegia n ce t o th e im peri al
nam e bu t that I tal y n o l onger n ee ded a sepa rate Augu stu s
, ,

a n d that a s ingl e rul er m igh t on ce m ore rule E as t an d West ,

O d oa c e r P t as i n th e days o f Co n stan ti n e an d Theodosiu s

a
.

i i
r c an i l t l y An d i f the represen tati ves o f th e western real m
n a

then p roceede d t o recom men d Zen o t o appoin t as h is vice

geren t a m on g them O doacer a m igh ty ma n of war an d a
‘
, ,

p ers o n well S k illed i n pol itical m atte rs wh om t hey ha d ,

’
selected t o defen d thei r i n terests th ey were i n tru th m ak in g
, , ,

n o n ew o r startl i n g pro p osi ti on ; fo r si m il ar em bassie s had

o fte n arri ved a t Con stan ti n opl e t o an n oun ce n o t th e ch oice ,

o f a mere p atrici an bu t the elec ti on o f a n i n depen den t

,

em peror .

I n a purely formal way al l th is i s tru e en ough an d we m us t ,

co ncede that the perma nen t es tabl i sh m en t o f a Teuton i c

rule r i n I tal y wa s o nly an other i n stanc e o f wha t ha d al ready
occurre d i n S pai n an d Afr ica As yet n ob od y i n e ither o f
.

th e three cou n tri es h ad asserte d tha t th e Roman E m pi re ha d

died o u t a n d been replaced for all purpose s by a Teu ton i c
kingshi p D ocum en ts were stil l dated an d coi n s stil l struck
.

wi th the nam e of a Rom an E m peror u p on them al ike i n Spai n ,

Africa an d I tal y Afte r 4 7 6 t he su bj ects of th e Vi sigoth

,
.

B uric n o le ss tha n th ose o f th e S cyrria n O doacer pro ceede d

, ,

to grave a ru de p ortrai t o f Zen o on th ei r m on eys j us t as they ,

had do n e a few yea rs earlier w i th a ru de portrai t o f Valen

tin ian 11 1 What m attered i t t o th em that th e o n e dwel t eas t
.

of th e Adriati c an d the other wes t ?

B u t i f the h i storian s o f the las t ce n tu ry were too n eglectful
o f th e co n sti tu ti on al a n d th eoreti cal as p ec t o f a ffai rs wh e n ,
 a nd T/zeo
’ '

Odoa cer a o rz o
3

they blun tly as serte d tha t th e Ro m a n E m p ir e c e ased i n the

West i n 4 7 6 there i s a danger that o u r Own gen erati on may
,

becom e too much i mbu ed wi th th e form al aspect o f things ,

an d to o l i ttle con sciou s o f th e real change w h i ch took place

i n t hat obscure year The d i sappearan ce o f th e Roman
.

E mpire o f th e Wes t was i n tru th a l on g process wh ic h

, , ,

b egan as early as 4 1 I w he n B ri tai n — fi rs t o f all the O cci den tal

‘
di oces es was aban don ed t o th e barbarian a n d di d n o t
-
, ,

p e rhap s en d t ill Franci s 1 1 o f Au s tria l aid dow n th e t i tle o f

,
.

E mperor i n th e year 1 8 0 6 Yet i f we m u s t c h oos e a poin t

.
u

at wh ich rather than at an y o th er we are t o p u t the breac h

, ,

betwee n th e ol d an d th e new if we mu s t selec t a ny year as ,

t h e d ivi ding l i n e b etwee n ancie n t h i story an d th e M i ddl e

-
- u

—
A ges z i t is im pos sibl e to c hoose a better
“ m
dat e than
- r
43 6 v ' v -p A
-v
.

D own to th e day o n whi ch Fl avi us O doacer de p osed

Au gu st u l u s there was alway s at Rom e o r Raven na a pri nce
wh o repre sen ted i n clear h eri tage th e i mperia l su cce ss ion that
descen de d from O ctavian an d Traj an an d Con stanti ne H i s .

crown m igh t b e fragile hi s li fe i n c on s tan t dange r h i s word

,

migh t b e l ess powerful i n I taly than that o f som e barbarian

R i c i m e r o r G u n d o b a d wh o s tood behi n d th e th ron e Never .

t h e l e s s h e was brough t i n to real con tact wi th hi s subj ects

, ,

an d was a vi si ble tangibl e p ers onage wh os e wi l l an d charac ter

,

s ti ll m ade som e d i ffere nce i n the governan ce of t he state .

T he weakest Glyceri n s o r O lyb ri u s n ever sank i n to being a

me re puppe t like an eigh th ce n tury k ing o f th e Franks o r a
, ,

seventeen th cen tury M ikad o M oreove r th ere was til l the .

,

last a p ossibil i ty — even p erchan ce a probabi lity — tha t there

, ,

woul d arise s o m e s trong em peror w h o w ou l d free h i msel f

fro m th e power o f h i s German p ri m e m i n i s ter M ajo ri a n .

n early su cceeded i n doi ng so a n d t he stori es o f th e fall s of

the Goths Gain as an d Aspar i n th e E as t S h ow that s u c h a n
, ,

at tempt was n ot a h opeles s u n dertak in g .

B u t w hen O doacer seized th e t hron e fro m th e b o y Augu s

tulus an d becam e with th e con sen t i f n o t th e good wi ll o f
, ,
-
,

th e Con stan t in o p ol itan Ca e sar th e sole re p r e s e n ta t iv e i n t he

,
 E u ropm n H z s t o zy , 4 7 6 9 1 8
'

4 -

West o f t he im p erial sys tem a very grave c hange t ook place ,

i n the statu s of th e em pi re Flaviu s O doacer was someth i ng .

P r ct ic l
a far m ore t han a pat ricia n rul ing a s the re pre
a

m ea n i g f n o
s e n t a t i ve o f a n absen tee emper o r H e was n o t
O do er .
ac ?)

p sit i
o on only the s ucce sso r of R i c i m e r but the predece ssor
.

of The od oric an d Alboi n F o r besid e bei n g a Roma n.

,

o fficial h e w a s a G erman k in g rai se d on th e sh iel d an d

, ,
’
hailed a s T h i u d a n s by th e wh o l e Teu ton i c h orde w h o n o w
‘

represe n te d the o l d legi on s o f t he West I f h e never t ook .

’
the t i tl e o f k i ng o f I taly i t was becaus e terri torial appella
‘
,

ti on s o f th e k i n d were n o t yet kn ow n E u ri c an d Gai seric .

,

h i s con temporarie s called th em selve s Ki ngs o f t he Vi sigo th s

,

an d Vandal s n ot o f S pai n an d Africa ,

An d so O doacer .

be in g king of a la n d an d an arm y bu t no t o f a n ati on m ay , ,

h ave bee n s om ewh at at a l oss h o w t o set forth h i s royal

appellation H e would n ot h ave deigned t o cal l h im self
.

”
‘
ki ng of th e I talian s t o cal l h im sel f kin g o f the S c yrri or
,

T u rc i l i n g i o r an y other o f t h e tribes wh o fu rni shed part o f

,

hi s h os t w oul d h ave been to assume an in adequ ate n am e

, .

P uzzled co n tem porary chron icl ers som etim e s calle d h i m kin g
o f th e G oth s th ough he h i m sel f n ever u sed su ch a ti tl e
,
.

S till h e was a k ing an d a k ing w i th a settle d terri tory an d

,

an organ i sed h os t ; n o t a m igratory i nvade r o f I taly as Alari c ,

had bee n but a perman en t ruler of th e la n d I n thi s way

,
.

h e was un d ou btedl y th e forerun n er o f the O strogoth s an d

Lom bard s wh o took h i s pl ace and th ough th e title woul d , ,

h ave s oun ded strange i n h i s o w n ca rs w e m ay fai rly style ,

h i m king o f I tal y as we s o styl e Theodori c o r B e re n ga r or

, , ,

Victor E m ma nuel F o r i t wa s th e wil l o f O doace r tha t was

.

obeyed i n the lan d an d n ot th e will o f h i s ti tular superi or

,

at Con sta ntin ople I t was O d oace r wh o appoi n ted taxe s an d

.

ch ose o fficial s an d i n terfered i n th e electi o n o f bi shop s o f

,

R ome an d d eclared war o n th e R u g ia n s o r t he Vandal s

,
In .

th e few docu m en t s o f h i s ti me th a t h ave su rvived the nam e ,

of Z en o i s sel dom m en ti on ed an d i n sign ing gran ts h e ,

styles h im sel f O dovacar Rex a n d n o t O d o vacar P a t ric i u s as , ,

 ’ '

Odoa cer a n d Tneoa o rz e 5

s trict Roman u sage s hou l d h ave prescribed S i m il arly an .

,
’
I talian offi cial ackn owledges hi s r eg za Za rg zfa s n ot h i s p a f rzez a
' ' '

,
’
mag n z f n o o I t is th en i n every way correc t as well as
'

.
, , ,

con ven ien t t o styl e h i m the firs t G erman king of I tal y an d

, ,

to treat h i s reign as th e com m en cem en t o f a new era I f we .

hesi tate to d o th is we are l ogically bou n d to re fuse t o recog

,

n i se t he Vi sigoth i c o r Fra nk i sh k i ngs i n Spai n an d G aul as

i ndepen den t s o ve re i g n s t i ll t he m i ddl e o f th e si xth cen tu ry ,

an d to p rotrac t th e Roman E m pi re o f t h e West till Le o vi g il d

a n d T h e u d eb e rt formally di sclai me d the im p erial suprem acy
( 5 4
-
0 70
)
I n th e year 4 7 6 the greater p arts o f the d a n d s wh ich had
formerly com p o se d t h e R Om a n E mp i re o f th e We s t h ad
'

taken n ew form s i n t he sh a p e o f s ix large Teu ton ic kingdom s .

I tal y an d N oricu m forme d th e ki ngdo m of O d oacer ; North

Africa th e d omi n ion s o f th e Van dal Gai seric Th e Vi sigothi c .

real m of E u ri c e xten de d from th e Loire to the S trai ts o f

Gibral tar Ki n g G u n d o b a d the B urgun di an occu p ied th e
.

valleys o f t he R hon e and S a one a s fa r as t heir extrem e ,

hea d waters Th e Princes o f t he Frank s reign e d o n the

-
.

Meu se Mo selle an d lower Rh i n e Last an d smallest of th e

, , .

six Teuton ic S tates wa s th e k i n gd om o f the Suevi i n w hat

woul d n ow be called n orth Portugal an d Gal icia I nter .

sperse d am ong t hes e German k in gdo m s were thre e o r fou r

rem nan ts o f the o l d Roman E mpire wh i ch ha d n ot ye t b ee n ,

submerged by th e ri sing flo o d of Te u to n i sm though they ,

were de s ti ned ere l ong t o d isappear ben eath i ts surface Th e .

provi n ce o f Bri tai n had becom e a gro up o f small State f W s t o e ,

an d u nhappy Cel t i c kin gdom s o n wh ose borde rs m E P i ,

e u rO e n

47 6
the An gl e an d Saxo n h a d n o t yet m ade a n y
°

appreciabl e e n croachm en t Arm orica th e m odern B ri ttan y

.
, ,

was also a rough con federacy o f Cel ti c s tates Th e S ein e .

valley an d the m i ddle Loi re form ed a Roman o Gallic kingdom -

u nder S ya gri u s the last govern or w ho ha d ackn owl edged th e

,

supremacy o f th e em pi re beyo nd t h e Alp s The Can tabri an s .

an d B asque s i n th ei r h ill s ab ove th e Bay o f B i scay had

6 E n ropea n H z s z o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
‘
-

preserve d th eir i n dependence again s t t he V i sigoths j u s t a s ,

the ir ancest ors fi ve ce n turie s before had held ou t agai n s t the

, ,

Roman co n querors o f Spai n Lastly there wa s still a frag .

,

m en t of te r ri tory o n the Adriatic wh ich claime d to represen t

th e l egit im ate E mpi re o f t he We s t Th e e m peror J ulius .

N epos when d ri ven from Rom e an d Rave nn a had fl e d to

, ,

Dalmatia wh ere he con trived to keep together a smal l

,

ki n gdom arou n d h i s ca pi tal o f Sal ona O f these fi ve scattere d .

re m nan ts o f terri tory wh ich h ad n ot ye t falle n i n to th e ha n d s

o f the German s there were two ,
t h e ki n gdom s of S ya g ri u s
,

a n d Nepos w h ich were doom e d t o a speedy fal l fo r th e other

,

th ree a l o n ger a n d m ore chequered c areer wa s reserved .

Arou n d th e sol i d block o f lan d which had once formed ,

th e We s tern E m pi re w ere l ying a ring o f Germa n t r ibe s wh o

, ,

had worked for wa rd from th e N orth an d E as t i n to the deserted

d w elli n gs o f the race s who ha d already pa ssed on wi th i n th e
Ro m a n border The Fri sian s lay ab o u t th e m outh s o f the
.

Waal an d Lech n orth o f the lan d lately won by th e Fran ks

, .

Th e Alama n n i a con federacy of Suevian tri bes ha d po ssession

, ,

of th e valley s o f th e Mai n an d Necka r th e Black Forest an d , ,

th e banks o f th e u pper D an u be E as t o f the m agai n l ay th e

.

Thuringian s an d R u g ia n s i n th e lan ds wh ic h we S h oul d n ow

,

cal l n orthern B avari a an d B oh em i a B eyon d them cam e the .

Lombard s i n M oravia an d n o r th er n H ungary an d th e H e ru l e s ,

and G epi dae o n th e m id d l e D an ube an d th e Thei ss Al l th ese .

tri bes like thei r breth ren wh o had gone before them were
, ,

S h owi ng a g e n e ra l ten den cy t o pre ss West and Sou th an d tak e ,

thei r s ha re i n the pl under of the di smem be red E m pi re .

The h i s t o ry o f th e Teuton ic ki n gd om s o f the later fi fth

a n d earlier S ixth cen tu ry fall s i n t o two d i stinct h al ves Th e .

tal e o f th e d oi n gs o f Frank Visigoth Bu rgun dian an d Suevia n

, , ,

i n the We st fo r m s o n e Very s ligh tl y c o n n ected w i th i t d o

.

we fi n d th e o ther t h e s t o ry o f the d o ings o f O doace r i n I tal y

, ,

an d o f the Va ndal k ings i n A frica whose con n ecti on s a n d ,

i n terests are far m ore wi t h th e E aste rn E m pi re than wi th the

Tra n sal pine k ingdom s I t i s w i th the se two state s th at we
.
 ’ '

Odoa cer a nd T/z e oa or zo

7

s h all fi rst have to deal l eavi ng th e d i scu ssion o f th e affai rs o f

,

th e Teu ton s of Gaul an d Spai n for an oth er chapter .

Gai seric o r Gen seric as th e Roman s s ome tim es called h im

, ,

first o f th e Van dal kings of Afri ca was still reign in g at Car

,

t ha g e i n the year when O d oacer became ruler o f I tal y Fo r .

W a rs di d th i s first o f the Teu ton i c sea kings bea r -

sway in th e lan d which h e had w on an d h ol d th e n aval ,

supremacy i n th e central Medi terran ean Th e creatio n o f.

t he Van dal kingdom h ad b een on e o f t he m os t extraord inary

feats o f th e tim e of th e great migration s an d mu st be a t tri ,

bu te d e n tirely to th e personal en ergy o f their long lived kin g -

.

H i s tribe was on e of th e leas t n u merou s o f th e man y wan

dering hordes wh ich ha d trespas sed wi th i n th e bou nd s o f
th e empire n o m ore t han
,
souls men women an d , , ,

ch il dren al l cou n ted wh en they fi rst i n vaded T h V a n d a l s

, e

Africa . That such a s mal l arm y sh o u l d h ave i A f i n r ca ,

overru n a p rovi nce a th ou san d m il es l on g an d ,

S hould have bec o me th e terror o f t he wh ole seaboard o f th e

’
We stern E mp ire was th e triu m p h o f G a i se ri c s ability H e .

was n ot on e o f th e stal wart h ard fi g ht i n g brai n les s ch iefs wh o

,
-
,

were ge neral ly t o be fou n d at th e head of a German h orde ,

bu t a man of very m oderat e s tature l impin g al l hi s l ife through

,

from a kick that he got from a h ors e i n early you th H i s .

mental p o wers alon e m ade h i m form idabl e for h e was n ot o nly ,

a gen eral o f n ote bu t a wi ly p ol iticia n fai thles s n ot w i th th e

, ,

ligh t an d h eady fi ck l e n e ss o f a savage b ut w it h th e del iberate

,

a n d maliciou s treach ery of a profe ssi o n al i n triguer H e wa s .

o n e of th ose n ot u nco mm o n in stan ce s o f a Teuto n wh o w hen , ,

brough t i n to con tac t w i th th e em pi re p icked up al l th e vice s

,

of it s decayi ng ci vil isat i on wi thou t l os i n g th ose o f h i s origin al

barbarism I t i s n ot w i thou t so m e reason that the doin gs o f
.

Gai seri c have le ft thei r m ark o n th e h i story o f language i n

’
the shape o f the m odern w ord Van dal ism ‘
The sufferings .

o f I taly an d Afri ca at hi s han ds were fel t m ore deepl y than th e

woes they h ad en dure d at th e han ds o f othe r i nvaders becaus e ,

of th e treachery an d m al ice whi ch in spired th em Com p ared .

 E n r op ea n H z s t o zy , 4 7 6 9 1 8
‘

with Gaise ric Alaric th e Goth seemed a m odel o f k n igh tly

,

c ou rtesy an d Attila the H u n a stra igh tforward i f a bru tal

, , ,
’
e nem y The Vandal ki ng s special fo i bl es were th e c o n cl us i on
.

o f treat i es a nd a rm i stices w h ich he di d n o t i n tend t o keep a n d ,

a large piratical d i srega rd fo r the n eed o f a n y pre text o r

j ustificati on for hi s raid s sa v e i n dee d th e si n gl e plea that the
,

c ity o r d ist r ict tha t he attac k e d was a t tha t part icular m om ent
n ot i n a go o d p o si ti o n t o defen d i tsel f .

From h i s c o n tac t wi th th e e mpire Gai seric had picke d up ,

the ch aracteri stic s of the tw o m o s t od i ou s types o f th e day

th e t a x coll ec tor a n d t he persecu ting ecclesiastical bigot
-
.

The re wa s m ore system atic fi nancial oppres si o n i n Africa

t han i n any o f the o th er n ew Germ an ic ki ngdom s an d far ,

m ore spite fu l persecu t ion o f rel igi ous enem i es .

T h e s ystem o n wh ich th e Va n dal organ i se d hi s real m wa s

’
n ot t he comparat i vel y m erci ful th i rdi n g o f th e la n d tha t ‘

O d oacer a n d Theod ori c i n trod uced i n t o I tal y H e c onfiscated .

al l th e l arge estates o f th e grea t Afri ca lan down ers a n d tu rned ,

them i n to royal d o mai n s w orked by h i s bail i ffs , O f th e .

smal ler e state s tille d by t he provi nci al s wh o owne d th em h e

, ,

made t wo pa r ts ; t h o se i n th e p rovi n c e of A frica prope r an d

th e bes t o f th ose beyon d i t were appropriated a n d m ad e i n to
,

V d ,
an a
military fi e fs fo r h i s Teu to nic followers These .

O ppr s si
e
s o r /es
on
Va n d a /07 7 1 111 as th ey were called ,
were ,

h ereditary an d free fro m al l m an ner o f taxati on Th e royal .

reven u e was rai sed e n ti rel y from those o f the poorer an d

m ore re mote p r ovi ncia l propri etors wh o had n ot been ex ,

p ro pria t e d an d fr o m the m G ai seric by pi til es s taxati o n d rew

, , ,

a ve ry la rge reve n u e .

Bu t i t wa s fo r h i s persec uti o n far m ore tha n h i s fi scal o pp re s

,

si o n that Gai seric was hate d

,
The Va n dal s lik e m os t of
.
,

the o ther Teu t o n s had em bra ced A rian ism wh e n th ey w ere

,

c o n verted an d ( l a i s e ri c — evil l ive r a s he was had se t h i s

,
- -

m i nd o n fo rci ng hi s su bj ec ts t o con form t o the rel igio n o f

thei r ma sters H e c o n fi s cated all the Cath ol i c chu rch es i n
.

Afr ica a n d either handed them over t o th e Arian s o r destroyed

,
 Od oa cer a n d Tn
’ '

eoa or z e 9

th em H e fo rbad e th e consecrati on o f n ew Cath ol i c bi sh ops

.
,

an d ban is hed or impri son ed al l wh om h e fou nd alre ad y e xi st

i ng i n hi s dom in i on s O ccas ion ally he pu t t o death an d
.
,

frequen tly he impri son ed or s old as slaves prom inen t supporters ,

’ ’
o f the orthod ox faith I f m artyrdom s were few D r ag o n n a a es ‘
.
,

were m any and by th ei r sy stemati c cruel ty th e Van dal ki n g

, , ,

an d peopl e have gai n ed fo r t he m sel ves an i l l n am e fo r ever i n

the pages of history .

The ir hateful oppressi o n o f th e provi n cials made the Vandal s ’

power i n Africa very precari ous They were far too few for .

the mighty lan d th ey had con qu ered even w hen Gais eric h ad ,

attracte d adve n turers o f all sorts t o h i s ban n er a n d had even ,

enli ste d th e savage M oors of Atlas to serve o n h i s fleet Th e .

fanatical African s t h e race wh o ha d p roduced th e tu rbulen t

,

D on ati st sectarie s an d th e w il d C i rcu m c e ll i o n e s were n o t l ikel y ,

t o subm i t wi th m eeknes s t o t he i r n ew m as ters Th ey on l y .

waited fo r a del iverer i n order to rise again st the Vandal s and ,

twi ce duri ng the reign o f Gai seri c i t see m ed a s i f th e del iverer

, ,

were at ha n d O n each occas ion th e Van dal snatched a

.
,

succes s by h is cun n in g an d promp ti tude when al l th e pro ,

b a b il i t i e s o f s u ccess were agai n s t h im I n 4 6 0 t h e E mpero r .

,

M ajo ri a n h ad c ollected a fl ee t o f overwhelm i ng s tre n gt h at

Carthagena an d was al ready ga t he ri n g t h e army that was to
,
‘

b e con veyed i n i t But warn e d an d h el pe d by traitors Gaiseric

.
,

came down o n t he sh ips before they were m an ne d o r e q u ipped ,

an d carrie d o ff o r burn t them all I n 4 6 8 a G i s ri c i

.
, a e n

still greater danger had threatene d th e Van dal 5 th e d a n g e r

E mperors o f E as t an d West Leo an d A n t he m i u s had j oin ed
, ,

thei r force s t o crus h the n est o f pi rate s a t Carthage They .

actually sen t to Africa an arm y that i s sai d to have am oun ted

t o n earl y m en an d overran th e W h ol e cou ntry from
,

Trip ol i to t h e gates o f Carthage I n th e h ou r o f dan ge r .

’
G a i se ri c s courage an d treachery were both con s p icu ous .

Aft e r d e l u di n g the i mb ecile Roman general Basil i scus by

_ ,
’
asking an d gai n ing a fi ve days truce for se ttli n g term s o f su b
mi ssi on h e se n t fi re s h ips by n igh t again s t the h ost il e flee t
,
-
,
 '

10 E u r opea n H z s /o ry 47 6 9 1 8
,
-

a n d wh ile the Roman troop s we re e n deavouri ng to save their

,

vessel s a ttacked thei r u nguarded cam p A ft e r su ff ering a

,
.

de fea t t h e c oward Basili scu s dre w o ff h i s armam en t a nd th e

, ,

Vandal saved as by a m iracle coul d breath e again

, ,
.

’
The la st te n years of G a i s e ri c s reign were fi lled with c oun t
l ess pirate raid s o n I tal y a n d Sic ily u n oppose d by th e fi ve ,

pup pet e m p erors wh o ruled at Rom e a n d Raven n a i n t hose

-

evi l days Gai seric su rvived t he fall of Rom ul u s A u g u s t u l u s

.

j u st l ong e n ough to enabl e h i m t o mak e a treaty w i th O doacer .

B y th i s agreeme n t th e Van dal always m ore greedy for m on ey ,

than fo r land gave u p h i s n o t i ncon si derable con qu es ts i n

,

S icily i n retu rn for an an nual p aym en t from t he n ewly en thron ed -

ki ng o f I taly .

Gaiseric d ied i n 4 7 7 a n d with hi m th e greatn ess o f the

,

Van dal s th ough thei r ki ngd o m wa s t o en dure fi fty years m ore

,
.

H e l eft beh i n d h i m a fi n e flee t an d a ful l treasury a n d a palace ,

respl e n den t w i th the spoil s taken a t th e great sack o f Rom e

i n 4 5 5 Bu t th e dom i n i on o f h i s h an d ful o f Vandal followers
.

i n A frica w as s till a s p recariou s as ever ; t hei r o n e securi ty

had been the cun n ing an d cou rage o f thei r age d k ing an d ,

when h e was gon e th ere wa s n o de fe nce le ft to preven t th e

Van dal domi n ion from fall ing th e m o men t tha t i t S h oul d be ,

attacke d D readi ng rebell i on am ong th e p rovincial s Gaiseric

.
,

ha d di s man tl ed th e walls an d gates of every Africa n tow n save

Carthage O n e battle los t woul d place th e whol e coun try si de
.
-

i n the h an d s o f an a ssai lan t an d a t n o ve ry d istan t day t h e

,

assailan t was t o com e to ave nge th e su fferings of th ree u n ha pp y

,

generati on s o f th e oppressed subj ects o f the Va n dal s .

Gaiseric wa s succeeded by h i s so n H u n n e ri c a m an al ready , ,

H i
u n ner c a dvan ced i n years wh o was l ike h i s father a n
, , , ,

47 7 84
-
Aria n a nd a bi tter persecu tor H e was marri ed .

to E u d ocia th e daugh te r o f th e em peror Val en ti n ian I I I a

,
.
,

priso ner of the sack o f Rome i n 4 5 5 B u t h i s wi fe d i d n ot .

much i n fluence h i m he d rew from he r n o tin cture o f Roma n

civil isati on n or d i d h er pe rsi ste n t orth od oxy wean h i m from
,

h i s Arian i sm After l i vi ng with h i m fo r s ixtee n unhappy years

.
 ’
Oa oa eer
’
a n d T/z eo a o r z c
'

1 I

an d he a ri n g h i m t wo son s she at last contrived t o e scape ,

secretly fro m Carth a ge fl ed to Jeru salem an d d ied there

, ,

enj oyi ng on ce m ore the Cath ol ic c omm u n i on o f w h ich S h e

had bee n so long deprived .

H u n n e ri c was a tyran t o f th e worst typ e H i s dealin gs wi th .

hi s fam il y are a su fficien t proo f o f h i s character Gai seric t o .

,

avoi d th e danger o f a m i n ority —a con ti ngen cy wh ich would

h ave bee n fatal t o h i s precariou s m onarch y —had prescri bed
that each Vandal ki ng sh oul d be succeeded n ot by h i s n ext o f ,
-

kin b u t by h i s el des t relative Su ch s ucce ssion s were very u sual

,
.

am ong th e Teu ton ic tri be s th ough th ey ha d n ever before b ee n

,

formally made i n to a rul e N ow H u n n e ri c h ad a grown u p

.
-

s o n H i l d e ca t w hom h e destin ed for h i s s ucce ssor ; bu t th e

, ,
’
pri nce was o f course younger th an the king s ow n brothers
, , .

’
I n stead of cancell in g hi s father s law H u n n e ri c set to work to ,

e xterm in ate h is brothers an d slew th em wi th al l th e ir ch il dren

, ,

save two youth s th e son s of hi s n ext b rother Ge n z o wh o

, , ,

saved t hem sel v es by tim ely flight .

D uring the seve n years o f h i s reign ( 4 7 7 4 8 4 ) H u n n e ri c -

waged n o w a rs ; h i s fl ee t cou l d n o l onger prey o n th e dying

carca se o f th e We stern E mpire T he two form i da b l e king
’
.

dom s of the Vi sigot h E u ri c an d th e S c yrri an O doacer coul d

n o t be ravage d l ike th e real m o f a M aximu s or a Glyceri n s .

They were left alon e w h il e th e e nergies o f H u n n e ri c were de

,

voted to persecution of the Cath olics i n his own realm The .

orth odox declared th at h e from fi rst t o last cau sed th e death

of perso ns a hyperbol ical exaggerati on wh ic h h al f
,

cau ses u s to d ou bt th e real i ty o f what was i n truth a very cruel

and severe persecu ti on H u n n e ri c d elighted m ore i n m u ti
.

lati on o f han d s an d eyes an d tongues than i n death gi ven b y

th e sword an d t h e rop e bu t the re i s n o doub t that i n a
, ,

con si derable n umber of case s he pu n ished Cath ol ics with th e ,

extrem e penal ty .

While H u n n e ri c was thu s em pl oyed i t i s n o t strange t o hear

that h e was vexed by rebell i on s Th e M oors of M oun t Atlas .

rose agai n st h im an d b y n o m ean s to the grief o f th e Latin

, ,
 E u ropea n H z s f o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
'

I2 -

s peaki ng provi ncial s encroached o n the Southern border o f ,

the Va n dal k ingd om a n d p u she d their i ncursion s as far as th e

,

Mon s Au ra s i u s i n N um i dia W hile prepa ring to attack the m .

th e king died smi tten i f the Ca th ol i c chron icl ers are t o be

, ,

bel i eved by th e sam e h orri d di sease w h i ch ma de an en d o f

,

H erod Agrippa H i s eldest an d only gro w n u p son H i l d e c a t

.
-
, ,

had di ed be fore h im a n d th e Va n dals at on ce placed o n th e

,

t hron e G u n t h a m u n d th e eld est o f h i s two survivin g n eph ews

, ,

a prin ce wh o sh owe d grea t forbearan ce when th e c ircu m ,

stan ces are co n sidered i n i mpri son ing i n stead o f m urderi ng ,

’
H u n n e ri c s two you nger ch ildren .

Wh ile we tu rn from the Va n dal ki ngdom i n Africa t o the

dom i n i on s of O doacer i n I tal y w e are struck a t o n ce by th e ,

I ut r l it-
T contra st betwee n the m e thod s o f gover n m e n t e m
i a

G v r m
o t
e n en
pl o ed 1 1 th e t w o c ou n t ri es h i le Ga i ser i c an d
I
7
f Od o e i
y 1
.
o ac r

i n It ly aH u n n e ri c ruled a s m ere barbar i an s an d cast away ,

all th e anci en t Roma n m ach in ery o f admi n i stra ti on kin g ,

O doacer kept u p th e wh ol e syste m a s he foun d i t He .

TH E VAN D A L K I NGS , 42 7 530

-
.

[Th e na me s of ki ngs i n C a pi ta ll e t te r s ]

AI S E R I C
G ,

K i g 4 2 7 ; r ig ne d a t
n . e

C a r t h a g e 4 3 9 47 7 ,
-
.

E ud c o ia , HU NNE RIC , Ge nz o . Th e o d o r i c .

u h r
da g t e 47 7 4 8 4
-
.

of V l a en
ti n ia n I l l .

H I LD E R I C , G U NT H A M U N D , T H R AS A M U N D , G e l a i is .

5 2 3 -5 30 4 8 4 49 6 49 6 5 2 3
- -
.

G E I L l M E R, Amm a t as . T z az o

5 30 6 3 4
 ’
Od oa cer a nd Tneoa or z e
'

I3

app oi n ted praetorian praefects an d , an d cou n ts

o f th e sacred largesses j u st as th e E mperors before h i m h ad
,

don e The sen ate still sat at Rom e an d passed o ti o se decree s

.
,

the con sul s s ti ll gave th ei r n am es to t he year B ut h i s great .

sch em e o f expropriation by wh ich one third o f th e l an d o f

,
-

each o f the richer p roprietors o f I taly was co n fi sca ted for th e

ben efi t o f h i s m ercenary troops m u s t have caused m uch ,

trouble a n d h eart burn ing I t i s curi ou s t hat we fi n d so li ttl e

-
.

complain t m ade about i t i n th e hi s torian s of the ti me P ro .

’
bably O do a cer s wi sdom i n letti n g th e sm aller proprietors
al on e has preserved hi s n am e fro m t h e abu se wh ich stil l
cl i n gs t o th e re p utati on s o f m an y o f t h e Te u toni c con querors
o f th e empire .

O n the whol e th e provi ncial s o f I taly m u s t h ave fel t

comparativel y l i ttl e c hange whe n t hey began to b e governe d
,

by a barbarian ki ng i n stea d o f by a barbarian patrician such

, ,

as R i c i m e r or G u n d o b a d had be en O d oacer appears t o have .

bee n one of th o se wi se me n w h o can le t wel l alon e Th ough .

a n Aria n h im sel f he refrai n e d from all rel igi ou s persecu ti on

,

a n d i f b e fi rmly asserted h i s righ t to con fi rm the el ec ti on o f

,

b ishop s o f Rom e we d o n ot fi n d tha t h e eve r force d h is o w n

,

n omi n ees o n th e clergy an d people I n deed he was n o te d .

,

a s a repressor o f the al ienati on o f church lan ds an d o f

sim ony .

’
O do ac e r s foreign p ol icy seem s to h ave been l im i te d i n i ts
s co p e t o the design o f ke ep ing togeth er th e ol d D iocese o f ‘

’
I taly that i s , the p en i ns ul a w i th i ts m ai nlan d a p pen dages o f
,

Noricu m an d n orth I llyria H e ceded t o th e Vi sigoth

.

E u ri c th e coas tlan d o f Proven ce which h e ha d fou n d stil l i n

,

Roman han ds a n d m ade n o attemp t t o es tabl i s h relati on s wi th

,

the Rom an o Gall ic govern or S yagri u s wh o h eld M i d Gaul

-
,
-
,

pressed i n between Vi sigoth an d Frank O n the other han d .

,

he p u rsue d a fi rm p ol icy o n h i s n orth east fron ti er W hen -

.

J uliu s N epo s was m urdere d by rebel s i n 4 8 0 O doacer at ,

once i nvade d an d su bdued the D al matian k i n gdom whi ch ,

the ex emperor h ad till th e last con tri ve d t o r e tai n Furth e r

-
.
14 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

n orth i n N ori cu m th e R u g ia n s had for man y years been

, ,

m olesti ng th e Roman provi ncial s a nd pu sh i n g ac ros s th e

D an ube O d o acer s en t agai n s t the m h i s brother H u n w u l f
. ,

w h o d rove the m back ove r t he river an d t ook p ri s on er P eva ,

thei r k i n g B ut w hen freed for a m om e n t from thei r

.
,

R u g ia n o ppress or s t he Roma n pro v i n c ial s to ok th e o ppo r

,

t u n i t y n o t o f repairin g thei r rui n e d c iti es but of m igrati n g

, ,

e n rrra sse t o I tal y Protected by t h e arm y o f.

H u n w u l f the w hol e p opulati on o f N oricu m

, ,

beari n g al l th eir goods an d cha ttel s t heir ,

treasu res an d e ven th e e xh umed bod ies o f thei r sai nts

, ,

pou red sou thward ove r th e Alps an d obtai ne d from O doacer ,

a settlemen t o n the was te l an d s of I taly wh ich th e Van dal s ,

h ad ru ined O nl y i n th e Rhaetia n val ley s di d som e re m nant s

.

o f t h e Lati n s peaki ng populati on l inger behi n d H enc e i t

-
.

c om es that s ou th Bavari a an d arch duca l Au stria are n ot at

thi s da y speaki ng R o u m a n sh like th e E ngadin e bu t the , ,

German ton gu e of th e R u g i a n s an d H e ru le s wh o passe d in to

th e deserted p rovi n ce o f N oricu m wh en i t wa s aba n done d a ,

few years l ate r by the armies o f O doace r .

For thi r teen years 4 7 6 4 8 9 th e S c yrri a n ki ng bore rul e

,
-
,

over I taly N o ri cu m an d D al matia w ith very con s iderabl e

, ,

success A S the years r o lle d on wi th ou t a n y di sa ster wi t h

.
,

t he army i n g o od tem per an d th e I tal ian s fai rly c o n ten t a t

,

bei n g at las t freed fro m Van dal an d G oth i c rai ds O doace r ,

m u st h ave begun t o bel ieve tha t h e ha d establ i sh ed a k ing

d om a s w ell fou n d ed a s th ose o f h i s B urgun dia n or Vi sigoth ic
n eighbours B u t there was on e fatal weakn ess i n h is posi tio n
.

h e depen ded n ot o n th e l oyal ty o f a singl e compact tribe bu t ,

o n t he fidel i ty o f a pu rel y m erce n ary a rm y m ad e u p o f th e ,

re mn a n ts o f a d oze n broken Teu ton ic clan s wh i ch looke d ,

u pon h i m a s a general an d a paymaster an d n ot a s a l e g i t i ,

m ate he red i tary pri nce desce n de d from th e god s an d he roe s

,
.

The regi me n ts o f F oeder a /i wh o h ad procla im ed hi m ki ng , ,

we re i n n o sen se a nati o n ; i t woul d have tak en m an y ge ne

ration s t o weld t hem i nto o n e a n d the fabri c o f the n ew ,
 ’
Odoa cer a nd T/zeoa o r i e 1 5

kin gd om was to b e tri ed by t h e roughes t o f sh ocks before

i t wa s even h al f a gen erati on o l d .

I n 4 8 9 there c am e agai n st O doacer from the D anub e a n d

th e I llyria n Al p s Theodoric s on o f T h e o d e m i r the k i ng o f
, , ,

th e O strogoth s wi th al l th e pe ople o f h i s race beh in d h i m — a

,

vast h ost wi th th ei r wi ves an d ch ildren thei r slave s an d thei r

cattle bl ocking all the m ou n tain —
,

,
pas ses o f the n orth eas t wi th -

th e twe n ty t hou san d o x waggon s th at b ore their worldly

-

good s
Theodoric the k ing o f th at hal f o f t he G othic race wh ich
,

h ad lingere d beh i n d i n the Balkan pen in sula w hen Al aric ,

led the other hal f wes tward was j us t at the en d o f a l ong

,

s eries o f rebel li on s an d ravage s by wh ich h e h ad reduce d

Thrace an d M oesi a t o a con d i tion eve n m ore m iserable than
that i n wh ich th ey had bee n left by th e horde s of Attila 1
.

H a vi ng failed l ike al l h i s foreru nn ers t o take Con stan tin ople

, , ,

a n d havi ng c onclu ded h i s fourth peace wi th t h e emperor

Zen o h e fou n d h im self le ft wi th a hal f starve d arm y i n a lan d
,
-

wh ich had been h arrie d qui t e bare H e h ad trie d h is best .

to redu ce the E a stern em pire to th e con di tion to wh ich Rici

m er had brough t the Western bu t t he impregnabl e wall s o f ,

B yzan tiu m had foi le d hi m You ng capabl e a n d amb i tious

.
, , ,

h e was yearn i ng for n e w an d m ore p rofitabl e fi el ds to con quer

whi le at t he sam e t im e th e emperor o f the E a st was casting
, ,

abou t for al l possible m ean s t o ge t the Go ths as far away fro m

h i s gates as coul d b e m an aged B oth Zen o an d Theodori c .

had thei r reas on s for wi sh i ng i ll to O doacer : the e mpe ror

bel ieved h im to have fostered or favou re d a late reb ell i on i n
Asi a wh i ch had shaken hi s th ron e ; th e O strogoth i c king
2

was being stirre d u p by R u gi an exiles w h o ha d fl e d b efore

the c on quering arm o f th e ki ng o f I taly .

Nei ther party the n n eede d m uch p ersuasion wh en a s cheme

’
was broached fo r an i nvasi o n of O d o a ce r s real m by t he
O strogoths Zen o taki ng the for m al grou n d th at by th e
.
, ,

adm issi on o f O doacer an d t h e I tal ian s h e was em p eror as ,

1 2
S e e pp 40 3.
-
. S e e p 44. .
16 E u ropea n H i s to ry 47 6 9 1 8 ,
-

w el l o f W e st a s o f E a s t procee de d to decree the de p osi tio n o f

,

t he patrician w h o n ow rule d at Rom e an d hi s superse ssi on ,

by a n e w patrician the king o f the O str o goth s Theodoric

,
.
,

i n retu rn for h i s i nve sti tu re w i th h i s n e w titl e a n d the gra n t ,

o f th e d om in ion of I taly made a l oosely word ed prom i se to ,

-

’
h ol d h i s future conquests a s th e em peror s repre sen tative .

H o w far suc h h omage would exten d n ei ther party m u ch

cared ; the em peror onl y wan ted t o ge t ri d of the k in g o f
th e G oth s ; the k in g o f th e Goth s k new t ha t on ce master o f
I tal y h e coul d pay th e em peror j ust as m uch o r a s l i t tl e
d eference as h e m igh t ch oose .

I n t he autu m n o f 4 8 8 Theodoric called togethe r th e w h ole

O strogothi c peopl e to a cam p o n th e m i ddle Dan ube an d ,

bade them p re p are for i n stan t m igration Th e i n clemen t .

season o f the year th at h e ch o se fo r th i s m arc h seem s to have

been d ictated by fea r o f fami n e fo r the war h ad so ravaged ,

M oesia t hat th e G oth s h ad n o t provi si on s en ough t o las t till

n ext spring So i n t he O c tobe r o f 4 8 8 th e O s trogoth s a
.
, , ,

grea t m ul ti tu de of or souls fol l owe d th e ,

Rom an road al ong th e Danu be cros se d a t S ingid u n u m an d ,

se t o u t t o marc h acros s Pan n o n ia B u t they soon m ee t wi th .

oppositio n ; T ra u s t i l a k in g o f th e Gepidae wh o n ow occu pie d

, ,

b oth bank s of the m i d D an ube cam e o u t agai ns t th em w i th

-
,

hi s host to preven t the m from passi n g th ro ugh h i s land .

Theodoric defeate d h im bu t foun d such d i ffi cul ty i n pre ss in g

,

o n th rough th e h ostil e c oun t ry tha t h e had t o wi n ter o n th e

S ave supporting al l h i s hos t o n th e pl un de r o f the farm s of
,

Th eo d ri o
th e G epidae I n the S pri ng o f 4 8 9 h e m ove d o n
c
.
,

i
n va d cs l t ly a n d pressin g th rough th e pas se s o f th e J ul ian
a .

489
Al ps wi thou t meetin g an y opposi ti on from the
'

t roop s o f the k in g o f I taly cam e o u t a t las t to the S po t where

,

th e gorge o f S c hOn pa ss l ead s d ow n i n to th e plai n o f Vene tia .

H ere o n th e bank s o f t he I son zo O doacer was waiting fo r

, ,
’
h i m wi th al l h i s h ost o f F o ea er a t i an d there was a m igh ty ,

battle The re sul t was n ot d ou btful ; th e O strogoth s a si ngl e

.
,

p eople fighti ng fo r thei r wives an d fam ilies w h o lay be hin d

, ,
 7
Tneo
’
Od oa ce r a na a r
o ie 7

t hem i n the crowde d p ass led by the i r hered i tary k in g th e

, ,

heave n b orn Am al an d k n owing that defea t m ean t de stru o

-
,

ti on were too de s p erately fi erce t o b e stopped by the m ixed

,

m ul ti tude o f m erce n arie s that foll owe d O doacer Th e ki ng .

of I tal y was rou ted h i s camp storme d h i s arm y scattere d

, , .

I t was o nly beneath th e wal ls o f Veron a th at h e cou l d rally

i t fo r a secon d stan d J u st a m on th after t he bat tle o f the
.

I sonzo Theod ori c appeare d agai n i n fron t o f h i s e n emy an d

, ,

agai n won a prom p t vi c tory H ere perishe d m ost o f th e o l d .

’
regi m en ts o f F oea er a ti that had been won t t o defen d I tal y fo r ,

O doacer ha d fough t w i th th e rap i d Adige beh in d h im an d ,

the greater part o f hi s army wa s rolle d back i nto th e fi erce

stream .

Aban don ing n ort h I taly O doacer n ow fell back o n th e

m arsh girt fortress o f Rave n n a wh ich had baffle d so man y
-
,

i nvaders o f th e pen i nsul a Th eodoric m ean whil e p re sse d .

forward a n d occupi e d M ilan an d all th e val ley o f the P o h i s

triu m p h was apparen tly made com p lete by the surren der o f
’
’ ’
Tufa the mag i sz er mzl z z u m of O d o a c e r s h ost wh o s ubm i tte d
,
‘ ‘
,

to the O strogot h w ith th e wreck o f t h e I t alian arm y .

( Au tu mn ,

Bu t the war was desti n ed t o en dure for t hree years m ore

Ravenn a was imp regn abl e an d Theodori c was thrice d iverte d
from i ts siege by distu rbance s from ou tside Firs t Tu fa w ith .
,
’
the rem nan t o f t he F oea er a z i broke fai th an d rej oin ed h i s o l d
‘

m aster O doace r The n i n the n ex t year Gu n d o b a d ki n g o f

.
, , ,

the Bu rgu n dian s came over t h e Al p s an d h a d to b e turne d

,

back . Las t Frederic king o f th e R u gi a n s th e firs t of t he

, ,

man y Frederic s of German h i story took arm s i n favou r o f ,

O doacer th ough Theodori c had shel tere d h im t hree years

,

before when h e had fled from t he arm ie s o f th e ki ng o f I taly

, .

I t was n ot till J uly 4 9 1 that O doacer was fo r S i f e e o

g
the la s t time dri ven b ack withi n the sh el ter o f R v a e n n a,
’
x 93
th e marshes o f Raven n a For twe n ty m o n th s .
49 '

m ore h e main tai ne d h im self withi n i ts im p regnab l e wall s t il l ,

sheer fa m i n e drove hi m t o ask fo r p eac e i n February 4 9 3 .

P E R I OD 1 . B
 8 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8
-

Theodoric pro fle re d hi s van qui shed en em y far better term s

than h e coul d have expected — th at he sh oul d retai n hi s
kingly t i tle an d a share i n t h e rul e o f I tal y B u t whe n
.
,
’
O d o ace r h ad lai d d o wn h i s arm s an d cam e t o hi s c on qu eror s
cam p he wa s treacherou sly slai n a t a ban que t o nly ten days
, ,

afte r Rave n na fell Th i s was al m ost th e o n ly ba se an d m ean

.

’
c ri m e i n Theodo ri c s l ong an d otherwi se gl ori ou s caree r : h i s
wh ole c on d uct a t the ti me o f t he surre n de r seem s t o prove r

th at he del i berately l ure d h i s ri val t o vi si t h i m w ith th e fi xed

,

i n ten tio n o f pu tti ng h i m to d eath ( March

.
,

S o d ie d O doacer i n t h e si x tieth year of h i s age ; s e ven teen

years afte r he had slai n O reste s h e m e t t he sam e fate that he
,

had i n fl icted o n hi s predecessor .

 C H APTE R I I

T H E OD O R I C KI NG OF I T AL Y
493 5 2 6
-

Th e O s t r o g o t h i c r a c e—Ch a r a c t e r o f Th eo d o r i c —H i s Ad m i n i st r a t io n o f I t a ly
Th e o d o r i c i n R o m e—F o r ei g n P o l i cy o f Th e o d o r i c—H i s wa rs w i t h t h e
F r an ks a n d B ur g u n d i a n s—H i s su p r e m a cy i n W e s t e r n E ur o p e —M i sfo r
t u ne s o f h i s l a t e r y ea rs — — ’
D e a t h o f B o e t h i us Fa i lur e o f Th eo d o r i c s g r e a t
sch em e s .

F R OM th e form al an d con stitu ti onal p oi n t o f v iew th e su b st i

t u t i o n of ki ng T heodoric for kin g O doacer as ru ler i n I taly , ,

m ad e n o change i n the p osi tio n o f affairs From the p ractical .

p o in t of vie w the change was i m p ortan t for th e n ew Teu ton ic ,

k ingdom was very mu ch stronger th an the old I ts ruler was .

a you nger an d a far abler ma n th e wises t an d m ost fa r sigh te d

,
-

o f all the German s o f th e fi fth an d si xth cen turies M ore over .

,

th e m ilitary p ower o f t h e O strogoth s was far greater than th at

’
of t h e m ixe d multitu de o f E oea er a i i wh o had followed
O doacer . They were a numerou s trib e con fi den t of thei r ,

ow n valour after a cen tury o f su cce ss fu l war an d devotedly ,

attached to th e ki ng wh o for th e last twe n ty years had n ever

, , ,

failed to lead the m t o victory Wh ile th ey preserved th ei r.

anci en t courage th ey had acqu i red by a stay o f th ree gen era

, ,

tion s wi th in th e b ou nd s o f th e emp ire a h igher l evel o f ,

civili sati on than an y o ther o f th e Teu t on ic tribe s Th eir .

dress thei r arm ou r th eir m ari n er o f l ife showe d traces o f

, , ,

their i n tercou rse w i th Rome ; they h a d bee n Chri sti an s for

a ce n tury an d h ad forgotten man y o f th e o l d heathen an d
,
19
20 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

barbarou s cust om s o f t heir ance stors T hey posses se d too .

, ,

fi rst o f al l Teu ton i c people s th e germ o f a written l i terature

,

i n the fam ou s G oth ic B ible o f U lfi l a s T here are do cu m en ts.

su rvi vi n g written i n th e character w h ic h U lfi la s had d evi sed

,

for h i s peopl e wh ic h S h ow th at there we re G o th ic clergy an d

,

even laym en wh o coul d c omm it thei r co n trac ts t o p a p er i n

the ir own tongu e The odoric h im sel f n ever learn t t o wri te
.
,

bu t there mu st h ave been ma n y am ong h is subj ects wh o cou l d

d o s o Though the ki ng actually d i scou rage d the G oth s fro m
.

giving them selve s u p t o b ook learn i ng ye t i n th e ge neratio n

-
,

wh ic h followe d h i m th ere w ere Goth s sk ille d both i n Roman

a n d Greek l i teratu re — som e e ve n wh o calle d them sel ves
,

ph il osophers an d clai med to follow P lato .

O f all the Germa n n ati on s i t s eem ed t hat th e O s trogoth s

were the m ost sui ted t o form th e nucl eus for a n ew k i ngdom ,

w hic h s houl d gro w u p a y oun g an d strong ye t c ivili sed s tate

o n th e ruin s o f th e Roman emp ire An d i f an y o n e man c oul d
.

have brough t su ch a c on su m matio n t o pas s Theo dori c was ,

certai n ly the m os t fi t te d for t h e task Te n years spen t as a .

h ostage a t C on s tan t in o p le h ad sh ow n h i m t h e strong an d th e

weak p oi n t s i n th e Roman sy ste m o f a dmi n i stratio n ; twe n ty
C h ara t r f
c e years spen t i n th e fi el d at th e hea d o f h i s tri bes
o

Th eo d i or c
m e n had won h i m a n experi en ce i n war both
o

wi th Roman a n d barbarian that m ade hi m u nequall ed a s a

,

gene ral I tal ian s tate sm e n found h i m a mas te r m i n d wh o

.
-

could com prehen d all di fficulti es of th e ad m i ni strati on o f a n

em pi re G oth ic warriors l ooke d u p t o h i m n ot o nly as th e
.

m os t ski lful marsh aller o f a h ost bu t al so as th e stou tes t lan ce

,

i n h i s o wn army Al ike w he n he s mote the G epidae by th e

.

D an ube an d whe n h e drove the F oeder a t i o f O doace r i n to th e

,

Ad ige the k i ng had h im sel f h ead e d the fi n al a n d dec isive

,

charge that broke th e sh iel d wal l o f th e e n em y B u t Th e o

-
.

dori c wa s even m ore tha n a great statesman an d warri or : he

was a man o f wi de m i n d an d dee p th ough t H i s practical .

wi sd om took S hape i n nume rou s proverb s whi ch hi s s ubj ec ts

l ong treas u red And i n spi te o f on e o r two deep stai n s o n hi s
.
,
 ’
Tneoa o r i e k i ng o f [t a iy 2 I

ch aracter we may say t h at h i s brai n was i n s p i re d by a sou n d

,

an d righ te ou s heart The e ssen tial j u stice an d fai rn ess o f hi s

.

m i n d s h i nes ou t i n h i s o ffi cial correspon dence even w hen ,

e nvelo p ed i n th e obscure a n d gran diloquen t verbiage o f h i s

secr e tary Cassiodoru s Am ong al l the Teu ton ic kings h e was
.

the j u st i ssi mu s u n u s et serva n t i ssi m u s a equ i wh o se t h i m ,

sel f t o cu rb th e v i olen ce o f the G oth n o les s than t h e ,

ch ican ery o f th e Rom a n an d taugh t both that he was n o ,

res p ecter of person s bu t a j udge set u p on th e th ron e t o deal

,

o u t even han ded j u stice

-
Al on e am o n g all rul ers Rom an o r
.
,

German i n h i s day h e was a bel iever with ou t ten ding i n th e

, ,

least t o b ecom e a persecu tor N o m onarch for a th ou san d .

’
years t o com e coul d have bee n foun d to ech o Theodori c s
m agn i ficen t de clarati on that religio n i s a thing which th e ‘

k in g can n ot com man d b ecau se n o m an ca n b e com p elle d t o

,
’
bel ieve again st hi s wil l Though an Aria n h im sel f b e .

e m p l oy e d Cathol ics Gothic an d Rom an as freely T h d r i c

, , eo o
'
s

as th ose o f h i s own sect E ve n th e J ews go t r l i g i u .

e o s

m w s
s trict j us tice from hi m w he n e very oth er state i n
'

th e worl d deal t hardly w i th them The ab use wh ich h e wo n .

from fanatical Chri stian s fo r re sen ti ng th e m obbing o f a

Rabbi o r t he profan ati on o f a sy n agogu e i s on e o f th e
, ,
’
h ighest testim on ies i n hi s p rai se T he bene fi ts of j us ti ce h e .
‘
,

said mus t n ot b e den ie d even t o th ose wh o err from th e

,
‘

’
fai th Ye t he was n o t a s were s om e others wh o tolerate d J ews
.
, ,

a se m i p agan o r an agn os ti c ; th e very rescri p ts wh ich gran t

-

tem p oral j usti ce t o th e Oppresse d H ebrews en d w i th an

a p peal t o the m t o leave their h ard h eartedn es s an d flee fro m -

th e wrath t o com e .

I n m anagi ng the settlemen t o f h i s victori ou s tribesme n on

the soi l of I taly Theodori c sh owe d m uch ab ili ty Th e third
, .

o f th e land whi ch O doacer ha d con fi scated seven teen years

,

before seem s to have su fli c e d for thei r e stabli shmen t Th e

, .

’
greater part o f t he F oea er a ti wh o h a d been h ol ding th i s third ,

had fallen i n battle an d th ose wh o escape d th e Goth ic sword

,

s e em m ostly t o h ave p eri shed i n a sim ul t an eou s ou t bre ak o f

22 E u ropea n H i s tory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

ri ot an d m urder by w h ich th e I tal ian s celebrated th e d own

,

“
fal l o f O doacer w h e n they heard that h e h ad fi nal ly been shu t
,

Sett l e me n t u p i n Rave n na H e nce Th eodori c was abl e t o .

the O st r p rovid e for h i s c oun trymen wi th ou t further spol i a

o

g mh s
t io n of t h e n at i ve propri etors H e t hreatened
'

i n deed for a m om en t t o depri ve o f th ei r lan d s an d righ ts those

I talian s w ho adhere d t o o l ong to O doacer but be tter coun se l ,

prevail ed an d even those m e n were spare d S o t h e G oth s

, .

settled down wi th li ttle fricti on am ong thei r n e w s u bj ect s

they lay th ickl y al on g th e valley o f th e P o an d i n P i c e n u m , ,

m ore sparsel y scattered i n Tuscan y a n d cen tral I taly ; in to

t he s ou th few s eem t o have pen etrated Nea rl y al l settled .

down to farm th e c ou n try si de ; only i n the royal town s o f -

Raven n a Pavia an d Veron a di d th e G oth s becom e a n

, ,

a p preciable elem en t i n th e u rban p o p ulati on .

’
Theodoric s pl an for deal ing w ith the govern m en t of con
quered I taly deserves care ful s tu dy H e d id n ot a boli sh th e .

rema i n s o f the Roma n a dm i n i stra ti ve sy stem wh ic h h e foun d

_ _

s till exi st ing n o r di d h e o n th e o the r han d en deavou r t o

, , ,

su bj e ct the Goths t o Rom a n law H e wa s c on ten t that for a .

,

ti me t wo s ys tem s of adm in i strat ion shou l d go on S ide by si de

, .

’
Th e G oth s were to be rul ed an d j udged by hi s c ou n ts t he ‘
,

G o th i c govern ors wh om h e set over e ac h I tal ia n provi n ce h i s ,

ealdormen a s a n Angl o Saxon woul d h ave called them

,
-

according to th e trad it ional folk righ t o f thei r tri be T he -

.

Roman s l ooked for j u stice to magistra tes o f their o wn race .

I f a G oth an d a Roman w e n t to law the case was h eard be fore ,

th e cou n t an d th e I tal ian j udge s i tti ng togeth er o n t h e sam e ,

be nch .

I n th e cen tral a d mi n istra tion th e sam e m i xtu re o f sy stem s

’
w a s seen Theodori c s c ourt wa s l ike th at o f an other G erman
.

king i n many ways ; he h ad abou t h i m h i s perso nal retinu e o f

’
mil i tary retain ers th e k ing s me n wh om th e G oth s cal led by
, ,

the nam e o f S a io n e s bu t wh om i n wri tin g o u r o wn E n gl i s h

, ,

h is tory w e sh ould cal l th egn s o r ge s i t hs Th e S a i o n e s we n t .

’
o n the k ing s e rran ds served h im i n bowe r an d hall an d
. , ,
 ’
Tneoa or i e [
ri ng of I ta ly 23

acte d as h is body guard o n th e battle fi e l d

-
Above thei r -
.

rank an d fi le rose two or three m ore p rom in en t fol lowers

wh o seem t o represen t the great o fficers o f th e C t r l
h ousehol d o f the later M iddle Age s ; such were G mm "
en

°V e
a

e “
’
th e C hamberlain r eg i a e p r a tp osi t u s a omu s an d th e gre at ca p
, ,

tain s wh o i n Roman u sage were s tyled mag i st r i ru i ti t u rn an d ,

’
the king s high bu tler an d steward
-
.

B u t beside h i s Teu to n ic court th e h oun ds of th e royal

’
hall as B oeth iu s call e d them Theod oric ke p t u p a full
‘

-
,

e stabl i shm en t o f Rom an official s beari n g th e o l d t itles that ,

had been u sed u n der th e empire — praetorian praefect s m asters ,

o f the o fli c e s quaestors an d n otaries H e sh owed great S ki ll a n d

, , .

di scret ion i n ch oosing th e m os t h on est am ong hi s I talian subj ects

for t hese p osts so t hat hi s courtiers n ever becam e an oppres sive
,

o fficial cl iqu e a s ha d habitual ly b een t h e ca se u nd er the late r

,

e mp erors H e even ch ose as h is p raetorian p raefect Li beri us

.
,

wh o had adh ere d to O doacer t o t h e las t an d tol d hi m that h e ,

esteeme d h i m al l t h e m ore fo r h i s fi deli ty t o h i s fi rst master .

The b est m en i n I taly w ere u n doub tedly set t o adm in i ster t he

’
cen tral govern m en t ; bu t i t was Theodori c s m i sfortun e t hat
th e b etter the m an th e m ore l ikely b e wa s t o i n dulge i n vai n
dream s o f ol d Rom an gl ory an d to resen t i n h i s h eart th e ,

wi s e rul e o f the O strogoth B oeth iu s t he la s t o f th e Rom an s

.
,

a s h e may b e called serve d Theo dori c all h is l i fe wi th ou t

,
‘

learn in g tru e l oyal ty to h i m .

’
We h ave n o t space t o n oti ce hal f of Theodoric s reform s i n
th e admi n i strati on o f I tal y M os t wi se amo ng them was t he
.

careful re storati on o f t h e o l d roads aqu edu cts an d drai nage , ,

can al s w hich ha d b een th e gl ory of t he early em p ire H e

, .

was hi m sel f a great bu ilder an d erecte d royal palaces at ,

Veron a an d Raven na o f whi ch al as o n ly th e sm allest frag

, ,

men ts su rvive But h e sp en t even greater care i n keep i n g u p

.

ancien t edifi ces I n Rome h e set apart every year two hu n

.

dred p ou nds weigh t of gol d p i ece s for th e repai r o f palace s -

-

an d p ubl ic b u ildings H e t ook u nd er h i s protecti on e ve n

.

statues an d m onu m en t s a n d a d ded re p rese nt ation s o f h i m sel f

,
24 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

t o th e crowd o f e fli g i es wh i ch a dorn ed Rom e S o t h oroughl y .

d i d h e pu t h imsel f i n th e place o f th e Caesa rs tha t h e even

t ook ca re t o celeb rat e ga m es i n t he circu s a nd harangue d th e ,

T h d r i c a ssem bled peopl e i n th e Forum H e atte n ded

eo o .

i
n oR m e
a n d t o ok part i n th e debates o f th e Se nate an d ,

en dea voured t o strengthe n i t by th e a ppoi n tme n t o f a few

G oth ic se n ators I f h e S h owe d som e u n wi sdom i n a rra nging
.

fo r th e res um ptio n o f the bread dol e wh ich had bee n suc h a -

,

curse to Rom e h e at on ed for i t by a l i be ral sch em e for t h e

,

rearrangemen t o f taxes w hi ch a t on ce rel ieve d t he people an d

,

fill e d th e treasury At h i s d eath the royal h oard at Raven n a

.

am oun te d t o n o less th an p ou n ds weigh t of gold ,

i n h ard cash .

’
Theodori c s w i se ad m i n is trati on at h om e wa s acc om pan ie d
b y a n e qu ally fi rm an d abl e foreign pol icy H i s fi rs t care was .

to e stabli s h frien dly relat ion s wi th th e E astern E m pi re E ve n .

before O d oacer had me t h i s d eath he despatche d an em bass y ,

t o report to Ze n o th at h e h ad carrie d o u t h is c om m i ssi on of

c on queri n g I taly an d cl ai med a n i m pe rial confi rmati o n o f h i s
,

t i tle B u t th e e mbassy fou n d Zen o j u st dead an d hi s suc

.
,

ce ssor Anastas iu s en grossed i n th e su pp res si on o f riots an d

, ,

rebell io n s I t was n ot til l 4 9 7 that t he em peror recogn i sed

.

t h e king of th e G oth s as rule r i n I taly Then h owever .

, ,

An astas i u s made u p for h i s tardy recogn i ti on by sen di ng t o

Theod ori c the regali a wh i ch O doace r ha d forward ed t o Zen o
twen ty years be fore th e robes an d palace orname n t s which
, ,

had las t bee n u sed by the b oy Romulu s A u g u s t u l u s .

’
D u ri ng th e thi rty th ree years o f th e A mal s reign i n I taly h e
-

h ad onl y on e d ispu te wi th the emperor : th i s wa s a fron tier

quarrel i n 5 0 5 cau sed by trou bles i n I llyricum Th eod ori c
, .

had take n i n h an d th e restora ti on o f t he boun ds o f th e

Western E m pire towards the E ast an d hi s ge neral s havi n g su b , ,

d ue d Pa n n o n ia a s far a s S i m i u m a n d Singidu n um t re s pa sse d ,

o n t o M o e s i a n soil a n d cam e i n to con tac t w i th th e E as t

,

Roma n armies There was s ome trouble fo r th ree years bu t

.
,
’
n o great wa r th o ugh i n 5 0 8 t wo o f A nastasiu s gen eral s m ade
,
 ’
Tk eoa or i e ki ng of I t a ly 25

a destru cti v e rai d on Apul ia But p e ac e was ul tim ately m ad e

.

o n th e term s that t he bou n dary sh oul d be drawn as i n t h e ,

days o f th e We stern E mpire at th e Save an d Dan ube ,

.

’
M uch m ore i mportan t were T heodoric s d eal ings wi th h i s
neighbours t o west an d n orth H e took ove r t he task o f .

O doacer i n gu ard i ng the ol d Rom an d istrict s bey on d th e Alp s ,

wh ich h a d on ce com p osed th e p rovi n ces o f Rhaetia an d

Noricum B oth were n o w b ecom i ng Teu ton i c rather than
.

Latin speakin g lan ds I n to Rhaeti a ha d fled man y o f th e

-
.

Alam an n i o r S u a b i a n s whe n C hl o d o ve ch th e Fran k i n 4 9 6

, ,

drove the m o u t o f th ei r l a n ds o n th e Mai n an d Necka r .

Th is p eo p le gladly acknowledge d Theodori c as over l ord i n -

,

return for h i s p rotection agai ns t t he pursu ing Franks wh om ,

t h e O strogoth bade hal t at th e li n e o f th e up p er Rhin e ,

between Basel an d C o n st a n z Farther east i n N oricu m th e

.
, ,

plac e of th e em igran t Roman p rovin cial s had n ow been

taken by a m i xe d Teuton i c p opulati on th e remn an t o f the ,

broken clan s o f the R u gi a n s S cyrri an d T u rc i li n g i w h o were

, , ,

j u st begin n in g t o cal l them sel ves by the comm on n am e of

B avarian s un der wh i c h w e kn o w th em s o well a few years
,

la ter They too like th e Alam an n i were glad to ack n owledge

.
, , ,

Theodori c as suze rai n an d p ay hi m tribu te , .

To t he west Theodori c a t h i s accessio n foun d h i s k ingdom

,

bou n ded by the Alps fo r O doacer had given u p to the Visi

,

go t h s M arse illes an d t he othe r town s wh ich had obeyed th e

,

e mperor down to th e year 4 7 6 B eyon d the Alps Alaric th e .

,

V isigoth n o w hel d the m out hs of the Rh on e an d th e Proven c al

Coast wh il e G u n do b a d the Burgun dian rule d o n the m id dl e
,

an d u p pe r Rhon e from Avign on as far as B esan c on an d

,

Langres North of b oth B urgu ndian an d V i sigoth an d far

.
,

from the Al p i n e bor ders o f Theo doric lay th e n ew Franki sh ,

kingdom o f C hl o d o ve ch n ow reachin g a s far as th e Loir e an d

, fl

th e upper S ei n e .

Wi th al l these three m on arch s the ki n g of th e O strogoth s

"

h ad man y deal ings At th e very begin n i ng o f hi s rei gn h e

.

aske d fo r th e h an d o f Au g o fle d a th e si ster of C h lo do vech , ,

26 E u ropea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

a n d h o p ed tha t by thi s all ian ce h e had bou n d th e cl ever an d

u n scrupul ou s Frank t o hi m s el f By Au go fle d a he becam e the .

father o f Amalaswi ntha th e on l y ch il d born t o hi m i n lawful

,

w edlock t hough h e ha d t w o eld er daugh ters by a c on cu bin e

,

ere h e ca me t o I tal y Soo n afte r h i s own m arriage wit h th e

.

M rr i g s f
a a e
Fran kish
o
pri n ce ss T heo
doric wed de d one

T h d r i c s th ese natural ch i l dren t o S i g i smun d th e son an d

'
of ,

eo o ,

f m i ‘y
a '

h ei r o f the B u rgu n dia n Gu n d o b a d an d the other ,

to Alari c the Vi sigoth T hu s all h i s n eigh bou rs becam e h i s

.

relat ives .

B ut thi s d i d n ot se cure peace betwee n th e n ew kin smen o f

Theo dori c I n 4 9 9 C hl o d o ve c h fel l o n Gu n do b a d t o stri p hi m
.
,

of h i s real m rou te d h i m an d S hu t hi m u p i n Avign on t h e

, , ,

s ou thern m os t o f hi s strongh old s ; b u t after m any successe s the

Frank l os t all tha t h e h ad gai ned an d turn ed i n stead t o ,

a ttack the king o f t h e Vi sigoth s The odoric strove u n su c .

c e ssfu l ly t o pre ven t both wars an d wa s n ot a l ittle d i s p lea sed ,

when i n 5 0 7 h i s bro th er i n law C hl o d o ve ch ove rran s outhern

, ,
- -

Gaul an d slew h i s son i n l a w Al aric i n battl e Bu rgu n dian

,
- -
.

a n d Frank th en un i te d to destroy th e Vi sigoth s an d m igh t ,

h ave d on e so had n o t Theodoric i n terve n ed The h eir o f th e .

Vi sigoth i c th ron e wa s n ow Am alri c the so n o f Alari c a n d o f ,

’ ’
th e k ing o f I taly s daugh ter To defen d h i s gran ds o n s .

real m Theodori c declared war b oth o n C h l o do ve ch a n d o n

G u n d o b a d a n d sen t h is a rm i e s over th e Alp s to save th e
,

rem n an ts o f th e Vi sigoth i c pos se ssi on s i n Gaul O n e h os t .

crosse d th e Cottia n Alps a n d fel l o n B urgu n dy ; an other ,

en tered Pr o vence an d sm ote th e Frank a n d B u rgun dian

,

besiegers o f Arles Wi th hi s u sual good fortu n e Theodori c

.
,

recovere d al l Gau l s outh o f th e D uran ce an d th e Ce ven ne s

so tha t the con qu ests o f C h l o do vech were c on fin ed t o
Aqu i tai n e Th e way wa s n ow clear fo r th e O strogoth ic arm ie s
.

t o march i n to S pain to support th e clai m s o f the ch il d

,

A m a l ri c agai n s t G e sa l i c a b astard s on o f Alari c I I w ho had

,
.
,

bee n pr o clai me d ki ng o f the Vi sigoths a t Barcel ona After .

two years o f guerilla fighting t h e pre ten der was hu n ted d own ,
 ’
Tk eoa o r i e k i ng of I ta ly 27

an d slain t h ough he h ad s ough t an d ob tai n e d s o m e hel p from

,

th e Van d al ki ng T hra sa m u n d
F o r th e n ex t fourtee n years til l Am al ri c reach ed m an h oo d
, ,
’
Theod oric rule d S p ai n i n h is gran dson s beh al f H e was .

recogn i sed as ki ng o f th e V isi goth s in com m on T h eo d o r i c ,

wi th A m a l ri c an d ru led b oth hal ve s o f th e Goth i c k i g f t h

,
n o e

race — reu ni te d a fter a n i n terval o f two hu n dre d

years —wi th e qual au th ori ty an d h i s ro yal m an dates ran i n
,

S p ai n as well as i n I taly H i s delegate was Coun t T he u di s

. ,

an O strogoth i c n obl e wh o was m ade regen t a n d rule d a t

, ,

Narbon n e over all t he Vi sigothi c real m wes t o f th e Rhon e ;

wh ile th e Roma n Li beri us n am ed p raetorian praefec t o f ,

Gaul a d m i n is tere d Vi sigoth ic P rove nce from the anci e n t ci ty

,

o f Arles .

’
T heodoric s p ower was n o w su p reme from S irm iu m to
Cadi z an d from th e u p p er D an ub e t o S icily H e ruled t h e
,
.

larger h alf o f th e o l d Rom an E mpi re o f th e Wes t an d exer ,

c i s e d much in flue n ce i n Gau l an d A frica the tw o p arts o f i t o

f ,

th at were n ot abs ol u tely i n h i s h ands After th e war o f 5 0 7 1 0 .

-

C l o d o ve ch th e Frank ha d died an d hi s fou r son s w h o p arted , ,

h i s realm made peace wi th th e O strogoth w h ile Gu n do b a d

, ,

th e Burgu n dian king had been fai n t o fol l ow th eir exam p le

,

even earlier .

Twelve years o f p eace followe d 5 1 1 5 2 3 ) before Theod ori c -

,

n ow i n extrem e o l d age ha d occasion t o i n terfere i n Gaul

,
.

’
Sigi smund th e hu sban d of Theodori c s elder n atural daugh ter
, ,

wa s n o w ki n g o f the B urgu n dian s H e was a gloomy an d .

su sp iciou s tyran t an d drew d ow n t h e wrath of Theo doric by

,
’
m urderi ng hi s own h eir S i ge ri c wh o was th e G oth i c king s
, ,

el dest gran d son To p u n i sh thi s crim e Theodoric league d

.

hi m sel f wi th th e Franks a n d attacked B urgun dy H e con ,

.

quere d an d took as hi s sh are o f th e sp oi l th e lan ds between

,

D urance an d D r ome wi th th e cities o f Avign on O range an d

, , ,

Viviers the farthes t exten sion to th e n orth west of th e O s tro

,
-

gothic em pire .

The circle o f fam ily alliances which The odoric had mad e
28 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

wi th h is E u ro p ea n neighbours was exten de d e ven beyo n d t he

M edi te rran ean H e m arrie d h i s si ste r Am a la fri da a w i dowed
.
, ,

prince ss n o longer i n h er fi rs t y ou th to Thra sam u n d th e o l d

, , ,

k ing o f th e Va n dal s I n virtue o f th i s c on n ectio n h e seem s

.

t o have treated T h rasa m u n d a s a you nger b roth er i f n o t a s a ,

vas sal Whe n th e Va n dal dared to hel p th e u sur p e r G e sa l ic

.

i n Spai n Theodori c i m p osed a tribu te o n h im a n d bade

, ,

h i m for th e fu tu re d o n oth ing wi th ou t the cou n sel o f h i s wife

A m a la fri d a T h rasa m u n d d i d n ot res e n t th i s treatmen t an d
.
,

for th e fu tu re d id al l h e coul d to p ropitiate h is brothe r i n law - -

.

Th e Van dal s tate i n dee d was no t i n a c on di tion to ri sk a

, ,

qu arrel wi th Th eodori c E ver si nce th e death o f H u n n e ri c i t .

had been s tead ily on th e decl i n e I n th e reign s o f Gu n tha .

m un d ( 4 8 4 4 9 6 ) an d T hrasa m u n d hi m sel f ( 4 9 6 5 2 3 ) i t was

- -

con tin ual ly lo si n g grou n d t o t h e i n su rgen t M oors o f Atlas .

Gu n t h a m u n d wh o was n o t a p ersecu to r l ike h i s pred ecessor

,

H u n n e ri c ha d e ndeavoure d t o wi n th e favour of the Cathol ics

,

b y allowi n g th e m t o recal l th ei r exile d b ish op s an d open t h ei r

church es B u t th ese b oon s d i d n ot check th e falli ng away
.

o f hi s subj ects an d during h i s reign th e M oors c on q uere d

,

from h i m th e wh ol e sea co ast from Tan gi e rs t o th e gates o f -

Caesarea H is broth er Thra sa m u n d tried the op p osi te p olicy

.
,

V d l?
an

s ecu ti
a

ons i
resum ed “ th e persecu tio n s de p orte d two hun d re
Ca th ol i c b i sh o p s to Sardi ni a a n d ren ewe d th e
n
d ,

M ’
,
r ca '

h orrors o f the day s o f H u n n eri c Naturally h e .

,

was n o m ore fortu n at e i n deal ing w i th the n ati ve rebels than

h i s brothe r h ad been A quarrel w i th Theod oric w oul d have .

m ean t rui n s o h e ke p t h imsel f from al l foreign war H e

, .

d ied i n 5 2 3 a t a grea t age k ille d i t i s sai d by th e n ews o f a , , ,

’
great defea t wh ic h h i s arm ie s had su fle re d at th e han d s of t h e
M oors H i s succe ssor was h i s cousi n H i l deri c th e son o f
.
,

H u n n e ri c an d the Rom an p ri nce ss E udocia th e l ast s ci on o f ,

th e h ous e o f Theodosi u s th e G reat E ducated by a Cath ol i c .

m other H i ld e ri c was h im se l f th e fi rs t orthodo x Van dal kin g

, ,

an d e nde d the l on g African p ersecuti on s B ut h i s reign wa s .

n ot happier tha n th ose o f h i s two c ou sin s H i s e n thu sias tic .

 ’
Tk eoa ori e k i ng f
o I t a ly 29

cha m p i on shi p o f t he Cath oli c caus e b rough t hi m i nto colli sion

wi th th e b ulk of hi s Vanda l subj ects an d he was attacke d by ,
’
a rebell iou s p arty h eaded by Th eodoric s si ster th e queen
, ,

dowager Am a lafri da who wished t o p rocl ai m as king o f Africa

,
’
on e o f h er late hu sban d s n e p hews H il de ri c h ad th e be tter
.

o f the fig hting defeated the rebel s an d capture d A m a l afri d a

, , ,

who m he con signed t o a dungeo n to the great wrath o f her ,

b rother the k ing o f th e G oth s ( 5 2

, As long as Theodoric
l i ved h e m erely kep t her in cl ose confi n e m en t bu t th e m omen t ,
’
he heard o f th e o ld man s death i n 5 2 6 h e h ad th e cruel ty to
, ,

slay the aged queen a dee d whi ch alien ated for ever th e
,

Van dal s an d th e O strogo ths .

Th e ca p ti vi ty o f hi s sis ter was n o t th e onl y s orrow wh ich

/
cl ouded the last few years o f Theod ori c 5 l o n g l i fe H e was .

left i n s o m e troubl e as t o th e s ucces si on to hi s crown H e .

had married h is only legi ti mate ch ild Amalaswi n tha t o a , ,

Vi sigoth i c pri n ce n ame d E u thari c o f wh ose prude nce an d ,

val ou r m uch was ex p ected Theo dori c i n te n ded h i m t o

.

reign wi th h i s d augh ter as colleagu e an d ki ng con sort bu t i n -

,

5 2 2 E u th a ri c d ied leavi ng a s h i s h ei r a b oy o f on ly five years

,

o f age . Theo dori c c oul d n o t bu t s ee tha t o n hi s death t he

accession o f a woman a n d a ch il d t o th e thro n e woul d b e
fraugh t with t he graves t d anger m ore especially a s h i s neph ew
,

T he o da ha t th e n earest m al e hei r of th e Am al hou se wa s

, ,

k nown t o be an u n scru p ulou s i n trigue r .

I t was p erhap s owi n g to a temper e m b ittere d b y th es e

fa m ily trou ble s that Th eodoric was led d uri ng th e las t few ,

years o f h i s l i fe in to an u n ha p py quarrel wi t h s om e of th e
,

best o f h i s I talian subj ects R ightly o r wrongly he had

.
,

i mb ibe d a n otion that th e I tal ia n s woul d take advan tage o f

h i s death to stir u p th e em p eror at Con stan ti n ople agai n s t
hi s i nfan t heir Th e i dea was very j us ti fiable for i n s p ite o f
.
,
’
a l l Theodori c s wi sd om an d good nes s m ost o f h i s Roman ,

sub j ect s n ever learn t to l ook k i n dly u p on a rul e r w h o was at

on ce an Arian an d a Goth an d i t seem s that som e a t l eas t
, , ,

o f th e S e nate were s e cretly c orr e s p on d in g wi th th e e m p eror

30 E u ropea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

J usti n That m onarch th e fi rst E astern E m p eror fo r fi fty

.
,

years wh o wa s u n di spu tedly or thod ox had fi red the e n t h u ,

s i a s m of Ca th ol ics al l over th e w orl d by h i s a ttemp ts to

suppres s Aria n i sm a n d th e fai th ful i n I tal y were u n doubtedly
,

c on tras ting h i s acti o n w ith th e s tri ct i mpartial ity o f T heod ori c ,

’
t o th e latter s di sadvan tage I n 5 2 4 th e patrician Al bi n u s
.

w a s accu sed by Cyprian th e rn agi st er ofi ei a r u rn of sen ding

, ,

d i sl oyal le tters to Con stan ti n opl e At hi s trial h e .

wa s defen ded by t h e C on sul ar Boeth iu s a t on ce a ,

great official an d th e be st k n ow n auth or o f the -

day n ote d as ph il osopher theologian astron om er an d m e

, , , ,

c h a n i s t — ln sh ort t h e ch ief repre sen tative o f th e i n tellect o f

,

I taly B oeth iu s resen te d th e i m p eac hm e nt o f Al bin u s i n t h e

.

’
m ost fi ery term s I f thi s m an i s gu il ty h e cri ed th en both
.
‘
, ,
‘

’
I an d al l th e Se nate are gui l ty t o o Th e accu ser Cyprian .
, ,

proceeded t o take h i m a t hi s word a n d brough t forward ,

fu rth er evi den ce to p rove tha t B oeth iu s h i msel f h ad been

on e of th e senators i n corres p on dence with J u stin o r h ad a t , ,

l east d o n e h i s best to suppress evi dence aga in s t th ose w h o

,
1
actually were s o e ngaged S uch a n ac cu sati on eve n i f n o t ful ly
.
,

proved seem s to have fi re d th e anger o f th e o l d king H e

,
.

coul d n ot tolerate d isl oyalty i n a man wh om h e h ad always

d i stingu ish ed by h i s favou r an d p re ferre d t o th e highes t,

o ffi ces By h i s orders B oeth i us was p ut o n h i s t rial be fore

.

t he S enate an d there co n dem ne d Fo r a year Theodori c

, .

kept h i m i n pri s on — a year i n valu abl e t o fu ture ages for i n ,

i t th e captive com posed h i s C on so l a t i o n of a w ork

whi ch was to be the c om fort o f m an y a n obl e bu t u n happy
soul i n th e M i ddl e Ages an d to fi n d cou n tles s readers fro m
,

K i ng Al fre d d own t o Si r Th om as M ore At th e e n d o f a .

’
year s c on fi n em en t B oeth iu s was t ortu red an d pu t to death .

Po ssi bl y h e was al togethe r i n n ocen t o f the charge lai d t o h i s

accou n t tha t o f secre t corre s p on de nce with Con s tant in opl e ;
,

Th i s w o u l d s e e m to h a v e b e e n th e ch a r g e w h i ch Bo e t h i us h i m s e l f
e x p r e ss e d by s a y i n g t h a t h e w as a ccus e d o f h a v i ng e n d ea v o u r e d t o pre
’
se rv e t h e s e n a t o rs .
 ’
Tneoa or i e k i ng I t a ly
f
o 3I

bu t more p robably h e had actual ly written harmless letters

i n to whic h a treason abl e purp os e was read by th e m al ice o f
h i s accu sers a n d the fears o f the ki ng .

The death of B oeth iu s was foll owe d by an oth er execu ti on ,

that o f hi s age d fath er i n law S ymm achu s the ch ie f o f th e

- -
, ,

sen ate wh om Theodori c pu t t o death o n the m ere suspici on

,
’
th at h e resen ted h i s son i n law s cru el en d There seem s t o
- -
.

h ave been n o further ch arge lai d again st hi m an d n o formal ,

trial so th at th i s action ranks wi th the m u rder of O doacer a s

,
’
the secon d un p ardo n abl e s i n o f Th eodori c s l i fe ‘

O thers als o su ffere d duri ng th e l as t tw o years o f th e o l d

’ ’
king s reign : I n an ger at J usti n s persecution o f th e Aria n s h e ,

th reaten e d reprisals again st th e Cath olics of I taly an d charged ,

J ohn th e b ish op of Rom e t o sai l at once to Con stan tin opl e ,

an d i n for m the em p eror th at furth er p ersecu ti o n woul d mean

war wi th th e Goth s an d i n volve an attack o n th e orthodox
,

t hrough out the O strogothic d om in i on s M ove d by these .

th reats Ju s ti n s uspen de d h i s harryi ng o f th e Arian s an d

, ,

treated th e Pope wi th such respe ct an d di stin cti on that h e

rou se d th e su spic i on s o f the king o f I tal y Th eodori c .

th ough t tha t J oh n h a d been too fri endly wi th th e emperor ,

an d sus p ecte d t hat th e h on ours an d reveren ce sh own hi m at

Con s tan ti n opl e were part o f a pla n for s educing away t he
allegianc e o f hi s Ro man subj ects W hen t h e P op e returne d .

h e was th rown i n t o p ri so p where being al ready i n ill heal th

, ,
-
,

h e soon died H e was at on ce hailed a s a martyr by all t h e

.

Western C hurch
Th e I tal ian s th ough t t hat th e execu tion of Sym mach u s a n d
the i mprisonme n t of Pop e J oh n foreb oded a gen eral p e rsecu
ti on through ou t I taly I t was rumou re d that t he Arian s had
.

won from th e ki ng h i s con sen t t o an edict closing th e

Catholic Churches an d t hat th e Goth s were to tak e arm s
,

again st thei r fellow subj ec ts

-
Con si dering the ten or of the
.

’
who le o f T heodori c s p revi ou s l ife I t 15 m os t i mprobabl e that
,

h e had an y suc h wil d sch em e o f i n tol eran ce i n han d B u t h e .

had certai nl y grown gl oom y s usp ici ou s an d hard i n h i s

, ,
32 E u ropea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

decl i n ing days a n d i t wa s wel l for h i s own fam e a s well as

, ,

for h i s sub j ects t hat h e wa s carried o ff by d yse n

D a th f
e o
,

T h d r i c t e ry n ot l on g afte r th e death o f Pop e J ohn I t

eo o ,
.

5 6“
2
w oul d have been still be tter b oth for kin g an d ,

peopl e had t he e nd com e t h ree years earl ier before h i s fi rst

, ,

harsh deal ings w ith B oethius H i s u npopulari ty at the

.

m om en t o f hi s death i s sh own by the survival o f several

curiou s legend s wh ich tel l h ow hol y herm i ts saw h i s soul
,

dragged down t o hell b y th e i nj u red gh osts o f J oh n an d

Sy mmachus o r carrie d o ff by th e fi en d h im sel f
,
.

S o afte r reign i n g th irty th ree years over I tal y an d twel ve

,
-

years ove r Spai n Theodoric died age d seve n ty two an d was

, ,
-
,

burie d by the G oth s i n th e rou n d mau soleu m ou tsid e th e gate

o f Raven na whi c h he had bu il t for h i m sel f m an y years be fo re
,
.

H i s body has lo n g d isappeared bu t hi s em pty tomb stil l su r

,

vives wel l n igh th e o nl y p erfec t a n d unbroken m onu me n t

,
-

th at recalls the S ixty years of G othic d om i ni on i n I taly .

 C H APTER I I I

TH E E M P E R O R S A T C O N S TA N T I N OP L E
476 5 2 7
-

C o n t r a s t b e twe e n t h e fa te s o f t h e E a s t e r n a n d W e s t e r n E m p i r es —Th e E a s t
r e c o v e rs i t s s t r e n g t h—L e o 1 a n d t h e I sa ur i a n s —T he E m pe r o r Z e n o a d n

t h e r e b e ll i o n a g a i n s t h i m —W a rs o f Z e no w i t h t h e t w o Th eo d o r i cs 47 8
.

4 38 — Th e H e no t i‘
co d — Ch a r a c'
t e r o f t h e E m p e r o r A n a s t a s i us —R e b e ll i o n
of t h e l s a ur i a n s — —
W a r w i t h P e rs i a 5 0 3 5 Th e B lu e a n d G re e n
,
-
‘ ’

F a c t i o n s —R e b e ll i o n o f V i t a l i a n — Acc e ss i o n o f J us t i n 1 .

AT Rom e th e emperors o f th e th i rd quarte r o f th e fi ft h

century — al l t h e ep hemeral Caesars w h ose bl oo d stain e d -

an nal s fil l th e space between the death of Valen ti nian I I I an d .

the u surpatio n o f O doacer — had bee n th e mere creatu re s o f

’
th e barbarian o r sem i barbarian p atri cian s an d m as ters
,
-
,
‘ ‘

’
of th e sold iers to wh om they owed al ike t hei r elevation s
,

an d their u n tim ely en ds The h istory o f th ose trouble d years .

would be m ore logically arrange d u n der the n am es of th e

Caesar m akers R i ci m e r G u n d o b a d O restes th an un der th ose
-
, , , ,

o f th e u n happy puppe ts w h om they m an ipulated .

Bu t whe n we turn o u r eye s eastward t o Con stan ti n o p le

, ,

we are sur p ri sed to fi n d h o w en t irely di fferen t was th e aspect

of affai rs Th e Western E mp i re wa s rapidly fall in g to p ieces
.
,

provi nce after p rovi nce droppi ng o u t o f the p ower o f th e

emperor an d becomin g part of the realm o f som e G oth i c
“

, ,

Burgun dian or Vandal p ri n ce wh o p aid the m os t sh adowy

, ,

homage o r n o h omage at all to t he eph emeral Caesar a t

, ,

P E R I OD 1 . c
34 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

Rom e The E astern E m pi re 0 11 th e othe r hand mai n tai ned

.
, ,

Con tr st b
a ei ts bou ndari es i n tac t an d wa s sl owly buil di ng ,

u p i ts stre ngth for ren ewe d ac ti vi ty i n th e next

’
E m pir s
e .
ce n tu ry While n i n e emperors reign s fi lled n o
.

m ore than t wen ty on e years a t R o me ( 4 5 5

-
t wo e mperors

w ere reign ing fo r t h i r ty four years ( 4 5 7 4 9 1 ) 0 11 the B osph oru s

- -
.

A nd th e c haracter o f th e rulers o f E as t a n d West w as as

d i ffe ren t as the ir fate s : the sh ort l ived Roma n Caesars w ere -

e i ther impoten t n obod ies raise d t o the t h ron e by t he caprice

o f the barbarian o r a m bi ti ou s you n g soldiers who vainl y
,

dreamed tha t t hey m ight ye t redeem the ev i l day an d save ,

th e State The i r con temporarie s i n the E ast Leo Zen o a n d

.
, , ,

Anasta si us were th re e el derl y o fficials me n o f experi enc e

, , ,

i f n o t of great abi li ty wh o fo ll owed each other i n peaceabl e

,

succession an d de vote d thei r decli ni ng years to a cau ti ou s

,

d efen s i ve p ol icy wi th th e resul t th at th ey l eft a ful l treasury

, ,

a S tro n g a n d loyal army a n d an i n tact realm beh i n d th em

, .

At th e begin n ing of the fi ft h ce n tu ry the eastern h alf o f th e

E m pi re had seeme d n o less l ikel y t han t he wes tern t o fall
u n der th e dom in ion o f t he barbarian an d crum ble t o p iece s , .

The G oth s were can tone d al l o ver Th race M oesia an d Asia , ,

M in or a n d th e G oth ic general Gain as h ad taken possess ion

,

o f th e pers on an d au th ori ty o f th e E m peror A rcad iu s H ad .

he bee n a m an o f greater abili ty he m igh t have m ade a nd

u n made emperors as R i c i m e r afterward s di d i n the West
, .

But the sch em es o f Gai na s w ere w recked a n d th e E mpi re ,

saved b y t h e grea t rio t a t Con stan ti n ople i n 4 0 1 whe n t he ,

’
G othi c f oea er a t i w ere m assacred an d thei r l eader c hased away ,

by t he in fu ria ted p opulace wh o thu s saved n ot o nly the i r

,

o w n h o m es bu t the w hol e E a st
,
fro m the danger o f G oth ic ,

d omi nati on .

Though t he E u ropean p rovi n ce s o f the E as tern E mpire

su ffe red gri evou sly fro m Te u t o n i c rav a ges du ring t he firs t
eigh ty years o f t he cen tu ry th ere wa s n eve r agai n an y da nge r
,

tha t th e barbarian s w o ul d ge t h ol d of th e m ach i n ery o f

govern m en t an d su bvert the E m pi re from w i thi n
, I n th e .
 Ti re E rup erors at Con s t a n t i n op l e, 4 7 6 5 2 7 35

l ong re ign of Th eodosi u s 11 ( 4 0 6 if n o p rogres s was

.

made i n s tre ngthen ing the real m , a t l eas t n o grou n d was l os t .

Two external cau ses were durin g th i s tim e Operat ing i n

, ,

favou r o f t he E astern E m p ire Th e fi rs t was th e abs olu te.

impregn abil i ty o f Con stan tin opl e again s t an y i nvader wh o

coul d on ly assault i t fro m t he lan d S i de : th e tow n coul d n ot
be starve d o u t — as Rom e was starved b y Alaric — an d i ts
, ,
'
wall s coul d l augh to scorn all su ch siege appl ian ces as th a t ‘

age kn ew Th ough Goth an d H u n p ushe d t hei r ravages far

.

an d wi de i n th e Balkan p en i nsula th ey ne ver seri ou sly ,

attemp te d to m olest the great cen tral p lac e o f arm s on wh i ch

the E ast — Roman p ower based i tsel f The We stern E mp ire .

had n o su ch s trongh ol d — cap i tal arsen al har I m p o r tan c e f , , o

ho u r an d cen tre o fi com m erc e all i n o n e C s t t i

,

Raven na where th e Western Caesars took refuge

,
pl
.

“
on

e
an

'

i n t imes o f storm a n d stres s was i n every way i n feri or t o

,

C on stan tin opl e as a base o f arme d resistan ce t o th e i n va der .

Th ough i ts marshes m ade i t strong i t di d n ot cover o r protect ,

an y cons iderabl e tract of cou n try an d i t was j u s t far en ough,

from i t s h arbou r to all ow of a n en em y cutt i n g o ff i ts suppli es .

Th e secon d great factor i n th e vi tali ty o f the E as tern

E m pire was the prol onge d freedom from foreign war enj oyed
by i ts Asiatic provi n ces After th e re vol t of Gai nas i n 4 0 1
.
,

the Goth s d isapp eare d from As ia M i n or a n d n o o ther ,

i nvaders m ade a n y s e ri o u s breach i n to that p en in sula in to

.

Syria o r i nto E gyp t for a hun dred an d forty years Two

, , .

short P ersian wars i n 4 2 0 4 2 1 an d 5 0 2 5 0 5 le d to n othing

,
- -
,

worse than p artial ravages on th e Mes opotam ian fron tier I t .

i s true that t h e Asi ati c provi nces o f th e em p ire were n o t

al together spare d by th e sword i n th e fi fth c en tury bu t such ,

trouble s as th ey s u ffered were du e t o n at i ve revolts chie fly ,

of the I saurian s am on g the m ou n tai n s o f southern Asi a

M i nor T hese risings were local an d le d to n o very wide
.
,

s p read dam age n or was the figh ting caused by t h e revol ts o f

,

th e rebel emperors Basili scu s an d L e o n t i u s i n th e reign o f

-

Zeno m u ch m ore destruct ive O n the wh ol e th e four orien tal

, .
,
36 E u ropea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

’
‘
d i o ce se s th e E as tern E mpi re m u st h ave en j oyed i n th e
of

p r s p ri t y
o e f fi fth cen tury a far greater m easure o f peace an d
o

th Em
e
pros peri ty t han they had kn own o r we re to kn ow , ,

i n th e previ ou s a n d the s u cceed i ng ages I t wa s the i r weal th .

,

dul y garnere d i n t o th e i m perial trea sury th at ma de th e ,

em perors s trong to d efen d the ir E uropean possessi on s We .

shall soon see that th eir m il i tary resou rce s als o were to cou n t
i n a m os t e ffecti ve way i n th e reorgani sati on o f th e E ast
Ro man army .

B u t th e s tren gth o f C on stanti n ople an d th e weal th o f Asia

migh t h ave prove d o f n o avai l h a d they falle n i n to the han d s
o f a seri es o f em perors like H on oriu s o r V a l e n t i an 1 11 We .

mu st i n com m on fairness gran t tha t th e p erso n al characters o f

th e E m perors Le o Zen o an d A nastasiu s I had al so th e
, .

m os t importa n t i n fluen ce o n the em pi re Th ese three cau tiou s .

,

persi sten t a n d care fu l prin ces w ho nei ther en dangered th e

, ,

e mpire by over great en terprise a n d am bi tion n o r l et i t fall

-
,

t o piece s by wan t o f en ergy were exac tly th e m en m ost fi tte d

,

to ti de over a t im e o f tran si ti on .

Le o t he fi rs t o f these th ree emperors wa s al ready dead

, ,

wh en Romul u s A u g u st u l u s was depose d in th e Wes t H e h ad .

l eft h is ma rk o n Con stan ti n op ol i ta n h istory by h i s sum mary

execu ti o n o f Aspar th e l as t o f t h e great barbarian ma sters
,
‘

’
o f th e sol diers wh o ros e to a dangerou s h eigh t o f power i n
,

th e E ast ; an d st ill m ore by h is very imp ortan t sch e m e for

reorgan i sing th e arm y by en roll ing a large proporti on o f
,

native born su bj ec ts o f the em pi re i n i ts ranks Rec ogn i s in g

-
.

the peril o f tru sti ng en tirely t o Teuton ic m erce nari es —the ,

fatal error th at h ad ru i n ed th e Western E mp i re — Leo had ,

enl i s ted i n as grea t n umb ers a s h e could obtai n t he hardy

, ,

“
L eo and th m ou n tai n eers o f A sia M i n or m o re e speciall y th e
e ,

1 mm
5 8
I sau rian s H i s predecess ors had d i stru ste d th ei r
.

un rul y an d pre datory habi ts bu t Le o saw tha t th ey su ppl ied

,

good an d t rustworth y figh ting material an d deal t w i th th em ,

a s th e el der Pi tt deal t wi th th e H ighlan d ers a fter th e rebellion

of 1 74
5 teach i ng th em t o use i n th e service o f the govern
,
 Tne E nzperors at Con s t a n t i n opl e, 4 7 6 5 2 7 -
37

m en t the wild courage that h ad s o often been tu rn ed again st

it Leo had i n deed don e al l that he coul d for th e I saurian s
.
,

an d had at las t m arrie d hi s elder daugh ter Ariadn e t o Zen o ,

a n I sau rian by bi rth an d o n e of th e ch ie f officers o f h i s cou rt

, .

I t was th i s Zen o w h o wa s seated o n the throne of th e

E astern realm at th e m omen t that O doacer m ade h i m sel f
ruler o f I taly an d to h i m was addressed t he celebrated petition
,

o f th e Roman Senate whi ch besough t h i m t o all ow E ast an d

West al ike t o rep ose un der th e s h adow o f hi s n am e b u t to ,

con fid e th e p ractical govern an ce o f I tal y to th e p atrician

O doacer . Zen o was n ei th er s o abl e n o r s o resp ectabl e a
sovereign as h i s fa th er i n law : t wo faul ts a cauti on whi ch
- -
,

verge d o n actual coward ice a n d a taste fo r l ow debauchery ,

h ave blasted hi s repu tatio n .H i s en em ie s were never tire d of

taun ting h i m wi t h h i s I sau rian bi rth an d recallin g T h E m p r r
, e e o

to m em ory that h i s real nam e was T a rak o d i ss a ,

t he son o f R u su mb l a de o t u s for he had only tak en th e Gre ek

,

app ellati on o f Zen o when h e cam e to c ourt Bu t th ough h e .

was by b irth a n obscu re provi n cial an d b y nature somethin g

,

o f a coward an d a free l iver Zen o had h i s meri ts

, H e was a .

m il d a n d n ot an extortion ate adm i n istrator had a l iberal ,

han d a good eye fo r pickin g ou t able servan ts was sa n gu i n e

, ,

an d p ers evering i n al l that h e u n derto ok an d purs ue d i n ,

Church m at ters a p olicy o f m oderat ion an d con ci liatio n ,

wh ich m ay bri n g h i m c redi t n ow th ough i n hi s own tim e i t

,

p rovoke d man y s tric tu res from th e ortho dox The worst .

ch arges that can be laid t o h i s accoun t were acts that were

prompted by hi s t imid i ty rather t han by an y oth er m otive ,

t wo o r th ree arbi tra ry execu ti on s o f officers wh o m h e rightly

or wrongly su spected o f p lot ti ng agains t h i s l i fe A fter three .

rebellion s wh i ch cam e w ith i n a n ace o f succe ss i t i s n o t ,

unn atu ral that h e grew somewh at n ervou s ab out h i s own safety .

’
Zen o s reign was m or e t rouble—d i n th i s way th an th os e o f
h i s pre decessor an d successor H i s wel l k n own lack of daring
.
‘ -

tempte d men t o c on spire again s t h im bu t they reckon e d ,

wi thout hi s cu n n in g an d h i s perseverance an d i n every case ,

38 E u r opea n 47 6 9 1 8
-

cam e to an evi l en d Zen o coul d cou n t o n t h e active sup p ort

.

of hi s cou n t rym en th e I sau rian s w h o n ow formed th e m os t ,

t rustworth y part o f th e arm y a n d o n th e passi ve obedience , ,

o r at worst th e n eu t ral i ty o f th e m erca n ti le classes an d t he

,

bureaucracy wh o d i sl iked al l c h a nge an d d is o rder H en ce i t

,
.

cam e t o pa ss that cou rt c on spiracie s o r l ocal revol ts o f ,

divis io n s o f th e arm y w ere n ot e n ough to shake h i s thron e

, .

’
The fi rs t hal f o f Zen o s reign m ay b e d ivi de d i n to th ree
parts by th ese th ree c on sp iracie s Th e em peror h ad h ardly .

a scen de d the th ro n e w h en th e fi rst o f th e m broke ou t : i t was

a p alace i n trigu e h atch ed by th e E m press —D owage r Verina ,

wh o detes te d h e r son i n l a w Th e co n spira tors t ook Ze n o

- -
.

qui te by su rprise th ey faile d t o ca tch h im for he fled from

, ,

Con stan t in opl e a t th e fi rst al arm b u t the y got poss essi on o f ,

th e ca p i tal an d p roclaim e d B asili scus the broth er o f Verin a

, , ,

as Augustu s Th e m ob o f the city wit h w ho m Zen o wa s very

.
,

u n p opular j oi n ed th e ri si n g and m assa cred th e I sauria n troops

, ,

’
w h o w ere wi th i n th e wal l s ; th eir l eader s abse n ce seem s t o
R e vo lt f Bo asi have paralyse d the resistan ce o f th e s ol diery .

Zen o m eanwh i le e scap ed t o h i s n ati ve cou n try ,

an d rai sed an I sau rian arm y : Syri a an d th e greater part o f

As ia M in or remai n e d fa ith ful to h i m an d h e prepare d t o ,

mak e a figh t for h i s th ron e Lu ck ily for h i m Basil i scu s wa s

.
,

a despicabl e creatu re —i t wa s h e wh o had w recke d the great

,

exped iti on agai n s t th e Van dal s wh i ch Leo 1 h ad sen t o u t .

s even years before H e s oon b ecam e far m ore h ated by th e

.

C o n s t a n t i n o p o l i t a n s tha n Zen o ha d ever b ee n ; i t i s dou btful

wh ether h i s arrogan ce h i s fi na ncial e xtorti on s o r h i s ad diction
, ,

t o the M on oph ys i te h eresy mad e h i m m os t detes ted Th e .

a rm y w hich h e sen t o u t agai n s t Zen o wa s i n tru s ted —very

u n wi sely — to a general o f I sau rian birth the n mg i s l er 71117 17 11 111 ,

I llu s w h o al lowed him sel f t o be m oved by th e prayers an d

,

bri be s of th e legi ti mate em peror an d finall y w en t over t o h im ,

.

H avi ng reco vere d al l Asia M i n or Zen o then s tirre d u p i n ,

E u rope The odori c the Amal agai n st h i s ri val a n d i nduced ,

t he G o t h t o bese t Con stan ti n opl e from the We st wh i le h e ,

 Tb e E n zp ero rs at Con s t a n t i n opl e 47 6 5 2 7 ,

h im sel f bl ockade d i t o n th e E as tern s i d e Th e town th re w .

open i ts gate s an d Basili scu s a fter a reig n o f twen ty m on ths

, , ,
’
was dragged from san ctuary an d b rough t before h is n ephew s
tribunal .Zen o p rom i s ed hi m that h i s blo o d sh oul d n o t
be s hed b u t sen t h i m an d h is s on s t o a desolate castle i n
,

Cappadocia among th e m oun tai n sn ows w h ere the y we re gi ven -

,

s uch scan ty food an d rai men t i n th ei r s ol itary c on fi ne men t ,

that ere l ong th ey d ie d of privati on

I t was j u st after h i s trium ph over B asili scus that Zen o
received th e ambassad ors o f O doacer an d was salu te d a s ,

E mp eror o f West an d E as t al ike i n sp i te of h i s advic e t o th e ,

Roman s t o tak e back a s thei r Caesar th eir o l d ruler J ul iu s ,

Nepos wh o was still i n p osse ss i o n o f part o f D almatia th ough

, ,

h e had l os t I tal y th ree years b efore Perhap s Zen o m igh t .

have been te mpted t o i n terfere wit h s om ethi n g m ore t han

ad vice i n t he affairs o f th e Wes t i f h is secon d batch o f troubles ,

had n ot fallen u p on h i m Thes e m is fortu n e s were h i s Gothic

.

TH E E AS T E R N E M P E R O RS , 4 5 7 5 1 8 , -

WI T H T H E I R FA M I L I E S .

[N a m e s o f E m pe r o rs i n C a pi t a l s ]

LE O I .
, V e ri n a
-
45 7 4 7 4

R u su m bla d e o t u s
I r
t h e sa u i a n . F l vi us
a of D y rrh a ch i u m .

N O, A ri a d n e = A N A S T A S I U S I .
, C a esa ri a = S e cu n Le o n t i a = M a rc i
5 -
7 49 1 ,
49 1 5 1 8
-
, inu s d . an u s,
eb e
m
or l
47 9
Z e no, L
d 48
. 0 d .
47 4 H y pa t i u s , P o m p e i u s,
ebe r ls i n 532 .
40 E u rop ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

wa r w ith the two The odoric s — th e s on s o f T h e o de m ir an d

T ri a ri u s — w h i ch b egan i n t h e year foll owi n g h i s restoration .

Th e O strogoth s had n ever gon e w es tward like thei r ,

k i n smen t h e Vi sigot h s Th ey ha d l i ngere d on th e D an ube

.
,

fi rst a s m embers o f the vas t e m pire o f Attila t h e H u n t hen ,

a s occu pyi ng Pan non i a i n t hei r own righ t B u t i n th e reign .

,

o f Le o th ey h ad m ove d across t he Save i n to th e terri tory o f

th e E astern E mp erors a n d h ad perm an en tl y es tabl i shed the m
,

selve s i n M oe sia T h ere th ey had se ttl ed down an d made

.

te rms w it h th e Co n stan ti n opoli tan G overn men t B u t t hey .

were m ost u nruly vassal s and eve n i n full ti m e o f p eace, , ,

c oul d n eve r be tru s te d t o refrai n fro m ra id s i n to Thrac e an d

Macedo nia Th e mai n b ody of thei r tri be n o w ackn owledge d
.

as i ts c h ief Theo dori c th e s on o f T he o de m i r t h e repre sen tati ve ,

E rl y l i f
a f
e o o f th e h eaven b orn race o f t h e Amal s the kings
-
,

Th d i
o f th e G oth s fro m ti m e im m e m orial Th eodoric
e° °f °
.

w a s n ow a you ng man o f twen ty th ree sti rring a n d am b iti ou s -

, ,

wh o ha d al ready wo n a great m il i tary re p utatio n by vi ctories

over th e Bulgarian s th e Sarmati an s a n d o ther t ribe s w h o
, ,

d wel t acro ss th e D an ube H e had s p en t ten years o f hi s

.

b oyhoo d a s a h ostage at C on stan ti n opl e w here h e had learn t ,

onl y t o o wel l th e w eak as wel l a s t h e strong poi nts o f t h e

E ast Roman E m pire
-
H i s a fter l i fe sh owed that h e had there
.
-

im bi bed a d eep respect for Roma n l a w order an d a d m i n i s , ,

t ra t i ve u n i ty ; b u t h e had al so c om e t o en tertain a co n tem p t

for the timi d Ze n o an d a con vi cti on t hat h i s bol d tri besm en
,

were m ore t han a ma tc h for th e m otl ey m erce n a ry army o f

th e emperor o f wh ich s o large a prop orti on was s till co m
,

p osed o f G o th s an d othe r Te u ton s w h o c oul d n o t be tru sted ,

t o figh t with a good heart agai n s t th ei r O strogoth ic k in sm en .

B u t Theodori c th e Amal w a s n ot th e onl y chie f o f hi s rac e

i n the Balkan pen i n su la H e had a nam esake Theod oric th e
.
,

s o n o f T ri a ri u s better kn own a s Th eodoric the O n e eyed wh o

-

, ,

h ad l ong serve d as a m e rcenary cap tai n i n th e i m perial arm y ,

an d had heade d th e Teu toni c auxil iari e s i n th e cam p o f th e

u su rper B asil i scus W he n Bas il i scu s fell The o d ori c th e O n e
.
,
 Tne E mpero rs at Co ns t a n t i n op l e, 4 7 6 5 2 7 41

eye d col lected th e w reck s o f th e rebel force s stren gth en ed ,

them wi th b roke n band s o f variou s races man y o f wh om were ,

O strogot hs an d ke p t th e fi el d again st Zen o H e reti re d i n t o

,
.

the B alkan s an d occasi onally descen de d t o ravage th e Thracia n

,

p lai n s ; b ut m eanwh il e h e se n t an embassy to Zen o o fferi ng ,

to subm i t i f h e were given t h e ti tle o f mag i ster m i l i ta m ,

wh ich h e had hel d u n der Basi li scu s an d taken with all h i s ,

army i n to t h e i mperial pay .

Zen o in dignan tly refu se d t o en tertain such term s an d ,

re sol ve d t o take i n han d t he destru cti on of th e rebel H e .

sen t a n A siatic arm y in to Th race to bese t th e s on o f T ri a ri u s

from the south a n d bade h i s warlike v assal the T h t w
, e o

s o n o f T h e o d e m i r to attack h i s n am e sak e from the

n orth o n th e M o e si a n s id e
, Th e younger Theodori c .

eagerly con sen ted for h e grudged t o see an y oth er G othi c

,

ch ief than h im sel f powerful i n the pe ni n sula a n d looke d ,

dow n on th e so n o f T ri a ri u s as a l ow b orn u p start becau se h e -

,

1
d id n ot com e l ike h im sel f from th e royal bl ood of the Am als .

Th e cam paign agai n st Theod ori c the O n e eyed turn ed o u t -

di sastrou sl y for t he i mperial force s Th e Ro m an arm y i n th e .

sou th m i ssed t he track of th e rebel whether b y acciden t o r ,

design wh ile Theo dori c the Am al wi th h i s forces got en tangl ed

,

i n t h e de file s o f the B alkan s a n d su rroun ded by the arm y ,

o f hi s rival H e ha d been prom i sed th e co operation o f th e

.
-

arm y o f T hrace bu t n o Roman s appeared an d h i s proj ect s

, ,

began to l o ok dark H i s on e eye d rival ridi ng t o withi n ear

.
-
,

shot o f h is cam p taun te d h i m with h i s folly i n listen in g to the

,
’
orders an d p rom ises o f th e em p eror M ad ma n h e cried .
‘
, ,
‘
betrayer of you r o wn race d o yo u n o t see that the Roman ,

plan i s al ways t o destroy G oth s by G oth s ? Wh ich ever o f u s

falls they n o t we w i l l b e the stronger Th ey n ever will give
, , , .

you real help bu t sen d you ou t agains t m e t o peri sh h ere

,

1 B y hi s n am e t h e r o f Th e o d o r i c th e O ne e y e d m us t h a v e
( Tri ari u s ) th e fa -

b ee n a R o m a n o r a R o m a n i s e d G o t h bu t t h e O n e e y e d h d h i m s e l f
,
-
a

m a rr i e d a w i fe w h o w a s c l s e a k i n t o Th e o d o r i c t h e A m a l fo r hi s so n
o ,
’
R e ci t a ch i s c a ll e d t h e A m a l s c o us i n .
42 E u ropea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

’
i n the de sert . The n al l the w arri ors o f th e Am al sh outed
that the O n e eyed wa s righ t an d tha t th ey w ould n o t figh t
-
,

agai n st t heir b reth ren i n th e oth er cam p Th e s on o f Theo .

dem i r b owe d t o thei r w il l an d j oi ne d h imsel f t o t h e so n o f

T ri a ri u s
. Un i tin g the i r arm i es they m oved dow n i n to the
,

valley o f th e H e b ru s an d a dvan ce d t oward Con stanti nopl e

, .

They sen t Zen o a n ul tima tu m i n wh ic h th e Am al deman de d

,

m ore territory for h i s tri be an d a suppl y o f corn an d m oney

, ,

wh ile th e O n e eyed stipulated for th e pos t o f

-

a n d an a n n ual p ayme n t of 2 0 0 0 p ou n ds of gol d Zen o w h o .

,

wa s very anxious t o keep th e younger Theodori c o n h i s sid e ,

pro ff ered h im a grea t su m o f m on ey an d th e h an d of th e ,

daugh te r o f th e patricia n O l yb ri u s i f h e woul d abandon h i s ,

n amesak e the rebel B u t th e Amal re fu sed to break the

.

oath t ha t h e had sworn t o h i s ally a n d marche d we st ward t o ,

rav a ge Macedon ia u p t o th e very gates of Thessalonica Zen o .

sen t h i s troop s i n to w i n ter quarters a s th e season was late

-
, ,

an d m ade o n e fi nal attemp t t o s tave o ff the i m p en di ng da n ger

by offerin g term s to Theo doric th e O n e eyed Les s true to -
.

h i s w ord than th e Ama l th e el der Theodori c l is ten e d t o th e

,
’
e m peror s offe r a nd o n bei ng prom i se d th e t i tle o f 711ag 1s ter
'

, ,

711 17 17 11 711 a n d all the re ve n u e s that he had enj oye d u n der

Basil iscu s l ed h i s troops over i n to th e im perial cam p
,

F o r the n ext two years t he s on o f Th e o d e m i r ran ged over th e

w hol e Balkan pen in sula fro m D yrrh a c hi u m t o th e gate s of Con
s ta n t i n o pl e plu nde ri ng an d burn i ng t h ose p art s of M aced on i a
,

an d Th rac e which had hith erto esca ped th e ravages of th e H u n s

of At tila a n d the O strogoth s of th e p revi ou s ge n erati on Th e .

ge ne ral s of Zen o me t w i th l i ttle good fortune i n th ei r a ttem p ts

to check him th e only succes s they ob tain ed bei ng a vi ctory
,

w o n by a certai n S a b i n i a n u s i n 4 8 0 w h o cu t o ff ,

th e rear guard of Theo dori c a s i t wa s crossi ng th e

-

Al ban ian m oun tai n s a n d ca ptu re d z o o o waggon s

,

an d 5 0 0 0 G oth i c warri ors Bu t S a b i n i a n u s made

.

h i m sel f t o o m uc h feare d by Zen o w h o o n a su s p ici on o f , ,

t reachery h ad h i m execu ted i n th e foll owi ng year I t wa s n ot

,
.
 Tne E mper o rs at Cons ta n t i n op l e 4 7 6 5 2 7
,
-
43

til l 4 8 3 that the Am al h aving wasted Thrace an d Macedo n

,

s o fi ercel y that eve n hi s o wn army could n o l onger fi n d food ,

a t last c am e t o term s wi th Ze n o o n bei ng m ade m ag i ster ,

711i l i t 71 177 and gran te d add i ti onal lan ds i n M oesia an d D aci a for
,

h i s tribesm en Th e so n o f T ri a ri u s h ad d ie d a year earl ier

.

h e had agai n burs t o ut i n to i n surrecti on agai n s t th e em peror ,

an d was m u steri ng an arm y o n th e T hraci an coast whe n h e

was slai n i n a strange man n er A restive h orse th re w h i m .

agai n s t a s p ear wh ic h wa s stan di ng by th e door of hi s te n t ,

an d h e was pierce d to th e h eart H i s s on R ec it ach con t i nued.

hi s rebellion but Th eodoric the Am al wh o wi shed to see n o

, ,

o ther Go th ic ch ie f bu t h im sel f i n th e B alkan p eni n sula sl ew ,

t he youn g man an d i ncorporat e d h i s warri ors with t h e m ai n

,

bo dy o f th e O strogoth s .

Th e u tter h elpl es sness wh i c h Zen o s howed i n dealin g wi th

th e two Theodoric s m ay b e at tributed i n a large m easure t o
h is troubles at h ome I n 4 7 9 t h e y ear when h e had failed
.
,

to sup p ort T he o do ri c the Amal i n the Balkan s hi s th ron e ,

had n earl y bee n overturn ed b y a ri sin g i n Con stan ti n o p l e .

Marcianu s an d Procop ius th e t wo s on s of An t h e m i u s th e

,
'
,

late emperor o f th e West w h o were p o p ular w ith t h e c i tizen s

,

o f the cap i tal formed a plot for o verth rowing the emperor
, ,

i n wh ich they enli ste d m any m en o f importan ce They .

sur p ris ed the p al ace an d m assacre d t he body guard b u t Zen o -

,

escaped brough t over h i s fai th ful I sau rian s from Asia an d

, ,

crush ed th e rebell io n after a vigorou s s tre et fi gh t I n 4 8 2 — 3 .

he had a p rol on ge d m isu n d erstan ding with h i s comman der

i n ch i ef I llu s t h e I sau rian gen eral wh o had p u t down t h e
-
,

rebell io n o f Basili scu s fi ve years be fore Zen o n e i ther .

ban i shed n or fully truste d h im H e le ft h i m i n o ffi ce bu t .

,

was n ervously o n h i s guard a n d alway s thwarti n g hi s M in i ster

, .

I t i s sai d that wi th or with ou t h i s con sen t the E m pres s

, ,

Ari adn e e n deavoured t o procu re the assassin ation o f I llus .

I n 4 8 3 the year i n wh ich Theo d oric th e Amal m ade hi s

,

peace wit h Zen o a certai n L eo n ti u s rai sed a rebellion i n

,

Syria I llu s wh o was sen t t o p u t h i m d own had grow n tir e d

.
, ,
44 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

of servi ng h is su s p i ciou s an d ungrateful m aster an d j oi ned i n ,

th e revol t H e an d L e o n t i u s seize d An ti o ch w here th e

.
,

l at ter wa s proclai m ed em peror a n d go t p os ses ,

R v lt f
e o o

L eo n ti g 5 10 11 o f Cappadoc i a C i l i c i a an d n orth Syr i a I t

, 3
u s , .
,
, ,

i s sai d tha t they design ed t o re establ i sh p agan i sm -

,

a p roj ec t wh ich seem s ab sol u tel y i ncred i ble i n th e very en d

o f the fift h cen tu ry w h en the heath e n were n o m ore t han a for
,

l orn rem nan t scattere d am o n g a zeal ou s Chri st ian p opu latio n .

Th e empress d owager Veri na wh o w as l i vi n g i n exi le i n

-
,

Cappadocia j oi ne d h e rse lf t o t he m a n d adop ted L e o n t i u s as her

, ,

s on Bu t th e rebel s took more p rac tical m easu res to su pp ort

.

thei r cau se wh en t hey appl ied for ai d to O doace r th e ki n g

i n I taly an d t o th e P ersia n m o narch Bala s B oth p ro m i se d
,
.

aid bu t be fore they c oul d sen d i t Zen o ha d pu t t h e rebel lio n

, , ,

down H e i n du ce d h i s lat e en em y Theodoric t o j oi n h i s

.

a rm y a n d th e G oth s an d I sau rian s combi n ed eas ily go t th e

,

better of L e o n t i u s Syri a submi tted an d the rebel emperor

.
,

a n d I llu s a fter a l on g an d desperate de fe nce i n a castle i n

,

Cappadocia w ere taken a n d slai n ,

1
.

’
Zen o enj oye d c om pa rati ve peace after Leo n t iu s rebell ion
had be e n crushed an d wa s still m ore fortu nate whe n i n 4 8 8
, , ,

h e i n duced Theo dori c t h e A m al t o m ove h i s O strogoth s o u t

o f M oes ia an d go forth to con que r I taly H o w The od ori c .

fared i n I tal y w e h ave al ready related H i s d epartu re was o f .

en ormou s ben efi t to th e em p i re and fo r t he fi rs t t im e sin ce , ,

h i s acce ssi on Z en o wa s n ow able t o exerci se a real au th ori ty

,

over h i s E u ropean provi nces They were le ft to hi m i n a .

m os t fearful s tate o f desolatio n : ten years o f wa r rangi ng ,

ove r th e wh ol e trac t sou th o f t h e D anube an d n ort h o f M ou n t

O l ym pu s had reduced th e lan d to a w ild ern ess Wh ol e di s
,
.

t ri c t s we re s tri pped bare o f t hei r i nhabi tan t s an d great gaps ,

o f wa s te terri tory were i n viti ng n ew enem ie s t o e n ter the

Balkan pen i n sula an d occu py t h e deserte d c ou n try s i de
,
-
.

Th i s fo r t —i t w a s c a l l e d C a st e l lu m P a pi ri i —i s s a i d t o h a v e h e l d o u t
fo r t h e i n cr e d i bly l o n g pe r i o d o f fo u r ye a rs a ft e r a l l t h e r e s t o f t he
rc b e l l i o u s d i s t ri c t s h a d b e e n subdu e d a n d o n ly t o h a v e fa l l e n by t r e a ch e ry
,
.
 T/1e E mpe ro rs a t Co ns ta n t i n opl e 4 7 6 5 2 7 , 45

North o f the Balka n s the wh ole provi ncial p opu l ation seem s
to h ave been wel l n igh extermi nate d When th e O strogoth s
-
.

aban don e d th e c oun try th ere was n o th in g l e ft S tate o f t h e

be twee n th e m ou n tai n s a n d the Dan ube bu t a B l k
few m i li tary pos t s an d the i r garri son s n or was p i sul
,
a

en n
an

“
a

th e c ou n try repleni she d wi t h i n habitan t s till th e S lavs spread

over th e lan d i n th e succeedi ng age I llyri a an d Maced on i a
.

h ad n o t fared s o badly bu t the ne t resul t o f the cen tury

,

of Goth ic oc cu patio n i n th e B alka n pen i n sula had been to

th i n down to a fearful exten t th e Lati n speaki n g p opulat ion o f -

the E astern E mpire Al l t he i nlan d o f Th race M oesia an d

.
, ,

I llyricu m had h i therto em pl oyed the Lati n tongu e : wi th the

thin n i ng o u t o f i ts i nh abi tan ts t h e em pire became far m ore
Asiatic an d Greek than i t had be fore been .

When th e O strogoth s m igra ted to I t aly t h e e mpire acqu ired ,

a n ew se t o f n eighbours o n i ts n orthern fronti er th e n om ad ,

Ugrian h orde o f th e B ulgarian s on th e lower D an ube an d ,

th e Teu ton i c tri bes o f the Gepi da e H erul i a n d Lombards on

, ,

the m i ddle D anub e an d th e Theis s an d S ave Con trary t o .

what m igh t have been expected non e o f these races pu sh ed

,

past the barrier of Roman forts along th e river t o occupy

.

M oesia Th ey ve xed the empi re wi th n oth ing worse than

.

occasion al raids and d i d n ot com e to settle wi thi n i ts

,

l im its.

’
Zen o s ecclesiastical pol icy deman d s a word o f n otice H e .

was hi m self orthodox bu t n o t fanatical t he C hurc h bei ng at

,

th e m omen t grievou sly d ivided by th e M on oph ysite schism ,

to w hich the Church es o f E gypt an d Pales ti n e had attach ed

them selves h e th ough t i t w oul d b e possibl e an d expe dien t t o
,

lure th e here tics back withi n t he fol d by sl igh tl y m odi fying th e

Catholic statemen t o f doctri n e I n 4 8 2 th ough h e was i n
.
,

the m ids t o f h i s struggl e wi th Theod o ric th e Am al h e fou n d ,

’
tim e t o draft hi s H e n o t i c o n o r E dict o f C ompreh en si on
‘
,
.

The M on ophysi tes hel d that th ere was bu t on e nature i n o u r

Lord a s oppose d to th e orthodox view that b oth th e hu man
, ,

an d the di vin e elemen t were fully presen t in H i s person .

46 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

’
Ze n o pu t i n to h i s H e n o t i co n a di sti nc t s tatem en t tha t
‘

Ch ri st wa s both G od an d m an bu t di d n o t i n sert the w ords ,

’
‘
two na tures whi c h form ed th e orth od ox S h ibboleth B ut
, .

h i s w el l m ean t sch em e fell u tterly fl at The heret ic s we re n ot

-
.

sati sfied an d refu se d t o c on form w hi le th e Cath ol ic s h el d tha t

, ,

i t w a s a w eak con cessio n to h eterod ox y an d co n ,

d e m n e d Zen o for play in g wi th sch is m Th e .

patriarch Ac a c i u s w h o had as si s te d h i m t o d raft th e H en o

, ,
‘

’
ticon wa s e xcomm un icated by th e B i sh op o f Rom e an d t h e
, ,

chu rches o f I taly an d Co n stan ti n ople w ere ou t o f com mu n i on

for m ore than t h irty years owi ng t o a n edic t that h ad been ,

i n te n ded t o u n i te an d n o t t o d iv i de .

’
Th e las t yea rs o f Zen o s reign were far m ore u n di stu rbed
by wa r a n d rebell ion than i ts earlier part H e s urvive d till .

4 9 r whe n h e d ie d o f epi lep sy leaving n o hei r t o i nh eri t hi s

, ,

th ron e H e ha d h ad t w o son s n am ed Le o a n d Zen o : th e

.
,

fi rs t h ad d ied w h ile still a ch ild i n 4 7 4 ; the secon d killed

, ,

h i msel f by evil l i ving wh e n o n th e th resh old of ma n h ood l ong

, ,
’
ere h i s fa ther s dea th .

’
The righ t o f ch oo sing Zen o s successor fel l n omi n ally i n to
the han ds o f th e S enate an d pe opl e really i n to t hose o f th e ,

w idowe d E m pres s Ariadn e an d th e I m p e rial G u ard Th e .

daugh ter o f Leo m ade a w i se ch oice i n recom mend i ng to th e

su ffrage s o f the army an d peopl e Anastasiu s o f Dyrrha ch i u m ,

a n o fficer o f th e si l en ta r i i 1 who was u n iversall y e stee me d fo r

,

h i s pi ety an d vi rtu e .

A n astasiu s wa s a ma n o f fi ft y two o r fi ft y three w ho h ad - -

,

spen t m ost o f hi s l ife i n official work i n the ca p ital a n d wa s ,

s p ecially wel l kn own as a n able an d econ om ical fin anci e r H e .

was si n cerel y religiou s an d s p en t m any o f hi s leisure h ours as a

,

l ay preache r i n th e church o f S t S oph ia ti ll h e was in h ibi ted .

,

from giving i n str u ctio n by th e Patriarc h E uphem iu s w h o d e ,

t e c t e d M onophys iti sm i n h i s sermon s H e had on ce propose d .

t o take orders an d h ad bee n spoke n o f as a ca n didate fo r the

,

l
A b o dy g u a rd w h o s e du t y
-
,
i t w as to p re s e rv e s i l e n c e a o r u nd t he
’
e m pe r o r s pr i v a t e a pa r t m e n t s .
 T/i e E mp er o rs at Con s t a n t i n opl e 4 7 6 5 2 7
,
-
47

bishopri c of An ti och Ye t i n S pi te o f hi s religi ou s fervou r

.
, ,

h e wa s n ever accused o f being u n worldly o r u npractical .

An astasiu s was a m an of blam eles s l i fe learn ed C h r c t r f , a a e o

an d laboriou s sl ow to anger a ki n d an d l iberal A t m nas as s

, ,

master an d absolutely j u s t i n al l h is deal i ngs

,
Reign as y ou .
‘

’
h ave l ive d wa s the cry o f th e p eople w he n h e fi rs t presen te d
,

h imsel f t o them clad i n the i m perial p u rple O n ly two o b .

i n s were ever made to h i m — th e fi rs t t hat he l ean ed

je c t o ,

towards the M on ophy si te heresy ; t he secon d that hi s cour t ,

was t o o s tai d an d p u ri tanical for t h e tas te of th e m ul ti tude ,

wh o ha d l oved the pom p an d orgies o f th e diss olu te Zen o .

H e earned u np opu l arity by suppressin g gladiatori al combat s

w ith wild b easts an d l icen ti ou s dances
,
.

S ix weeks after hi s ac cessi o n the n e w e mp eror married th e

E m press D owager Ariadne wh o ha d bee n th e ch ie f i n st ru
-
,

men t i n h i s electio n S h e was a p ri n ces s o f blameles s l i fe

.
,

an d had don e m uc h i n the p reviou s reign t o redeem t he i ll

repu te of her fi rs t h u sban d I t was a great m i s fortun e fo r the
.

empi re that sh e b ore her secon d sp ouse n o heir to in heri t hi s

thron e .

The comm en ce m en t o f th e reign of An astasi u s was trouble d

by a rebell io n o f th e I saurian s Zen o had n o t only form ed
.

an I mp e rial Gu ard o f h i s c oun try men b u t h ad filled the c ivil ,

service with them an d e ncourage d th em t o se ttle as mer

,

chan ts an d traders i n Con stan ti n ople Th ey h ad been m uch .

vexed whe n th e sceptre passed t o the I llyri an Anastasi u s an d ,

e n tered in to a con sp i racy t o seize h i s person an d proclai m ,

’
Zen o s brother Lo ngin u s as emperor A fe w m on ths after
, , .

h i s acces s ion t hey ros e i n th e capi tal an d obtai ne d p ossessi on

o f part o f t h e c ity n ear th e palace bu t the maj ori ty o f the
,

peopl e a n d arm y we re again st them an d th ey were pu t down ,

after a sharp street fight i n w h ich th e grea t H ipp odrom e was

,

burn t. Lon gi nu s was cap tured an d com p elle d to take ,

orders H e d ie d long after as a pries t i n E gyp t An astasiu s

. .
,

after th i s ri ot di sm i sse d all t he I saurian o ffi cers fro m th e

,

public service They return ed t o th ei r h omes i n Asia M in or

.
,
48 E u ropea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

an d organi sed a rebell i on i n thei r nati ve h ills A secon d .

Longi nu s w ho ha d bee n m a g i ster 711 1l 1t 11 1n i n Th race pu t

' '

, ,

h i m sel f a t t he head of the in surrec ti on wh i ch l ingered on for ,

fi ve years ( 4 9 1 bu t was n ever a seriou s danger t o th e

em pire The rebel s were beaten w henever they ve n t u red i nto
.

R e b e ll ion s th e plain s a n d on ly m ai n tai

,
ned t hem sel ve s s o
i
n I s ur i
a al o n g by th e ai d o f the m ou n tai n castle s wi th wh ich
,
-

t hei r rugged land wa s studded I n 4 9 6 thei r la st .

fastnesses were s torm ed an d th ei r ch ie f the ex 111ag i st er tak en

, ,
-

an d execu ted Anastasi u s pu n i she d th e comm u n i ties w hich

.

had bee n m os t obsti nate i n t h e reb el li on by t ran s ferrin g them

to Th race an d se ttli ng the m o n th e wasted land s u n der th e
,

Balkan s w here h e truste d th at th ese fearles s m oun tain eers

,

w oul d prove a n e ffi ci en t guard t o keep th e pas ses agai n st t he

barbarian s from bey on d th e D anube .

Th e Asiatic p rovin ces of the empi re had n o fu rther t rou bl es

t ill 5 0 2 w hen a w a r brok e ou t between Anastasiu s an d K oba d
,

k in g o f Persia The M esopotam ia n fron tier h ad been singu

.

l a rly quie t fo r the las t ce n tu ry ; th ere h ad be e n n o seriou s war

'
w i th the grea t O rien tal m on archy to the E as t si nc e J ul ian s
un fo rtunate ex p ed i ti on i n 3 6 2 Th e same age wh ich had seen .

t he Teu ton i c m igrat ion s i n E u rope ha d been marked i n i n n er

A si a by a great stirri ng of the H un s an d o the r Turan ia n
tribe s beyon d the Caspian a n d wh ile th e R o man em perors ,

ha d been bus y o n the D an ube th e Sas sa n ian ki ngs had bee n ,

h ard a t work defen din g th e fro n tier o f th e O xu s I n a res p i te .

from h i s E astern trou bles Koba d ma de som e deman ds fo r

mon ey o n An asta si us wh ic h th e em peror refused an d wa r
, ,

s oo n followed I t began w i th s everal d isasters fo r th e

.

"
Rom an s an d Am i da th e ch ie f fo rt re ss o f M e sopotam ia wa s
, , ,

storme d i n 5 0 3 N i sibi s fel l later i n t h e sam e year an d whe n

.
,

W ar Wm
An
,
as tasius sen t re i n force men t s to th e E ast h e
P rs i
e a , appoi n ted s o m an y gene ral s wi th i ndepe nd en t
au thori ty th at th e wh ol e Roma n arm y c ould never
be u n i ted an d th e com man ders all owe d them sel ve s t o be
,

taken i n de tail an d d efe a ted i n succe ssi on I n 5 0 4 h owever .

, ,
 Tl1e E mper o rs at Co ns t a n t i nopl e, 4 7 6 5 2 7 -
49

the fortun e of war turn ed w hen the su p rem e au th ority i n th e ,

’ ’
fi el d was bestowe d o n Celer th e mag i ster ofi za o r n m h e re ,

cove red Am ida after a l ong s i ege an d began t o press forward ,

beyon d th e Persian fron tier Koba d was at the sam e tim e .

assailed by the H un s fro m beyon d th e O xu s a n d gladl y m ade ,

peace o n term s wh ich restore d the fron tier of b oth p artie s to

,

the l in e i t h ad occu pi ed i n 5 0 2 A n as tasi us provi d ed again s t .

futu re wars by buildi ng two n ew fortres ses o f th e fi rs t cl as s

o n the Persian fron tier D aras i n M es op otam ia an d Th eo , ,

do si o p o l i s farther n orth on the borders o f Armen ia These .

place s serve d t o break th e force o f th e Persian attack thirty

years late r whe n th e successors of Koba d an d Anastasi u s
,

again fel l t o b lows The Persian war l ike th e I sau ri an h a d

.
, ,

only a ffl icte d a very l im i te d d i stric t — th e provi nce beyo n d t he ,

E up hrates — an d n o rai ds h ad p enetrate d s o far as Syria

, .

I n deed during th e w h ol e reign of An as tas iu s th e o nl y seri ou s

, ,

troubl e to wh ich the Asiati c h al f o f th e em pire was exp osed

was a H u n ni s h rai d from beyon d the Caucasu s wh ich i n 5 1 5 ,

cau sed grave dam age i n P on tu s Cappadoc i a an d Lycaonia , , .

Thi s in va si on h owever was an i s olated m i sfortun e fol l owed

, , ,

by n o further i ncursi on s o f th e n oma ds o f the N orthern

S teppes .

Th e E uropean provi nces — n ow as i n th e ti me o f Zen o — had

a far harder lot Th e Slavs an d Bulgarian s repeatedl y crossed
.

th e D an ub e an d pressed ove r th e des olate d plain s o f M oesia

to as sail Thrace M o re than on c e the Bulgarian s defeated a
.

Roman arm y i n th e fi el d an d their ravages were at last p u shed ,

s o far southward th at Anastasi u s bu il t i n 5 1 2 the celebrated

‘

“
wall wh ich bears hi s n ame run n i n g from th e B lack Sea t o ,

Prop on tis th irty fi ve m iles west of Con stan tin opl e

,
-
Thes e .

l in es exten ding fo r m ore th an fifty m iles across th e eastern

,

proj ecti on of Th race served to defen d a t l eas t t h e i mmediate

,

neighb ou rh oo d o f th e capi tal agai n s t —t he re stles s horsem en

from beyon d th e D an ub e M aced oni a an d I llyricu m seem to .

have su ffered much less than Thrace during thi s p eri od t h e

Slavs wh o b ordered on them were a s yet n ot n earl y suc h a
P E R I OD I -
. D
 50 E u rop ea n H i s t o 1y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

dangerou s en em y a s t he B ulgarian s wh i le the O strogoth s of ,

I taly o n recon querin g Pa n n o n ia proved m ore restfu l n eigh

, ,

bou rs t o the n orth western provi nces o f t h e em p i re than they

-

had been i n th e previou s ce n tu ry .

I t wa s i n th e reign of Anastasius th at on e of the m ost ch ar

a ct e ri s t i c features i n th e soci al l ife o f Con stan ti n opl e i s brough t

fo rward i n to prom i ne n ce for th e fi rs t ti m e Th i s was the grow .

’
i ng tu rbulenc e o f th e B lues a n d G ree n s th e fact ion s o f th e
‘
,

Circu s From the ve r y begi nn ing o f th e Roman E mpi re the se

.

clu b s h ad existed bu t i t was only at Con sta n ti no p l e that

,

t hey becam e i n stitution s o f h igh pol i tical im portan ce There .

th e rival ry o f t he Bl ue s a n d Gre en s w a s n o t c on fi ne d to
the races o f the C ircu s bu t was carrie d i n to every sph ere ,

o f li fe . N or was i t a n y l onger o n ly t h e you n g m en of s p orting

’
an d fashi o n abl e p rocl ivi tie s tha t j oi ne d th e facti on s They ‘
.

served a s cl ub s or p ol i tical as sociati on s for all classes fro m ,

th e m i n i sters o f s tate down t o th e poorest m echan ics an d ,

form ed bond s o f u n i o n betwee n b o dies o f chu rchm en o r

supporters of dynast ic claim s I t i s hard for an E ngl i sh m an .

T h B lu s
e t o real i se th i s extraord i nary devel opmen t o f what
e

d G een
an r
ha d o nce been a m ere ri val ry of the H ippod rom e
s
.

To m ake a paral lel to i t we shoul d have t o su ppose tha t al l

wh o m oun t th e l igh t o r t he dark bl ue o n th e da y o f the
O xford an d Cam bridge boat race w ere bi tterly j eal ou s o f eac h
oth er— let u s say for exam pl e th a t all Da rk Blues were C o n
, ,

s e rv a t i ve s a nd Angl ican s a n d al l Ligh t Bl ues w ere Radical s

,

a n d D i ssenters I f th i s were so we ca n i magin e tha t i n ti mes

.
,

o f pol itical stres s every boat race m igh t be followed by a

gigan tic free fi g h t Thi s h owever was exactl y wha t occu rre d
-
.
, ,
’
a t C o n stan ti n ople ; the Blu e facti on had becom e i den t ifie d
‘

wi th 01 1419 49 5 » an d wi th a dislike for th e fam il y o f Anastasi u s .

’
The G ree n fac ti on i n c luded al l th e M on ophysi tes an d othe r
‘

h gtggo gjo x sects a n d wa s d evoted to th e person an d dy n asty

,

o f Anastasiu s I n an y ti m e o f trouble th e celebration of

.

gam es i n th e H ippod rom e e n d ed wi th a fi erce ri ot o f the two

facti on s N o wond er t h at th e j ust and p eaceabl e em p e ro r
.
 T/ze E mp erors at Con s t a n t i n opl e, 47 6 - 5 2 7 51

strove to su pp ress sh ows o f al l sorts an d i n e s p e cial sh ow e d a ,

d i slike for th e d isloyal B l ue facti on

‘
.

’
Th e wors t o f Anastasiu s domestic troubl es were due to th e
suspici o n o f h eterodoxy that clung to h i m I n 5 1 1 whe n h e .

added t o the hym n called th e Tri sagion th e apparen tly harm

’
les s clau se 6 crm v de s r as a n epi the t o f the Godhead ,

the orthodo x p opu l ace o f Co n s tan ti n ople headed by th e Blu e

faction bu rs t out i n to se di tion I t was on ly quelled by th e ol d
.

E mperor p resen ting h i m sel f be fore th e people i n th e H ipp o

drom e wi thou t crown o r rob e an d an n ou n cing hi s i nten ti on
, ,

o f ab dicating S o great was t he c on fi dence whi ch hi s j u st ice

.

an d m oderati on ha d i n spired i n all rank s a n d cl a sse s that ,

th e p roposal fi lled th e w hole m ulti tu de with d i smay an d th ey ,

ros e u n an imously t o b i d h im resume h i s di adem .

B u t th e gri eva nce agai n st th e M on ophys ite ten denci es o f

Anastasiu s was n o t des tin ed to b e forgotten I n 5 1 4 an .

ambitiou s gen era l n am ed Vitalian wh o hel d a R e b e ll io n f

com man d in M oesia rose i n arms allegi n g as V i t l i
,
,

,
a an, “
o

t he cau se o f h i s rebellio n n ot onl y certai n m i s dee ds com

,
’
m i t t e d i n th at provi nce b y the em p eror s n ep hew H ypa t i u s ,
’
bu t al s o the dangerou s heterod oxy of An as tas iu s religi ou s
Op in ion s. Whe n H yp a t i u s was rem ove d fro m h i s offi ce th e
’
greater part o f Vi tal ian s army returne d to i ts allegianc e an d ,

th e rebel t hen showed h ow muc h i mp ortan ce was t o be

attache d to h i s rel igi ou s scrupl es b y calling i n th e heathe n ,

Bulgarians an d H un s t o h i s aid At th e h ead o f a n arm y .

composed o f these barbarian s h e m ai n tain ed h im sel f i n M oesia

for so me t ime T he empero r s omewha t u nwi sely replace d
.
, ,

h i s n eph ew H ypa t i u s i n com man d an d sen t h i m w it h a large ,

army t o pu t d own th e rebel bu t whil e th e Rom an s lay e m ,

campe d o n t he sea sh ore n ear V a rna they were surpri se d by a

-
,

n ight attack of th e e n em y an d com pl etely scattered Many .

thousan d m e n were driven over th e cliffs —

i n to th e sea an d
crushe d o r drown ed wh il e H ypa t ius h i m sel f was taken
,

pri soner Th e o l d emperor was driven by con cern for ,

’
h i s n ephew s life to make peace H e ran so me d H ypat iu s for
, .
52 E u r op ea n H i s t o 1g 4 7 6 9 I 8
'
,
-

lbs of gold a n d gran ted Vitali an th e p ost o f mag i ster

.
,

7n 171 t 11 111 i n Th race The pardon e d rebel for th e remai n der o f

'

’
Anastasiu s rei gn occu p i ed hi m sel f i n strengthen ing h i s posi
tio n o n t h e Da n ube bein g determi n ed t o m ak e a bol d s troke
,

for the i mperial th ron e w h en o l d age sh ould rem ove the

octogenaria n rule r o f C on stan tin opl e .

I n s p i te o f al l h i s t ro uble s w i t h th e two Longi n i king ,

Kobad an d Vi talia n Ana stasi u s m a y be calle d a success ful

,

a n d pros perous ruler All thes e rebellion s had been o f mere

.

local i m port a n d for the w h ol e twen ty seve n years o f h i s reign

,
-

the greater part o f th e empi re had enj oyed peace an d ple n ty .

Th e bes t testi m o n y to h i s good adm i ni stration i s t he fact that

a t h i s acc essi on he fo u n d t he trea sury em ptied by th e was te
ful Ze n o a n d th at at h i s deat h h e left i t fi lled wi th
,

lbs weigh t o f g o l d or
.
,
i n hard cas h Th i s wa s .

i n s p i te of th e fac t that h e was a m erciful an d leni en t a d m i n i s

trator a n d had actually ab ol i she d several imports i n clu di n g
,

th e od iou s C h rysa rgyro n o r i n com e tax N or was the m on ey -

.

c ollecte d at th e co st o f n eglecting prope r e xpen d i ture An a .

s ta s i u s had erected many m ilitary w ork s —ln especial hi s ,

great w all i n Th race a n d th e strong fortre ss o f D aras — an d

,

res tored m a n y rui ne d ci tie s H e n ever sen t away pe titi oners

.
‘

emp ty wh eth er they represen ted a ci t y a fortress or a sea

, , ,
’
p ort . H e le ft a n arm y o f m en i n a good state
o f di scipli n e and com pose d for i ts larger hal f o f nati ve
t roops w ith a fron tie r i n tact alike o n eas t a n d w est an d
,

n orth .

Th e good ol d man died i n 5 1 8 h i s w i fe Ariad ne ha d pre

cede d h i m to th e grave th ree years be fore H e had refrai n ed .

fro m ap poi n ti n g a s h i s c ol leagu e h i s n eph ew H ypa t i u s w hom ,

m an y ha d expected h i m t o ad o pt an d th e em pi re wa s l eft ,

ab solutel y m as te rles s Th e g rea t S tate o fficial s th e I m peri al

.
,

Guard a n d th e Senate h ad th e el ec tio n o f a n ew Caesar t h rown

,

upon th ei r han d s Th e m ost obvi ou s can d idate s for th e th ron e

.

were H ypa t iu s wh om the G reen fac ti on sh oul d have supported

, ,

an d th e m ag i s ter 711 17 17 11 111 Vi talian wh o a t on c e too k arm s t o

,
 T/1e E mper o rs at Co n s ta n t i n opl e, 4 7 6 5 2 7 -
53

march on the ca p i tal B u t n ei ther o f them was destin e d to

.

succee d Th e s inews o f war lay i n th e han ds o f the treasurer

.

A m a n t i u s h e hi m sel f could n ot h 0 pe to reign for h e wa s a ,

eu nu ch bu t h e had a fri en d who m h e wi s hed to crown

,
.

Accordingl y h e se n t for Ju sti n us th e com man der Acc s s i f , e on o

o f t h e Im p erial Guard an d m ad e o ver to h im a J t i l sw

,
u s n w

great su m to buy t he ai d of the s old iery J u sti n us an el derly .

,

an d respectabl e person age wh om n o o n e suspecte d of am bi

t ion qu ietly took th e gol d d istributed i t i n h is own n am e a n d
, , ,

was salu ted as Augus tus by h i s deligh te d gu ardsm en Th e .

S e nat e acquiesced i n th e n om i n ation an d b e m ou n te d th e ,

thron e w i thou t a blo w be in g str u ck .

J u sti nu s was an I llyrian b y birth an d ha d spen t fi fty years ,

i n th e imperial arm y h e had won hi s promo ti on b y good ser

vice ln the I saurian an d Pers ia n wars H e was ve ry illi terate .

we are told th at h e coul d barely sign h i s o w n n am e —an d kn ew

n oth i ng outside h i s tactics an d hi s drill book H e had the -
.

repu tati on of bei ng qui et well behaved an d u prigh t ; n o o n e

,
-
,

had anyth ing to say agai n st h i m an d he was rigidly orthodox ,

i n matters o f fai th H e was sixty eigh t years o f age fi fteen

.
-
,

years ol der than even the el derly An astas iu s had bee n at the
m om en t o f hi s acce ss i on .

J u s tinu s seated h i msel f fi rmly o n the thron e ; h e exec ute d

th e treasu rer A m an t i u s b u t m ade term s w i th th e two m e n
,

wh o m ight h ave been h i s ri vals H ypa t i u s re m a i ned a sim pl e

.

senator ; Vi tal ian was con firme d i n hi s c o m man d i n M oesia

an d given a con sul sh i p W hile h oldi n g th i s o ffice an d dwel l
.

ing i n the ca p ital he was assassi nate d ; rumour ascribe d th e

’
cri m e to th e emperor s n ephew J us ti n i an w h o though t th e ,

turbulen t 711ag 1s ter t o o n ear th e th ron e

'

’
There i s very li ttle t o record of the n i n e years of J ustin u s
’
reign s ave that he heal ed the forty years sch i s m wh ic h h ad
,

separate d th e chu rches of Ro m e a n d Con stan tinopl e sin ce th e

’ ’
publication o f Zen o s H e n o t i c o n Being u n di s p utedly orth o .

d o x h e wi th drew that docu me nt an d th e schi sm disap p eared

, ,

with i ts cause T h e on ly real i m p ortance o f Jus tin us i s th at

.
54 E u r opea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

h e pre p ared th e for h i s fam ou s n ephew an d successor ,

J ustin i an wh om b e ad opte d a s c olleague an d i n tru sted with

, ,

th o se matters o f ci vi l adm i n i strati on w i th wh ich h e w a s h i m

sel f i nc ompeten t t o deal H e d ied an d left the throne t o
.

J u stin ian i n A D 5 2 8
. . .
 C H APTER IV

C H LO D O V E C H A ND TH E F R A N KS I N GA U L

48 1 5 1 1
-

T he F r a nks i n rly c o n qu e s t s—S t a te o f Ga ul i n 48 1

N o r t h e r n G a ul —Th e i r ea

C hl o d o ve ch c o n qu e rs N o r t h e r n G a ul 4 8 6 — H e subdu e s t h e Al a m a n n i
ve ch 4 6 —
, ,

49 5
-
6 — C o n v e rs i o n o f C hl o d o 9 H e c o n qu e rs Aqu i t a i n e fr o m t h e
,

V i s ig o t hs 5 07 —H e u n i t e s a ll t h e F r a n k i sh K i n g d o m s 5 1 1
, , .

W H I LE O doacer was s till reign i n g i n I taly an d Theodoric th e ,

Amal h ad n ot ye t left the Balkan s or the b ank s of the D anube , ,

th e foun dati on s of a great ki ngdom were b ei ng laid u po n th e

Scheldt an d th e M euse E arl y i n the fi fth cen tu ry t he con
.

federacy o f marsh tribes on th e Ysse l an d Lech w h o had

-

taken the com mon nam e o f Frank s had m ove d sou th ward ,

i n to th e territory o f th e E mpire an d foun d them selves n e w ,

h om es i n th e provin ce s w h ich th e Roman s called B elgica an d

Germ an ia I n ferior F o r m any years th e hol d o f th e legion s
.

o n th i s lan d had been growi ng weaker an d lon g ere i t became ,

a Fran k i sh kingdom i t h ad been largely spri nkl e d with Fran ki sh

,

coloni sts wh om the emperors had a dm itted a s m ili tary settlers

,

o n th e waste l an ds wi th in th e i r border I n t he l owl an ds of .

T o xa n d ri a whi ch after age s called B raban t a n d G uel ders

,
-
,

t he re were no large c i ties t o be protected n o great fortre sses ,

t o be mai n tai n ed and wh i le th e Roman s s til l e xerte d them

, ,

selves t o hol d T re veri an d C olon i a Agripp in a an d M ogun tia

“
1
cum they allowed the plai ns m ore t o t he n orth an d west to
,

1
Tr i e r K o l n an d M a i n z ,
'

, .
 E u rop ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

s lip o u t o f th ei r h and s B y th e secon d qu arter o f th e fi fth

.

cen tu ry th e Frank s were fi rml y establ i shed o n th e Sch el dt

T h F ra k s
e
an n
d Meuse an d l o wer Rh i ne where t h e Roman
,

i
n L w r
o e
g arrison s n eve r reappeare d a fter th e u su r p er
G rm
e ”an
Con stanti n e ha d carrie d off th e n orthern fron tier
l egion s t o aid hi m i n h is attack o n I tal y By thi s ti me ,

t o o C ol o nia Agrippi na fi r s t o f th e grea t Roman ci ties o f th e

, ,

Rhi nelan d seem s to have a l ready fal le n in to the han ds o f th e

,

Franks B e t w een 4 3 0 a n d 4 5 0 th ey con tin u ed t o pu sh

.

forward as far as th e S om m e an d th e M osel le an d when , ,

’
a t th e ti m e o f Attil a s great i nvasi o n o f Gaul th e last imperial ,

garri son s i n the Rh i n elan d were exterm in ated an d the las t ,

g o ve rn ors driven forth by th e H un s from T re ve ri an d

M o gu n t i a cu m an d M etti s i t wa s th e Fra nks wh o profi ted
,
.

After the H un s had rolled back agai n t o th e E ast Fran ki sh ,

k ings n o t Roma n offi cial s took p osse ss io n o f th e ravaged

, ,

la n d al ong th e M oselle an d Rh i n e an d th e su rvivi ng provi n

,

c i a l s h ad fo r t h e fu ture t o obey a Teut o n ic m aster near hom e ,

n o t a govern or despa tch ed fro m di stan t Raven na .

Th e Frank s w e re n ow d ivided i n to two m ai n h ordes ; th e

Sal ian s — wh o took th ei r n am e from Sala th e o l d nam e o f th e
,

river Ysse l — dwel t from th e Scheld t m ou th to th e Som me an d

-
,

from th e Straits o f D over to th e M euse Th e Ripuarian s .

,

wh ose n am e i s d rawn from th e fac t that th ey i nhabi ted th e

ban k ( 7 1pa ) o f th e Rh in e lay al o n g both sides o f th e grea t
'

river from i ts j u n ct i on w i th th e Lippe to i ts j u nc tio n wi th

th e Lah n a n d exten ded a s far ea s t as th e Meuse
, E ach .

of the se two tribes w a s rule d by man y ki ngs al l of wh om ,

clai med to desce n d from th e h ouse o f th e M e ro vi n gs a li n e ,

l os t i n o bscu ri ty wh o se o rigi n al h ead may perhaps have been

, , ,

the ch ie f w h o i n th e th i rd ce ntu ry fi rs t taugh t u n io n t o t h e

vari ou s tri bes w ho forme d th e Franki s h con fede racy .

Th e Franks were on e o f th e m ore back wa rd o f th e Teuton i c

race s i n spi te o f thei r l o ng c on tac t wi th Roma n c ivili s ati on
,

al ong th e Rhi n e K ings an d peopl e we re still h eath en s Th ey

. .

had n o t l earn t l ike t h e G oth s t o wear arm ou r o r figh t on

 ’ ’
Cnl o a oveen a n a tae F ra n /ts i n Ga n l 57

h orseback bu t wen t to war h alf naked arme d on ly with a

,
-
,

barbed j avel in a sword an d a cas ting axe or tomahawk

, ,
-
,

called t he F ra n c isca after the nam e o f i ts users Unl ike Goth .

an d Van d al they had n o t learn t the a dvan tage s of p ol itical

u n ion bu t obeyed m an y petty pri nces in s tead o f on e great
,

l ord All Roman writers reproac h t hem for a perfi d y which

.

e xcee ded t hat of the other barbarian s Th e Saxon s we are .

,

tol d were c ruel th e Alaman n i drunken the Alan s rapaciou s

, , , ,

th e H un s u n chaste bu t th e special si n of th e Frank was

,

treach ery an d perj ury .

At t he time of th e depo si ti on o f Rom u lu s A u g u st u l u s by

O doacer th e Sal ian Franks h el d th e ol d Roman t own s o f
,

Cambrai Arras Tournay an d T o n g e rn while th e Ripuarian s

, , , ,

occupied K oln Trier M ai nz an d Met z

, Sou th of t he
, , .

Ripuarian s lay th e n ew Burgun dian k ingdom D i i s i n s f v o o

whic h G u n do b a d h ad fou nded i n th e valley s o f G u l i 48 a n 1

th e R hon e an d Sa on e S ou th o f th e Sal ian s was a di strict .

o f Roman Gaul wh ich had to the l ast ackn owledge d the

su p remacy o f th e ep hem eral em perors of th e West an d kep t ,

i tsel f free from barbarian i n vaders u n der the patrician

t Egi di u s . After h i s death i n 4 6 3 h i s so n S yag ri u s su cceeded
t o h i s power an d ruled at S uessi on es ( S ois son s ) over the
,

wh ole S ei ne valley an d the plai n o f cen tral Gau l as far as

,

Troyes a n d O rlean s After th e di sappearance of th e last

.

Western E m p eror S yag ri u s ha d n o over lord bu t Wa s s o m uch

,
-
,

h i s o wn m aster that the Fran ks called hi m kin g o f th e ‘

’
Roman s though h e hi m sel f t ook n o ti tle bu t that o f patrician
, .

Sou th of th e real m of S yag ri u s lay th e Vi sigothi c kingdom o f

E u ri c a vas t s tate exten d ing from th e Loi re t o Gibral tar a n d
, ,

from the B ay of Bi scay t o th e M ari ti m e Alps I ts ki ng dwel t .

at Toulou se an d th e Gauli sh rather than th e Span is h hal f o f

,

h i s dom i n i on was con s idered the m ore i mp ortan t I n dee d .

hi s rule i n Spai n was s til l i n com ple t e as th e S uevi h el d i ts ,

north western Corner th e l an d wh ic h we n ow cal l Galici a an d

-
,

n orth Portugal an d the Bas q u es mai n tai n ed thei r i n d epe n

,

den ce i n th e western Pyren e es .

58 E u r opea n H i s t o 1y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

I n the th i rd quarter of th e fi fth cen tu ry th e m ost i m portan t

o f th e Fran ki sh ch iefs o f the M erovi ngia n li n e was a p ri nce o f

th e Sal ian s n am ed C h i ld e ri c h wh o dwel t a t Tournay an d

, , ,

ruled i n th e valley o f t h e u pper Scheld t H e d ie d i n 4 8 1 .

,

l eavi ng h i s th rone t o hi s s ixteen year ol d son a n d hei r a - -

,

p ri n ce n amed C hlo d o ve ch o r C hl odwig w h o wa s desti ne d t o ,

fou n d th e great Franki sh k i ngdom by e xtingui sh ing the o ther

,

Franki sh pri nci pali ti es an d c on querin g s outh ern an d cen tral

,

Gaul .

S uc h a n even t seem ed m os t u nl ikely a t th e tim e o f C hl o

’
d o ve c h s accessi on wh e n th e dom i n an t p o w er i n th e lan d wa s
,

t h at of th e fi erce an d a bl e ki n g E u ri c th e Vi sigoth I t was .

E u ric w h o had brough t th e Vi sigoth i c ki ngd om u p to i ts

la rgest exten t by dri vi ng t he Sueve s i nt o a corn e r o f Spain
, ,

c on queri n g the las t R oma n provi nces i n cen tral Gaul an d ,

rece i vi ng Proven ce from th e han ds of O doace r k i n g of I taly ,

.

H e w a s t he fi rs t Vi sigoth i c k i ng t o p ubl is h a code o f l a w s ,

an d w oul d h ave l eft a goo d nam e i n h i story bu t for h i s a ssa s

s i n a t i o n o f hi s broth er The od oric an d h is persecu ti on s o f the
,

Ca th oli cs T h o ugh n o t such a n oppres s or a s t he Vandal s

‘

Gaiseri c an d H u n n e ri c h e ha d made hi m self hate d by refus

,

i n g to all ow th e electi o n o f Cath oli c b ishops an d by closi ng ,

or han din g over t o h i s favou ri te s th e Arian s m an y o f th e , ,

churches o f th e orth od ox E u ric d ied i n 4 8 5 j ust a s Chlo

.
,

d o ve c h w a s a bou t to com m en ce h i s c o n qu ering caree r i n

n o rthern Gaul a care er w h i ch the Vi sigoth woul d probabl y
,

h ave checked i f a l on ge r l i fe h ad bee n gran ted h i m H e was .

succeeded by h i s so n Alaric a boy o f onl y sixteen o r seve n

,

teen years .

’
I r w a s i n t he very year of E u ric s d eath that C hl o d o ve ch n o w ,

age d twen ty on e set o u t o n th e fi rs t o f h i s warl ike expedi ti on s

-
,
.

I n c o m pan y wi th h i s kin sman R a g n a c h a r k i n g o f Cambrai h e , ,

i n vaded th e real m o f t h e R oman patrician S ya g ri u s The .

Gaul i sh troops w ere u nabl e t o resi s t th e on set o f th e Frank s ,

an d thei r leader a fter a sh o rt struggl e aban d one d h i s h ome

, , ,

an d fl e d fo r sa fety t o the c o u rt o f Alaric th e V i sigoth Th e .

 ’ ’
Cnl o a o vee/t a na t /1e F r a n k s i n Ga u l 59

councillors o f Al ari c e i ther wishi n g t o grati fy thei r Teu ton i c

,

neighb ou rs o r fearing th e even t o f a war wh ile th ei r k i ng

,

was ye t so you ng th re w th e patrician i n to bon ds C h l d

,
h ,
o ovec

an d sen t h i m back to C hl o d o ve c h wh o p romptl y g ig s: ,

put h i m to death The S ei n e valley an d t h e 486

. .

great town s o f S oi s son s Pari s Roue n an d Rh ei m s n o w fell

, , ,

i n to the hand s o f th e Franki s h ki ng an d i n the course o f the , ,

n ext th ree years h e exten ded hi s power u p t o th e Loire a n d

,

b oun dary of Arm orica where th e Roman o Celts o f t he extrem e

,
-

west still succee ded i n h ol d ing o u t C hl o d o vech t ook all th e .

sp oil s for him self n on e fell t o h i s n ei ghb ou rs th e o th er k i n gs

, ,

o f th e Salian Fran ks I t was these p rin ces wh o were n ext

.

t o feel the force o f h i s arm H e pi cked quarrels wi th h i s .

kin sme n the ki ngs o f Cam brai an d T é ro u a n n e th e on e for ,

n ot helping h i m again st S yagri u s t he o t her fo r claimi ng part ,

o f th e sp oi l o f th e Roman an d slew th em b oth th e o n e by

, ,

treach ery th e oth er i n op en bat tl e The rem ai n i n g M e ro vi n

, .

gian pri n ce s o f the B e l gi c p l a i n s soo n shared th ei r fate ; th en

‘

C hl o d o vech p re sse d eastward again s t the Ripu arian Fra n ks ,

an d con qu ere d th e Th o ri n g i th eir chie f tribe i n th e year 4 9 1

, ,

I n a sh ort t im e h e h ad won all th e Frank i sh k ingdom s save

that of hi s all y S ig e b e rt the Lam e ki n g of K ol n He ,
.

rem orselessly sl ew e very prin ce o f M ero vi n g b lood wh o fel l

i n to his h an ds a n d did his bes t to exterm in ate al l th e ri val
,

l in es Wh e n h e coul d fi n d n o m ore t o k ill h e i s sai d to have

.
,

m ade Op en lamen tati on t hat h e wa s left al on e i n th e world ,

an d that the royal h ouse o f th e Frank s was th reaten ed w ith

extincti on h e th en b ade an y kin sm an wh o m igh t yet survive
com e t o h i m wi thou t fear B u t i t was cru elty n ot re m orse
.
, ,

that m oved h i m for h i s onl y obj ect was t o catch an d slay an y

,

M e ro vi n g who m igh t yet su rvive .

H i s c on quests i n Ripuaria brough t C hl o d o ve ch i nto touch

wi th n ew n eighbours th e B u rgun di an s to th e s ou th a n d th e
, ,

con federac y o f th e Alama n n i t o th e east alon g the Mai n an d

Wi th th e firs t na m
,

Neckar . e d h e en tered in t o fri en dl y

rel ation s an d marrie d C h ro t ech i ldi s ( Cloti lde ) n iece o f Ki n g
, ,
60 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

G u n d o b a d, i n 49 2 Th e pri n cess u nl ike he r u n cl e an d m o st

.
,

o f he r tribe wa s a de vou t Cath ol ic an d m u ch was des tined to

, ,

C hl do h
ove c
fol
. low
s
fro m he r al lian ce w ith th e pagan Frank .

w rs w i t h t h
a W i th th e Alaman n i the relati ons o f C hl o do ve ch
e

A l aman n i
w ere from th e fi rs t h ostile ; i n fact wh e n h e b rough t ,

hi s fron tier u p t o the m id dl e Rh i ne h e wa s con stra i ned t o ,

tak e u p an already exi sti ng feu d be twee n th e Ri puarian s a n d

th ei r eastern n eighbours F o r several years h e was en gaged
.

i n a struggl e w ith th i s con federa cy wh o hel d th e east ban k ,

o f th e Rh in e from Coble n z u pwards th e valley s o f the Mai n ,

a n d Neckar an d all the B lack Fores t At las t i n 4 9 6 h e got

,
.
, ,

the better o f the m i n a deci si ve battl e —a p paren tl y near

S trasbu rg —an d forced th e m ai n bo dy o f th e co n fede racy to
‘

d o h i m h omage an d ack n owl edge h i m as over lord An -

.

obstin ate rem n an t reti red ove r th e Rh i ne an d t ook refuge i n ,

Rhaeti a un der th e protec ti on o f th e grea t Theodoric bu t all ,

th e rest b ecam e Fran ki sh vassal s As a resul t o f th i s wa r .

th e Alam an n i were d ri ve n sou th ward o u t o f th e Mai n valley ,

wh ich was sei zed an d se ttle d by Ri p u arian se ttlers a n d b e ,

cam e a Frank i sh c ou ntry un de r the n am e o f E as t F rancia o r ,

Fran con ia .

A suggesti ve legen d an d an i mp ortan t fact are con n ecte d

w it h these cam paign s o f C hl o d o ve c h again st th e Alaman n i .

The ecclesiasti c wri ters o f th e n ex t cen tury state tha t i n h i s ,

deci sive battle wi th th e c on federate s C hl o do ve c h wa s d ri ven ,

back a n d almos t rou ted Th en recall i n g th e words o f h i s

.
,

wi fe C h ro t e c hil d i s wh o n e ve r cea se d t o persua de h i m th at

,
‘

’
h e sh ou l d serve th e true G od th at the Lord wa s th e Lord o f
,

H osts an d th e arbi ter o f bat tle s h e cried al oud O Ch ri s t

, ,
‘

J e s u I c rave as a suppl ian t Th y gl oriou s aid ; a nd i f Thou

,

gra u test m e vic tory ove r thes e en em ie s I w i ll bel ieve i n Thee ,

’
a n d be baptized i n Thy n am e At on ce th e Alamann i began
.

to give back an d th e ki ng obtai ne d a com plete triumph

,
.

Whethe r t hi s w as th e m an n er o f h i s con version o r n ot i t i s ,

a t an y rate ce rtai n that C hl o d o ve c h o n re tu rn ing fro m h i s ,

Alaman n ic campaign ha d h im sel f baptize d a t Rheim s o n

,
-
 ’ ’
Ck l ozz o ve ek a na t/1e F r a n k s i n Ga u l 6 1

Christmas Da y 4 9 6 H i s s is ter an d 3 0 0 0 o f h is warri ors

, .

foll owed h i m to th e fon t E very reader o f h i story kn ows th e

.

famous tale h o w Archbi sh op Remigi us hailed th e ki ng wi th t he

words B ow thy n eck S iga m b ri a n adore that which tho u has t
, ,
’
burn t an d burn that whic h tho u has t adore d
,
Firs t am on g .

the con ve rted Teu ton ic kin gs C hl o d o ve c h was receive d i nto

the Cathol ic Church an d d i d n ot becom e an Aria n l ike h i s
,

n eighbou rs I n th i s we m ay n o d oub t trace the i n fl uence o f

.
, ,

h i s orthodox qu een C hro t echi l d i s Th e c ou se C v rs i .

on e on

q u e n ce §_ con versi on t o th e orth odox f C hl o o

M
.

d h ’49 °ve°
m os t im p ortan t h e was the onl y ,

Teu ton i c k ing w h o adop ted t he fa it h o f hi s Roma n subj ec ts ,

a hd wa s t he r efo re s erved by them an d m ore esp ecial ly b y‘ ,

their cl ergy wi th a l oyal ty wh ich n o G oth Vandal or Bur

, , ,

g u n d i a n prince coul d ever win N o t leas t am on g t h e cause s

.

’
of C hl o d o vech s easy tri um ph s an d o f the perman enc e of h i s
ki ngdo m may b e reckon e d h i s adh erence t o Ca th ol ici sm .

’
I t cann ot be sai d that the ki ng s con vers ion m ade an y
favourable ch ange i n h i s ch aracter o r h i s conduct H e still .

re m ain e d th e cruel u n scrupu lous t reach erou s tyran t that h e

, ,

had always been I t will b e seen that h i s las t rec orded acti o n
.

was a n elaborate i n ci temen t t o parricide followe d b y a h orri d

mu rde r Ye t h e was gran te d a m easu re o f success that was
.

refused t o ki n gs o f far better d i spositi on a n d far stronger i ntel

lect su ch as Th eo dori c th e O strogoth or A t a u lf the Vi sigoth
, , .

’
After their king s conversi on th e Franks both Sal ia n an d ,

Ripuarian hasten ed to foll ow h im to th e fold o f the Church

, ,

and i n a s ingle gen eration t he o l d Franki sh pagan ism d i sa p

p eare d . B ut as w i th ki n g s o wi th people the ch a n ge wa s
, ,

almost en tirel y superficial ; i t i s l on g before we trace th e

in fluence o f an y Ch ri stia n graces o n th e ungodly an d per
fi d i o u s race o f th e Franks .

’
After sub du ing th e Alaman ni C hl o d o ve c h s n ext war was ,
’
wi th th e people of hi s w ife s u ncl e ; G u n do b a d the ki ng o f ,

Burgun dy H e m ade a secre t agreem en t w ith G o d e gi sl

.
,
’
G u n do b a d s younger brother t o i n va de an d divi de the B u r
,
 E u r opea n H 1 s t o 1y , 4 7 6 g r8
'

62 -

g u n di an real m Wh il e th e treacherou s brot h er raise d war i n

.

H el ve tia w h ere h e possessed a n appanage the ki ng o f th e

, ,

Fra n ks attacked G u n d o b a d from the fron t an d i nvade d th e ,

valley o f th e Sa on e I t ap peared as i f here a s wel l a s i n th e

.
,

lan ds farther n orth C hl o do ve ch would sweep al l before h i m

, .

The Burgun dia n k in g w a s beaten a n d d ri ven o u t o f D ij on ,

Lyon s an d Val en ce i n to Avig n o n th e south ern m os t fortre ss

, ,

o f h i s real m wh ile h i s b roth er w a s m a d e ki n g by th e Frank

, ,

a n d becam e h i s vassal B u t i n th e n ex t year G u n d o b a d

.
, ,

recovered all he had lo st sl ew Go d e g i sl a t Vi en n e an d drove

, ,

th e Frank s out o f B urgu n dy w i th s uc h s ucces s tha t Chlo

d o ve c h e re l ong made peace w i th h im
B u t the n ex t campaign o f t h e Frank i s h k i n g wa s o n e o f far
greate r i m portan c e an d success H e was se t o n t ry ing h i s .

fortun e agai n st th e y oun g k ing o f th e Vi sigoth s wh o se ,

perso n al weak n ess an d u np opu larity w i th h is Roman su bj ects

temp te d h i m to an i n vas i on o f Aqu itai ne I t w oul d see m .

tha t C hl o do ve c h care fully ch ose a s a t a s u s bet/i th e Aria n

p ersecu tion s o f Alaric wh o l ike h i s father E u ri c wa s a bad
, , ,

C hl d o h
ove cm as ter to h i s Cath ol ic su bj ects A fi rs t qu arre l .

A qu t i
i
ai ne,
n 5 0 4 was compose d by th e grea t Theodoric ,

0
5 7 . w h o as father I n law o f th e V i s i goth a n d b rother
,
- -

i n law o f th e Fran k coul d appeal w i t h au th ori ty t o eac h o f

-
,

th e rival s B u t i n 5 0 7 C hl o d o ve c h declared war o n th e

.

’
Vi sigoth s I can n ot bea r h e said
.
‘
that th o se Arian s , ,
‘

’
sh oul d h o l d a n y part o f Gaul W i th G o d s ai d we w il l go .

’
agai n st them an d su bd ue thei r lan d benea th o u r sway
, .

Kn owin g th e s trength of th e V isigothic realm C h lo d o ve c h ,

all ied t o h i m sel f for th e s tru ggl e h i s o l d en em y G u n d o b a d

t h e Bu rgun dian an d S ig e b e rt o f K oln th e las t survivi n g
, ,

Ripuarian k i ng .

Adva n ci ng from Pari s C hl o d o ve c h c rossed th e Loi re an d ,

m et th e Vi sigoth s an d th e i r k i n g o n th e Cam pu s V o c la d e n s i s ,

th e plain o f V o u gl é n ear P o ic t ie rs Whe th er fr o m coward i ce

,
.
,

o r fro m d i s tru st o f hi s o wn ge n eral sh i p Alari c he ld back from ,

figh ting bu t h i s arm y force d h i m to give bat tle H e attacke d

,
.
 ’ ’
a n a t l1e F ra n k s i n Ga u l
C/1l oa ovee/1 63

t he Franks wa s utterly de feated an d fell wi th th e greater

, ,

part of h i s m en S o cru sh e d were th e Vi sigoth s b y t he di s

.

aster that C hl o do vech was able t o o verrun al l th e provi nce s

between t h e Loi re an d the Garon n e with ou t striki ng an othe r
b low H e en tered B ordeau x i n tri u mph an d there spen t th e
.
,

wi n ter Next spri ng h e m arch ed agai n st Toulouse th e Goth ic

.
,

capi tal an d took i t an d w i th i t th e grea t h oard of th e Vi s i

, ,

gothi c ki ngs i ncl u di n g m any o f the Roman trop h ie s that

,

Alari c an d A t a u l f had carri ed o ff from I taly a h u ndre d years

’
before Mea n while C hl o d o ve ch s Burgun dian alli e s overran
.
,

Prove nc e an d cap tu red al l i ts ci ti es save Arl es T o add t o

,
.

th e trouble s o f the Vi sigoth s t hey were d istracted by ci vi l

stri fe ; on e party recog n i sed as k in g A m a lri c t h e i n fan t son ,
’
o f Alaric b y Th eodoric s daugh ter h i s lawful queen ; th e
, ,

other elec te d G e s a l ic a b astard so n o f Alaric wh o had

, ,

fortifi ed h i m sel f i n Narb on n e an d Barcelona B u t th e Franks .

a n d B urgun dian s d rove Ge sa l i c over th e Pyrenees an d i t ,

appeared as i f th ere was ab ou t to b e an en d of al l V i sigoth i c

p ower n orth of those m ou n tai n s .

M eanwh ile C hl o d o ve ch retu rn ed from Toul ou se to Tours

, ,

wh ere he fou n d awaiting h i m am bassad ors fro m the E mpe ror

’
An astasiu s who salu ted h i m by thei r m as ter s comman d w ith
,

the title s o f procon sul an d p atrician an d presen te d h i m w i th ,

a diadem an d pur p l e robe An astasius sought by these h on ours

.

to wi n an al ly agai n s t Theodori c th e O s trogoth wi th wh om ,

h e had lately qu arrelled C hl o d o ve ch accepted them with

.

al acri ty becau se o f t he pres tige they gave h i m i n th e eye s of

,

h is Roman subj ec ts wh o saw hi s p ower over th em form ally

,

legali sed by the gran t o f the E mperor .

’
Thi s was the cul mi n at i ng scen e of C hl o d o ve ch s l i fe for i n ,

th e n ext yea r fortu n e t urn ed som ewha t agai n s t h i m Th e great

, .

Theodori c i n te rfere d i n the G oth i c War a s the guardian an d

protector o f hi s gran dson A m a l ri c H i s arm ies rou ted th e
, .

un i te d Fra n k s an d Bu rgu n dian s n ea r Arl e s w here they are

"

sai d to have slain m en They t hen reco n quered .

Narbon n e an d all th e Me di terranea n coast as far as S p ai n .

64 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

’
C h lo do vec h con quests were thus restricted to the lan d wes t o f
s

th e Cevenn es bu t still compri sed th e greater bulk o f Vi si

,

goth ic Gaul w ith th e th ree grea t citie s of P o i c t i e rs Bordeau x

, , ,

an d Toul ou se O nl y t he Narb on e n si s an d P roven ce

w ere sa v ed fro m h im by The od oric w h o n ow chase d away the ,

u surper G e sa li c a nd rul ed all Spai n an d sou th Ga ul t ill hi s

,

gran dson A m a l ri c cam e o f age .

C he cked on t h e s ou th by th e great O s trogoth C hl o do ve c h ,

tu rne d n orth to rou n d o ff h i s d om i n i on s by th e acqu i sition o f

th e l as t i ndependen t Fra nk is h state S ig e b e rt o f K ol n wa s .

n o w v ery ol d an d h i s am bi ti ou s s o n C h l o de ric h wa s per

,

s u a d e d by C hl o d o v ec h n ot o n ly to deth ro n e bu t t o slay h is ,

fath er Wh en h e had sei ze d th e ki ngdom C h l o d o ve c h a ffected

.

great w rath an d i n digna tion aga i n st hi m procu re d h i s death ,

a t th e han d s o f as sass in s a n d then an n exed hi s k ingd om Al l

, .

the Frankis h states were n ow u n i ted u n der o n e h an d bu t ,

Chl d o h C hl o d o ve c h d id n o t l on g survi ve th i s la st succe ss

o ve c
,

fgni gi t ’ th ough
s
accordi ng t o the s trange word s o f h i s
,

510 . admi re r B i sh op G regory o f Tou rs Th e Lord

, ,
‘

cast h i s en em i es u n der hi s p ower da y a fter d ay a n d in creased ,

h i s k i n gdom becau se h e walke d wi th a righ t heart b e fore

,

H im a nd d id that wh ich was pleasin g i n H i s sigh t

,

I n 5 1 1 thi s sangu in ary ru ffi a n m urderer an d trai tor d ied , , ,

j u s t a fter he had presi de d a t O rl ea n s o ve r a syn od of t h i rty two -

Gau l i s h bi sh ops wh o were an xiou s to repress Arian ism a n d ,

gladly cal led i n th e secular arm o f thei r o rth od ox l ord to

thei r ai d C hl o d o ve c h was m orally far th e wo rst o f al l t h e
.

Teuton i c fou nders o f k i n gdom s : eve n Gaiseri c th e Va n dal

c om pare s favou rabl y wi th h i m Ye t hi s work al on e was
.

d esti ned t o stan d n ot so m uc h from h i s o w n abil itie s though

, ,

the se were con si derabl e en ough a s fro m th e h a pc fl i c e ,

wh i ET r 56mg succe s sors i n rel igi ous s y mpath y wi th t he ir su b a

je c t s an d
,
prese rved th e y oung k ingd om d u ri ng th e ,

ge ne ration from an y c on fl ict w i th suc h p o werful foes a s th ose

,

wh o were d estin ed t o overthrow th e m on archies o f th e O s tro

goth s th e Vi sigoth s and th e Van dal s
, ,
.
 C H APTER V
J U S TI N I AN AND H I S WA R S

A D
. .
5 2 8- 5 40

Ch a r a c t e r o f J us ti n i a n —H i s m a rr i a g e wi t h Th e o d o r a —H i s firs t W ar wi t h
P e rs i a 5 2 8 3 1
,
—- —
R i s e o f B e l i sa r i us J us t i n i a n su pp r ess e s t he N ik a s e d i’

t i o n 5 3 2 —H i s fo r e i g n p o l i cy —B e l i s ar i us c o n qu e rs t h e V a n d a ls 5 3 3 4 -

D e c a y o f t h e O s t r o g o t hs i n I t a ly —J us t i n i a n a t t a cks T h e o d a h a t —B e l i s a r i us
, ,

c o n qu e rs S i c i ly N a p l e s a n d R o m e —S i e g e Of R o m e by t h e O s t r o g o t hs
—
, ,

[5 3 7 ] B e l i sa r i us d e fe a t s t h e O s t r o g o t hs a n d c a p tur e s R a v enn a
-
8

F OR three quarters o f a cen tury du rin g th e reign s of the ,

fou r cau ti ous an d el derly Caesars wh ose ann al s fill th e s p ace ,

between 4 5 7 an d 5 2 7 t he E ast Roman E mp i re had b ee n

,
-

recovering i t s strength an d storin g up n ew en ergy fo r a

,

sudden ou tburst o f vigou r u n der th e abl e restless an d , ,

ambitious sovereign wh o followed th e aged J u sti nu s I .

J u st i n ian — th e son of S ab at i u s th e broth er of J usti n u s — was

’
n early forty years Ol d w hen he b ecam e by h i s u ncl e s death , ,

sole ruler o f the empire H e wa s n o m ere u ncultured s oldier

.

l ike h i s predecessor ; when h e Obtai ned promotion i n th e

army J ustin us sent for hi s n ephew from the D ardan ian vi llage
,

where h i s family dwel t an d had h im reared i n th e capital i n

,

al l t he accompli shmen ts w hi ch b efi tt e d th e hei r Of a great

fortun e . B y t he ackn owl edgmen t o f h i s b itterest
Ch t f a ra c e r o
enem i es J ust i n i an had an extraord i nary power o f J u s t i i a n n,

assim ilating kn owledge o f all ki nds h e took a

keen i n terest alike i n s tatecraft an d architecture i n t heology ,

and law i n fi nance an d m usic When his u ncl e cam e to the

, .

P ER I OD I . E
66 E u ropea n H i s t ory 47 6 9 1 8 ,
-

t h ron e, t h e studen t soon develo p ed i n to th e p ractical a d m i n i s

t rator for Justi n u s t ru sted hi m wi th al l th ose detail s o f c ivil
,

governmen t w h ich he h im self was un abl e t o u nderstand o r

t o manage I t soon becam e kn own that th e h ei r of J u sti n us
.

was a man Of extraordi nary abil i ty an d u ntiring th irst for work .

At a n age w hen m ost youn g m en woul d have been temp ted

by thei r sudden el evati on to pl unge i n to the enj oym en ts that
lay o p en t o a n i m p erial pri n ce J ustin ian applied h i m self to
,

m astering all th e tiresom e d etai ls o f th e adm i n istrati on of th e

e mpire M en n oted wi th su r p rise th at he n ever seem ed ha p py
.

save w hen h e was i n h is cabi net surrou n ded by h i s secretaries

, ,

hi s regi sters hi s fi les of reports an d despatche s H e was l ik e

, ,
.

t he Ari stotel ia n character w h o was too i n differen t to t hi ngs ‘

’
p leasu rable for n oth ing save work ap p eared to have an y
,

attraction for h im H e rose early spen t h i s day i n a d m i n i s

.
,

t ra t i ve dutie s an d h is n igh t i n reading an d writing

,
As he .

grew older h e seemed t o d ispen s e wi th slee p al t ogether as i f ,

’
h e had becom e free fro m t he com m on n ecessi ti es o f m an s
n ature . There was s om ethi ng strange an d h orribl e i n hi s
col d b lo oded u n tirin g en ergy ; supersti tiou s m en w his p er e d
-
,

that h e was i n spired b y a restless d em on w h o gave h i m n o

peace or that he was actually a dem on h i m self H a d n ot a
, .

b elated courti er m e t h i m after m idn igh t pacin g th e dark

corri dors o f th e palace wi th a fearful an d change d cou n tenan ce
that was n o longer h u man o r eve n — as th e s tory grew
,

w i t h n o face all a sha p el ess m o nstrou s shadow ?

,
’
B ut that J u sti nian was a man wi th al l a m an s waywardn es s
,

an d recklessness was proved ere l on g To th e su r p rise O f th e

,
.

wh ol e p o p ulatio n o f t he em pi re an d th e utter h orror a nd ,

con fusion o f al l respectabl e p erson s i t was s uddenly n oi sed ,

abroad that th e h eir o f th e e m p i re had an n ou n ced h is i n ten ti on

Of m arryin g Theo dora th e dan cer t he ch i ef s tar o f th e B yz a n ,

ti n e com ic stage Th e s tai d pas si on les s bu reaucrat was c o n

.

t e m pl at i n g a step from wh ich N ero o r H el iogabalu s woul d

have sh runk w ith di smay .

We have e l aborat e but u n trustworth y d e tails o f th e scandal ou s

 ’
ju s t i n i a n a na /1 i s Wa rs 67

e arly li fe o f Theodora i n a book — the S ecr e t H i story ‘

w h ich bears t he n am e o f th e his t orian Proco p iu s bu t was ,

1
i n al l probabili ty n o work Of h is S he was th e daughter of .

’
Aca ci u s the Cy p riot an em p loy é of th e Green Factio n at
‘
,

th e H ip p odrome an d had fo r s om e years appeared o n t h e

,

stage as an actress an d dancer S O m uch we m ay take for tru th .

kn owi ng th e general character o f Roman actresses we m a y

assu m e that there was som e fou n dation for the s tories over
’
wh ich th e S ecret H i story gl oats As t o th e p articular fac t s
‘
.

alleged w e may con cl u de t hat they are u n tru st T h d r

,

—
eo o a.
worthy am ong th ose wh ich t he S ecret H istory ’ ‘

gives as m ost certai n are th e s tatemen ts that she was a vam p ir e ,

an d Often held in tercou rse with evil spiri ts the res t i s wri tten
i n th e sam e sp iri t o f silly an d su p erstitiou s m align i ty B ut we .

may fairly concl ude that t h e marriage o f J u sti n ian was a

scandal an d a won der H i s m other an d h is au n t the E m press
.

E u p he mia as we k now se t t heir faces agai n st i t ; b u t h e

, ,

went o n i n hi s u sual steady p ers istence gradually warred down ,

th e will of hi s o l d u ncl e J u stin u s an d form ally took Th eodora ,

t o wife The emperor was even i n du ced to b estow u p on h er

.

t he high ti tl e Of Patrician .

I n b rai n s an d p ower o f wil l T heodora wa s a fi t en ough

occu p an t fo r th e i m p erial t hron e wh atever her pas t h istory ,

may have been S he was as a m bitiou s restless an d capable

.
, ,

as her h usband an d acte d as m uch as h i s colleagu e as h i s

,

con sort We s hall see h o w on o n e occasi on of crisis s h e s tood

.

boldly forward an d i nter p osed b etween hi m an d destruction .

H e r worst e n em ies do n ot sugges t that sh e was an u nfaithful

’
o r p ro fi t l e ss spou s e t o h i m ; th e S ecret H istory i tsel f call s ‘

her after h er m arriage luxuri ou s cruel ca p ricious arrogan t bu t , , , ,

does n ot accus e her of evi l l iving or folly Agai n st this we -

.

may set th e well ascertai ned facts that sh e was devote d t o t h e

-

ex e rcises o f r e ligion an d foun ded m an y charitabl e i n stitution s

, .

’
1 d i scussi o n o f t h i s p r i n t se e M r
Fo r a . B u ry s L a t er R oma n E mpi re
R an k e—t h a t the w o r k i s t h e
,

vo l i .
p 3 59
. . w h e r e
, h e c o n c l u d e s —w i th
fo rg ed co m pi l at i o n o f a p e rs o n a l en em y .
68 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 I 8 -

R emem b erin g t he dangers o f her own youth sh e bu il t a

grea t i nsti tutio n fo r t h e reclaim i ng of fall e n wo m en —th e firs t
,

o f the ki n d kn own i n Ch risten dom S he was zeal ou s i n buyin g

.

an d freei ng slaves an d i n ca ring fo r t he bringi ng u p Of

,

o rphan s a n d the marriage o f d owerles s girl s .

Th eodora was b y all accou n ts th e m ost beautiful wo m an

’
of h er age E ven th e S ecret H i st o ry a l lo ws thi s addi ng on l y
.
‘
,

that sh e was rather bel ow th e m i ddle s tature t ha t h er com ,

pl exi o n was s omewhat pal e an d that sh e devoted un tol d h ou rs

,

t o the m ysteries Of t h e toilet Two portraits o f her hav e

.

su rviv ed o n e at a m onast e ry o n M oun t S i nai t he other i n t he

, ,

C hu rch of San Vi tal e at Rav e n na — two s p ots s o far apart as to

call u p vividly to o u r m em ory the wid e exten t o f h er i nfl uence .

U n fortun atel y th e h i erat ic styl e o f art i n to wh ich Ro m an

p ortraiture had l ong su nk an d th e i n tractabl e n atu re o f
,

m o saic as a material do n ot allow u s t o j udge from th e s e

r ep r e sen tation s what was her actual appearance .

J ustin ian has l eft behin d h i m an al m ost u n p arallel e d re p u

t at i o n as a con qu eror a b u ilde r a n d a lawgiver b e sides a less
, , ,

hap p y record of theological activi ty I t i s main ly h owever .

, ,

w i th hi s foreign p ol icy that we shal l have to concern our

selves : t he other s p heres O f hi s labou r are b etter fi tted for
an other work B u t h is deal ings wit h Af rica I tal y an d S p ai n
.
, ,

form a great lan dmark an d t urn in g poi n t i n th e h istory Of -

sou thern E u ro p e an d their results were n ot en ti rel y ex

,

h a u st e d til l t h e eleven t h c e n tury H i s l ong struggle s wi th

.

Persia are l ess i nteresting an d les s im p ortant bu t they filled ,

a great space i n th e view o f contem p orary Obs ervers and ,

were n o t wi thou t thei r m om en t .

’
J usti n ian s reign Opene d wi th a fi erce war wi th th e Ol d Persian
k ing Kobad Th e struggl e wh ich th is m onarch had waged
.

w ith An astasius twen ty fi ve years before had bee n so i ndeci si ve

,
-
,

that th e Sassan ian l onged for a n e w t rial o f arm s Almo s t .

’
immediatel y o n J u stin ian s accession h e i ssued h i s declarati on
O f war u si ng as a pretex t the erection o f som e forti ficati on s
,

n ear N i si bi s w hich w e r e be in g con structed by B el i sariu s ,

,
 ju st i n i a n a nd ms Wa rs 69

governor o f Daras a you ng o ffi cer wh os e n am e was desti ne d

,
’
to be i n timately associated with th e whole hi story O f J u st i n ia n s
reign Th e war O p ened with a defeat i n the open F i t w
.

rs ar

fi eld suffered b y th e Roman army of M esop o w i t h P rs i

, e a,

tam ia ; bu t wh en rein forcemen ts cam e u p th e

Persian s retreate d beyon d their fron tier After th e wi n ter o f .

2 8 2 9 was over n either side advan ce d i n force an d all th at

5 ,

occurre d was a flyi ng Roman rai d i n to Assyria an d an e quall y ,

hasty Persian i ncursion in to Syria b ot h of which di d som e ,

harm bu t had n o p ractical resul t o n th e fate o f th e war

,
.

Things wen t far otherwi se i n t he n ex t year 5 3 0 : the Persian s ,

crossed th e fron tier i n full force an d marched o n D aras where

, ,

they were m e t by B el isariu s wh o had l ately been appoin ted

,

co m m an der— i h ch ief i n th e E as t
-
U n der the wall s Of Daras
.

the decisive battl e o f th e war was fough t i n wh ich B el isariu s , ,

with m en defeated ,
P ersia n s by m ean s o f h i s
tactical skill T he p la n w h ich h e worked was to draw back
.

h i s cen tre con tai ni ng all the Roman i n fan try an d when t he
, ,

Persian s followed it t o l au nch agai n s t their ex p osed flanks

,

al l h is caval ry a m i scellan eou s gathering o f H u n n is h ligh t

,

h orse Teuton ic H erul i from th e D an ub e an d Roman C a t a

, ,
’
p /z ra eti o r cuirassiers Thi s plan m u ch resembl i ng H an n i bal s
.
,

m an oeuvre at Can nae an d p erhap s con sciou sly copied fro m

,

i t resulted i n th e complete rout Of the S assan ian host

, .

After th i s defeat Kobad comm enced abortive n egotiation s

for p eace bu t th e war was protracte d in t o th e n ext year an d
, ,

Belisari us d i d n ot fare s o well i n 5 3 1 I n stopp in g a Persian .

raiding force 0 11 the m i ddle E uphrates w h i ch aim e d at ,

Syria and had turn ed th e sou thern flan k of t h e M esopotamian

,

fortresses h e su ffered seriou s l oss at th e affai r o f C a l l i n i cu m

, .

Though h e was defeated h i s resi stan ce had yet turned an d

,

frustrated th e P ersian expedi ti on Four m on th s later king .

Kobad died an d h is successor C h o sro e s 1 made peace o n th e

,
.

base of the s ta tu s ou o a n te, feari ng t o con tin u e th e Ro m a n

war while hi s throne was i n secure ( S epte m ber .
,

The en d o f t h e Persian war l eft Ju stin ian fre e to c as t h is

70 E u r opea n H i s t o7 91 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

eyes on th e a ff airs o f h i s n eighb ours to t he West Though s o .

i n decisive i t had n ot been with out i t s u ses fo r it had perm i tted

, ,

h i m to test t he sol id ity of hi s army an d to d i scov e r several ,

O ffice rs o f m eri t an d o ne general o f comman din g abil ity

,

th e you ng vi c t o r of D aras Bel isariu s was n o w twen ty six years

.
-

Of age : h e was l ike hi s master a native of t h e borderlan d

, ,

between Thrace an d I llyricu m bred at an u nkn own

B l i s ri u s
,
e a .

village named G erman ia bu t n ot as the nam e o f , ,

hi s birthplace m igh t seem t o sugge st o f Teu ton ic bu t o f ,

Thracian blood 1 H e had e n tere d the army at a very early

.

age an d had fough t hi s wa y u p to th e post o f govern or of th e

,

grea t fortres s o f Daras before h e wa s twen ty four H is favou r -

.

with J usti n ian had been confi rmed by h is m arriage wit h

A nton in a the frien d an d con fi dan te o f th e em p ress Th eodora
,
.

S he was a clever u n scrup ulous domi n eering w om an several

, , ,

years ol der than her h usban d an d e xerc i sed over h i m a ,

d om estic tyran n y which any m an less easy tem pere d than

th e yo ung general w ould have foun d u n bearable The p os i .

tio n of B el i sariu s an d An t on i na at the C ourt o f J usti n ian h as

been n ot u naptly com p are d to that o f Marlborough an d h i s
'

i mperi ou s w i fe at th e cou rt o f Qu een An n e ; bu t i t i s on l y

fair to th e E ast Roman to say that he was i n every way a
-

better man than the E ngl ishman w h il e h i s wife had al l t he ,

faul ts of D uche ss S arah w ithou t h er o n e redeemi ng virtu e Of

,

fi deli ty to h er spouse .

Before he was able to turn h i s atten tio n to the West an d ,

j ust after th e cri sis of the Persian wa r had p assed J u stin ian ,

was expose d t o a sharp and sudden danger the m ost perilou s ,

experien ce o f hi s w h ole career We have already spoken at .

som e l ength of th e rival ries Of the Blu e an d G reen faction s 2 ,

an d explai ned h ow i n the early sixth cen tury the G reen s were
, ,

recko n ed h eterodox an d supporters o f the h ouse o f Anastasi us ,

while th e Bl ues were orth odox a nd favoured J ustin us an d hi s

Th e r e s ee m s n o r e a s o n t o m a k e h i m a S l a v
1
, as s o me h a v e d o n e on

a c co u n t O f hi s r a t h e r S l a v o n i c l o o k i ng n a m e -
.

2
S e e pa ge 5 0 .
 ’
ju s t i n i a n a n a lt i s Wa rs 71

n ephew Acciden t con s p ired with th e i n nate turb ulenc e o f

.

the faction s to sti r the m u p i n to fierce d isorder i n t he year

’
5 3 2 an d brough t about th e celeb rated N ika sedi tion To ‘
.
,

provide fo r the expen ses o f th e Persian war J usti n ian had n ot ,

only drawn upon the hoarded wealth of Anastas ius b u t ha d ,

i mposed h eavy additional taxati on Th i s act made hi s i h .

st ru m e n t s th e Quaestor T ri b o n i a n an d t h e Praetorian Prefect

J oh n o f Cappadocia very unp opular B ot h o f them w e r e .

su s p ecte d —an d n ot i ncorrectl y— Of having u sed the Op p ortu n ity

to fi ll thei r p ockets at the expen se o f the p ubl ic an d J oh n th e ,

Cap p adocian had made h im self particularl y odiou s b y h i s

cruel treatm en t o f de faulting debtors I n J anuary 5 3 2 t here
.

were riotou s scen es i n the circus cau sed b y th e p ro tests o f

,

t he Green s agai n st th e Oppressi on they were suffering T here .

soon followed tu mults i n the streets an d th e faction s settled ,

thei r grievance s with blu dgeon an d kn i fe J ustin ian T h N i k .

e a
.

often allowed t he B lues a free han d i n deal ing wi th S d i t i 5 3 e on , 2.

t heir adversaries bu t o n th i s occasion h i s supporters had gon e

, , ,

too far The p olice seized many ri ng leaders Of both facti on s

.
-
,

an d seve n o f t he chiefs were co n dem n ed to the axe o r the

cord While an angry crowd stoo d roun d five o f th e rioters
.
,

were p u t to death bu t whe n t he las t two a B l ue an d a Green

, , ,

were bein g hun g the cord slipped twice owing t o the n ervou s
, ,

n ess o f the execu ti on er an d th e crim i nal s fell to t he grou n d

, .

The populace then burs t through t he p oli ce an d hurried o ff

th e m en to san ctuary i n a n eighb ouri ng m onastery Thi s .

i nci den t proved th e begi n n i ng of a fearful uproar I n stead o f .

d ispersing the mob s parade d t h e place s houtin g for the di s

,

m issal of the u npopular m i ni sters J oh n an d T rib o n i a n B lues .

and Green s un ited i n t he cry th e whol e ci ty poured o u t i nt o

,

the streets an d the pol ice were trampled d ow n an d driven

,

away .

Frightened by t he stor m J u stinian had the weaknes s to

yield ; i n stead o f sending o u t th e im p erial guard to clear t h e
streets he an n oun ce d that he ha d determ i ned to rem ove t h e
,

ob noxiou s Quaestor an d Prefect T hi s on ly m ade m a t t e rs

.
72 E u rop ea n H i s to7y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

worse ; aft e r burn ing th e O fficial resi dence o f th e p refect Of

t h e ci ty th e m ob m u stered i n a m ost t hreaten ing attitude o u t
,

side th e palace Thi s con strai n ed th e em p eror t o u se force

.
,

bu t h e happen ed t o b e very shor t o f soldiery at the m om en t .

All the garris o n o f C on stan ti n opl e save 3 5 0 0 o f the st /zol a r n ,

o r imperial guard had been sen t O ff to th e Persian war

, O nly .

two regi men ts had as yet returned a cor p s of 5 0 0 cu irassiers ,

u n der B el i sariu s an d a body o f H erul i o f abou t th e sam e

,

n u mber Fi ve th ou san d m en were hardl y e nough t o co p e

.

with an angry po p ulac e o f half a m ill ion soul s i n th e n arrow - -

streets o f th e capi tal .

Wh en at tacked by th e t roo p s th e rioters set fi re to th e city ,

an d an awful con flagration en sued Th e great chu rch Of S t . .

Soph ia p eri shed am ong the flam es t ogether w ith al l th e houses ,

an d publ ic bu ildings t o th e n orth an d east o f i t Bl ood havi ng .

O nce fl owed t he m ob w ere set upon s om eth in g m ore t han a

,

riot — a revol ut ion was i n the ai r an d th e Green s wh o took , ,

t he lead i n th e struggl e s ough t abou t fo r their favou rite th e

,

H yp t ai patrician
us
H yp a t i u s t he n ephew Of th ei r Ol d patro n
,

p r cl i m d
o a A nastasi u s I B u t H ypa t i u s was a pruden t an d
e .

E mp r r e o
cau tiou s person wi t h n o a mbi ti on to ri sk h i s head
'

,
’
he had en tered the palace a n d pu t h im self i n J usti n ian s hand s
’
t o keep o u t o f harm s way I t was n ot till the emperor wh o .
,

feare d trai tors abo ut hi m ordered all senators to retire to th ei r

,

h om es that H ypa t i u s fell i n to the han d s O f h i s o wn partisan s .

T he u n ha p py rebel i n spite Of h im sel f wa s at once h urried Off

t o th e H ippodrom e place d o n th e im perial seat an d crowned
, ,
’
wi th a diadem extempori sed from h i s w ife s gold n ecklace .

I t was i n vai n that J u sti nian i ssued from th e palace n ex t

day an d proclaim ed a n am n esty ; h e was chased back wi th
,

i n sul ti ng cries Lo si ng heart h e sum m oned th e chi ef o f h i s

.

Th C u s l
e ocou rtiers an d guard s an d proposed t o them t o
n e ,

f Th d
° e°
abando n C on stan tin opl e an d tak e refuge i n Asia
° 'a
,

as Zen o had don e i n a s im ilar t i m e o f troubl e J oh n o f .

Ca p padocia an d many o f th e m i n isters advise d h i m t o fl y ;

b ut the i n trepid Th eodora s te pp ed forward to save her
 ju s t i n i a n ’
a na k i s Wa rs 73
’
hu sban d fro m destruction I t has bee n said sh e cried
.
‘
, ,
‘
that th e voice of a woman shoul d n ot b e heard am on g th e
cou ncil s o f men B u t those whose i n terests are m ost c o n
.

c ern ed have the best right to speak To death t h e i n evitabl e .

we mu st all subm i t bu t to su rvive dign ity an d h on our to

, ,

descen d fro m em p ire to exil e t o suc h s ham e t here i s n o ,

compul sion Never s hall the day com e w h en I pu t o ff this

.

p urple rob e an d am n o m ore h ailed as s overeign lady I f you .

wis h to protract your l ife 0 E mperor fligh t i s easy there are

, ,

you r ship s an d there i s t he sea B u t con sider w hether if you

.
,

escap e to exile yo u will n ot wi sh every day that you were dead

, .

As for m e I h ol d wit h th e ancien t sayi ng that t he i m p erial

,
’
p urpl e i s a gloriou s s hroud .

Spu rred o n by t h e fi ery words o f his wi fe J u stin ian tried t he

fortun e o f war once m ore A few rei nforcem en ts had arrived
.

wi th these an d th e haras sed troo p s wh o had already face d

,
’
five days street —fi ght i n g B el isariu s o nce m ore sallied forth fro m
,

the palace T he rebels were Off their guard fo r a fal se ru m our

.
,

had get abou t t hat J u sti nian was already fled At this m omen t .

th e m o b was crowding th e H i p podrom e an d saluting thei r

creature wi th s houts of [fypa ti e A ug u ste t u vi n t a s After .

a vai n attem p t to break i n by the im p erial stair S uppr e ss io n

case Belisariu s assau lted th e mai n side gate o f th e f t h

,
o e

s d m m” e
circu s an d b urst i n at a p oin t where t he co n
,

flagra t i o n had three days before made a breach i n th e wall .

Pen n e d i n to the great am p h itheatre an d taken by sur p ri se th e , ,

rebel s made a weak resi stance S oon th ey tu rned t o fly bu t

.
,

all the i ssues were choked a n d th e victim s o f th e sword O f

,

B el i sariu s were n u mbered by the ten thou san d H ypa t i u s an d .

his brother were caugh t alive an d brought to Ju stin ian wh o ,

ordered the m to be beheaded Th e n ext day h e heard of all .

the facts concern ing th e u nwill ingnes s o f H ypat i u s an d gave ,

hi s body hon ou rable b urial I t was man y years before t h e

.

Blues and Green s eve r vexed h i m by an other riot The awful

’
.

carnage i n the ci rcu s ke p t the city qu iet fo r a whol e generation .

Justi nian was n ow fre e fro m troubl e at ho m e an d abroad ,

74 E u ropea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

an d turne d t o t hose ambi tiou s schem es o f foreign p ol i cy w h ich

were to occupy th e rest o f hi s reign Th e dream of h is heart .

was t o reu n ite t he Roma n E mpire by bringing once m ore ,

u n der his sceptre all thos e western provi n ces which were
Occupied by Teu tonic kings an d paid o nly th e shadow o f ,

h omage to the i mperial n am e A few years be fore th e d ream .

,

w oul d ha v e seem ed fa ntastically overween i ng bu t of late ,

matters had been growing m ore an d m ore prom i si ng J us tin ian .

w a s compared wi th h i s four predecessors young a n d vigor

, ,

ous h e had an i m m en se s tore O f treasure all the hoard of ,

Anastasi us a large a nd effici en t arm y an d at least o n e general

, ,

o f fi rs t rate ab ility
-
H i s thron e was fi rml y rooted h is eastern
.

fron tier secure n oth ing n ow p reven ted h i m fro m u n dertaking

w ars o f aggression .

M eanwh ile everythi ng i n the West favoured hi s p roj ects

, .

I n I taly th e great T h e o d o ri c was dead an d sin ce hi s death , , ,

the O strogoth ic kingdom had been fari ng il l The o l d h ero .

had left hi s real m t o h i s gran dson A t h a la ri c a b oy o f eigh t ,

years old u nder the guardian shi p o f h i s m other Amalaswi n tha

, ,

th e widow o f E u t ha ri c The daugh ter o f The odori c was a

.

clever an d m asterful woman bu t sh e had a di ffi cul t task i n

,

teach ing the turbulen t O strogoth s t o obey a female regen t .

Mi n ority ,
They
0
m u rmu red a t al l her d oi ngs an d m ost espe ,

Ath l i
a a r c. c i a lly at her taste for Roma n an d G reek letters an d ,

h e r frequen t p rom otio n s o f Roman o fficial s S h e .

strove t o bri ng u p h er son i t wa s sai d m ore as an I tal ian than

, ,

a Goth placi n g hi m u n der Roman tutors a n d keeping h i m

,

tight to th e d esk i n s p i te o f the sayi ng o f Theodori c that h e

,
‘

’
w h o has t rembl ed before t he pedagogu e s ro d wil l n o t face
’
th e spear willi ngl y I t was as m uch as Amalaswin tha cou l d
.

d o to kee p the Goth s i n thei r obedie n ce wh ile her son was

you ng bu t w hen h e h ad attained th e age o f t wel ve or thi rtee n
, ,

an d began to sh ow s om e wil l Of hi s o wn th e m u rmu rs o f th e ,

p eopl e grew l ou der At last when h e had o n e day bee n

.
,

c hasti se d by h i s m other he bu rst i nto th e guard ro o rn an d

,
-

bade h is subj ects take n ote h ow a king o f the G oth s was

 ’
ju s t i n i a n a n a lz i s Wa rs 75

treated worse than a slave This scen e p roduc e d a t um ul t .

,

an d the ch iefs o f the Goth s took t he educati on o f th e b o y ou t

’
of h i s m other s hands t hough they left her th e regen cy
,
.

H an de d over to u nsuitable com p an ion s A th a la ri c grew i dle ,

drunken a nd reckless ; h e was o f a weakly habi t o f body

, ,

and before h e reached manh ood had develo p ed th e sym p tom s

, ,

o f con sumption M eanwh il e Amalaswi n tha was conten ding

.
,

for power with the chi efs o f th e Goth s an d had earned m u ch ,

u npopularity by pu tti ng to death with ou t form o f trial th e , ,

three heads of th e party wh ich Op p osed her S O u ncertai n .

was her p osi ti on that sh e sen t secretl y t o J usti n ian i n 5 3 3 to

beg h i m t o give her refuge a t Dyrrh a chi u m if sh e s houl d b e
force d to fly The em p eror soon grasped th e p ositi on —a
.

divi ded peopl e a n u np o p ular rege n t a boy king s inking i n t o

, ,
-

hi s grave i nvited hi m t o active i n terference i n I taly .

I n Africa t he co n dition of affairs was equally tem p ti ng We .

have already men ti one d h ow o n t he death of ki ng Th ra sa m u n d

, ,

th e Van dal thron e had fallen to hi s ki nsm an H i l d i er c s

'

H i l d e ri c th e so n o f king H u n n e ri c an d t he
’

Roman pri ncess E udocia ,

H il d e ri c was el derly u nversed
.
,

i n affairs Of state and a con scien tiou s Catholic i n heriting fro m

, ,

his Roman m other that orthodoxy which hi s Arian sub j ects

detested H e had bu t a sh ort reign o f seven years b u t i n i t
.
,

h e s ucceeded i n alienati ng the affection s o f th e Van dals i n

every way H e i ncurred great O dium fo r p u tting to death
.

’
h i s predeces sor s wi dow Am a l afri d a th e si ster of th e great ,

Theodoric beca use he fou n d h er con spiri ng again st h im H i s

, .

wars were u n iforml y u n successful the M oors o f Atlas cu t to ,

p ieces a whole arm y an d pushed th eir i n cursi on s close to the

,

gates o f Carthage P robabl y h is Open con fessio n Of C a t h o l i

.

c i sm an d prom otion o f Cathol ics to high O ffi ce

, were even ,

greater s ources of wrath I n 5 3 0 hi s c ousi n G e ila m i r organ

.

ised a con s p iracy again st h i m overthrew h i m wi th ease an d , ,

p lu nged h im i n to a dungeon J ustinian p rofessed great i n d ig.

nation a t th is dethron ing o f an orthodox an d friendly sovereign ,

an d resolved to m ake u se o f i t as a grievanc e again st th e n ew

76 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

’
k ing th e Van dals J u st b efore th e Nika sedi tion broke
of .
‘

o u t h e had sen t an embassy to Carthage to bi d G e i la m i r

re p lace h i s cou si n o n t h e thron e an d be con ten te d wi th th e ,

place o f regen t T he u sur p er an swered ru del y enough : Ki ng

.
‘

Ge ila m i r w i sh e s to poi n t o u t to ki ng J u sti n ian tha t i t i s a

’
good t hing fo r rulers t o m in d th eir o wn bu si ness 1
He .

tru sted t o t he rem otenes s o f h i s s i tuation an d th e d om estic

troubl es o f J u sti n ian an d l i ttl e t h ough t that h e was drawin g
,

d own t he storm o n h is head .

For J u sti n ian had fully mad e u p hi s mi n d t o begi n h is

attack o n the West by subdu i ng the Van dal s All thi ngs were .

i n h i s favour n otably th e facts that a n Arian ki ng was o nce

,

m ore making l ife m i serable t o th e African Cath ol ics an d t hat ,

Van dal an d O strogot h had been com pletely estranged by

th e m urder Of Am a la frida n in e years before Amalaswi n tha .

’
favoure d rather than d i scou raged th e em peror s attack o n
her n eares t Teuton ic n eighbou rs There wa s ye t o n e m ore .

piece o f good fortu n e : ki n g G e ila m i r ha d j u st sen t Off t he

flower Of th e Van dal troop s t o an expediti o n agai n s t Sar
di n ia .

E n couraged by th ese con s ideration s J usti n ian prepared a n ,

army for th e i nvasion o f Africa i n the sum m er o f 5 3 3 th ough ,

some Of h i s m in isters an d above all th e fi nancier J o h n o f

, ,

Cappadocia warn ed h i m again s t attacki ng th e e n ds Of th e

,
‘

earth from wh ic h a m essage wou l d hardly reach Byzan ti u m i n

,
’
a year a rid icul ou s plea to an y o n e wh o rem em bered th e
,

ancien t organ isatio n O f th e empire The arm y was n ot very .

large i t con si sted o f foot an d 5 0 0 0 h orse hal f regular ,

troo p s from th e Asiatic p rovi nce s hal f H u n n is h an d H erul ian ,

auxiliari es B u t i ts com mander Beli sariu s was a

“
B l i s ri u s
.
, ,
e a

i v d s
n a e h ost i n h im sel f an d con fiden ce i n hi m bu oyed
,
m d” a
u p man y wh o woul d oth er wi se have des p ai red .

Th e voyage wa s protracted by con trary wi n ds t o th e u n pre

c e d e n t e d l ength o f eigh ty days bu t at last th e armam en t e as t
,

Th e r e
1
w as d e l i b e r a t e i n su l t i n t he u s e o f t h e w o rd n m es: a fo r bo th
m o na rchs , a s i f t h e y w e r e e qu a l a n d b o r e t h e s a m e t i t l e .
 ju s ti n i a n ’
a na k i s Wa rs 77

anchor at Ca p u t Vada on t he ca p e wh ich faces S icil y i n th e

, ,

begin nin g o f Se p tember The Vandals were caugh t w holly

.

unprepared : their k i n g was absen t i n Num id ia their bes t ,

troop s were i n Sardin ia their fleet had n o t been even

,

launched A bl ind con fi dence i n thei r rem oteness from C o n

.

’
st an t i n o pl e had led them to des p ise all J ustin ian s threats an d ,

n o preparation whatever had been made agai n st an i n vasion .

Ge i la m i r hurried down to th e coas t p u t h i s p ris on er H i l d e ri c

,

to death an d su m m oned i n h i s warriors from every side bu t

,

i t was eleven days b efore h e m ustered i n su fficien t force to

attack th e Romans an d m eanwhile Beli sariu s had advanced
,

u n o p posed to wi thi n ten m iles o f th e gates of Carthage Th e .

p rovi ncials received hi m everywhere wi th j oy ; for b e p ro

clai m e d that h e cam e to del iver them fro m Arian O pp res si on ,

an d ke p t h is sold iery i n s uch good order that n ot a fi el d o r a

cottage was plu n dered .

B elisarius had reached t he p osting stati on o f Ad Deci m u m

-
,

an d was advancing cautiou sl y wit h stron g cor p s of Ob servati on

securi ng hi s flank an d fron t wh en su ddenly h e was assailed
,

by t he whole force o f t he Van dals wh o out n u m bered h im i n

,

at least t he pro p ortion o f two to on e H e was beset o n thr e e

.

’
s ides at once ; o n e corp s o f Vandal s u nder the k i ng s brother
Am m a t as i ssued fro m Carthage to attack h i m i n fron t an other
body beset his left fl ank ; the m ai n arm y u n der Gei la m i r
h i m self assailed the rear of hi s l ong colum n o f march B u t .

t he Van dals m i smanaged t heir tactics an d failed to co m b in e ,

the th ree attacks First the troop s from Carthage cam e o u t

.
,

a n d were beaten Off wi th the loss of their leader ; then t he

turn ing corps was driven back by th e H un n ish cavalry wh o m ,

Belisariu s h ad ke p t lying o u t o n hi s flank W he n the m ai n .

Van dal arm y came up there was m ore seri ou s fighting wi t h

t h e cen tre an d rear o f the Roman colu m n G eila m i r furi ously .

burst through t he l i n e o f m arch an d cleft th e Roman army

,

i n twain b u t h e d i d n ot k now how to u se hi s advan tage

, .

I nstead o f im p roving h is fi rst success h e hal t e d h is troo p s , ,

and allo we d B elisarius to rally a n d r e for m hi s men It is .

78 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

sai d t hat h e was s o trans p orted w it h grief at fi n ding t h e cor p se

o f h i s brother wh o had fallen i n th e earl ier engagem e n t that
, ,

h e gave n o m ore orders an d cas t h im sel f weeping o n th e

,

groun d Presen tly th e Roman s w ere i n good array again ;

.
,

t heir vi ctoriou s van guard had returned to aid th e cen tre an d ,

they fel l once m ore as th e even ing cl osed in o n th e stati onary

, ,

m asses o f t he Vandals The c on querors o f Afri ca mu st have

.

forgotten their ancien t valour for after a very paltry resistanc e

, , ,

they turn ed an d fled westward u n der cover o f th e n igh t .

Carthage at once threw O p en i t s gates an d Beli sariu s d i n e d

,

n ext day i n t he royal palace o n th e m eal tha t had be e n pre

t p ared for the Vandal k ing G e ila m i r reaped n ow
a g e
.

at ken
th e reward for t he hu n dred years of pers ecution
to wh ic h hi s forefathers had subj ected th e African s E v e ry .

town that wa s not garrisoned O p en ed i t s gates to t h e

Romans a n d th e p rovi ncials hasten ed to p lace everyth ing
,

they possess e d at th e d is p osal Of Bel isarius H i s en try in to .

Carthage was l ike the triu mp h Of a hom e com in g king an d -

t he order an d d iscipl in e o f h i s troops was s o great t hat n on e

e ve n of th e Vandal a n d Ar ian ci tizen s suffered loss .

G e i la m i r m eanwh ile retired i n to th e Num idia n h ill s with ,

an arm y that had suffered m ore loss o f mor a l e than los s o f

n u mbers H e was s oon j oi ned by the troop s w hom h e had
.

sen t to Sardi n ia ; having subdu ed that i slan d they retu rn ed ,

an d rai sed h is forces to n early m en Fi n ding that .

Bel isariu s was repairing th e w all s Of Carthage before marchi ng

o u t to fin ish th e cam paign G e ila m i r resol ved to take t he
,

O ffen sive h i m sel f D escen d ing from t h e h ills he marched o n

.

Carthage an d m et the Roman ar m y at T ri camero n twen ty

, ,

m iles westward of th e ci ty .

H ere Bel isariu s w o n a p i tched battle afte r a s truggl e far

m ore severe tha n that he had gon e through a t Ad D e c i m u m .

T hrice th e Roman s were beaten back bu t their gallan t leader

,

rall ied them an d at las t h i s c uirassiers burst th rough t h e

,
’
Vandal ranks an d slew T z az o the king s b rother G e ila m i r
, .

turn e d t o fly though h i s m en fough t o n un til t h e i r retreat was

,
 ’
ju s t i n i a n a n a lei s Wa rs 79

c u t Off Al mos t t he whol e Van dal rac e p erish ed i n t hi s fi gh t

.

an d t he bl oody p ursui t which follow e d Ge i l a m i r him s e l f

.

t ook r e fuge i n th e heights of M oun t Atlas a m ong th e Moors ,

an d dwelt am ong them m iserabl y enough fo r a few m on ths .

D i scovering that he cou ld n ot rais e a third arm y an d that ,

li fe was u nen durable a m ong the fi lthy barbarian s E d f t h , n o e

h e det erm i n ed to surren der an d yielded h im self V d l

,
an a

k m gdm
an d h i s famil y to Beli sariu s o n the assurance that
,
‘

h e should recei ve hon ourabl e tr e atmen t i n sp ite o f th e fac t ,

’
that he had m urdered the emperor s frien d H ilde ri c .

I n th e spring o f 5 3 4 B elisariu s was abl e to re t urn i n

trium p h to Con stantin o p le bringi ng wit h hi m the king an d
,

m ost o f t h e survivin g Van dal s as ca p tives H i s ships were .

loaded wit h all the p lu nder Of the palace of Carthage t h e ,

t ro p hies o f a cen tury o f successful p irate raids i ncl u ding the ,

p late an d ornam en ts wh ich Gai s e ric had carried o ff fro m

Ro m e i n 4 5 5 I t i s sai d that t he emp e ror recognise d am on g
.

thi s stor e th e sev e n branched can dlestick an d gol den vessel s

-

o f the te m pl e o f J erusal em which Titus Caesar had taken

,

t o Rom e when h e con quered J u dea fou r hun dred years

back H e sen t t hem t o be p laced i n the C hurch of the H ol y
.

S e p ulchre in the H oly C i ty w here they had b een fi rs t co u s e

,

crated . B eli sariu s was allowed the h on ours of an ancien t

Ro m an trium p h a p rivilege den ied to a sub j ect for fou r
,

cen turies ; h e en tere d th e H ippodrome i n state an d lai d h i s ,

’
p risoners an d hi s b ooty at J u sti n ian s feet while senate an d ,

p eople saluted hi m as th e n ew Scip io Africanus a titl e which ,

h e had fairly earn e d Nex t year he was prom oted t o th e

.

con sulsh i p an d given every hon ou r t hat the emperor coul d

,

devi se H i s capt i ve ki ng Gei la m i r was ki ndly treated an d

.
,
, , ,

p resen ted with a great estate i n Ph rygia w here h e an d h i s ,

fam ily long dwel t i n ease .

T he year Of t he trium p h o f Beli sariu s saw n ew o pp ortu n iti es

a rising for h i m an d for hi s mast e r I n t he autum n o f 5 3 4 d ie d
.

th e sickly an d debauched you th wh o h el d th e titl e o f king

Of the O strogo t h s ; h e had n o t
ye t attai n e d hi s e igh t ee n t h
80 E u r opea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

b irt hday H i s m other Am alaswi ntha was n ow left face to

.
, ,

face wi th th e w ild Goths stri p ped o f th e protection o f th e,

royal name an d ex p osed t o t he en m i ty of th e fam ilies o f t h e

,

c h iefs wh om she had executed I n d espai r o f i nducing th e .

G oth s t o en dure th e rule of a queen regnan t she determi n e d -

,

t o ch oose a colleague an d con fer o n hi m the titl e Of k ing

, .

’
Theodoric s n ext mal e h ei r afte r A t ha la ri c was a certai n Theo
dahat th e son of h i s si ster Am ala b e rga T his pri nce had
,
.

been excl uded by h is u ncl e from all affai rs of state for hi s

Am l a a
n otoriou s cowardice c ovetou sn ess an d du p lici ty , ,
.

s w i th
n a and H e was a Roman ised Teu ton o f th e worst ty p e ,
Th e°d h t
a a
an d as was trul y sai d Vi l i s Go t/ ms i m i ta tu r
'

, ,

R o m a mu n ; h e had pron ou nced l i terary tastes called h im sel f ,

a Platon ic ph ilosopher an d sh owed s om e care fo r th e arts

, ,

bu t was w h olly m ean an d corru pt Amalaswi ntha though t to .

p resum e o n th e c oward ice o f her cou sin an d to forc e hi m t o ,

becom e her t ool ; s h e forgot that even a coward m ay be

’
a mb iti ou s At th e queen s beh est th e assembl y of the warriors
.

o f I tal y hailed T h e o d a h a t an d Amalaswi n tha j oin t rulers o f

the O strogoth s B u t i n l ess than six m on th s t h e i n trigu ing

.

king had sub orned h i s parti san s t o seize an d i m p ri son h i s

un fortunate cousi n Sh e was cast i n to a castl e on the lake Of
.

’
B olsena an d shortly afterward s m urdered w i th Th eo da ha t s
, ,

con n ivance by som e o f th e ki n sfolk of th e n obles wh o m sh e

,

execu ted five years before ( May .

,

J u sti n ian h ad n ow a n even better eo su s 11 111 i n I taly than

h e had pos sessed i n Africa H is ally had been deth roned .

an d m urdered an d her crown was possessed by a creature far

,

i nferior to G e ila m i r wh o was at leas t a warrior i f an u n fo rt u

,

nate on e The m i serable T h e o da ha t grovelled wi th fear when

.

h e received the angry ul ti matu m o f J u stin ian H e even made .

’
secre t proposal s t o th e em peror s ambassadors to th e e flec t
that h e w oul d abandon h i s crown an d betray h is peo p l e if ,

onl y h e were gran ted h i s l i fe an d a suitabl e mai n tena nce .

Wh en eve n thi s d id n ot av a il h e took to con sul ti ng soot h ,

saye rs an d m agician s We are told that a J ewi sh se e r

.
 ju s t i n i a n ’
a n a li i s Wa rs 81

bade hi m p en up thi rty pigs —t o r ep resen t u nclean Gen tiles ,

—
we m ust suppose i h three sties calli ng ten Goths ten ’
,
‘
,
’ ’
‘
I tal ian s and ten I m perial ists
,
H e was to l eave them
‘
.

te n days w ithout food o r water an d then tak e augury from ,

thei r con ditio n W hen T heo da ha t l ooked i n at th e ap p oi n ted

.

’
hou r h e fou n d all th e Got h pigs dead save two an d half o f
,
‘
,
’ ’
the I talian s bu t the I mp eriali sts though gau n t an d wasted
,
‘
, ,

were all o r al most all al ive T hi s th e J ew told the down cas t

, ,
.

king woul d porten d a war i n which th e Gothi c race was to

b e well nigh exterm in ated an d th e I tal ians to b e terribl y cu t
-

down while t he I m p erial arm ies w oul d co n quer after m uch

,

toil an d privat io n 1
Whil e T h eo d aha t was vai nly b u sy wi th h i s sooth sayers th e ,

Ro m an arm ies had already attacked the Goth ic provi n ce i n

D almatia Th e wretched u surper had to face war w hether
.
,

he willed i t o r n o J u sti n ian had d eter m in ed as was b u t

.
,

n atural t o i ntrust th e O strogoth i c war t o th e con queror o f

,

Africa an d i n th e au tum n o f the year o f hi s con sulsh ip

, , ,

B el isariu s sailed for th e West with a sm all arm y o f 7 5 0 0 m en ,

o f wh om 3 0 0 0 were I saurian s an d th e res t equally d ivi ded ,

b etween Roman regulars an d H u n n is h a n d H e ru l e auxil iaries .

I t was a small force wit h w hich to attack a ki n g wh o com

m a n d e d th e swords o f a hun dred thou san d gallan t Germ an s ,
’
b u t reinforcements were t o foll ow an d Th e o da ha t s coward ice ,

an d i ncapaci ty were well kn own .

I n Sep temb er 5 3 5 B eli sariu s fel l o n Si cil y ; here as i n Africa

th e p rovin ci al s hasten ed to t hrow o p e n th e gates o f th ei r
cities to th e i nvader There were few Goth s i n S icily ; they
.

garrisoned Palermo bu t B el isari u s t ook the p lace b y a su dden

,

assaul t after lyi ng on ly a few days before i ts walls B y the

,
.

approach o f win ter th e wh ole i slan d was i n hi s B e l i s a r i s u

han ds H e woul d have h asten ed o n to attack c q u r

.
on e s

s m u y ’5 3 5
I taly bu t for a m u tin y which broke ou t i n Africa
,
'

and com p elled h i m to cross t he s ea an d s p en d som e ti m e i n

the neighbourhood o f Carthage .

Meanwh i l e the p oor craven T heo dahat di d n oth ing bu t

P ER I OD 1 .
82 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

besiege th e ears o f J usti nian w ith m ore fru itless pro p osal s for
p eace H e was as u npre p ared as ever for res istance wh en
.

Bel isariu s crossed over th e straits o f Messi na i n April 5 3 6 , ,

a n d overran B ru t t i u m an d Lucania S o greatl y were th e G oth s

.

o f the south d iscouraged by hi s helpl essn ess tha t E b e rm u n d , ,

t he Cou n t o f Lucan ia s urren dered to B elisariu s an d en tered

, ,

t h e i mperial service wit h al l h is followers I t was n ot till h e .

had pu she d o n to Naples that B el isariu s m et with any O ppos i

tion all through sou th ern I tal y th e ci ty gates swu ng Op en th e
m om en t that h e touched them with h i s spear Th e Ol d Greek .

ci ty o f Na p les h owever hel d by a strong Goth ic garri son

, , ,

m ad e a very ob s ti nate defen ce an d h el d out for many week s

, ,

awaiting the arrival o f a relieving arm y Ki ng T h eo d aha t had .

gathered a great arm y at Rom e but the coward dared n o t

,

cl os e an d ke p t
,
m en i dl e wh ile 7 0 0 0 Roman s were
,

b eleaguering N apl es At last th e city fell a party o f I saurian

.
,

sold iers having foun d their way up a d isu sed aqueduct an d ,

s torme d o n e o f th e gates fro m with i n T he n ews of th e fall .

o f Naples raised th e wrat h o f th e Goth s again s t thei r wretched

k i ng t o b oiling p oi n t A t a great folkm oo t at Rege ra i n

.

th e Pomptin e Marsh es t he arm y solem nl y de p osed T he o d a hat ,

and as n o m al e Am al was left raised o n t he s hield Wi t i g es

, , ,

an el derly warrior o f respectabl e character wh o had wo n ,

credi t i n t he Ol d wars of Theodoric Th e dethroned k ing fl ed.

away t o seek refuge a t Raven na b u t a private en em y purs u e d

,

h i m an d cu t h i s throat l ike a s hee p l ong ere h e had reach ed

‘

th e Ci ty o f th e M arshes .

Th e ch oice o f W i t iges was a fearful error o n th e p art o f th e

G oths ; th ey had m i staken respectability for talen t and pai d ,

th e penal ty i n seeing th e s tu p i d veteran wreck al l th ei r h opes .

Th e fi rst bl u nder o n th e part o f t he n ew kin g was t o d raw h i s

arm y n orthward o n th e n ews that th e Franks were crossin g
th e Al ps to ravage the vall ey o f P 0 H e left onl y 4 0 0 0 m en .

i n Rome and march ed o n Raven n a wi th all the rest The

, .

m omen t that h e was departed Bel i sariu s m oved n orthward t o

at tack t h e i m p erial ci ty I t fell in to hi s hand s wi thout a bl ow ;
.
 ’
ju s t i n i a n a na k i s Wa rs 83

the Gothic garri son fel t that they were l eft deser t ed am ong a
p o p ulace ready t o betray th em to t h e en em y ; i n deed P ope
S ilverius an d th e S enate had alread y wri tten t o Be l i s a r i us
p ray Bel isarius to deli ver them Whe n t he I m t k s R m e.
a e o .

536
p e ri a li st s ap p eared before th e southern gate th e
‘

G oths fled o u t o f the n orthern i n a pan i c that was i n excu s

,

able for they were well n igh as nu merou s as th e 5 0 0 0 m e n

,
-

that Beli sarius brough t wit h hi m ( D ecember 9 .

,

B eli sariu s was n ow m aster o f Rom e bu t he kn ew that h i s ,

h ol d on i t was precarious Wi t i g e s had settled matters wit h

.

th e Franks by payi ng t hem gol d sol idi and ceding h i s

Transalpi n e dom in ion s i n P roven ce After marrying Mata .

s wi n t ha
,
the sister o f the late ki n g A t halaric an d t h e last ,

scion Of the hou se o f the Amal s h e res ol ved to return an d ,

del iver Rom e . Al l n orth I tal y had sen t h i m i ts Goth ic

warriors an d,
m en marched u n der hi s ban n e r to
besiege Rom e i n th e spri ng o f 5 3 7 .

Th e defence of Rom e i s the greatest of all th e titles t o glory

that B eli sariu s won The walls o f Au relia n were strong b u t
.
,

there were only 5 0 0 0 m en to defen d th eir vast circu i t an d ,

wi thi n was an un ruly mass Of cowardly citizen s l iabl e t o all ,

sorts of p an ic fear s —m ouths to b e fed withou t han ds to strik e ,

for hardly a Rom an took arm s t o ai d the i m p erial troops I n .

th e middle o f March the Goth s ap p eared before th e walls an d ,

p itch e d seven cam p s Opposite the n orth ern an d eastern gates

o f the city . They t hen cut all th e aqueducts which su p pl ied
Rome with water an d com m enced th e con struction o f si ege
,

engi nes for a great assault Wi th th e wan t o f thoroughn ess

.

t hat he al ways di splayed k ing Wi t i g e s m ade n o adequate

,

p re p aration for blockad i ng t he southern side o f the ci ty o r for ,

stoppi ng i ts com m un ication s wit h O stia an d Na p les All .

through t h e siege con voy s o f provisi on s an d rein forcemen ts

were frequen tly able to cree p i n to Rome by n ight eluding t he ,

out p osts w hich wer e a ll that Wi t iges p laced o n th e sid e o f t he

Tiber an d t he Cam p agna .

A fortn ight after arrivi ng i n fron t o f t he wall s Wi tiges had

84 E u ropea n H i s to1y , 47 6 9 1 8 -

h i s engi n es ready an d del ivered h i s great assaul t o n th e

,

n orthern an d n orth eastern fron t s o f t he ci ty E verywhere th e

-
.

attack failed ; th e towers and ram s w h ich t he G oth s had

d rawn forward n ever reach ed th e wall s th e oxen wh ich d rew
t h em w ere shot d own before they n eared th e di tch But .

th ou san ds o f w il d warriors w i th scal ing ladders delivered -

as saul ts agai n st i n n um erabl e p ortion s o f t he en cei n te In .

m ost ca ses they failed en tirel y th e wall s o f Au rel ian were to o

stron g ; bu t at two p oin ts a t opposite e n ds o f the ci ty they
, ,

n early wo n success At th e Praenest in e gate a batteri ng ram

.
-

b roke i n the ou ter bulwark s an d a swarm o f Goth s was only

,

hel d back b y an i n ner en tren ch men t till th e rein forcemen ts o f

B el i sariu s arrived B u t greater danger still was e ncou n tered
.

a t th e Mausoleu m o f H adrian ( castl e of S t An gelo ) j us t .

,

Be l i s a r i us beyon d th e t E li an B ridge There th e G ot hs .

d f ds
e en fille d th e d itch overwhel med th e defenders wi th
,

an d were fi tting th ei r ladders t o th e

e m b rasu res whe n th ey were at last checked by a stran ge
,

ex p edien t Th e wall s o f the maus oleu m were l in e d with

.

dozen s of sple nd id statues som e of them figu res o f em p erors

, ,

o thers th e an cien t spoil s o f Greece At th e suprem e m om en t .

t he desperate garri so n fl ung th ese col ossal figu res o n the

besiegers below an d drove them o ff by the hail o f marbl e
,

fragmen t s .

At th e en d o f th e day B el isariu s was everywh ere suc

c e ss fu l ; Goth s had fallen an d t h e self c o n fi d e n ce o f
,
-

Wi t ige s w a s s o broke n that h e n ever agai n tried a gen eral

assaul t H e rel ied i n stead o n a blockade bu t th ough h e
.
, ,

i n flicted great m i sery o n th e garri son an d s til l m ore on th e ,

populace h e n ever cl osed th e road s o r th e river su fficien tly

,

to e xcl ud e occasi onal convoys o f provisi on s H e d id n o t .

preven t Bel i sariu s from tra n sferri ng to Cam pan ia the greater
part o f t he wom en aged m en an d slaves i n the ci ty M ean
, ,
.

wh ile th e sum m er d rew o n an d th e G oth ic h osts bega n t o

,

su ffer from m alaria an d fro m th e fi l th y s tate o f the crowded

,

cam ps O n th e other hand B el i sari us a t las t began to r e cei v e

.
,
 ’i
ju s t i n i a n a na k s Wa rs 85

r ei nforc eme n t s fro m Con stan tin ople an d was abl e t o m ak e ,

sallies i n which hi s h orsemen han dle d t he Gothic outpos t s

,

very roughl y .

W hen both assaul t an d blockade had been proved i h

effectual an d when an attempt to creep i nto th e city through
,

t h e em p ty aqueducts had been foiled Wi t i ge s wou ld probably ,

have don e well t o raise th e siege an d th row on B elisari us w hose

, ,

arm y was st ill very s mall th e burden o f taki ng t he offen sive

, .

I n stead of doin g thi s h e lay ob stin ately i n hi s cai np for a year

an d n in e days watch ing h is arm y m el t away u n der the scourge
,

o f p estilence an d all owing th e nu mbers an d b oldness o f t he

,

I m p erialists to i ncrease At last B el i sariu s had been s o

.

s trongly rei n forced that h e was abl e wh ile still h olding Rom e , ,

t o p ut a secon d force i n th e field T his h e sen t u n der an.

,

Officer n am ed J oh n th e B loody through t he Sabi n e hill s t o

,

m ake a dash i n to P i ce n u m an d m enace Raven na John a .

,

very able O fficer seized the importan t town of

,
f e O
g 1

R i m i m only th irty three m iles from Raven na i n R m r i s d

,
-
,
o e a e ,

5 38
February 5 3 8 Th e n ews t hat h is cap ital was
.
‘

b eing threatened an d that th e en em y was i n h is rear at last

, ,

forced t h e sluggi sh kin g o f t h e Goth s t o m ove H e set hi s .

seven cam p s o n fi re an d retired u p th e Flam inian Way i n to

,

P i cen u m T hus th e pruden ce an d valou r o f B eli sarius were

.

at l ast vi n dicated an d th e Ro m an s after a s iege o f 3 7 4 days

, , ,

coul d once m ore breath e freel y .

M i ddl e I taly was n ow los t t o th e Got hs an d t he sc e n e o f ,

Op eration s sh i fte d i nt o P i c e n u m nort h E truria an d th e valley

, ,

o f th e Po where t h e wa r was to en dure for t wo years m ore

,

(53 8 I t res olved i tself i n t o a struggle for the coast town s

between Ravenn a an d A n cona an d for t he com m an d o f t h e
,

p asses Of the Apen n in es O n e half o f th e Roman army was

.

con cen trated at Ri m i n i an d An cona whil e B el i sariu s h im sel f ,

wi th the other was occu p ied i n clearing th e Goth ic garri son s

o u t of n orth ern E truria T wo Goth i c arm ies at Raven n a an d
.

Au xi m u m pen ne d the n orthern Roman force i nt o th e narrow

sea coast p lain a n d at last l a i d sie ge t o b oth Ri m in i an d
-
,
86 E u ropea n H i s t ory, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

An cona H e r e Wi t iges see m e d for o nc e l ikel y to succ ee d

.
,

bu t w hen th e garri son s had b een brough t to the last

,

extrem ity they w ere rel ieve d by n ew forces from Con stan ti
,

n o pl e com mand ed by th e eun uch Narses th e p r a eposi tu s s a er z

1 117 11 11 11:

Th ro w n on t he defen s ive Wi t i ge s d rew b ack to Raven na ,

a nd all owed th e Rom an s t o o ve rru n the p rovin ce o f ZEm i li a ,

a n d e ven to cross th e P o an d rai se an i n surrecti on i n t h e,

great city o f M ilan T here n o w foll owed a l ong p ause

.

Bel isariu s fou n d tha t Narse s was set o n asserting an i nd e

p en den t au th ority ove r th e n ewl y arrived army an d had to -
,

s en d to th e em peror t o beg h i m to recall th e eun uch Mean .

wh ile h e lai d si ege t o th e last two G oth ic fortresses sout h

o f Rav e n na t he town s o f Fiesol e i n E truria an d Au xi m u m
,

( O si m o ) i n P i c e num B oth ci ties m ade

. a gallan t resi stan ce ,

an d while B el i sari us was at a s tan d still U ra i a s the warlik e ,

n ephew o f Wi t i g e s st orme d an d sacke d M ilan an d res tore d

, ,

th e Goth ic d om i n ion n orth o f t he P o M eanwhile th e

king took the o nl y w ise s te p wh ich o ccu rred to h i m d urin g
t h e wh ol e war : h e s e n t ambassad ors to th e E as t t o i n form
C h o sro e s king o f Persia that wel l —
,
n igh th e w h ol e Rom an
,

arm y was occu p i ed i n I tal y an d that h e m igh t overru n Syria ,

an d M eso p otam ia wi th ease Take n two years earl ier th i s .

,

s te p m ight have saved t h e G oths b u t n o w i t was t o o late ,

C h o sro es m oved b ut m oved o nly i n t im e t o hear that W i t iges

,

wa s dethron ed a n d a ca p tive .

After h ol din g out seven m on th s Au xi m u m surre ndered t o ,

B el isariu s at m i d wi n ter 5 3 9 4 0 Wi t i ges had don e n othing

-
,
-
.

to sav e th e gallan t garrison allegin g that a Franki sh rai d i n to

,

th e valley of the P o p reven ted h i m fro m m oving Th e excu se .

wa s tru e b u t i n su fficien t fo r wh en th e Frank s of T he u d i b e rt

, ,

th in ned by d i sease turn ed h om e agai n th e Goth ic k ing d i d

, ,

n ot stir an y th e m ore .

A t l ast i n th e spring o f 5 4 0 Narses had been recal led an d

, , ,

B el isari u s had ful l p ossessi o n o f al l P i ce n u m an d E tru ria a n d ,

coul d safel y adva nc e o n Raven na After p ostin g a c ov e ri n g .

 ’
ju s t i n i a n a n a lei s Wa rs 87

force to ward o ff an y at tem p t to rel i eve th e town b y th e Goth s

o f n orthern I taly h e drew h is mai n army rou n d th e great
,

fortress i n the marshland the chosen ho m e of Theodoric the

, ,

s torehou se of th e h oarded wealt h of t he Amals T he d e fen c e .

was weak far weaker than t hat of the smaller strongh ol d o f Auxi
,

mu m . Wi t ige s seemed to have t he p ower of com mu n icatin g

h i s sloth an d hesitatio n t o all wh o cam e n ear h im H e li sten e d .

fi rst t o o ffers from T h e u d i b ert th e Frank then t o p rop osal s fo r ,

s urren der sen t i n by B el isarius At last he determ i ned to cl ose

.

wi th th e term s offered b y J u stin ian that h e sh ou ld resign all I tal y

,

sou th of the P o give up half th e royal h oard an d reign i n t h e

, ,
’
Tran spadan e as t he emperor s vassal Th e ter m s wer e n ot
.

hard for J u stin ian had j ust been attacked by Pers ia an d

, ,

wi shed to e n d h i s I talian war at once I t woul d have bee n .

well for all p arties i f they ha d b een carried ou t bu t two will s

i n terven ed : th e Gothi c n oble s were wil dly in dignan t at th ei r
’
m aster s cowardice : B el i sariu s l ooking at h i s m il itary a dva n
,

tages thought the term s too l iberal From thi s w t

,
.

sur . .

es
g I i

d iscon ten t cam e an extraordinary resul t : th e r d r en e s

R ’W a ve n n a
Teu ton ic c hiefs b ol dly proposed to t h e i m p erial ’

ge n eral that h e s houl d reign over th em —wh eth er as k ing of ,

th e Goth s o r Roman Caesar they cared n ot — bu t t he ir sword s ,

shoul d b e hi s an d t he craven Wi t ige s sh oul d b e cast away

, ,

if h e woul d take them as hi s vassal s an d adm i ni ster I tal y .

B el isarius tem p ori sed an d th e simpl e G oths believin g t h at n o

, ,

man coul d resi st suc h an offer t hrew open th e gates ,

But .

t h e great gen eral was loyal to the core : i n stea d of p roclaim in g

’
hi m sel f emperor h e took over th e tow n i n J usti nian s n am e
, ,

b ade the Gothi c warriors di sperse each to hi s o wn h om e a n d ,

ship p ed all th e gol den store s o f Raven na Off to Con stan tin o p l e .

I t seem ed as if th e m onarchy o f th e Goth s was ende d

nothing remain ed t o them save Pavia Veron a an d a few , ,

more n orth I talian cities J usti n ian resolved to recall Beli sariu s
.

before these p laces s hould fall ; m ean er ge neral s woul d su ffice

to take th em Two m otives stirred th e emperor : h is great
.

ca p tai n was w ant e d o n t he e ast ern fron ti e r t o k e e p back

88 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 I 8
-

the advanci ng Persian ; bu t su s p ici on al so played i ts p art

J u sti n ian was n ot t o o w ell p leased that B el isariu s had over
ruled h i s proj ect of maki n g peace wi th Wi t ig e s an d h e had
,

been s om ewhat frigh ten ed by th e G othic prOpo sa l to m ake

B eli sari u s emperor I t had bee n d ecl in ed i t i s tru e b u t migh t
.
, ,

n o t th e seed s of di sl oyal ty have su nk i n to th e heart o f th e

gen eral ? I t woul d be safer to bri ng hi m away fro m the

temp tation .

S o b y the i mperial man date B el i sarius sailed for t he

, ,

B osph orus taki ng wi th hi m th e ca p tive Wi t ige s an d all the

, ,

gol d an d gem s o f th e great h oard of t he Am al s H e wa s .

d eni ed a formal tri um p h such a s h e had won by h i s Va ndal

victory bu t n one t h e l ess h i s rece p tion was magn i fi cen t H i s
, .

person al b ody guard o f 7 0 0 0 ch ose n m en had followed h i m

-

t o t he capi tal an d as they passed through th e s treets th e

, , ,

populace exclai me d th e househ ol d of o n e m an has destroye d

‘

’
th e ki ngdom o f th e Goth s H appy would i t have been for th e
.

great gen eral if h e had died at th e m om en t o f thi s h i s grande st

success . H e was reserve d for lesser wars an d years of
che q u e red fortu n e
f
éf e d-g sé d fl / v
 C H A P TE R V I

J U S T I NI AN
5 4 0
565 A D
-
. .

J us t i n i a n a s bu i ld e r —H i s ru i n o us fi n a n c i a l p o l i cy—H i s s e c o n d P e rs i a n w a r

C h o sro e s t a k e s A n t i o ch | 5 4o —C a m p a i g n s o f B e l i s a r i us a n d C h o sro e s
T h e G r e a t P l a g u e o f 5 42 —P e a c e wi t h P e rs i a —B a d u i l a r e s t o r e s t h e
,

O s t r o g o t h i c k i n g d o m i n I t a ly —H i s c a m p a i g n a g a i n s t B e l i s a r i us —T w o
s i eg e s o f R o m e —S ucc e ss a n d g r ea t n e ss o f B a d u il a —N a rs e s i n v a d e s
I ta ly—Ba d il a sl a i n a t T a g i n a e 5 5 2 —E n d o f t h e O s t r o g o t h i c k i n g d o m
u

N a rs e s d e fea t s t he F r a n ks —J us t i n i a n a t t a cks S o u t h e r n S p a i n —Th i r d

,

P e rs i a n W a r 5 49 5 5 —J us t i n i a n a s Th e o l o g i a n —B e l i s a r i us d e fea t s t h e
‘

-
,

H u n s—L a t e r y e a rs Of J us ti n i a n —H i s l e g a l r e fo r m s .

’
T H E year 5 4 0
'

was t he last o f J ustin ian s years of u nbroken

good fortu n e For the res t of hi s long life he was to exp erience
.

man y viciss itu des an d see som e o f h is deares t schemes fru s

,

t ra t ed though on t h e wh ole th e dogged perseveran ce wh ich

, , ,

was hi s m ost n otable characteri sti c brough t hi m safel y through

to the en d .

The firs t di ffi cul ty wh ic h was destined to trouble him i n t he ,

latter h al f o f hi s reign w as a fi nan cial On e

,
H e ha d n ow .

com e to th e en d of t h e h oarde d weal th o f An astasius t he

m i l itary b udget o f h is i ncreased emp i re re q u i red m ore m on ey ,

fo r Africa an d I taly di d n o t pay th eir way an d n ow a n ew ,

P ersian war was upon hi s han ds I n addition his .

,

magn i ficen t cou rt an d h i s i nsatiable th irst for 121233; 5

buildin g called for huge su m s year after year I t .

’
i s i m p ossible to exaggerate J usti nian s ex p en diture on brick s
an d mortar : n ot on ly did h e rebuil d i n hi s capital o n a m ore ,

magn i ficen t scal e all th e publ ic edifice s that had been b urn t
,
’
in the Nik a riot bu t he filled e very corn er o f h i s e m p i r e
‘
, ,
89
90 E u rop ea n H i s to i y , 47 6 9 I 8 -

fro m n ewl y con q uered Rav e n na t o th e Armen ian fron t ie r

-
,

w ith spl endi d forts c hurch es m onasteries hospi tal s an d

, , , ,

a q ueducts Wh en ever a B yza ntin e ru i n i s fou n d i n the w ilds

.

o f Sy ri a o r Asia M inor i t turn s ou t i n o n e case o u t O f every

,
’
two to be o f J u stin ia n s date I n t he Balkan p en in sul a alo ne
,
.

we learn to o u r surprise that he erected m ore than 3 0 0 forts

an d castles t o defen d t he l i n e o f th e D an ub e an d the H aem us ,

t he side of th e empire w h ich had been fou n d m ost o p en to

attack s o f th e barbarian during th e last cen tury Th e b uild .

i n g o f h i s en orm ous cath edral of S t S oph ia alon e cost several.

m illion s an ex p endi ture whose magn i ficen t resul t qu ite j u sti fies
,

i tself bu t o n e wh ich m u st have seem ed h eartren ding to th e

,

fi nan ciers wh o had t o fi n d t he m on ey at a m omen t when th e

emperor was i nvolved i n two desperat e wars .

J u sti n ian p ou red forth h is treasures wi th un stin ti ng han d

i n th e arts both o f war an d of peace B u t to re p l en i sh h i s .

treasury — th at j ar o f th e D anaides — h e had to im pose a

cru shi ng taxation on t he em p ire H i s finance m i ni ster J o h n
.
,

o f Ca p padocia was th e m ost u n scrupul ou s of m en o n e wh o

, ,

n ever sh rank from p lying e xtortio n o f every k i n d u p on th e

wretch ed tax payers : as l ong as h e ke p t t he exchequ er ful l
-

J u sti n ian wi nk ed at h i s i n i qu itou s an d often illegal proceed

i ngs I t was onl y when he chanced to qu arrel w i th th e empres s
.

Theodora t hat J oh n was fi nally d isgraced H i s successors .

were less capabl e b u t n o l ess extortionate : ere te n years h ad

,

p as sed th e African s an d I talian s groan i ng u n der the y ok e Of

,

R u in o us th e G reek L og ot h et es w ere cursing thei r s tars that

,

fi nan c f ever they had ai ded B el isariu s t o drive ou t th e

e o

J m’
us m a
Arian G oth an d Vandal ’
As J usti n ia n s reign
.

wen t o n t h e state o f matters grew worse an d worse ; fo r a

cru shi ng taxatio n tend s to drai n th e resources of th e lan d an d ,

at last ren ders i t u nabl e to bear even a bu rden that woul d

have once bee n l igh t H i storian s recapi tulate twen ty n ew
.

taxe s t hat J u sti n ian laid upon t he em pi re yet at th e en d of ,

h i s reign th ey were bri n gi ng i n far les s th an th e o l d an d

sim p ler i m p osts o f Anastasius a n d J u sti n had p rod uced .
 ju s t i n i a n 9I

Thi s ru i n ous drai n ing o f t h e vital p ow e r Of t he e m p ire onl y

b egan to b e seri ou sly felt after 5 40 wh e n for the fi rs t ti m e
, , ,

J u sti n ian was com p ell e d to wage war at on ce i n E as t an d Wes t ,

an d yet refuse d t o slack e n from h i s b uildin g Th e G oth ic

.

war— con t rary t o al l probability an d ex p ectation — was s t ill

d e sti n e d to ru n on for th irtee n ye ars m ore the Persian las t ed
fo r sixt e en an d when they w e r e ov e r th e e m p eror an d t h e
, , ,

em p ire alik e w e re but t h e shado w of th ei r for mer sel ve s : they

w e re u ncon quered but drai ned o f all thei r strength an d marrow

, .

We have already m enti one d that t he young king C ho sro e s o f

Persia stirr e d up by the e mbassy o f Wi t i g e s an d dreading les t
, ,

t h e p ower wh ich had sub dued Carthage an d Rom e s h ould ere

l ong s tretch o u t its han d to Ctesi ph on ha d fou n d a ea su s

,

bel l i an d crossed th e M eso p otam ian fron tier

, S om e blood.

feuds b et w ee n Ar ab hord e s res pectively subj ect to P e rsi a an d

92 E u ropea n H i s t o 7y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Con stan t in o p l e an d a di s p ut e abou t th e suzerai n ty of so me

,

tribes i n t h e Ar m e n ian highlands formed a good e n ough ex

’
cuse for ren ewi ng th e war a t a m omen t w hen J ustin ian s bes t
gen eral an d o f th e flower of h i s troo p s wer e ab s e n t

i n I tal y an d Africa .

I n t h e s p ring o f 5 4 0 at the very m om e n t when Beli sari u s

,

was reduci ng Ravenn a C h o sro es m arched up th e

S c d ,
e on

P rs i
e an wa E uphrates leavi n g th e front ier fortresses of D aras
r, ,

an d E dessa o n h i s flank an d lau n ched a sud den ,

attack o n n orth Syria H e ha d b een expecte d n ot th e re bu t

.

i n Mesopotam ia an d all p re p aration s for defence w e re o u t o f

,

g ear . Before an y res istan ce was organ ise d C ho sro e s had

crossed t he E uph rates sacked B eroea an d ran som ed H iera p oli s
, ,

for 2 0 0 0 lbs o f gol d B u t i t was at An ti och th e t hi rd city

. . .
,

o f th e Roman E m pi re an d the seat o f t h e Praetorian Prefec t,

o f th e E ast t hat t he P e rsian m onarc h was ai m i ng I t was .

m ore t h an tw o ce n turies a n d a hal f s in ce th e c ity o f t he

O ron tes h ad see n a foreign foe an d i ts wal ls were Ol d an d ,

d ila p i dated A garri so n o f 6 0 0 0 m en was t hrown in an d th e

.
,

B l ues and Green s o f t h e ci ty arm ed th em selves to guard t h e

ram p arts B u t th ere was n o Roman arm y i n th e fi el d to
.

p rotect t he ci ty from th e ap p roach o f th e Persia n

B uzes th e gen eral of t h e E ast refu sed to ri sk hi s
, ,

s mal l arm y i n a general engage m en t an d had ,

retired n o o n e k n e w w h ith er T he siege o f An tioc h wa s .

sh ort for the defence wa s i ll m anag e d : t he garri son cu t i ts

,
-

way o u t when th e walls were forced bu t the town w it h al l i ts , ,

weal th an d a great n u mb e r o f i ts i n habi tan ts wh o had n o t

,

fou n d tim e to fl y becam e t h e p rize o f C ho sro es

, Th e .

Persian p l un dered th e chu rches burn t th e p rivate hou s es an d , ,

d rov e away a herd o f ca p tives whom h e took to h is hom e , ,

an d establ ish ed i n a n ew ci ty n ear C tesi p h on which h e called ,

C ho sro a n t i o ch e ia .

Th e great king then ran som ed the n eighbouring ci ties Of

Chalci s an d Apamea an d recrossed th e E up hrates i n to ,

Meso p otam ia H e re wher e strong an d w el l ar med fortr e ss e s

.
,
-
 ju s t i n i a n 93

bl ocked his way C h o sro e s fou n d that h e could effect noth ing
,

after l ookin g at E dessa h e fou nd i t too strong and m ade hi s ,

way to D aras To thi s tow n h e laid siege b u t was b eaten o ff

.
,

with out m uch difficulty an d t hen return ed hom e fo r t h e

,

winter
The P ersian s were n e ver desti n ed to wi n agai n such
successes as had fallen to them i n t his th e fi rs t year o f th e
war By th e n ext spring J u sti n ian had rei nforced th e eastern
.

fron tier with al l his di s p osable troops an d th e m igh ty B el isari u s

,

hi mself had arrived to take comm an d o f t he arm y of M eso

p otam ia B u t i t was n ot fated that t he great k i ng an d th e
.

great ca p tai n s hould ever m easure them selves again st each

other . H eari ng that the fron tier t o th e south was n ow well
gu arded the P ersian had resolved to m ake a dash at a new
,

poin t o f the Roman l in e o f defence While ex p ected o n th e .

E uph rates h e quietly marched n orth t hrough th e Median

an d Iberian m ou n tai n s crossed m any obscure p asses an d
, ,

appeared o n th e B lack S ea coas t by t he river Phas is T h e .

Roman s here hel d the shore by t heir great castle of Petra ,

while t h e Lazi th e tribe s of i nlan d Colchi s were Roman

, ,

vassals C h o sro es overran t h e lan d con strai n ed t he Lazi to

.
,

do h i m hom age an d after a s hort siege took P etra

, , , .

M eanwhile B eli sariu s o n fi n di ng the Persian i nvasi on o f

,

M esopotam ia delayed had crossed th e fron tier i n th e far

,

south beaten a s mal l P ersian force i n the fi eld an d ravaged

, ,

Assyria from en d to en d th ough he coul d n ot tak e the great

,

fortress o f N i sib i s O n heari ng o f th i s rai d C h o sro e s retu rned

.

from Col ch i s w i th hi s m ai n army whereup on B el isariu s ,

reti red b eh in d the ram p arts of D aras Th e cam p aign had .

n ot been even tful b u t th e balance o f gain lay o n th e side o f

,

the P ersian s whose fron tier n ow touch ed the B lack Sea

, .

N o r was the n ext year ( 5 4 2 ) destined to s ee an y decis iv e

fighting B elisariu s had concen trated h i s army at E u ropu s
.

o n the E uphrat e s an d waited to be attack e d b ut save o n e rai d ,

n o attack came though C ho sro es h ad brought t h e full forc e

,

o f his e m p ire u p t o N is ibis Th e R o ma n chron icl e s ascri b e

.
94 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

h is sluggish n e ss to a fear o f th e re p u tatio n of B el isariu s bu t ,

an other cau se seem s to have b een m ore o p erative Th e great .

p lague o f 5 4 2 had j ust b roken ou t i n Persia an d i ts ravage s ,

were probably th e real cau se o f th e retreat an d d isban ding o f

th e army Of C h o sro es m u ch as i n 1 3 4 8 th e black death ’ ‘
,

cau sed E ngl is h an d Fren ch to dro p fo r a t i m e thei r m u tual

h ostil ities .

T hi s awful scourge m eri ts a word of n otice I t broke o u t .

i n E gy p t earl y i n t he year an d spread l ike w ildfi re over Syria

, ,

th e lan d s of t h e E uphrates valley an d Asia M i n or the nce , ,

m aki ng i ts way t o Co n stan ti n ople an d th e Wes t I t i s i m po s .

s ibl e to m ak e o u t i ts exact nature bu t we k n ow that i t wa s ,

accom p an i ed by ulcers and by a horribl e swell ing o f th e groi n

, .

“
Few w hom i t struck down ever recovered bu t of ,
Th G r
e tea

pl g 2 t hese few was J u st 1n 1a n h i m sel f wh o rose fro m h l S

a u e 54 , ,

bed whe n th e ru m our o f hi s death was al ready

abroad an d a figh t for t h e s uccession i m mi n en t At Con stan t i .

n o pl e th e p lagu e raged wi th such v iolen ce t hat 0 0 0 an d eve n

5 ,

pers on s are sai d t o have d ied i n a si ngl e day T h e .

h i storian Procopiu s m arvelled at i ts u n iversal spread A .

‘

m a n m igh t cl i mb to th e top Of a h ill an d i t was t here or , ,

retire to th e dep th s o f a cavern b u t i t was there also , It .

took n o n ote of n orth or s ou th Greek o r Persian washed o r , ,

u nwashed win ter o r su m m er : i n al l alike i t was deadly Th is ’

, .

awful scou rge wh ich i s th ough t to have carried o ff a th ird o f

,

t he p o p ulatio n o f th e e mp i re was n ot th e l east o f t he causes

,

o f that gen eral decay wh ich i s fou n d i n t he later years o f

’
J u sti nian s reign I t swep t away tax payers brough t com m erce
.
-
,

t o a stan dstill an d seem s to h ave left th e emperor h i m sel f a n

,

o l d m an before hi s ti m e .

T he pl ague t hen su fficien tl y accou nts for t he stagnatio n o f

t he war i n 5 4 2 Perha p s we m ay als o allow som ething for t h e
.

p ersonal troubles o f B eli sariu s wh o i n th e previou s wi n ter, , ,

had fallen o n evi l t im es H e had detected h i s i n trigui ng

.

wife An ton i na i n u nfai th fulness an d for throwing her i n t o , ,

a dungeon an d k i d na pp i ng h er p ara m ou r had i n curr e d t he

, ,
 ju s ti n i a n 95

wrath o f Th eodora wh ich seriously han dicap p ed him i n t he

,

r e s t o f h i s career so great was h er i n fl uence with her imperial

,

s p ou se . H e was n o l on ger sup p orted from Con stantin opl e

as h e had on ce been an d was at las t compelled t o d i sarm
,
’
Theodora s d ispleasure by l iberati ng hi s wife Th e i mperial .

ill hu m ou r m ay p erhaps have sti n ted hi s resour ces du ri ng

-

, ,

th e su mm er that fol lowed h i s dom estic m i sfortun e .

I n 5 4 3 the p lagu e havi ng som ewhat abated C h o sro e s onc e

, ,

m ore assu med t he Offen sive an d m oved towards Roman ,

Armen ia following the valley o f th e u pp er E u p hrates ; bu t a

,

fres h outbreak o f p estilen ce forced h i m to turn back an d t he ,

Roman s were con sequen tly enabled to i nvade P e rsarm en i a .

B elisariu s was n ot with t hem an d they suffered a seriou s ,

defeat from a n i nferi or force an d return e d with discredi t t o

,

their Ol d canton ment s Th e great gen eral had been recalled

.

with ign om iny to Constanti n opl e J u sti n ian had heard that .
,

when the n ews o f h i s sup p osed death had reached th e arm y

of the E uphrates B el isariu s had sh own som e sign s o f arran g
,

i n g for a mi li tary p ro n u n ci a men to H e di d n o t make t hi s h i s .

pretext for recall b u t dwel t o n s o m e u n settled charges o f

,

m on ey l ost from t he Van dal an d Gothi c treasures for wh ich ,

t here was som e fou n dation fo r B eli sariu s l ike M arlb orough
, , ,

had an un happy taste for hoardi ng F o r som e m on th s t h e .

gen eral was i n disgrace : h is b ody guard was dis p ersed — 7 0 0 0 -

m e n was too large a eonzi t a t u s for even t h e m ost l Oya l o f

m en — an d m u ch o f h i s wealth co n fi scated bu t o n h i s c on sen t , ,

i ng to b e recon ciled t o hi s wife an d to de p art for I tal y t h e , ,

empre ss Theodora con sented t o forget h er di s p leasure an d

allow J ustin ian to gi ve B el isari u s the charge o f a n ew war
B ut before relatin g th e doings o f t he hu mbled an d h eart
,

broken B el isariu s i n th e West we m u st fi n i sh the Persian war,

.

I n 5 4 4 C h o sro e s freed alike from th e p lague a n d from t h e

,

fear Of B el i sariu s i nvaded M eso p otam ia an d lai d siege t o i ts

“

capital E dessa After a s iege Of man y m on ths i n which t h e

.
-[

gallan t garris on b eat o ff every e ffort bot h o f o p en force an d

o f m ilitary e ngin e e ri ngs —mou n ds m i n es r am s an d tow e rs
, , , ,
96 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 I 8 -

availed n othi ng agai n st them C h o sro es w ith drew humbled t o

,
-

N isibi s and began to n egotiate for a truce ; i t was su ccessfully

,

m ade o n the term s tha t t he Persian s shoul d retai n th e h omage

o f thei r co n quests i n Colch i s an d receive 2 0 0 0 lbs o f gol d o n
,
.

evacuati ng thei r other con quests — which were o f small val ue .

O n the all importan t Mesopotam ian fron tier th e great fortresses

-

h ad hel d good an d t here was n othi n g o f i mportance for t he

,

king t o restore Thi s truce was conclu de d for fi ve years at

.
,

t h e en d Of wh ich th e war was ren ewed ( 5 4 5

M eanwh ile al l I taly wa s on ce m ore a fla m e w i th war After .

Raven n a surren dered an d Wi t i g e s was led captive t o B yz a n

,

t i um all th e Goth ic fortresses surren dered save two Veron a

, ,

an d Pavia th e only town s o f n orthern I taly i n wh ich t h e

,

Teuton ic elem en t seems to have outn umb ered th e Rom an .

Th e rem nan t o f th e O strogoth s i n Pavia though they d id n ot ,

n um ber 2 0 0 0 m en took th e bol d step o f proclai m

H ildib d a ,
,

ki g f th
n o i ng a n ew ki ng a warri or n am ed H ild i b a d w h o
e
, ,

was th e n ephew o f T he u d i s ki ng o f Spai n an d , ,

’ ’
wh o p rom i sed hi s u ncle s hel p t o h i s followers H i ld i b a d s .

resi stan ce m igh t have been crushed i f h e had been promp tly
attacked bu t th e Roman com man ders were occupied i n taki ng
,

over t he t own s that m ad e n o resistan ce an d i n qu ell ing s om e ,

di sorders am ong th eir o wn m en After B el isariu s l eft there .

,

were fi ve gen eral s i n th e p en i n sula Of whom n on e was truste d

wi t h suprem e authori ty over t he rest E ach left to an oth er .

th e task o f treadin g o u t th e last s p ark s Of Gothi c resistan ce ,

a n d graduall y H il d i b a d grew stro nger a s the scattered rem na n ts

o f the arm y of Wi t ig es m ade thei r way to h i s cam p When .

h e recovered m ost o f Ven e tia th e Rom an s t h ough t h i m ,

worth y o f n otice bu t h e won a battl e n ear Treviso over th e

,

arm y t hat cam e agai n st h i m Th e I talian s were n o w far from

.

showing th e devotion to th e i m perial cau se that they had on ce

di splaye d Th e Logothetes from Con stan ti n opl e were harass
.

i ng them w i th n ew i mp osts an d m ost especiall y wi th th e,

p re p os terou s attem p t to gather the arrears o f taxation for

t h e years d urin g w h ich t he war had raged a ti m e at wh ic h ,
 11s t i n i a n
j 97

t he e mp eror had as a m atter o f fact n o fi rm hold o n th e

, ,

coun try .

I n 5 4 1 H ild i b a d was m urdered b y a private enem y ere yet

he had succeeded i n freeing all t he lan d n ort h o f th e P o .

B ut thi s hero of th e darkest h ou r wh o had saved th e Goth s ,

from extin cti on when salvation seemed im p ossibl e fou n d a ,

s till w orthier successor . After a few m on th s d uring wh ich ,

’
a certai n R u g i a n named E ra ri c ruled at Pavia H i l di b a d s
, , ,

n eph ew B a d u ila was raised on th e sh iel d and salu ted as ki ng

, , .

B a d u a was after Theodoric th e greatest o f all the Goth s o f

il 1
, ,

E ast o r West : he sh owed a m oral el evation a si ngle hearted ,

-

purity o f purpose a ch ivalrou s courtesy a j ustice an d piety

, ,

worthy o f the b est o f the kn igh ts o f t he M idd le Ages As a .

warri or h is feats were aston i shi ng : h e o u t gen eralled eve n t he -

great B eli sari us h im sel f Th e o nl y stai n o n h is character

.
,

durin g eleve n years of rul e are o n e or two u nju sti fiabl e e xe cu

,

tion s o f p rison ers o f war who had roused hi s wrath an d caused ,

t he o l d G oth ic fury to blaze forth .

From the fi rst m om en t of hi s accessi on B a d u ila wen t forth

con queri ng an d t o con quer T he Rom an gen eral s frigh tene d
.

by h is fi rst successes were at last i n duce d to com b in e : h e

foiled th em at Verona foll owe d them across th e B d i l
, a u a ,

P O an d in flicted o n them a t Faen za i n Z Em i l i a k i e f t h

,
n o e

a decisive defeat i n the o p en fi eld th ough t hey ,

had m en t o hi s 5 0 0 0 Th en crossing the Apen n i n e s

.

he wo n all Tu scan y by a secon d ba ttl e on th e M ugello n ear

Florence By these two vict ories al l I taly n orth o f Rom e save
.
,

the great fortresses fel l i nto hi s ha n ds : Rom e an d Raven n a

, ,

wi th Piacen za i n the val ley o f th e P o an d An con a an d Perugia ,

i n th e ce n tre were left as is olated garri son s ri si ng above th e

, ,

retu rni n g tide o f Gothic con ques t All th e su rvivi ng Goths had .

’
rall ied u n der Ba d u i la s ban ner a n d m an y o f the i mp erial ,

mercen aries of Teu ton ic blood took service w i th hi m w hen

the cities wh ich they garrisoned were sub dued After con quer .

1
Th i s a s h i s c o i n s sh o w w as hi s re a l n a m e b u t t h e C o n s t a n t i n o
, , ,

po l i t a n h i s t o r i an s c a l l h i m T o t i l a .

P E R I OD I .
98 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

ing Tu scan y a n d P i ce n u m B a d u ila left Rome to i tsel f fo r a

,

space — th e m e m ories o f i ts last si ege we re t o o di scou raging

— a n d spen t th e year 5 4 2 i n overru n n ing Cam p an i a an d
Apul ia . Th e I talia ns kept a p ath etically quiet w hile th e ,

i mperi al garri s on s were few a n d scattered I n six m o n th s .

s out h I tal y w a s on ce m ore Goth ic u p to the gates o f O tran to ,

Reggi o an d Na p les Th e s iege o f the las t nam ed town was

,
.
-

’
B a d u i la s fi rs t exercise i n p ol iorcetics : th e p lace was very
gallan tly d e fen ded an d on l y surre n der e d whe n fami n e had
,

d on e i ts w ork an d afte r a n armamen t sen t fro m Con stan ti

,

n O pl e to i ts rel ie f ha d bee n sh attere d by a storm al mos t i n s igh t

o f th e walls al ong the rock s of Capri a n d S orren to

,
I n s p i te .

o f th i s desperate resi stan ce i t was n oted wi th sur p ri se that

,

Badulla treated both garri so n an d peopl e w it h ki n dn es s sen d ,

i ng the on e away u n harm e d a n d preservi ng the o ther from ,

plu n der I t wa s a t the t im e o f th e fall o f Na p les that an

.

even t occu rred w h ich w a s l o n g rem em bered as a token o f th e

j ustice o f B a d u ila A Goth ic w arri or had violate d th e
.

daugh te r o f a Calabrian : the k ing cast th e m an i n to bon ds

an d ordered h i s death B u t m any of the Goth s bes ough t
.

h i m n ot t o slay a brave warri o r for such an Offence B a d u i la .

heard t hem o u t an d repl i ed that th ey m u s t c h oose th at day

,
’
wheth er they preferred t o save on e m an s l ife o r to save t h e ,

whol e G oth i c n ati o n At th e begin n ing o f the war th ey would

.

rem ember h ow t hey ha d great h osts fam ou s gen erals vast , ,

treasu re S ple n d id arm s a nd all th e ca stles o f I taly B u t u n der

, ,
.

ki n g T h e o da h a t a m a n w h o l ove d gol d better t han j u stice

, ,
’
th ey ha d s o m ove d G od s anger by thei r u n righ te ou s lives
tha t everyth ing h ad bee n take n from the m B u t th e d ivi n e .

grace had gi ve n the Goth s o n e m ore chance o f worki ng o u t

th eir sal vati o n : G o d h ad Open e d a new accoun t w i th th em ,

an d so m ust th ey d o w i th him by followi ng j u stice an d ,

righ teou sness The ravi sher m ust d ie a n d as to bei ng a

.
,

brave warri or they sh ould remember tha t the cruel an d unj us t

,
’
w ere n ever fi nally s ucces sful i n w a r fo r as was a man s l i fe , ,

such wa s h i s fortu n e i n battl e Th e Offi ce rs caugh t thei r

.
 11s ti n i a n
99
’
sovereign s m ean i ng an d with drew an d t he crim i nal was dul y ,

e xecuted .

I n 5 4 2 the year of th e plagu e Jus ti nian had been abl e t o

, ,

d o l ittl e for I taly bu t i n that wh ich followe d wh e n h e h eard

, ,

that Naples h ad fall en h e determ in ed to sen d the n ewly

,

pardone d B eli sari u s back to th e scen e o f h i s form er g lori es .

D en ied the services O f h i s o w n body —guard t he great gen eral

recrui ted 4 0 0 0 raw troops i n Thrace an d made ready to ,

return B a d u ila m eanwhil e was besi eging O tran to an d clear

.
,

i ng Apulia o f th e I mperialists .

I n th e n ex t year th e Goth ic ki ng an d the Roman general

cam e fo r the fi rst tim e i n to contac t ; con trary to expectati on
i t was n ot Bel isariu s wh o had th e better o f the struggl e :
broke n i n spirit badly served by hi s raw recru i ts an d by the
, ,

dem oral ised army o f I taly and un aided by Justi n ia n w h o was

, ,

strai n ing every nerve to kee p up t he P ersian War h e aecom ,

p l i s h e d l ittle or n othin g Based o n th e i mpreg

.
C mp ig f a a n o

nabl e fortress o f Raven na he was able to seize B l i s r i u s e a

d E mm an a"
Pesaro an d to rel ieve th e garri s on s o f O si m o an d
,

o f O tranto bu t that was all

,
Badulla ravaged I taly u n m o
.

lested an d began to make p reparati on s for th e s iege Of Rom e

, ,

if h e was to b e checked — as Bel isariu s wrote t o hi s master

m ore men an d m on ey to pay th em was urgen tly n eeded .

J usti n ian could n ot o r would n ot sen d ei ther m en o r

, ,

m oney in adequate quan tity an d Badulla was able t o i nvest ,

Rom e U nl ike Wi t i ge s he succeeded i n barri n g all the roads

.
, ,

an d i n blocking the Tiber by a boom of spars Fam in e was .

soon with i n th e walls bu t th e Goth s made n o attem pt at a

,

storm leavi ng hunger to do i ts work B essas t h e govern or

, .
,

o f Rome s ought for ai d from all sides an d corn sh ip s were

, ,

sen t him fro m S icily b ut B a d u i la seized them all as th ey were

,

tacking up th e Tiber chan nel Then Beli sariu s cam e roun d to .

Portus at th e m outh o f t he river wi th all the men he could

, ,

mu ster a very few thousan ds an d en deavoured to force hi s

, ,
’
way to Rom e by breakin g B ad u i la s boom an d bringing h is ,

lighter war vessel s u p t h e Tiber H e left his wife hi s stores

-
.
, ,
1 00 E u rop ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

an d h is reserves at Portu s sailed u p th e river an d s ucceeded , , ,

after a h o t en gagem en t i n bu rn i ng th e t owers which guarded

,

the boom B u t i n th e m om en t o f success n ews came t o h i m

.
, ,

that th e Goth s w ere attackin g P ortu s i n hi s rear an d that h is ,

w i fe an d camp were i n d a nger H e tu rn ed back foun d that .

,

th e fig hti n g at Portu s was onl y an i n signi fican t ski rm ish

brough t o n by th e rashn es s o f the o fficer i n com man d there ,

and so m i ssed hi s chance of forcing th e b oom D i sa pp oin t .

m en t or the malarial fever o f th e marsh y Tiber m outh laid

,
-
,

h i m o n a bed o f s ick n ess n ext day and b efore he was re , ,

c o vered Rom e had fallen S om e o f th e fam ish ed garri son threw

,
.

o pe n th e A si n a ri a n Gate at m idn ight a n d adm itted th e ,

Goth s after th e siege had lasted th irteen m o n th s ( 5 4 5

,

Th e blam e o f th e fal l Of th e c ity rested m ai nl y on th e govern or

Bessas w ho d oled ou t h i s stores w ith a sparing han d t o
,

sol diery a n d peo p l e al ike w hile h e was secretl y s elling th e ,

corn at exorbi tan t price s t o t h e rich er citizen s Th e troops .

w ere s tarvi ng yet vast quan ti ties o f provision s were fou n d

,
’
concealed i n th e general s praetori um .

B a d u i la gave u p t he pl un der of th e ci ty to hi s long tried -

troops bu t ster n ly proh ibited m u rder rape o r violen ce B y

, , , .

B d il t k
a u a
th e a
cones
fession o f h i s en em ies th em selves only

R m
o e s46
i twen ty si x R om an s lost th ei r l ives t hough
-
,

war worn troops had poure d i nto th e city a t m id

-

n igh t wild for pl un der an d revenge Th e k ing made th e

,
.

ch urch es i n to san ctuari es an d th e m ul ti tudes that gathered ,

i n th em su ffered n o harm .

Bad ulla l ooked upon Rom e as th e chief lair o f hi s enem ies ,

t he h om e o f a fai thl ess peopl e an d th e snare of t he G oth s , .

H e resolved n ei ther to make i t hi s capi tal n or to garri son i t ,

bu t t o make a desert o f i t Th e peopl e w ere drive n o u t the .

,

gates burn t an d great breaches were made al l rou n d the wall s

,

o f Au rel ian Th en he harangued h i s army biddi ng t hem

.
,

remem ber h o w i n the days of Wi t ige s 7 0 0 0 I m perialists had

, ,

robbed o f power an d weal th an d l iberty rich an d well

a r med G oth s Bu t n o w that the G oth s were becom e p oor an d
.
,
 ju s t i n i a n 10 1

few an d war worn they had d i sco m fi t e d m ore than

,
-
,

Greeks Th e reason was that i n th e old days they had

.

angered God b y t hei r pride an d evi l l ivi n g ; n ow th ey w ere

hu mbled and chasten ed i n spiri t an d therefore t hey were vic ,

t o ri o u s For the future they must remem ber that if j ust they
.

would have G o d wit h them ; b ut if they fell back i nto th eir ,

former ways the han d of H eaven woul d work th ei r dow n

,

fall .

Thi s d on e h e drew O ff wi t h hi s army l eavi ng Rom e deso

, ,

late an d w i thou t a l ivi ng soul wi th i n i ts walls For forty days

,
.

the i mperial ci ty was given u p to the wolf and the o wl bu t at ,

last Bel isarius wh o s till lay at Portu s wi th h i s s mall arm y

, ,

marched wi th i n th e walls hurriedly barr icaded th e breaches ,

an d the gateless portals an d prepared to h ol d Rom e fo r a ,

third siege Th e Goths had been too slack i n castin g down

.

the walls an d th e hasty repairs o f B el isariu s made th e ci ty

,
’
once m ore tenable again st any coup o e m a i n I n Be l i s a r i us - -
.
,e _

great disgus t B a du i la ru shed back from Cam c v rs R m o e 0 e ~

pan ia an d tried to force the barricades After three assaults

,
.

b e recogni se d th at th ey were too stron g an d retired to central ,

I taly leavi ng h owever a strong corps o f Observatio n at Tivoli

, , , ,

to keep B el isariu s from issuing out o f th e ci ty for further o p er

a t io n s .

For t wo years m ore B el isari u s an d Badulla fought up an d

down the peni n sula bu t the Got h kept th e superiority th ough
,

sometimes foiled he had o n th e w hol e th e advan tage B el i

, , ,
.

sari n s like H an n ibal duri ng th e later years of h i s s oj ourn i n

,

I taly fli t t e d from poi n t to poi n t with h is smal l arm y looki n g

, ,

fo r o pp o rt u n i t i es t o strike a blow bu t seldom fi n ding them ,

.

J u stinian though n ow free d from the P ers ian War sen t n o

, ,

adequate suppli es o r reinforcem en ts an d seeme d conten t that ,

h is gen eral should hol d n o m ore than Rom e an d Raven na .

’
I n 5 4 8 B el isarius was recalled on h i s o wn o r h i s wife s re
quest H e fel t that h e could do n o m ore wi th hi s i n adequate
.

resources h e had ou tl ived the desire of glory an d hi s o l d

, ,

age was at han d J ustin ian received hi m w ith kin dnes s m ade
.
,
102 E u rop ea n H i s t o t y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

h i m mag i s ter 11117 17 11 111 a n d ch i e f o f th e I m perial G uard an d ,

bade h i m l ive i n pea ce i n Con stan ti n ople .

Th e sol e ch eck o n B a d u i la was n ow rem oved an d i n th e , ,

fou r years that followed th e gallan t Got h cl eared the w h ole ,

cou n try save Raven na o f t he presence o f t h e i mperial i st

, ,

soldiery H e retook Rom e i n 5 4 9 an d captured o r slew

.
,

t he wh ole garri son Thi s t im e i n stead of disman tl ing th e ci ty

.
, ,

h e determ i n ed to make i t h i s cap ital H e reorgan ised th e .

S ucc ss s f
e eSenate bade th e palace be repai red an d celeb rated
o , ,

B d i‘
a U a
gam es i n th e circu s as hi s great pred ecessor ,

Th eodoric h ad don e I t woul d seem that h e n ow fel t h i m

,
.

sel f s o strong that h e feared n o retu rn o f the im perial i st

arm ies an d lost h i s Ol d d read o f w alled town s H e sen t
,
.

embassies to J usti n ian bid di n g th e em peror recogn i se aecom ,

pli s h e d facts an d retu rn to th e o l d relat ion s t hat had su bsi sted

,

betwee n th e G oth s an d th e emperor i n the happy days o f

Anastasiu s a n d Theodoric Bu t th e stern rul er o f th e E ast .

was i m m ovable H e qui etly persisted i n th e war an d m erely

.
,

bega n to collect once m ore an arm y for th e i nvasion o f I taly .

Th e fi rs t exped itio n h e pl aced u n de r cou n t G e rm a n u s h i s o wn ,

n ephew w h o wa s looked u p on as th e de sti n ed h ei r to th e

,

empi re Bu t a sudde n i nvasion o f Maced on ia by th e Slavs

.

drew aside G erman n s t o Th essalon ica H e ach ieved a success .

over t he i n vaders bu t d ied soon after and h i s arm y n ever

, ,

crossed th e Ad riatic Badulla m eanwhil e w a s i n full posses.

si o n o f I tal y Wh en h e fou n d that t he armam en t of German n s

.

had d ispersed h e bui lt a fleet con quered Sardi n ia an d then

, , ,

cr o ssed i n to S icily an d ravaged that i sla n d agai n st wh ose

, ,

peopl e the G oth s bore an especial grudge fo r thei r rebellion

a n d eager reception o f B el isari u s fi fteen years before .

I t was n ot till 5 5 2 that B a d u i la wa s fo rced t o figh t on th e

defen sive o nce m ore a n d protect I tal y from t h e la st o f th e
,

N a rs e s i
armn
ies o f J u sti n ia n T h i s tim e th e em peror had .

v d s I t l y ch ose n a strange com ma n der ln ch ief th e eu n uc h

a e a ,
- -
,

55"
N a rses h i s C ham berlai n o r p ra eposi t u s s a er z
, ,

t u b/1 11 11, wh o had o n ce before been seen i n Ital y i n

5 3 8 w hen , ,
 i i
11s t n a n I 03

he h ad i n trigued agai n s t B eli sari us N arses was k n own a s .

cl ever pu sh i ng an d persi sten t bu t h i s choice as a gen eral i h

, , ,
-

’
ch ief was o n e o f those strange appoin tm en ts of J usti n ian s
which look ed like freaks of folly but turne d ou t to have been ,

guided by th e deepest knowledge of character B eing better .

trusted than B el isarius h e was better equ ipped fo r war B e

,
.

si des a large detachm en t of th e regular troops o f the E ast h e ,

was allowed to hi re n o l es s th an G erman auxiliaries

fr om t h e D anube — H e rn l e s Lom bards an d Gepidae H i s
, ,
.

whole force mu st have been m ore tha n strong th rice ,

t he size O f the army that had followed Bel isarius Narses had .

resolved to turn t he h ead of the Adriatic an d advan ce through

Ven etia bu t wh ile h e was executi n g th i s lon g m arch he sen t
, , ,

a fleet to th reaten th e eas t coast o f I tal y O ff Ancon a hi s .

armada m et an d defeated th e Gothic ships wh ich B a d u ila ,

had brought rou n d to watch t he Adriatic Th i s engagemen t .

seem s to have i n duced the Goth s to expect a Rom an lan di ng

’
i n P i ce n u m an d only a small porti on o f B a d u i la s arm y was
,

sen t i n to Ven etia u n der cou n t Teia to watch th e passes o f

, ,

th e Carn i c Alp s Narses succeeded i n elu di ng th i s force by

.

huggi ng the sea coast an d u sing h i s ship s t o ferry h im over

-
,

the P o mou t h H e reached Raven na withou t s triking a blow

-
.
,

an d there was j oi n ed b y s uch Roman troop s as were already

i n I taly .

Then n eglecting all the Gothic fortresses h e marched

, ,

straigh t o n Rome n ot by the Flam i n ian Way th e great road ,

between n orth an d south — for t hat was hel d by th e Goths

bu t by following a m in or pass u p th e valley o f th e river Sena .

H e ha d j u st crossed the Apenn ines w hen B a du i la m et h im at

T a g i n a e i n U m bria u n der th e very shado w o f t he m ou n tai ns
, , .

The Goth ic ki ng had called up all h is forces from central

'

I taly an d was j oined by Teia an d th e n orthern arm y on th e

,

eve o f th e figh t bu t he was still inferior i n n umbers t o the

,

I mperialists Narses sh owed h i mself an abl e gen eral Kn ow

. .

i ng that the Goths mai n ly trusted to th e wil d ru sh o f thei r

heavy cavalry h e d is moun ted all h is barbarian auxil iaries
, ,
 I 04 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

a n d formed them i n a serried mass i n h is cen tre ; 8 0 0 0 Roman

archers flanked them a n d 1 5 0 0 ch osen Roman caval ry were ,

hel d i n re serve o n h i s left w i n g B a d u i la bade h is m en u se .

th e lan ce al on e an d h i m sel f l ed th e horsem en of hi s eo1n i ta tu s

,
’
i n a gallan t charge o n the e n em y s cen tre From n oon till .

dusk th e G oth ic k n igh ts dashe d agai n an d agai n at th e

B att l e f p halanx i n th e m i ddle o f the Roman l i n e : they
o

T gi
a
coul d n ot break i t an d m ean w hil e they were
nae
,

sh ot do w n i n h u ndreds by th e arc hers o n th e w ings Th e .

battl e i n fact was m uch l ike th e E ngl ish fi gh t a t Cressy at

, ,

b oth th e arch ery an d d ism ou n ted h orsem en beat back th e

u n su pported caval ry o f th e assailan t At last towards dusk .
, ,

t he wrecks o f th e Gothic caval ry reel ed back i n d is order u pon

t hei r in fantry a n d Narse s bade th e 1 5 0 0 cu irassiers o f h i s
,

reserve t o stri ke at t he hostile flank .

All wa s over w ith th e G ot hs Thei r l in e b roke an d fled .

,

their gallan t k i ng w a s m ortally w ou n ded i n th e pu rsu i t an d ,

darkn ess al on e saved the arm y from an n ih ilat ion S o perished .

Badulla last O strogot hi c king o f I taly an d fi rst Of the

, ,
‘

’
Kn igh ts o f th e M i ddle Ages as h e has been n o t i na p tly ,

s tyled There wa s s till h owever fighting t o be done The

.
, ,
.

w arri ors who ha d escaped from T a g i n a e proclai med cou n t

Teia kin g an d th ou g h m ost o f th e I talian town s accepted th e
,

deat h of B a d u i la as endi ng th e w a r a few still h el d o u t ,

.

R om e man n ed by a n i nadequate garrison was s torm ed wi th

, ,

ease a n d i ts k eys sen t n ow fo r the th ird ti me t o J u sti nian

, , ,
.

K ing Teia after ra n gi ng u p an d d own th e lan d i n a vai n

,

attem pt to keep up the wa r wa s brough t to bay i n Campan ia ,

.

H i s l i ttle arm y pen n ed up i n th e h il l s above Sorrent o made

, ,

a su dden dash to catch th e eu nuch gen eral u nprepared B ut -

.

Narses w a s ready for them an d o n th e bank s o f th e Sarn o th e ,

T h G th s
e
las
o
t of th e G oth s w ere overwhel med with n um bers ,

l v It ly
ea e an d saw thei r k i n g slai n i n the forefron t o f th e
a ,

5 53“
battl e The n t h e p o or rem nan ts o f the rulers o f
.

I taly sen t t o offer su bm i ssi on They woul d leave th e p en in .

sula with bag and b a ggage w i fe an d ch i ld and betak e th em

, , ,
 f 11 s t i n a n i 10 5

selves beyon d th e Alp s if onl y a free passage were gran ted to

,

them S O i n th e au tum n o f 5 5 3 th e few remai n ing G othic

.
, ,

garrison s lai d down thei r arm s gathered together an d d i sa p , ,

p ea re d over the passes o f the Alp s in to the n orthern dark ness .

We have n o ti dings o f the fate of thes e las t survivors of the

great O strogothic race Whether th ey becam e the vassal s Of
.

th e Frank o r m i ngled w i th th e B avarian s or s ough t thei r

, ,

ki n sm en the Visigot h s of Spain n o man can tell

, ,
.

S o perish ed the Goth ic k ingdom wh ich had b een erected ,

by the gen i us of T heo d o ri c by the sam e fate wh ich had ,

s m i tten the pirate real m of th e Van dal s seven teen years

-

before . B oth fell b ecau se th e rul ing race was t oo s mall

to h ol d down the vast terri tory that i t had overrun u nless ,

i t coul d co m b i n e fra nkly an d freely with th e con quered

Roman population B ut th e fatal bar o f Arian ism c u s f
.

a se o

lay i n each cas e b etween m asters an d servants G t h i c , o

d is t rs “
an d wh en the orthodox armies of Co nstan tin o ple as e

ap p eared n o th ing could restrai n t he African s an d I tal ian s

,

from open ing t heir gates t o t he i nvader Th e O strogoth s had .

been w ise an d toleran t the Van dal s cruel an d persecuting

, ,

bu t the en d was th e sam e i n each kingdom I t was on ly i n .

t he measure of the resi stance that the di fferen ce between G oth

an d Vandal a ppeared S u nk i n coarse l uxury an d enervated
.
,

by th e African su n th e Van dal s fell in on e year before a

,

single army Th e O strogoth s the n obles t of th e Teuton s

.
, ,

made a spl en d i d figh t for seven teen years b eat off th e grea t ,

B elisariu s h im self an d o nl y succu mb ed becau se th e in cessant

,

figh tin g had drain ed off t he wh ole manhood o f the tribe I f .

B a d u ila coul d have m u stered at T a gi n a e th e m en that

Wi t i ges had once led again st Rom e he woul d n ever have been ,

beaten I t i s on e of th e saddes t sce n es i n history when we see

.

the well ordered realm of Theodoric van is h away an d I taly i s

-
,

left an unpeopled desert to b e di sputed between th e savage

,

Lombard th e faithless Frank an d th e exarch s o f di stan t

, ,

Byzantium .

The con qu es t of I taly b y Narses was d estined to have o ne

1 06 E u r opea n H i s t o 1y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

’
further epis ode ere i t was yet complete When Teia s fate .

wa s k n own th e m i n i sters o f th e you ng Frankish k ing T h e u d e

,

bal d o f Metz lau nch ed a great army i n to th e pen i nsula u nder ,

two S u a b ia n duke s C h l o t ha r an d Bu cce l i n Thei r h osts pressed .

down t h e pen i n sula following th e o n e th e western coast th e

, ,
’
oth er th e eastern B u t C h l o t ha r s arm y was destroyed b y
.

’
fam i n e an d pestilence an d B u cce li n s was an n ih ilated a t
,

C a sili n u m i n Cam pan ia by Narses

,
Agai n s t the m as s o f
, .

Franki sh foot sold iers w ith spear an d battl e axe Narses e m

-
,
-
,

ployed th e sam e tactics as agai n st th e G oth ic horse A solid .

cen tre of dis m ou n ted Teu ton s Lombard s an d H eruli ke p t th e , , ,

Frankis h c olum n in ch eck wh ile w i ngs o f Roman archers an d ,

cu irass iers swu ng roun d the flank s o f t he i nvader e nvel oped ,

’
hi m an d d es troyed h im O f
,
of B u c ce li n s m en i t is
.

said that n ot a h u n d red escaped s o far worse d id they fare ,

than th e G oth s had fared at T a g i n a e i n th e previ ou s year .

Th e Franki sh ravages pu t th e last fi n i sh ing touch to the

D e s o l ati on m i se ry o f I tal y Alike i n th e n orth ern plai n i n
.

i
n It ly
a
P i ce n u m an d t E m i l ia an d i n the n eigh bourhood ,

o f Rom e th e wh ole p opulation had d i sap p eared

,
J ustinian .

a n d Narses had res tored peace bu t i t wa s th e best example ,

’
ever seen of the adage so li t u a i u em f a ei u n t p a eem appell a n t
,
.

’
To thes e sam e years bel ongs th e story o f J u sti n ia n s i n vasi on
o f sou thern Spai n a n e p i sode w hi c h wil l be foun d n arrated at
,

full l ength i n th e chapter deali ng w ith th e Vi sigoth s .

’
We m u st n o w tu rn back t o Ju sti n ian s fortun es i n th e E as t .

I t w ill be rem em bered that h i s Secon d Persian War had been

’
e n ded by a five years truce i n 5 4 5 after th e great plagu e an d ,

gallan t defence o f E dessa Th e five years o f peace that fo l.

l owed were n ot very n otabl e i n th e h is tory of th e em pire save

for o n e im po rtan t eve nt Th eodora th e colleague a nd oth er
.
,

sel f o f J u sti n ian d ied o f ca ncer i n 5 4 8 a n d with h er d eath

, ,
’
much o f he r h u sban d s vigou r i f n o t of hi s persistence seem s , ,

to have van i shed D eprived o f h i s cou ncill or an d h el p mate

.

the em peror becam e gl oom y an d m orbi d H i s m idn igh t .

studies took th e d irecti o n o f theol ogy al on e and h e lau nched ,

 ’
ju s t i n i a n s L a t er Ye a rs 107

ou t i n to a futil e ecclesiastical con troversy o n Th e Three

’
Chapters .Th is was a purel y academ ic d ispute as to whether
three docum en ts of three patristic writers Theodore I bas an d , , ,

T h eo d o re t — all lon g dead — con tai ned heretical m atter o r n ot .

Bu t i t succeeded i n convulsi ng t he whol e E astern Chu rch an d ,

led J usti n ian i nto a quarrel wi th th e Roman see wh ich refused ,

’
to con dem n th e Three Chapters H e seized Pope Vigiliu s an d
‘
.
,

brough t hi m to Con stan tin ople to compel h i m to fall i n with

,

hi s O wn views After detai n ing t he u nfortunate J u s t i i

.
d n an an

pontiff i n the E ast for s ix years an d even drag P p V i g i l i u s ,

o e

gi n g hi m from sanctuary an d i mpri son ing hi m i n an i slan d th e ,

emperor succeeded i n in ducing h i m to declare that Theod ore

a n d the t wo oth er theol ogian s had i n deed fallen i nto grievous
heresy (A D 5 5 . Ju stin ian was triumphan t bu t Vigiliu s foun d
.
,

that he had thereby i ntroduced sch is m i n to I tal y an d Africa ,

’
where many bi shops s t ood by th e Three Chapters An .

African cou ncil wen t s o far as to excom m un icate Vigilius an d ,

for a cen tu ry som e o f th e n ort h I talian chu rches were ou t of

comm un ion wit h th e Roman see .

B ut long ere Vigiliu s had yiel ded J usti n ian was once m ore a t
’
war wi th P ersia When the fi ve years truce ran ou t at the en d
.

of 5 4 9 the imperial troops advanced to recover the s uzerain ty

,

of Colch is the o n e poin t that had been yielded t o C h o sro e s i n

,

t he treaty o f 5 4 5 Bu t strangely enough wh il e t he war was

.
,

renewed on t h e Black S ea i t di d n ot recom m ence on th e

,

Mesop otam ian fron tier B oth parties co n curre d T h i rd p rs i

.
e an

to renew the truce for everythi ng except Colchi s W a r,

,

and on that l im ited arena alon e th e hosti lities proceeded .

The struggl e recalls i n t hi s curi ou s feature th e way i n wh ich

, ,

the Frenc h an d E ngl ish fough t i n I nd ia i n th e eigh teenth

century wh ile i n E urope th ey were at peace The con ditio n s
,
.

Of the war were favourabl e to Ju stin ian wh ose armi es had ,

free acces s by sea t o t he Colchian coast wh ile th e Persian s ,

had to reach i t by th e wild passes Over th e Armen ian an d

Iberian m ou n tain s Th e dreary bu t very bloody C o l chi c o r
.

Lazi o war wen t o n for six years drai n ing alike th e Persian ,
 108 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 —9 1 8

a nd th e i m perial t reasu ries ; bu t at la st th e Roman s had the

better i n th e struggl e secu red th e h omage o f the La z i c king
, ,

an d drove the Persian s far back i n to th e i n terior

Fi nally after i nterm in able n egotiation s C h o sro es m ade peace
, ,

s urrenderin g h i s clai m o n Colchi s i n con si derati on o f an

i n dem n ity of sol id i per an n u m .

’
Th i s wa s th e las t o f J u sti n ian s great wars ; bu t the en d o f
h i s reign wa s far from being peaceful o r prosperou s I t was .

especially n ote w orth y fo r th e repeated i n road s o f th e H un s

an d Slavs i n to the Balkan pe n i n sula Th e greate st rai d was .

i n 5 5 8 w hen the C o t ri gu r H un s u n der thei r khan Z a b erga n

,

el uded th e garrison s on th e Dan ube crossed t he Balkan s an d , ,

rode at large over t h e w hol e o f Th race O n e body of 4 0 0 0 .

B l i s riu s
e a
h orse pu shed thei r in cursion s u p to the very gates
d f ts th
e ea O f Con stan tinopl e an d s o alarmed J u stin ian t ha t
e
,
Hu s n ‘

h e bade the aged B elisari us to buckl e 0 11 h i s arm s

once m ore an d save th e capi tal Th e m ili tary resources o f
, .

the em pi re w ere so scattered that Bel isariu s coul d o nly cou n t

’1
o n 3 0 0 o f h i s o w n veteran s o n th e Scholaria n G uard s an d
,
‘

a levy o f half arm e d Thracian rus tics By skilfully po sting th is

-
.

smal l force an d i nd ucing th e H un s to attack h i s li n e exactly

,

wh ere i t wa s strongest h e rou ted th e barbarian s an d returned

, ,

i n trium ph from thi s h i s las t cam paig n .

After th i s final feat o f th e ol d general i t i s sa d to learn that

h is master had n ot even ye t learn ed to trust h im Fou r years .

later t here wa s a fu ti le con spi racy agai ns t J us tin ian an d ,

B el isarius wa s accused o f havi ng kn ow n o f i t H e wa s d i s .

graced an d p u t u nder ward for eigh t m on ths before t h e

, ,

em peror con vi nced h i m sel f that th e charge was fal se R e .

stored at last t o favou r h e l ived two years m ore i n posses si on

,

o f h is riches a n d hon ou rs
2
an d die d i n March 5 6 5 H i s
,
.

A b o dy o f l o c a l t r o o ps r a i s e d i n t h e c i t y w ho fo r m e d pa r t o f t he
,

i m pe r i a l g u a rd .

2
I t i s n o w fu l l y r e c o g n i s e d a s F i n l a y a n d B ury h a v e p r o v e d t h a t t h er e
, ,

i s no t ru t h i n t h e l e g e n d t h a t B e l i s a r i u s w a s bl i n d e d a n d b e c a m e a b e gg a r
,

c ry i ng t o t he pe o pl e D a t e o/ml u n B el i sa i o
,
r r .
 ’
ju s ti n i a n s L a t er Yea rs 109

thankl e ss mas t e r followed hi m to t h e grave before the en d o f

th e sa m e year O n th e 1 i th o f D ecember 5 6 5 J usti n ian after
.
, ,

l ivin g m ore tha n seven ty years an d reign i ng for thirty eight ,

-
,

descen ded t o t h e to mb .

’
We have spoken of J usti n ian s wars o f h is bu ildi ngs o f h i s , ,

fi nancial pol icy of h is ecclesiastical con troversie s

,
Bu t fo r .

n one o f these i s h e so wel l rem embered as fo r hi s activity i n

yet another s p here I t i s by hi s great work of codi fyi ng th e
.

“
Roman law an d leavi ng i t i n a com p lete an d L g l r f r m
, e a e o s

a l um i
orderly form as a heritage to th e j uri sts o f t he n :

m odern world that he earn ed hi s greatest t itle to i m mortal ity .

Th is was a n ach ievement of the fi rst half o f h i s reign carried ,

o u t with t he ai d of the bes t lawyers of Con stan tin o p l e headed ,

by T ri b o n i a n the abl e bu t greedy quaestor agai n st whom the

,
’
rioters i n the N ika sedition had raged so furi ously
Roman law had hitherto con si sted o f two elem ents —the
.

con stitu tion s an d edicts o f the emperors an d the deci sion s of ,

the great lawyers o f th e pas t Both these ele m en ts were

.

som ewhat chaotic Five cen turies o f i m p erial edicts over

.

rul e d an d con tradicted each other i n t he m ost hopeless con

fusion ; Pagan an d C hristian i deas were i n ter m ixed i n them ,

many had gon e com p letely o u t o f date an d n ew con dition s o f ,

society had made others i mposs ible to work N or were t h e .

’n t u m o r decision s of th e an cien t j uriscon sult s

'

r esp o n sa p ru a e z

any less chaotic ; i n m odern E nglan d t h e di fficul ties o f case

’
made la w as i t has been happily called are perplexin g en ough
, ,

t o enable u s to u n derstan d the troubles o f a Con stanti n opolitan

j udge con fron ted with a dozen preceden ts o f con trad ictory
,

i mport .

J ustin ian rem oved all th i s con fu si o n by p ro ducing three

’
great work s H i s C oa e collected the im p erial con stitution s
.

in to a manageabl e s hape striking o u t al l th e obsolete edicts

, ,

and bringin g the res t up to t he requirem en ts of a Ch ri stia n

state o f th e s ixth centu ry H i s D i gest o r P a n dects d id the
.

same fo r the deci sion s of th e ancien t lawyers laying down the ,

balance of authori ty a n d s p ecifying t h e preceden ts wh ich

,
I IO E u rop ea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

w e re to be acc e p ted Lastly th e I n s ti t u tes gave a gen eral

.
,

sketc h o f R oman law i n th e form o f a com m entary o n i ts

p ri nci p l es fo r th e u se of studen ts These vol umes were
.

d esti ned t o b e the fou n dation o f all s ystem atic j u ri spruden ce

i n m odern E urope ; thei r comp ilation was the last and n ot th e ,

leas t o f t he works o f th e a ncien t Roman spiri t o f law an d

,

order i ncarnate i n th e last great emperor of Roman s p eech

, ,
’
for n on e of J u stin ian s s ucce ssors c oul d say as coul d he h im ,

self that Latin was h i s native tongu e After—ages rem embered

,
.

h i m ab ove al l th ings a s th e com pi ler o f t he C ode an d i t wa s

, , ,

a s i ts fram er that h e i s se t by D an te i n o n e o f th e starry

thron es of th e Chri stian parad i se .

I n spi te o f all h i s great achieve m en t s i t can n ot be dispute d

that J u sti n ian left th e empi re weaker t han h e foun d i t I ts .

territorial expan sion i n I taly Africa an d S p ai n d id n ot co rn

, ,

p en sate fo r th e exhau stion o f th e E astern provi nce s B y h i s .

ruthless taxati on J u sti n ian had d rai n ed o ff thei r v i tal e n ergies ,

an d left them p oorer an d weaker than they had ever been ,

before E ve n h i s arm ies fel t th e reaction ; at the en d o f h i s

.

reign we read that they were si nking bot h i n n u mbers a n d

e fficiency ; the new an d exten ded fron tiers were m ore t ha n
th ey c oul d guard an d th e o ld race of gen erals who h ad fol
,

lowed B el isariu s was dead J usti n ian h i m sel f i s sai d to have

.

n eglected th ei r pay an d main tenan ce w hile h e set h i s aged

,
’
brain s to wrestl e w i th th e problem o f the T hree Chapters o r ‘

th e heresy O f Aph thartodoceti sm Like Lou i s X I V o f Fran ce

. .
,

wh om he re sem bles i n man y other respects J ustin ian closed a ,

reign o f u n p arall ele d m agn i ficence a s a gloom y pieti s t w h ose ,

despotism d rained an d cru sh ed a p eople wh o had grown to

abho r hi s ve ry n am e .
 CHAPTER VII

TH E EA R L I E R FRAN K I S H K I N GS
AN D TH E I R O R G A N I S AT I ON OF G A U L

5 1 1 —
561 .

T he S o n s Of C hl o d o vech c o n qu e rs Thur i n g i a 5 3 1 —C hild e b e rt

T h e u d e ri ch ,

a n d C hl o t h a r c o n qu e r B ur g u n dy 5 3 2 —Th e i r wa r w i t h t h e V i s i g o t hs
,

T h e u d e b ert i n v a d e s I t a ly — C hl o t h a r r e u n i t e s t h e F r a n k i sh k i n g d o m s 5 5 8
—Org a n i sa ti o n o f t h e F r a n k i sh r ea l m—T he g r ea t O ffi c i a l s—M a y o rs o f
,

t h e P a l a c e—C o u n t s a n d D uk e s —L o c a l g o v e r n m e n t t h e M a llus —L e g a l
,

a n d fi na n c i a l a rr a n g e m e n t .

C H LO D O V E C H left four son s o n e T h eu d e ri ch born e to h im by

, ,

a Frankish wife i n early youth three C hl o d o m er C hil d eb ert , , ,

a n d C h l o t h ar th e offspri ng of h i s B urgu n dian s p ous e C hro

, ,

t e ch ild i s .I n accordance with th e Old Teu ton i c custom of

heritage— partition t h e fou r young m en divi ded am ong them
,
’
selves thei r father s n ewly — won realm s th ough t he division ,

threaten ed to wreck the Franki sh power i n i ts earl iest youth .

Th e u d e ri c h the el dest so n took th e m ost compact an d m ost

, ,
’
Teu ton ic o f the parts of C hl o d o ve ch s realm the o l d ki ngdom ,

o f the Ripuarian Franks al o n g the Rhin e bank fro m K Ol n as

far south as Basle with the n ew Fra n kish settle T h s s f

, e on o

ments east o f th e Rh in e i n the valley o f th e Mai n .

H e fixed h i s resi dence however n o t at K Oln th e Ol d Rip u

, , ,

arian ca p ital b ut i n th e m ore southerly tow n o f M etz o n th e

,

Moselle an ancien t R oman city though o n e less hitherto

, ,

famou s than its greater n eighbour Tri er I n additi on to .

Ri p uaria Th e u deri ch took a half share o f the n ewly conquered -

111
I 12 E u ro pea n H i s t o 1y , 4 7 6 9 1 8-

Aqui tai ne i ts east e rn half

, Cl e rmon t an d Li m oges t o
Al bi .

While Ri puaria wa s given to T he u d e ri ch hi s brother C hl o t ha r

,

Obtai n ed th e oth er o l d Franki sh real m the an cien t territory o f

,

th e Sal ia n Franks fro m th e Sch eld t m ou th t o th e Som m e

-

,
’
together with h i s father s fi rs t con quest s from th e Gallo
Roman s i n th e valley of t he Ais ne H i s capital was S oi sson s
.
,

th e ol d s trongh ol d o f S ya gri u s i n th e extrem e southern angl e

,

o f hi s real m Th e re main i ng two brothers C hlo d o rn e r an d

.
,

C hild e b e rt reigned res p ecti vel y at O rlean s an d Pari s an d

, ,

ruled th e lan ds o n t he Sei n e Loire an d Garon n e wh ich

, ,

C hl o d o vech had wo n from S yag ri u s an d Alaric Thei r king .

d om s mu s t have been far l ess s trong becau se far les s th ickl y

,

settled by th e Franks tha n th ose o f T he u de ric h an d C hl o t ha r

, .
 T/ze E a rly F r a n /ri s k Ki ng s 1 1 3
’
C hlo d o m e r s dom i n ion com prised the whole valley of the Loire
from source t o m outh and Western Aqu itai n e i ncluding
, ,

B ordeaux an d Toulou se C h ild e b e rt had a sm aller share

.

the Sein e valley an d th e coasts of th e C han n el from the m outh

of the Som me westward .

The four brother kings were al l worthy son s o f th eir wicked

father— daring u n scrupulou s men o f war destitute of natural ,

affection cruel lustful an d treacherous B u t th ey were em i

, , ,
.

h en tl
y su ited to extend b y th e sam e m ean s t hat C hl o d o ve ch
,

had u sed the realm s that h e had left th em The times too
,
.
, ,

were propi ti ous for during their l ives was rem oved th e singl e
,

bar t hat hi n dered th e progress o f th e Franks t he power o f ,

the strong Goth ic real m that obeyed Theodori c th e Great .

Although the son s of C hl o d o ve ch n ot un frequently p lotted

’
each other s deposition o r murder yet th ey generally tu rn ed ,

their arm s agai ns t external enem ies an d even o n occasio n ,

j oined to aid each other The obj ect which each set before.

him self was the subj ection o f th e n earest i n depen den t s tate .

T h e u d e ri ch therefore looked towards i n ner German y an d th e

ki ngdom o f the Thuringian s on th e Saal an d u pper Weser ; ,

C hi l d e b e rt an d C hl o d o m e r t urn ed t heir attention towards

their southern n eighbours the B urgun dian s .

B oth these states were desti ned to fall before th e son s of

C hl o d o ve ch bu t n ei ther Of t hem without a hardly fough t
,

struggle T heu de ri ch was d i stracted from h i s first attem p ts

.

again st Thu ringia b y a great piratical i nvasion o f the Lower

Rh in elan d by predatory bands from Scan dinavia led by ,

th e D an ish ki ng H yg e la c ( C h ro ch o la i c u s) wh o i s mai nly ,

reme m bered as th e brother o f that B eow ul f wh om th e earl ies t

Anglo Saxon epic celebrates
-
The so n o f T h d i h eu er c

th e king o f the Ripuarian s slew the pirate an d c q u rs ,

on e

Th g’ u n n a
next year th e Thuringian war began I t d id n o t .
‘

term inate till 5 3 1 when T h e u de ri ch calli ng i n the aid of h is

, ,

brother C hl o t har utterl y destroyed th e Thuringian real m an d

, ,

made it trib utary to h im sel f The Frank celebrated hi s

.

victory first by an u nsuccessful attempt to m urder hi s brother

P E R I OD 1 . H
 I 14 E u r opea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

an d helper C hlo t ha r who was fai n t o fly hom e i n haste an d

, ,

n ext by th e treacherou s mu rder of H e rma n fri d the van qu ished ,

Thuringian k i ng w h o had surren dere d o n prom i se Of l ife

,
.

T h e u d e ri c h l ed h i m i n con versation arou n d th e w all s o f the

city o f Zul p ich a n d su dde n ly bade h i s servan ts p ush h i m over
,

the ram part s o t ha t h i s n eck was broken South ern Th ur

, .

i n g i a the regi on o n th e Werra an d U n stru t was for the future

, ,

a tribu tary provi nce o f the Frank s N orthern Thuringia .

,

b etween E lbe an d Werra was overru n by t h e Saxon s an d , ,

’
n ever cam e u n der T h e u d e ri c h s po wer .

Whil e th e k ing o f Ripuaria was warring i n Germany hi s ,

you nger b ro thers ha d a ssaulted B urgun dy I n 5 2 3 C hild e b e rt .

and C hl o d o m e r attacked th e u npo p ular king Sigism un d th e ,

slayer of h i s own son as we h ave el sewh ere related

,
1
Th ey .

beat h i m i n battl e to ok h i m pri son er an d th re w h i m w ith h i s

, ,

wi fe an d s on down a well B u t G on d omar brother o f S igi s

.
,

F r a n k i sh
mu nd res tored the,
fortu n e o f wa r i n the next year ,

i v si
n a f
on o an d r ou ted th e Franks at V é s é ro n c e i n a battl e ,
B ur g u dy “ n
where C hl o do m e r was slai n B e fore pur
su i ng th e B u rgu n dia n war th e b rothers Of th e dead man
re solved t o pl un der h i s real m Th e k i n g o f O rlean s h ad
.

o nl y left i n fan t ch i ldre n so C h ild e b e rt an d C hlo t h a r foun d

,

n o d i ffi cul ty i n overru nn i ng h i s lan d s o n th e Loi re Th e .

three young boy s t o wh om the real m s h oul d have fallen were

, ,

cap tu red an d brough t before t heir u ncles C hi l d e b e rt the .

,

ru ffi a n wh o was o f a m il der m ood pro posed t o spare th ei r

, ,

l ives bu t C hl o t h a r ac tuall y d ragged the m away wh il e they

,
’
cl u ng t o hi s b roth er s k n ees an d cu t th e throats o f the two,

el des t wi th h i s own han ds Th e younges t was s natch ed

.

u p an d h idde n by a fai th ful servan t a nd l i ved to becom e a ,

m onk an d leave h i s nam e t o th e m ona ste ry o f C hl o d o va l d

,
‘

( St Cloud )
. .

’
O f C hl o do m e r s real m C h i ldeb e rt t ook th e land s o n the
U p per Loire a nd th e capi tal ci ty O rlean s C hl o t ha r th e Loi re ,

m ou th an d the part o f Aquitai n e sou th o f i t H earing a false .

1
S e e jx 27 .
 Tne E a rly F ra n k i sk K i ng s 1 I5

report that h i s eldes t brother T h e u de ri ch had fallen i n battle

,

with th e Thuringian s C hil d e b e rt n o w in vaded E ast Aqu itain e

, ,
’
a part of h i s brother s heritage B u t T h eu d e ri ch returne d i n
.

wrath an d th e ki ng o f Pari s an d O rlean s resolved to go

,

i n stead again st th e Vi sigo th s an d to drive them from the

,

lan d betwee n th e Ceve n nes an d th e Pyren ees The great .

T he o d o ri c was j u st dead s o n o h elp fro m I taly coul d be

,

ex p ected by th e V i sig o t hi c k in g Am a l ri c the grandson of th e ,

departed hero C hild e b e rt foun d h is p retext i n th e c om plai n t

.

t hat h i s si ster C hro t e c hi ld i s th e wife of Am a l ri c h ad bee n

, ,

d ebarred fro m th e exerci s e Of t he Cathol ic religi on an d cruelly

i ll treated by h er Aria n hu sban d Wi th th i s holy plea as h i s .

ea su s bet/i he marche d agai n s t Narb on n e defeated W w it h th

, e, e

A m a l ri c i n battle an d drove h i m over t he Pyren ees V i i g t h 5 3

,
S ° 5 1
1 °

to the gates o f Barcel ona There he was slai n ei ther b y th e

.
,

s word o f th e pursu ing Franks or b y the Vi sigoth i c arm y , ,

en raged at th e co wardice wh ich he h ad di splaye d i n t he

struggl e O n h i s death the G o th s raised on th e s hi eld a nd
.

salu ted as king the aged coun t T he u d i s th e regen t wh o had ,

r u le d Spai n for Th eodoric t he Great duri n g th e m in ori ty o f

Am a l ri c. Thu s e n d ed the race Of th e B al t i n g s a s rulers o f
the Vi sigoths ; their s uccee d ing kin gs were n ot o f t h e Ol d
royal hous e T h e u di s wh o was su s p ected of havi ng h ad
.
,
’
som e ha n d i n h is late p u p i l s m urder s oon j us t i fie d the choice ,

o f the Goth s by recovering Narbon n e an d the o th er ci tie s o f

,

S ept i m an i a from th e Franks C h il d e b e rt ha d turne d Off t o

.

an oth er quest an d th e o l d Vi sigot hic p ossessi on s n orth Of the

,

Pyrenees were retake n wi thou t much trouble

Th e en terprise wh ich had called away C h i ld e b e rt was a n ew
attem p t t o con qu er B urgun dy i n w hich h i s broth er C hl o t h ar
,

had prom ised to j oi n h i m I n the spring o f 5 3 2 B ur g u d y

.
n

the kings o f Paris an d Soi sson s u n ite d th eir forces c q u r d ,

on e e .

5 32 ’
an d marche d up th e valley of th e Yon ne They .

laid siege t o Autun an d when Gon domar the B urgu n dian

,

m onarch cam e to i ts r e lief beat h i m wi th such de ci sive resul ts

,

that he fle d i n to I taly an d aban do n ed h i s ki ngdom A fe w . ,

 I I6 E u r op ea n H i s t o 1y 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

sieges pu t the victori ou s Franki s h brethre n i n p os sessi on o f

th e wh ol e B u rgu n dian real m as far as th e borders o f th e
O strogoth s o n the Alps a n d the D rOm e .

When B urgu ndy had been c on quered th e Franks bega n t o ,

p re p are for a n e w cam p aign agai ns t t h e Vi sigoth s i n which ,

Th e u de ri c h i n ten ded t o s hare n o les s tha n h i s brothers But .

thi s sc hem e wa s frustrate d by the dea th o f the ki ng o f

Ripuaria early i n the year 5 3 3 H e left a son .

al ready a grown man an d a goo d warri or b u t ,

vi n g ia n fashi on th e u n cl es o f the h eir ma de a vigorou s attemp t

t o s ei ze an d divide h i s real m I t wa s only t h e prom p t an d

.

e n thu siastic w ay i n w h ich th e Ripu arian s rall ied arou n d thei r

y ou ng kin g th at saved h i m from th e fate o f h i s cou si n s th e ,

pri nces o f O rl ean s N o t m erel y h owever d id T h e u d e b e rt

.
, ,

h ol d h i s o w n but h e compelled hi s u ncle s to give h i m a

,

share o f th e n ewly con quered B urgu n dy wh en t h e parti ti on

-
,

o f that cou n try wa s fi nal ly m ad e .

Th e u de b e rt w a s i n fact well abl e to take care of h im sel f

, , ,

a nd s oon sh owe d th at h e was a s u n scrupul ou s an d e n t e rpri s

i n g i f n o t qui te s o blo odth irsty a s h i s fath er an d u ncles Yet
, ,
.

h e was for a M e ro vi n g n ot a n u n favou rabl e specim en o f a

, ,

m onarch an d th e ch ron icle rs tel l u s that b e ruled h i s ki ngdo m

,

w i th j u stic e venerate d t he cl ergy b uil t c hu rch es an d gave

, , ,

m uch al m s t o the poor Tha t as a pol itician h e was sh i fty

.

an d treach erous was soon to b e s h own by h i s dealings with

I taly I n 5 3 5 th e em pero r J u s ti n ian o n th e eve
.
,

o f h i s i n vasion o f the O strogoth ic ki ngd om bri bed ,

the three F ranki sh m o narch s by a gi ft o f ,

sol i di to attack I tal y from the rear Un cles an d n ephew

,
.

al ike were ready to take th e m on ey a n d j oi n i n the plun der of

th e pen in sula B u t i n th e n ext year th e Go th ic king Wi t ig es
.
,

eager t o free h im sel f from a secon d wa r offered to cede ,

P rove n ce an d Rhaetia to t h e Frank s if t hey wo u l d m a k e p eace

w i th h i m an d gran t h i m th e ai d o f thei r arms
,
Th e th ree .

k ings gladly a greed an d len t h i m a n auxil iary force o f

,

m e n w h o j o i n ed th e G oth s i n recoveri ng M ila n

,
T h e u d e b e rt .
 T/1 e E a rly F r a n k i s /z Ki ng s 1 17

an d C h ildeb e rt are sai d t o have cheated C hl o t h ar of hi s th i rd

o f th e gai n s th e former having got the m on ey an d th e lat ter
,

th e lan d wh ich Wi t i g es made over .

I n 5 3 9 Wi t i ge s an d Bel isariu s were l ocked i n s uch deadly

con fli c t that the Fran ks t hough t i t a good opp ortu n ity to e n
d e a vo u r to i nvad e I taly on th ei r o wn behalf T h e u d e b e rt .

cam e over th e Alps i n person wi th a n arm y o f ,

m e n al l fo otme n armed wi th lan ce an d axe save 3 0 0

, ,

n obl es w h o rode arou n d th e ki ng wi th shield an d s p ear .

Fi rst falli ng o n h i s frien ds the G oths the n at tackin g th e ,

E ast Roman s i n turn Th e u d eb e rt drove acros s th e n orth o f

-

,
“
I tal y sacking Gen oa an d wasting al l th e val ley o f t he Po as
, ,

far as Ven etia Al l th e open cou n try was i n h i s han ds an d

.
,

the Goths an d Rom an s had to s h u t them selve s u p i n thei r

fortresses B ut a di sease b rough t on b y foul livi ng fell upon
.

th e Franks an d s o th i n n ed thei r rank s t hat Th eu d e b ert had

,

to retire homeward reli n qui shi n g al l h e h ad gai ne d save th e

,

p ossession o f the passes o f the Cottian Alp s I t was h ow .

,

ever wi th h i s I tal i an plu n der that he struck th e fi rst gol d

,

mon ey which an y barbarian k i ng coi ne d i n hi s o wn nam e .

I n stead o f placing th e head o f th e emperor o n hi s s olid i as ,

had hitherto bee n the practice o f Goth Frank an d B ur , ,

gu n d i a n h e represe n ted h i s ow n i mage wi th sh iel d an d

,
’
buckler an d th e i n scri p tio n D om i n u s N os ter Tk eu a ebert u s
,

Vi ctor w i thou t an y refe ren ce to J u stin ian as em p eror o r over

,

lord S om e Of t he p iece s make h i m assu me th e m ore start

.

’
ling titl e O f D omi n u s T/zeu a eker t u s A ug u stu s as i f h e had ,

aim ed at u ni ti ng Gau l an d I taly an d taki ng th e styl e o f ,

Western E m peror ; and stra n ge as thi s design may appear i t

, ,

receive s som e cou nte nan ce from a chron icler wh o declares

that after h i s I talian co n qu ests T h e u deb e rt was so upl i fted i n
, ,

s p iri t t hat he designe d to m arch again st Constan ti n ople an d ,

make hi m self l ord o f th e worl d ( 5

When i n t h e n ext year the faithless T h eu de b ert plann ed
a nother expedi tio n to recon quer n orth I taly an d h a d th e ,

e ffrontery to offer h i s allia n ce once m ore to k in g Wi t ig e s we ,

I I8 E u rop ea n H i s t o1y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

ne e d n ot marvel tha t th e O strogoth refu sed t o l i sten for a

m om en t t o th e overture an d ch os e rath e r to Open n egotiation
,

wit h h i s E ast Roman foes -

Th e surrende r o f Raven n a an d
.

th e triumph of B el i sariu s fol lowe d an d T he u d e b e rt fou n d t hat

, ,

i n i n va ding the pe n i n sula h e woul d h ave th e em peror a s h i s

,

fo e rather than the ki ng o f th e Got hs H e re frai n ed for th e .

ti m e from foll owi ng u p h i s fi rst s uccesses bu t i t i s strange to ,

fi n d that wh en th e G othic cau se had agai n triu m p hed i n

t he han d s of king Ba d u i la an d n orth I tal y wa s once m ore
,

t orn asu n der be tween Roman a n d Teu to n th e Frank d i d n ot ,

take advan tage o f th e ren ewed trouble s to make a secon d

ex p ed i tion I t i s probabl e that in th ese years 5 4 1 4 5 h e was
.
,
-
,

C on q u s t o f occupie d i n an other con quest th at o f th e lan d

e ,

B v ri
a a a'
between th e D an ube an d th e N oric Al ps w h ich ,

now bore th e n ame o f Bavaria Th e Germa n t ri be s i n the .

an cien t N oricu m wh o h ad been subj ect to Theodori c i n th e

,

grea t day s O f th e G othic E mpi re th e re m nan t o f th e R u g i a n s

, ,

S cyrri T u rc i l i n g i an d H e ru l e s had latel y formed th em selves

, , ,

i n to a federati o n u n der th e n am e o f B avarian s an d had ch osen ,

a d uke Garibal d as thei r prin ce 1 We have n o d etail s o f .

’
T h e u d eb e rt s wars again s t them bu t m erely kn ow that by th e
,

e n d o f h is reign h e had m ad e the B avarian s tribu tary to th e

Frank s Thei r con qu es t i n al l probabil ity fill s th e u n recorded
.

’
tim e between T h e u d e b e rt s exped iti on t o I tal y a n d h i s deat h
i n 5 4 8 Fo r som e years a t th e end o f th i s period we k n ow
.

that h e was sick an d b ed ridden so that i t i s fai r to pu t th e ,

subj ec ti o n o f B avaria s ome w h ere abou t 4 4 3 fi ve years before ,

the dea th date o f th e Ri p u arian k i ng T he u d e b e rt le ft h i s

-
.

k ingdom to h i s y ou n g son M d a w eak an d s ickly

, ,

b o y wh ose acces sion kn owin g th e charac ter o f h i s great

, ,

un cles we are su r p ri sed to h e ar was n o t trou bled by a ny

,

O p positi on .

Wh ile T h e u d e b e rt had been buried i n I tal y th e oth er t wo ,

1
Th i s s e e m s t he b e s t w a y O f a cc o u n t i n g fo r t he bscu r e b eg i nn i n g s o f
O

t he B a v a r i a n d uchy . T he d e r i v a t i o n o f th e w o rd B a v a r i a i s h a rd t o
fa t h o m .
 T/ze E a rly F r a n k i s k Ki ng s I 19

Frankis h ki ngs C hil d eb ert an d C hl o t ha r though n ow t hey

, ,

were both advanced i n years had m ade a secon d expedi tion ,

agai nst the Visigoths an d i n 5 4 2 overran the Gothic provin ce

,

n orth o f the Pyren ees an d then crossed i n to t he valley of th e

,

E bro . They took Pampeluna and advanced as far as Sara ,

gossa t o w h ich they laid siege bu t i n fron t of that city they

, ,

received a crus hing defeat from T h e u d e g i sel the gen eral of the ,

ol d Goth ic ki ng T h e u d i s an d were drive n back in to Gau l

, ,

without retai n ing on e foot o f thei r con quests Narbon n e an d .

th e M editerranean shore still remain ed an ap p endage o f th e

kingdom o f Spai n .

A sim ilar fate to that which atten ded th e arm i es o f h i s

great u ncles i n Spai n was desti n ed to b efall th e first ex p ed i
-

tion wh ich Th e u d eb a l d of Ripuaria despatched to I taly Th e .

b oy king was too young t o head the army bu t the E astern

-
,

Franki sh m agnates wh o govern ed i n hi s n am e had resolved

to ren ew the en terprise of king T h e u d eb ert Two dukes of .

Alam an nian race B u c c e li n an d C hl o t ha r wh o seemed to have

, ,

possessed t he ch ief i n fl uen ce at the court of M etz set o u t i n ,

55 ,
1 while King B a d u i l a was e ngaged i n h i s last desperate

struggl e wi th th e E ast Roman s a n d overran part of Venetia

-

, .

Holding t o th e alliance o f nei ther Roman n or Goth they ,

threatened t o attack b oth ; b u t Narses when h e marched ,

i n to I taly from I llyria left th em alon e an d proceeded to , ,

assaul t ki n g B a d u i la w ithout payi n g atten ti on to th e n orthern

,

i nvaders I t was on ly i n the n ext year when Badulla an d his

.
,

successor Tei a h ad both been slai n that the B t t l f , a e o

arm ies of the Franks broke up from their e m C i l i m sss as

‘

nu t

ca m pm e n t s i n n orthern I taly an d marched down to chal

,

lenge the supremacy o f th e victoriou s Narses i n the desolated

pen i nsula H o w th ey fared we have had to relate i n th e pre
.

cedi n g chapter C hl o t ha r and hi s d ivisio n perished of wan t

.
,

o r plagu e i n Apul ia
,
B u cc e l i n an d th e mai n body were
.

defeated an d exterm inated by Narses at the battle o f Casi

l i num B y th e en d o f 5 5 3 al l th e gain s of th e Franks i n I taly
.

were go n e a n d ,
Franki sh corpses had b een buried i n
I tal ia n s o i l or left t o th e I tal ian vul tures .
1 20 E u ropea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

Less than two years after th e armi es o f h i s generals had

been extermi nated by N arse s the weakl y T h e u d e b a l d d ied ,

an d a s he l eft n o brother o r u ncl e th e E as t Frank ish real m

, ,
-

w a s hei rl ess I t fell by th e ch oice Of the Ripuarian folk m oot

.
-

’
to T h e u d e b a l d s great u n cl e th e aged C hl o t h a r king o f
-
, ,

S oi sson s wh o thu s becam e possessed o f th ree fourth s o f the

,
-

Frank i sh E m p ire As h i s brother the still older C hi ld e b ert

.
, ,

king o f Paris was ch ildless i t wa s n o w certain that after fi fty

, ,

years o f d ivi sion the empi re o f C hlo d o vech wa s abou t to be

On ce m ore reu n ited

Th ough vergin g o n h i s seven tieth year C hl o t har was s til l ,

en ergetic e n ough t o go forth t o war When the dom i nion s o f .

T h e u d e b al d p assed i n to h i s hands h e took up the sch e m e ,

w h ich h i s brother T h e u d e ri ch n ow twen ty years dead had , ,

on ce en tertai ned o f subd ui ng al l th e nati on s o f i nn er G er

,

m any .B eyon d the vassal Thu ringian s lay t he i n depen den t

Saxon s an d agai n st t hem C hl o t ha r led o u t i n 5 5 5 th e full
, , ,

force o f both th e Ri puarian an d t he Salian Franks The .

Saxon s o n th e oth er han d i n duced m an y of th e Thuringian s

, ,

t o ri se i n rebel l ion an d en deavou r to shake o ff the Franki sh

,

yoke T he fortun e of wa r wa s at fi rst favou rabl e to C hl o t ha r

. ,

w h o pu t d own the Th u ringia n i n surrectio n with out m uch

di fficul ty bu t wh en i n th e n ext year h e led his h ost i n to the
, , ,

u n explore d wood s an d m oors o f Saxon y h e su ffered such a ,

terribl e defeat that h e wa s fai n t o flee beh in d the Rhin e and ,

cover h i m sel f by t he w al l s o f K Ol n Th e pu rsui ng Saxon s .

devastated the Tran s Rhenan e p ossess ion s o f the Franks u p

-

t o th e gates o f D eu tz They were n o t destin ed t o becom e

.

the vassal s o f thei r w estern n eighbou rs for an other two hun

d red years .

’
T h e n ews o f C hl o t ha r s disaster i n G ermany an d th e fal se ,

report o f h i s death wh ich rum ou r adde d to th e n ews brough t

, ,

o n t rou ble i n Gau l C h ra m n th e el dest son o f C hl o t ha r an d

.
, ,

C hild e b e rt o f Pari s h i s aged brother at once took arm s to

, ,

d ivid e hi s k i n gd om N or when th e n ews cam e tha t h e s till

.

l i ved d id t he y desi st from thei r attem pt They sen t to sti r .

 Tli e E a rly F r a n k i s /z Ki ng s 12 1

up t h e Saxons an d p ersisted i n the war B u t before they

,
.
,

had act ually crosse d sword s w i th C hl o t ha r the o l d k i ng o f ,

Pari s d ied an d Ghram m reduced to h i s o wn resources was

, , ,
’
fai n to th row hi m self on h i s father s m ercy ( 5
’
Thu s C hl o t ha r by C hi ld e b e rt s death gathered i n th e l ast
, ,
’
i nde p en den t fragm ent Of h i s fath er s vast h eritage an d reigned ,

fo r thre e years 5 5 8 5 6 1 ) over th e real m Of C hl o C h l t h s l o ar o e

d o ve ch swelle d by the con quest s o f B u rgun dy K i g 5 5 8

, ,
n t

Thuringia P roven ce an d B avaria made s ince t he d ivisio n o f

, , ,

t he Frankish E mpire .

C hl o t h a r was th e wors t o f h i s h ou s e I t w ill b e remem .

bered how h i s career had beg u n by th e brutal m u rder of h i s

neph e ws I t was d esti n ed t o e n d by an even greater atroci ty
. .

H i s u ndu ti fu l son Chram a th ough p ardone d i n 5 5 8 rebelle d

, , ,

agai n i n 5 6 0 wi th th e ai d o f t h e B reton s o f Armorica

'

,
.

C hl o th ar p ursu ed defeated an d caugh t t he rebell iou s p ri n ce

, ,
.

Then h e boun d h im wit h h i s wife an d h i s y ou ng s on s to

, ,

pillars of a wooden h ouse a n d bu rn t th em al ive b y fi ring t he

,

bu il din g Thi s sh ocki ng deed rou sed eve n the b rutal Franks
.

t o horror an d i t was n ote d as t h e j udgm en t Of h eaven tha t

,

the ki ng d ie d exactly a year after h e had given h i s hei r to th e

’
fl am es The wicke d o l d m an s body h owever was burie d i n
.
, ,

great s tate i n th e chu rch o f S t M edard a s though h e had .

,

b e en t h e bes t o f sovereign s H i s k i ngdom fell t o h i s

four s on s d e s ti ned t o a new d ivi si on j u st fi fty years after i ts
,

fi rs t p artition among th e s on s o f C hl o d o ve ch .

T h e r eal m of th e M e ro vi n gs havi ng n o w attai n ed to its full

growth an d assu med the sha p e wh ich i t was t o kee p till th e
,

fall o f the d yn asty we m ay proceed to give th e ch i ef facts

,

concern i ng i ts social an d p ol itical organ is ation .

Like all th e other Teuton ic states w hich wer e e rected o n

the rui n s of t h e we stern p rovi nce s o f t h e Roman D
p fi ki g es o c n _

E m pire i t p ossessed a political con s titution wh ich sh i p f t h

‘

o e
,

had advanced very far beyo n d the simple state o f

th ings described i n the Ger ma n i a o f Tacitu s The con quests .

o f the Franks had resulted i n t he i n cr e as e o f th e kingly

 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

p ower t o a h eigh t wh ich i t had n ever reached i n earlier

days As th e perman en t war ch ief i n a tim e wh en war was
.
-

i n cessan t th e k ing had gradually exten ded h is power from

,

su prem e comman d i n th e fiel d i n to suprem e com man d i n al l

thi ngs H e an d h i s war ba n d o f sworn followers ha d born e
.
-

th e brun t o f th e figh t ing an d naturally reaped the greater p art

,

o f th e p rofi t The check exercised b y p o p ular assembl ies o n

.

th e royal power seem s alm os t to have d isappeared after the

fi rst days o f the co n que st I n th e t im e o f C hl o d o ve ch h im
.

sel f w e fi n d s om e traces o f the m s till rem ai n in g O n ce or twi ce .

th e army i n th e capaci ty of pu bl ic assembly o f t he man h ood

,

o f all th e Fran ks seem s to assert i tsel f again s t th e ki ng but

, ,

even th i s check grad ually d isappeared The Franki s h E m p i re .

grew t oo broad for a n y pu bl i c folk m oot o f the nati on t o be

-

’
abl e t o m eet an d th e ki ng o nly took cou n sel of such magnates
—high o fficers of t he h ou sehold b i shop s a nd provi ncial
,

, ,

governors — as he chose to su m m on t o h i s p re sence Two .

additi on al factors gave i ncreased st repg t h t o t he mo n arch g

h

Th e fi rs t was th e h igh respec t p ai d to the su prem e p ower by

th e co n qu ered Gallic p rovin cials m en l ong habi tuated to th e
,

de spotic govern men t o f Rom e — a respe ct far greater than an y

that th e Franks had been accu st ome d t o give thei r k i ngs .

Th e habi t of O bedien ce o f th e Gallo Roma n wa s s oo n co p ied -

by t he Fra nk T h e secon d factor was th e en ri ch in g o f th e

.

ki ng by th e vas t exten t o f the Ol d i mperial d omai n lan d i n

Gaul w h ich was tran sferred at th e c on ques t t o t he Franki sh
,

kin g an d becam e hi s p rivate pro p erty p laci ng a vast stor e

, ,

both o f lan d an d m on ey at h is di s p osal .

The M e ro vi n gs th en were d es p ot ic rul ers l ittl e con trol led

, , ,

by an y con stitutio n al check s an d only liabl e to b e d eposed by

,

th ei r subj ects i f th ei r con duc t becam e abs ol utel y u n bearable .

Their worst danger wa s always from thei r am bi tiou s relatives ,

n ot from thei r peopl e .

Th e Frank i sh king wa s di st ingu i shed from h i s followers by

—
the regal privilege o f weari ng l ong hai r to shear a king s ’
,

he ad wa s t he bes t toke n o f deposi ng h i m — b y h i s royal ,

 l e E a rly F ra n k i s k K i ng s 123

d iadem an d kingly s p ear O ccasi onally h e borrowe d trap

, .

pings from the Roman s as when for exam p l e C hl o d o vech

, , ,

was i nve sted wi th th e robes o f P atrician after h i s G ot hic War 1

.

B ut the n ational dres s was gen erally adhered t o .

The govern m en t of the real m was managed by two group s

o f m i n i sters — th e royal h ouseh old or p a l a t i u m an d the p ro , ,

vi n c i a l govern ors Th e h ou seh ol d followed the T h R o y l

.
e a

perso n o f the ki n g i n all hi s m ovem en ts It H h ld .

°u se ° t

was mai nl y com p ose d o f p erson al com p an ion s bou n d by ,

the oath o f fi deli ty the comi tes Of earli e r days w ho had

, ,
’
on ce form e d th e ki ng s war ban d bu t n ow con stitute d h i s
-
,

m in isters an d o fficial s These personal adheren ts were calle d

.

by the Frank s a n t r u sti ons We have al ready seen that th e

.

Goth s called th e sam e class su i on es an d t he E ngl is h g esi t/zs , .

Th e ch ief o f th e royal h ou seh old o r p a l a ti u m was t he , ,

o fficial w
’
hom later gen erati on s u sual ly called th e M aj or P a la tzi ,
’ H ’
o r M ayor of th e Palace e was th e king s first ser van t
‘
.
,

charged wi th th e overseein g o f t h e rest o f th e h ouseh ol d

’
O fficials an d ready to act at need as th e ki ng s o ther sel f i n
,

matters of war j ustice o r admi n i strat i on I n t he days o f the

, ,
.

fi rst warl ike Franki sh ki ngs the M ayor of the Palace was ke p t
in hi s p lace by th e acti vi ty Of h i s m aster an d was n o m ore ,

than an im p ortan t o ffi cial B u t as the M ero vi n gs decayed i n

.
,

person al vigou r their m ayors grew m ore an d m or e importan t

, ,

t ill at last we shall see them taking the place o f regen t an d

practical substi tute for th e king T he old E ngl is h m on arch ies .

had n o o fficial s wh o ca n be com p are d i n i m p ortance t o them ,

bu t und er the Angl o Norman s th e p osition o f th e J u sticiar

,
-
,

was m uch like t hat occupie d by th e Frankish M aj or

After the Mayor o f th e Palace t he ch ief m i n isters o f the ,

royal hou sehold were t he Marsh all (t om es sta ou l i ) charged wi th ,

th e oversigh t Of t he royal stables ; th e Comes P a l a ti i wh o ,

acted as legal advi ser an d asses sor t o th e king ; th e Trea

surer ; and the R efi r en da ri u s o r royal secretary Th ough
, .

1
S ee p 6 3 . .
I 24 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

pri marily h ousehol d o fficial s all thes e are occasi onally fou n d ,

de tache d fro m th e cou rt o n external b u si n ess com man ding ,

arm ies or sen t o n em bassi es

,
.

At fi rst all t he post s were given t o Frank s save t hat o f th e ,

R e fe re n d a ri u s to fill wh ich i t woul d have been hard to fi n d an

,

educated ma n o f Teuton ic bl ood B u t by th e e n d o f th e .

,

sixth cen tury m en o f Gall o R oma n origi n were occasi onally

,
-

fou n d i n occupation o f th em an d i n the seve nth ce n tury ,

th i s becam e qu i te comm on I n 6 0 5 we fi n d even th e o ffice of

.

M aj or F a ta t i l the m os t importan t O f th em al l i n th e han d s

, ,

o f th e Gall o R oman P ro t a d i u s
-
.

i T h e provi ncial as d istingui sh e d fro m t he central govern

, ,

men t o f th e Franki s h real m was e xerci se d by o fficers wh o bore

’
th e n am es o f Cou n t an d D uke (t o mes a u x G r af H erz og ) , , , .

Th e wh ol e real m was d ivi de d i n t o coun tships I n th e purely .

Teuton ic hal f the u n i t was th e Ol d tri bal d istrict wh ich the ,

Th C o n t
e u s Roma n called P ag u s an d the Fran k G a u A .

an d D uk s e .
c oun t w a s app oi nted t o each o f th ese tribal u ni t s .

I n th e Roman o Galli c half of th e ki ngdom the coun tsh ip was

-

c omposed o f t he ei mt a s or city wi th i ts dep en de n t dis trict

'

, ,

which had su rvi ved fro m th e ti mes of th e Wes tern E m pi re ,

an d often re p resen ted th e origi nal Celti c tribe Th e cou n t .

wa s both a m il i tary an d civi l o ffi cial H e ad mi n i stered .

j u stice l e d th e arme d levy o f h i s distri ct a n d saw t o th e

, ,

rai sing o f taxe s .

Several c ou n tsh ips were often u n i ted an d placed u nd er a

si ngle o fficial o f high er rank the d u st w hen the coun ts had t o , ,

foll ow an d Obey These u n ion s o f cou n tshi ps w ere m os t

.

com m o n o n t h e fron ti er w h ere a strong an d u ni ted defen ce

,

agai ns t foreign en em ies woul d be n eeded an d wh ere i t would ,

have bee n u n safe to leave th e charge o f th e border to half a

d ozen cou n ts wh o m igh t o r m igh t n o t co o perate will ingly with
,
-

each oth er I n P rove n ce and B u rgu ndy th e ( t u x was al so

.

k no w n by th e Rom a n ti tl e o f Patrician .

The provin cial n o l ess than th e h o usehol d O fficials o f the

Fran kish kings were originally al l o f Teu ton ic bi rth B ut i n .
,
 Tk e E arly F ra n k i s n K i ng s 125

the s ixth cen tu ry Gallo Roman s are fou n d i n trusted wit h b oth
-

the lesser an d th e greater charges We shall have t o mak e .

mention o f on e o f thes e nati ve dukes the B urgun dian E nn i u s ,

M u m m o l u s m ore t han on ce when recoun ti ng th e hi s tory o f

, ,

the last years o f t he sixth cen tu ry .

Th e p rov i ncial governor cou n t or duke was assi sted by a

, ,

deputy o r mea ri u s whom h e n om i n ated to fi ll hi s place d uri ng

'

, ,

hi s abse nce at th e court o r th e wars o r wh ile h e L a l , oc

was engaged i n som e specially absorb ing task at G m m M OV C C

hom e The m in or adm in i strati on o f the cou n tship was carri ed

.

o u t by een ten a r i i o r hu n dred m en

,
called al so o n occasi on
-
,

t r i ku n i
. The cou n tsh i p was divided i nto hu n dreds an d over ,

each o f these there presi de d a h un dred m an wh o was a p -

,

p oi nted by th e cou n t to act as a p ol ice magi strate i n tim e o f

peace an d t o h ead th e m en of hi s d is trict i n ti me o f war P etty
, .

law cases cam e before h im bu t at stated peri ods t he coun t

,

wen t roun d all th e h un dreds i n h i s coun tsh ip an d admini stered ,

j ustice at a p ublic assembly of the i n habi tan ts .

’
The cou n t s tribu nal was called the M a l/u s H e sat i n .

compan ywi th a few assessors ch osen from th e ch ief m en o f

,

the d istrict Thes e magn ates were called R a e/z i mou rg i o r

.
,

B o n i H om i n es They were sum m on ed by th e cou nt an d had

.
,

no au th ori ty i ndepen dent o f h is b u t by ancien t custom — both

,

Roman an d Teuton i c— assessors had always been called i n to

aid the chief j u dge Th e system i s foun d al ike at the tribunal
.

o f the Roman provi n cial magi strate presiding i n hi s con ven t u s ,

an d i n th e p ri m i tive German law cou rt s described by Tacitu s .

The cou n t sitti ng i n h is M a ll u s ha d ful l power o f l ife an d

, ,

death an d authority i n al l case s save where th e person s con

, ,

cerned were s o great that th e case m igh t be called be fore

’
the Ki ng s H igh C ourt an d tri ed by th e king hi m self an d th e
,

Co mes P a l a t i n u s .

The Fran ks n ot u nfrequ ently en force d th e death penalty

fo r mu r der arson brigandage an d other great crimes
, , ,
But .

’
they used al so th e system of w er eg ela l ike o u r o wn Anglo ,

Saxon forefathers With th e con sen t Of the fam il y o f the

.
 1 26 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

vi ct i m al m os t every m urder c oul d be co n don ed on t he pay

,

m en t o f sum s varyi ng fro m 3 0 gol d sol id i fo r a slave to 1 8 0 0

for a freeman of high rank I n cases wh en th e
W
.

e re g ld e .

proof o f a cri m e was d i ffi cul t on th e evidence pro

d u ce d th e Franks ofte n made u se o f oath s an d compurga
,

ti on s Th e accused for h i msel f o r a b ody o f h is su p porters

.
,

i n h i s behalf made a solem n oath that h e wa s i nn ocen t an d

, ,

th i s su fli ce d to acqu i t hi m i f n o furth e r evi de nce was pro

d u ce d J u dicial com bats we re al so n ot unfrequen t They
. .

appear am ong th e B u rgu n d ian s h oweve r before they were , ,

taken u p by t he Franks N or was th e cu s to m u nkn own o f

.

su bm itting crim inals wh o se convicti on was d i fficu l t to the

ordeal : that by boil ing water where th e accu sed plu nged h is
,

han d i nt o a caldro n was th e on e m ost frequen tly u sed

,
.

I t will b e n ot ice d that there was n o trace o f p opular

govern men t i n th i s Frank is h a dm in i strati on The k ing c ho se .

th e cou n t an d th e cou n t the h u ndred ma n Th e king was n o t -

.

con trolle d o r ch ecke d by a ny po p ular assembly o f the n atio n ,

n or th e co un t o r h u ndred man by an y m eeting o f th e peo p le

-

o f h i s d istrict Th e king prom ulgated ed ict s an d laws o n hi s

.

o wn re spon sibili ty and si m ilarl y th e coun t adm ini stered h i s

,

cou ntsh i p withou t an y though t o f ren dering accou n t t o any

o n e save th e ki ng Such assembl ies a s took place were su m
.

m o n e d to h ear th e deci sion s Of king o r coun t n o t t o de bate ,

u p on them o r recomm e n d thei r m od ification The ancien t

,
.

G erman free do m had disappeared to give place to an auto ,

cracy a s wel l defi n ed as that o f th e van i she d Rom an em pire .

B esi des d ukes an d cou n ts the k i ng ke p t o th er Offi cial s i n

,
’ ’ '

th e provi nces These were t h e a o111est 1a wh o were charged

.

wi th the con trol of th e royal d om ai n lan d th rough ou t the king -

’
d om They were th e ki ng s p rivate b a ilifls for h i s o wn p o s
.

sessi on s acting m u ch as th e Procu rators o f th e Fiscu s had

,

on ce acted fo r th e Roman em p erors i n th e ancien t provi nce s .

Th ere were oth er domest i ei i n th e p alace w h ose O ffices were ,

al so fi n an cial an d wh o m us t appare n tly have served a s u n der

,

l ings t o th e h igh treasu rer .

 Tne E a rly F ra n k i s n K i ng s 127

Th e revenue of th e M e ro vi n g s seem s chi efly to have fallen

u nder fo ur heads Th e first was th e pro fits of the royal
.

’
domai n work ed by the a o1n est i ei Th e secon d was th e pro
,
.

duce Of cu stom dues levied b oth on th e lan d an d

R v u
,
e en e .

th e sea fron tier o f the empi re Th e third was th e

-
.

p roduce o f fi nes and comp osi ti on s i n the law courts of which ,

o n e thi rd always wen t to th e king

-
B ut th e fourth an d m os t
.
,

importan t was the regular an nual tribute Of th e cou n tsh ips

,
.

’
E ach d istri ct was assess ed i n the k i n g s book s for a defi ned
sum an d th i s the cou n t had to raise an d sen d i n 0 11 h i s ow n
, ,

respon sibility I t seem s that at firs t onl y the Gall o Roman

.
-

d istricts were charged wi th tribu te T he u d eb e rt th e grand s on .

,

o f C h l o d o ve c h we are told fi rs t subj ecte d the native Franki sh

, ,

dis tricts to th e impost a grievance s o d eepl y fel t that wh e n

, ,

he d ied th e Au strasian s rose an d slew Parthen iu s the m in i ster

, , ,

w h o had suggested to the ki ng t hi s m ethod of i ncreasing h i s

reven u e .

Fro m thi s s hort sketc h of th e con sti tu ti on o f th e Frankish

real m i t will b e seen that i ts organ isatio n lay half way betwee n -

the al m ost purely Teu ton ic form s o f th e govern men t Of early

E ngland an d the alm os t purely Roman method s employed by
Theodori c the Great i n I tal y T hi s i s w hat m igh t have been
.

expected Th e Frank ish kingdom was by n o mean s a prim i

.

tive Teu ton ic state bu t i t was far m ore s o tha n th e O stro

,

gothic real m in I taly .

 C HA PTER VII I

TH E V I S I GO T H S I N SPA IN

53 1 -6 0 3

W e a k n ess
'

of V i s i g o t h i c k i ng d o m — C i vrl w a rs a n d m urd e rs o f K i ng s
the
T h e R o m a n s i n v a d e A n d a lus i a 5 5 4—R e i g n o f L e o vig i ld —H e r e s t o r e s t h e
,

p o w e r o f t h e V i s g o t hs
i — H i s c o n qu e s t s —Re b ell i o n a n d d e a t h o f h s so n
i

H e rm e n e g il d —R e i g n o f R ecca re d —H e c o n v e r t s t h e G o t h s t o C a t h o l i c i s m
—C o n se qu e n c e s o f t h i s c o n ve rsi o n .

WE have already wh il e d eal ing wi th the fortun es o f C hlo do

,

vech t he Fran k an d Th eodoric th e Great related the story o f ,

th e ex p ulsion o f the Vi sigoth s from Aquitai n e a n d o f th e ,

exti nctio n o f thei r royal h ouse — t h e h eaven b orn B alts —b y -

the death s o f Alaric 1 1 an d Am a l ri c both slai n by th e sword

.
,

o f the Franks .

I n 5 3 1 the Vi sigoths deprived o f all thei r d omi n ion s n orth

,

Of the Pyrenees an d fol lowed i n to th e I berian p en i n sula b y

,

th e vic toriou s Franks fou n d them selve s wi th ou t any p ri nc e o f

,

th e Ol d royal l in e wh o coul d be rai sed t o the t h ron e an d ,

Br m e f en o d el iver them from th ei r e n em ies The h ost pro .

Th di
eu si s
c e e d e d according t o Teu ton ic cu stom t o el ect a
t
"
, ,

k ing an d chose th e Ol d coun t Th e u d i s the O strogoth ic n oble

, ,

w h o h ad acted as regen t fo r A m a l ri c during th e long years o f

h is m in ori ty Th e ve teran j us ti fied th eir choice by recovering
.

part o f th e l os t lan ds beyon d th e Pyrenees —th e rich provi nce

o f S e pt i m a n i a with i ts ci ties Of Narbon ne N ismes an d Car
, , ,

c a sso n n e Ten years late r The u d i s had to face an oth e r

.

Fra n k i sh i n vasi on an d agai n succeeded i n repelling h i s

,
1 26
 Tlze Vi s zgotk s i n S p a i n 1 29

adversaries after a bloody battle i n fron t o f Saragossa

,

(54 )
1
- 2

Preserved from th e danger of Franki sh con quest the Vi si ,

goth ic nation had to face the problem of re organi sing i ts co n

s t i t u t i o n un der the n ew con dition s of i ts ex is ten ce I t had ‘
.

previously l ooked o n Gau l rather than o n Spai n a s i ts h om e .

Toul ouse had been the favouri te abode of i ts kings n ot Bar ,

cel ona o r Toledo Gaul was n ow lost save o n e provin ce an d

.
, ,

i t was i n S p ai n alon e that the Visigoth ic nam e was to survi ve .

But even worse than the l oss of i ts an cie n t hom e was the l os s
Of i ts ancien t royal h ouse N oth ing coul d be m ore rui n ou s to
.

a Teuton ic tribe i n those days than th e exti nction o f th e l in e

Of i t s Ol d heaven descende d kings -
Wh en i t had becom e .

n eces sary to ch oose a ruler fro m among th e ranks o f th e

n obi li ty every ambiti ou s coun t an d duke could a 5 pire t o t he
,

thron e E ach election was bitterl y con tested an d the cand i

.
,

dates wh o had failed to wi n th e favou r o f th e h os t reti red t o

pl ot an d in trigu e agai n s t their m ore fortunate ri val When .

n o on e ha d any prescrip tive hereditary righ t to th e succes sion

’
o n the reigning ki ng s death the temptatio n to m ake away ,

wi th h i m by violence an d en deavour t o seize h i s h eri tage was

, ,

irresistible H ence it cam e to p as s that o f th e twen ty three

.
-

Vi sigothic kings o f Spai n — fro m T h eu d i s t o Roderic — n o les s

than n ine were deposed an d o f th ese seven were m urdere d by
,

thei r successors The average length o f thei r reign s wa s les s

.

than eigh t years an d on ly i n eigh t i n stanc e s d id a so n succeed

,

a father o n the th ron e There was bu t o n e si ngl e cas e o f

.

gran dfath er father an d son following eac h other i n u n disputed

, ,

success i on .

I n relating the hi story o f th e Franks i n Gaul we hav e had ,

occasion t o p oin t o u t the comparative ease wi th wh ich the Fran k

“
'

an d t h e R o ma n p rovi n cial coalesced to form a n ew w k s s f ea ne o

nation We hav e seen h ow from th e fi rst th e Gaul ish t h

.
iga m e S

bishops were empl oyed a s m in i sters a n d co n fi da n t s by t he

M e ro vi n gs an d h o w i n a sh ort time Gall o Ro m an cou n ts an d
, , ,
-

1
S ee p . 1 33 .

P ER I O D 1 .
 1 30 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

dukes w ere prefe rred t o high places i n th e Franki sh p alace

and army I n S pai n n o such easy u n ion between the
.

Teutonic con querors and t he provi n cials was p ossible becau se ,

t he great ba r o f rel igi on lay be tween them U nl ike the Frank s .

,

the Visig o th s w ere Aria n s hav ing preserve d th e heretical ,

fo rm o f Ch ri stia ni ty wh ich thei r forefath ers had l earn t beyon d

the Da n ube i n the fou rth cen tury The Span i sh p rovi n cial s .
,

o n th e oth er han d w ere al mos t to a m a n fa natically orth odox

,
.

Th e G oth s forme d a rel igi ou s com m un ity o f th ei r o w n qui te ,

a part from th e Span iard s w i th Arian bi sho p s a n d priests t o

,

m in i s ter t o them ; a n d th ei r k ings coul d n ot ackn owl edge or

utili se t he native bi s h op s a s th e M e ro vi n gs h ad don e i n Gaul .

Th e provincial s ha ted the i r rul ers a s h eretics as well a s bar

b a ria n s an d never acqu iesce d willi ngly i n th eir dom inat ion
,
.

They were n ot i n disposed t o favou r t he advance O f t h e

orth od ox Frank and w elcome d th e c om i ng o f th e tro ops o f
,

t he E a st Roman em perors t o th ei r sh ore s i n th e s ix th cen tu ry

-
.

Wh ile th e Vi sigoth s remaine d Arian they raise d n o Spa n iard

t o power o r o ffice ; i t wa s n o t till they becam e Cath ol ic i n the ,

very e n d o f th e sixth cen tury that th e fi rs t R oman names are ,

1
foun d am ong th e servan ts o f th e k ing For th e fi rst seven ty .

years o f their rul e i n Spai n th e Vi s igoth s were compl etel y

e stranged fro m their subj ects ( 5 1 1
Th e masters o f Spai n then w ere a n o t very n u merou s , ,

tri be scattere d th i nly among masses o f an Opp ressed subj ec t

,

populat ion They w ere m asters by th e p ower of th e sword

.

al o n e bu t thei r m il itary force was c ri ppled by th e w eakn es s

,

Of thei r electi ve ki ngs who were t oo m uch occupied i n main

,

tai n ing t he ir precari ou s auth ori ty over th e d i sco ntented chi efs
t o allow o f thei r maki ng th ei r a rm s fel t a broad N earl y al l .

th e w ars of the Vi sigoth s were ei the r c ivil broil s betwee n ri val

kin gs o r defe n sive cam paign s again st the i n trus ive Frank from
,

bey o n d th e Pyren ee s .

T he ea rl i es t t bl e c as e i s du k e Cl a ud ius t he g e ne r a l o f k i ng
no a ,

R e c c a re d t h e f rs t o r t h o d o x ru l e r o f S pa i n
i l l e c o m m a n d e d vi c
.

t o r i o ns l y a
g a i n s t t he F r a k s f G u n t m o f B ur g u n dy i n 5 8 9
n o l a .
 Tk e V i s zgo t/1s i n S pa i n 13 1

There i s ye t o n e m ore p oin t t o add to this picture o f th e

di stracted real m o f th e Vi sigoth s t hey were n ot eve n masters
o f the wh ole o f the I berian p en i nsula bu t had to con ten d
,

w ith fi erce an d watch ful enem ies w i thi n i ts l im its In the .

w estern Pyren ees an d o n t he sh ores o f the G ul f o f B iscay

, ,

the Basques preserve d a precari ou s i ndepen dence an d ,

descended from thei r fastnesses to plun der th e valley of the

E br o whenever th e Goth s w ere engaged i n c ivi l di scords
, .

Farther t o th e wes t there still subsisted i n the an cien t Ga

l icia an d Lu si tan i a the k ingdom o f th e Suevi —the origi n al
Teu ton ic con querors o f Spai n Th e earl y Vi sigoth ic ki ngs
.

had driven them i n to the m ou n tai n s o f the West bu t had ,

n ever fol lowed th em i nto th ei r last retreats to c ompel the m ,

.

to m ake com p l ete submi ssi on S uevic kings reigne d a t B raga

.

over t he coun try n orth o f the Tagu s an d west o f the E sla

an d Tormes ti ll t he l as t years o f th e sixth cen tu ry W hen .

ever a favourable Opportu n ity occurred they took part i n th e

,

civi l wars Of the Vi sigoth s an d harried the valley o f th e u p per

,

D ouro an d th e lower Tagu s .

Th e i n ner organ i sati on o f th e Visigothic real m presen ts a

very d ifferen t p icture from the cen tral ise d desp oti sm w i th ,

everyth ing de p en ding o n th e king w h ich w e have d escribed

,

a s exi sting am ong the early Franks i n Gaul Like th e Frank s .

the Vi sigoth s ha d divi ded thei r con ques t i n to d istricts g o ,

ve rn e d by cou n ts o r dukes generally us in g as the u n i t o f

,

divisi on th e Ol d Roman boun daries o f p rovi n ces an d ci vi ta tes .

B u t th e Vi sigothic govern ors were far l ess u n der the con trol
o f thei r elective kings than were th e Frankis h coun ts u n de r
the han d o f the de sp oti c M erovingi an s E ach o f the m kep t
.

a bodyguard o f person al dependan ts calle d — as am ong th e

O strogo th s — sa i on es o r som etim es ou eell a r i i whom h e coul d
, ,

trust t o follow hi m eve n agai n st th e king I t was t he p os .

s e ss1o n of th i s arm ed follow i ng among a helpless ,

Th S i s e a on e .

weap onless mas s o f provmma l s wh i ch enable d an y

c ou n t o r duk e wh o was p o p ular an d ambi tiou s to dare a n a t
tem p t at rebell ion when ever h i s m aster was weak o r u n fortu nate
,
.
132 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

There seem s to have been a comparativel y smal l b ody of lesser

freeholders —eeor /s a s t h ey woul d have bee n cal led i n E nglan d
— among the Visigoth s There i s l i ttle trace o f any i n terme diate
.

class between th e n obles —wheth e r offi cial n oble s p a l a ti n i o r , ,

n obles o f bi rth an d thei r sw orn fol lowers t he sa i on es I n .

fac t t h e k ingdom m igh t fai rl y b e called feu dal i n i ts organ isa

,

tion con si sti n g a s i t d i d o f a servile p opulati on o f H i span o

,

Roma n blood held down by a spri nkl ing O f Goth ic m en a t

,
-

arm s each bou n d by oath t o follow some great no bl e wh o

, ,

con sidered h im sel f th e equal o f hi s ki ng an d vouchsafed hi m

,

only the barest h omage As ye t the k i n g had n o opportu n i ty

.

o f supportin g h i m sel f by calli ng i n t o hi s aid ei th er th e Church

o r the su bj ec t Roma n p opul atio n ; h is Arian i sm p reven ted

h i m from havi ng recourse to an y such expedien t .

The d ifference bet w ee n Roman a n d G oth w a s i n dee d a c

c e n t u a t e d i n every way There w ere di ffere n t codes o f law
.

for su bj ect an d mas te r t he forme r u si ng a l ocal a dap tation o f

,

th e Theod osia n cod e known as th e B r eu i a r i u /n A l a r i ei w h il e ,

th e latter was j udge d by o l d Goth i c cus tom ary la w n o t ye t

reduce d i n to written form 1
E ve n m arriage between th e tw o
.

races was i llegal t ill ab ou t 5 7 0 ki ng L eo vig ild broke th e

, ,

proh ibition by tak i ng t o w ife Theod osia th e daugh ter o f ,

S e ve ri a n u s . Spai n sadl y n eeded s om e rul er like T heodoric

th e G reat t o act as a m ediator an d re dresser o f w rongs b e
,

twee n the two n ation s who dwel t wi th i n i ts borders .

A n evil en d fel l u pon al l t he fi rs t three Vi sigoth i c k ings

w h o ruled i n Sp a i n Th e aged T he u d i s enj oyed seventee n
.

years o f power and a s we h ave al ready related wa s successful

, , ,

i n beatin g o ff th ree su ccess ive attack s o f th e Frank s o n

th e pen i n sula . B u t th e e nd of hi s reign was clouded by
d isaster ; frightened by the ra p i di ty wi th w hich the arm ies o f
J u sti n ia n h ad cru sh ed Van dal an d Go th h e resolved t o create
,

a di version i n favou r o f h i s o wn I tal ian kin sm en by attacki ng ,

t h e newly create d i mperial p rovi nce o f Africa

-
. B u t h i s arm y
was alm os t an n ihilate d i n fron t o f the fortress o f Se p ta ( Ceu ta ) ,

T he G o t h i c la w wa s pr o b a b l y w r i tt e n d w n a b o u t 5 8 7 by R ecca re d
o .
 Tk e Vi s zlgo l b s i n Sp a i n I 33

the westernm os t bul wark o f th e A frican p rovin ce an d h e ,

h im sel f return ed to Spain wit h hi s m ilitary re p utation wrecked

i n hi s extrem e ol d age Fou r years later h e was m u rdered a t
.

S eville by an u nkn own a ssassin wh o ei the r was o r feign ed t o

, ,

be i n san e
,

The Vi sigoth ic ch iefs th en elected as thei r ki ng Theu d ig i se l , ,

th e general wh o h ad beaten th e Frank s at Saragossa i n 5 4 2 ,

an d had ever si n ce bee n reckoned th e bes t warri or of t hei r

race B u t t he n ew k ing was brutal an d debauch ed ; h is
.
'

e xcesse s provoked the anger o f t he n obles a n d on ly seven teen ,

m onth s after h i s accessi o n h e was m u rdered Whil e h e sat .

‘

at supper wi th h i s frien ds an d waxed m erry o ve rjt h e wi n e the

, ,

lamp s were exti ngui shed an d h e wa s slai n on hi s c ouch by

th e sword o f h is enem ies .

The maj ority of t h e Vi sigoth s t hen ch ose Agila as thei r

ruler but th ough he was ackn owl edged as kin g at Toledo a n d
, ,

B arcelona t he cou n ts o f t he S ou t h refused to recogn ise him

, .

When h e i nvaded Andal usia h e suffered a fearfu l defeat i n

fron t of Cordova an d saw h is son an d hei r s l ai n be fore h i s
,

eyes B ut h e s till h el d al l S p ai n n orth o f th e S ierra M oren a

.
,

an d seemed so s trong that th e c hi ef of the rebel s cou n t ,

A t h a n agi l d resolve d to cal l i n t o h i s aid th e arm s of th e

,

E ast Roman s
-
Ju s ti n ian embraced with j oy th is opp ortun i ty
.

of getting a footing i n Spain an d by h i s orders Li beri u s

, ,

governor o f Africa crossed th e S trai ts an d lan de d at Cadiz

, , .

Man y town s at on ce open ed t hei r gates to the Roman troo p s ,

for the oppressed provincial s though t that Liberi u s woul d

deliver t hem for e ver fro m th e Goth s an d re store th e imperial ,

auth ority i n th e wh ol e p en i nsula Rou sed t o des p eration .

,

Agila summ one d u p al l h i s forces crossed t he T h R m s , e o an

S ierra M oren a for a secon d tim e an d engaged l d i Sp i an n a n .

t h e arm ies o f A tha n ag i l d an d Liberiu s i n fron t o f Seville .

Agai n h e su ffered a disastrou s d efeat an d was con strai ne d t o ,

fly t o Meri da Then h i s sol diery seeing that the G othi c race

.
,

was rui n ing i tsel f by fratri ci dal strife while th e Roman s were ,

occu p yi n g town aft e r t own su ddenl y en de d the c ivi l war by

,
I 34 E u r op ea n H {5 107 3 3 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

m u rdering th ei r ch ief a n d salu ting the rebel A t h an agil d a s

,

ki ng o f t he Vi sigoth s For as a Fra nki sh chron icler o b

.
,

served the G oth s have lon g h ad th e evil cus tom o f slayin g

,
‘

w ith the s word a n y k i ng w ho d oes n ot pl ease them an d o f ,

ch o osing i n h i s stead s om e on e wh o b etter su its thei r i ncl ina

’
t ion. The Frank s o n th e other hand boas ted o f thei r
, ,

u n shak e n fi del ity t o th e h ou s e o f C hl o d o ve ch ou tsi de w h os e ,

l imi t s th ey n ever l ook ed wh en a ki ng had t o be c h osen .

A t h a n a g i l d wa s n o w ki ng o f Spai n bu t h e s oon fou n d th at ,

b ycall i n g i n th e Roman s h e h ad raised u p a d em on wh o m h e

was n o t st ron g e n ough to con trol The gen eral s o f J usti n ia n .

u tterl y refuse d t o evacuat e th e t own s they had seize d du rin g

t h e civil war Th ey w ere i n possessi o n o f t he maj ority o f th e
.

harbou rs of th e sou th coas t o f th e pen i n sul a o n both side s o f ,

t he Strai t o f G ibraltar from th e promon tory o f S t Vi ncen t o n

, .

th e Atlan tic t o th e m ou th o f t h e S ucre o n th e M ed iterran ea n .

An d n ot only w ere Cadiz Malaga a n d Carthagena i n th ei r , ,

ha n d s bu t al so m an y o f t he i nlan d town s o f An dalu sia

, ,

i n cl ud i n g th e great ci ty o f Cordova A t ha n a g i l d n ever .

succeeded i n evicti ng t hem from th ese con quests ; fo r th irty

years th e Con stan ti n o p ol itan Caesars were ackn owl edged a s
rulers a t Cordova an d G ranada an d i t wa s fu ll y si xty years ,

before th e sea coas t town s were al l wo n back by th e G oth s

-
.

Al though defeated i n th e o p en fi el d by At ha n a g i ld t h e ,

gen eral s o f J u sti nian cl ung successfully t o thei r walle d t own s ,

t il l at last th e G oth ic kin g wa s forced to mak e a t ruce wi th

t hem an d l eave th em u n su bdued
,
.

Al th ough At h a n ag ild mai ntai n ed h i m self o n th e th ron e fo r

th i rteen years a n d died a natu ral d eath — u nl ik e h is five p re
,

d ece sso rs o n th e Vi sigothic th rone — h e doe s n ot see m t o

Athana g ild have been a ve ry powerful o r successful m onarch
,
.

Th e scan ty an nal s o f th e cen tury p reserve few

facts about h i m a n d h e i s bes t rem embered a s th e father o f
,

th e two u nhappy si sters B ru n h i l d is a n d Ga l s w i n t h a t h e

, ,
‘

’
pearl s o f Spain wh om h e gave i n m arriage t o th e Frank i sh
,

kings S i g i b ert an d C hilpe ri ch T h e s e all ianc e s we re fou nd e d

, .
 T/ze Vz s zgo t/zs i n Sp a i n
'

35

on p ol i tical ne ed s ; t h e m arriage o f B ru n hil d i s—t h e fi rst we d n

of the two pri nc e sses — was dest in e d to secu re th e ai d o f th e

k ing of Au strasi a agai nst an y attem p ts o f h i s brothers o f Paris ,

S oi sson s an d B u rgu n dy again st S p ain

,
The fam e o f th e
.

beauty an d weal th o f B ru n h il d i s th en led th e wicked Ch il

’
peric h of Soisson s t o ask an d obtai n her si s ter s han d wh ic h ,

At ha n a g ild gran ted i n order to secu re an other all y Lu cki ly .

fo r hi msel f the o l d Go t h i c k in g die d soon after before h e had ,

’
t i m e to hear o f Gal swi n t ha s troubl ed wedlock an d m i serable
en d
Th e deat h of A t h a n ag i l d was follo we d by fi ve m on th s o f
anarchy ; th e Visigoth ic n obles coul d n ot agree t o ch oose
a n y king ; each t ook arms assau lted h i s n eighb ou rs
,
an d d i d ,
’ ’
al l that was righ t i n h i s own eyes for th e king s peace died
,

with th e ki n g At l ast th e govern ors o f S e pt i m a n ia a gree d

.

t o elect Leov a duk e o f Narbon n e as th ei r ruler ; bu t th e

, ,

c oun ts w ho dwel t sout h of t he Pyren ees refu sed t o accept the

no m i n ee o f th e Gall ic p rovi nc e After som e fi ght i n g h ow
.
,

ever Le ova p ropose d to th em t o tak e as h i s colleagu e h i s

,

b rother L e o vi g il d wh o was wel l kn own an d p opular i n the

,

sout h an d th e m aj ority o f th e n oble s of Spai n agreed t o

,

accept h im . Leova retai n ed h is ki ngly t itl e an d h i s ow n

S e pt i m a n i a n realm while Leo vi g il d reigned i n the pen i n sula as
,

king o f S p ai n The d ivisi on o f th e ki ngdom however on ly

.
, ,

lasted fou r years as Leova di ed w i thou t i ssu e i n 5 7 2 an d h i s

, ,

b roth er the n u n i ted S e pt i m an i a to Spai n .

n
,
jLeo vi gild was t he fi rs t man o f mark wh o had reign ed over
th e Visigoth s fo r a hun dred years ; he m ay be s tyled th e
secon d fou n der o f th e Vi sigoth ic kingdom fo r h e d ragged i t ,

o u t o f t he depth s of anarchy an d weak ness gave i t a n e w ,

organ i sation an d sm ote down i ts en em i es t o eas t an d wes t

, .

W i thou t h i s strong han d i t seem s poss i bl e that the real m

woul d h ave gon e t o p ieces an d becom e t he prey o f t he
,

Frank s an d th e E ast Roman s -

.

For th e fi rst eigh t years of hi s reign L eo vi g il d wa s forced to

figh t hard with e n em i es on all s id e s before h e coul d w i n a ,
1 36 E n r opm n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

m omen t fo r re p ose H i s fi rs t bl ows were s truck agai n st th e

.

I m p e riali sts who had gon e forth from C ordova an d Cadiz

,

W ars f o
an d c on quere d t he whol e of Andalu sia Afte r .

L
eov ig i ld w i n ni ng several bat tles i n th e o p en fi eld an d
, ,

s torm i ng Baza an d A ss ido n i a h e drove th e ,

Roman s withi n th e walls o f Cordova Thi s great ci ty d e .

,

fen ded by a s tron g garrison an d a fanatically Cath ol ic p o pu l a

t ion kep t th e king at bay for a wh ole year ; bu t i n 5 7 1 i t was
,

betrayed to h i m by i ts Goth ic i n habitant s an d fell after havi ng ,

been m ore tha n twen ty years i n t he han ds o f the I mperial ists .

Th e E ast Roman p ower n ow sh rank back beh i n d th e S ierra

-

N evada an d com p rised n othing m ore than t h e coas t s tri p

,
-

from Lago s t o Carthagena .

Le o vig il d the n tu rned again st the S uevi wh o had s e ized t h e ,

vall ey of th e m iddle D ouro an d were push ing i n to t he very

,

h eart o f th e pen i n sula They had l atel y b ee n converted t o

.

Cath ol ici sm an d w ere wel com e d by the provi n cial s o f cen tral
,

Spai n w h o h oped t o gai n an orth odox i n stead o f a n Arian

,

master . B u t Le o vigi ld bea t t he Suevi c k ing T he o de m i r i n

th e fi eld stormed h i s fortres s o f S e n ab ri a an d com p e lled h i m
, ,

to d o h omage .

For two years m ore Leo vig il d was occupied i n pu ttin g d own
s p orad ic rebelli on s o f th e Roma n p rovi n cial s i n all the m or e
rem ote a n d m ountain ou s c orn ers of S p ai n — especially i n Can
tabria o n th e sh ores o f th e Gul f o f B i scay an d amon g th e
, ,

Murcia n m ou n tain s i n t h e S ou th H e captu red an d p u t t o

.

death A spi d i u s an d Ab u n d a n t i u s th e ch ief l eaders o f th ese

,

revol ts an d pun ish e d th ei r followers by w h ol esal e execu ti on s

, .

At l ast after eigh t years o f war the w h ol e o f the a ncien t Vi si

, ,

gothic d o m in ion s save t he t own s o n th e An dalu sia n coast

, ,

w ere on ce m ore sub dued an d u nd er con trol

Th e han d o f L e o vig il d was n o l ess hard u pon th e facti ou s
n ob il ity of h i s own n ati o n than u pon th e foreign en em ies o f
Spai n H e sough t ou t a n d execu ted o n e a fter an o th er al l
.
, ,

th e m ore u n rul y o f th e Vi sigoth i c ch i efs al l th e race o f

’
m e n wh o had been won t t o slay t h ei r ki ngs as a Frankish ,
 Tk o Vz s zlgo t/zs i n S p a i n
'

1 37

chron icler styled th e m I n thei r stead he a pp oi n ted cou nt s an d

.

dukes from among h i s o wn conn ta z n r wh om h e though t that ‘

,
’
h e coul d trust At las t the k ing s man date was obeye d through
.

all th e realm from Ni sm es to Seville as i t had never been obeyed

, ,

before an d i t seem ed l ikel y tha t a strong autocratic royal ty

,

would prevail am ong t he Visigoth s as i t di d am ong th e Franks .

L e o vi gi l d n ow fixed h i s court perman ently at Toled o an d ,

assumed all t he s p len dou r a nd state o f th e an cien t Roma n

Caesars — th e diadem t he scep tre t h e purpl e rob e an d golden
, , ,

th ron e . B efore h im th e ki ngs of th e Vi sigoth s had bee n

i ndistingu is habl e i n m an ners an d apparel from thei r o wn
n obles ; th ey on ly d iffere d from th em by b earin g th e royal
’
nam e an d kee p ing u p a larger body o f oath boun d ra z on er
,
-
.

At th e sam e that h e fi xe d h i s sea t at Toledo L e o vig il d took ,

an oth er op p ortun ity o f asserti ng h i s power an d i n depen dence .

Th e coi nage of t he Vi sigoth s h ad hi therto been a mere bar

barou s i m itation o f th e i m perial curren cy o f R om e an d C on
s t an t i n o pl e bu t from hen ceforth th e n am e of the Gothic king
,

was placed u pon al l th e gol d t renzzsses of Spai n For a few

'

years L e o vi g ild ad ded th e nam e of J u sti n I I t o h i s own but .

,

h e soon cas t away the last sign of th e o l d depen den ce o n t he

empire an d th e i n scripti on LI V I G I LD V S I N C L I TV S R EX was th e
, , ,

s ign o f th e disavowal o f t he last n om in al c on n ectio n o f Spai n

w ith t h e heirs of Con stanti n e .

Th e troubles of Leo vrgi l d however had n o t yet com e to an

, ,

en d H i s worst en emi es were to be th ose o f hi s o wn h ou se

.

Before h is access ion to th e th rone h e h ad m arried con trary t o ,

Gothi c custom a n obl e Roman lady nam e d Theodosia

, , ,

daugh ter o f S eve ri a n u s som etim e governor of Carthagena

, .

B y her h e had two son s H erm e n egild an d R e ccare d When

, .

sh e d ied h e en deavoured to s trengthen hi s p osi tion by marryi n g

G o d i swi n t h a th e wi dow of hi s predecessor At h a n agild an d
,

som e years later when h i s so n H e rm e n e gi ld reached man h ood

, ,

h e determi ned t o seek for h i m an other bri de from the fam ily o f
At ha n agil d Accordingl y h e asked for an d ob tain e d t he h an d
.
,
’
o f hi s wi fe s gran ddaught e r I n gu n t hi s t he daught e r o f S i g i b e rt
, ,
I 38 E u r opea n H i s /073 3 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

of Au strasia an d B ru n hi ld i s At t h e age o f th irteen s he was .

wedded to H erm e n e gi ld Th i s marriage was destined to h ave.

t he m ost u n happy res ults Th e daughter o f B ru n h i ld i s was .

fated to be a s m uc h t he cause o f wo e to S p ai n as her m other

had been to Gaul Sh e had b een reared i n Au stras ia as a
.

Cath ol ic an d i n spite of h er tender age refu se d t o con form

, , ,

t o th e Aria n creed of the Vi sigoth s I f th e Franki sh chron icle s .

a re t o b e believed sh e wa s subj ected to th e m os t v i ole n t

,

t reat men t b y h er grand m oth er Go d i sw i n t ha t o force h er t o ,

aband on th e orth odox fai th B ut th ough beaten starved an d .

, ,

fl u n g i nto a fi sh pond sh e still refused t o ren ou nce th e faith

-
,

o f h er ch i ldhood A t last Le o vig i ld ti red o f th e perpet ua l

.
,

d i s putes between h i s wi fe a n d h is daugh ter i n law w h ich made - -

,

h i s palace u nbearabl e sent o ff H e rm e n e g ild t o Sevill e t o

,

govern part o f Andalu sia .

Thi s step p roved m os t u n fortu nat e Th e you ng prince fel l e n .

’
t i re l y u nd er th e in fl ue n ce o f h i s w i fe a n d of h i s m oth er s broth er ,

Lean der bi sh o p o f Sevill e Wo n over by t h ei r pl eadings h e .

,

R b lli
e e on o f
d eclared h i m self a Cath ol ic a n d wa s rebaptized , ,

H
58“
er m eneg ild ,an d received i n to th e o rth odox ch urch
kn ew that hi s con versio n w oul d brin g o n hi m
He .

’
h i s father s wrath an d th e loss of h i s prospect o f succeed in g
,

t o t h e Visigoth ic crown B u t h e was u n willi ng t o su ffer

,

d egradati o n m eekl y a n d p romptl y p roclai med h i m sel f king

, ,

all ied h i m sel f wit h t he S uevi an d t h e E ast Ro mans an d -

,

calle d t h e orthod ox t o arm s al l over Spai n .

L e o vi g i l d ha d n ever had t o face a m or e dangerou s c ri si s .

Th e rebelli on o f h i s s on had called ou t aga in s t hi m all th e

el em en ts o f d isorder i n t he peni n su la T he Su ev i s war m ed .

d own t he D ou ro ; th e I m perial ists r eoccu p ied Cord ova ;

Merida S evi lle a n d E vora hailed H e rm e n eg i ld a s ki ng ;
, ,

an d t h e d iscon ten ted provi ncial s h eaded by thei r bi sh op s , ,

bega n t o sti r all over th e cou n try I t i s th e greatest test i .

’
m on ial to Leo vig i ld s abil ities t hat h e k new h ow to d eal
wi th al l th es e dangers Fi rst h e t urn ed agai ns t t h e i n ci p ien t
.
,

rebell ion i n th e n orth an d put i t d own by ban ish in g o r

,
 7 713 Vi s {go 112: i n S pa i n 1 39

i m p rison i ng s om e dozen bi sh ops an d by defeati ng i n battle ,

th e Basques wh o had come d own from th ei r hill s t o j oi n

,

i n th e struggle After beati ng th em h e fou n ded o n thei r

.
,

border t h e town o f Vi ttoria as a m em orial of his success

a town desti ned to be better rem embered for th e great E n g
l ish vi ctory o f 1 8 1 3 than for thi s ancien t tri umph .

H e rm e n e g i ld was n early two years i n p ossession o f t h e valley

o f th e Guadalquivi r b ut i n 5 8 2 h i s father suddenl y descen de d
,

upon h i m an d drove h i m with i n th e walls o f Sevill e Th e

,
.

S uevi cam e u p to raise th e si ege but Leo vigild routed t heir king
,

M iro an d retur ned to resum e h i s l eaguer After man y m onth s

,
.

of bl ockade h e storm ed the town bu t H e rm e n e gil d an d h i s ,

wi fe escaped t o th e Roman s Th e rebel p rin ce took refuge i n

.

t h e castle of O sset w hit her th e ki n g followed h im and by th e

, , ,

huge bribe o f s ol id i i n duced th e I m p erial i s t G overn

,

m en t t o sel l th e t own H e rm e n eg ild was dragged fro m sanc

.

t u ary an d brough t b efore h i s father wh o pardon ed h i s rebel

, ,

l i on b u t stripped h im o f h is p ri ncel y i n sign ia an d sen t h i m

, ,

t o l ive i n hon ourable con fi n ement at Val enci a as a p rivat e

p erson .

L e o vi g il d then turned a gai n st t he Suevi overran thei r whol e ,

coun try an d captured thei r last ki ng An di ca wh o mh e i n terned

, , ,

i n a m onaste ry Th u s t h e rebell ion of H erm e negi ld had

.

n ot only failed t o ru i n th e Goth ic state bu t had actually led ,

to the subj ection o f the t roublesom e n eighbou r ki ngdom i n -

th e n ort h west wh ich had hi th erto e sc ap ed th e Vi sigothic

,

sword .

’
H erm e n egil d s fate was destined t o b e a sad on e H is .

father prom i sed to restore hi m t o h i s former p lace i f h e

woul d aba n don the orth odox fai th bu t he steadfastl y refused , ,

an d was presen tly cast i nto pri son B u t chai n s h ad n o m ore .

e ffect o n h i s con stan cy than p rayers an d promi ses H i s fathe r .

grew angry an d bade h i m ex p ect th e worst i f h e persisted in

,

h i s ob st in acy O n E aster Day 5 8 5 h e sen t an Arian b ish o p

.
,

t o adm i ni ster the sacram en t t o th e prison er H e rm e n e gild .

drov e th e heretical p relat e fro m h i s cell wit h crie s a n d

 E u ropea n H z s /o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8
'

I 40 -

im precation s Th e n e ws wa s b rough t t o h i s father wh o i n

.
, ,

m omen t o f u ngovernabl e rage l ik e that wh ich i nduced ou r ,

E xe t i on f
cu
ow n H en ry 1 1 t o order th e d eath o f B ecket bade
o
.
,

H er m g ld
e neh i s guards seize a n d behead h i s i n fl exibl e so n
i , .

5 85
°

S o peri shed H e rm e n eg i ld whom after gen era -

t ion s fo rget ting h i s u ndu tiful rebellio n a n d rem em beri ng only

, ,

h i s con stancy i n th e orth od ox fai th salu ted as a sain t H i s , .

wi fe a n d i nfan t so n w ere sen t to C on stan ti n opl e by th e Roman

govern or o f Malaga I n gu n t hi s died o n the voyage bu t th e
.
,

b o y At ha n ag ild l ived an d d i e d obscurely at th e court o f th e

, ,

em peror Mau rice .

L eo vig i ld had n ow to face t he wrath o f th e Frank s Gun .

t ram the u ncl e an d T h e u d e b e rt t h e b roth er o f I n g u n t h i s took

, , , ,
’
a rm s t o aven ge h er h u sban d s execu tion Th ey s en t a fl eet to .

lan d a force i n Gal icia an d rai se th e n ewl y con quere d Su evi

,
-
,

w h ile a Bu rgun dian army en tered S e pt i m a n i a an d attacked ,

’
N ism es an d Ca rcasso n ne B u t Leo vi g ild s m il itary skil l a n d
.

con stan t goo d fortu n e i n war d i d n ot fai l h im Wh il e h e .

h i m sel f cu t to pieces the arm y wh ich had lan ded i n Gal icia ,

hi s son R e cca re d drove th e Bu rgun dian s o u t o f S e pt i m a n i a

, , ,

with the loss o f th ei r general an d hal f thei r arm y Father an d .

s on m e t i n triu m p h at Tol edo bu t t he hardships o f a w in ter ,

cam p aign had bee n too m uc h for Leo vig i ld wh o d ied soon ,

after hi s retu rn t o h i s capi tal o n t he 1 3 t h of Apri l 5 8 6 a year , ,

’
to th e very day from th e date o f h i s eldest son s executi on a ,

coinci dence wh ich th e orthodox d id n ot fai l t o p oin t o u t a s

marki ng th e wrat h o f heaven .

Le o vig ild som e ti m e before hi s death had i n duced t h e

, ,

Vi sigoth s t o elect h i s secon d s on R ecca re d as h i s colleague , , ,

an d t o sal u te h i m as ki ng There wa s th ere fore n o tu m ultuou s

.
, ,

electi on or civi l wa r wh en th e ol d k ing d ied a nd hi s h ei r ,

qui etly took h i s place R e cca re d wa s d esti ned to set h i s

.

mark on th e h istory o f th e Vi sigoth i c ki n gd o m n o l es s fi rml y

than h i s fath er had d on e I f Le o vig i ld saved th e state fro m
.

anarchy by h i s strong arm R e cca re d set i t on a n ew an d ,

al tered cours e o f e xistence an d i n troduced a new elem en t ,

 Tno V{a go /as i n Spa i n [4 1

i n to i ts pol itical an d religiou s li fe b y the great c hange which

i s con n ected wi th hi s nam e —the co nversion of the Vi sigoth s
to th e orthod ox faith R e ccare d was th e so n R
.
m d ecc ,

o f a Roman m other bu t u nlike h i s brother 5 85 6 01

-
.

, ,

H e rm e n e g il d h e n ever showed an y d iscon ten t wi th Arian ism

,
“ ’
i n h i s father s l i fetim e No s oon er however was th e o l d
.
, ,

m an dead than hi s successor began to take steps wh ich threw

t he Arian s in to a state o f exci teme n t an d a p preh en sion H e .
'

su m m on ed Cath ol ic an d Arian bi shops before h im a nd man y ,

ti mes bade the m dispute i n h is presen ce on the m ysteries o f

the Trin ity T hi s h e di d m ore t o p repare th e p eople fo r th e
.

com ing change than becau se he was h imsel f i n an y doub t as

to h i s fu ture con duc t .

R ecc a re d thorough ly grasped the fact that th e Visigoth ic

s tate woul d n ever be establis hed o n a really firm basi s a s l ong
as t he govern ing cas te were se p arated from th e bulk o f thei r
subjects by th e fatal barrier o f religion Th e G oth s were t o o
.

few to am algamate th e provi ncials wi th th em selves an d had ,

shown n o sign s o f wi sh in g t o do s o B u t i f n o suc h amal

.

g a m a t i o n took place t he Goth ic m onarchy was doome d to

,

d isappea r s om e day i n a pol i tic a l convulsion whe n th e ,

m omen t sh oul d com e t hat fou n d n o stron g an d capable

rule r o n th e thron e Le ovig i ld had on ly stave d o ff such a
.

cri sis by prodigies o f activ i ty a n d courage N o w R e cc a re d .

had m ad e up h i s m in d that th e Arian i s m o f the Go ths was

m ore a m atter of con servative adheren ce t o ancestral pre
j u dices an d o f race pride than o f real conv i ct ion or fanatical
-
,

fai th H e though t th at if the k in g led th e way an d i f m ild

.
,

an d cautiou s changes were made wi th ou t an y su dden bl ow

,

o r attem p t at en force d con form i ty h i s cou n trymen m igh t i n

,

sen si bly be led wi th i n t he pal e o f th e Cathol ic church The .

course o f even ts proved that he was entirely righ t ; an d th e

conversion of th e n at ion was m anage d all the m ore su rel y
b ecause i t was carried ou t by a cautious an d u n emotion al
states m an an d n ot by an e nthu siastic sain t
,
.

’
T he co m p letion o f R e ccare d s scheme occu p ied the y ears
 '

142 E u ropea n H z s totj f , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

5 86 88
-
Whe n he declared h im sel f a Cath ol ic a n d acce p te d
.
,

t he solem n blessing o f hi s un cl e the M etropol ita n o f Seville , ,

t he greater part o f hi s co nzz f a /u s followed h i s example I n

'

q uick succession ma ny G oth ic cou n ts a n d a large p orti on of ,

T h G th s
e o
t he Aria n epi scopate con form ed to orthodoxy .

t ur
n C t h l i c The Ch urch o n i ts s ide m ade th e ch ange easy
a o , ,

5 87
'

by n ot i n si sti n g o n an y new bapti sm o f the co n

verts I t was e nough i f t hey atte n de d a Cathol i c place o f
.

w orsh ip an d re cei ved th e blessi ng of an o rthodox priest

,
.

I t wa s n o t to be expected h owever th at so m ome n tou s a

, ,

change woul d pass over the coun t ry with ou t provoking trouble .

Th ere w ere m an y Go th s both clergy an d laymen w h o vie w e d

, ,

Arian i sm as th e sac r ed rel igi on o f th ei r ance stors a n d th e ,

badge of the i r con queri ng race Th ree rebellion s broke o u t .

i n quick success i on i n regi on s a s far apart a s S e p t i m a n ia an d

,
’
Lu si tan ia w h il e th e ki ng s step m oth er G o d i sw i n t ha an d
,
-

bi sh op A t ha lo c th e chi ef o f th e Aria n cl ergy placed , them

, ,

selve s at the head o f th e ri sing B u t th e greater part o f t h e

.

Vi sigo th s l ooked o n i n apathy an d allowed a small bo dy o f ,

fanatics t o fi gh t o u t t he ques ti on o f rel igion w i t h th e k ing .

Th e Arian s w ere pu t down an d gave n o further troubl e,

.

Th e w h ol e sec t seem s t o have m el ted a way i n a few years ,

a n d ere l ong th e Visigoth s w ere as prou d o f th eir Cath ol ici sm

a s th ey had o nce been o f thei r he terod oxy .

Whi le R e cca re d was bu sy w i th th e suppressi on o f the Arian

rebel s th e Franki sh ki ng G un tram o f B urgun dy t hough t that
,

a good op p ortu ni ty had ari sen fo r con queri ng S e p t i ma n i a H e .

sen t a great army d ow n th e Rh on e bu t near N arbon n e i t wa s ,

’
c om pletely defeated by R e cca re d s gen eral duke Claud iu s , ,

th e fi rst man o f Roman blood w h o h ad eve r been promoted

t o h igh rank by a Vi sigoth ic king Th is wa s the last tim e .

that a Frank i sh con quest o f S e pt i m a n ia was ever seriousl y

attem pted
R e cc a re d reign ed for twelve y ears more w i th great good ,

fortun e both a t h om e an d abroad H e sub dued th e Basques .

,

k ept th e I m p erial i sts pen n ed i n to thei r l i n e of h a rb ours al ong

 T/ze Vz s zgo t /z s i n S p a i n
'

143

the south coast an d repressed several m i n or tu mult s rai sed by

,

d i scon ten ted Goth ic n obles I n e v e ry crisi s h e foun d the

.

Cat hol ic bi shops h i s best support an d m u st have co n sta ntl y

,

congratu lated h im self o n having turn ed h i s m os t dan gerou s

enem ies i nto th e strongest bu l w ark o f h i s thr on e Bu t by .

placing h im sel f i n t hei r han d s h e ha d begu n t o expose Gothic

royal ty t o a new danger tha t o f too great dependence o n t he
,

Church Th e Nati onal Cou n ci l —t he I Vzf a u a s i t woul d have

'

been called i n E ngl a n d — w a s com p letely swamped by t he

churchm en . There were m ore than s t y bi sh ops i n Spain ,

whil e th e n u mb er o f du kes an d coun ts w ho w ere u sually su m

m o n e d t o th e Assembly was con siderably les s Th e bi sh op s .

— m en m ore clever m ore wi se an d better organi sed than thei r

, ,

lay colleagues — soon cam e to exerci se a dom i nating i n fluence

i n t h e coun cil T he spiri tual pressure wh ich they coul d bring
.

t o bear o n th e k i n g was too great t o be d isregarded H ence .

i t cam e to pas s that ere t he en d of hi s reign R e cc are d though ,

peacefu l an d toleran t h im self was urged i n to ac ts o f pe rse c u

,

ti on not on ly agai nst h is ol d e o religion ists th e Ar ia n s bu t

,
-
, ,

agai n s t th e J ews —a race wh o had hitherto prospered i n

Spain a n d wh o had gath ered i n a very con siderabl e po r
,

t i on o f its weal th an d com merce Formerly the V isigoth ic

.

ki ngs like th e gr eat Theo do ric i n I taly had been very

, ,

toleran t an d had no t seldom employed J ews as collectors o f

,

revenu e an d i n m i nor o ffic ial posts Al l th i s came t o an en d .

wi t h t he con versio n o f R e c ca re d th ough i n h is day the di s

,

c o u ra ge m e n t alike of Ar i a n an d Jew wen t n o furt her tha n

maki n g them i ncapable o f h old ing an y o ffice and p roh ibi ting ,

th e pu bli c exerci se of thei r worsh i p .

Af ter a reign o f fif teen years k ing R e cca re d d ied i n 6 0 1

, .

lea vi ng the t hr on e to h is so n Leova I I the only i n stance i n

,
.
,

Goth ic Spain o f a succes sio n o f three gen eration s of the sam e

h o u s e on th e throne The n ew m onarch was j u st twen ty H e
. .

was a devote d a dmi rer an d fo l lower of the Catholi c b ishops ,

an d by all accounts sh owed m ore p iety than capaci ty Th e

, ,
.

accessi on o f a w eak an d i n exp erienced yout h w a s th e

1 44 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

opportu n ity fo r w h ich th e u nrul y Vi sigoth ic n o bles cru shed ,

fo r th i rty years u nde r th e strong han ds o f L eo vig i l d an d Rec

cared had been l on g wai ting I n th e secon d year o f h i s
,
.

reign Leova wa s su rp rise d an d m u rdered by con spirators

u n der th e guida nce o f a certai n cou n t Wi t te ri ch wh o had,

h eaded a n A r ian ri si ng i n 5 8 8 bu t had been spared o n con

,
’
formi n g t o Cath ol i cism H e n o w re p ai d R ecca re d s cle men cy
.

by m u rdering h i s s on
Afte r thirty three years o f stro n g governm en t Spai n once
-

m ore fell back i nto the state o f c ivi l strife from wh ich i t h ad
been rescu ed by Le o vi gi l d But th e c haracter o f th e s truggl e
.

w a s n ow changed ; fo r th e fu tu re i t was a con test between th e

Cath ol ic h ierarch y an d th e Vi sigoth i c n obles a s t o w h ich
,

sh ould a pp oin t an d con trol t h e ki ng .

 C HA PTER IX

TH E s u c c e s so a s OF JUSTINIAN
5 65 6 1 0
-

J ust i n 11 and u n h a pp y fi n a n c i a l po l i cy —H is t r o ubl e s wi t h t he P e rs ia n s

h is
a n d Av ar s —
.

R e ig n o f T i b e r i us C o n s t a n t i n us —Acc e ss io n o f M a ur i c e
H i s v i c t o ry o v e r P e rs i a — H i s fa i lur e a g a i n s t t h e S l a vs a n d Av a rs — D i s a s t e rs
i n t h e Ba lk a n P e n i n sul a — F a l l o f M a ur i c e —Tyr a n n y o f P h o c a s —H i s
u n fo r t u n a t e war wi t h P e rs i a —H e i s d et hr o n e d a n d sl a i n by H e ra cl i us ,

6 10 .

THE forty years wh ich follow ed th e death o f Ju sti nian were a

period o f rapi d decl in e an d decay fo r t he E ast Roman world -
.

The em p ire was paying b y exhau stion withi n an d the l os s of

,

provinces withou t fo r th e spasm odic ou tbu rst of en ergy i nto

,

which i t had been gal van ised by th e great e m peror H e left t o .

h i s hei rs broad an d dangerou s fron tiers i n hi s newly acqui red -

provi nces wi th an arm y w h ich had got s om ewhat ou t of hand

, ,

an d a civil popu latio n s h orn to t h e ski n by the excessi ve

taxat ion o f th e last twen ty years .

’
J usti n ian s heirs were u n happi ly for the empire pri nces who
, ,
’
tri ed to m ai ntai n t heir great predecessor s ambitiou s pol icy a t ,

a m omen t when th e less brillian t but m ore cauti ou s an d ,

econ om ical rul e o f a secon d Anastasius would have been the

,
’
best th ing for the E ast Roman world T h e E mperor s nephew
-
.
,

J u stinu s son o f h is s ister Vi g ila n t ia m oun ted th e th ron e o n

,
-

hi s decea se wi th ou t m eetin g with any opposition H e h ad .

served h i s u ncl e as C u r op a l a za or M aster o f th e Palace fo r

‘

, ,

the last ten years an d had been abl e to make things ready
,

for hi s o wn p eaceful success ion t hough J usti n ian had n ever ,

P E RI O D 1 .
K
 E u rop ea n H z s to7 y , 47 6 9 1 8
'

1 46 -

c on sented to allow h i m t o b e crowned as h i s colleagu e as l on g

J us tni a s h e l ived J usti n.was m arried t o S o p h ia th e ,

5 65 7 8
-
n iece of t h e em p ress Theodora a lady w h o ,

resembled her aun t i n her masterful spiri t but was far fro m ,

ri valli ng her ab il i ties J ustin an d h i s wife had le d a somewhat

.

’
re p ressed a n d con strained existen ce d u ring the o l d em peror s
l i fe an d were se t up on asserting th e i r i n divi dual ity t he m o m en t
,

that J us ti n ian was bu ried J u sti n had h igh id eas o f the

.

d ign ity of the i m p erial nam e an d th e maj es ty o f th e em p ire ,

an d had determ ine d to i naugurate a spiri ted foreign policy

w hen h e seized th e hel m o f affai rs H i s fi rst m easure was t o
.

refu se to cont i nu e an y of th e c om p arativel y tri fl ing subsi dies

to barbarian p ri nces on t he fron ti er w h ich J u sti n ian h ad bee n ,

con ten t t o p ay i n order to keep th em from p etty raids —m uch

a s the I n dian G overn men t to day subsidises t he chiefs o f th e
-

Khyber Pass Thi s i nvolved h im i n a long an d ul ti mately

.

da n gerou s w a r wit h th e Chagan o f th e Avars a Tartar tribe ,

n ewl y establ ish ed o n th e n orth bank of t he l ower D an ube ,

wh om J u sti nian had paid t o keep o ff t h e H u n s an d othe r

t roublesome n eigh bou rs Th e Avars ori gi nally a race o f n o
.
,

great i mportan ce ob tai n ed a t th i s m om en t a great exten si on

,

o f power an d terri tory by allyi ng t hem selves wi th t he Lom

bards i n order t o destroy th e G epi dae th e G oth ic tribe wh o

, ,

dwel t n orth o f S irm i u m o n th e m i ddle Dan u be After exter .

m i n a t i n g t hei r Teu toni c n eighbou rs t h e Lombard s passed o n ,

t o i nvad e I tal y an d left t he Avars i n po ssessi on o f th e wh ol e

,
1

l in e o f t he Dan ube fro m Vien n a t o i ts mou th Then ceforth

,
.

the Avars were a scourge t o th e al rea dy hal f desolate pro -

v in ces of M oesi a an d I llyricu m They ran ged over th e wh ol e .

territory u p t o the Balkan s i n spi te o f the i n n u merable for

,

tresses wh ich J u sti nia n had bu ilt an d garri soned t o defen d

th e Da n ube bank . Th i s trouble wa s co nti n u ally growing
w orse al l th rough th e reign o f J usti n an d becam e an
actual s ource of d a n ge r as well as o f m ere an n oyance i n th e
, ,

t i me o f hi s succ e ssors .

1
S ee p . 18 1 .
 Tue S u cces s ors f j u s t zu z a u
' '

o 147

An other refu sal o f J u sti n to m ak e a pay m en t o f m on ey ,

wh ich h e con si dered degradin g to h is m aj esty was destin ed ,

to bri n g on a struggl e even m ore ru i n ou s than that wi th th e

Avars I t will be rem em bered that the p eace between J us
.

tin ian and C ho sro e s o f P ersia con clu ded i n 5 6 2 had st i pu

, ,

lated for som e p aymen ts from the E ast Roman s to the kin g -
.

I n 5 7 1 Justi n refused to fulfil his obligation s an d plunged th e ,

empire i nto a wholly u nn ecessary war w ith h i s great O rien tal

neighbou r Several cau ses con s p i red to in duce J u sti n t o
.

u ndertake thi s struggle H e was impl ored by th e Ch ristian

.

population o f Persian Ar m en ia t o d el iver them fro m th e

fi re worshipp ing Sassan ians an d t he Turks of th e O xu s had
-
,

sen t an em bassy to p rom i se h i m help from the E as t i f h e

woul d assaul t C h o sro es D i z ab u l thei r great Khan engaged
.
, ,

t o distract the forces o f the e nemy by c ros sin g th e O xu s an d

’
i nvading n orthern Persia w h ile J usti n s general s were t o cross
,

th e Tigris an d attack Media .

Thi s war wh ich t he emperor u ndertook wi th suc h a ligh t

,

heart was desti ned t o las t n o less t han n ineteen years ( 5 7 2

,

an d to d rag o n i n to the reign s o f two o f h i s successors .

I t was qu ite a s i n conclu sive an d quite as costl y i n m en an d

,

m on ey as had been the previous struggle i n t he p rs i W

, e an ar

reign o f Justi n ian O n th e whol e th e Roman s f J t i

.
,
o us n o

l os t n o terri tory duri ng i ts cou rse Thei r farthest fron ti er .

stronghol d o f D aras was the only place of importance that

fell i n to Persia n hand s i n the earlier years of the war an d th e ,

secon dary fortres s o f M a rt yro po l i s i n the Armen ian H ighlan ds

,
'
,

th e only l oss o f its late years r

B ot h were desti ned to be
.

recovered an d th e secon d Rom an l i n e o f defence based on

, ,

E dessa an d Am ida hel d good ,

I f th e armies o f C h o sro e s
.

once succeeded i n penetrating i n to Syria i t i s only fai r t o add ,

that the i m perial troo p s made several i ncursion s i n to the Persian

/
border lan ds o f Arz a n e n e an d C o rd u e n e I t was n o t so much
-
.

by th e l oss o f fortresse s or the ravaging o f terri tory that the

war was harm ful to th e em pire as by the long fru itles s drain
, ,

o f taxati on that i t brough t abou t Where th e tax gatherer .

-
 ’
148 E u ropea n H z s toey , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

’
of Justi n ia n s t im e had s horn t he po p ulat ion cl ose t he tax ,
’
gatherer of J ustin s was obliged to flay th em i n order to wring ,

o u t the n ece ssary s ol id i H avi ng begu n th e war at hi s own

.

pleasure J usti n fou n d t hat h e coul d n ot con cl ude i t i n a si milar

,
’
way . The Pers ian s hoped t o wi n by e xhau sting t he em p i re s
re sou rces an d w e re set o n protracting th e weary gam e
,
.

I n th e n i n t h year after h i s succe s si on t o th e th rone Ju sti n ,

wa s seized wit h su icidal m an ia an d had t o b e p laced i n close ,

restrai n t for all th e res t o f hi s l i fe O n h is first l ucid in terval .

h e n om i nated as h i s colleagu e an d crown ed a s Caesar a , ,

respectable m ili tary o fficer n am e d Ti beriu s Con stanti n us , ,

w h o i n c onj unc tion wi th th e em p ress S oph ia

,
acted a s ,

regen t fo r the dem en ted em p eror til l 5 7 8 So p h ia a prou d .

,

an d restless woman kept m ost of th e p ower i n h er o wn h and s

, ,

for Ti beri us was n ot o f a pu sh in g or ambi tiou s d is p osit ion .

H i s accessi on to power m ade l ittle or n o di fference i n t h e

pol icy o f the cou rt w h ich was stil l gu i ded b y t h e em press
, .

While J u sti n saw th e Balkan pen in sula ravaged by th e

Avars a n d th e M esopotam ian fron tier bese t by th e Persian s
, ,

he wa s desti ned t o s u ffer a s till m ore grievou s lo s s i n an othe r

region of hi s empire Th e Lombard s em igrat i n g from th e
.
,

m iddle D an ube fol lowed th e t rack that th e O strogoth s had

,

taken eigh ty years before an d th rew t hem selves o n th e n ewly ,

recovered p rovi nce o f I tal y o nl y fi ftee n years after i t had been ,

fi nally secu red to t he em pire by th e vict ories o f Narses at

T a g i n ae an d C a sili n u m Thei r fortu ne s wil l be described i n
.

an other chapter H ere i t m u s t su ffice t o say th at ere t h e en d

.

o f th e reign o f J ust i n 11 th ey had t orn t wo — th i rd s o f th e

.

pen i n sul a from the grasp o f th e E ast Roman govern ors -

.

I n 5 7 8 fou r yea rs a fter h e h ad falle n i n to a state of

,

lunacy J u sti n 1 1 di ed an d h i s colleagu e Ti beri us Con stan

,
.
, ,

t i nu s becam e sol e ruler o f th e e mpi re

,
Tiberiu s 1 1 was a . .

th oroughl y u prigh t a n d well i n ten ti oned man wh o had be en -

,

ch osen as hei r by h i s predece ssor sol el y o n t he grou n d o f h i s

merits a nd i n spite o f the fact that J u sti n had a son i n law
,
- -

an d several cousi n s to w h om h e m igh t have left the legacy o f

 ’
Tue S u ccess ors of j
'

u s tz n za n 1 49

power . Like Ti tus i n a n earlier age Ti beriu s 1 1 was th e , .

darling an d hope o f the w h ol e popula ti on o f th e T i b e r i us

em p ire and l ike Ti tu s h e was cu t off i n the fl ower C s t t i us
, , ,
on an n ,

o f hi s years a fter a ve ry s hort reign H e had tim e .

,

h oweve r to give som e earnes t o f h i s good inten tion s by cu t

,

t ing down the grind ing taxation o f Justi n 11 by a fou rth and .
,

rem itt in g all arrears owed to the state B u t h e was u nable to .

do away wi th the cau se w h ic h mad e taxati on so heavy th e ,

w retched l ingeri ng Pers ian war and till th e empi re coul d ,

obtain peace wi thi n a n d w ithout the remi ssion o f taxati o n ,

on ly m ean t the inadequate performance o f the d uties o f the

state an d the rapid accu mulation o f pu bl ic debt Tiberiu s
, .

s ucceede d however i n makin g a truce wi th th e Avars th ough

, , ,

t o obtai n i t h e ha d t o give up t he great b order fortres s of -

S irm i um th e cen tral poi n t for the defen ce o f the l in e o f th e

,

Dan ube an d Save an d also t o prom ise to make on e o f those

,

paymen ts o f m on ey wh ic h h i s pre decessor had regarde d as

degrading the maj esty o f t he emp ire Being free from war i n .

the Balkan s T i beriu s concen trated n o less than

,
m en
o n the Persian fron tier an d h i s troops u nder th e general
, ,

Maurice won many successes a n d invaded Media B u t th e

, ,
.

obstinate k i n g H orm isdas wh o had n o w succeede d C h o sro e s ,

o n t he throne refuse d t o l i ste n to a n y p roposal s fo r p eace

, ,

a n d th e war dragged o n .

I n th e fourth year o f hi s reign Tiberius was suddenly

s tricken down by d isease an d di ed wh il e only o n t he t h res ,

hol d o f m i ddle age Like h i s predecessor h e ch ose as hi s

.
,

h ei r n ot an y rel ative bu t th e best man that he kn ew E igh t

, .

days before h i s death he i nvested w it h th e royal d iadem h i s

ge neral Maurice w h o had lately d i stinguished h im sel f by a
,

great victory i n Meso p otam ia an d was un iversally respected ,

f o r h i s sterl ing m eri t an d m odesty Maurice immediately .

’
m arried hi s benefactor s daugh ter Con stan tina an d ascended , ,

the vacan t thron e i n peace .

Like Ti beriu s Con stan ti nu s Maurice was a n e m i nen tly ,

well mean i ng ruler an d a man n ot destitute o f abil ity bu t

-
, ,
1 50 E u r opea n H i s to ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

t he ti mes were t oo hard for h i m an d h i s very virtues ofte n

“
,

M m
a ,
con spire d t o lead hi m i n to u nfortu nate action s .

58 6
2 - 02 0
H i s reign o f twe nty year s ( 5 8 2 though n o t
w a n ti ng i n succe sses wa s still a c on ti nu ation o f t he u n happy
,

period of decl i ne an d decay w h ich had se t i n si nce t he year o f

t he great p lague of 5 4 2 T he wors t of th e trou bles o f Maurice
.

wa s th e c om ple te exhaustio n o f th e im p erial fi nances Th e .

l iberality o f Tiberius 1 1 had d rain ed o u t the las t sol id u s from

.

t he already depleted treasu ry an d t h e n ew emperor s tarte d ,

w ith a defici t w h ich rem ai n ed as a pe r p etual n igh tmare t o

,

hi m al l t h rough h i s reign Mau rice w a s o f a p ru de n t an d

.

econ om ical di sposi ti on ; th e adverse balan ce cu t hi m t o th e

h eart an d h e adopted al l sorts o f sch em es — wi se a n d u nwi se
,

— to make receipts and ex p e ndi ture balance Th e wa r ex .

pe n ses w ere o f c ourse t h e m ai n d isturb i ng elem en t a n d

, , ,

M aurice wen t so far i n hi s zeal for retren ch m en t that w hile

h ostilities were still i n progress h e en deavou red o n m ore tha n ,
’
o n e occas ion to cu t dow n the s ol diers
,
pay an d econo m ise ,

th e expen di tu re o f provi si o n s an d m i l itary s tores T hi s p ol icy .

had t he m o st di sastrous resul ts S everal t im es i t le d t o .

m utin y an d a t las t i t cos t Maurice h i s th ron e an d li fe

, .

The Pers ia n war con ti n ued through the fi rs t n i n e years o f

’
Maurice s reign as long as the reckless an d obstinat e king
,

H orm i sdas rem ain ed i n p ower O n th e wh ol e i t wa s fo r

.

t u n a t e l y con ducted Two abl e o ffi cers n am ed H eracl iu s an d

.
,

P hili ppi c u s ob ta ine d th e m astery ove r th e Pe rsian s a nd won

, ,
’
several battl es They w oul d have don e eve n m ore i f Maurice s
.

’
p ol icy o f ec on omy at a n y price h ad n ot led t o m uti n ies
‘

a m o ng the s ol diery w h o struck work a n d retired beh in d th e

, ,

b order w hen th ey h eard that th eir pay was t o b e reduced I t .

i s hard to con ceive h ow Maurice cou l d be s o u nwis e ; fo r h e

had con siderabl e m ili tary e x p erience a n d wrote a n excellen t ,

b ook o n tactic s T/ze S t r a teg zcon wh ich served fo r t hre e

'

, ,

h u n d red years as th e man ual o f al l Byzan tin e o fficers .

Apparently th e econ o m ist prevailed ove r the sol dier i n h i s

com p o si ti on .
 f j u st z n z a n
' '

Tlee S u ccess ors o 1 51

Luckily the m u tin y o f 5 8 8 di d n o t ru i n the empire ; the

troop s returned to d uty when thei r grievance was removed ,

an d won m ore victories over th e Persian s H orm isdas grew .

u npopular wit h h i s sub j ects an d was de p osed an d slai n by a ,

u surper n amed V a rahn es H i s youn g so n C ho sro es fled to

.
, ,

th e Roma n cam p an d threw h im self o n th e m ercy o f hi s

,

hereditary fo e Thi s led to the e n d o f th e war ; Maurice len t

.

th e young p ri nce su pp lies an d auxil iaries to start a rebell ion

agai n st V a ra h n e s Th e risi ng succeeded an d the grateful
.
,

C h o sro e s m ade peace with the e mp ire the m o m en t p rs i W r e an a

’
that he was restore d t o h is father s th ron e e n d e d ’5 9 ‘°

Th e term s l ike thos e o f the peaces of 5 3 2 an d 5 6 2 am oun te d

, ,

to l ittle m ore than th e restoration o f the state o f th ings wh ich

had preceded h os til it ies Maurice recovered th e lost fortresses
.

o f D aras an d M art yro po li s a n d gain e d t he Chri stian district s

,

o f P e rsarm e n i a a n ew ac q uisition to th e em p ire but n o t on e

, ,

of m uch i m p ortance .

B u t th e troubles of Maurice m ilitary an d fi nan cial alike , ,

di d n ot cease w ith th e en d o f th e Persian war The faithles s .

Avars d isregardi ng the term s o f peace which they had sworn

,

to Tiberi us 11 i n 5 8 1 were once m ore ravaging the Balkan

, ,
’
pen insula : I n th e secon d year o f Maurice s reign th ey burs t
over t he D anube an d seize d the fortresses o f S ingidu nu m an d
,

Vi min acium w hose garrison s had been reduced by the n eed s

,

of th e Persian war Un abl e to rai se a new army Maurice

.
,

sen t the m a sub sidy w h ic h ke p t them qu iet for two years bu t ,

i n 5 8 5 th e Tartar horde took ar m s o nce m ore an d threw ,

them selves up o n Thrace N or was i t onl y wi th t he w il d

.

Avars that Maurice had t o deal We n ow hear o f th e Slavs as .

b ecom ing fo r the first tim e a seriou s da n ger t o th e em p ire .

Their tri b es had for som e ti me dwel t i n obscurity al ong th e

lower D an ube an d i n the Sou th Russian p lain s havi ng fl oode d -
,

i n to occupy the voi d space l eft by th e m igrati on of t he G oth s

i n the fou rth cen tury At th e access ion of M aurice som e o f
.

the m were subj ec t t o the Avars others were stil l i n depen de n t , ,

bu t all sh owed a tend e n cy to m ove southward over the

 1 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

D a n u be The Slavs were i nd ividuall y n o t very d angerou s

.

e nem ies t o the em pire ; they were i n th e very l owest stage o f

ci vilisat i on hardly ye t accustom ed to till the soil an d l iving
, ,

th e precariou s l ife o f fi shers an d hu n ters They d i d n ot figh t .

i n th e open fi eld bu t lurked i n forests an d m orasses i ssu ing

, ,

forth to pl u nder by n igh t an d only attacki ng their foes wh en ,

th ey coul d take them by surpri se I t i s said that th ey .

practised the cu riou s stratagem o f lying h i d i n shallow p ool s ,

showing n oth ing above th e su rface o f th e w ater save th e po in t

o f a h ol low reed through whi ch th ey breathed The story
, .

soun d s i m p robable b u t Byzan ti ne au thors qu ote s e veral occa

,

s i on s o n w h ic h i t was actual ly used .

Man y Slav tri bes seekin g refuge from the dom i natio n o f
,

th e Avars crossed th e Dan ube i n th ei r l igh t can oe s an d

, ,

establ i shed them selve s i n the w o oded sl opes of th e Balkan s ,

o r the marshes o f the D obrudscha w here th ey foun d th e cover ,

that th ey l o ved The M o e s i a n provi ncial s had been so thi n n ed

.

by two hundred years o f rai di ng su ffere d a t the han d s o f G oth ,

H u n a n d Avar that th e S lavs fou n d th e l an d alm os t wh olly

, ,

u n i n habi ted O ut sid e th e grea t Danub e fortres ses an d t h e

.
,

large town s l ike N a i s su s or S a rd i ca the p opulati o n had alm ost ,

e n tirel y di sappeared Avoiding battles w i th th e garri son s o f

.

t he t own s th e Slavs slippe d between them an d spread ove r

, ,

Th e
the face of th e deserted land pi tch ing th ei r rude ,

cr s s th
o eh u ts i n the m os t secluded sp ots that they coul d
D a n ub e '

fi nd T he y were n o t onl y i n trud ers bu t en em i es

.
, ,

fo r th ey w ere keenly set o n plu nder waylai d every party o f ,

travellers that strove t o pass from town to town a n d lai d ,

a m buscades for every body o f s old iers that wa s n o t t o o

n u merou s for t hem to cope w i th .

From 5 8 5 t o t h e very e n d o f hi s reign Mau rice was engaged

i n a desperate struggl e agai n s t Slav an d Avar wh ich rage d ,

over the wh ol e o f th e Balkan pen i n sula The i nvaders .

grad uall y pressed sou th w a rd s th ough they su fle re d m an y ,

d efeat s an d th ough wh ol e t ri be s o f Slavs were som etime s

,

exte rm i nated T he en em y th ough i nd i viduall y c o n tem pt ible

.
, ,
 f j u s t i n za u
'

T/z e S u cces s ors o 1 53

seem ed t o draw o n en dles s reserve s o f s trength as h ord e after ,

horde sli pp ed across th e Dan ube and threw i tsel f i n to th e ,

glen s o f the Balkan s The effect o f these i nvas ion s i s well

.

“
described by a con tem p orary c hron icler J oh n o f E phesu s
The fi rst years o f Maurice were fa m ou s fo r the i nvasion o f the
,

accursed p eople called Slavo nian s wh o overran Greece an d all

,

t he lan d s abou t Th essal on ica an d Thrace plu n dering man y ,

town s an d devastating an d bu rn ing an d reducing the p eo p l e

, ,

t o slavery They have m ade t hem selves m asters of the wh ol e

.

coun try an d settled i n i t by m ai n force an d dwel l i n i t as

, ,

though i t were th eir o wn Fou r years have n ow passed an d

.
,

still t hey l ive at thei r eas e i n th e lan d an d spread th em sel ves ,

abroad as far as God perm its t he m an d ravage and burn an d

, ,
’
take ca p ti ve a nd still they encam p and dwel l there
,
.

E ver sin ce th e Persian war en ded the reign of Maurice had ,

been o n e u nbroke n s erie s o f m i sfortu n es ; the only remedy

that t he em p eror cou ld fi n d for the evil ti me s was an econ omy
that verged o n avarice T hi s foi ble at las t caused h i s ruin
. .

I n 5 9 9 th e Chagan o f th e Avars d emanded o f h i m ran som

m oney fo r Ro man prisoners wh o had fal len i n to h is
han d s ; th e emperor refuse d to pay i t th ough h e had th e ,

requ ired su m o f sol idi read y at han d The Chagan thereupon .

massacred th e w hole body o f p rison ers The Roman world .

raised a cry o f horror an d threw th e blame u p on th e avarice

,

o f Mau rice n ot th e savagery o f th e Avars H enceforth h i s

, .

thron e was u n safe ; bu t th e crown ing bl ow to h i s p ower wa s

given by an other piece o f u nwise econom y After a success .

ful campaign again st t h e Slavs i n 6 0 1 th e arm y o f the ,

Balkan s had pu rsued them across th e D an ube Maurice .

sen t orders that th e victori ou s troop s should win ter i n the

o p en field upo n t he bleak townless plain s o f Wallachia i n
, ,

ord er to save supplies .

I n stead o f ob ey ing the soldi ery drove away t hei r general s

, ,

p laced a Thraci an cen turion n amed P hocas at their head an d ,

m arched o n Con s tan ti nopl e lou dly p roclaim ing t hat they were
,

com ing to depose th e emperor S o un popular h ad Mau rice.

1 54 E u ropea n H i s to f y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

made h im self w i th t he army that h e fou n d tha t h e coul d n ot ,

trust even hi s h ou sehol d troops an d i n des p air arm ed th e ,

Blue an d Green facti on s an d set them to guard the ci ty wal ls,

.

B u t th e faction s w ere a broken ree d whe n d iscipl ine d tr 00 p s

R b lli
e ha d to be faced an d Maurice soo n foun d h imself
e on ,

f Ph
°
d eserted by e very o n e H e fl e d to C halcedon
°°a s
.
,

ho p i ng to rai se ai d i n the Asiatic p rovi nces where h e was less ,

u npopular than i n E u rope Meanwh ile th e arm y en tered th e .

,

ca p i tal a n d proclaim ed Ph ocas as em p eror th ough h e was

, ,

bu t a rough u ncul tured boor wh o had heade d t h e m u ti neers ,

simply i n virtu e o f having l ou der l u ngs an d a h eavie r h an d

than h is comrade s The u su r p er sen t officers to seize h i s
.

u n fortunate predecessor an d cau sed h i m t o be beheaded , ,

along wi th h i s fou r s on s t h e younges t o f w hom wa s a m ere ,

i n fan t i n arms Mau rice m et his death wi t h a cou rage an d

.

d ign ity th at moved t he h earts o f th ose wh o had s o latel y

reviled h i m J us t art Th ou O Lord G od an d j ust are Thy
.
‘
, ,
’
j udgmen ts h e exclai m ed as t he ex ecution e r raised h i s sword
, ,

a n d died with a prayer o n h i s l i p s .

Fro m th e fou n datio n of C on s tan ti n opl e down to the d eath

o f Maurice t he E astern crown had n ever befor e been th e p rize

o f successful rebellion n or h ad an y legi ti mate em p eror fallen

,

by the hand s o f hi s subj ects Revolts there ha d been bu t .

,

they had n ever gai ned p erm an en t s uccess I t wa s an e vil day .

fo r the em p ire w h e n t he army fou n d that they c oul d make

a n e m p eror an d t he orderly s uccessio n o f elective Cae sars
, ,

chosen by t hei r predecessors o r by th e Senate ca m e t o a n ,

en d .

The n ew rul er o f C on stan tin o p l e p rove d to be a bru tal

ru ffi a n beside whose vices the faul ts o f Maurice seem ed shi n
,

ing virtues I gnoran t cru el licen tiou s an d thriftless h e

.
, , , ,

made h is l ust s h i s masters an d soo n becam e the detestati on ,

o f al l h is subj ects P h ocas s h owed abi li ty i n o n e th ing only

.
,

h e wa s m os t successful i n tracking o u t an d frustrating t he

n um erou s con s p i racie s wh ich were ere l ong framed again s t h i s
l i fe Al l w ho m he righ tl y o r wrongl y sus p ected were vi si ted
.
 T/ze S u ccess o rs f ju s t i n i a n
o l 55
’
with cruel death s ; am ong others h e slew hi s predecessor s
wi dow Co n stan ti na an d her three l i ttle daugh ters becau se h e
, , ,

foun d that thei r n am es were often u sed as a rallying cry by

plotters O n m ere su spicio n h e sei zed an d burn t al ive
.

Narses the gen eral o f the E ast the m ost d istingu is hed officer
, ,

i n th e army O ther obj ects o f hi s dread were fl ogged to

.

d eath strangled o r cruelly mutilated

, ,
.

M eanwh i le th e reign of terror at h om e was accompan ie d

,

by disaster with ou t The decayi ng m i litary a n d fi nancial

.

strength o f the empire suddenl y collapsed i n to utter ru i n

u n der the rul e of the vici ous boor wh o had replaced the
e c o n o m i c Maurice Th e Slavs a n d Avars wrough t thei r wicked
.

will un hi n dered o n th e E uropean provin ces an d p u sh ed their ,

ravages up t o th e wall o f Anastas ius I n th e E as t m atters .

fared even worse T he you ng an d able ki ng o f Persia made

.

th e m urder o f h i s benefactor Maurice a ca su s oeltz an d took

'

,
’
arm s t o avenge hi s frien d an d father From th e fi rst Open
‘
.

i ng o f the war th e Roman s fared badly ; n ever had su ch an

u nbroke n seri es o f d i sasters m et their arm s E arly i n the .

struggl e P hocas had p rovoked the E astern ar m y by recalling

an d burn i ng al ive their comman der Narses They fough t .

feebly were ill suppl ied by t he i n cap abl e tyran t an d badly le d

,
-
,

by h is creatures wh o were placed at th eir head I n 6 0 6 t here .

_

cam e a su dde n collapse ; th e great fron tier fortress o f Daras

fell an d from that m omen t th e Persian s p u shed o n wi thou t
,

m eetin g a check They overra n all Meso p ota mia D i t m

.
, sa s us

ravaged n orth ern Syria an d pu sh ed thei r i ncur P i W ,

e rs a n a r.

sion s i n to Asi a M i n or wh ere n o enemy had been ,

see n for a cen tury The armies of P h ocas see m to h ave

.

d ispersed o r s hut them selves up w ithin ci ty wall s for we h ear

, ,

o f n o resi stance t o t he i nvader I n 6 0 8 matters grew worse .

still ; from their base i n M eso p otamia an d n orth Syri a th e

P ersian s struck ou t b ol dly towards Con stan tin ople O verru n .

n ing Ca pp adocia Gal atia an d B i thyn ia thei r raiding ban d s

, ,

crossed the whole pen in sula and even p enetrated to Chalcedon ,

an d eyed the imperial ci ty across th e B osph orus Phocas .

,
 1 56 E u ropea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

i n stead o f hasten i ng to organ ise n ew troops con ten te d hi m ,

sel f w it h orderi ng a persecu ti on o f th e J ew s w ho m he ,

accused of havi ng betrayed to t he Persian s some o f the town s

o f Syria .

I n 6 0 9 the enemy on ce m ore overran Asia M in o r cap turing ,

am ong other places t he great ci ty o f Caesarea i n Ca pp adocia .

’
Agai n they m e t wi th l ittl e o r n o o p posi tio n ; the em p eror s
a tten ti on was en t irely take n u p wi th real o r i magi nary p l ots i n
th e ca p ital I t seeme d tha t h e w oul d allow th e em pi re to be
.

torn fro m h im p iecem eal wi thou t s trik in g a blow

, .

B u t rel ie f was a t last ab ou t t o c om e to th e su ffering p eo p l e

o f N ew Rome I n Afri ca there rul ed a s exarch H eracliu s
.
,

th e vetera n o ffi cer whose vi ct ori es had cl osed t he o l d Persian

w ars o f th e ti m e o f M au rice H e was capabl e an d m uch
.

bel ove d bot h by th e p rovi ncial s a n d by h i s arm y ; u n der h i s

a ble rul e Africa al on e a m ong t h e p rovi nce s o f th e em p ire
, ,

enj oye d peace an d p rosperi ty I n 6 0 9 H eracl iu s received

.

em i ssaries from Briseu s t he c omm an der o f the i m perial guard

, ,

o n e o f the i n n um erable person s w h o had fallen u n der the

su s picion o f P hocas The m essengers ba de H eracl ius s trike

.

boldly a t C on stan ti n o pl e for P hocas wa s u n i versall y detes ted

, ,

a n d n o o n e woul d rai se an arm i n h i s defence At the sam e .

m omen t the exarch l earn t that hi s tyran n ical master had

al ready con ceive d doubt s o f h is l oyalty a n d had t hrown ,

h i s wi fe an d daugh te r i n to pri s on .

S eeing that h e m u s t s trike h ard o r be cru shed H eracl iu s ,

determ i n ed to rebel H e s p en t the wi n ter o f 6 0 9 1 0 i n fi ttin g

.
-

o u t a fleet an d la un ched i t agai n s t Con stan ti n opl e before

,

R b l li
e e on of Phocas had learn t o f hi s revol t Th e comm an d .

H r cl i u s
e a .
was gi ven t o h i s el des t son wh o al so bore th e ,

nam e of H eracl ius for th e exarch h im self was o ld an d ail ing

,
.

At the sam e tim e t o m ake a d iversi on h e sen t a body o f

, ,

cavalry u n der h i s n ephew N icetas t o i nvade E gypt by lan d ;

, ,

th ey w ere t o follow the l i ne o f the l ong c oa st road th rough -

Tripol i an d Cyre ne .

When the fl eet o f th e you nger H eracli u s reache d the Da r

 The S u ccess o rs o f f u s ti n i a n 1 57

danelles i t m et with no resi stance ; o n t he n ews o f i ts arrival ,

P ri scu s brough t the imperial guard to j oi n the r e bels an d th e ,

em p eror fou n d h imsel f deserted by all h i s sol d iery H e s trove .

,

l ike h i s predecessor Maurice t o arm the faction s o f t h e Blues

,

an d G reen s ; bu t n o o n e woul d strike a blow i n behalf o f

su ch a worthles s tyran t H eracliu s sai l e d u n o pp osed t o th e
.

B os p horu s an d as h e arrive d o ff th e p alac e h e m et a b oa t

,

con tai n ing t h e wretched P hocas wh om a pri vate e nemy had ,

s eized an d cas t i n to chain s Th e p ri son er was brough t o n

.

’
deck an d cast at t he feet o f hi s con queror I s i t thu s cried .
‘
,
’ ’
H eracliu s that you h ave governe d th e em p i re ?
,
‘
Will you ,

the fallen tyran t repl ied govern i t an y b etter ? ’

,
‘
H eracl ius
spu rned h i m wit h hi s foo t an d promptly con sign e d hi m t o
,

th e headsman .

Thu s perished th e fi rst b ut by n o m ean s th e last mili tary

, ,

u surper wh o sat o n th e Con stan ti no p ol i tan th ron e ov e rthrow n , ,

as h e had b ee n elevated by a n arm ed rebell ion Al l th e

, .

world with si ngul ar u nan im ity tes ti fied to th e worthlessness o f

P hocas save o n e si ngle adh ere n t ; bu t thi s was n o l es s a
,

person than Po p e Gregory th e Grea t M uc h to hi s di scredi t .

th e great pon tiff had b e en a sup p orter nay even a flat t erer , , ,

o f t h e Thracian boor wh o wore th e eastern diadem w i th such

ill grace B ut Gregory ha d been an enem y o f t he u n fortunate

.

Mauric e b ecaus e that p ri n ce — th ough orthodox i n m atters

,

o f doctri n e — had sh own scan t res p ect t o th e S e e of Rom e .

’ ’
H e had called som e o f Gregory s epi stles fatuous an d ha d
‘
,
’
allowed J oh n th e Faster patriarch o f Con stan tin opl e t o
‘
, ,
’
assu me t he title of oecum en ical b isho p a style wh ich filled ,

Gregory wit h h orror an d cau sed h i m to exclai m that the t imes

,

of Antichris t were at han d Grego ry therefore looked o n

.

’
Maurice s m urderer as th e avenger o f the outraged dign ity of
the See o f Rom e a n d di d n ot shrink from heaping u p on hi m
,

epi thets of u n seemly adulat ion ; th e choirs o f angels he sa id , ,

sang w ith j oy i n heaven at t he accession o f su ch a worth y

Caesar ! Truly th i s was a p ain ful epi sode i n th e li fe o f a man
who i n spi te o f all h is faul ts has been j ustly hail e d as a sain t
, , .
 C H A PTE R X

DE C L I N E A N D D E C A Y OF TH E M E R OV I N G I A N S
56 1 656
-
.

T he s o n s o f C hl o t h a r d iv i d e t he F r a n k i sh r ea l m —Wa rs o f S ig ib ert a n d Ch i l
e r i ch —Th e f o r t u n e s o f B ru nh i l d i s— Co n t i n u e d wa rs o f N e us t r ia a n d
p
Aust r a s ia —Tyr a n n y o f C h l pe ri ch a n d F r e d eg u n d i s — D e c a y o f t h e R o y a l
i

P o we r a m o n g t h e F r a ks—T he H o us e o f S t A n u l f a n d P i p p i n —B ru n
n .

b i ld i s r eg en t i n Aus t r a s ia W a rs o f h e r g r a n ds o n s — H e r d e a t h
C hl o t h a r 11 s o l e k i ng —H i s w e a k n e ss —H i s succ e ss o r D a g o b e r t 1 l a s t
fr ee k in g o f t he M e r o v i n g i a n l i n e—R i s e o f t he M a y o rs o f t h e P a l a ce
. .

A F T E R th e fi rst eigh ty yeii rs of i ts exi sten ce th e Frankish ,

ki ngdom w hi ch u n der t hree gen erati on s o f warlike m onarch s

,

had conti nued t o exten d i ts borders s o fas t a n d s o far ceased ,

suddenl y t o grow an d wa s given u p fo r a c entury an d a hal f

,

to ru in ou s c ivil wars a s obj ectles s a s th ey were tedi ou s an d

,

c on fused I n surren deri ng th eir prim i tive Teuton i c freedom

.

to thei r royal h ou se i n return for t h e glory an d aggrandi se

,

m en t which u n i on u n der a singl e d espotic han d gave t o th ei r

hi therto weak an d scattered tribes t he Frank s had barte red ,

away thei r fu ture As l on g as th e h ou se o f C hl o d o ve ch w ere

.

abl e an d active th ei r subj ects could c on s ole th em sel ves for

,

submi tting to a n au tocra t by sharing i n th e powe r an d pl un de r

wh ich a cen tu ry o f su ccessful war brough t i n t o th em B u t .

whe n th e M e ro vi n g s th ough still retai n ing thei r despotic

,

au th ori ty gre w weak an d i n capable s howi ng n o trace o f thei r

, ,
’
ance stor s qual ities save a n i nveterate tenden cy t o t reach ery
,
15 8
 D ecl i n e D ecay of t /z e M e rov i ng i a ns
7
a na 1 59

an d fratricide an evi l ti m e ca m e u p o n th e Franki sh race

, .

They pai d for thei r early aggran di semen t by being con demn ed
to fi ve gen eration s of u seless civi l wars at hom e an d power ,

l e ssn es s abroad wh i le their h eredi tary m onarch s sacrificed

,

everyth ing to th eir un end ing fam il y feuds Noth in g m ore .

could b e ho p ed for the Franks til l they had ri d th em selves o f

th e n ightmare i ncubu s o f th is wicked h ou se wh ose repul sive
-
,

an nal s are o n t he whol e th e m ost h o p eles s an d depressing

, ,

p age i n the h i story o f E uro p e 1

Fro m gen erati on to genera
.

tion thei r story reek s with bl ood ; t here i s n othing that can
be compared t o i t for horror i n th e record s of an y nation o n
thi s s ide o f t h e Mediterranean We have to searc h the
.

histories o f t he courts of M oham medan Asia t o discover a

parallel Th e Frank s o nly foun d salvation i n th e growth o f
.

checks o n th e royal p ower by the developmen t o f the great

provin cial govern ors an d b y th e fi nal deposition of th e
,

M e ro vi n gs in favour o f th e great h ou se o f t he descen dants

of S t Arn ulf th e Mayors o f the Palace whose strong han d at
.
, ,

last stayed the fratricidal wars o f the seven th century An d .

e ven whe n the n ew dy nasty h ad m ou n ted th e thron e th e ,

Frankish realm sh owed fatal s ign s o f t he dem orali sati on i t

had su ffered u n der t he ol d royal h ou se Th e ten dency o f .

th e race t o ac quiesce i n the u nwise habi t o f heri tage partitio n -

an d the u n ha pp y gru dge bet ween the eastern an d t he western

Franks were d irect legacies o f the M e rovi n gs
,
.

2 Franki sh realm concen trated i n the hand s

We left th e wh ole
o f t h e aged C hl o t h ar last surviving son o f C hl o d ovech When
,
.
,

however th is hoary ru ffi an fresh from the murder o f hi s el dest

, ,

so n sank i nt o hi s grave i n th e year 5 6 1 hi s fou r survivi ng

, , ,

1 In spi t e o f th e wi ck e d ne ss o f th e h o us e o f th e M e ro vi ng s th e F r a n k s ,

w e r e v e ry l o y a l e v en i n t h e d a ys o f t h e d e c a y o f t h e r o y a l r a c e
,
We fi n d .

t h ei r chr o n i c l e rs r e pea t e d ly c o n t r a s t i n g t he fid e l i t y o f t h e F r a n k s w i t h
t h e fi ck l en ess o f t h ei r Vi s i g o t h i c n e i g hb o urs who
, h av i ng l o s t t h e i r
,

a n c i e n t r o y al h o us e w e r e c o n t i n u a l ly m a k i ng a n d u n m a k i n g s o v e r e i g n s
,

f r o m a m o n g t h e r an k s o f t h e i r c o u n t s a n d duk e s .

2
F o r g e n e a l o gy o f t he h o us e o f C h l o d o ve ch see pa g e 1 6 6 .
16 0 E u rop ea n H i s to i y , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

ch i ldren p arted t he kingdom onc e m or e a m ong t hem selves ,

S c o d p a rt i
e n n ot withou t a prel i m i nary fi gh t i n w h ich Ch i l
,
’f
Eisi igii
e

n r
p e rich,
the you nges t o f th e fou r havin g lai d ,
’
R ea lm 56 , han ds o n h i s fath e r s treasures an d raised a n
1.
,

arm y with th ei r ai d tri ed to pu t do wn h i s ki n sm en but failed

, , .

Wh en h e had be e n defeated an d brough t t o subm is sion th e ,

real m was made in to fou r shares C hari b e rt the e l des t s on

.
, ,

took Paris an d Aqu i tai ne G un tram t h e B urgun dian ki ngd om

S ig i b e rt th e R i p uarian lan d on th e Rh i n e an d th e tribu tary

,

Th uringia n an d Bavarian lan d s beyo n d i t ; lastl y th e re stles s ,

’
C h i lp e ri ch wa s given h i s fath er s original share th e old Sal ian ,

la n d bet wee n M ou se an d S om m e wi th certai n d i stricts farther

,

south adde d t o i t s o th at i t exten ded n earl y as far a s the gate s

,

of R ouen an d Rhei m s .

O f t hese fou r broth ers C ha ri b e rt d ied youn g i n 5 6 7 H e

, , .
 D ecli n e a nd D ecay f t/ze M er ov i ng i a ns
o 16 1

i s only remem be re d becau se h is daughter B erth a married

E thelbert t he ki ng of Kent an d was t w en ty years later th e
, , , ,
’
protec tor o f th e m issi on o f S t Augu stin e C h a ri b e rt s lan ds
. .

o n th e Sei n e an d Loire were parted am ong h i s three brothers ,

G un tram a n d C h i lpe ri ch each tak in g th e part that lay n eares t

to h is o wn fro n tier wh ile th ei r d i stan t Ripuarian brother
, ,

S i g i b e rt ha d Tours P o i c t i e rs an d B ordeau x separated fro m

, , , ,

h i s other dom i n ion s by th e wh ol e bread th o f Burgundy .

Th e tal e o f th e wars an d tumul ts wh ic h t he three survivi ng

so n s o f C hl o t ha r I rai sed agai n st each othe r i s a l ong recital
.

o f obj ectles s strife an d treachery The u n easiest spi ri t o f the.

three was th e wicked C h i l p e ri ch th e Nero an d H erod o f hi s ,

‘

’
tim e as Gregory o f Tours very rightly style s h im
,
The .

usual fratern al hatred o f th e M e ro vi n g s was e mbi ttered b e

tween h i m an d S i g i b e rt by an ad di tional grievan ce Wh ile .

S i g i b e rt was away beyon d th e Rh in e s triving wi th th e w ild

Avars wh o had pu shed th ei r i ncursion s al ong the D an ube i nto
,

Bavaria an d S u a b i a h i s b roth er th e ki ng o f S oisson s i nvaded

, , ,

Ripuaria an d tried t o seize i t for hi m sel f S ig i b e rt returne d

,
.

i n haste an d succeeded i n drivi ng C h il p e ri ch back beyon d the

,

Meuse an d pres erving h is eastern border

,
.

Thi s would have been cau se en ough for revenge but a ,

wors e was t o follow C h i lp e ri c h an d S i g i b e rt had married

.

two sisters the daugh ters of th e Vi sigoth i c k ing A t ha n a gi ld

, , .

Ga l s w i n t h a was th e spou se o f C h i lp e ri c h B ru n h il d i s o f Sigi ,

bert They were pri ncesses famed al l over the Western worl d
.

“
for their beauty an d abil i tie s n o les s than for t h e e n o rm o u s ‘

dowries wh ich their fat h er had bestowed upon M r d e r u

th em Before h i s m arriage C hilp e ri c h had k ept G l w i t h

. a s n a ,

67
a perfect harem o f con cubi nes though o n th e 5
,
'

arrival of Ga l sw i n th a he had for th e m omen t ban i shed them .

B u t Fredegu n dis th e ch i ef am ong hi s former favourites

, ,

retai n ed su ch an em pire over h im that after a few m o n th s

h e openly brough t her back t o the palace an d i n sulted the ,

queen by her presence Wh en Ga ls wi n t ha i ndignan tly de

.

c l a re d that she sh oul d return to h er father th e wicked ki ng ,

P E R OD 1 I . L
162 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

had he r m u rdered a n d publ icly married Fredegu n di s withi n a

,

fe w days
B ru n hil d i s th e siste r o f th e m urdere d quee n a nd the
, ,
’
spou se o f C h i l pe ri c h s el der broth er th e ki ng of Ripuaria ,

devoted the rest o f h er li fe t o th e task o f ave n gi n g Gal

’
s w i n t h a s d eath o n th e ki n g o f Soi sso n s an d h i s param our .

Sh e w a s a st rong willed fearless abl e w oman a n d h e r i n

-

, , ,

flu e n c e over h er h u sban d was u n b o u n ded F o r forty years .

the h o u ses o f S i g i b e rt a n d C hilp e ri c h an d th eir u n happy sub

je c t s we r e desti n ed to shed thei r blo o d o n th e battle fi e ld -

that th e slaugh ter o f Ga l s w i n t ha m ight be at oned for .

I t i s i n th ese wars that the fi n al partiti on o f th e Franki sh

real m i n to i ts two permane n t d ivi si on s t ook shape an d that ,

n ew n ames for th ese division s cam e i nto u se The Ripuarian .

real m o f ki n g S i g i b e rt from th e borders o f Bavaria a n d

,

Th u ri n gia as far as th e M eu se an d Sch el dt i s fo r the fu ture ,

— ’
k n ow n as Au strasia t he E aster n k i n gdo m ; C h i lp e ri c h s less
purely Teuto n i c realm fro m th e M euse an d Schel d t as f ar as
,

th e L o i re gets th e n am e o f Neu stria the New ki ngd om o r t he

, , ,

N e w Wes t kingdom a s others i n terpret i t ,

1
.

T he begi n n i n g o f th e wars o f Neu stria a n d A u strasi a fo llows

i m mediately o n the death of Ga l s w i n t h a A s th e ave n ger o f .

’
bl o o d ki n g S ig i b e rt en tered h i s brother s k i n gd om an d d rove
, ,

h i m w estward B u t t he h ost ili tie s we re su spen ded by a great

.

Lombard i nvasi on o f Gaul Th e n ew conquero rs of I taly had .

passed the Al ps an d th row n them selves u pon th e Frankish

,

real m G un tram o f B urgu n dy wh ose ki n gdom bore th e

.
,

bru n t o f th e assau l t prevaile d u pon h i s brothers to cease

,

th ei r struggle s an d u n i te to cast o u t t h e Lombard s from Pro

1
N e us t r i a , N e us t e r , N e u st ra s i a , N e u t ra s i a , N i w i s t ri a fo u n d a sa re a ll

fo r m s o f t h e n a m e I t i s d i s pu t e d w h e t h e r i t m e a n s m e r e l y t h e r e a l m o f
.

t he N e w F r a n ks i n G a u l a s o ppo s e d t o t h e O ld F r a n k s o n M e us e a n d
‘ ’

Rh i n e o r w h e t h e r N e w a n d \Ve s t a re c o m p r e ss e d t o g e t h e r i n t he w o rd
, .

’
T he A n n a l s of /l/ et z sa y O c c i d e n ta l e s F r a n c i q u i Ni w is t i i d i cu n t u r
,
I ts
r .

b o u nd a r i e s w e r e t he S ch e ld t t h e S i l va C a / on a i a bo u t N a m u r a n d
,
r r r a

M o n s a n d t he U ppe r M e u se Ve rdu n i s t he w e st e r n m o s t Au s t r a s ia n
, .

t w n L a ng r e s t he n o r t h e r n m o s t B ur g u n d i a n t o w n
o .
 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay f flu
o l lf ero u i ng i a n s 163

ven ce an d t he Rho n e valley B y h is decisi on C hilpe ri c h gave

.

’ ’
up as zo er eg el a for h i s wife s m urd er h er dowry an d five ,

Aqui tan ian cities wh ich had been bestowed u pon her at the
,

marriage .These were made ove r to B ru n hil d i s wh o t ook ,

them bu t n evertheless bided h er t im e fo r a fuller revenge

,

(5 6 8)
Four years o f Lom bard wars kep t the Frankish ki ngs e u
gaged o n their sou th ern borders an d they were at last success ,

ful i n forcing th e i n vaders beyo n d th e Alp s i n a series o f ,

campaign s i n wh i ch th e ch ief glory was gai n ed by th e Romano

Galli c duke E u n i u s M u m m o l u s who led the armies of Gun tram
, ,

o f B urgundy B u t i n 5 7 3 the civil war be tween W rs f S i i

.

g a o

S i g i b e rt a nd C h i lp e ri ch burst forth agai n I t b rt d C h i l . e an

spread a t once over the whol e o f th e Franki sh p r i ch 5 7 3 7 5 e '

'

’
real m for C hi lp e ri ch attacked hi s brother s dom i nion s i n Aqu i
tai ne w h ile S ig i b e rt p ressed on beyo n d Meuse an d Scheld t
,
.

There followed two years of fi erce figh ting atten ded by th e ,

’
m os t barbarous wasti n g o f the land C h i lp e ri ch s so n s bu rn t .

’
every open town between Tours a n d Li moges ; S ig i b e rt s
tro ops from b eyond the Rhi n e devastate d th e val ley of th e
M euse T he Aus trasian s had the better i n the struggl e an d
.
,

C hi lpe ri c h sued for peace offeri n g large territorial concession s

,
.

Bu t it was h i s l ife an d n ot hi s lan ds t hat B ru n hil d i s wa n ted .

’
H e r hu sba n d was i n duced t o decli n e hi s brother s proposal s ,

an d push ed h i s victori ou s arm s i n t o th e h eart o f Neustria ,

’
after a battl e i n wh ich C hi l pe ri ch s son an d hei r The u d e b e rt , ,

was slai n The ki ng o f th e We st aba n doned h i s capital

.
,

and fled n orth t o h i de h im self a n d h is wi fe behi n d the wall s

o f Tourn ay M ost o f th e Neu stria n cou n ts came t o d o
.

homage t o S i g i b e rt at Pari s a n d fwh e n h e had chased his ,

brother beh in d the Sch eldt the Au s trasian had hi m self l i fted
,

o n the sh ield accord ing to old Fra n ki sh custom an d salu ted

, ,

as King o f all the Frank s at Vitry n ear Arras H e sen t for ,

.

his wife an d children to Pari s t o share i n h is M urd r f e o

triumph an d determ ined to en d th e war by th e S i g i b t 5 7 s

,
er ,
.

siege o f Tournay B ut when all Gaul seemed at h i s command

.
, ,
1 64 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

two m urderers h ired by qu een Fredegu n d is cam e before h i m

, ,

w ith a pretended message an d stabbed hi m w h ile h e l istened ,

to th eir w ords
The death o f S ig ib e rt c ha n ged t he w h ol e aspect o f a ffairs
i n Gaul an d rai sed hi s a s sassi n from th e dep th of despai r
,

to th e h eight o f fortu n e Th e Au strasia n arm y d i spersed whe n

.

i ts com mander w a s slain an d th e Neu stria n cou n ts fl ocked to

,

T o u rnay to d o h omage agai n to C hi lpe ri ch Queen B ru n .

’
b ildi s wh o lay at Pari s with S ig i b e rt s i n fan t son an d h eir
,

C hild e b e rt w a s seized and imprisoned by th e partisan s of the

,

N eustrian king H e r l i ttl e four —

. year ol d son on ly escaped -

’
from hi s u ncl e s cl u tches by bei ng let dow n i n a basket from
’
h i s m oth er s prison w in dow an d receive d by a fai th fu l a d ,

heren t wh o rode away with h i m to M etz I f C h i lpe ri ch had

,
.

lai d hands o n th e b o y th e Au strasian royal h ou se would have

,

been e n ded i n t he promptest way .

Th e E ast Franki sh cou n ts an d dukes w hen th e n ews o f

-

,
’
S ig i b e rt s death reached them resol ve d n ot t o subm i t to h i s ,

m urderer but t o take a step u n heard o f heretofore in the ann al s

,

o f th e M e ro vi n g s When th ey foun d that th e b o y C hild e b e rt

.

’
had escaped th ey boun d h i s father s diadem abou t h i s brows
, ,

an d sal uted h i m a s ki ng H i therto t he Fra nk s had always .

l ived u nde r th e strong han d s o f a grown man an d the provi n ,

c i a l govern ors had been as powerles s a s th e m ean er peopl e

u nder the autocratic sway o f t he rul er ; bu t i n the l ong

m i n ority that would follow th e accession of a fou r year old - -

ch ild they fou n d thei r opportu n ity for l oweri ng the r o yal
,

power an d d ivid ing m an y o f i ts privileges am ong them selves

,
.

From thi s poin t begin s the degradation o f the k i n gly o ffi ce ,

wh ich was to be t he rul e henceforth am ong the m ; an d the

cou nts an d d ukes as w ell as th e great o fficers o f the palace
, ,

were destined to acqui re i n th e early years of C h i ld e b e rt a

, ,

con trol over the central power wh ic h they had n ever h itherto
possessed .

’
M ean wh il e the fate o f the l ittle king s m other B ru n h ild i s , ,
 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay o f Me M e r o v i n i a ns
g 16 5

had been a strange o n e C h ilperic h had seized her treasures

.
,

an d thrown her in t o pri son at Rouen There sh e caugh t the .

’
eye o f M e ro ve ch h er captor s eldest survivi ng son 1 wh o was
, ,

charged by hi s father wi th the comman d o f an Adv t ur s f en e o

’ B
arm y destined t o attack the Austrasian ki ng s h i ldi ru n 9 ~

domi n ion s beyo n d th e Loire M e ro ve c h was s o i n fatuated .

’
by the beauty o f the ca p tive queen that bravi ng h is father s ,

displeasu re he d el ivered h er from her dungeon and i n duce d

, ,

P ra et ext a t u s bishop o f Rouen to marry them i n his cathedral

, , .

King C h i lpe ri ch im m ediately flew to Rouen i n great wrath ,

an d a t hi s approach th e n ewly married pair took sanctuary -

’
u n der th e bishop s protection After som e hesitation the .

king of Neus tria prom ised to spare th ei r l ives but wh en h is , ,

s o n surren dered hi mself h e took h i m away to S oi sson s an d

, ,

sh ortly afterwards ton sured him an d compelled h im t o becom e ,

a m onk B ru n hil d i s escaped to Austrasia whither her hu s

.
,

band strov e t o follow her H e fled from h i s m onastery an d

.
,

had alm ost reached th e fron tier when th e emissaries o f ,

h is stepmother Fredegun dis caugh t him an d m urdered

, , ,

h im ( 5 7 7 )
I n Austrasia there n ow com m enced a struggl e between the
li berated queen m other an d th e great o fli c e rs o f state for th e
-

guardianship of the li ttl e si x year o l d king The struggl e was

- -
.

an obsti nate o n e ; for if the Frankish n obles were hampered

b y the autocratic tradition s o f th e k ingship B ru n hild i s o n , ,

th e other han d was a foreign er an d m et wi th li ttl e support

, ,

save am ong the Gallo Roman clergy an d o fficials wh o foun d

-
,

s om e protection u n der th e shiel d of th e kin g from t he

, ,

arrogance an d violence of th ei r Frank i s h fell ow subj ects I n -

.

N eu stria o r Aquitain e where th e Roman elem en ts were

,

stronger B ru n hil d i s m igh t have don e m ore bu t h er l o t

, ,

was cast i n Au strasia where the German s were en tirely p re

,

p on deran t .

1
T he u d e b e rt, the e ld e s t ,
ha d fa ll e n in ba ttl e in th e p r e c e d i ng
168 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

T 0 p rotect t he you ng C hil d e b e rt agai n st th e attack s o f

’
C hi l pe ri ch h i s m other all ied h erself wi th th e b oy s u n cl e
, ,

Gu n tram k ing of Bu rgun dy G u n tram who had n o c hildren

,
.
,

of h i s o wn designated C h i l d e b e rt heir t o all h is d om in ion s

, ,

an d t ook u p h i s cause w i th vigour B u t h e was n o t a very .

w arlike pri nce a n d i t w a s a s m uch a s h e coul d do t o protect

,

h i s o w n real m agai n st th e active an d ru thles s ki ng of Neu stria .

Th ough B urgu n dy an d Au strasia were allied C h i lpe ri ch suc ,

ce e d e d i n con qu eri ng th eir u n ited arm ies u n der the B urgu n ,

dian general M u m m o l u s an d seizi n g Tours P o i ct i ers an d al l

, , , ,

t he n orth o f Aquitai n e H e w oul d probabl y have carried h is .

arm s further i f i n ternal troubles had n ot ari sen t o check h im .

The B reton s of Armorica bu rst i n to rebell ion an d had to b e ,

pu t d own an d oth er risings were exci ted by h is ruthless an d

,

excessive taxation Bu t h i s wors t vexation s were th ose of h i s

.

own h ou seh old cau sed by th e stri fe o f h i s elder s on s with

,

A t r c i t i s f their stepm other Fredegu n dis Al l th rough th es e

o e o , .

F r d g u di s
e e n
years th e wicked quee n had bee n fearfully active .

’
T he u d e b e rt an d M e ro vech t he eldes t o f her h usban d s fam il y , ,

were d ead bu t thei r broth er C hl o d o vech stil l stood betwee n

, , ,
’
Fredegu n dis childre n an d th e t hron e I n 5 8 0 th e plague .

’
s we pt al l over Gaul an d two son s of Fredegun d i s were carried
,

o ff by i t S h e accu sed th ei r step brother o f havi ng cau sed

.
-

their deat h by witchcraft an d got h er h u sban d t o perm i t h er ,

to execute hi m Bu t wh en h er last chil d died two years later

.
, ,
’
the wretched w oman s rage an d grief l ed her i nto th e wil dest out
bursts of cruel ty S he accuse d n u m bers o f person s about th e
.

court o f magic arts practised agai n s t her boy a n d bu rn t th em ,

al ive or broke them o n th e wheel M an y othe r acts o f m urder

,
.

an d treach e ry are attri buted to h er n otabl y th e death o f ,

P ra e t e xta t u s bi sh op o f Rou en wh om she detested for th e

, ,

part h e ha d taken i n th e m arriage of M e ro ve ch an d B run

h i l d i s a n d h er crime s fill m a n y a page i n th e glo om y a nnal s
,

o f Gregory o f Tours A legen d tell s h o w two h ol y bi sh ops o nc e

.

s tood be fore th e gate o f the palace a t S oi sson s Wh at sees t .

‘

’
th ou over th i s h ouse ? sai d on e I see n oth ing b ut th e re d .
‘
 D ecl i n e an d D ecay f
o t/z e l ll e r o u i ng i a ns » 169

standard w hic h C hi lpe ri ch t he kin g ha s ordered t o b e set

’ ’
u p on i ts topmost gabl e But I see sai d t he fi rs t t h e
.
‘
, ,
‘

sword o f Go d raise d above t hat wicked h ou se to destroy i t

’
altogether .

’
M eanwh ile C hilpe ri c h s wars with h i s brother o f B urgun dy
,

an d h i s n ephew of Au strasia contin ued to fi l l cen tral Gaul

wi th bl ood an d ashes They ceased for a m o m en t when th e
.

Austrasian n obles again st th e will o f B ru n hi ldi s forced thei r

, ,

li ttl e king to m ake peace an d alliance wi th his father s mu r ’

d erer B u t n o o n e could lon g trust C hil pe ri ch an d after less

.
,

t han a year the o l d leagu e between Austrasia an d B urgun dy

was renewed .

I n 5 8 4 C hilperi ch to th e great j oy o f all Gaul was m urdered

, ,

by an unknown han d z— As h e was return in g from th e hu n t

‘

to hi s royal m an or o f Chelles a certai n man struck hi m ,

w ith a kn ife ben e at h th e shoulder an d pi erced h i s belly ,

with a secon d stroke whereupo n h e fel l down an d D e at h f

, o
’
breathed o u t h i s fou l s oul says th e chron icler C h i l p i h l
, . er c

5 84
H e was perhap s the wors t o f th e wicked M e ro v
'

i ngs — cruel u n j us t glutton ou s an d drunken vai n boastful

, , , , , ,

an d i rreligiou s th e worthy son of th e ru ffi an C hl o t har an d

, ,

gran ds on o f t he m u rderer C hl o d o ve ch B u t h is u ntiring .

en ergy an d reckless courage bore h i m safely through man y an

evil day an d h e died l eavi ng t he kingdo m h e had i n herited
,

i n 5 6 1 i n creased t o three tim es i ts origi nal bulk .

Queen Fredegu n dis had born e on e m ore son nam ed C hlo ,

thar t o her hu sban d j u st four m on th s before h i s m urder so

, ,

that N eustria was n o t left altogether withou t an heir B u t .

F red egu n d i s feared that Gu n tram an d h i s n ephew woul d n ow

se i ze th e w hole realm an d slay her with her i nfan t S h e took
,
.

sanctuary at Pari s ; bu t when th e k ing o f B u rgu ndy arrive d

h e sh owed h i s superiority to th e m oral s o f hi s fam ily by
spari ng th e l ife of the wicke d queen an d recogn i si n g her so n ,

as king o f Neu stria B ru n hild i s sough t i n vai n to i n duce

.

Gu ntram t o give over t o her the m u rderess of h er h usban d ;

he refused an d Fr e degun di s took advant a ge o f hi s ki ndnes s
,
I 70 E u r op ea n H i s t o i j 47 6 9 I 8
' -
,

to h ire a ssa ssin s to make attempts on th e l ives both o f

B ru n hil d i s a n d h er so n th e youn g k i n g of Au strasia Lu ckil y .

the proj ect failed i n both cases .

Th e civ i l w ars o f the Frank s n o w ceased for a m om en t .

Gu n tram a m il d a n d n ot u n am iable character con trolled both

, ,

hi s n eph ews th e fi ft e e n —
,
year o l d C hi l d e b e rt o f Austrasia an d
-
,

the o n e year o l d C hl o t ha r
- -
an d for n in e years th e th ree
kingdom s had a certai n m easure o f peace broken only by ,

wars w ith the Lombards an d Vi sigoth s Gu n t ram seem s to .

have hoped that t he fratricidal wars o f h is fam ily m igh t b e

staved o ff for a s p ace by tu rn ing the en ergy of the Franks
W ars w it h again st thei r southern n eigh bo urs an d engaged ,

G ths
o an d h i msel f i n a war wi th R e cca re d k ing of Spai n , ,
L m b rds
o a
whil e th e Au strasian n obl es were i n duced by th e
'

gi fts o f t he emperor Maurice t o assi st th e Byzanti nes i n thei r

struggl e again s t th e Lombards B oth wars were l o ng an d
.

fru itles s I n the Wes t th e repeate d attack s of th e B u rgun dian

.
,

arm ies o n S e p t i m a n i a were al l beaten back I n th e E ast the .

,

Aus tra sian s t wice crossed th e Alps an d wasted the valley of ,

the P o but i n 5 8 8 they received such a defeat at th e han ds o f

,

ki n g Au t ha ri that th ey made peace with hi m an d wi thd rew

across t h e Alps I n 5 9 0 C hil d e b e rt wh o h ad n ow attai n ed
.
,

h i s twen tie th year an d was gover n ing for h i msel f renewed the
, ,

struggl e ; bu t h i s arm y was th i n n ed by fami n e a n d pestilence

before the w all s of Veron a a n d h e wa s finally fai n to re n ew
,

th e peace w i th Ag il u lf th e s uccessor of A u t h a ri
,
.

Un fortu nate foreign w ars h owever were better th an s trife

, ,

i n th e heart of Gaul an d th e last years of Gun tram were fairly

,

free from this pest H e was o nly troubled by o n e re belli on

.

a co n spiracy between h i s illegi ti mate brother G u n d o va ld an d , ,

two great Rom a n o Gall ic d uke s M u m m o l u s an d D esideriu s

-
, ,

w ho were apparen tl y wi sh in g to becom e ki ng makers a n d rul e -

u nder th e nam e o f an ob scu re an d i ncapabl e preten der B u t .

the day o f th e com plete triu mp h o f th e great State o f fi c ial s

o ver th e k i n gsh ip had n o t yet com e an d th ough h e wa s for ,

a m o men t m aster o f al l Aqu itai n e G u n do va l d wa s easily pu t ,

 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay f Me M er ovi ng i a n s
o 17 1

d own an d execu ted i n com p an y w i th h i s chief su pporter

,

M u m m o lu s
G un tram died i n 5 9 3 an d h i s n ephew C hi l d eb e rt received
,

h i s domi nion s i n B u rgun dy an d Aquitain e th us becom i ng ,

ruler o f fou r fi ft hs o f the whol e Frank is h k i ngdom i n hi s

-

twenty third year

-
Un der h i s n om in al sway Au strasia had
.

been t he theatre o f a l ong s truggle between h i s m other

B ru n h i ldi s an d th e great cou nts an d d ukes w hose pl ots an d ,

riots were secretly ab ette d by F redegun dis From h er hom e .

i n Neu stria th e ru thless wi dow o f C h ilp e ri c h di d her best t o set

’
her n ep hew s ki ngdom i n disorder an d prom ised lan ds an d ,

titles to th e Austrasian chiefs i f they woul d m urder B ru n h i ld i s

a n d C h i ld eb e rt an d proclaim her own son C hl o t ha r ki ng o f
, , ,

Austrasia B u t th e ste m an d able B ru n h i l d i s u n ravelled an d

.

crushe d all these con spiracies an d ha d the triump h o f seei n g ,

her s on attai n h is maj ority an d assu m e the ru le i n h is own ,

n am e .

The m omen t that th e paci fi c Gu ntram was dead B ru n hi l d i s ,

an d her son freed from all restrain t set o u t to pu n i sh t he i n

, ,
’
t ri g u e s o f F re d egu n d i s a n d by i nvadin g Neustria to m ake an en d
,

o f her an d her b o y C hl o t h a r Bu t th e fortu n e o f war declared

.

i n favour o f th e Western Fran ks At D rois y n ear B h i l d i .

, ru n s

S ois son s th e army of C hi l d e b e rt was defeated wit h t t c k s

,
a a

N m
.

eu s a
the l oss o f n o les s than m en an d N eu st ri a ,
'

was saved from con quest The war con tinued wi th ou t defi n ite .

resul t for C hil d eb e rt was preven ted fro m u sing hi s full

,

strength by a reb ell ion b eyon d th e Rhi n e am ong th e Warn i ,

i n S u a b i a Probably h i s superi or force mu st i n the en d have

.

carried the day bu t the en tire aspect o f affairs was su ddenly

,

changed by hi s un expected death i n 5 9 6 at the early age o f ,

twen ty six H e left tw o i n fan t son s T h eu d e b e rt an d Theu

-
.
,

d e ri ch , to t he care o f thei r grandm other w ho fou n d h erself , ,

t hough sh e was n o w vergin g on o l d age once m ore called ,

up on to assum e the regen cy .

The death of C hil d e b e rt wa s t o th e ki ngly auth ority a fatal

blow from which i t n ever recovered H i s o wn long m in ori ty
,
.
 17 2 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

had rai sed th e count s an d dukes t o a pitch o f power w h ich

t hey had n ever gai ned before an d all th e efforts of Bru n hild i s
,

had n o t succeeded i n fully h ol ding them d own Th e equally .

l ong m i nority o f h i s son s was th e last blow to the ki n gsh ip .

Thei r gran dmother struggled with al l her m igh t t o retai n t he

power for th e kingly race an d to curb her u nruly subj ects
, .

B u t th ough sh e worke d wi th u n tirin g en ergy an d zeal an d ,

kep t the rei n s of go vern m en t i n h er own grasp for some tim e ,

the treacherous n obles ben t o n thei r o wn aggran di sem en t a t the

,

expe n se o f the royal au thority were at last too m uch for h er

,
.

O f the two son s of C h i l de b e rt 11 T he u d e b e rt th e elder

.
, ,

becam e k i ng of Au strasia T he u d e ri ch th e you nger ki ng o f

, , ,

S c
e ond Burgu n dy t h e legacy
,
o f h i s u n cl e G u ntram I t .

R g
e ency f wa s an u n easy i nh eri tance to whi ch they su c
o

B ru h i ld ’
n s
cee d e d fo r Fredegu n di s saw her o pp ortu ni ty an d
'

, ,

u rged th e Neu strian s forward again s t h er great n e p h ews At -

.

La fa u x n ear Laon t he Austras ian s su fle re d a great defeat an d ,

all t h e lan ds as far as th e M eu s e fell i n to t he han ds of th e

’
queen of N e u st ri a B ut i n th e m om en t of triumph her so n s
.
,
’
thron e bei ng n ow firml y established an d her rival s power o n,

t he decl i n e the wicked Fre degu n di s died at Rouen

, H er .

cou n tless m u rders an d cruelties met n o chasti sem en t o n earth ,

an d th e son for w hom sh e had ri sked s o m uch was desti n ed

t o carry ou t t o a succes sful en d the schemes i n pursu i t of
w hich s he had so long stri ven an d t o u n ite al l the Franki sh
,

real m s u nder h i s sceptre

The death o f Fredegun d i s b rough t n o rel ief to B ru n hild i s .

F o r two years more sh e s truggl ed o n agai n st the i ntrigues o f

th e Au strasian mobility ; d uke Wi n t ri o w h o l e d th e op p os i ,

t ion agai n s t her was seized an d execu te d i n 5 9 8 B u t i n 5 9 9

,
.

E x ile of a fi nal rising took her b y su rprise an d she was ,

E m hi‘ di
r s
forced to fl y al on e an d u naccompan ied from M etz
to save he r l ife S he e scaped to B urgun dy where she took
.
,

refuge wi th h er younger gran d so n Th e u de ri c h an d was there ,

recei ved w i th al l h o n ou r Two successive Mayors of th e

.

P alace P ro t a d i u s an d Claudius both of Romano Gall ic blood

, ,
-
,
 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay of Me M erovi ng i a n s 17 3

len t them selve s to her sch emes an d the royal power i n B ur ,

gundy was still upheld by her strong han d .

Th e curse o f fratricidal wars was n ever to depart from th e

hou se o f th e M e ro vi n gs Wh en T he u d e b e rt 11 an d The u
. .

d e ri ch 1 1 grew u p an d reached early m an hoo d they un ited for

.
,

a m om en t to attack their cou si n C h l o t ha r an d t o recover ,

from hi m the lan ds between t he M e use the S ei ne an d the , ,

Loire wi th Pari s Rouen an d Tours B u t soon after they

, , ,
.

fel l to strife an d i t woul d seem th at the ol d B ru n hild i s was

,

greatly to blam e for i ts outbreak S he was burn i ng to revenge .

herself o n th e Austras ian n obles for th e ban ishmen t sh e had

endured at their hand s an d stirred up the B urgu ndian s to
,

war S he an d th e Mayor P ro t a d i u s were far m ore eager

.

than th e coun ts an uke s o f B urgun dy t o begi n th e strife ,

an d when the two arm ies cam e i n sigh t of each other the ,

soldiers o f T h eu d e ri ch l owered their weap on s slew P ro t a d i u s ,

when h e strove to force them o n an d compelled their young ,

king to make peace wit h h i s b rother B ut th e curse that .

re sted on the M e ro vi n gs was n ot so easily t o be exorcised ;

B ru n h i l d i s an d Th e u d e ri c h were de termi ned to have their
way and ere very long th e war was ren ewed The Aus trasian s
,
.

were b eaten at Toul thei r lan ds wasted an d th e victori ou s

, ,

T h eu d e ri ch forced hi s way as far as Z ii l pi ch i n th e very h eart ,

“
’
o f h i s brother s real m H ere T h e u d e b e rt wi th W a r s f
.
o

stood h i m for a secon d tim e was agai n beaten ,

g
d b re l

tj
e
,
an
an d fell i nto the han ds o f th e B urgu ndian s H e T g d m h .
eu e

was led before hi s grandmother wh o assailed hi m ,

6 12

w ith bitter reproaches an d bade h i m b e tonsured an d becom e

,

a m onk B u t th i s d id n ot conten t th e ki ng of B urgu ndy ; a

.

few days later he h ad hi s b rother dragged o u t o f hi s m onastery

an d p u t to death
Th e revenge o f h eaven seem ed to b e called down by th e
wicked deed of th e young ki ng of Burgu n dy O n ly fi ve .

’
month s after h i s brother s m urder h e was sm i tten d own by an
attack o f dysen tery an d died at M etz i n t he very pri m e o f h is
,

early manh ood ( 6

174 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Now for t h e th ird ti m e the u nhappy B ru n h ild i s was left

al o ne with a h el pl ess ch ild as h er onl y stay O nce m ore sh e
,
.

steeled her heart a n d faced th e si tuation ; she led her great

grand so n S i g ib e rt the eld est so n o f T h e u d e ri c h before th e
, ,

assembly of t he E ast Fran ks an d bade th em do h omage to ,

hi m a s ki ng o f Austras ia an d B urgu n dy For a m om en t .

they be n t befo re h er a n d S ig i b e rt 1 1 was ackn o w ledged a s

,
.

rul er o f t h e E ast Fra n k s B ut the Au strasian s were deter

.

’
mi ned to h ave n o m ore of B ru n hild i s rul e ; th ey se n t secretl y
t o C hl o t ha r king o f Neu stria an d bade h i m arm an d i nvade
, ,
’
hi s cou si n s real m fo r n o han d sh oul d be rai sed agai ns t h im
,
.

When t he N e u s t ri a n ki n g marched in to Au stra sia Wa rn a c ha r , ,

t he m ayor of t he palace a n d m ost of th e n obles o f th e lan d

,

took arm s an d j oi n ed h im B ru n hi l d i s with her great gran d

.
-

son fled to Burgundy an d raised a n arm y th ere wi th wh ich

, ,

sh e faced th e Neu stria n s n ear th e head waters o f the A isn e .

’
B u t when C hlo th a r s arm y cam e i n sigh t th e B u rgu ndia n ,

patricia n A l e t he u s a n d th e dukes Rocco an d Sigval d led off

their troops an d j oined th e i n vader I n a m om en t th e w h ol e
,
.

’
o f S i g i b e rt s army had deserte d o r d ispersed B ru n hi l d i s an d .

the l ittl e king fled away a s far as O rbe hard by th e l ake of ,

Neuchatel where t he em is sarie s o f C hl o t ha r overtook a n d

,

D eat h f o
captured th em Th ey were . l ed bef o re the k i ng

B ru nh i ld i s. of Neu stria th e wo rthy son o f Fredegu n d i s

, .

6” ’
H ere i s th e woman h e cried by wh ose i n trigues
, ,
‘

a n d wars ten pri nces o f th e Frank s have com e to thei r death s

"
,

a n d h e bad e h i s sol d iers scou rge th e o ld queen an d th en ,

bi n d her by h an ds and feet to the h eel s o f a w ild h orse ,

w h o d ragge d h er am ong ston es a n d rocks till her body wa s

torn l im b from l i m b Th e b o y S igi b e rt an d h i s you nger

.

brother Corbo w ere strangled .

1
\Ve ca n r e ck o n The u d e b e rt so n o f C h i l pe ri ch an d The u d e b e rt so n
, , ,

o f C h i l d e b e rt sl a i n i n b a tt l e ; C hi l e ri c h w h o s e m u rd e r w a s s m e t i m e s
, p ,
o

pu t d o w n t o B ru n hi ld i s by h e r e n e mi e s S ig i b e rt w h o w a s m u rd e r e d i n a
,

w a r t o w h i ch B ru n h i ld i s h a d u r e d h im ; M e ro ve c h w ho w as m u rd e r e d
g ,

fo r m a rry i ng h e r . B u t w h o w e r e t h e o t h e r fi ve ?
 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay f
o t/z e M ero vi ng i a n s 17 5

Thu s perished B ru n hildi s an d with her th e greatness o f the ,

h ouse o f the M e ro vi n g s F o r th e fu ture i t was the coun ts

.

and t he m ayors of th e palace who were to exercise real

power among the Franks an d n ot t he kings C hl o t ha r wh o ,
.
,

had con quered only by the treachery o f th e n obles was with , ,

all hi s descen dan ts to be their servan ts n ot their m aster

, ,
.

Con si deri ng that sh e was a woman an d a foreign er i t i s wo n ,

d e rfu l that B ru n hil d i s con tinu ed for so l on g to sway th e council s

of Au strasia Save h er ab il ities an d her force o f character
.
,

sh e had n o advantage yet s he n ot only dom inated i n suc

,

cession her hu sban d h er son an d her grandson bu t h eld

, , ,

down the u nruly cou n ts an d dukes wh o were n either all ied ,

to h er by blood n o r con stantly u n der her eye and i n fluence .

Th e tal e o f h er li fe has su fficien tly s h own her qualities and

defects That sh e was som ethin g m ore t han a fury stirring
.

up war an d strife from personal revenge fo r th e C h r c t r f a a e o

bl ood o f h er s ister an d her h usba n d i s clear B h i l d i ru n s .

en ough Sh e was an adm in istrator o f marked abil ity Al most

. .

alon e am o n g the rulers o f the Frank s she i s n oted as a bu i lder ,

an d a fou n der Chu rches h ospi tal s an d monasteri es sh e

.
, ,

erecte d i n great n um bers The ol d Roman fortresses an d .

m il itary roads were also her care To th i s day som e of t he .

high roads o f Belgi u m still bear h er n am e an d as the ,

‘
C hau ss é es d e B ru n e h a u t e preserve her m em ory as the fi rst
poten tate who cared fo r them after t he Frank s came i n to the
lan d That sh e was a si ncerely rel igious woman would seem
.

to be vouched for by th e series o f her letters to Gregory the

’
Great wh ich m oved the good pon tiff s adm iration Bu t s i n
,
.

cere piety was n o t i n those days an y m ore tha n i n o u r o w n , ,

i n con sisten t with a h eadstrong impatience o f opp osi tion an d ,

an u nscrupulous readi ness t o sweep obstacles out o f th e way .

There i s n o d oub t th at B ru n hil d i s struck down t he Au strasian

coun ts by th e dagger as well as by th e sword wh en they i n
, ,

t ri g u e d again st h er S h e n ever forgave her own gran dson Theu

.

debert 11 for allowing her to be driven out of h i s realm an d was

.
,

n ot satisfied till ten years after h i s offen ce sh e caugh t hi m

, , ,
17 6 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

an d forced h i m t o becom e a m onk H e r e n mi ty pursued n o t .

on l y Fredegun di s an d C hi l peri ch th e m u rderers o f h er siste r ,

an d hu sban d b u t th ei r young so n an d th eir su bj ects long years

,

a fter they them selves were dead Yet i f sh e was relen tless .
,

a n d u n forgiving we m u st remem ber that few rulers i n h i story

,

have su ffe red such wrongs an d faced such odds Com pared .

wi th her con tem poraries B ru n hi ld i s m igh t alm ost pass fo r a

,

heroi ne an d a sain t .

C h l o t ha r t hough h e became k ing of all the Frank i sh

realm s b y the m u rder o f B ru n h ild i s and h e r great gran d -

children acqu ired littl e real p ower t hereby Th e Au strasian s

,
.

an d B urgun dian s w h o had comb in ed wi th h i m to destroy th e

,

o l d q ueen wrun g term s from h im wh ic h d epri ved h i m o f m a n y

,

u n doub ted regal righ ts Th e d ukes Wa rn a cha r an d Rath o.

,

w h o w ere made mayors o f th e palace of th e two real m s ,

D c y f
e a o
stipulated tha t they were to h ol d thei r office s for
R y l p w r ’
o a
l ife n ot at the ki ng s pleasure
o e
,
Fo r th e future .

th e mayorship becam e an office of far greater i mportance th an

i t had yet bee n Another step i n th e weaken i ng o f th e king
.

sh ip i s sh own by th e fact that the legi slatio n o f th e Frank s

from th i s tim e forward i s always n oted as bei ng don e by th e
ki n g wi th th e cou n sel an d con sen t o f hi s bish ops coun ts an d
, , ,

dukes A code o f laws wh ich C h l o t h a r 11 pu t fo rth fo r th e

. .

S u a b i a n s som ewhere abou t th e year 6 2 0 i s in dorse d n o t

, ,

merel y w ith hi s o wn au thority bu t wi th that o f th irty th ree ,

-

b i sh ops thirty fou r dukes an d sixty fi ve cou n ts The fact that

,
-

,
-
.

the reign o f C hl o t ha r was excep ti on al ly fertile i n l egislation i s

probabl y t o be accou n ted fo r by the fact that h e was com pel led
t o l isten to the demand s o f hi s n obles an d gran t redress to ,

their grievances rather than by a n y particular taste of h i s own

,

for th e enacti ng o f laws When fo r exampl e we hear that h e.

, ,
‘
m e t th e m a yo e a rna ch a r an d all th e bi sh ops an d grea t , ,

m en of B u rgu ndy at B on n euil an d th ere assen ted to all thei r ,

’
j u st petition s we mu s t rem ember that he wa s facing an i rre
,

m ovabl e m ayor o f th e palace an d a nati o n wh o had freely ,

given them sel ves i n to h is hand s o n stated term s and had n o ,

 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay of fi re M erov i ng i a n s 177

l onger over them th e u nlim i ted au thori ty that a C hl o d o vech

o r a T h e u d e ri ch had own ed a h u n dre d years before No thing
can sh ow m ore clearl y th e growi ng weakn ess o f T r ubl s ,
th e k ing than a n i n ciden t which occurred at a C h l t h
o

o
e

ar “
o

great n ati on al gathering o f Neu strian s an d B urgun dian s at ,

Clich y to wards th e en d of h i s reign I n th e m i d st of the

, .

cou ncil a brawl arose an d the fo llowers o f a duke named

,

ZEgyn a sl ew E rm e n ha r th e steward o f th e palace o f the

, ,
’
ki ng s son At once all the Neu s trian s seized their arm s an d
.
,

drew apart i n to two ban ds Wh ile E gyn a an d h i s friends.

sei zed th e h il l o f M on tm artre a n d fo rm ed th eir array o n its

,

brow the large r party headed by B ro d u l f a ki nsman of the

, , ,

slain man started o ff to storm th e positio n Th e k ing was

,
.

on ly able to k eep the peace by i n ducing the B urgu n dian s ,

w h o were n ot i n terested i n the quarrel to foll ow him an d t o , ,

prom ise to attack whichever o f th e two s i des shoul d strik e

th e fi rst blow H e dism issed th e assembly an d was unable
.
,

to pun ish a n yo n e either for the m urder or for the riot wh ich
,

had en su ed .

C h lo t h a r w ith h i s dim in ished royal prerogative seem s t o

, ,

have had n either th e opportun ity n or the power t o engage i n

wars of con quest beyon d th e b ou nds o f hi s real m H e had to .

l ook o n wi thou t stirring wh ile a great if eph emeral kingdom

, , , ,

was buil t up b eyon d h i s eastern fron tier B ehin d S m d .

a , an

th e Thuri n gian s an d Bavarian s on the E lbe a n d t h S l v s,

e a ~

O der there had dwelt fo r th e last t w o hu n dred years si n ce th e

, ,

German races had m igrated westward a group of small an d ,

d i su n ited Slavon ic tribes call i n g t hem selves Wi lt z e s Sorbes

, , ,

Ab o t ri t e s an d Czechs
,
Thei r dissen sion s had kept them from
.

being dangerou s n eighbours till th e tim e o f C hl o t ha r B u t .

abou t 6 2 0 a Frankish adven turer named Sarn o wh o h ad , ,

gon e eastward hal f as trader half as buccan eer u n ited man y

, ,

o f the Slavon i c tribes an d becam e thei r king

,
H e gradually .

exten ded hi s p ower al l down th e valley o f the E lbe o n b oth ,

si des o f the B ohem ian mou n tain s an d was soon to prove him ,

self a serious trouble to the realm o f t he M ero vi n gs .

P E R I OD 1 .
17 8 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Towards t h e en d o f h i s reign C hl o th ar 1 1 made h i s son ,

.

D agobert ki n g of Au strasia w h il e h e was still a very youn g ,

m an Th e ch i ef c oun cillors by wh ose ai d D agobert a d m i n i s

.

t e re d h i s realm were two m e n wh ose nam es form a landmark

i n Franki sh hi story — Arnul f bish op o f M etz a n d cou n t , ,

Pi ppi n th e elder t h e ancestors of th e great hou se o f th e

,

Karli ngs B ish op Arn ulf was t he wi sest an d best o f the

.

prelates o f Au strasia an d after a l ong l i fe o f u seful ne ss i n

, ,

ch urc h a n d state won th e nam e o f sai nt by lay

““
,
se A lf rn u

an d P i ppi i ng d own h i s crozier an d ring an d retiring t o a

n

th d
e
h ermitage to s p en d h is last fi fteen years i n the
c
,

sol itudes o f th e Vosges Coun t P ippi n a n obl e from th e lan d .

,

between Meu se a n d M osel wh ose ancestral abodes are sai d to ,

h ave been th e m an ors o f H e rst ha l an d Lan de n was appoi n ted ,

m ayor o f th e palace an d l ive d i n the closest concord an d ,

am ity with Arn ulf Th ey ceme n ted th ei r alliance by a m ar

.

ri ag e B egga th e daughter of P ippin bei ng wedded t o An si

, , ,

gi sel th e son o f th e bish op ; for Arn ul f l ike m an y o f th e

, ,

Franki sh cl ergy l ived i n lawful wedlock From th ese p aren t s

,
.

sprang th e w h ol e o f t he l in e o f m ayors kings an d em p erors , ,

w hose migh ty deed s were to m ake thei r comparatively u n i m

p ortan t ancestors fam ou s i n h istory .

Ki ng C hl o t h a r 11 d ied i n 6 2 8 an d h is son Dagobert

.
, ,

becam e rul er o f all th e Frankish real ms H e was fo r a .

,

M e ro vi n g a very creditabl e rul er th ough he l ived wit h th ree

, ,

w ives at on ce a n d i n dulge d i n occasion al ou tburst s o f wrong

,

headednes s F o r the two fi rst years o f h is reign h e ch ose to

.

share th e s overeign power wi t h h i s b roth er C hari b e rt w ho m ,

h e m ade ki n g o f Aquitai n e o u t of pure fraternal a ffection .

Bu t wh en C ha ri b e rt died i n 6 3 0 h e resu med h i s southern , ,

’
d omi n i on s d isregardi ng C ha ri b e rt s th ree son s
,
D agobert .

was th e last o f th e M e ro vi n gs wh ose will was of

“
R ig
e f n o

D g b rt
a o m uch im portance i n th e orderi ng of th e Franki s h
e

M” realm s ; h i s successors were to b e m ere shadows .

E ven i n h i s own tim e the royal power was already o f li ttl e fo rce
i n Au strasia w h ere the kin g lean t e n ti rely u p on th e su pp o rt o f
,
 D ecl i n e a nd D ecay f tue M erov i ng tans
-
o 179

Pi p pi n who wi th h is s on i n law An sig i se l h el d th e p ost o f

, ,
- -
, ,
’
m ayor of the p alace fo r the whole sixteen years of D agobert s
reign H i s loyalty to th e ki ng concealed th e fact that he was
.

far m ore p owerful i n the eastern kingdom than D agobert h i m

self Th e ki ng had several shar p quarrel s with h im bu t n ever
.
,

dar e d to de p ose hi m from h i s post lest troubl e shoul d en sue .

I n Neus tria n o great mayor of the palace had yet ari sen an d ,

there D agobert was ruler i n fact as well as n am e H ence i t .

i s n o t surprisi ng that h e always dwel t west o f the Meu se an d ,

m ad e Pari s hi s favou rite residence .

D agobert was th e last M e ro vi n g who took arms to exten d

the l imi ts o f the Franki sh power H e supp orted th e p reten der .

S i si n a n d i n Spai n by the ai d of a B urgu ndian army made an

, ,

alliance with th e emperor H eracliu s agai n st t h e Lombards ,

an d e ntered i n to a protracted war wit h th e Slavon ic tribes of

the E ast O n t he E lbe th e ki ngdom of Sarn o the Frank was
.
,

n ow at th e height of i ts power D agobert took alarm at its .

rapi d growth an d when th e Wen ds pl un dered part o f Thu r

,

i n g i a i n 6 3 0 sen t again st them three great armies comprising

, , ,

t he wh ol e m il itary force o f Au strasia Two o f these e xpe .

d i t i o n s fared well bu t the thi rd su ffered complete an n ihila

,

ti on at Wo ga st i sb u rg i n B ohemia an d t he victori ou s Slavs

, ,

ravaged Thuringia an d Bavaria from Saal t o D an ube wi th fi re , ,

an d sword t i ll R a du l f duk e of T h u ri n gi a at last checked

, , ,

them i n 6 3 3
, .

D agob ert 1 d ied i n 6 3 8 . H e left two son s S igi b e rt

.
,

aged n i n e an d C hl o d o vech
, aged six I t was th e lon g .

m i n ority of these two boys wh ich fi nally ach ieved th e rui n

of the Merovingian house While S i g i b e rt an d C hl o d o vech
.

were growing up to man h ood th e future of th e Fran ki sh ,

realm s was being settled b y th e sword th e all importan t issue ,

-

at stake bei ng the questio n whether th e h ouse o f P i p pi n an d

Ar nulf s houl d retai n permanen t p ossessio n o f the Austrasian
m ayorshi p o f the p alace or shoul d s ink o u t o f sight Pippi n .

’
the O l d died i n 6 3 9 th e secon d y ear o f S igib e rt s reign H i s
,
.

’
son Gri m o ald at on ce p roclaim e d him sel f heir t o hi s father s
1 80 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

o ffice B u t a great part o f t h e Austrasian n obles headed by

.
,

O tto th e foster fathe r o f th e you ng kin g refu sed to ackn ow

,
-
,

G im
r ld
oa
l edge h i s righ t t o th e m ayorship an d a fi erce ,
,

M y r f
a o war o f th ree years was requ i red to settle th e di s
o

‘h P l c
e a a
pu te At las t th e son of Pippi n con qu ered a n d
e '

.
,

fo r fourtee n years ( 6 4 2 5 6 ) w a s u n dis p uted maste r o f Au strasia

-
.

’
Ki ng S i g i b e rt i n deed grew u p to man s estate bu t h e was
, , ,

compl etely d o m inated b y h i s servan t an d n ever m ade a ny ,

en deavou r to take th e power ou t of h is han ds H en ce h e i s .

k n own as t he fi rst o f th e R o i s F a i n éa n ts o r do n oth ing ki ngs ,

-
,

w h o were from henceforth to be th e rul e am ong th e h ou se o f

th e M e ro vi n g s .

I n N eustria m eanwh ile th e royal power was saved for a

, ,

t im e by t h e clevernes s o f qu ee n Na n t hi l d i s a lady o f great ,

piety t h e w id ow o f D agobert wh o acted as guardian for her

, ,

you n ger son C h l o d o ve c h S h e en l i ste d i n her cau se th e

.

Neu strian m ayor of th e palace E rch i n o a ld who was aki n t o , ,

1
the royal h ou se h i m self an d t herefore n ot u n favou rable to
,

i ts dominance N ot till these two p assed away was t h e

.

Western real m t o si nk i n to t h e sam e s tate as th e E as tern .

B u t the fal l o f royal ty here too was n o w i mm in en t , , .

’
1
H e w as br o t h e r o f D a g o b e r t s m ot h er, it wo ul d a
ppe a r , a nd t h e r e fo r e
g r e a t u n cl e t o t h e l i tt l e k i n g
-
.
 C H APTER X I

TH E LO M BA R DS I N I TAL Y ,
AND TH E

RI SE OF T H E P A PA C Y
5 68 65 3
-

The Wa n d eri n g s of the b ar ds — Alb o i n c o n qu e rs N o r t h e r n I t a ly —H i s

Lom
t ra gi c e n d
-
A n a rchy a m o n g t he L o m b a rd duk e s—R e i g n o f Au th a i a n d r ,

F r a n k i sh w a rs —C o n qu e s t a n d c o n v e rs i o n o f A g i l lf— R o t h ari t h e L a w
u

g i v e r — S t a t e o f R o m e a n d I t a ly —C a r e e r o f S t G r e g o ry —H e fo u n ds t h e
.

t e m p o r a l p o we r o f t h e P a p a cy .

IN th e th ird year o f Ju stin an d only fi fteen years after

Narses had swept th e Goth an d Frank o u t o f I taly a n ew ,

horde o f barbarian s cam e p ouring down o n that u nhappy

land The ravages of eighteen years of war an d a terrible
.
,

p estil en ce which superven ed had left a ll th e n orth ern parts o f

,

the p en i n sula desolate an d well n igh u n i n habi t ed

,
t he -

,
‘

lan d s eemed t o have su nk back i n to prim eval silen ce an d

’1
sol itu de . Th e i mperial troops hel d a few strong places
beyon d the Po such as Veron a an d Pavia bu t had m ade n o
, ,

effort t o restore th e m ilitary frontier along th e Alps an d th e ,

l an d lay open to th e spoiler S ou thern I taly had su ffered l ess

.
,

an d Rave n na was sti ll strong an d well guarded bu t th e Tran s ,

padan e l owland s desti ned ere long to change thei r n am e t o

-

the Lombard plai n — were as desti tute of civi l population as

’

they were of m ili tary resou rces .

Th e n ew i nvaders of I taly were the Lombards ( La n go b a rd i ) ,

a Teuton i c p eopl e wh o accordi ng t o thei r ancien t tribal

, ,

1
P a u l u s D i a con u s , 1 1. 5 .
 1 82 E u r opea n H i s tory 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

l egends had on ce dwel t i n Sca n di navia bu t had descen ded

, ,

ten ge n erati o n s before i nto n orthern German y an d from ,

thence had slowl y w orked thei r way down to the Dan ub e .

They had o nly com e i n to touch with th e fron tier o f th e em

pi re w hen O doacer sm ote th e R u g i i i n 4 8 7 After th at tribe
,
.

had bee n scattered they m ove d i n to i t s ab iding place o n th e

,

m id Da n ub e an d becam e th e neighbou rs o f the O strogoth s

-

a nd th e G epid ae .

The Lombard s were t he least t i n ctured wit h civil isati o n o f

all th e Teuton ic tribes eve n m ore barbarou s i t woul d seem
, , ,

Th e than o u r o wn Saxon forefathers Living far back .

L mb d
O a '
i n th e darkn ess o f th e N orth they had been k e p t ,

from an y kn owledge o f Roman cul ture an d d i d n o t even ,

approach th e bou n daries o f th e em pi re till i t had al ready

been b roken up an d lai d desolate T hey w ere s til l heathen
.
,

an d stil l l iving i n t he stage o f pri m i tive tribal l i fe wh ic h

Tacitu s pai n ted i n t he German ia They were d ivi ded i n t o
.

’
man y tribal fam ilies o r cla n s which they calle d faras an d
, ,
‘
,
1
t heir subd ivi si on s were rule d by elect ive alderm e n o r d uk es ,

bu t th e wh ol e n ati on c hose i t s ki ng from am on g t h e royal

h ouse s o f th e Le t hi n g s an d G u n g i n g s wh o clai m ed t o descen d
,

fro m Gam bara th e wi se quee n wh o had led th e race across

,

the Bal tic from Sca n di n avi a ten gen eration s back .

’
D u ri ng th e ti m es o f J usti n ian s O s trogoth ic war the L o m
bard s were u n der the rul e of Audoi n wh om Narses bri bed ,

wi th great gi fts t o ai d h im agai n st B a d u ila F ive thou san d .

w arri ors u n der the comman d o f th ei r ki n g h i m sel f j oi n ed

, ,

Narses i n the i n vasi o n o f I tal y i n 5 5 2 an d took a di stingui she d

,

part i n the victory o f T a g i n a e I t m u s t have been i n th is

.

campaign tha t th e Lombards learn t o f th e fertility and th e

weakn ess o f I tal y ; bu t th ey were still engaged i n wars wi th
their n eigh bou rs o n the Danube an d th ei r ki ng was an o l d
,

man wherefore we n e e d n o t th i n k i t strange th at they waited

,

fi ftee n years before they turn ed their kn owledge to accou n t .

T h e Lo m b a rds s e e m t o h a v e c a l l e d t h e m Ald o ne s —cf E a ld e r m an

1 ’
‘
.

i n E n g l i sh a nt i qu i t y.
 Tb e L o mba rds i n I t a ly . 183

The Lombards were th e cl ose n eighb ours a n d th e bitter

foes o f th e Gepidae the Gothi c tribe who had remained ,

beh in d i n th e H ungarian plain s when th e other section s of

t h e Goth s m oved westward to Spai n an d I taly The l ong .

s truggl e between Lombard an d Ge pi d only cam e to an en d

i n 5 6 7 wh en th e Lombards called i n to t heir ai d W a r s f
, o

t h e Tartar race o f the Avars an d by their assis t Al b i

,
O n

an ce alm os t en tirely exterm i nated th e Gepidae wh ose scat ,

t e re d rem nan t only survived as slaves o f th e con querin g

h orde B y thi s tim e Alb o i n the son o f Au doin was reign
.
, ,

i ng over the Lombard s H e i t was wh o slew wi th hi s o w n .

han d C u n i m u n d th e ki ng of t he Gepidae Th e barbarou s

, .

victor struck o ff the head o f h is en em y an d had the skul l ,

m ou n ted i n gold an d fashi one d i n to a drinking cup as th e ,

-
,

suprem e toke n of hi s tri ump h Yet bu t a s hort tim e before .

, ,

ere th e las t struggle had b egu n between th e Lombards an d

th e Gepi dae h e had taken t o wi fe Rosamu n d th e daugh ter of
, ,

th e m an w hom h e n ow slew an d beheaded .

TH E L O M B AR D K I N GS I N I TA LY .

ALB O I N
1 .

5 68 7 2.
-

G r ib ld D uk f a a , e o
C LE P H O
2. B v ri a a a.

5 7 27 3

3 . AU T H A R I z Th e o d e l i n d a =4 . A G I LU LF Gu n d o a l d
5 83 90 5 90 6 1 5
- -
. .

I I
5 . A D A L O A LD G u n d ib e rg a 6 A R I OA LD
.
9 .

6 1 5 -2 5 . 6 2 5 -3 6 .

1 0. GOD E B E R T 12. B E R T H AR I A d ug ht r =
a e 1 1 . G R I M OA L D
662 .
6 6 2 -7 1 .

R eg i n b e rt , duk e of 1 3 C U N I BE R T
Tur
.

in . 6 8 8 -7 00 .

' I
1 5 . AR I B E R T I I . 14 . LI U T BE R T
-
7 01
-
1 1 . 7 00 7 0 1 .

Ki g s n no t con n e cte d th thi s

H o us e w e r e ( 7 ) R o th ari , 6 3 6 - 5 2
wi
8 R d l d 6 ( 6 ) A n sp ra n d , ( 1 7 ) L i u t pra n d , 7 1 2 43
( ) 5 5 7 12 ; -
o o a , 2 -
3 ; 1

( 8)
1 H i l d e br a n d , 7 4 3 44 ; ( 9 )
-
1 R a t ch i s , 7 44 49 ; ( )
-
20 A i s t u l f , 7 49 5 6
-
,

( 2 1 ) D e si d e r i us , 7 5 6 7 4 -
.
I 84 E u r opea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 I 8
.
-

H avi ng e n ded thi s great nati onal feu d by t he extermination

o f the Gepi dae Al b o i n determ ined t o put i n to effect a schem e
,

whic h m ust have bee n l o n g m aturi ng i n hi s brain the co n ,

quest o f I tal y Th e Lombard h i storian of a later day asserted

.

that he had been t e i n p t e d t o th e i nvasion by th e treachery of ‘

Na rses w h o i n disco n ten t w ith J usti n

, ,
had u rged Al boi n
t o i n vade the pen i n sula a n d sen t h i m a s gifts samples of all,

t h e gen erou s fruits an d wi n es that I tal y produces B u t t hi s .

i s th e m ere ech o o f a Lom bard saga Narses n ow over .

,

eigh ty years of age an d on h i s death bed h ad other m atters to -

,

th i n k abou t than the spi ti n g o f h i s n ew m aster N or di d the .

Lom bard s wh o had ridden al l over I taly i n 5 5 2 n eed t o be

, ,

rem in ded of i ts existence or i t s fertil i ty .

B efore l eavi ng Pan n o n ia Al boi n made over h i s old ki ngd om ,

to h i s alli es t he Avars only stipulati ng that i t shoul d be ,

restored t o h i m i f ever he retur n ed from I taly ; a rather fu til e

c ompact t o make w i th such a fai thless race a s th i s Tartar
h o rde Cr o ssi n g the Cari n th ia n Alps i n th e summ er o f 5 6 8
.
, ,

the whole Lomba rd nati o n — m e n women an d child ren w i th , , ,

thei r cattl e a n d slaves — descen de d i n to th e Ven etian plain s ,

an d spread th em selves over the deserted lan d s Th ere was .

hardl y an y opposi ti o n I n cities that had once been grea t l ike

.
,

A qu ileia a nd M ila n th e sca n ty p o pulati o n di d n o t even close

,

the gates bu t awai ted t he i n vader wit h apath y O n ly th e

,
.

place s wh ere th ere w a s an I mperial garri son offered resi stan ce .

Verona pr o tec ted by th e ru sh in g A dige Padua i n i ts marshes

, , ,

an d Pavia th e ancien t royal ci ty o f the G oth s were amo n g th e

, ,

Alb i o mn co
few t o wn s that re fused t o adm i t th e Lombards .

q u rs N r t h The n ewc o m ers spread them selves over the wh o l e

er “
e

I‘ ’y a
o

valley o f th e P o a s far as th e Tu sca n Apen ni n es

'

a n d th e gates o f Rave n n a a n d begu n t o settl e d own o n th e ,

fai rest spots am o n g the ru i n ed Rom an villages They divided .

th em sel ves l ike t he Fra n ks i n Gaul o r th e E ast Angles i n

,
-

Bri tai n i n t o t wo fo lk s th e N eustrian o r Wester n an d th e

, , , ,

Au stria n o r Eastern Lom bards Th e form er stretched from

, ,
.

the Cottian Al ps t o the Adda the latter from the Adda to th e ,

 ’
Tne L oi n oa ra s i n I t a ly .

J ul ian Alps Piedm on t form ed the bulk o f N e u st ri a ; Ven etia

.

th e bulk o f Au stria Man y scattered portion s o f tribes cam e

.

to j oi n Alboin i n hi s n ew con quest N o t on ly did h e gran t .

lan ds to broken bands o f Saxon s an d S u a b i a n s bu t eve n ,

foreign ers su ch as B ulgaria n s an d Slavs foun d shel ter with

, ,

h im.

Wh ile Al boi n was fou n din g the n ew ki ngdom o f Lombardy ,

the ci ties wh ich at first resi sted bega n to drop in t o h i s hand s .

Verona fell earl y bu t Pavia m ade a l ong defence So despe

, .

rat e l y di d i t h ol d o u t agai n s t th e h ost l eft to bl ockade it

that th e king s w ore i n h is wrath t o slay every living thing
, ,

wi thi n i ts wall s B ut when after th ree years the starvi n g

.
, ,

citizen s threw open their gates he relen ted o f h i s hard vow , ,

’
‘
becau se there was m uch Christian folk i n that city an d ,

made Pavia hi s capi tal an d royal str o nghold .

I n the next year h owever h e cam e t o h i s en d The Lom

, , .

bard chron icler Paul t h e D eacon repeating some fam il iar

, ,

Lombard saga tells th e gri m tale of hi s deat h t hu s z— Ki ng

,
‘

Alboin sat o ver l ong at t he win e i n h is ci ty of Verona s o that ,

he grew boisterous an d h e sen t f o r t he cup which h e h ad

,

made from t he skul l o f ki ng C u n i m u n d hi s father i n law an d ,

- -

forced hi s queen Rosamu nd to dri nk from i t bidding h er

, , ,

dri nk j oyfully wi th h e r father T hen th e queen co n ceived a .

deep grief an d anger i n her heart an d qu esti on ed with herself ,

h ow sh e m igh t avenge her fath er by sl aying her h usban d S o .

’
she strove to persuade H e l m i c h i s th e k i ng s arm our bearer ,
-
,

w ho was al so his foster— b roth er t o slay hi s lord An d ,

.

H e l m i c hi s woul d n ot bu t cou n selled her to wi n P e re d eo

,
.
,

the stronges t ch ampi on o f t he Lom bards to do th e deed ,

.

“
Then Rosam un d sol d her h on ou r to P e re d eo an d becam e h i s ,

m istress an d sai d t o h im Now hast t hou don e a th ing for

, ,

w h i ch either thou m ust kill Alboin o r h e thee S o he ,

.

u nwill ingly con sen ted t o t he deed an d at m id day whe n al l ,

-
,
’
th e palace lay asleep Rosam u n d boun d the ki ng s sword s o
,

tightly to the bed head that i t coul d n ot b e drawn an d then

-
.

b id P e re d e o go i n an d slay her h usban d W hen Alboi n heard .

1 86 E u r opea n H i s to i y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

an arm e d man enter h e sprang from hi s couch an d strove t o

, ,

M urd r f e
draw hi s s word wi th ou t avail F o r s om e space
o
.

Alb i h e fough t hard fo r h is l ife with a stool that he

o n

caugh t up b u t what coul d th e best o f warriors d o wi th ou t

,

arm s again st a n armed champion ? H e was slain l ike a

weakl ing an d after p assing u nharm ed th rough so m any
, ,

battles died by th e coun sel o f on e woman an d she hi s

, ,

o w n wife S o t he Lombards took u p h i s b ody w ith m uch

.
,

w eeping and bu ried i t be n eat h the great fligh t of steps over

,
’
agai n s t t h e p alace where i t lay till m y o wn days
, ( May .

H e l m i ch i s strove i n vai n to make h i m sel f k in g i n h i s

’
m aster s room b u t th e Lombard s woul d have n on e o f h im
, ,

an d h e was forced to fl y wi th Rosamu n d an d th e m urderer

P e re d eo t o take s helter wi th the Roman s at Raven na
,
Th ere .

al l th ree o f th em cam e to evi l en ds for th e han d o f H eaven ,

‘

’
wa s u pon them for d oing such a foul deed .

M eanwh il e the Lombard s crowned as ki ng i n th e room o f ,

Al boin C le pho o n e o f th e m igh tiest o f th ei r dukes th ough

, , ,

n ot o f the royal bl ood ; for Al boi n had n o son an d was the ,

last o f th e Le t h i ng s C le ph o compl eted the con qu es t of al l

.

n orth ern I taly as far as the southern l i m its o f Tu scan y an d

,

t he gates o f Raven na B u t ere h e had reigned a year he was .

slai n b y o n e o f h is o wn slaves wh o m h e had wronged After , .

h e was dead t h e Lom bards ch ose n o m ore kings t o reign over

them for ten years bu t eac h t ri be wen t forth con qu erin g an d
,

plu n dering u nder i ts own elective duke I t i s said that n o .

l ess than thi rty fi ve o f these chiefs were rangi ng over I taly a t
-

A rch y
na
the sam e t im e ( 5 7 3
,
N oth ing can sh ow better
5 7 3 83
-
th e su rvival o f pri m itive Teuton ic ideas am ong th e
Lom bards th an thi s p eriod o f anarch y They had n ot y e t .

l earned t o l ook upon th e ki ng as a n ecessary part o f t h e co n

s t i t u t i o n o f th e tribe bu t l ike th e G erman s o f the fi rst cen tu ry
, , ,

regarded h im as a war ch i ef to b e follow ed i n tim e o f peril -

,

alon e The G oth s o r th e F rank s w ho had advanced t o a furth er

.
,

stage could n o t have born e t o l ive ki ngless for t en wh ol e years

,
.
 T/z e
’
L o in oa ra s i n I ta ly . 1 87

Strangely en ough th e loss o f their su p reme h ead seem s to

,

have detracted i n n o wi s e fro m th e warlike vigou r o f th e

Lombards I n th e ten kingless years they wen t on subdui ng
.

th e land an d pushed their i ncurs ion s farther to t he w est an d

,

sou th Three dukes of N eu stria crossed th e Alps an d harried

.

Provence then i n the hand s o f king Gun tram the F rank t h e

, ,

p eaceful brother o f th e warl ike S ig i b e rt an d th e wicked Chil

p erich They took m an y cities an d were onl y driven ou t o f
.
,

th e lan d after m uch fighting by M u m m o l u s t he great Gallo

, , ,

Roman general wh o served k ing Gu n tram so well ; b u t for

,

h im Provence m igh t have becom e part o f Lombardy Mean

,
.

wh il e other Lombard dukes were pressing s outhward down the

I tal ian pen i n sula They d i d n ot act o n any combi ned plan o f
.

i nvasion bu t each passed o n w it h h i s war band leaving t o

,
-
,

right an d t o left many ci ties hel d by I mperialist garrison s till ,

he fou n d a place o f settlem en t t hat pl eased h is eye H ence i t .

cam e t o pass that Lombard duch ies and Roman cities were
curiously i n term ixed I n cen tral I tal y F a ro a l d th e fi rst d uke
.
, ,

of Spoleto left Raven na an d Ancona to th e n orth an d estab

‘

, ,

li sh e d hi m self i n th e central valley o f th e Tiber wi th I m ,

p e ri a l i st garrison s all aroun d hi m Zotto the first duke o f .

,

B en evento passed even farther to the south an d fou n ded a

, ,

real m i n the Samn i te valleys wh ich was almost entirely out ,

o f touch wi th th e other Lo mbard states I t was hem med i n .

to east an d west by the Roman garrison s o f Rome Naples an d , ,

Calabria T h e d ukes o f Lu cca an d Chiusi wh o held th e

.
,

b ulk o f Tu scan y di d n ot pu sh th eir lim its down to th e Tiber

, ,

bu t stopped short at th e C i m i n i a n hills leaving a co n siderable ,

distri ct n orth o f Rom e i n the hands o f th e I mperial ists E ven .

i n northern I taly th e dukes o f Neu stria l eft Genoa an d th e

Ligurian coast alon e an d those o f Austria did n ot subdue th e
,

mars hlan d o f Man tua an d Padua n o r foll ow th e fugitive i n ,

hab itan ts o f Ven etia i nto the i slan ds w here Ven ice an d G rado
were j ust begin n i ng to grow u p i n th e security o f th e lagoon s .

Al l over I taly Lombard an d Roman d istricts were h opelessly

confused an d save that the P o valley was wholly Lombard
, , ,
 1 88 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

a n d B ru t t i u m an d Calabria w h olly Roman th ere was n o p art ,

o f th e land that was n ot parted between th e i nvader an d th e

ol d I mperial G overn m en t .

C om ing i n to a cou ntry al ready desolate an d well n igh d is -

peopl ed an d bri nging w ith th em t he cu stom s o f pri m itive

,

German y u n ti nctu red with any Rom an i n term ixture th e L o m

, ,

bard s establ ished a pol ity even l ess cen tral ised than that o f th e
Visigoths an d i n fin i tely bel ow the sta n dard o f governm en t
,

T h L m b rd w h ic h T h eo d o ri c had o nce set u p i n I tal y eighty

e o a

MOH a f C hY
years before Wh en th e n at ion once m ore chose a
.

king h i s power was h opelessl y ci rcum scribed by th e au thori ty o f

,

th e great h eredi tary dukes S p ol et o an d B en even to hardly p ai d

.

even a n omi nal h omage to th e ki ng w h o reign ed at Pavia .

O nl y w he n he pre sen ted h im sel f w i th a large arm y i n cen tral

I tal y coul d h e h ope t o wi n atten tion for h is orders E ven i n .

th e vall ey o f th e P o an d i n Tu scan y h i s p ower was very i m

, ,

perfect Th e au thority o f t he royal n am e h ad been fatally

.

inj u red by the extin ction with Alboin of th e ancien t kingl y

, ,

h ou se o f the L e t h i n gs The Lombard m onarch s l ike thei r

.
,

Visigoth ic con temporaries i n Spain on ly hel d th ei r crown , ,

wh en on ce t hey had been elected by the righ t o f the sword ,

.

I n a sh ort h istory o f t wo h u n dred years the Lom bard ki n gdom

saw n i n e successive races o f ki ngs m ou n t th e th ron e Al l .

represen ted o l d ducal fam ilies Th e rulers o f Turin B rescia .

, ,

B eneven t o Fri ul i an d I stria all at o n e tim e o r an othe r

, , , ,

wo n t he royal crown besi des two o r th ree ki ngs wh o were

,

n o t even Lom bards by b irth bu t strangers from th e n eigh ,

b o u ri n g lan d o f Bavaria .

I n th e wasted regi o n s o f n orthern I taly i t woul d seem that ,

the Lombard s fo rmed fo r som e tim e th e large maj ori ty o f the

po p ul ation Unl ike the Go th s i n Spain o r th e Franks i n
.
,

cen tral Gaul they d id n o t m erel y con si st o f a few scattered

,

fam il ies l o st am o n g the masses o f th e o ld i nhabitan ts There .

i s a greate r breach i n th e o ld Roman tradi tion s o f m u nicipal

a n d social li fe i n th e valley o f th e P o than i n m ost o f the o th er

lan ds o f th e Western E m pire I n th e seve n th cen tu ry Lom .

 ’
Tli e L o i n oa ra s i n I t a ly . 1 89

bardy m u s t have p reserved less traces of its ancien t i mperial

organ isation th an Spain Gaul o r B urgun dy an d mu st have
, , ,

presen ted a mu ch m ore pri m i tive an d Teu ton ic aspect Th i s

.

i s as we shoul d ex p ect from the fact that th e Lom bards came

, ,

from t he very back o f Germany an d fi rst m et with the i n

,

flu e n c e of the older worl d o f Rom e when th ey m oved i nto I taly .

O utsi de the P o valley however I taly was i n a very d ifferen t

, ,

state ; southern I taly and m uch of c en tral I taly preserved i ts

ancien t organi sat ion almost u n disturbed the E xarchate o f
R avenna th e D u ca t u s R oma n u s an d th e sou t hern p e n insulas
, , _
1 90 E u r op ea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 - 9 1 8

of A p ul ia an d B ru tt i u m rem ai n e d u nch anged down t o t h e

n inth cen tu ry Record s sh ow u s i n th e n eighbo urh ood o f
.

Rom e th e ol d s ocial organ isation o f th e lan d i n domai n s ,

i nhab ited by col on i an d o w n ed b y Roman ch urch cor p ora

,

t ion s o r absentee proprietors at a tim e when i n t he n orth ern

, ,

p lain s th e feudal system of th e sem i i nde p enden t d ukes each -

surrou n ded by t hei r lan d h olding com i tes was i n full operation
-
, .

I n organisation n o l es s t han i n blood n orthern I taly a n d

, ,

s ou th ern I tal y w ere fatally sundered an d two n ation s d iffer ,

i ng i n all their u sage s of l i fe an d m an n ers o f th ough t w e r e

growi ng u p .

T h e parts o f I tal y wh ich rem ai n ed u n der th e i m p erial

sce p tre an d prese rved thei r ancien t s ocial an d pol itical organ
i sa t i o n were st rangel y scattered I n th e reign o f Maurice .

2 6 0 2 ) the emp eror was still o beyed i n eight region s Fi rst

( 5 8 -
.

w as t he I strian pen i nsula an d the mars h an d lagoon i sland s

,

o f t he Venetian coast with th e strong citie s o f Padua an d

,

M an tua th rust i nlan d l ike a wedge i n to t h e s ide o f Lom bardy .

S econ d cam e t h e Ligurian coast with th e ci ty o f Gen oa ,

crus hed i n betwee n th e A p en n ines an d t he sea ; i ts rugg e d

valleys an d cl ifls di d n ot yet tem p t the Lo mbard s o u t of t heir
sm il ing plai n to court t he n eigh bourh ood o f t he sea for t h e ,

Lombard s were essen t ially u n mari ti m e Th ird i s fou n d th e .

trac t o f lan d roun d Raven na th e E xarchate as i t n ow becam e

, ,

called —
a title wh i ch i t shared for a s p ace wi th
I m p ri l
e a

p s s ss i
o e s Af rica w here exarch s al so reign ed Th e E xarchate
on

” ’
.
,
ay ‘

stretched al ong th e coast of the Adriatic fro m th e ,

del ta o f the P o u p to t he gates o f Ri m i n i reach ing as far ,

inlan d as th e Apen n i n es an d compri s ing the w hol e s ou th ern

,

hal f o f th e an cien t p rovi nc e o f f Em i l ia Farth er down th e .

coas t lay th e fourth i mperial d istrict fro m Rim in i to An con a , ,

which wa s often called th e Pen ta p ol is a n d t he D ecapoli s from ,

two grou p s of five an d ten cities respectively which i t co n

1
ta i n ed I n U mbria lay a fi fth detached d istrict wh ere th e
.

’
1
The ‘
fi ve c i t ie s w e r e R i m i ni P e sa r o Fa no S i n igag l i a , A n c o na ;
c i t i e s —O s i m o U ma n a J e s i F o ss o m br o ne
, , ,

t he
‘
te n
’
, , , , M o n t e fe l t r o U rb i no
, ,
 ’
T/z e L o nz lz a ra s i n I t a ly . 19 1

emperor was still ackn owledged ; i t cen tred aroun d Perugia ,

and was m uch hem med i n by th e Lombard duchies o f Ch iusi

an d S p oleto b u t i t stretch ed o u t o n e horn toward the Pen ta
,

p ol is on the n orth an d th e other toward Rom e on th e sou th

, .

The si x th d istrict was th e Roman terri tory n ow kn own as th e ,

’
D u ca tu s R o m a n u s from th e a u x wh o acted as civil govern or
,

i n th e an cien t ci ty i n subordinati on to th e exarch at Raven na .

The Roman duchy reached from Civita Vecch i a to Terraci na ,

an d from the A p en n in es t o th e sea taking i n the sou thern ,

corn er o f E truria an d well n igh th e wh ole o f Latium I t was

,
-
.

cu t off by th e Lombard town o f Capua from the duch y o f

Na p les a narrow coast strip con tai n ing the town s o f N aples
,
-

and Am alphi an d ruled by a duke residen t i n th e larger place

, .

Lastly all the t oe an d heel o f I taly Calabria B ru tt i u m

, ,
v

an d sout hern Lu can ia th e wh ol e coast li n e fro m B ri ndis i to

,

Policastro formed th e eighth Rom an district I t was evi den t

, .

t hat th e admi n i s tration o f such a n umb er o f fragmen tary

posses sion s woul d b e a h ard task for t he exarch cut off as he ,

was from access by lan d t o th e greater part of th e region s fo r

wh ich he was resp onsible I t was n o t so easy to foresee that th e .

m ai n resul t of th e sci ssion of I taly by th e Lombard conqu ests

was desti ned to be t he rise o f the temp oral power of t he
Pa p acy that m ost un ex p ected o f th e develo p m en ts o f th e
,

seven t h cen tury .

Af ter the anarch y u n der th e tribal dukes had lasted ten

years the Lombards chos e th em another king Th e election
,
.

seems to have bee n m ade m ai nly u n der the pressure of th e

war with the Frank s which they had brough t upon them selves
,

b y thei r reckless i nvasi on an d ravaging of P rovence i n 5 7 4 7 5 -

.

G un tram o f Burgu ndy in duce d h i s Austrasian ki n sman to h elp

him an d t h e Lombards were attacked by th e Austrasian s wh o
, ,

descen ded the valley of the Adige an d attacked Tren t as well ,

as by the Burgu ndian s M oreover Tiberi us 11 o f C o n .

,
.

st an t i n o pl e had sen t gifts to the kings o f th e Franks i n order

’
C a gl i , G ubb i o , P o n t e r i cc i o l i , a n d t h e T e rr i t o r i u m V al ve n s e . B u ry s L a ter
R om a n E mp i re, vo l i i p 1 46 . . . .
 19 2 E u r op ea n H i s to / y , 4 7 6 - 9 1 8

t o i n duce th em t o ai d h i m i n I taly an d had don e what h e ,

could w h il e th e Persian an d A va ric wars sti ll dragged o n to

, ,

sen d hel p to t he exarch of Rave n na .

7 The n ew Lom bard king was A u t h a ri t he son of that C l e ph o ,

wh o se m u rder had left the th ron e vacan t i n 5 7 3 S o greatly .

wa s t he n eed o f providi n g for th e mai n tenan ce o f the cen tral

p ower fel t that the dukes n ot only d id hi m homage an d
, ,

ceded h i m th e royal city o f Pavia bu t prom i sed h i m a half o f ,

al l th e lan ds that w ere i n thei r h and s as a royal d omai n to

main tai n hi m h is co nu ta t u s an d h i s o ffi cers We may doubt
'

.
, ,

if th e prom i se was very exactly k ept N or d id all the d ukes .

u n i te i n th e electi on The fi rst act of k i ng Au th a ri had t o be

.

t o sub due an d expel d uk e D ro c t u lf wh o had called i n the ,

R omans an d forti fied h i m sel f i n B rescello to defen d th e

,

m iddl e vall ey o f th e P o again st th e k i n g F o r t h e wh ole o f .

h i s reign Au t ha ri wa s i nvolved i n recurring s truggles wi th t h e

Fra n ks wh ose young an d w arlike kin g C hil d e b e rt
,
the son ,

o f B ru n hi l d i s was set o n resum ing the schem es o f hi s cou sin

,
’
Th e u d e b e rt fo r con qu eri n g I tal y T he seven years reign o f .

Au t h a ri was m ainl y occup ied i n wardi ng off Franki sh attack s

o n I tal y ; Gu n tram an d C hi l d e b e rt s tirred u p by
W rs f
a o ,

A th
u iar , S maragdus the exarch o f Raven n a th reaten ed
, ,
5 83 9 0
-

th ree o r four tim es to cros s th e Alps a n d twice ,

actuall y i nvaded Lom bardy The m ore dangerou s assaul t .

wa s i n 5 9 0 wh e n t wo great arm ies a d van ced si mul tan eou sl y

, ,

th e on e from B u rgu ndy over th e Cen i s agai n s t M ilan th e ,

other from Au strasia over th e B ren ner agai n st Tre n t an d

Verona Both forced th ei r way t o th ei r goal an d d i d m uch
.
,

damage t o th e Lombards bu t th ey faile d t o m eet wi th eac h ,

oth er o r wi t h the Rom an t roo p s wh i ch th e exarch had

,

prom ised t o bring to thei r ai d Fam i n e a n d pestilen ce .

th i nn ed th ei r ranks an d th ey could n o t reach the Lom bard

,

ki n g wh o h ad sh u t h im self up i n the i m pregnabl e Pavia A t

,
.

las t they retu rn ed each t o thei r o wn land withou t profi tin g i n ,

‘
th e least by th ei r great ex p ed i tion .

1
S ee p . 1 70 .
 Tb e L o mba rds i n I t a ly 19 3

I n th e i n terval s between t he Frank is h i nvasion s Au tha ri

had don e s om ething to con sol idate th e Lom bard power i n
n orth I tal y by cap tu ring th e great lagoon fortress o f C o m
,
-

macchi o whos e seizure cu t th e comm u nication between

,

Padua an d Raven na At abou t th e sam e ti m e Fa ro al d duke

.
,

o f Spoleto , took Classis the sea p ort o f Raven na an d co m

, ,

pl e t e l y destroyed the city wh ose onl y survivi ng rem nan t th e

, ,

sol itary church o f S t A p olli nare i n Classe stan ds up i n s uch

.
,

forlorn gran deur i n th e R a ve n n e s e m arshes Au t ha ri i s sai d .

t o have push ed one plun dering expedition through B en even to

i n to B ru tt iu m to have ri dden to t he extrem e south poi n t of t h e
,

I talian pen in sula an d to have touch ed with h i s spear a sea

,

swep t pillar n ear Reggi o cryi ng H ere shall b e t he bou ndary

, ,
‘

’
o f th e ki ngd om o f t he Lombards A vai n boast if i t was
.
,

ever made for B ru tt iu m was n ot desti n ed to fall at an y ti m e

,

in to Lombard han ds .

Au t h a ri married T h eo d e li n d a th e daughter o f Garibal d duke

,

of Bavaria a p i ou s Chri stian an d a Cath ol ic w hose com in g

, ,

seem s to have led th e wild Lom bards to Christian i ty much as ,

th e in fluence o f queen B ertha worked on th e J u tes o f Ken t .

S h e had n ot been l ong wed ded to hi m wh en h e died ; th e

Lombard w i ta n w h o had forme d a high i dea of her wi sdom
,

an d virtu e con sulted her as to th e choice o f a n ew ki ng

, .

Sh e recomm en ded t o th em Agi l u lf d uke of Turi n a cou si n , ,

o f A u t ha ri . To h i m she gave h er han d an d h e was at ,

th e same tim e rai sed o n the sh iel d at M i lan as ki ng o f th e

Lom bards
’
Ag i l u lf was led by h i s wi fe s persuasion to b e baptized an d ,

ere long the greater part o f the n atio n followed h i s example .

Th e maj ority of the Lombards like m os t of th e other Teu ton ic

,

races adopted Arian ism an d on ly c on formed t o orthodoxy i n

, ,

th e seven t h century I t was Ag il u lf an d T he o de li n da wh o

.

b uil t t he fam ou s B asilica of M onza where th e i ron crown o f ,

Lombardy i s even n ow pr e served I n i ts sacri sty are still .

s hown m any rel ics o f th e pi ou s quee n ; m ost curiou s amon g

them i s a hen an d ch icken s o f gol d o f t h e m ost quai n t an d
P E R I OD 1 .
194 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 47 6 9 1 8 -

archaic workman sh ip a m arvellou s exam p l e o f t h e e arl iest art

,

o f a Teu ton i c people j ust em erging from barbarism Wi th i t .

i s preserved t he crown of Ag il u lf wh ich h e ded icated to S t , .

J oh n a n d whi ch bears the i n scriptio n : AGI LU L F G R A T IA D E r

,

e G LO R I O S U S R E X T OT I U S I TA LI A E O F FE R T S A N GT O I O H A N N I

BA P TI S T A E I N E c c L E s rA M O D I C I A E .

Th e fi rst three ki ngs o f the Lom bard s had b een sh ort l ived -
,

bu t A g i l u lf su rvived fo r th e respectable term of twen ty fi ve -

years ( 5 9 1 an d reign ed l ong en ough to see h i s s on grow

u p an d become h i s col leagu e o n th e th ron e M ore fortunate .

than h i s predecessor A u t h a ri h e was del ivered fro m t he ,

danger o f Frankish i n va s ion s by th e series o f wars between

th e so n s of B ru n h il d i s an d Fredegu n dis wh ich brok e o u t i n ,

5 9 3 a n d afterward s by th e h om e troubles o f Au strasia an d

,

B u rgun dy cau sed by th e stri fe betwee n B ru n hi ld i s a n d t h e

,

grea t n obl es Ag i l u l f wa s t herefore e nable d to l op away

.
, ,

from th e em pire several o f th e detached distri cts w h ich had

h itherto adhere d to i t For th e greater p art of h i s reign h e
.

was i n con stan t war w i th the Rom an s an d stri p ped th e ,

u t ri u rn
C onq u s t
e s exarch s o f S O rte Tuder Perugia
, an d , , ,

o f Ag il lf u
o ther s outh Tu scan an d U m brian town s
-

B y the m ediation of P o p e Gregory th e G reat a treaty wa s for ,

th e fi rst tim e con cl uded between th e Lombards an d t he

,

em p ire i n 5 9 9 bu t the exarch Ga l li c i n u s b roke th e peace b y

, ,
’
s eizing th e person o f Ag i l u l f s daughter as she chanced to be
passi ng th rough i mperial terri tory Thi s secon d Lom bard wa r .
,

wh ich fel l i n to t he reign of P h ocas prove d m ost d isastrou s ,

for t h e Roman s Agil u l f bega n by capturin g Padua th e

.
,

grea t fortress o f th e Vene tian m arshes The fall o f

Padua cu t o ff Man tua from succou r a nd that ci ty th e las t , ,

strongh ol d o f th e empi re i n t h e i n terio r o f Lom bardy als o ,

fel l i n 6 0 2 Th e m i n i sters o f P h ocas onl y obtain ed a fi nal

.

a c ifi ca t i o n i n 6 0 5 by prom i sing t o pay a n a n nu al tribu te o f

p
1 2 0 0 gol d s ol i di an d ced ing th e sou th Tu scan stron gh ol ds o f
-
,

O rvie t o an d B a g n a re a .

Ther e wa s n o m ore figh t l eft i n e m p eror o r exarch fo r

 '
Tne L o i n oa ra s i n I t a ly 19 5

man y a year ; i n the th roes of th e di sa strou s P e rsian war ,

Ph ocas an d H eracl iu s were u n abl e t o s e n d ai d to Ro m e o r

Raven na Th e op p ortun ity afford e d to Ag il u lf o f com pleting
.

th e con quest o f I taly was such as n ever occurred a gai n .

B u t con ten te d wi th hi s an n u al t ribute an d perhap s tam e d ,

down by a pp roach in g o l d age the Lom bard king remai ne d

,

quiescen t A pp arently he preferre d to give h i s realm peace

.
,

an d to occupy hi mself i n keepi ng down hi s u n ruly dukes I n .

the course o f h i s reign there were three o r fou r dangerou s

rebellion s o f these ch iefs bu t Ag i l u lf pu t them all down
, ,

a p parently with ou t much di fficulty There was al so troubl e .

o n t he n orth eastern fron tier fro m t he Avars an d Slavs

-
th e ,

sam e foes who were s o grievou sly a fflicti ng the Roman empire
at th is tim e Th e Slavs made t heir way i n to I stria an d Cilly
.
,

and becam e troublesom e n eighbours to I taly t hough som e o f ,

their n earest tribes were reduce d to pay tribute by t he dukes

o f Friuli . The Avars were m ore acti ve an d m ore dangerous
i n s p ite o f repeated treaties wi th Ag il u l f their C hagan burst ,

i n to n orth I taly i n 6 1 0 slew Gi su lf duk e o f Friuli i n battl e

, , , ,

ravaged all Ven etia an d carried o ff m an y cap tives Fortu

, .

nat e l y fo r th e Lombards these i nvasi on s were n ot contin ued ,

as the Avars fou nd better p rey an d less fighting to t he south

o f the D anube .

I n spite o f such troubles th e reign of Agi l u lf was a tim e o f

,

growth expan sion an d ripeni ng civil isatio n for the Lombards

, , .

They had all by t h e e n d of h i s reign received Ch ristianity

, , ,

had settled dow n i n their n ew hom e an d were begin n ing to ,

bu il d churches an d palace s i nstead o f con fin ing their atten tion

,

t o destroying them Ag l u l f had fou n d a

i . m
’ ’
oa u s ni nen i with
a

Gregory the Great an d the Papacy an d taught hi s subj ects to ,

l ive i n som e s ort o f peace wi th their n eighb ours in stead o f ,

p ersi sting i n th e unen ding war wh ich had fi lled t he fi rst thirty
years of Lombard dom in ion i n I taly .

Agil u lf was succeeded by h is only son Ad al o al d a b oy o f , ,

fourteen who m h e had i nduced the Lombard w i t a n to salu te as

,

his colleague an d rais e o n the sh ield so me years b efore Th e

,
.
1 96 E u r opea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

regen cy wa s held by queen Th e o d e li n da who wa s both p iou s ,

an d p opular till th e you n g k ing cam e of age ; bu t soon after

,

he had attai n ed h i s maj ori ty A da l o a l d was stricken wi th m ad

,

n ess an d th e nati on ch ose i n h i s stead A ri o a l d duke o f

, ,

Turi n w h o appears t o have been n o kin sman of th e royal

,
’
house bu t had marri ed th e young king s si ster G u n d i b e rga
, ,
’
Li ttl e i s known o f th i s king s reign o f twelve years ;
we h ear n either o f w ars wi th th e Frank s n o r of con quests ,

from th e Rom an ; w e only read th at h e was u n like h i s p re ,

deces sor an Arian W hen h e died h owever h e was su c

,
.
, ,

ce e d e d by a ruler o f far greater mark D uke R o t h a ri o f ,

‘

B rescia o f th e race o f Arod a stron g man an d o n e wh o

, , ,

walked i n th e path s of j ustice th ough h e was n ot an orth odox

,
’
C hristian bu t followed th e d eceitful here sy of th e Arian s
,
.

R o t h a ri fi nally com pleted the con quest of n orthern I taly ,

by taking th e two districts wh ic h had sti ll remai ned i n th e

hand s o f th e I mperial i st s d own to h i s day H e s ubd ued .

th e w h ole Ligurian coas t fro m N ice t o Lun a with the great ,

ci ty o f Gen oa i t s capi tal H e al s o took th e city o f

C on q e t
u s
O derzo
s
th e l as t m,
ai nlan d possession of the Roman s
of R th
o i ar i n Venetia
. After th i s tim e th e lagoon i sland s
.

al on e ack n owl edged th e eastern Caesar a s thei r

su zerai n and their h omage w a s formal rather t han real
, .

’
R o t ha ri s con quests were n ot won withou t severe figh ti n g .

H i s greates t victory wa s won o n th e S c u l t e n n a n o t far from ,

M odena over th e exarch Plato w h o h ad i nvaded Lom bard

, ,

territory bu t was defeated wi th a l oss of 8 0 0 0 m en an d d riven

, ,

back i n to Raven n a Th e n ew acti vi ty o f th e Romans t o

.
,

wh ich th i s battle bears w i tn ess m ay be at tribu ted to th e fact

,

th at th e Persian an d S aracen wars o f H eracl iu s were at las t

e n ded an d u n der h i s gran dson Con stan s
,
th e E astern
,

empire was begi n n ing t o recover som e m easure o f strengt h

B u t R o th a ri i s better remem bered as th e fram er o f th e

Lom bard Code of Laws than as the con queror o f Liguria .

I n 6 4 3 h e publ ish e d t h e comp ilation o f th e tradi tion al usage s

 Tne L o m ba rds i n I t a ly 19 7

of th e n ation which had hitherto never bee n comm itted to

,

writing I t i s n oticeabl e t hat th e code i s p ro m u l L a w s f

.
o
’
gated n ot o n the king s personal authority but R t h i
, , ,
o ar

’
like th e E ngl ish laws o f I n e P r o conrnzu n z g en ti s n ost ra e u t i l i ,

t a te p a r i consi l i o p a r i gn e co n sen su cu m p r i ma t i s j u a’
, i ci l u s
n os tr i s cu ncto u e f el i a ss i nzo exer ci tu n os t r o
g
— '

t hat i s to say ,

by t he ki ng with t he cou n sel o f hi s w i ta n an d the assen t o f

, ,
’
the arm ed folk m oot o f th e Lombard nation The E a zct u m
'

-
.

R o t/za r i s i s a very pri m i ti ve body o f legislat ion such as m igh t ,

have been promulgated i n th e de p th s o f the German forests ,

i n stead of i n th e heart o f I taly I t i s m ain l y composed o f .

elaborate lists o f w e reg e l d s o f laws again s t armed vi o lence , ,

o f rules of i nh eritance o f statemen ts concerni ng the obliga ,

t ion of the follower towards hi s l ord o f p rovision s for j udicial ,

duels p er ca nzp i on enz There i s hardly any m en tion either o f

, .

th ings ecclesiastical o r of ci ty life m erely a provi sion again st ,

b reach of peace i n a church an d som e rules abou t nzag i s t r i ,

co ma cen ses o r skilled Roman artisans

,
We have from the laws .

a p icture of a p eople dwell ing apart by fam ilies o r f a r a s each , ,

i n i t s o w n farm clearing surrou nded by woods o r open pasture

-
,

lan d . S om e are free Lombards called even thu s early ‘

,
’ ’
‘
li a r on es others th e m en o f a duke o r o f th e k ing
,
‘
.

’
B el ow them are a l a i i wh o correspon d to medi aeval vi llein s , ,

th e half free occup iers of th e lan d o f the Lombard master

-
.

These n o doub t are t h e rem ain s o f th e ol d Roman p o pu l a

, ,

lation col on i wh o had on ce cultivated th e ma ssa o f a Roman

,

cu r i a l i s T he royal auth ority i s foun d relegated t o the local

.

dukes i n all m ilitary matters whil e civi l affairs are deal t wi th ,

’
by th e king s sc/z u l t/z a i s or reeve ( as the o l d E n glis h woul d ,
’
have called him ) or to the ca s ta l a u s wh o seem s to have been
, ,
’
the king s represen tat ive i n th e ci ty as opposed to the country ,

side I t i s noticeable as s howing th e extremel y u n Roman

.
,
-

character o f th e Lomb ard la w s that they are d rawn up by a ,

German official the n otary A n so al d n ot b y a Ro m

,
an bisho p ,

o r lawyer as woul d certai nly have been th e case i n Gau l

,
.

o r Spai n Thei r execrable Lati n wh ich makes ligh t o f all

.
,
19 8 E u ropea n H i s toi y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

con cords o r rules o f govern men t of preposition s could n o t

, ,

have been th e work of an y e ducated I tal ian .

With th e deat h o f R o th ari i n 6 5 2 began a ti m e o f troubl e

,

an d confusion for th e Lombards i n wh ich they ceased to w i n ,

grou nd from the Roman s an d fel l i n to civil stri fe an d anarchy

, .

’
I t com menced by th e m urder of R o t hari s son R o d o al d after , ,

he had re ign ed less than si x m on th s H e was a pri n ce o f .

l icenti ou s ma n n ers an d fell a victi m to t h e dagger o f a n o u t

,

rage d hu sban d
T he eigh ty years o f I talian h istory du ri ng w h ich th e Lom
bards were settling d own i n th e valley of t he P o an d al on g ,

th e Umb rian an d Sam n i te sl o p es o f the Apen n in es h ave wo n ,

the i r chief i mportance i n th e story o f th e world n ot from th e ,

d oi ngs o f Ag i l u lf or R o tha ri bu t fro m th e even ts that were

,

taki ng pl ace i n Rom e T o th ese years we may ascribe th e

.

fou n dation of th e tem p oral power of th e Papacy an d th e d e ,

ve l o p m e n t o f th e oecum en ical p osi t ion o f th e bi sh op of Rom e

to an exten t wh ich had h itherto b een u ncon templated Th ese .

m ovem en ts o we m ost o f their strength t o a singl e m an Po p e ,

Gregory th e Great .

After th e fi rst s h ock o f th e Lombard i nvasi on h ad ren t I tal y

i n twain th e I m p erial govern ors resol ved to take up thei r resi
,

den ce i n Raven na n o t i n Rom e —i n the capi tal of th e I taly of

,

Theodoric n ot that o f th e I taly o f Augustu s They chose th e

,
.

strong mars h fortress cl ose t o th e Lombard border n o t th e

-
,

decayed city of th e Tiber still scarred by th e traces o f

,
’
Rise o f th e B a d u ila s harrying Th e exarch s tation ed him self
.

” M W at Raven na an d delegated h i s civil an d m il itary

,

au th ori ty i n th e scattered portion s o f I mperial I tal y t o m in or

’
o fficial s o f w h om th e a u ces o f Rom e an d Napl es were th e
,

chi ef . Th i s rem oval o f th e seat o f th e viceroy from th e

a ncien t m etropol i s wa s d esti n ed to have th e m ost far reach -

i n g resul ts I ts fi rst was that th e ch ief lay o ffi cial i n Rom e

.

wa s an i n divid ual o f far l ess au thority an d prestige than th e

c h ief ecclesiastical personage th ere residen t The bisho p s o f .

Ro me had al ways been m en o f imp ortan ce ; thei r clai m to a

 ’
Tne L o i n oa ra s i n I t a ly 19 9

p atriarchal p rimacy over al l the Western sees o f E urope had

already be e n formulated
’
I n th e ancien t c ivil d i ocese o f ‘
.

Ital y— that i s i n th e I talian p eni n sula Africa an d I llyricu m

, , ,

it had much real ity The African an d D almatian churches

.

referred m atters of di fficul ty t o Rom e fo r decision n o les s than ,

did th e church of I tal y We fi n d Gregory the Great exerci s .

i ng a real i n fluence in places as distan t as Salon a Larissa and , ,

Carthage D uring the exi stence o f the kingdom o f the O stro

.

goth s th e Popes had obtain ed a k i n d of recogn i tion from th e

,

Teuton i c kings as t h e accredi ted representative s of the Cathol ic

,

an d Roman population o f I taly Th ey were certainly th e m ost .

importan t subj ects o f the real m outside the ranks o f th e Goth ic

c on querors an d were all owe d to p etiti on or plead with the king
,

i n behalf o f all th e Catholi c I tal ian s Th e recon quest of I taly .

by J ustin ian had threatened to lower th e p restige an d p ower of

th e Popes by placing them once more u n der a m aster wh o
,

was b oth th e legitimate ruler of th e whol e empire an d an

orthodox Catholic J usti nian had deal t i n a very autocratic
.

man ner w it h the Roman bishops as th e tales of t he woes o f ,

Vigil iu s an d S ilveriu s show H e su m moned them t o Con .

s t a n t i n o pl e bullied i mprison ed or tried them at h is good

, , ,

pleasure Th e con ti nue d survival o f the I mperial power i n

.

I taly woul d have checke d th e grow th o f Papal authori ty i n

a great measu re .

B ut th e Lombard i nvasion changed th e as p ect o f affairs .

Th e I mperial govern ors an d garri son s were swept i n to c orn ers

o f th e pen in sula an d the Popes left withou t any master o n the
,

spot to curb th em Th e u nfortunate E astern wars o f Maurice

.
,

P hocas an d H eracl ius prevented th em from turni ng any ade

,

quate atten t ion to I taly They sen t th e exarch s over t o make

.

w hat figh t they could wi thou t giving them adequate suppl ies
, ,

ei ther o f m en o r m on ey Th e exarchs p en ned u p i n Raven na.

, ,

coul d only comm u nicate w ith Rom e with the greatest d iffi
culty th e lan d route of comm un ication was almost cu t by th e
-

Lombards of Spolet o th e sea route was long a nd di fficult -

.

H en ce Ro m e was left to i tsel f t o fall o r stan d by i ts own ,

2 00 E u ropea n H i s t o i y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

’ f
s trength an d i t s o wn coun sel Th e P o p e an d the D uke
.
‘
o

Rom e w ere co n tinuall y thrown upon thei r o wn resourc es ,

w i thou t th e power o f aski ng advi ce o r aid either from t he e m ,

e ro r o r th e exarch F o r twen ty seven years as P ope Gregory

p
-
.
,

o nce w rote Rome w a s con ti nually i n im m i n e n t p eril o f Lo m

,

bard co n ques t ( 5 7 2 an d obliged to p rovide fo r i tsel f In .

th i s tim e of stress an d storm th e Popes won t heir fi rst secular

au thori ty over Rom e an d i ts vici n i ty an d reduced th e civi l ,

m agi strates to a place o f qu i te secon dary i mp ortance .

The man to wh om the i ncrease i n the p ower o f th e Papacy

w a s mainly due was Pope G regory t he G reat w hose sw ay o f ,

fo u rtee n years ( 5 9 0 6 0 4 ) covers th e secon d hal f o f the reign

-

o f Maurice an d t he fi rst tw o years o f P h ocas G regory was .

a m an o f exceptional ca p acity an d o f excepti onal opportu n i

,

ties a t on ce adm i n i strator d i pl o rn a t i st m onk a nd sai n t H e

, , , ,
.

was a n oble Roman w ho h ad spen t h i s earl y m an hoo d i n th e

,

civi l service a n d had risen t o the ra nk o f prefect o f th e ci ty

, .

I n early m iddle age h e su ddenl y cas t secular t hings aside ,

employed hi s weal th t o fou n d m on asteries a n d en tered on e ,

Gre g y th
or h imself as a s i mpl e m onk
e H e pl un ged i n to .

Gr
ea t 59 6 4
, 0- 0
th e m os t rigi d extremes of a sc e t i c i srn a n d
'

almost kille d h i m self by h i s perpe tual m acerati on s o f the

fl esh E re l ong h e becam e ab b ot an d signal ised h i m sel f by
.
,

th e strin gen t d i scipl in e wh ich he m ai n tain ed over h i s m onk s ,

a s well as by h i s fiery zeal an d u n tiri ng charity I t was at t h i s .

tim e of h is l i fe that t here occu rred t he sce n e s o w el l kn own t o

al l E ngli sh readers t e n h e fou n d th e N o rt hu rn b ri a n boy s
.

expose d fo r sale i n th e m arke t place o f Rom e he con ceive d -

pi ty i n h i s h eart for th e uncared fo r h eath en o f B ri tain an d -

,

determ i n ed t o cross th e n orth ern seas an d bear th e G ospel to ,

t h e Saxon an d Angl e B u t P op e Pelagi u s 11 i nterfered t o pre

. .

ve n t th e m ost a bl e a s wel l a s th e m os t sai n tly o f hi s clergy

, ,

from leaving th e servi ce o f the Roman See a n d ri sk i ng h i s ,

’
l ife am ong t he Pagans H e forbade G regory s depa rture fo r
.

E ngland an d sen t h i m i n stead t o represen t the Papacy a t th e

,

court o f Co n sta nti n o p l e A few y ears after h i s re tu rn fro m

.
 ’
Tne L oi n oa ra s i n I t a ly 20 1

thi s m ission wh ich wa s lon g en ough to enabl e hi m t o ge t a

,

clear view of t he weakn ess o f t he e m peror M aurice an d o f h i s ,

i mpotence to i nterfere i n I talian m atters Gregory was ch osen ,

bish o p o f Rom e w hen Pelagius died o f th e plague

,

G regory was elected with ou t the I m p erial sancti on Ro m e .

was s o closel y beset by th e Lom bards that t here was n either

’
tim e n o r m ean s fo r asking Maurice s con sen t bu t the emperor ,

afterwards co n fi rm ed t he elevation o f the sai ntly abbo t All .

I taly — n ay eve n the wh ol e o f the C h ristian West — k new o f

,

h im already as t he m ost p rom i nen t o f th e Rom an clergy an d ,

h e was able at on ce to assume a positi o n o f great in dependen ce

’
an d au thority Gregory s m ost strik ing featu re was hi s extra
.

o rdinary self c o n fi d e n ce an d convictio n i n th e absolute wi sdo m

-

a n d righ teou sness o f h i s own ideas The legen d started by .

,

h is admi rers n o t l ong after hi s death t o the effect that h e ,

was actually i n spired by the H oly G hos t w ho visited h im i n ,

th e form of a dove very adequately represen ts h is o wn n otion

,

o f hi s i nfal lib ili ty I t wa s thi s self c o n fi d e n ce which enabled

.
-

hi m to take u p th e li ne of stern an d u nben di ng autocracy

wh ich he always adopted O th er m en were m ute an d obedien t
.

before th e imperious sain t i n whom they recogn ised thei r ,

m oral superior Few save the emperor M au rice an d t h e fana

.
,

tical J oh n the Faster patriarch o f Con stan tin ople ever ven
, ,

t u re d to confron t o r wi th stan d hi m U n questionably h e was .

th e m ost able an d o n e o f th e best in ten tion ed men o f h is age

,
-
, .

H e left h is mark o n all that h e touched from th e conversion ,

o f the E n glish an d the Lombards d own to th e o fficial m usi c o f

th e Western Church — th e Gregorian chan t s that s till p reserve

h i s n am e Al t hough posteri ty en shrin ed hi m as on e o f th e
.

four great doctors o f th e Lati n Churc h h is the ological work ,

was the weake st part o f his activity H i s writings are full of .

tropes far fetched conceits m isin terpretation o f Scripture ( he

,
-
,

was ignoran t o f H ebrew an d even o f Greek ) an d p edan tic ,

argu ments from an al ogy .

I t was as statesman and adm in istrator an d fosterer o f ,

m issionary work that Gregory was truly great I n Rom e h e .

20 2 E u ropea n H i s t o i y 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

rul ed as a tem poral governor rather than a b i sho p I t was h e .

wh o provided again st t h e attacks of the Lombard s arraye d ,

sold iers for th e d e fen ce o f th e wall s fe d th e starving p eopl e ,

from th e fu n ds o f th e ch urch an d n egotiate d w i th t h e ch iefs ,

o f th e en em y i n behal f o f th e peopl e o f th e D u ca t u s R o nza n u s .

I n 5 9 2 h e con cluded on hi s o w n au th ori ty a truce wi th t h e

, ,

duk e of Spoleto wh il e th e exarch was se t o n con ti nui ng th e

,

war Mau ric e stigmati sed th i s con duct as fatuou s bu t a s

.
‘
,

th e em peror left Rom e to provi de for i tsel f h e sh oul d h ardl y ,

have complai n ed I n an oth er crisis G regory a pp oi n ted

.
,

“
,

o n h i s own aut hority a tribu n e t o com ma n d th e ,

S w ,
e w
t i it y f
v garri son of Napl es an d a govern or for th e Tu scan
o

G gw
re
t own o f Nepi Finall y i t was h e wh o i n 5 9 9.
, , ,

n egotiated th e treaty o f peace w i th k in g A gil u l f w h ich en de d ,

th e th irty years o f con ti nuou s war w hi ch had followe d th e fi rst

com ing o f th e Lombard s to I taly When rebuked b y th e .

exarch he claimed to tak e preceden ce of h i m n o t onl y i n

, ,

virtu e o f h i s p ri estl y o ffice bu t al s o i n place an d dign ity I n

,
.

sh ort for al l p ractical pu rp oses Gregory mad e h im self th e

, ,

half i n depen den t govern or of Rom e

-
.

’
B u t Gregory s progress i n a ssertin g h is au th ority as Patriarch
o f th e Wes t wa s even m ore im p orta n t than hi s advan ces
toward tem p oral power H e i t was wh o recovered Spai n an d
.

B ritai n for th e Cath ol ic Church — th e form er by th e con versi on

o f R ecc e d from Arian i sm th e lat ter by se n d ing th e m i ssi o n
a r 1
,

o f S t Augu sti n e t o Ken t an d obtain i n g th e ba p ti sm o f k in g

.
,

E thel bert Th rough th e i n flu en ce o f queen T h eo d eli n da h e

.
,

obtain ed con trol over th e Lom bard kin g Ag il u l f an d i nd uce d ,

h i m to bri n g u p h i s so n Ad a l o a ld as a Cath ol ic 2 H e coul d .

cl aim i n sh ort tha t h e had reun i ted I tal y Spa i n a n d B ritai n

, , , ,

t o th e b od y o f th e Chu rch of C hri s t H e also exerci sed c o n .

s i d e ra b l e i n flu ence i n Gaul m ai nl y th rough th e

,m m ti
e a , ona ,

a ut h ri t y f
o i n fluen ce o f th e great qu een m oth er Bru n h i l d i s
o -
,
G regm y
a favou rer o f al l th in gs Rom an with wh om h e
‘

m ain tai ned a l ong an d fri e n dly correspon denc e We have .

1
S e e pp . 141, 1 42 .
2
S ee p . 195 .
 Tne L o m ba rd s i n I t a ly 203

already s hown h ow th e b ish o p s o f th e I mp erial provi nces o f

Africa an d I llyricu m deferred t o h i s j u dgm en t an d deci sion s .

J ustly th en may Gregory b e styl ed th e fi rst Patriarch of the

, ,

u n i te d Wes t .

H i s su ccessors were fo r man y gen eration s n ot m e n o f

, ,

mark But by h i s work h e had gai ned for the m a tem p oral
.

auth ori ty an d a spiri tual precedence w hich th ey were n ever

agai n t o l ose When h e died i n 6 0 4 h e left the Roman See
.
, ,

exal ted to a p itch o f greatness w h ich i t had n ever be fore

kn own revered by all th e Teuton ic peoples o f E u rope an d
, ,

half freed from i ts allegiance to th e rulers o f Con stan tin opl e

-
.
 C H APTE R X I I

H E R AC L I U S A N D M OH A MM E D
6 1 0 64 1
-

Dis t r e ss o f t h e E m p i r e i n t h e e a rly y ea rs o f H e r a cl i us —T he l e tte r o f C ho sro es

Tr ch ry f t h e Av a rs — H e ra cl i us p r e a ch e s a Crus a d —H is s i x vi ct o i
ea e o e r

o u s C a m pa i g n s — G r e a t S i g e o f C o s t
e n t i n o p l e P rs i a v a qu i sh e d
an e n

Tr i u m p h o f H e r a cl i us —R i s e a n d Ch r a c t e r o f M o h mm e d —T he Cr ee d o f
a a

I sl a m — C o n qu e s t s o f t h e C a l ip hs i S yr ia a n d P e rs ia —Tr o ubl e d o l d a g e
n

o f H e r a cl i us .

W H E N th e tyran t Ph oca s had bee n h an de d ove r t o th e e xe cu

t i o n e r t o pay the p enal ty fo r h i s i n n umerabl e m i s deeds th e ,

S en ate an d arm y j oi n e d i n offering t h e crow n t o the you n g

H eracl iu s t h e savio u r wh ose a dven t ha d del i vered t hem fro m
,

such a depth o f m isery H e was dul y crown e d by t he

.

patriarch an d acclai m ed by th e peo p l e i n th e H ip p odrom e

,
.

B u t whe n th e fi rs t rej oicin gs were over a n d h e tu rn ed to ,

c o ntem plate th e s tat e o f th e em pi re wh ic h h e h ad j u st won ,

th e p rospec t was n o t a very reassu ri ng o n e Th e S lavs were .

spread i ng al l ove r th e B alkan p en in su la a s far a s th e gates o f ,

Thessalon ica an d th e pas s o f Therm opylae Th e P ers ian .

,

secu rely e stabl ish ed i n n orthern Syri a an d M eso p otam ia wa s ,

advanci n g t o permanen tl y red uce th e lan d s o f Asi a M i n or ,

wh i ch h e had ravaged s o fi ercely i n th e two p reced ing years .

The trea sury was empty an d t h e arm y scatte red an d di s

,

organ i se d ; for som e years i t h ad n o t dared t o m ee t th e

Pe rsian i n th e ope n fiel d an d th e offi cers wh o m P hocas h ad
,

k ept i n com man d h ad n ever w on i ts con fi dence .

The fi rst te n years o f the reign o f H eracliu s seem ed l i ttl e

better th an a c on ti nuati on o f th e m iseries o f t h e ti me o f
204
 H era cl i u s
’
M ona mmea’
a na 20 5

Phocas Th e e m p ire had gained i n deed a good man in stead

.
, ,

o f a ba d as i ts ruler bu t a change o f fortu n e had n o t c om e

,

w ith th e change of s ove reign s I t s eemed th at H eracl iu s .

woul d n ot be able to cope wi th th e legacy of accumul ated i ll s

’
t hat had been left h im H i s p redecessor s dy i ng tau n t Will
.
,
‘

’
you rul e t he e mpire an y better t h an I have d on e ? m us t ofte n
h ave run g i n h i s e ars whe n th e n ever en ding ti di ngs o f bat tle s
,
-

l os t town s stormed reve nue s decreasin g an d s tarving pro

, , ,

vi n ces kep t c om ing i n t o h i m Th e i m p erial etiquette wh ich

.

had prevai led for th e last tw o h un dre d years prescribe d th at

th e Augu stu s shoul d n ever t ake th e fiel d i n p erson an d thi s ,

rule seem s t o h ave preven ted H eracli us fro m h eadin g hi s

1
o wn arm ies Th e general s to w h om h e delegated h i s p ower
.

were u n i forml y u n fortunate an d occasionally di sl oyal H e

, .

was oblige d to dep ose P ri s cu s th e offi cer wh o ha d betraye d

,

P hocas for arrogan t d isobed ience t o h i s orders Th e absen c e

,
.

of th e em p eror from th e field was a grave m i s fortun e for h e

was m uch less o f an adm i n istrator than o f a figh tin g man .

H i s form an d face betrayed th e warri or H e was o f m i ddl e .

‘

stature s trongl y bu il t an d broad chested wi th a fair com

, ,
-
,

plexi on grey eyes an d yell ow hair H e wore a bu sh y beard

, ,
.

till h e ascended the thro n e when h e shaved i t an d di d n ot

, ,
’
let i t gr o w again till h e wen t to th e wars ten years later .

Th e m i li tary disasters of t h e first eigh t years o f H eracl ius ’

rei gn were terrible I n 6 1 3 th e arm ies o f C ho sro e s began to

.

attack cen tral Syria : D am as cu s fell an d then p rs i , e an su e

the general S ha h rb a rz push e d sou th ward i n to 6 3 7

. c es se s i 1 -I

Palesti ne I n 6 1 4 th e whol e C hri stian worl d was seized with

.

h orror at l earni ng that J erusalem ha d bee n captured N ot .

onl y were Ch ri stian s sl ai n i n th e H oly Ci ty but ,

what was reckon ed far worse — all th e t reasu res o f th e church

o f th e H oly Sepu lchre fell i n to th e h an ds o f the fi re wor -

’
sh ippers Chi ef o f them was t h e Sacre d Wo od th e Tru e
.
‘
,
‘

’
Cross wh ich th e em p ress H el e na th e m other o f th e great
, ,

1
S i n c e T h e o d o si u s L , w h o d i e d i n 3 9 5 , no r e i gn i n g e m p e r o r h a d e v e r
l e d a n a r m y i n th e fi e l d .
2 06 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Con stan ti n e had d iscovere d i n 3 2 7 an d place d i n h er m agn i

, ,

fi c e n t chu rch I t was n ow carrie d i n to Persia to be m ock ed

.
,

b y t he blasph em ou s king C h o sro e s Th i s was n ot th e en d .

o f th e d isasters o f t h e em pire I n 6 1 6 S ha h rb a rz force d h i s way

.

across th e san ds of th e i sth mu s of Suez an d at tacke d E gy p t th e , ,

o n e Roman prov ince wh ich ha d n ot seen th e h orrors o f war

for three c en tu ri es Th e u nwarl ike E gyptian s submitted wi th

.

hardly a blow ; m an y o f th e h ereti cal sects that s warmed i n

th e N ile valley even welcom e d t h e Pers ian s as frien ds an d
del iverers Th e l os s o f E gyp t see m ed a d eath bl ow t o the
.

em p i re I t had been o f late the chi ef s ou rce o f revenue t o

.

th e dwi n dling t reasury o f H eracl iu s and o n i ts cor n th e ,

m ul titude o f Con stan tin o p l e had b ee n w on t t o de p e n d for th ei r

free dol e o f bread T h i s ha d n ow t o b e cu t o ff fo r th e S tat e
.
,

fi nan ces d i d n o t p erm i t o f th e provi si on b eing p u rchase d el se

where I n 6 1 7 th e i nvas io n o f Asia M i n or was re su m ed an d
.
,

a Persian forc e seized C hal c e don i n very sigh t o f t he walls o f ,

Con stan ti n opl e .

The darkes t h o ur had arrived I t i s a grea t t es ti m on ial

.

t o t he po p ulari ty o f H eracl i us th at th e series o f m i s fortu n es

w h ic h we h ave related di d n ot cos t hi m h i s th ron e An y .

sovereign les s well i n ten ti on ed an d l ess es teem e d woul d h ave

-
, ,

l ost li fe an d crown Th e di re s t m ome n t o f h i s h u m il iat ion

.

T h
e L t
e t r f e
arrive d
o
wh en a fter th e l os s o,f E gy p t th e over ,

Ch o s ro e S ween ing C h o sro es s en t hi m a formal le tter i n ,

v i t i n g h im t o lay dow n t he sce p tre w hich h e coul d n o t wield .

I n language o f arroga n t c on descen si on wh ich al mos t seem s ,

t o have bee n borrowe d from th e l ette r o f king S e nnacheri b

i n th e B ook o f Ki ngs th e P ersian wrote ,

C h o sro e s greates t o f go ds an d mast e r o f the wh ol e earth

, , ,

t o H eracl iu s h i s vile an d i n sen sat e slave Why d o you s til l

, .

refu se to sub m i t t o o u r rul e an d cal l y oursel f a kin g ? H ave

,

I n ot d estroyed th e G reek s ? Y o u say t hat you tru s t i n you r

G od Wh y has he n ot del i vered ou t o f m y h an d Ca e sarea
.
,

J eru salem an d Al e xan dri a ? An d shal l I n o t al s o d estroy

,

C on stanti n o p l e ? B u t I will p ardon you r fau lts i f you will

 ’ ’
H era cl i u s a na M ona rn rn ea 2 07

subm i t to m e an d co m e h ith er wi th y ou r w i fe an d ch ildren

,

an d I w ill give yo u land s vi neyards an d ol ive grove s an d

, , ,

l ook u p on you w ith a ki ndly a s p ec t D o n ot decei v e you rsel f .

w it h vai n h ope i n that Chri st wh o was n ot able even to save

,

hi m sel f from t he J ews w ho killed h i m by n ailing h i m t o a

,

cros s E ven i f you take refuge i n th e de p th s o f th e seas I

.
,

shall stretch ou t m y hand an d take yo u so th at yo u s hall see ,

’
me wh e ther you will o r n o
,
.

F o r a m omen t i t i s sai d that H e racl iu s con tem plate d

’
aband on ing Con stan t i nople an d tak ing re fuge i n h is father s
,

ol d strongh ol d o f Carthage B u t th e very desperate ness o f

.

th e state o f affairs brough t i t s own re m edy I ncensed at th e .

arrogan ce o f C ho sro e s smarti ng u n der th e loss o f th e H ol y

,

Cros s an d p i n che d for every n ecessary o f l i fe t he C ru s d f

, , a e o

E as t Rom
- an s were ready t o s tri k e o n e wi ld bl ow He fi ra c u so

fo r exi stenc e Th e Churc h took t h e l ead and declared the

.
,

war t o b e a hol y duty fo r all Christian m en th e fi rs t o f th e ,

Crusades Th e p atri arc h S ergiu s b oun d th e em p eror b y an

.

o ath n o t t o aban don h i s p eo p l e an d th e clergy offered as a , ,

war loan al l th e gol d an d si lver plate o f the churches o f C o n

-
,

s ta n t i n o p l e H eracl iu s t ook h eart an d cas ting asi de the

.
, ,

tram mels of im p erial eti qu ette swore that h e would hi m sel f lead
,

h i s army i n th e fiel d Th ou san ds o f vol un teers were c ollected

.
,

an d t h e treasures o f th e Churc h lavi she d o n thei r equi p men t .

B y th e en d of 6 1 8 t h is e ffort o f despai r had given t he em p ire

once m ore a gen eral a n arm y an d a m i litary chest
, , .

B u t an attack o n th e Persian hos t i n Asia M in or di d n ot

turn out t o be at on ce feas ibl e A sud den d anger a t home .

obl iged H eracl iu s to delay h i s crusad e Th e Avars con een .

t ra t e d the ir ravage s o n Thrace an d thei r h ordes rode u p ,

almost t o t he gates o f Con stan ti n ople I t was necessary at .

al l cost s to free th e city from th e danger o f attack i n the rear

before th e arm y crossed over i n to Asia Accord T r ea c h e ry o f .

i n gly t h e e m p eror s e n t to offer a subsidy t o the t h Av rs e a

Chaga n o f the Avars i f he woul d wi thdra w beyon d th e

Danube . The Chagan p ro p os e d a con fe r e n ce a t H eraclea ,
2 08 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

forty m ile s wes t o f Con stan ti n o p le t h e p oi n t t o w hi ch h e h ad ,

a d van ce d hi s a rm y H eracl iu s con sen te d t o th e m eetin g a n d

.
,

rode o u t i n royal s tate wi th al l h i s cou rt B u t t he fai thless

, .

Avar wa s m ed itat ing treac h ery H e con ceal ed troops o f h i s .

h orsem e n i n t he hi ll s wi th t h e obj ect o f wayl aying H era

,

c l i u s o n hi s way t o H eracl ea an d o f h ol din g h i m t o ran s o m

, .

T h e em p eror was warn ed j ust i n t i m e to escap e from th e

ambu sh Throwi n g o ff h i s l ong pu rpl e rob e a n d tuck i ng h i s
.
,

diadem u n der h i s arm h e rode h ard fo r Con stan tin ople wi th

, ,

th e Avars cl ose at h i s heel s M an y o f h i s cou rt a n d th ou san d s

.
,

o f th e Thracian p easan try wh o h ad turne d ou t to w i tnes s,

the m eeti n g fel l i n to th e hand s o f th e en em y H eracl iu s h a d

,
.

j u st ti m e to order th e gate s t o be cl osed before th e p ursuers

swep t th rough t h e su b urbs an d u p t o th e walls , .

I n spi te of th i s p i ece of abom in abl e treach ery th e em peror ,

was stil l fai n to c on cl ude a p eace w ith th e Avars as a n a b so ,

l u t ely n ecessary prel imi nary be fore attacking the Persian In .

6 2 0 a p eace o f s om e s ort was patch ed u p i n retu rn for a pay ,

m en t of m on ey bu t eve n then H eracl iu s wa s n o t able to s tart

,

o n h i s proj ected cam p aign S ome desul tory P ersi a n attack s o n

.

Con s tan ti n opl e an d n otabl y a n attemp t t o bu il d a fl ee t a t

,

Chalcedon an d c ro s s th e strai t h ad firs t to b e fru strated

, , .

I t was n o t til l 6 2 2 tha t the em peror wa s fi nally en able d to

tak e th e offen sive B ut all p reparat i on s b eing compl ete after
.
,

solem nl y keep i ng th e Len te n Fast an d recei ving the ben edic ,

ti on o f th e Chu rch fo r h im sel f an d h i s army h e se t sai l for ,

Asi a o n E as ter Da y H e l eft h i s you ng son H eracl iu s Co n

.
,

st a n t i n u s
,
regen t i n h i s stead u n de r th e cha rge o f t he ,

p atriarch Sergi u s an d th e p atri cian B onu s th e com man de r ,

o f th e garri son o f C on stan ti n opl e .

I n the six cam p aign s w hich foll owed H eraclius d i splaye d ,

an en ergy an d a n abil i ty wh i ch n o o n e j udgi n g fro m h i s ,

qu iescence during th e l as t te n years w oul d h ave ex p ected hi m ,

t o p o sses s . H i storian s only doub t wh ether to p rai se th e m ore

h i s strategical tal en ts o r h i s personal bravery Fro m the ve ry .

fi rst h e sh owed h i s ascende n cy ov e r t h e en em y taki n g th e ,

 H era cl i u s ’
a na M o/z a rn rn ea
’ 2 09

o ff e n si ve an d turnin g t h e cou rse o f the war wh erever h e chose

,

t o d irect i t At hi s fi rst de p artu re fro m Cons tan t in opl e h e

.

d id n o t attack the P ersian i n th e fron t bu t boldl y saile d roun d ,

th e s outhern cape s o f Asia M i n or an d lan de d h is army i n ,

Cil ici a o n th e gul f o f I ssus a p osi ti on fro m wh ich h e threat

, ,

en ed bo th Asia M i n or an d n orth ern S yri a Marching u p i n to .

Cappad ocia h e cu t the com mun icati on s between th e Persian

,

army i n Asi a M in or an d th e E uphrates valley Th is m ove .

m en t ha d the resul t that he expecte d H astily evacu ati ng .

B i thyn ia and Galatia th e Pe rsian gen eral S ha hrb arz drew

,

back eastward i n orde r t o regai n t ouch w i th hi s coun try

, .

E re a blow was s tru ck H eracl iu s h a d cleared western Asi a

M i n or o f the en em y b u t h e fin i she d th e camp aign by i n fli c t
i ng a cru shing defeat on S h a h rb a rz i n Cap p adocia an d th u s ,

recovered eastern Asia M in or al so

After i n vain offeri n g term s o f peace to C h o sro e s H eracl iu s ,

took effec ti ve m ean s i n th e n ext year t o b r i n g the Pers ian t o

reas on .Syria E gy p t an d M es opotam i a were still i n th e
, ,

h ands of th e en emy : h e res olved t o del iver them i n th e sam e

mann er th at h e had saved Asi a M i n or by striki n g s o h ard at ,
’
th e ene my s base o f operation s tha t h e s houl d b e com pelled
to cal l i n all h is ou tlyi ng troops in order t o de V i c t r i u s o o

f
fen d Persi a p roper I n 6 2 3 H eracl iu s aban d on 325352?
.
,
°

ing h i s com m un icat i o n wi th t h e sea plunge d 6 7 ,

2 2 -2

boldly i nland an d fel l o n M edia F o r two wh ole years h e i s

,
.

l ost t o sight i n the regi on s o f th e extrem e E ast subdui n g ,

l an ds where n o Rom an army had ever b ee n see n before ,

w here i n deed n o E uropean con qu eror had ever pen etrate d

, ,

si nce Alexan der th e Grea t We h ear o f h i s wi n ni ng th ree.

pi tch ed battles an d o f hi s s torm ing two great M edian town s

, ,

Ga n dz aca an d T h e b a rm e s th e lat ter t h e repu te d birthplace o f

,

Z oroaster the prophe t o f th e P ersian s I t was s om e sa t i sfac

,
.

facti on t o th e army t o destroy th eir m agn ificen t temples

i n reve n ge fo r the sack of Jeru salem To defen d M edia .
,

C h o sro e s had t o draw back hi s ou tlyi ng arm ies from th e

West an d s o far the p ur p ose of H eracl iu s was served ; bu t
,

P E R I OD 1 . o
2 10 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8
.
-

th e em p eror wa s stil l t o o w eak to attack Persi a p ro p er o r ,

’
b esiege C h o sro e s cap i tal o f Ctesi p h on .

Afte r wi nterin g at Van i n t he Arm en ian h ighlan ds H era

, ,

c l i u s d ro p ped sou thward i n 6 2 5 an d cam e i n to regi on s m ore

, ,

w i thi n t he ken o f We stern h i storian s H e recovered th e l on g .

l os t fortresses o f Am ida an d M a rt yro po li s th e anci en t bu l ,

w ark s o f th e empire o n the u pper Tigri s w h ich had b ee n ,

fo r n early twe n ty years i n P ersian h an d s an d on ce m ore ,

picke d u p h i s c om m u n icati on wi t h Constan tin opl e wh ich had ,

al m ost l os t sigh t o f h i m du ri ng t he two las t cam p aign s Th e .

year e n ded wi th a fourth crush ing defeat o f S ha h rb a rz wh o ,

h ad e ndeavoured t o th row h i m sel f b etween th e em p eror an d

h i s h omeward path by d efen din g t h e passage of the Saru s ,

n ear G e rrn a n i c ia .

B ut 6 2 6 was desti ned to be th e decis i ve year o f t h e war .

B efore ack n owledgi ng h i m sel f beate n th e obs ti nate C ho sro e s ,

w a s determ i n ed to make o n e fi n al effort D ra w ing every man .

t hat h e coul d together for th e Persian em pi re was n ow grow

,

i ng exhau sted th e o l d k i n g m ade two armi es o f th em Wh i le

, .

the larger was l eft i n M esop otam ia and Arm e nia to endeavou r ,

t o keep H eracl iu s em pl oyed a great body u n de r S ha hrb a rz ,

’
sl ippe d sou thward roun d th e emperor s flank an d marched
, ,

fo r th e B o sph oru s C h o sro e s ha d c on certed m easu res w ith

.

th e treacherou s Chagan o f th e Avars for a combined attack o n

Con stan tin ople from both the E u ro p ean an d th e A siatic s ide
,

o f th e strai t . Wh e n S ha h rb a rz appeare d at C halce d on h e ,

fou n d th e Avars al ready m as ters o f Thrac e an d pre p aring t o ,

beleaguer B yzantium Th e two arm i es c oul d see each other

.

across the wate r bu t th ey were wh olly u n abl e t o com mu n icate

,

w i th each o ther ; fo r the Roman flee t ke p t such

excellen t guard i n th e strai ts that n o b oat c oul d
cross Th e p atrician B onu s m ad e a m ost gal
.

lan t d e fe nce th e garri son was adequate an d the po p ulati on

, ,

kep t a good h eart for they k n ew tha t th e Pers ian wa s

,

strik in g h i s las t d esperate bl o w H eracl iu s h i m sel f was s o .

wel l sati sfied w ith the i m pregnabili ty o f h i s capi tal tha t h e only
 H era cli u s a na
’
M ona rn rn ea’
21I

sen t a few vetera n troops by sea to c o op erate i n the defen ce -

an d kept th e greater part o f hi s army i n h an d fo r an attack on

the heart o f the dom in ion s of C h o sro e s M eanwh i le the host .
,

o f S h a h rb arz had to look o n i n helpless impoten ce wh ile th e

,

Avars o n th e other s i de of th e B osp horu s m ade thei r a ttemp t

, ,

o n Con stan ti n opl e O n t he n igh t o f t h e 3 d o f August 6 2 6

.

t h e Chagan gave t h e signal for th e assaul t A body o f Slavs .

,

i n s mal l b oats attemp ted to s torm the s ea wall from th e

,
-

si de of th e Golde n H orn w h ile th e m ai n b ody o f the Avars

,

m oved agai n s t the lan d wall But th e galleys o f B on u s ramme d

-
.

an d s unk th e l igh t vessel s o f t h e Slavs an d th e assaul t o f th e ,

Avars miscarrie d en tirely Thereupon th e C hagan has til y

.

broke u p h i s cam p an d retired beyon d th e B alkan s T h e

, .

s iege wa s p racticall y raised t h ough th e arm y o f S ha hrb arz ,

s till remai n ed e n campe d at C halce don Th u s en ded the fi rs t o f .

th e four great si eges of C on s tan tin opl e o f wh ich we h ave t o tell .

M eanw hile H eracli us h ad been retaliating o n Persi a i n

,

the m os t effective way I n return fo r th e i n vasion o f Thrace

.

b y th e Avars h e calle d i n from beyon d th e Caucasu s t he

,

wi l d H u nn is h t rib e o f the Khazars an d turned them loose on ,

M edia an d Assyria Forty th ou san d o f thei r h orsemen lai d

.

waste th e w h ole lan d as far as t h e gates o f C tesiph on an d th e

, ,

e mp eror took p o s se ssi on o f t h e upper valley o f the Tigri s ,

’
an d p repare d to strike a t h i s rival s capi tal i n the c om in g year .

The cam p aign of 6 2 7 e n ded t he triump hs o f H eracliu s The .

las t army o f Persia u n der a ge n eral nam e d R ha z a t es faced

, ,

hi m near N i neveh C harging a t th e h ead o f th e m aile d

.

h orseme n of hi s guard H eracliu s slew th e B t t l f , a e o

Persian ch ief w ith h i s own h and an d scattere d N i h fin

,
n e ve i o

h is forces to the w i n ds Th e v i ctori ou s arm y presse d on

.
,

a n d capture d D a st ag e rd th e magn i ficen t cou n try —

,
p al ace of
C h o sro e s n ear Ctesip hon wh ere they gai n e d such plunder a s
, ,

n o R oman ar my had w on fo r m any ages They burn t .

D a st ag e rd an d four pal aces m ore wh ile C h o sro e s fle d eas t

, ,

ward t o con ceal h imsel f i n th e m ou n tai n s o f Su siana .

Th e long su fferi ng Persian s were at l as t growi ng tire d o f

-
2 12 E u ropea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

th ei r arrogan t l ord H i s arm y rebell ed again s t h im an d

.
,

p roclaime d h i s so n S i ro e s a s k i ng C ho sro e s hi m sel f w as .

th rown i n to a dungeon w here h e p eri sh ed o f col d an d ,

starvati on Th e n ew ki n g a t o nc e sen t t o ask for term s o f

.

peace from H eracliu s Th e em peror kn owi ng th e exh au s ti on

.
,

o f h i s o w n realm an d i ts n eed for i n stan t repose m ad e n o

, ,

hard con di ti on s S i ro e s restored all th e Roman terri tory s t il l

.

p
ea c w ith
e
i n h i s han ds release d all Rom an cap ti ve s paid a
, ,

P
e rs ai m i war i n demn i ty an d — greatest o f all triu m ph s i n ,

the eye s o f th e su bj ects o f H eracl iu s —gave back th e Tru e

’
Cross a n d ot h er spoil s o f J eru salem
,
.

I n May 6 2 8 th e e m peror wa s abl e t o re tu rn to Con stan ti

n o l e bringi ng peace an d pl en t y w i th h i m H e had res tored
p , .

the b ou ndary o f th e empire a n d i n fl ic te d on Pers ia a bl ow ,

fro m w h ich sh e n eve r recovered H i s arm s ha d p e netra te d .

far beyon d the l i m i ts o f th e co n ques ts o f Traj an an d Severu s ,

a n d hi s si x years o f u n broke n vi ctory were a record w hi ch n o

Rom an s ave J ul i u s Caesar coul d ri val N o t u nj us tl y di d th e
, ,
.

i n habi tan ts o f Con stan t i n opl e recei ve h i m wi th chan ts an d

sacred proce ss i on s an d h ai l h i m by th e n a m e o f th e n ew
,
‘

’
Sci pi o Th e crown ing m omen t of hi s triump h cam e when th e
.

True Cross was u pl i fted i n S t S oph ia a n d publ icl y ex p ose d .

,

for th e ad orati on o f th e fai th ful Wel l m igh t the emperor h ave .

’ ’
sun g h i s N u n c a i ru i t t i s o n th at d ay o f s olem n rej oicing an d
‘
,

p rayed th at th e h ou r o f h is trium ph migh t b e th e last o f h i s l i fe .

Bu t al read y there was an other tempe st gatherin g wh ich was ,

desti ne d t o sweep over the Rom an em pi re wi th eve n greater ,

vi ole nce th an th e Pe rsian s torm wh ic h ha d j us t bee n weathe red .

Wh ile i n th e m id s t o f hi s las t cam p aign H eracl iu s h ad ,

rece ived a l etter from an obscu re Arabi an prop he t biddi ng ,

h i m accept a n ew revelati on from H eaven wh ich i ts fram e r ,

’ ’
cal le d I slam o r S ub m i ss io n to G od
‘
,
‘
A si m ilar m i ssi ve .

w a s d el ivered a t th e sam e m om en t t o C h o sro e s the n o n th e ,

e ve o f h i s fall C h o sro e s t ore u p th e le tte r an d swore h e

.
,

would at h i s l ei sure lay th e i n solen t proph e t i n a du ngeo n

, ,
.

H eracl i u s se n t a p ol i te l e tte r o f ackn owledgme n t an d a

 M ona rn rn ea ’
H era cl i u s a nd 2 13

tri fli ng p resen t t o th e unkn own fan atic bei ng averse to m aki ng ,

enem i es o f an y sort whi l e the Persi an war wa s stil l on h i s

han ds Little a s i t coul d h ave been foresee n a t th e tim e th e
.
,

followers o f th e writer o f the se eccen tric m i ssi ves were fate d

t o tear u p th e em p ire o f C ho sro e s by the roots an d t o 10 p off ,

hal f o f i ts fairest p rovi n ce s from th e realm o f H eracl iu s .

The Arabia n proph et was n o l es s a p erson than M oha m

m e d th e s on of Ab dallah that stran ge bein g h al f seer an d
, ,

hal f i m p os tor wh ose p reach in g was desti n ed to c on vul se three

,

con ti ne nts an d turn the strea m o f h i story in to n ew an d

,

un expecte d chann el s .

The tribes o f Arab ia had hi therto been of very l i ttl e i m

p ortan ce : thei r l ocal feu ds ab sorb ed all th ei r superflu ou s
en ergy They were di vi de d fro m each other as
.
,
M h mm d o a e
wel l by religi ou s d i fferences as by an cie n t clan
.

h atre ds S ome worshippe d s tock s an d s to n es s om e t h e h os t

.
,

of heaven som e h a d partly adopte d C hri stiani ty others J u da

, ,

i sm They were given ove r to fet ic h worsh ip hum a n sacri fi ces

.
-

, ,

dru nk en n ess i nfan t ici de bloodshe ddi ng polygam y an d high

, , , ,

way robbery Among these godle s s tri bes appeared M oham

.

m e d a poor m an bu t born o f an a ncien t a n d p owerful clan

, , ,

wh o preache d to them a rigi d U n itari an creed a cco mpan i e d ,

by a reforma t ion i n m oral i ty H e had bee n calle d b y t h e .

O n e tr u e God h e said i n a vi s i on o n M ou n t H ira t o

, , ,

p roclai m a n ew revelati o n t o h is c ou n trymen to turn them ,

fro m idolatry an d hatred o f eac h other t o the worshi p o f ,

Allah an d t he practice o f brotherly l ove M o hammed was a .

bei ng o f a p oetic an d visio nary temperamen t gi ven to high ,

i deal s an d high en terpri ses H e was afflicted with long fi ts or .

,

trances i n w h ich h i s soul wan dere d far i n to the field s o f

,

t hought : these trances h e to ok for divi n e i nsp ira tion s an d ,

hi s i magi ni ngs —which were ofte n n obl e e n ough — seeme d to

hi m the direc t comm an d s o f God t hough i n them goo d an d ,

gran d ideas were fre ely m ixe d wi th baser e lem en ts tai nte d ,

by th e ignoran ce cruel ty an d lust of a seven th cen tury Arab

, ,
.

For long the p reaching o f M ohammed was of n o effect : hi s

2 14 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

own t ribe grew weary o f hi s u nen di n g exh ortati on s an d chase d ,

h i m awa y from M ecca ( 6 2 I t i s from thi s fl igh t to Med in a

’
Th n u m b
e th e fam ou s H ij rah tha t al l M osl em ch ron o
,
‘
,

6 22
logy i s dated Bu t i n spi te o f il l su ccess an d
.
-

persecu ti on t h e prophet n ever swerve d from h i s m i ssi on a nd ,

a t las t prosel ytes b egan fl ocki ng i n to h im an d h e becam e th e ,

h ead o f a p owerful sect The n cam e th e fatal m om en t w h ich

.

turn ed h i s teach in g from a bl ess in g t o Arab i a i n to a curse fo r

th e w orld W he n h e grew p owerfu l e nough h e bade hi s
.
,

s ec tarie s t o tak e u p t h e sword an d i m p os e I sl am o n t hei r ,

n eighb ou rs by the forc e o f arm s H i s fi rst success i n th e .

fi eld the battl e o f B e dr

, was a n en couragem en t t o
persevere i n th i s evil pat h an d for th e las t eigh t years o f h i s
,

l i fe he w en t forth con qu eri n g a n d to con qu er am ong th e

, ,

tribe s o f Arabia t ill h e had buil t u p a l ittle theocrati c e m p ire

,

i n th e pen i n su l a ( 6 2 4
’
M oham m e d s succes se s were won by u n hall owe d m ean s ,

an d th e desi re to exten d the m at al m o st an y cos t gradu all y

led h i m in to com p rom is es wi th th e habi ts an d su perstiti on s o f
h i s cou n tryme n wh i ch were fatal t o th e pu ri ty o f h i s religion .

A strai n o f cunn i ng o f reven ge o f self i n dulgen ce a p peared

, ,
-
,

M h mm d
o a
i n
e
a c haracter wh ich i n h i s years o f p o verty an d,

an d hi s trou ble had bee n blameless H e c o n n rve d at th e

, .

an ci en t fetich worsh i p o f th e Arab s by conced ing

-
,

that t h e con ical black s ton e o f th e K a ab a h wh ic h th ey ha d ,

al ways w orsh i pped ha d bee n hall owe d by Abrah am an d

, ,

sh oul d be th e cen tral sh ri n e o f h i s n ew fai th H e foste red .

th ei r van i ty b y procl ai m i n g t he m th e ch osen p eople o f God .

H e pa n dere d to t hei r cravin g fo r l u s t an d bl oodsh ed b y ,

prom i sin g the m th e go ods o f thei r enemi e s t o plun de r i n th i s

l i fe an d a h eave n o f gross sen sual enj oymen t i n th e n ext
,
.

H e re stricted bu t h e d i d n ot a bol i sh the ev il s o f p ol ygam y

, ,

an d slavery I n h i s d a y o f tri u mp h h e con sign ed wh ol e

.

t ribe s an d town s to death some ti me s u n der ci rcum stan ces o f

,

treach ery a s w ell a s o f cru el ty Worst o f al l h e foi ste d i n to.

,

h i s revelation s p ecial m an dates o f G od p er mi tting h im sel f to

 ’
H era cl i u s a nd M ona rn rn ea 21 5

d o th i ngs wh i ch h i s teach in g forbade to h i s fol lowers such as ,

to exceed h i s o wn l imi t o f p ol ygam y an d even to tak e h i s ,

’
o wn foster son s bri de to wi fe
-
I t i s hard to bel ieve that h e
.

can have fai led to se e t he h orri bl e blasph em y in vol ved i n

forging th e nam e of G o d t o special warra nt s a pp rovi ng h i s
o w n lus t . B u t thi s s i n h e re p eatedl y com m itted .

The personal faili n gs o f M oham m ed see m t o have brough t

i nto h i s creed a bl igh t o f cruel t y bigotry an d sel f i ndulgen ce , ,
-

whic h h a s ren dere d hal f usel ess i ts high er an d nobler feature s

-
.

The religion whi ch l eg a l i se s th e slaugh ter an d pl u n der of al l

'

un bel ievers an d c o n sign s wom a n to the hare m m ay have

’
been a comparati ve bl essin g t o the wil d Arabs o f M oham med s
ow n day or t o th e N egro o f th e m odern S ou dan : t o th e
,

c ivili sed worl d i t was a m ere cu rse — th e substi tu ti on o f an

i n feri or for a h igher cree d an d l i fe E ven to th e Arab of th e .

seven th cen tury i t was bu t h al f b e n efi c i a l : i f i t staye d hi m-

from dru nkenn es s h um an sacrifices an d i n fan tici de i t m erel y

, , ,

directe d hi s bloodth irs tin ess agai n st foreign i n stead o f

dom esti c foes an d gave a divi n e san cti on to man y o f h i s l ower
,

i n stin cts Wherever M ohamm ed an i s m h as take n root i t has

.
,

l ed at fi rst to rapi d an d en thu siastic ou tbu rsts o f vigour bu t i t ,

seem s gradually t o sap the en ergy o f th e n ati on s whic h adop t

i t an d l eads after a few gen erati on s of greatn ess F i l i g s f
, , , a n o

to a s tagn at i on an d decay wh ich the M oslem i n ,

I sl m a

h i s sel f sa t i sfi e d bigotry i s to o bl i n d to percei ve Th e cree d

-
.

only th rives w hi le m il itan t Wh en i t has won i t s vi ctory i t

.
,

s in ks i n to dul l apath y I slam i s a good rel igi on t o di e by as

.
,

its fanati cs have shown on a th ou san d b attle fiel ds b u t n o t a ,

good rel igi o n t o l ive b y Goo d an d evi l ele m en ts are to o

.

’
ho p el essly m ixed i n i t j u s t as i n Mohamm ed s Koran th a t
, ,

m i scellan eou s rece p tacl e o f all h i s revelation s high th ought s

ab ou t th e Godhead o r th e fate o f m an are m i ngled wi th t he
m ere opportun is t orders o f the day o r with l icences fo r th e ,

1
p erson al gratifi cati o n o f t h e P roph et .

’
1
Th e K o r a n c o n s i s t s o f a l l M o h a mm e d s i n s pi r e d s a y i ng s t ak e n d o w n ,

a t t h e t i m e o n w o o d e n t a bl e t s pa l m l ea v e s o r b l a d e b o n e s by hi s
- -
, , ,
2 16 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

B ut w hatever were th e fai lin gs o f M oham med an d o f

’
M oham m ed s creed they had o n e fearfu l effici e ncy th e p ower
, ,

to tu rn their sectarie s i n to wil d fanatics careless o f li fe o r ,

deat h u pon th e battlefield Li fe m ean t t o the m the du ty o f

.

s rn i t i n g down the I n fi del an d t he privilege o f spoi ling h im

,

death th e ye t greater j oys o f a paradi se o f gros s sen su al

,

delights Wh at the fi rs t mad ru s h o f a h orde o f M osle m

.

fan atic s drunk w i th rel igiou s fren zy wa s l ike m od ern E u ro p e

, , ,

had hal f forgotten t h ough ou r crusadin g forefathers knew i t

,

wel l en ough B u t th e generati o n wh ich has see n th e h al f

.

arme d Arab s o f th e Sou dan face th e steadi es t troo p s i n th e

worl d e quipped w it h qu ick fi ri n g ri fl es an d artill ery an d-

al most carry th e day agai n s t them has had goo d reaso n t o ,

revi se i t s vi ew abou t th e p ower o f M oha m m edan fan atici sm .

Before h e d ied M oham m ed ha d begun to t ak e m easures

,

fo r the spread of hi s rel igi on by th e sword beyon d th e l i m its

o f Arab ia . I n 6 2 9 th e year a fter th e en d o f t he Persian wa r
, ,

th e troop s o f H eracliu s wh o garris on ed th e fortre sses o n th e

desert fro n ti er o f Pales ti n e had been attacked b y wanderin g
,

ban d s o f Arab zealots B u t i t was n o t ti l l th e Pro p he t

.

hi m sel f was dea d tha t th e full storm o f i n vasi o n fell u p on th e

Roman em p ire an d i ts P ers ian n eighb ou rs I t was Abu .

’ ’
B ek r th e first cal ip h o r su ccessor o f M oh am me d w h o
,
‘
,

sen t forth i n 6 3 3 the two arm ies wh i ch were hi d de n respe c

t i ve l y t o co nvert Syri a an d Chaldaea t o I slam by t he edge o f
th e sword .

Nei ther the Roma n n o r t h e Persian em p ire was wel l fi tte d

for resi stan ce a t th e m om e n t Th e twen ty years o f war .

brough t abou t by th e am bi ti o n o f C ho sro e s had re du ced each

o f th e m to t h e extrem e o f exhau sti on S i n ce th e e n d of th e
.

w a r Persia had bee n a prey t o i nce ssa n t civi l stri fe an d revo

l u t i o n : n i n e pri nces had m ou nte d th e th ron e i n l it tl e m ore
th an fou r years I n th e Ro ma n e m p i re H eracl iu s had bee n
.

fo l l o w e rs a n d c o n s ig n e d i n c o n fus i o n t o a ch e s t fr o m w h i c h t h e y w e r e
, ,

a ft e r w a r d s d r a w n o u t a t r a n d o m a n d s t ru n g t o g e t h e r
,
n o t a cc o rd i ng t o
,

t h e i r d a t e o r t h e i r c o n t e nt s bu t s i m p ly i n o rd e r o f l e ng t h
, .
 ’ ’
H era cl i u s a na M ona rn rn ea 2 17

d oin g hi s best to repai r the calam i ti es o f the war : h i s fi rst care

had been to re p ay by m ean s o f the war in dem n i ty pai d b y
,

S i ro es an d th e imp ositi on o f n e w taxe s t he great

E xh a s t i n
,
u o

loan wh ich th e C hu rch had made hi m i n order f t h R m , o e o an

E mpir
to e qu ip h i s troop s for th e struggle H e h ad dis .
e'

ban de d m uch o f hi s victoriou s army i n p urs u i t o f the p ol icy

o f r e tren ch m en t for w h ich t he rui n e d state o f hi s em p i re

called B u t h e coul d n ot re p ai r the losses which Syri a an d

.

Asia M i n or had suffered i n spen d ing te n years be neat h the

Persian yok e Th e very fou ndation s o f society seem e d t o have
.

b een sap p ed i n th e province s o f th e E ast by th e prolon ged

Persian occupation Th e n um erou s h eretical sects wh ich
.

swarme d i n th e valleys of th e N ile an d t he O ron tes had

rai se d thei r h ea ds duri ng the Persian rul e an d bore wi th ,

ill conceale d reluctan ce th e restorati on of th e imperial a u t ho

-

ri ty Th e J ews w h o ha d o ften si ded wi th the Persian s were

.
, ,

restless an d d is con ten ted I t was sai d that h al f th e p opulation

.

o f S yria an d E gyp t wished i l l to th e em pi re I t woul d h ave

.

requi red two generati on s of p eace an d wi se adm i n i strati on t o

rest ore to th ei r o l d con di tion th ose O rien tal di oceses wh ich
h ad for th e last three cen turi es b een the stay an d support o f the
E ast Roman E m p i re ; bu t less than four years after H era
-

’
cl in s ha d solem nl y restored th e Tru e Cross to th e cu stody
‘

of the Patriarch o f J erusalem th e Arabs burs t i n to th e lan d .

W hile Khal ed an d o n e fanatical Saracen horde assaulted

th e Persian fronti er o n the l ower E u p hrates a noth er u nde r , ,

Abu O bei da attacked th e eastern or desert fron t o f Syria

, .

B os tra the fi rs t ci ty o n the edge o f th e waste fel l by treachery

, , ,

a small arm y un der th e p atri cian S ergius was defeated an d ,

“
th e govern ors o f Syria an d Palesti n e sen t for ai d t o the
emperor H ardl y ye t realisin g t he danger o f th e cri si s
.
,

H eracl iu s sen t some rei n forcements u n der h is brother

Theodore t o j oi n the local troops Thi s army checke d th e .

Moslem s for som e m on th s ; an d i t was considere d n e c e s

sary b y the cal iph to strengthen th e Arab h ost i n Syria
b y sen ding thither half th e forc e wh ich had in vaded th e
2 18 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 - 9 I 8

’
Pe rsian em p i re an d Khaled th e Sw ord o f G o d th e m os t
, ,
‘
,

terribl e an d bl ood th irsty o f al l h is fanat ical ch i efs I n Jul y .

6 3 4 Th eodore was badly defeate d by th e Sarace n s a t A djna d i n

,

n ear G a b a t ha beyon d t h e J ordan Thi s il l su cce ss rouse d

,
.
-

th e e m peror : h e p oure d i n fu rth er rei n forcem en ts a n d th e ,

B tt l e o f t h e
a
ene m y we re a ttacke d i n the late sum mer o f 6 3 4
Y
er m k ’5 3 4
u
by an arm y of m en The fate o f Syria .

was settled by the battle o f th e H i e ro m ax ( Y e rrn u k ) wh e re th e ,

troops o f th e E m p ire a fter a long an d bl ood y fi gh t i n wh ich

, ,

t hey at o n e t im e forced th e Arab s back t o the very gate s o f

thei r cam p we re b roke n by th e fanatical ru s h o f a n en em y
,
’
w h o p re ferre d death to de feat Parad i se i s be fore you
.
‘
,

crie d Abu O beida t o h i s wave rin g h os t th e devi l an d hel l ,

‘

’
fi re beh i n d ; a n d wi th thei r las t charge th e Arabs broke th e
l i n e o f th e l egi o n s an d roll ed th e wearie d t roo p s i n w i ld
,

d isorder back o ve r a l i n e o f p reci p ice s an d ravin es w here ,

th ousan ds peri sh e d wi th ou t s troke o f s word by being cast ,

d own th e l ofty r o cks .

Th e arm y of the E as t was al m ost exterm i nated at t h e

H i e ro m a x an d e re an oth er force cou l d be c oll ecte d
,

D amascu s th e greatest city of eas t e rn Syria wa s ca p tu red

, ,

b y th e en em y wh o i n s p i te o f accepti ng i ts surren der

,

m assacred a great part o f th e p o p ulat io n

H eracl iu s n ow determ i n ed t o l ead t he Rom a n arm y i n
person bu t h e was n o l onger th e sam e m an who had k e p t
,

the fiel d with harn es s on h i s back for si x lon g cam p aign s i n

th e o l d Persian War H e h ad n ow l ong passed h i s fi ftie th
.

year a n d wa s p rematu rel y b roken b y th e fi rst symp tom s o f th e

,

d ropsy wh ich afterwards cau se d h is death I n h i s pri vate l ife .

,

too h e had h ad m uc h trouble of late ; h e h ad made a n n u

,
’
wi se an d u n hallowed secon d m arriage wi th h i s o w n si ster s
daugh ter Ma rtin a an d was harassed by dis p u tes betwee n her
,

an d the res t o f h i s fam il y cau sed by th e fac t that th e young

,

em pres s wi sh ed t o i n duce h er h u sb an d to l eave h er o wn so n

H e ra cl e o n a s j oi n t h ei r to th e em p i re wi th h i s elder brothe r
H eracl ius Con stan tin u s B ut such as h e was H eracli u s once
.
,
 ’
H era cl i u s a nd M ona rn r nea 2 19

m or e p u t on h is ar m our an d s p en t th e years 6 3 5 6 i n Syria

,
-

en deavouri ng to k e e p back t he Arabs w ith the n e w levies that

h e had assembled H i s failu re was compl ete ; ci ty a fter ci ty
.
,

E mesa H iera p oli s C halci s B eroea fel l i n to th e han d s o f th e

, , , ,

M o slems wi thou t th e emperor bei ng abl e eve n t o ri sk a battl e

,

i n t hei r defence I n 6 3 6 com p letely b roke n by disease h e

.
, ,

returne d t o Con stanti no p l e h aving fi rst p ai d a h asty visi t t o ,

’
J eru salem to take u p an d rem ove th e Tru e Cross wh ich h e
had replace d there i n triu m p h o nl y si x years before .

After th e departure o f H eracl iu s th ings wen t fro m bad t o

worse An tioch the s tronghol d an d capi tal o f n orthern Syria
, ,

an d J erusalem t h e cen tre o f the defen ce o f Palestin e both

, ,

fel l i n 6 3 7 To receive th e su rren der of J eru salem which

.
,

M oham me d had p ron ou nced on l y secon d t o M ecca am on g

the h ol y p laces o f th e world th e cal ip h O m ar crossed the ,

desert i n p erson Wh en t he town had yielded th e Arab com

.
,

pe ll e d t he patriarch S Oph o n i u s to lead h i m al l rou n d th e

shri n es o f th e ci ty ; as they stoo d i n th e ch urch of t he H oly
S epulchre th e p atriarch torn by grief coul d n ot re frain from
, , ,

exclaim i ng that n ow i n dee d was th e Abom i nation F l l f J ru a o e

63 7
of D esolation sp oke n of by Dan iel the pro p het i n
, ,
'

th e H oly of H olies Th e austere O mar showe d m ore m odera

.

t io n an d compassi on than hi s gen eral s had bee n won t to dis

play he left the C hri stian s all t heir h oly places an d conten ted
, ,

h im self w ith bu ilding a great m osqu e on the site o f the tem p le

o f S ol om on .

Whi le Syria was falli ng before th e Saracen s the lot o f ,

Persia h ad been even worse ; after a great battle lasting for

thre e days at K a d e si a the Sassan ian em pire ha d succumbed
,

before th e M oslem sword I ts capi tal Ctesiphon was sacke d .

an d destroyed an d Y e z d igerd the last o f its kings fled east

, , ,

ward to raise h i s las t arm y o n th e bank s of O xu s an d M urghab

Arab h ordes working up the E u p h rates began t o
assail th e Roman provi nce o f M esopotam ia from the sou th ,

at th e sam e mo men t that th e con querors of Syri a attacked i t

from th e we st H eraclius m ade o n e las t attem p t t o save
.
2 20 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

n orth Syria an d M es o p otam ia by sen di ng an army u n der h i s

son an d hei r H eracl iu s C on stan ti n us to en deavou r t o recover
An ti och .After s om e sl igh t sh ow o f succe ss at fi rs t th e ,

you n g Caesar su ffered a fatal d efeat i n fron t o f E m esa a n d ,

reti red from th e scen e leavin g M esop otam ia w i th all i ts ti m e

,

ho noured s trongh old s D aras E dessa an d Am ida a prey to

, , , ,

t he i rresistible en em y ( 6 3 8 Wi th the fall o f the seaport o f

Caesarea i n 6 4 0 th e Ro man s l ost th ei r las t footh ol d sou th o f
t he Tauru s a n d As ia M i n or i tself no w b ecam e ex p ose d t o
,

i nvasion .

B efore h e di ed o f th e d ropsy wh ich was th e ban e of h i s,

decli n i ng years th e u n fortu n ate H eracl iu s was des ti n ed t o see

,

o n e m ore di sas ter t o h i s real m I n 6 4 0 t h e Saracen s n ow

.
,

headed by Am rou crossed th e dese rt o f S uez a n d fell u pon

,

Egypt .T hey beat th e Roma n army i n th e fi eld cap tu re d ,

M em ph i s an d Babylon an d t he n receive d t h e h omag e of al l

,

upper a n d cen tral E gyp t The population was very largel y

.

com pose d o f h ere tical s ects wh o received th e Moslem s a s

del iverers from orth odox o p press ion a n d M o k a wk a s th e Co p tic
,

govern or of th e provi n ce surren dere d l ong ere t he si tuati on

had grown desperate I t was onl y abou t Alexan dria w here
.
,

Sa r a c e n s th e Greek orth o dox el emen t was stro n gest that ,

c qu r
on e an y seriou s re si stance was m ade B u t t h e great .

E g y p t ’f’ w sea p ort capital o f E gy p t hel d o u t very stau nchly

'

a n d was s til l i n Chri stian h an d s wh en H eracl iu s d ie d o n Fe b .

I o th 6 4 1
,
i n th e s ixty sixt h year o f h i s age
,
-
.

T hu s en d ed i n m i sery an d failure the m an w h o woul d have

been hailed as the greate s t o f all th e warri o r em p erors o f
Rom e i f h e had die d bu t ten years soo n er H e ha d saved th e .

em pire at i ts darkes t hou r a n d wo n back al l th e E as t by feats

,

of arms s uch as have sel do m bee n p aralleled i n all h istory .

B u t h e w o n i t back only to l ose agai n t wo t hird s o f the rescued -

land s t o a n e w en em y an d u ngrateful after age s remem bered

,
-

h i m rath er as the l o ser o f J e ru salem an d An tioch than as t he

savi ou r o f Con stan ti no p le .
 CHAPTER XI I I

T H E D E C LI N E A N D F A LL O F T H E
_
. V I S I GO T H S

A D . . 603 7 1 -
1

O bscur i t y o f V i s i g o t h i c H i s t o ry S i s rb u t an d x pe l t h e E a s t
S w i n t hi l a e

R o m a ns— A s e r ie s o f pr i e s t r i dd en K i n g s — C hi n d a swi n t h r e s t o r e s t h e
-

r o y a l p o we r —H is l e g isl a t i o n — R e cce sw i n t h s l o g r e ig n — W a m b a a n d h i s
'

— — ’
wa rs T h e r e b ell i o n o f Pa ulus W a m b a s w e a k a n d o bscur e succ e ss o rs
A pp r o a ch o f t h e S a r a c e s —W e a k n e ss o f S pa i n —R o d e r i c t h e L a s t o f t h e
n

G o t hs—All S p a i n subdu e d by t h e S a r a c e n s .

F EW peri ods o f E urop ean hi story are so obscure as the las t

h un dred years o f th e Vi sigothi c dom i n i on i n Spai n Th e .

or i ginal s ou rces for i t s an nals are few an d meagre an d little ,

has been accomplished o f late i n the way of mak ing the period
more compreh en sibl e The M oori sh con ques t i n 7 1 1 seem s to
.

have swep t away both book s an d wri ters an d i t was n ot till man y ,

years after t hat di saster that th e compositi on o f historical works

i n Spai n was resu me d t h e later Visigoth ic time s are as dark
a nd l ittl e k n own as th e begin n ings of the E ngl ish heptarch y ,

an d Spai n had n o B ed e an d n o A ng l o S a xon C/zr on i cl e t o throw -

gleam s o f ligh t across th e obscuri ty H en ce i t comes that .

m any of t he ir kings are m ere names an d that thei r acts an d ,

p ol icy are often i n compreh en sibl e Th e tale grows m ore and .

m ore puzzl i ng as th e seventh cen tury d raws o n to i ts close ,

an d by th e begi n ni ng o f th e eigh th we h ave only u n trustworth y

l egen d s to hel p u s .

Th e hou se o f Leo vi g il d after forty years o f su ccess en ded d i s

, ,

a st ro u sl y i n 6 0 3 by th e assassination of th e young kin g Leova 1 1 .

H i s m urderer was a certai n cou n t Wi tt e ri c h a turbulen t n oble ,

w h o h ad j oined i n th e Arian ris i ng o f 5 9 0 an d had been n u ,

wi sel y pardoned by R ecca re d Th e access ion o f Wi tt eri ch

.

221
222 E u r opea n H i s tory , 47 6 9 1 8 -

marked a revul si on again s t th e growt h o f th e ki ngly p ower ,

w h ich h ad been makin g such stri des u n der L e o vi gi ld an d

R e cc a re d an d probabl y al so a p rote s t agai n st th e eccl es iastical
,

p olicy of R e cca re d wh o si n ce h i s con ve rsi on had gi ve n th e

, , ,

W itt i h Cath ol ic bish ops such p ower an d au th ority i n h i s

er c ,

realm Wi t t e ri ch reigned for seven years wi th

.
,

l ittl e credi t t o h i m self— i t i s o nl y strange that he guarded h i s

ill gotten crown so l ong H e had som e u n im portan t s truggles
-
.

w i th th e Franks i n Aqu i tai n e an d th e Byzan ti n e garri s on s i n

An dalu sia bu t wo n n o credi t i n e i the r quarter Th e C hu rch
,
.

w as agai n st him h i s cou n ts an d duk es pai d h i m l i ttle heed

, ,

a n d n o o n e s h owe d much as ton ish m en t o r regre t w h en i n

6 1 0 h e w as m u rdere d by co n s p i rators at a feast l ike h i s ,

p redece ssor th e tyra n t Th e u d ig i sel .

Th e kin g ch osen by t he G oth s i n h i s place wa s a certai n

cou n t G u n d i m a r w h o ap p ears t o have bee n th e h ead o f t he
,

orth odox ch u rch party as th e eccle siastical chro nicles are ,

l ou d i n the prai ses of h i s p iety G u n di m ar determ in ed to tak e .

p art i n th e Franki sh civi l war whe n T h e u de ri ch o f B urgun dy

an d B ru n hil d i s at tacked T he u de b e rt of Au strasia H e n atu rall y .

si de d wi th th e di stan t Au stras ian agai n s t h i s n earer B urgu n

d ian b rother wi th wh om th e G oth s o f S ep t i ma n i a h ad som e
,

fron ti er d i spu tes B u t i n th e year t hat th e war brok e o ut

.

G u n d i m a r di ed on ly twe n ty on e m on th s a fter h e had been

,
-

crown ed
H i s succe ssor wa s k i ng S i si b u t ( 6 1 2 a p ri n ce o f so m e
m ark an d character wh o l ike h i s predecess or was a grea t ,

fri en d o f th e c hurc h p arty an d a fo e o f th e un ruly secular

n obili ty H e was n ot on ly a great warrior bu t wha t was
.
,

m ore s trange i n a Goth i c p ri nce a l earne d s tud e n t a n d eve n a ,

writer o f b ook s Th e m odern h i storian w oul d give m u ch t o

.

be abl e t o recover h i s l ost C /zroru cl e of Me K i ng s of fi re G o t/rs ;

'

bu t th e i ron y o f fate has d ecree d t ha t o f h i s work s o nl y an

S i isb t ecclesiastical
u ,
b i ograph y T / f
ze L i e a n d P a ssi on o
f ,

6 12 0 -2
S t D es i deri u s an d som e bad verses sh oul d su r
.
, ,

v i ve We l earn fro m h i s ad m iri ng clerical frie n ds tha t he

.
 T/ze D ecl i n e a nd F a ll o f t/ze Vi s igot/zs 223

was skilled i n gram m ar rhetori c an d dialec tic an d that h e

, , ,

erecte d a m agn ificen t cathedral i n Toled o .

Bu t S isib u t was n o m e re crown ed s en/ a n t ; h e to ok u p th e

task wh i ch had been aban don e d since th e death o f R ec ca re d
, ,

o f driving th e E as t Roman garrison s o u t o f Andalu sia an d

-
,

was al m o st compl etel y succe ssful The emperor H eracl iu s

.
,

t he n i n the throes of hi s Persian war coul d sen d n o h elp to ,

Spain an d o n e after a n other al l th e harbours o f sou th eas tern

,
-

Spai n from the m ou th o f th e Guadal quivi r t o th e m ou t h o f

th e S ucre fel l i n to h i s h ands N othin g remai n ed to th e E as t
.

Rom an s exce p t the ir m os t wes te rl y possession the extrem e ,

s ou th wes t angl e of Portugal wi th th e fortres s o f Lagos an d

-
, ,

t he prom on tory o f Cape S t Vi ncen t After wi n ni ng th e . .

An dal u sian coas t i t appears tha t S i si b u t bu il t a s mal l fleet an d

crossed th e S trai t o f Gi braltar to wres t Ceut a an d Tangier
from the exarch of Africa I n 6 1 5 H eracliu s m ade peace
.

wi th h im formally surren deri ng all t ha t S i si b u t had succeede d

,

i n gai n i n g fro m h i s gen eral s S i si b u t was al s o suc cessful i n

.

tam ing th e i n tractable B asqu es ; followin g the m i nto th ei r

m oun tain s h e compelled them to pay tribu te .

A less happy record i s p re serve d o f S i si b u t i n th e m atter o f

i n tern al govern m en t As b e fi t t e d a h ot su p p orter o f th e i n
.

toleran t Sp an i sh chu rch h e gave h imsel f u p t o th e p romp t

,

in gs o f h i s bis hops an d com me nced a fierce persecu t io n o f

,

th e J ews th e fi rs t o f m an y tribulatio n s wh ich th e u nhappy

,

H ebrews were to suffer at th e han ds o f the later G oth ic kings .

S i s i b u t reigne d only eight years ; he h ad taken th e pre

cautio n t o h ave h is son R e c c are d 1 1 el ec ted k ing by th e .

nation al cou n cil du ri ng hi s o wn l ifetim e an d o n h i s death ,

th e y ou th succeeded t o the th ron e wi thou t m olestati on Bu t .

’
le ss than a year after S i si b u t s death R e cca red fol lowed h i m to
th e grave an d the crown on ce m ore p asse d in to a new h ouse
,
.

C ou nt S wi n t h il a w hom th e Goth s n ow chose as ki ng was

, ,

a gen eral wh o had di stingui shed h im sel f i n the war w ith th e

B asques an d had a great m il i tary re p u tation but u nl ike
, , ,

S i si b u t was n ot a favoure r of th e C hurc h p arty an d had t o face

, ,
2 24 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

i ts i n trigu e s all th roug h th e te n years of h i s reign H e was .

equall y d isliked by the great n oble s wh ose powers h e sough t ,

t o curb by asserting th e rights of th e s maller Go thic free

h olders w h o had for l ong been lap sing m ore an d m ore i n to
,

feu dal depen dence o n thei r greater n eighb ours H i s care for .

thei r i n te rests won for h i m the title of th e Fathe r o f th e P oor ’ ‘

,

- S w i thil
n an d thei r l oyal ty i s n o d ou b t th e explanat i on o f
a ,

6
20 - 3 t h e fact that h e was abl e to h ol d th e crown s o
L

l on g whe n b oth Church a n d n obles were agai n st h i m N or .

was h i s reign en tirel y with ou t m il itary su ccesses H e took .

Lagos a n d th e fort o n Cap e S t V i n cen t th e two las t Byz a n .

,

t in e s tro n gh ol ds i n Spai n s o that th e wh ole pen in sul a was a t

,

las t drawn under a si ngl e rul er H e was equally successful .

again st a rebell i on o f th e B asqu es an d overru nn i ng thei r , ,

m oun tai n valleys i n Navarre a n d B i scay bu il t th e fortress o f ,

O l i t e b e yo n d th e E bro an d n ear Pam pelu na to h o l d t h e m down

, , .

B ut S w i n t hi la h ad t oo m an y en em ies t o b e all owe d t o keep

hi s crow n A certai n cou n t S i s i n a n d a govern or i n Sep t i
.
,

man ia rose agai n st h i m an d calle d i n to h i s ai d D agobert th e

, , ,

ki ng o f the Frank s Gaul was n ow o nce m ore un i ted u n der

.

a s i ngl e m on arch an d th e l on g civi l wars o f t he descen dan ts

,

o f B ru n h i l d i s an d Fredegu n di s were over s o that th e Frank s ,

were afte r a l ong i n terval a bl e to i n dulge i n foreign i nvasi on

, , .

Backed by troops le n t h i m b y D agobert S i s i n a n d crosse d the ,

Pyren ee s an d advan ced again st Saragossa w h ere th e k i ng ha d

, ,

m arch e d forward t o m ee t h im N o battl e took p lace fo r th e .

,

m atter was set tl ed by t reach ery Th e grea t n obles an d b ish ops .

,
’
R e b e ll ion f wh o h ad obeyed S wi n t hi l a s su m mon s t o wa r seize d
o ,

Si i
s na n d 63 , h i m i n h is own camp th rew h i m i nt o chai n s an d
1
, ,

han ded h i m o ver to S i s i n a n d Th e u su rp er m ore merc i fu l .

,

th an m an y G o thi c rebel s co n t en te d h im sel f w it h casti ng

,

S w i n t h i l a i n to a m on astery an d di d n ot pu t h i m to d eath
,
.

S i s i n a n d had p rom ised h i s Fran kis h fri en d t o su rren der to

hi m i n retu rn fo r hi s hel p th e m os t spl endi d trea sure i n th e
G oth i c royal h oard a grea t gol de n b owl o f Rom an w ork
,

man shi p weigh in g fi ve h u ndred p ou nd s a tro p h y o f th e old

, ,
 T/re D ecl i n e a nd F a ll f
o fi re V i s ig o t /zs 225

’
wars o f th e fi fth cen tury H e gave u p th e vessel to Dagobert s
.

ambassad ors bu t wh en i t was seen departi ng from Spain the

, , ,

Goth ic cou n ts s wore tha t s uch a n an ci en t hei rl oom o f thei r

ki ngs m u st n ever leave th e land a n d took i t back by forc e , .

I n i ts l ieu S i si n a n d sen t to D agobert a sum of gol d

sol id i
S i s i na n d was a weak ruler th e to ol an d i n strum en t o f h i s
,

b i sh op s . U n der h i s i m poten t h an d s al l th e p owe r an d

au th o rity of th e roya l nam e m el ted away a n d th e work o f ,

S i s i b u t an d S wi n t h i la was u n don e Th e C hu rch an d n ot h e

.

ruled Spai n Wh en syn od s m et the k i ng was see n on ben ded

.
,

kn ee an d wi th stream i ng eyes lam en tin g h is si n s an d beggi ng

, , ,

the coun sel of the h oly fathers H e reigned o n ly for fi ve .

years ( 6 3 1 an d was su cceede d by C h i n t h i la a n other ,

ch o sen i n strum e n t o f the h ierarch y o f w h o m we kn ow l i ttl e ,

m ore than that h e hel d man y syn o ds wi th hi s bi sh ops an d

‘
,
’
strengthen ed hi m sel f by th e h elp o f the tru e fai th He .

reign e d only three years b u t was all owed by hi s

,

clerical parti san s to have hi s son Tulga crowne d k i g s 53 4 n ,

1- 1

as h i s successor be fore he d ied Tulga an other o bedien t son

.
,

o f th e C hurch had on ly reign ed two years when he was de

,

t hrone d by a co n spiracy o f the great lay n obles to whom the ,

domin atio n o f t he cl ergy i n th e S tate b ecam e m ore a n d m ore

’
odi ou s u n der th e twelve years rule o f th ree pri est ri dd en -

ki ngs Tulga was se n t to pu rsue t he congen ial p ath o f piety

.

i n a m onastery wh il e th e Nati onal Assem bl y conven ed by

, ,

th e c on spi rators el ected as k i ng cou n t C hi n da swi n t h wh ose

, ,

virtues were recogn i sed by al l wh ile hi s great age — h e was n o

,

less than seven ty n in e — prom ised a free h an d to hi s turbulen t

-

su bj ects
B u t th e n obles ha d erre d greatly i n thei r estimate o f Chi nd
a swi n t h as gri evously as di d th e m isl ed card inal s w h o i n a
, , ,

later age electe d th e apparen tl y m ori bu n d Sixtu s v to th e

,
.

Papacy Th e touc h o f th e crow n on h i s brow seemed to give

.

back h i s yout h an d vigour to t h e o ld m an an d the Goth s ,

fou n d th at a ki ng o f the type o f Le o vi gi l d a n d S wi n t hi la a ,

P E R I OD 1 .
P
2 26 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

stern repressor of l awles sn es s an d feu dal anarchy was reign i ng ,

over the m C h i n d a s w i n t h se t him sel f at o n ce t o revi ndicate th e

.

royal prerogative both agai n st th e great n obl es an d a gai n s t the

,

C hi d
n w i th
as
eccl esiasti
n
cal sy
,
n ods H i s han d fell h eavil y upon
.

64 5 1 -
th e trai tors wh o twel ve years before had h e
2
, ,

t ra ye d S w i n t h i l a ; h e bega n to seek th e m o u t a n d t o execu te ,

t hem At on ce th e m aj ori ty o f th e n obles o f S p ai n burs t i n t o

.

re vol t .
S ome fled t o Afri ca an d borrowed ai d from th e ,

Byzan tin e exarch oth ers t o th e k i ngs of the Frank s B u t

,
.

C hi n d a sw i n t h bea t d ow n al l thei r ri si n gs a n d quen ched the ,

fl am e o f i n su rrecti o n i n th e bloo d o f t wo hu n dre d n oble s an d ,

five hu n dre d m e n of l e s ser rank wh om h e h an de d over t o th e ,

h eadsman H e tam e d t h e G o th s s o tha t th ey dared attem p t

.

n oth ing m ore again s t h i m as they had so ofte n don e w i th

,

thei r ki ngs for th e G oth s a re a h ard n ecked folk an d n ee d

,
-

,
’
a h eavy y o ke for th ei r sh oulders W h e n t h e revol t was.

cru sh ed C h i n d a s wi n t h com pell e d th e bi sh ops assemble d

,

i n syn od at Tole do to p ron ou n ce a s ol em n curs e on al l

rebelli ou s n oble s h e call ed them — a n d to decre e

th e penal ty o f depri vati on o f orders an d excom mu nicatio n o n

al l m em bers o f th e cl ergy wh o sh oul d be fou n d con sen t ing to
’
th e pl o ts of th e tyran ts ‘

’
C h i n d a sw i n t h s h eavy h an d w o n Spai n se ven years o f peace
i n the l atte r en d o f h i s reign a n d h e wa s abl e t o associate,

wi th h im sel f o n th e thron e h i s son R e c c e sw i n t h wi thou t a n y ,

of the Goth s dari ng t o m urmu r Th e fath er an d s on reign ed .

togeth er for th ree years R e c ce sw i n t h d isch argi ng th e fun c

,

t i on s o f ki n g wh ile C hi n d a s w i n t h gave h i m sel f u p t o works o f

,

p iety Th ei r j oi n t rul e i s m arke d by o n e ve ry i mportan t i n

.

e iden t sh owi ng t h e compl eti on o f t h e p rocess of u n ification

, ,

wh ich h ad begu n by th e con version of R e c c a re d to Cath olici s m

L w s
a , i n
0
8
5 9 G oth an d S pa n iard were n ow s o much
.

Chi d
n w i t h assim ilated t o each oth er that th e ki ngs th ough t
as n

th at they m i gh t fo r the fu tu re be rule d by a singl e code o f

l aw s Th e races were begi n ni ng to be com pletely i n term ixe d
. .

S p an i sh c ou n ts an d d uke s are as n u merou s i n th e e n d o f th e

 ’
Tne D ecl i n e a n a F a l l of fi re Vi s
igotns 2 27

peri od as Goth ic bi s hop s an d abbots The o n e race ha d n o .

longer the m on opoly of secul ar p ower n or t h e other that o f ,

ecclesiastical prom o tion C hi n daswi n th resol ve d t o sus p en d

.

th e u se of t h e o l d Roma n law i n h i s dom i ni on an d to m ake ,

al l h i s subj ec ts u se Goth i c l aw though he i n trodu ce d i n to th e

,

lat ter a c on si derabl e R oman el em en t The advan tage o f th e .

new code o f C hi n d a swi n th was that th e c oun ts and o i ca r i i ,

’
the ki ng s i mmediate represen tatives h ad for th e fu tu re ful l ,

j uri sd icti on over th e whole n ative Span i sh elemen t i ncludi ng ,

th e clergy ; for th e Spaniards were depri ve d o f t heir Rom an

law bo ok the B reni a r i u rn A l a r i ci an d o f their own c ourts and
-
, ,

j u dges an d were sub j ected for l egal n o l es s than for a d m i n i

, ,

s t ra t i ve or m ili tary m atters to th e Goth ic coun t

, At th e sam e .

tim e t he p rohi bi ti on agai n s t marriage between Goth s an d Pro

vi n c i al s whi ch still n om i nally ex i sted th ough i t was fre que n tly
, ,

b roken s ince t he ti me o f L e o vi g i l d was rem oved an d al l th e

, ,
’
ki ng s su bj ects b ecame e qual i n th e eye o f the law .

C hi n da swi n t h die d i n 6 5 2 at the great age o f n inety u n

, ,

p arallele d am ong Teu ton ic k i ngs o f h i s day H i s s on an d .

colleague R e cc e swi n t h already wel l advanced down th e vale

, ,

o f years survive d for t wen ty years m ore

, H e had the l ongest .
,

qu ietes t an d i n a way the m ost prosp erou s reign o f an y of

, , ,

th e Vi sigoth i c k ings U n l ike hi s father h e was a devoted

.
,

sup p orter o f th e Church an d by th e ai d of th e bi shops mai n

, , ,

t a i n e d h i s rul e u n ti l t he day of hi s death B u t h e was gradu .

al ly lettin g sl ip on ce m ore al l th e royal powers R w i th e cce s n ,

wh ich h i s father had wi th such troubl e regain e d

an d restored As h e gre w ol der the en ti re rul e of the State
.

dropped o nce m ore i n to the hand s o f bi sh ops and syn ods .

R e cce s wi n t h was bu sy all h i s days i n bu il ding church es an d ,

m aking great offerings to the saints Chance has preserve d .

to u s on e huge gol d crown with a dedi catory in script ion

, ,

wh ich he pre se nted t o th e Vi rgi n ; i t n ow form s th e pride

o f th e Clun y M u seu m at Pari s an d i s t h e best m onum en t ,

o f th e rude Teu ton ic art of t he time excep t perhaps th e , , ,

1
gol den offerings o f Agi l u l f an d T he o de li n da at M onza .

1
S ee p . 1 93 .
228 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Traditi on speak s mu ch o f th e sp iri tual ble ssings that were

vou ch sa fe d h im H e an d Archbi shop H i l d e fu n s were
.

p ri vilege d to beh ol d with th ei r o w n eyes a m i racul ou s vi sio n

o f S t Leocadia in the cath edral o f Toled o
.
,
B u t m eanwh i le .

th e k in gly au th ori ty wa s o n ce m ore va ni sh i n g away an d ,

R e c c e s w i n t h provid ed th at he at least enj oyed peace an d

,

p iou s l ei su re seem s to have care d l ittl e for th e fate o f h is

,

succes s ors ; h e had h im sel f n o s on t o wh o m h e coul d b e

q u e a t h th e thro ne P erson ally
. h e was popular — so m il d an d
‘

u n preten di n g th at h e coul d hardl y b e tol d from o n e o f h i s

o wn subj ect s — an d h e d i d n ot rea p th e fru i t o f th e s eed s o f

weak ness tha t h e w a s s owin g O n e i n signi fi can t rebell io n

.

alon e i n terrup te d th e twen ty peaceful years o f h is reign .

B u t m ean wh il e th e el em en ts o f d i ssolu ti o n were growi n g i n

strength The n obl es were on ce m ore reasserti ng th eir ol d
.

cl aim s t o feudal i n depen denc e an d t h e cle rgy were growing

,

m ore an d m ore d om i n eering .

R e c ce swi n t h died i n 6 7 2 l eaving n o h ei r an d there wa s

, ,

much di spu tin g am ong the n obles a s t o th e electio n of h i s

s u ccessor Th eir ch oi ce fel l at l ast u p o n Wamba a m an o f
.
,

m atu re age an d h igh repu tati on b u t h e re fu se d to tak e u p th e

,

burden i n s pi te o f the a cclamation s w i th wh ich h i s n am e wa s

recei ved At la s t we are told a certai n d uk e d rew h i s sword
.
, , ,

an d th reatened to slay hi m a s a traitor t o h i s n ati on an d h i s

,

duty i f h e hesi tated any l onger to ob ey the will o f th e asse m

,

bl y Wa mba bowed to th i s form o f persuasi on an d acce p ted

.
,

th e crown .

’
We have m ore kn owl edge o f Wa mb a s reign than o f th ose
o f h i s predecessors an d succe ss ors a s h i s bi ograph y wri tten , ,

by bi sh op J ul ian o f Tol ed o h as chan ced t o survive We

, .

learn that he was a ste m an d hard m aster t o the G oth s rn o d e l ,

W mba a ,
l ing h im sel f u po n th e exam pl e o f C h i n d a swi n t h ,

67 2- 680
an d that h i s reign wa s spen t i n a n ot u n succe s s
ful attem pt t o recover th e p owers o f th e crown wh i ch th e ,

pi ou s R ecc e swi n t h h ad le t sl i p Rebell i on s were n a turally

.

ri fe w hen the ki ng began t o mak e h i s strong han d fel t Th e .

 T/ze D ecl i n e a nd
'

F a ll o f fi re V z s zjgot/zs 2 29

un tameabl e B as que s took t o arm s an d w h ile Wam b a was b u sy , ,

i n their m ou n tai n s a m ore da n gerou s ri sing took place i n Septi

,

m an ia where a certai n cou n t H i l d e ri c raised the s tan dard

,

of revol t Th e k ing sen t agai n st them a large arm y u n der

.
,

duk e P aulu s a tru ste d o fficer o f Roman bl o od B u t in stead

, .
,

o f attacki ng the rebel s th e treacherous Paul us open e d n e go t i a

,

tion s w ith them debauched th e chiefs o f h i s own R b ll i

, f e e on o

army an d suddenly procl aimed him self king P ulu s 67 3

, .
a ,

Th e challenge wh ich h e i s sai d t o have sen t to Wamba

deserves perhap s t o b e recorded for i ts s trange an d high
, ,
’
flo wn style I n th e n am e o f G od wrote the u surper
.
‘
, ,

Flavius Paulus th e m igh ty k in g o f th e E ast greets Wamba

, , ,

th e kin g o f th e West I f t hou hast traversed th e rough u n

.
,

p eopled waste o f t h e m ou n tai n s ; i f thou hast bu rst through

woods an d thick ets l ik e som e stron g l io n if th ou hast tame d
the sw iftness of th e wild goat an d th e bou nd ing stag an d th e , ,

raven ing boar and bear ; i f th ou hast cas t ou t th e p oi son o f

s n ak e a nd adder —th en m ak e thysel f k nown to m e thou man
, ,

o f arm s l ord of th e wood s an d lover o f the rocks an d haste n

, , ,

to m ee t m e that w e m ay strive agai n s t each oth er i n song

, ,

l ike n igh tingales Wh erefore grea t k i ng s tir up thy heart to

.
, ,

strength come down to th e p asse s of the Pyren ee s an d there

, ,

shal t th ou fi n d an athlete w i th wh om th ou mayest worth i ly

’
con ten d .

Paul u s was tak en at h i s w or d th e lord o f the woods flew ,

‘

d own i n h aste from th e Basque m ou n tain s an d had thrown ,

hi m sel f up on th e rebel army before a single week was o u t H e .

force d the passes of th e P yren ee s d rivin g the troops o f Paulu s ,

b efore h im an d then thre w h im sel f upon Narbon n e the

, ,

cap i tal o f S e p t i m a n i a T h e tow n was s torme d by m ai n force

.
,

after a siege o f onl y t hree days an d when i t had fallen , , ,

Wamba rec overe d m ost o f th e ot her town s between th e

m oun tain s an d th e Rhon e Paulu s took re fuge i n th e .

s trong town o f N i sm es an d sen t to ask help o f th e Franks ,

.

B ut th e k i ng was t o o qu ick for h i m Th e Goth s h ad grown .

sk illed i n the art o f pol iorcetics du ri ng their l ong struggle to

230 E u rop ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

ex p e l t h e Byzan t i nes fro m An dal u sia an d by m ean s o f h i s , ,

s iege — machi n es Wamba to ok N isme s o n th e seco n d d ay o f i ts

,

leaguer Paulu s an d hi s ch ie fs t h en s hu t th em sel ve s u p i n

.

th e grea t Roman amph i th eatre wh i c h th ey h ad tu rn ed in to ,

a ci tad el I n a few day s th ey were re duced b y fam i n e t o

.

’
throw them selves o n th e k i ng s m ercy Wa mba swore t o .

spare thei r l ives a n d Paul us w i th six an d twen ty c ou nt s an d

, ,
- -

c hie fs gave th em selves u p to h i s m ercy The k in g ha d th eir

,
.

beards a n d h air pl ucked o u t by the roo t s an d l e d the m i n ,

tri ump h t o Toled o wh ere the y were march ed through the town
,

i n chai n s a n d bare foot cl othe d i n sh irts o f s ackcl oth wi th

, ,

Paulus i n fron t weari n g a leath er crown fasten ed o n t o h i s

, ,

bare scal p by a p it ch plas ter Th e n am es o f t h e si x an d

-
.
-

t wen ty have su rvi ve d They i n cl u ded o n e bi sh op ( a G oth ) on e

.
,

pries t o f Roman blood an d t wen ty fou r coun t s an d ch ie fs o f

,
-
,

wh om se ven teen h ave G othi c an d seve n Rom an n am es .

Thi s bl o w to t h e u n rul y G oth ic n obles secured Wamba a

qu iet reign H e sat o n t he th ron e for seven years m ore ( 6 7 3
.

i n p eace an d prosperi ty e n d ea vo u ri n g j o p alliate as bes t

,

L aw s f h e coul d t h e d iseases o f th e Vi sigoth ic s tate

o
.

W mb
a
Som e o f h i s l aws show clearl y en ough th e d a n
a

gers o f th e times S o far had th e clas s o f smal l freeholders

.
,

wh o sh oul d h ave comp ose d the bu lk o f th e royal h ost n ow d i s ,

appeared that Wamba ordai n s that for th e future slave s a s well ,

as freem en are t o obey th e royal s um m on s to war H e even

,
.

ord ere d tha t th e b i sh ops were to h ea d thei r serfs i n th e fiel d ,

a com m an d wh ich was deepl y resen ted by th e cl ergy th ough ,

a few gen eratio n s l ater we fi n d th e practi ce com m o n e n ough

both i n E ngland Gaul an d German y , ,
.

Wa mba l os t h i s thron e b y a c u ri ou s ch ance or perhaps by , ,

a stil l m ore cu ri ou s pl ot H e fel l i ll i n 6 8 0 was given over

.
,

by the physician s a n d fel l i n to a l on g s tu po r H i s atten da n ts

,
.
,

i n accordan ce wi th a frequ en t practice o f th e da y clad h i m i n ,

m onki sh robes a n d shore h i s hai r t o th e ton su re that he m igh t ,

’
d ie i n religion
‘
The n before t he breath was o u t o f h i s body
.

h i s m ost tru sted o ffi ce r cou n t E rw ig seized th e royal h oard

, ,
 Tne D ecl i n e a nd F a ll o f tne Vi s i go tns 231

an d declared h im sel f kin g E rwi g was a great neph ew of

.
-

king C hi n da swi n t h an d looke d upo n h i m sel f as E w i

,
6 8 87 r
’ g 0-
th e h e ir o f h i s c ousi n R e cc eswi n t h Wa m b a s
, .

, ,

predece ssor Ye t h e was n ot o f pure V i sigoth i c bl ood ; h is

.

fath er A rt ava sd e s was a refuge e from Byzan tium who m ,

C hi n d a swi n t h had taken i n to favou r an d h on ou red wi th t he

’
gi ft o f h i s ni ece s han d .

To the di sm ay of th e p alace th e age d Wam ba di d n ot di e

he recovered from hi s l on g stupor an d b egan t o me nd B u t .

th e n ew k ing a n d th e court cl ergy j oi ne d i n as su ring h i m that

— even though h e k n ew i t n o t — h e had become a m onk ,

a n d coul d n ot resu m e h i s lay attire o r h is royal au th ori ty .

Apparen tl y Wa mba was n o t ab ov e th e superstitio n s of h i s

day ; he re sign ed hi m sel f t o the i dea a nd retire d t o the ,

mon as tery o f Pampl iega W h ere h e l ived to a great o l d age

, .

I t was a fterwards rum ou red w he ther truly o r fal sely that h i s

, ,

lon g trance ha d n ot bee n n atural bu t th at E rwi g seei ng hi m , ,

o n th e bed o f sickn ess had given h i m a s trong sleeping

,

potion an d deliberately e n fro c k e d h im by frau d i n order t o

,

seize th e crow n .

Wamba was the last o f th e Vi sigoth s th e fou r ki ngs wh o

foll owed hi m are mere shad ows crown ed phan tom s of wh om ,
’
we kn ow l ittle o r n oth ing fo r wit h Wa m b a s death the h istory
,

o f Spai n sinks i n to th e blackes t obscu ri ty Thei r T h l s t . e a

n ames were E rwi g ( 6 8 0 E g i ca ( 6 8 7 G 1h i k i gs ° ° n "

Wi t i z a ( 7 0 1 an d Roderi c ( 7 1 0 O f th e las t two we

k n ow l ittle m ore than th e n ames bu t a few facts are a sc e r ,

t a i n a b l e ab ou t E rw i g an d E g i c a .

The former th ough h e had n erve en ough to seize th e

,

t hron e h ad n ot cou rage t o defen d the roya l righ ts H e l et

,
.

t he crown si nk back in to th e sam e state o f dependence on

the churc h in to whi ch i t ha d fall en i n the days o f S i si n a n d
an d R e c c e swi n t h H e wa s rul ed an d m anaged by J ul ian
.
,

th e bi sh op of Toledo an d appe ars to have been far les s truly

,
’
ki ng o f Spai n th an was that prela t e At Julian s behes t h e .

re p eal ed th e m ili tary laws o f Wamba becau s e they b ore ,

232 E u r op ea n H i s tory , 4 7 6- 9 1 8

hardly on th e ch u rch an d recom m ence d th e cruel p ersecu ti on

,

o f the J ews wh i c h always accom p an ied t h e access io n o f a

,

p riest rid de n k i ng t o th e S pani sh thron e

-
.

Apparen tly becau se he was torm en te d by h i s con scien ce

o n accoun t o f h i s d eal ings w i th ki ng Wam ba E rwi g chose ,
’
Wa mb a s n ephe w a n d h e i r E gi c a as h i s successor H avi n g .

m arrie d h i m to h i s o wn daughter C i xil o an d m ade hi m swear ,

t o be ki n d to h i s w i fe a n d h er b roth ers E rwig lai d d own h i s ,

crow n an d followe d Wamba i n to a monastery .

E gi ca di d n ot keep h i s vo w ; t he m om en t that th e G othic

assem bl y h a d rec ogn i se d h i m as ki ng he m ade th e b is ho p s
absol ve h i m from h i s oath an d th en repudiate d h i s wife an d
,

seized t h e p ro p erty o f hi s brothers i h law th e son s o f E rwi g

- -
, .

’
E gi ca s reign w a s marke d by th e l ast an d fi erces t p ersecu ti on
o f th e J ews i n wh ic h th e Vi sigo th i c king an d clergy e ver
,

i n dulged They voted at the sixteen th Cou ncil o f Toledo

.

( 95)
6 that al l adul t J ews sh oul d b e sei ze d an d s ol d a s slaves ,

w h ile t heir chil dre n were t o b e s eparated from the m an d

gi ve n t o Ch ri stian fam ilies to rear i n the true fai th U nder .

th i s wi cked l aw m an y H ebrew s con form ed an d s til l m ore ,

fl e d over sea t o Africa T h e crim e wh ic h brough t d ow n th i s

.

doom up on th em i s sai d to have been a pl o t t o betray S p ain

t o foreign enem i e s A n e w power had j ust arrive d i n the
.

n eighb ourh oo d of th e Vi sigoth i c real m ; after fi fty years o f

A p p r ch f figh ti n g the terribl e an d fanatical Sara cen ha d
oa o ,

th
e aS r c a s j us t overcome the B yzan tin e gove rn ors o f Africa
en

an d s tormed Carthage the last strongh ol d o f th e E as t

Roman s I t was to th em i t w oul d se em t hat th e J ews ha d
.
, ,

se n t m es sages t o beg t he m to cross th e strai t s an d p u t an

,

en d to th e persecu ti ng rul e o f the Span ish bi sh ops N oth in g .

cam e o f the i n vi tati on a t thi s ti m e ; b u t th e very fac t that i t

was p os sibl e i m pl i ed th e gravest ch an ge i n th e si tuati on o f
th e Vi sigoth s Fo r th ree gen e rati on s th ey ha d bee n lyi ng
.

between two weak s tati on ary an d u n e n terpris ing n eighbou rs ,

th e facti o n ri dden Franks a n d t h e exarch s o f Africa H o w

-
.

woul d th e d ecaying real m fare w hen attacke d by a new p owe r

i n th e fi rst bl oom o f i ts fanati cal y ou th a n d vigou r ?
 ’
Tne D ecl i n e a na F a ll f tne Vi s i go t/zs
o 23 3

E g i ca , h owever wa s n o t d e stin ed t o see t he day o f trial

, ,

n or was hi s s on Wi t i z a ( 7 0 1 o f whom absol u tely n oth i ng

i s kn own save that h e was pop ul ar wi t h the p eopl e bu t hated

,
‘

’
by th e clergy The detail s of h is evi l d oi n gs are the mere
.

i magi ni ngs of th e m onki s h wri ters o f th e ten th cen tury I n .

h i s own ti m e they were n ot writte n down for wi thi n tw o ,

years o f h i s death Spai n h ad fallen u nder the p ower of th e

M oor an d n o nati ve ch ron icler h a d the h eart to detai l th e
,

last hours o f the o l d Vi sigoth i c k i n gdom .

Wi t iz a d i ed youn g leavi ng two s on s wh o were not o ld

,

e n ough t o wear t h e crown The G oth s ch ose th erefore as

.
, ,

t hei r ki ng a certai n cou n t Rod e ric wh o i s a mere nam e to ,

u s— though th e later ch ron iclers say what i s l ikel y en ough , ,

that h e was a k in sman o f C h i n d a swi n t h a n d E rwi g an d ,

t herefore hosti le t o the h ou se o f Wamb a an d E gi c a .

H e reigne d b u t eighteen m on th s for in h i s tim e came th e ,

evil day of Spain The Sarace n con querors o f Afric a had

.

spen t th e last twenty years i n tam ing th e M oors and B erbers .

All th e tribes had n ow b owe d to thei r yoke an d acce p ted

I sl am : swelled t o vas t n u m bers by th e n ew con verts an d ,

yearn i ng fo r fres h fi el ds to con quer the Arab ch iefs were ,

pre p ari n g to leap ove r the n arrow st rai t o f Gibral tar an d ,

throw t hem selves upon the S pan i sh pen in sula .

The rom antic lege n ds o f a later gen era t ion tell a lurid
tal e o f th e wi cked n ess o f ki n g Roderic h ow h e vi olate d the ,

daughter o f coun t J u lian the govern or o f Ceuta a n d h ow

, ,

the ou trage d fath er b etraye d h i s fortress th e k ey o f th e ,

strai ts t o th e M oors an d gui ded them over t o the shores o f

, ,

Andalu sia All th is i s purely u n h istoric There i s n o reason

. .

for beli evi ng tha t Roderi c was better o r worse than h i s pre
d e c e sso rs o f h i s character we kn ow n oth ing : hi s very exi st
ence i s on ly vouched for by a n am e an d date i n the l i st o f
Gothic k ings an d by a few very rare coi n s
,
.

Thi s much we k n o w tha t ere h e had been eigh teen month s

,

o n the thron e the M oors lande d i n force at Calpe th en ceforth ,

to b e kn own as J ebel Ta ri k ( Gi bral tar) from th e nam e o f

-
,

their leader They began to lay was te Andal u sia a nd Roderic

.
,
2 34 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

cam e o u t agai n s t th em at the head o f th e w h ole hos t o f

Vi sigoth ic S p ai n wh ich mu s t n ow have bee n compose d —as
,

the laws o f Wam ba sh ow u s —o f a few weal th y cou n ts an d

bi sh ops h ead i n g a great m u lti tu de of th ei r serfs an d de p e n
d ants The levy o f th e Vi sigoth s proved far l es s abl e t o
.

res i st the M oslem s th an had been th e t roops o f Byzan tiu m .

Batt l e f t h O n th e ban k s o f th e G u a de l e t e n ear Medin a

o e ,

G uad l t 7 m S i don ia Tarik gai n ed a deci sive victory

e e e .
, Roderic .

wa s slai n o r d rown e d i n the pursu i t t h e G oth ic arm y di s ,

p e r se d an d
,
wi th ou t h avin g t o figh t an y seco n d battle t he
in vaders m astere d S pain I n le ss than two years ( 7 1 1 1 3 )
.
-

Tari k an d hi s superi or o fficer M usa t he govern or o f Africa , ,

subdu ed th e whol e coun try ; a few plac es su ch a s Cord ova , ,

Merida a n d Saragos sa hel d ou t for a s h ort space bu t th e

, , ,

Goths di d n o t ch o ose a n ew k ing o r rally fo r an y gen eral

effort of re sistan ce B y 7 1 3 th e o nl y c o rn e r o f Spain w hich
.

had n o t subm i t te d was th e m ou n tai n ou s coast o f the B ay o f

B i s cay wh ere the u n tam eabl e Bas que s an d th e i nhabi tan t s o f
,

th e Asturia s m ain tain ed a p recari ous liberty preserve d rather ,

by the i r ob s curity an d the rugged ne s s o f thei r h om es than by

th e i n ability o f th e M oslem s t o com ple te their co n ques t .

S o fel l Vi sigoth ic S pai n Th e reason s a re n ot far t o seek

.

th e k in gs — chose n from n o singl e royal s tock bu t creature s ,

of a ch an ce electi on —h ad beco m e p owerle ss t he m ere sl aves ,

of thei r cl ergy ; th e grea t n obl es were d i sloyal a n d turbulen t ;

C a se s
u f th o
t he s maller
e
free h ol ders h ad d isappeared ; the
f ll f t h
a o great mas s o f serfs had n o heart to figh t for thei r
e

tyran nical m asters Th e State comb i ne d t h e

.

weakness o f a lan d u n de r eccl esiastical govern a n ce wi t h th e

turbule nce o f e xtrem e feudal i sm I t w oul d have fal len before
.

th e fi rs t str o n g i n vader i n an y ca se ; i f th e M oor ha d n o t

cros sed the strai ts Spai n woul d probably have becom e a n
,

appa nage o f th e Fra nk i sh realm u nder the m igh ty Mayors o f

th e Pal ace o r th e stil l migh ti e r Charle s th e G reat
,
.
 C H A PTE R X IV

TH E C ON T ES T OF T H E E A S TE R N E M PI RE AN D T H E
C A LI PH A TE
64 1 7 1 7
-

D y na s t i c t r o ubl e s a fte r t h e d ea t h o f H e r a cl i us—W ars o f C o n s ta n t i n us

C s t ans t h e C a l i p h a te —H i s p u b l l ca t i o n o f t h e Ty —
( w i h H is
‘
o n t p e

i n v a s i o n o f I t a ly a n d w ar w i t h t h e L o m b a rds —R e ig n o f C o n s ta n t i ne v
—
.

H i s succ e ssful d e fe n c e o f C o n s t a n t i n o p l e — Tyr a n n y o f J us t i n i a n 1 1 .

H i s d e p o s i t i o n —U sur pa t i o n s o f L e o n t i u s a n d T i b e r i us—J us t i n i a n r e s to r e d
—A na rchy fo ll o w s h i s m u rd e r R i s e o f L e o t h e I sa ur i a n .

AT the momen t o f t he death o f th e un fortu nate H eracl ius

th e E ast R oman E mp ire was l eft i n a m os t d isadvan tageou s
-

positi on for re si s tin g th e vigorou s attack wh ich th e M oslem s

were pressi ng again s t i ts rem ai n i n g provi n ces Yi elding to .

the i n fluence o f hi s ambi tiou s wife M arti n a t he o l d emperor ,

ha d left the i mperial power d i vide d be tween H eracl ius

’
Con stan tinus th e offsprin g of hi s fi rst wi fe an d M arti n a s
, ,

el dest s on H e ra cl e o n as The elder o f the young emperors

.

was twen ty n in e th e younger only sixteen Thei r j oin t reign

-
, .

O p en ed ill for H eracl iu s Co n stan ti n u s an d hi s step m othe r

,
-
,

wh o acte d i n al l th ings as th e represen tat ive of her you n g

s on were at open d i scord B u t before three m on th s had
,
.

elapsed H eracl i u s Con s tan tin u s di e d ; i t i s pro T o ubl e s t r a

bable that h i s decease was du e to natural causes C s t t i ,

on an

bu t t he Byzan tin e p u blic bel ieve d otherwi se ,

an d Martin a wa s openly accu sed o f having poi son ed h er step

son H e r con duc t was n ot such as t o ren der th e charge
.

i mprobable for she at once proclaimed her so n H e ra cl e o n a s

,

sol e em peror al though H eracl iu s C o n stan tin u s had l eft two

,

you ng b oys behin d h i m .

236 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 -9 1 8

Thi s was m ore th an th e C o n st a n t i n Opo l i t an s woul d stan d .

Riotin g a t on ce broke o u t an d th e sen ate whic h abou t thi s

, ,

tim e assum es an i n depe n den t at ti tu de very di fferen t fro m i ts ,

usual obed ien t i mp o ten ce m ade t he m os t strongly w orded ,

represen tati on s to M arti na a n d h er s on th reaten i ng t he ,

worst con se quence s i f t h e s on s o f H eracl iu s Co n stan ti n u s

were exclu de d fro m t he su ccess ion I n terror o f th ei r l i ve s .

M arti na an d H e ra c l e o n a s b owe d t o th e po p ular will a n d ,

allowe d th e boy Co n s tan ti n u s t o be crown e d as th e colleagu e

o f h i s u n cle ; h e was n o m ore tha n eleve n years ol d a t h i s

coron ation .

Th e j oi n t ru le o f t he two l ad s u n der th e regen cy o f ,

M artin a las te d l es s than a year I n Sep tember 6 4 2 the

,
.

’
senate execu te d a coup d éta t ; Martin a an d her so n were
sei ze d an d ban i sh ed t o C herson O n th e accu satio n t hat .

th ey h ad p oi s on ed H eracl iu s C on s tan ti nu s they were cru ell y

mutilated : t h e tongu e o f th e em p res s an d th e n ose o f H era
c l eo n a s were sl i t — th e fi rs t i n stan ce o f such a treatmen t o f

T H E H O US E OF H E RAC LI US .

H e r a cl i us t h e E x a rch .

M ari a = M art i nu s .

E ud o c i a HE RA C L I U S M a r ti n a ,
A D . . 6 1 0 641
-
.

HE RAC L I U S H E RA C L E O N AS ,
C ON S TA N TI N U S , A
D 6 4 1 6 42
. .
-
.

A D
. . 641 .

I
’
C O N S TA N I I N U S
‘

I V ( C O N S TAN S
. Th e o d o s i us ,

6 4 1 -6 6 8 . e x e cu te d 66 0 .

C ON S TA N T I N E I V . or V
668 6 85 -
.

J U S TI N I A N I I Th eo d o r a t h e C haz ar .

6 8 5 6 9 5 . a nd
-

7 05 7 1 1
-
.

i e i T b r u s C a e sa r .
 Con tes t of t ne E a s t er n E rnp i re ’
a n a tne C a l zpna t e 237

royal personages bu t by n o m ean s t he las t i n B yzan tin e

,

h istory .

Con stan ti nu s 1V or as h e wa s m ore u sual ly bu t less accu

.
,

ra t e l
y style d C on stan s th u s be cam e th e sole ruler o f th e
E as t ere h e h a d fi n i sh ed h i s twel fth year The real govern .

m en t was for s om e ti m e carri ed o n by th e sen ate C s t s

, , on an

— a fac t w h ich vou ches b oth fo r th e l oyal ty o f

t h e empi re t o th e h ou s e o f H eracl iu s an d for th e great rise i n
t he p ower of th e sen ate du rin g th e last two o r th ree gen era
tion s I n earl ier days th ere i s n o doub t that som e po w erful
.

ge n eral w ou l d h ave sei zed t h e th rone B ut Con stan ti n u s .

,

th ough hi s m i nori ty was n o t u ntroubled b y revol ts was ,

’
perm i tted to grow u p to m an s es tate and to as sume i n d ue ,

cou rse th e p erson al con trol of th e e mpi re .

I t i s astoni sh ing t h at m ore evil s di d n ot com e u p on th e

S tate duri n g t h e b o yh o od o f Con sta n ti nu s Th e e nergeti c .

caliph O mar was s till u rgi ng o n th e Arabs to con qu est an d ,

wi th n o fi rm han d at th e h elm i t m igh t have been expecte d

t hat th e ship of th e E as t Roman s tate woul d h ave ru n up on
-

t h e breakers B u t t h ough the Saracen s s til l con ti n ued t o

.

mak e way th e rate of their progress w as checked Al exan dria

,
.
,

th e las t Ch ri stian strongh ol d i n E gyp t had fallen during th e ,

s hort rei gn o f H e ra cl e o n a s The res ources o f th e empi re .

w ere drai ne d for an attemp t t o recover i t an d i n the s econ d ,

year o f Con stan ti nu s a con s i derabl e expedi tion u n der a ,

gen eral n amed M a n u el fel l u n expec tedly upon th e place a n d

,

retook i t The Arab govern or o f E gypt th e celebrate d

.
,

Am rou had to be si ege the pl ace for m ore than a year before
,

i t yielded I rri tate d by i ts l on g re si stan ce b e cas t d own i t s

.

wall s an d m assacred ma ny o f i ts in habitan ts I t w ould seem .

th at t he S aracen arms were for th e n ext few years more

1 Th e r e i s n o d o ub t th a t h i s r e a l n am e w a s C o n s t a n t i n us o r i n ful l ,

F l a v i us H e r a cl i u s C o n s t a n t i n us B u t th e We s tern h i sto ria n s a n d s o m e

.
,

o f t h o s e o f th e E a s t c a l l h im C o n s t a n s P r o b a bl y t h i s w as a m e r e
,
.

c o n v en i e n c e t o d i s t i n gu i sh h im fr o m h i s fa t h e r H e r a cl i us C o n s t an t i n u s
, ,

an d h i s so n C o n st an ti n e I V ( o r
,
.
 238 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

e n grosse d i n the fi nal c on qu e st o f ea stern Persi a than i n

assaulting th e R oman empi re I t wa s n o t t i l l Y e z d ig e rd th e .
,

last of th e Sa ssan i an ki n gs h ad been de feated an d stripped ,

o f th e farthes t corners o f h i s d om in i o n that the Arab s turn e d

1
on ce m ore to th e West .

Th e only poi n t o f th e Rom a n fron tie r wh i ch was seriou sly

attacked was Africa Th e san dy waste be tween E gyp t an d
.

Barca had les s terrors for the Ara b than fo r an y oth er i n vader .

E ncourage d by th e fact tha t G regory th e exarch o f Africa had

W rm
a rebelled a n d p roclaim e d h im sel f em p e ror s o that
-

A fr i c a
h e coul d h ope for n o ai d fro m Con stan ti n o p le ,

t he Sarace n gen eral Ab dallah Abu Sah r crossed t h e Li byan

,
- -

desert an d at tacke d Barca G regory cam e o u t agai n st h im .

,

bu t was defeated an d slai n : B arca an d Trip ol i fell t o th e

i n vaders bu t Carthage an d t he re st o f Africa relapse d i n to
,

allegian ce t o Co n stan ti n u s w he n t h e u su rper w a s slai n Th e

,
.

Saracen fron ti er s tood stil l at the Syrte s ( 6 4 6 an d i t took

hal f a cen tury m ore o f fight ing before t h e Rom an s were evicted
from the wes tern hal f o f th eir Afri can p ossession s .

M eanwh ile the cal iph O mar had died an d h i s w eaker ,

successor O th man prove d l ess dangerou s t o th e E as tern

, ,

e mpire H i s gen eral s h owever i n va de d Cypru s a nd overran

.
, , ,

th e isl an d u n abl e t o perm an e ntl y h ol d i t becau se o f th e pre ,

pon deran ce of th e By zan ti n e fleet th ey con ten ted th em sel ve s ,

wi th exactin g a tribute an d re tired , B u t encou raged by

th e resul t o f th i s their fi rst exped i ti o n b y sea the Saracen s
, ,

com m en ced t o bu il d a great war fl eet an d i n a few years they ,

were i n a con d i ti on t o d i spute th e com m and of the eastern

Medi terranean w i th th e Roman galleys wh o s i nce the de ,

structio n o f the Van dal s i n 5 3 3 had kn own n o ri vals on t he

sea .

M eanwh il e C on stan tin u s h ad grow n u p t o man h ood an d , ,

l uckil y fo r th e em p i re prove d t o b e th e k in d o f sovereign

,

1
Th e fi n a l subje c t i o n o f P e rs i a w a s n o t c o mp l e t e t i l l 6 5 2 t h o u g h t he ,

b a tt l e f N e h a v e n d t he l a s t w h i ch Y e z d i g e rd r i sk e d i n t he o pe n fi e l d
o , ,

w as i n 6 4 1 .
 Con tes t of tne E a s ter n E mp i re a nd fi re Ca lip/za te 2 39

requi re d i n thos e days o f ad v e rsi ty H e was a s tern warlike .

prince p ossessed o f n o s mall share o f th e m ilitary abil i ty o f

,

h i s gran dfather H eracl i us H e was always i n th e fi eld headed

.
,

h is own force s by sea n o les s tha n by land an d deserved ,

success by h i s courage an d p erseveran ce i f h e d id n ot always

obtai n i t O ccasi on ally he wa s harsh an d cruel b u t such
.
,

faults are m ore easily pardone d i n an emperor wh o ha d to face

s uch a time of peri l than are cowardice an d i n dolen ce .

I n 6 5 2 Co n s tan ti nu s sen t a secon d expedi tion agai n s t

Al exan dria : i t was m et at sea o ff the Canopic m outh o f the
N ile by a great Saracen fl eet gathered from t he ports o f Syria
,

an d E gyp t an d defeated with great l oss Three years later

, .

th e en em y took the offen s ive M uavia th e govern or o f Syria , , ,

gathered a great armada to attack t h e sou thern coas t of Asia

M i nor while he h i msel f march ed by lan d to force S r c
, i a a en v c .

th e passes o f th e Tauru s an d in vad e Cappadocia W 1 6 5 .

8 5 »
2

Con stan ti n u s pu t t o sea wi th every sh ip h e coul d launch an d ,

m et the Saracen s at Phoen i x o ff th e Lycian sh ore H ere the

,
.

greatest n aval battle w hi ch the M editerran ea n had seen since

th e day o f Acti um was fough t : t he two fl eets grappled an d ,

the crew s struggled desperately han d to han d fo r m an y h ours .

Con stan tinu s was i n th e th ickes t o f the fightin g hi s i mperial ,

galley was boarded an d he o nly escap ed by th rowing off his

,

purple m an tle an d spri nging i nt o an other ship when hi s o w n

,

was cap t u red A t last th e Saracen s won a decisive victory

.
,

an d i t seem ed as i f they were abou t t o b ecom e th e m asters o f

t he [Eg e a n E ven before th e battle R h odes had fallen
i n to their han ds an d th e l ong prostrate Col ossu s had been
,
-

sol d for ol d brass to a J ewi sh dealer an d exporte d to Syria to ,

b e mel ted d own .

Th e em pire however was to be saved from t he hu mi liation

, ,

o f seeing a hostile fleet approach the D ardanelles for yet

twen ty years I n 6 5 6 th e cal ip h O th man was mu rdered an d

. ,

hi s death was i mm ediately foll owed by a sa v age civil war

am ong th e Saracen s Th e two clai mants for th e vacan t d ign i ty
.

’
of Succes sor o f the Proph et were M u avia who h eld Syria, , ,
2 40 E u ropea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

’
an d Al i M oham m ed s son i n l aw wh o h el d Me sop otam ia an d
,
- -
,

th e n ew Arab capital o f K u fa E ngro ssed i n h i s struggl e wi th

.

Ali Muavia w a s fai n to l eave th e Roma n em pi re u n rn o l e st e d

,
.

I n 6 5 9 h e b ough t peace from Co n sta n ti n u s o n th e curiou s

term s that h e sh oul d pay for every day that th e peace lasted a
h orse an d a sl ave Th i s t reaty proved the salvatio n o f t h e
.

em pi re : fo r t h e fi rst t im e for twen ty seven years i t was free -

fr o m Sarace n war an d C on s tan tin u s c oul d pau se an d take

,

th ough t fo r th e reorgan isat ion o f h i s m u ch ha ra s se d dom i nio n s -

.

I n t h e fi ve years of peace w h ic h were n o w granted t o h im ,

h e con trived t o make a con si derabl e i m p rovemen t i n thei r

condi ti o n .

When h e took s tock o f h is realm C on stanti n u s foun d ,

th at i n th e E as t fi ve great d istricts w e re i rretri evably l os t : th e

n earer hal f o f th e exarch ate o f Africa from Tripol i t o the ,

State o f t h e Libyan desert E gypt Syria an d t h e greater part

, , ,

E m pi
re i
fi sg
o f Rom an Arm en i a had fallen i n to th e p owe r o f

Saracen s M oreover i n E u rope th e trouble d years betwee n

.
, ,

6 1 0 an d 6 5 9 had brough t abou t th e com ple te los s of th e i nlan d

parts o f t h e Balkan pen i nsula The Slavs wh os e in cu rsi on s
.
,

h ad al ready grown so dangerou s i n th e reign o f Maurice had ,

n ow obtain ed com pl ete posses si on o f the w h ole o f M oe sia ,

an d o f the i nlan d parts o f Thrace an d M acedon Th ei r settle .

m en ts exte n ded t o wi th i n a fe w m ile s o f the gates o f

Ad rian opl e an d T hessal on i ca bo th o f w h ich ci tie s th ey from
,

ti m e to ti m e b esi ege d wi th ou t success They had eve n e n .

c ro a c h e d sou th o f M ou n t O lym p u s an d thru st forward t hei r ,

colon i es i n to som e parts o f Gre ece The i m perial dom i n i on s .

were restricte d t o a coast sli p ru n n ing all rou n d th e p en i n sula

-
,

from S palato i n Dalm atia t o O des sus on th e Bl ack Sea I n .

th e We st we have seen wh il e detail ing th e h is tory o f th e

,

Lo mbards that th e E as t Rom an s n ow preserved onl y th e ex

,
-

a rch a t e o f Raven na th e duch i es o f Rom e a n d Napl es

, th e ,

south ern poi n t o f I tal y an d th e i slan d s o f S icily an d Sard in ia

,
.

Recogn isi n g that h e mu s t l ook to re o rgan i sati on rath er

than to reco n que st fo r res toring the strength o f th e em pire ,
 ’
Co n tes t o f in E a s t er n E rnp i r e a na t /z e Ca l ipna te 24 1

Co n stanti nu s devoted hi msel f to securing h i s bord ers T he .

m omen t that th e civi l war o f t he Arabs broke o u t an d left ,

hi m free to move el sewh ere h e marche d agai n s t the S lavs o f

,

th e B alkan s defeated them an d reduced the m to pay tribut e

, , .

I t was hope l ess to d ream of drivin g them back acros s the

D a n ube and t he emperor w as co nten ted to accept th e exi st
,

i ng stat e o f thi ngs an d t o s ecure th e coast lan d of Th race

,
-

an d Mace don ia from further m oles tation by imposing a li n e ,

of demarcation be tween th e Slavon ic tribe s an d th e m uch

reduce d provi nce s ( 6 5 7
’
The e mperor s atten ti on was n ow drawn to Africa a n d
I taly H i s presenc e was n eeded there n o l ess t han i n the
.

Balkan pen in sul a i f the Lom bard an d th e Saracen were to be

,

fi nally checked from a dvan cing I n 6 6 2 h e sailed fo r the .

West an d was bu sy t here for th e n ext si x years righ t down to

, ,

th e m omen t o f his death Co n stan ti n u s h ated th e capital he

.

was su fficien tly a utocratic i n h i s n oti on s to d isl ike t he con trol

th at th e s enate had been w on t to exerci se over hi m i n earlier
years an d h e c ordi al ly deteste d th e mob of Con stan ti n ople
, .

H e h ad fallen o u t wit h t h em on th e sam e groun ds that had

on ce proved fatal to the populari ty o f Zeno The ci ty was .

torn wi th th e rel igi ous feuds be twee n th e O rth o dox an d th e

M o n othel ites an d th e e m per o r t o calm th e storm had i ss ue d
, , ,
’
an e di ct of comprehen si on called the Type i n T h T y p ‘
, e
.
e
.

wh ich h e forbade all m en tion o f ei ther th e single f C t o ons aRS

or the doubl e w ill as residi ng i n th e perso n o f O ur Lord .

Withou t sati sfyi ng th e h eretics the Type succee ded i n i rri ,

tati ng th e O rth od ox to great fu ry : they persisten tly accu se d

Con stan tin u s of b ei ng a Mon otheli te h imsel f an d made h i s ,

l ife m i serabl e by thei r clam ou r There was yet a thi rd r e ason

.

for h i s qu i tti ng Byzan tiu m I n 6 6 0 h e had conceived su s

.

i c i o n s wheth er true o r fal se we kn ow n o t t hat h is brothe r

p , ,

Theodosi us was pl otti ng again st h im H e promptly condemn ed .

th e youn g prin ce t o death b u t after t he execu tion hi s m ind

,

had n o re st we are tol d that hi s dream s were alway s haun ted

by the spectre o f hi s brother an d th at th e p alace w here t he
,

P ER I OD 1 . Q
2 42 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 1 8 -

d eed was don e grew i n supp ortably hateful to hi m I f thes e .

tale s be true h e le ft C on stan ti n opl e to seek e ase o f s p i ri t n o

, ,

less than to re store th e fa i lin g powers o f th e em p ire i n th e West .

I t was probably i n the p erio d 6 5 7 — 6 6 2 before h i s de p arture ,

fro m th e capi tal that Constan ti n u s recast th e provi nci al a d

,

m i n istratio n o f the em p ire i n accordan ce w i th th e n ee ds o f th e

’
times I t seem s t hat t he i n sti tu tion o f th e Themes or n ew
.
‘
,

p rovin ces m u st date fro m th is th e on ly s p ace o f res t a n d re

, ,

a rrangem en t to be fou n d i n a l on g age of wars Th e ol d .

provi n ce s as arrange d by D i ocle tian an d s omew hat m od ifi e d

, ,

by J u sti n ian had b ee n s mall an d i n each o f the m civil and

, ,

m il i tary p owe rs were ke p t separate th e local garri so n n ot being ,

u nder th e con trol of th e l ocal adm i ni strator The need s o f .

th e l o n g Pe rsian an d Saracen wars had l ed to th e practical su per

session o f th e ci vil govern ors by th e m ili tary comman ders fo r ,

i t was absol u tely n ecessary th at th e m e n t rusted wi th th e p re

servat ion o f th e empi re s h oul d b e abl e t o con trol i t s l ocal
adm i n i strati on an d fi n an ce T h e n ew p rovin ces were few an d
.

Cr e ation f large a n d rule d by govern ors wh o had civi l a s

o , ,

th
e Th m e
wel l a s m i li tary authori ty
e ?»
They were cal led
.

‘ ’
them es after th e nam e o f th e m il i tary d i vis ion s w hi c h
,
’
occu pied them a the m e bein g origin ally a force o f som e
,
‘

4 0 0 0 regular caval ry de tail ed for t he p rotection o f a d i stri c t .

The nam es of th e origi nal Asiati c the mes easily explai n them
’ ’
sel ves Anatol ikon an d Arm e n i a k o n the two larges t were the
,
‘ ‘
,
’
regi on s garrison e d by th e arm y o f th e E as t an d th e army
‘

’ ’
o f Arm en ia T hrak e s i o n
. farthe r west s h ows that the
, ,
’
original arm y o f Th race h ad been brough t ove r i nto Asi a t o
’
g ive ai d agai n st th e Saracen B u c e ll ari o n was name d aft e r
.

the B u ce lla rii a corps o rigin ally form ed o f Teu to n ic auxi liarie s
1
, .

The th e me calle d O bsequ iu m ( O psi k i o n ) was h el d b y the

I m perial Guard O nl y t he C i b yrha e o t e th eme al ong t he
.
,

south er n coast o f As i a M i n or was n ame d fro m a t own an d , ,

n o t from th e troops w h o garri son e d i t I n the Wes t there .

,

seem t o have been origi nally th ree th e m e s i n th e Balkan

1
S ee pa g e 1 3 1 fo r a Vi s ig o t h i c u se o f th e w o r d B u c ell a rrr .
 Con tes t of ti re E a s tern E rnp i re a nd fi re Ca l ipna te 24 3

p en i n sula Thrace I llyri cum an d H ellas an d three beyon d

, , , ,

i t Raven na Sicily an d A frica E ach them e was governe d by

, , , .

a s trat egos w h ose m i li tary t i tle sh ows h i s m il i tary character ,

,

an d was garri son e d by i ts own local force of regular troops ,

the core o f wh ich was i n each case a d i visi on o f 4 0 0 0

heavy cavalry The fu ll force o f th e twelve them es woul d give
.

some h orsem e n fo r the field i n add i tion to th e le ss

,

importa n t in fan try th e l ocal mili tia u sed for h old i n g fortresses
, ,

an d th e irregular hire d ban d s of barb arian auxiliaries o f man y

d i ffere n t races .

C on stan t inu s was the onl y E astern emp eror wh o ever p ai d

a large an d e ven prepon deran t share o f atten tion t o h i s
Western dom i n ions Th e long stay o f si x years w hich he
.

m ade i n I tal y an d S i cily cau se d h i s E as tern subj ects t o su p

pose that he ha d design s o f restori n g Rom e to th e p os iti on o f
capi tal o f th e em p ire o r even perhaps o f rais in g Syracus e
, , ,

t o that d i stin cti on Such a p roj ect seem s so in conven ien t

.

from geogra p h ical reason s that we can hardly cre di t i t p rob

,
’
ably Co n st a nti nu s p e rso nal d islik e fo r Con s tan ti n o p l e whi le ,
2 44 E u ropea n H i s to ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

su fli c i ng t o kee p h i m away from i t d id n o t m ake h i m sche me ,

t o tra n s fer th e seat o f e m pi re elsewh ere .

There i s n o d oub t h o wever th at C on sta n ti nu s was deter

, ,

m i n ed t o rea ssert th e supremacy o f th e em p i re i n I tal y agai n st

th e Lombards an d al so to take care t ha t th e exarch s an d th e
,

p o p es sh ou l d n ot gro w t o o s trong an d i n de p en den t E ven .

before he sailed fo r I taly h i s j eal ou s y o f th e power o f th e

T he f ate f p a
o
p acy had bee n sh own by h i s deali n gs wi th Po p e

P p M rt i
o e a
Marti n 1 n
T hat p relate had dare d to h ol d a
.

’
syn od at Rom e i n w hich h e con dem n e d th e Ty p e o r E dic t
,
‘

o f Com p rehen sion i ssued by th e em p eror Co n stan tinu s

n eve r p ardon e d thi s : h e bi de d hi s t i m e di recte d th e exarc h ,

t o seize the person o f Marti n a t a con ve n ien t o p portu n i ty an d ,

ha d hi m sh ippe d o ff t o Co n stan ti n ople The re h e was tried .

for con tu macy th ro wn i n t o chai n s a n d ban i s he d to C herson

, , ,

i n the Crimea where h e d ie d i n e xil e

,

Co n stan ti nu s le ft th e B osph oru s i n 6 6 2 w ith a large ar my ,

an d sailed for Taranto T here he l an de d an d at on ce fell.

,

u p on th e du ch y o f B e neven to th e sou th ern m os t of the Lom ,

bard S tate s i n I tal y T h e ti m e o f h i s attack h a p pe ned to be

.

u n fortun ate for Gri mo al d du ke o f B en eve n t o had sei zed th e

, , ,

Lombard crown an d h i s s o n Rom ual d was rul in g th e duch y

,

under hi m For on ce i n a way t herefore Pavi a an d Beneven to

.
, ,

C mp ig i
a a w ere u n ite d an d ready to act together The Lom
n n .

I t l y 66 3
a i ha rd hi s torian Paulus D iacon u s has preserved th e
, ,

detail s o f th e cam p aign o f Con s tan ti nu s —wh om h e u sually

styles Con sta n s as d o s o m any o ther w ri ters Th e emperor
, .

ca p tured o n e after an o ther al l the Lom bard ci ties o f s out h

, ,

I taly i n cludi ng Lu c e ri a th e c hie f town o f A p u lia H e drove

, , .

Romual d i nt o B en even t o an d h el d h i m cl osel y besieged ,

th ere til l h e gave u p hi s sis ter Gi sa as a h o st age an d promi sed

, ,

t o pay tri bu te H e would n ot have gran ted such easy term s

.
,

bu t for th e fact th at h e had l earn t that king G ri m o a l d wi th ,

t h e wh ole force o f Lombard y wa s m arc h ing agai n s t h i m ,

.

D e parti ng from B eneven to C on stan ti n u s m oved o n Rom e , ,

l eaving a p art o f h is army u n der a Persian exile n am ed Sa p or

 Con tes t of tne Ea s ter n E mp i re a nd t /z e Ca l ip na te 24 5

t o watch th e Lombards Thi s d ivi si o n was cu t t o pieces at

.

Fori n o an d after h e had received th e n ews th e em peror seem s

, ,

t o h ave given u p hi s i dea o f re con quering cen tral I taly H e

-
.

con ten ted hi m se lf w i t h vi si ti ng Rome and receivi ng th e h omage

o f p ope Vi talian wh o m et hi m at th e sixth m ileston e at th e
, ,

head o f the wh ole Roma n p eople an d escorted h i m i n to th e

,

ci ty B u t Rom e to ok l i ttl e profi t from th e adven t o f an

.

em peror a sigh t i t had n ot s ee n fo r tw o h un dre d years Con

,
.

s t a n t i n u s pl u n dered i t of man y ornam en ts an d i n p articular ,

stripped th e Pan theo n o f its tiles of gilde d bron z e a n d sen t

them to Con stan ti n o p l e
After s taying o nly twel ve days i n th e ancien t capi tal th e ,

emperor turne d o n hi s h eel an d i n stead of proceeding a gain st

,

th e n orthern Lombards l ed h i s arm y through Naples in to

,

Lu can ia an d B ru t t i u m as far as Reggi o K ing Gri m o al d an d

.

h i s s on d o n ot seem to have m oleste d hi m i n th i s long m arch .

Co n stan ti nu s then crossed th e s tra its o f Messin a i nto S icily ,

an d establ is hed himsel f at Syracuse wh i ch h e C t , i ons ans n

5 6 4 11
mad e hi s residence for m ore than fou r years -

[ 6 6 4 H i s atten tio n was engrossed by the forward m ove

m en t o f th e Sarace n s i n Africa M uavia havi n g secu re d th e

.
,

s ole caliphate by th e death o f h i s rival Ali h ad at last reco i n ,

m e n c e d h i s attack s o n the emp ire i n 6 6 3 H i s troops push ed

.

forward i n A frica an d seized Carthage fro m wh ic h h owever

, , ,

Con stan tinu s su cceede d i n driving th em o u t an d o nce m ore ,

pu shed the m back t o Tripol i I t m u st h ave bee n i n this

.

Afri can war that h e spen t th e treasures wh ich h e i s sai d to

have wrung ou t o f th e p eopl e o f S ic ily Sard in ia an d sou th , ,
’
I tal y by exacti on such as h ad never b een heard of before
‘
,

even tearing th e sacram en tal plate from th e c hurches an d ,

selling as slaves th ose wh o refu sed to pay These harsh p ro .

c e e d i n g s d id as m u ch t o weaken th e power o f th e em pi re i n

the West as the m ili tary su ccesses of Con stan tin u s d id t o

s tre n gthen i t .

I t was a t Syracuse th at Con s tan ti n u s met h i s en d Wh ile .

h e was bath ing i n the baths that were cal le d Daphn e h is ,

2 46 Eu r op ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

attendan t An dreas sm o te h i m o n th e h ea d w ith h i s m arble

soap box so that th e skul l was broken an d th en fled away
-

, , .

M urd r f e The bl ow wa s fatal a n d wi th th i s s tran ge death

o ,

( ” 668
n
p eri she d that pla n o f restori n g th e empire i n the
We st wh ic h h ad bee n th e favouri te schem e o f Con stan t in u s .

H i s m urder was p robabl y th e resul t o f a co nspi racy fo r wh en ,

i t was k n own a n Arme n ian o fli c e r n am ed M e z e c i u s p roclai med

,

h im self emperor i n S ici ly an d reign ed th ere fo r a few m o nth s

,
.

’
Fo r the la st fi ve years o f C on stan ti n us l ong abs en c e i n
t he West there h ad been gri evou s trouble wi th th e Saracen s i n
Asia M i nor agai n s t wh i ch th e cal ip h M u avi a ha d launched h i s
,

h ost s for five s uccessive s u m m ers Th e rai ds of h i s ge n eral s .

reache d as fa r a s A m o riu m i n P h rygia wh i ch wa s s torm ed by ,

the Arabs an d prom ptl y retaken by th e Roman s i n 6 6 8 Th e

, .

n om i nal con trol o f a ffairs i n A sia ha d bee n left to the em

’
pe ro r s eldes t s o n Co n stan ti n e whe n h i s father sailed to th e ,

C o ns t gan
West O n th e ne ws o f th e m u rder at Syracu se and
ne
.

l’g w t th e u su rpa ti o n o f M e z e c iu s Con s tan ti n e n ow

fsg zs y
r r us ,
, ,
5
aged eigh teen sailed i n person t o S icily p ut down
'

, ,

an d e xecu ted the u su rpe r an d then prom ptly retu rn ed t o ,

C onstan tin opl e H e h a d been beardles s when h e se t o u t

.
,

bu t re tu rn ed n ex t year w i th h i s face covered w i th hai r w here ,

fore th e p eopl e o f th e capi tal gave h i m th e n ick n am e o f

’
P o g o n a t u s th e bearded by wh ich h e i s gen erally known
‘
.
, ,

Cu riou sl y e n ough the n am e woul d have been far better applie d

to h i s fa ther wh ose beard wa s en ormou s wh ile that of C o n ,

s t a n t i n e v d i d n ot e xceed a very m oderate l i m i t

. .

’
C on stan tin e P o g o n a t u s was h is father s tru e son a hard ,

workin g hard fi gh ti n g an d som ewhat high han ded Caesar w h o

,
-
,
-
,

kept th e em p i re wel l t oge ther an d spen t al l h i s en ergy i n ,

h old ing the Saracen s i n ch eck a task i n wh ich h e wo n great ,

success H e reigned for seven teen years

. o f wh ich

the fi rs t ten were a tim e o f u n b rok e n war w i th th e Cal i

phate . The fi rst b egi n ni n g o f th i s s truggle was n ot very
favou rable for th e em pire ; i n 6 6 9 7 0 th e gen eral s o f M uavia -

pu shed thei r way as far as the sea o f M armora an d i n 6 7 2 th e ,

 Co n t es t of the E a s t er n E mp i re a nd fi re Ca l zp/za t e 2 47

Caliph though t succes s s o n earl y i n hi s grasp that he prepared

fo r a formal s iege o f Con stan ti n opl e the secon d that i t had ,

u n dergon e i n th e cen tu ry Using th e harbou r o f Cyzicu s a s

.

their base t he Saracen s u n der a gen eral named A b d e rrha

, ,
’
ma n an d t he Caliph s son Y e z i d beleaguered th e c ity for si x
, ,

m on th s ( April S eptember -
They were fi nally force d t o
,

retire after a naval en gagem en t i n wh ich th e Imperial galley s

ha d th e bette r largely owin g i t i s said t o t he n ewly i n ven ted
, , ,
’
Greek fi re by wh ich they bu rn t m an y o f th e M oslem shi ps
, .

W hen forced away from the B osphoru s the Saracen s fel l back ,

o n Cyzicu s wh ic h they succeeded i n h ol di ng for n o less th an

,

fou r years m aki ng o ccasi on al sallies from i t toward s C on

,

s t a n t i n o p l e o f wh ich every si ngl e on e was repelled with loss

,

b y the em peror At las t th e Arabs a fter l osi n g C s t a t i v

.
, on n ne .

th ei r gen eral an d seeing Abu E y ub on e o f th e v s C sa e on

t mi m p’
, ,
S a e
last survi vi ng compan i on s o f M oham med peri sh ,
'

before the wal ls raised the si ege Th ei r fl ee t was destroyed

, .

by a storm o ff the Lycian Coast thei r lan d arm y was attacke d -

o n i t s retreat b y th e E ast Roman s an d de feate d wi th a l oss ,

of me n .

So great was the b l ow i n fl icted o n th e Calip h by the en tire

failure o f h is army before Co n stan ti nopl e that h e was glad ,

t o c onclude an ig n om i n i ou s peace with t he em p eror by whic h ,

h e engaged t o pay 3 0 0 0 pou n d s of gol d to Con stan ti ne an d to ,

sen d h im fi fty Arab horses for every year tha t the treaty
las ted
The fi del i ty o f th e E as t Roman s t o th e h ouse of H eracl iu s
was thu s j u sti fie d by th e vi ctory o f Constantin e ; i t i s a pity
that only a very m eagre accou n t o f h i s campaign has com e
d own to us owi ng to the dearth o f chronicl ers i n the seve n th
,

cen tury We k n ow h owever th at th e fame o f h is triumph

.
, ,

wen t all over E urope an d t hat ambassadors cam e from th e

,

Avars th e Lombard s an d even t h e d istan t Frank s t o con

, ,

gratulate h i m on beatin g o ff a n attack wh ich h ad th rea tene d

seri ou s con sequence s t o th e w h ole o f Chri sten dom .

For the remai n der of h i s reign Con stan ti n e enj oyed a

248 E u r op ea n H i s to ry 47 6 9 I 8 ,
-

wel l earn ed p eace di sturbe d o nl y b y som e sl ight bickering

-
,

wi th a n ew en em y the B ulgarian s This Ugria n tribe wh o

,
.
,

Th had dwel t for t he las t two cen tu ries beyon d th e

e

uB lg i D anub e cro sse d th e rive r i n the e nd of Co n stan

a r a nS
,
’
t i n e s reign an d t hrew the m selve s up on th e Slavon ic tri bes
,

wh o h el d M oe sia Th ey subdu e d th e Sl avs wi th ou t m uch d iffi

.

cul ty a n d de feated a Ro m an army wh ich Con stanti n e l ed by

,

sea t o th e m outh o f the D anube Recogn i sin g t hat i t wa s .

im p ossibl e to rec on quer th e l o n g l ost M oesia the em p eror -

,

m ade p eac e w it h I sp erich t he B ulgarian ki ng an d allowed , ,

h i m t o se ttle wi t hou t fu rthe r opp osi ti o n i n t he land between

the D an u be a n d th e B alkan s wh ere th e Slavs had h i th erto ,

held p ossession A n e w Bulgarian n ati on was gradu ally

forme d by th e i n term i xtu re o f th e c o n quering tribe an d thei r
subj ect s wh en form ed i t di splaye d a S lavon i c rath er than a
,

Ugrian type an d s p ok e a Sl avon ic n ot a Ugri an tongu e

, .

The later years o f Con stan tin e v were better kn own to .

con tem porari es as th e t im e o f the h oldi n g o f t he coun ci l

o f Con stan tin ople than a s the ti m e o f th e foundati on o f th e
,

n e w Bulgarian k ingd om To settle th e d i spu te o n th e

.

d ivi n e an d h uman wi ll s o f C hri st t h e emperor sum m o ned an ,

oecu men ical syn od at wh ich th e Wes tern chu rche s were well
,

re p re sen ted I t fi n all y con dem n ed th e M on othel i te heresy

.
,

wh ich fo r th e futu re ceas e d t o be the great qu esti on d eba ted

between th e chu rch es ( 6 8 0 Bu t a n ew con tro vers y that ,

o n I con oclasm w a s ere l on g t o break ou t

, .

To th e misfortu n e o f th e em p i re the abl e an d hard worki n g -

Con stan ti n e died i n 6 8 5 at th e c om parati vel y early age of ,

th irty si x We h ear l i t tl e tha t i s u n favou rabl e to h i m from

-
.

a ny chron icler : hi s s ol e crim e se em s to have been t he cruel

ac t of sli t tin g the n oses o f h is tw o brothers H eracl i u s an d
Ti beri us i n 6 8 0 t o d isqual i fy th em from h ol din g i mperial
,

“
p ower They h ad h i th erto been n om i nall y the colle a gu es o f
.

C h r ct r
a a Con stan ti n e an d were h on ou red wi th t he t itl e o f
e ,

Caesars bu t i n th e i n terests o f h i s ow n so n
,

J usti n ian n ow a growi ng boy t h e em p eror d eterm i ned to mak e

, ,
 Con tes t of t lre E a s ter n E mp i r e an d t lze Ca l zp/t a t e 2 49

i t im p oss ible for th em to asp ire to th e su prem e p ower I t .

a pp ears to have been a cruel an d unj ust i fi abl e ac t a n d un less ,

the Caesars had gi ven p rovocat ion a fact of wh ich we have ,

n o h i n t i n any ch ron icler i t was a grievou s blot o n the other

,

wi se excellen t ch aracte r o f Con stan ti n e v .

Th e youn g J ustin ian sec on d o f th at nam e m oun ted h i s

, ,
’
fath er s th ron e i n 6 8 5 w he n only i n h i s seven tee nth year Th e
, .

accessi on of th i s pri n ce w as a fearful mi sfortu ne for th e

empi re H e p ossessed th e qual itie s o f h i s gran d father C o n
.

st a n t i n u s i n an exaggerated form bei n g arbi trary cruel reck

, , ,

les s an d h igh handed ye t s o brave an d capabl e that h i s

,
-
,

th ron e was n o t easy t o shake H e s tarted o n h is career t oo

.

y oung an d migh t h ave com e t o better th ings i f h i s father

,

had l i ved for an other ten years ; bu t aban don ed J u s t i i , n an

to h i s ow n devices ere h e was wel l o u t o f h i s

boy h ood h e developed i nto a bl oodth i rs ty tyran t The firs t
,
.

fe w years o f h i s reign ere h e had fel t hi s fee t an d ful ly

,

reali s e d hi s o w n de sires were comparatively un even tful The

, .

S aracen s were occu p ied i n ci vi l wars s i nce th e death o f

M uavia an d gave n o trou bl e : the cal iph Abd e l Melik was
,
- -

onl y too glad t o re n ew wi th J u sti n ian the treaty that h i s pre

decessor had mad e wi th Con stantin e V Unm olested by th e .

Saracen s J u sti ni an s en t arm i e s i n to I beri a an d Albania th e

, ,

C hris tian ki ngdom s un der the Caucasu s an d compelled them ,

t o pay hi m tribute S oon a fter h e u n dertook i n person a

.

great expediti o n again st the B ulgarian s design i ng t o pu sh ,

th e Rom an b o u n dary once m ore t o the D an ube H e was .

very successful beati ng th e en emy in th e fiel d an d bri ngi ng

, ,

back m ore than captives from wh om b e organ i se d an

,

au xil iary forc e fo r s ervice i n Asia .

’
Ju sti n ian s tri um p h ove r the Bulgarian s emb old en e d hi m
to u n dertake the greater schem e o f wi n n ing back Syri a from
the Saracen s I n 6 9 3 h e pi cked a quarrel with the Caliph o n
.

th e m ost frivol ous groun d s : when th e ann ual paymen t due

u n der th e treaty o f 6 8 6 was ten dered to him h e refu sed to ,

recei ve th e money becau se th e coi n s were n o t the o l d Roman

,
2 50 E u ropea n H i s t ory 47 6 9 1 8 ,
-

so li d i , wh ich h ad h i th ert o ci rculated i n Syria an d E gy p t an d ,

s till form ed th e bu l k o f th e Saracen c urren cy bu t n e w ,

’ ’
Arab dirhem s wit h Abd e l M el ik s n am e u p o n them wh ich
‘ - -
,

the cal ip h h ad latel y begu n to strike B u t an y prete xt was .

“
goo d en ough for J usti n ian : h e de clare d war w i th a l igh t
u s i g
h eart an d led h i s ar m ie s i n p erson across t h e
l t n ,

S r c
a a en Taurus i n to Cilicia A t S eb a st o po l i s n ear Tarsus
.

w ” 69 3
a ‘

h e su ff ere d a fe arful de feat m ai n l y cause d by t he ,

d e sertion t o th e S aracen s o f t h e u nwil lin g recru its wh o m h e

had enli ste d from am on g t h e cap ti ves o f the Bulgari an War .

Wh e n h e ha d ral l ied h i s arm y J u sti n ian was crue l an d

i ll ogical e n ough t o order th ose Of the corp s w ho had n ot
deserte d t o be p u t to death — le st they m igh t follo w th ei r
’
comrades exam pl e i n th e n ext battl e I n th e n ext year
the em peror los t Roman Ar m en ia b y the revol t o f i ts
Govern or a n ative Arme nia n n ame d S u m pa d w h o deserted
, ,

t o t he S aracen s O the r d isas ters followed an d th e Arab s

.
,

harrie d th e Anatol ic an d Arm e n i ac the mes

‘
.

M ean wh ile th e you ng e m pe ro r ha d been m a k i ng h i m se l f m o s t

u npo p ul ar a t hom e by th e e xact ion s n ece ssary fo r th e support
of h i s u n l u ck y war an d st il l m ore by p ers i s ting i n bu il di ng
,

expe n s ive a n d u n n eces sary pal ace s i n th e capital w hile the ,

war st ill rage d H i s tw o fi n an ce m i ni sters The od otu s a re

.
, ,

la p sed abb o t wh o h ad qu i tted h i s m on as tery an d t he eu n uch ,

S tephan u s a re reporte d t o h ave gon e to th e e xtrem es of

,

cruel ty i n deal i ng w i th th e ci tizen s I t i s sai d tha t Theodotu s .

was won t to t ortu re d e faul ting tax p ay ers by han ging th em -

o ver s moky fi res an d h alf s ti fl in g th em S te p han u s preferred .

th e rod : i t i s sa id that h e e ve n p re sume d o n on e occasi on

duri ng J us tin ia n s absen c e — to se ize an d beat th e em p ress
’

d o wager An astasi a T h e em p e ror o nly pun i s hed h i m by

.

orderi ng h i m to com ple te a t h is o wn ex p en se a bu ild in g o n

, ,

which h e was the n engaged .

I t wa s n o t o nly b y h eap i ng taxe s o n h i s subj ect s tha t J u s

ti n ia n m ade h imsel f u n pop ular H e ha d a man ia fo r seizin g .

an d i m p ri son i ng o n s usp ici on s enators an d other im p ortan t

 Con t es t of t ire E a s ter n E rnp i re a nd fl u Ca l zplza te 25 1

p e rsonages a n d he was s o m erci less i n deal i ng wi th mil i tary

,

o ffi cers wh o m et w i th an y defeat th at to ac cep t a com m and ,

u n der h i m was con sidered the sh ortes t way t o th e du ngeo n o r

the bl ock M eanwhil e hi s i ll luck i n th e S arace n war m ade
.
-

h i m as m u ch deteste d by t he s ol diery as h e was dreade d by

their o fficers I n 6 9 5 a d i sti ngu i she d general n ame d Le o n t i u s
.
,

the con queror of I beria an d Alban ia 1 was ordered by Jus ,

ti nian to take comm an d o f t he th em e o f H ellas Regarding .

t h is c harge a s a m ere prel im inary to d i sgrace an d execu ti on ,

’
L e o n t i u s i n s hee r des p erat io n plan ned a coup d et a t At th e .

head o f a few do ze n foll owers h e b urs t open th e pri son s an d ,

““
m ade a dash a t th e palace J u st in ian was take n F i l f j t i
. a o u s

l 595
com pletely by su rpri s e ; h e fell i n to the hands of a : °

Leo n t i u s wh o sl it hi s n ose an d ban i shed hi m to the d istan t

, ,

fortre ss o f Chers on i n th e Cri m ea H i s t wo de tested i n i n is

, .

ters Theod otus an d S teph an u s were torn t o piece s a nd bu rnt

, ,

by the p o p ulace .

With th e fal l o f J u s ti n i an 11 bega n twen ty two years o f .

-

an arch y an d di sas ter fo r the emp ire H itherto C on stan tin opl e .

had been si ngularly fortu nate i n escaping the co nsequ en ces o f

m i li tary revol ts an d changes of dyn asty Wi th the si ngle ex .

c e pt i o n of th e u surpati on o f the tyrant Ph ocas an d h i s de ,

posi t ion by H eracl iu s the re had been n o cases o f th e tran sfer of

,

the i m p erial crow n by v i olen ce for m ore than three hu n dred

years All the earl ier em perors o f the E as t had b een ei ther
.

design ated by their predecessors o r peaceably electe d by th e

senate an d arm y I t wa s n ow to be see n h o w fatal was the
.

breaking— u p of th e rul e o f orderl y succession : i n th e n ext

twen ty two years there were n o less than fi ve revolu ti on s a t
-

h om e a n d abroad m any grave di sasters cu t the em pire short

,
.

’
The three years rul e of L e o n t i u s was m ai n ly di stingui she d
-

’
by th e fi nal l oss o f Carthage an d Africa Already in J usti nian s .

ti m e the provi n ce had been i nvaded a nd partially overru n by

th e gen erals o f the Cal iph I n 6 9 7 Carthage fell i t was re
.

covered for a mo m e n t by an expedi tion sen t o u t by Le o n t i u s ,

1
S ee p . 2 49 .
252 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

bu t i n 6 9 8 i t fel l p erman e n tly i n to the han d s o f the Saracen s .

Th e Roma n general s h owever esca p e d by sea w ith the

, ,

mai n b ody o f thei r arm y Fearin g to face th e wrath o f

.

C rt h g
a a
Le o n t i u s with such a tale o f d isaste r th e retu rn i ng
e ,

1 t 59 8
05 : o fficers c on spi re d agai n st him They sailed t o th e .

B os p h oru s w h ere th ei r arriva l was qu i te u n expected caugh t

, ,

th e emperor sli t h i s n ose an d th rew h i m i n to a m on astery

, ,
.

I n h is stead th ey p roclaimed th e adm i ral Tiberiu s Apsi m a ru s

as sovereign
Tiberiu s a very cap abl e m a n clun g t o th e t hron e for ,

seven years H e was fortu n ate i n hi s war with th e Sarace n s

.

h is arm ies de feated th ose o f t he Caliph recovere d Ci licia a n d , ,

eve n occupi ed An ti och B ut this succe ss abroa d d id n ot save

.

Tiberiu s from th e wonted e n d o f u su rpers H e was overthrow n .

by the ban i shed a n d mu tilated J u sti nian w h o n o w rea pp ears

upon th e stage i n a m os t s tartl ing fashion .

J u sti n ia n ha d been co ns igne d by L e o n t iu s to th e rem ote

fortress o f C herson — th e m odern Seb asto p ol — o h th e n orth
shore of th e B lack S ea But being careles sly guarded h e .
,

su ccee ded i n escapi ng a n d reach ing the c ou rt o f the Chagan

,

o f th e Khazars th e Tartar trib e wh o d wel t o n the l owe r

,

Volga an d th e sh ore s of the sea o f Az o ff I n spi te o f h i s

“
.

Adv t ur s m u tilated n ose h e succeede d i n gai ning th e good

en e

J u st i i grace s of the Chagan a n d recei ve d the han d o f

n an.
,

h i s s i ster i n marriage H eari ng o f th i s Tibe ri us I I sen t a huge

. .

bri be t o th e Tartar t o persuad e h i m t o surren der h i s gues t

, .

Th e treach erou s barbaria n con se n ted an d despatche d an ,

o fficer to arres t J u s tin i an B u t th e exil e go t wi nd of th e plot

.

th rough a me ssage from h i s wi fe an d i n stead o f all owing h i m ,

’
s el f t o b e seized sl e w the Chagan s em i ssary an d e scaped to
, ,

sea i n an ope n boat w ith h al f a d ozen attendan ts A s tor m

,
- -
.

arose an d th e l it tle vessel seemed l i kely t o found er

, Mak e .

a vo w t o Go d th a t i f y ou e scape yo u w ill forgi ve you r en em i es ’

,
’
sai d o n e of J u stin ian s com pani on s t o h im as th e boat began ,
’
t o fill . No ‘
repl ied th e reckl ess an d i nflexibl e exile if I
, ,
‘

spare a singl e o n e o f them when m y tim e comes may G o d ,

 Con tes t o f tne E a s tern E mp i r e a nd Me Ca l zpna te 253

’
sin k m e here an d n ow The storm abated the boat cam e
.
,

safe to lan d an d J u sti n i an fell i nto th e hand s o f T e rb el th e

, ,

king of t he B ulgari an s T e rb e l len t h i m an army wi th wh ich

.

t o try hi s fortun e an d with i ts ai d h e advan ced to t he gates o f

,

Co ns tan ti n ople The ci ty was betrayed t o h i m J s t i n ia n

.
u ,e _

by partisan s wi th i n th e walls an d h e succeeded t m d 7 5 ,

S , 0 -
11

i n getti ng p ossess io n o f th e p alace an d o f t he person o f ,

Tiberiu s I I J ustin ian the n dragge d o u t o f h i s cl oi ster th e

.

de p osed u surper L e o n t i u s bou n d hi m an d Tib e ri u s han d an d

,

foot an d lai d them be fore hi s th ron e i n t he H ippodrom e

,
.

There he sat i n tri um ph with h i s feet on th e n ecks o f th e

van qu i shed Caesars while h i s p arti san s chan te d Thou shal t
,
‘

’
t ram pl e o n the L i o n a n d th e Asp an allusion to the n am es ,

o f the two falle n rulers ( Leo n t i u s an d A p si m aru s ) Th e .

two p ris on e rs were the n beheaded

D uri ng h i s firs t reign J u stinian had chas tised hi s su bj ects
wi th wh ips i t was with scor p i on s that h e n ow afflicte d them
,
.

H e had returne d from exile i n a m ood of reckless cruel ty

the vow h e ha d m ade was ke p t with rigi d accuracy E very .

o n e wh o h ad be en con cern ed i n h is deposi tion ten years before

was sought ou t t ortu red an d put t o deat h S o m e of hi s

, ,
.

doings rose t o a m on strou s p i tch of i n hu mani ty : th e chi ef

m en of Cherson wh o had offen ded h im during h is exile were
, ,

bou n d o n s p i ts an d roasted many patri cian s were s ewed u p

i n to sack s an d cast i n to th e B osph orus .

I t i s aston i sh ing to fi n d t hat the s econ d reign o f J u stin ian

lasted fo r m ore than fi ve years H i s tyran n y was such that an .

i n stan t expl osion of p opular wrath m igh t have been expected .

B ut i f reckless h e was also act ive su sp ici ou s an d strong

, , ,

han ded a n d cru shed man y pl ots before they could com e t o a
,

head At las t he fell before a m ilitary revol t the army headed

.
,

by a gen eral nam ed P h i l i ppi cu s di savowed its allegiance , ,

seiz e d th e tyran t an d beheaded h i m , H i s l ittl e six year ol d .

- -

’
s on Tiberiu s who m th e C hagan s si st er ha d born e J u s t i i
, , n an

Sl i
h i m was torn fro m sanctuary an d mu rder e d
, , .
a n .

Thu s p e ri sh e d the h ous e o f H e raclius aft e r i t h ad given fi ve ,

2 54 E n ropea n H i s tomi
, 47 6 9
18 -

rulers to th e e m p ire du ri ng a cent u ry of rule ( 6 1 0 It

had d on e m uch t o save th e state fro m t h e Saracen s all
i t s m e m b ers eve n J ustin ian had been m e n o f abil ity an d
, , ,

H eracl iu s h im sel f C on s tan ti n u s Co n stan s an d Con stan ti ne v

,
-
, .

had each b orn e h i s part i n th e long struggle wi th credi t i f n o t ,

wit h com plete succe ss .

Th ere n ow fol lowe d s i x years o f com p lete anarchy ( 7 1 1

durin g wh ic h th e i mperial a n n al s are fi lled by th e obscure
nam es o f P h i l i p pi cu s ( 7 1 1 Art e m i u s Anas tas i u s ( 7 1 3 7 1 5 ) -

an d Th eodosi u s 111 ( 7 1 5 E ach was th e creatu re o f a

.

con spi racy an d each fell by t he sam e m ean s by wh ich h e had

,

bee n upl ifted They we re al l feeble an d i ncompete n t so ve r

.

e i g n s far bel ow th e ran k o f th e two earl ier u su r p ers Le o n t i u s

, ,

an d Tiberiu s A p si m a ru s The imp ortan c e o f th ei r reign s l ie s

.

n ot i n t hei r s truggl e wi th eac h ot he r b u t i n t he gen eral col ,

lapse o f the sy stem of defen ce o f t he em pire agai n st the

Saracen th e n atu ral resul t of th e em pl oym en t o f the w hol e
,

A rch y
na army i n c ivi l war T h e gen eral s o f th e cali p h s
,
.

1 1 -1
7 7 W e li d an d Sol iman th e son s o f Ab d a l— M el ik ,
-

( 7 05 1 7
-
) burst th rough th e bou n daries o f the em p i re o n every

po in t . I n 7 1 1 Sardi ni a th e western m os t p rovi n ce o f th e ,

empire si n c e th e l oss o f Africa was s ub due d by th e A rabs , .

I n the sam e year they cros se d th e Tau ru s an d sacke d Tyan a ,

i n Cappadocia I n 7 1 2 they o verran Po n tus a n d ca p tured

.

A masia i n 7 1 3 An ti och i n Pi si dia fell an d wi th i t m u ch o f

, ,

s outh er n Asia M i n or I t appeare d as i f w i th th e d own fall o f

.

the h ou se o f H eracli u s th e p ower o f sel f defence h ad b ee n -

take n away from the E as t Roman s Nor was th e lowes t de p th .

ye t reach ed .

E mb olden ed by th e easy succes ses o f h is arm i es o ve r th ose

o f th e e ph e m e ra l s o ve re i g n s wh o followed J u stin ian the
'

cal i p h S oliman a t last resolved t o fi t o u t an ex p ed i ti on o n the

l argest scal e agai ns t Con s tan tin opl e A h u ndred thou san d .

m en advan ce d by lan d from Tarsu s wh il e a flee t o f m ore than ,

1 0 0 0 sai l ga th ered i n th e ports o f S yria an d saile d rou n d Asia ,

’
M i nor i n to t h e / E ge a n T h e Cali p h s b rothe r M oslemah wa s
.
 Con t es t of tb e E a s tern E mp i re a n d tne Ca i ip/za te 255

to h ead the wh ole ex p edition Ca pp adocia was al ready i n

.

’
Sarace n h an ds an d the Cal i ph s vanguard was S
, i a ra c c n n

occupied wi th the siege o f A m o ri u m th e ch ief i nw ,

va s o n .

stronghol d of Phrygia That town i n deed was saved from

.
, ,

des truction by Leo the I saurian the govern or of the Anatolic ,

theme B u t soo n after wh ile th e Arabs were s till advan cing

.
, ,

th i s sam e Leo after con cl u d ing a private truce w i th th e i n

,

vaders procl ai m ed him sel f em peror an d advanced again s t

, ,

C on stan ti n ople in stead o f reserving h i s strength to re si st the

,

arm ies of S ol iman

O n c e more fortu ne favoured th e n ewest ri sing again s t th e
emperor o f t he day The troops o f Leo bea t those o f Th eo
.

d o si u s an d then the latter vol u n tarily abdicated an d sen t

to o ffer hi s crow n to th e vi ctor H e was a m il d an d vi rtuou s
.

m an wh o had been raised to th e pur p le agai n st h i s will by hi s

,

m i li tary part isan s an d l onge d to retu rn t o hi s o b

, L th eo e

s c u ri t y feeli ng hi msel f desti tut e o f th e power I s ur i 7 7

,
a an . 1 .

n eede d t o cope w i th th e i nsu rgen ts an d still m ore u nabl e t o

,

face the impen din g Sarace n i n vasi on .

Accordi ngly th e sen ate an d the pa t riarch formally elected

the rebel Leo as emperor and set h im o n th e thron e w hic h
,

had al ready change d mas ters seven times i n th e las t twe n ty

two years At l en gth th e empire had foun d a mas ter who
.

could defen d what h e had wo n an d was fully abl e to transmi t

,

h i s power t o h i s heirs The ar m amen t o f M oslemah m igh t be

.

awaite d wi thout di smay for the state was once m ore i n th e

,

hands of o n e wh o coul d be tru ste d t o u se i ts resources arigh t .

Leo was t o diss ipate onc e an d for al l the Sarace n storm clou d -

an d t o free Con stan tin opl e from al l danger from the E ast fo r
m ore than three hun dred years B u t h i s achievemen ts deman d
.

a cha p ter t o the m sel ves .

 C HA PTER XV

TH E H I S TOR Y OF TH E G R E A T M AY OR S
O F TH E P A L A C E

6 5 6 7 20
-

T he M a y o r G ri mo al d u n succ e ssfully e n d e av o urs t o m a k e h is so n k in g o f

Aus t ra s i a —D e c a d e n c e o f t h e h o u s e o f t h e M e ro vi ng s —E b ro i n a n d h is
t yr a n n i c a l rul e i n N e us t r i a —L o n g c i v i l wa rs —R i s e o f P i p p i n t h e y o u n g e r
a n d hi s v i c t o ry a t T e s t ry— T h e a sc e n d e n cy o f P i p p i n : h i s succ e ss e s i n
c o n s o l i d a t i ng t h e k i g d o m —M i ss io n a ry e n te r p r i s e s i n G e r m a n y C i v i l
n -

w a rs a t t h e d e a t h o f P i p p i n — F i n a l t r i u m p h o f h i s s o n Ch a rl e s M a r t e l
.

I N 656 d ied Ki ng S igi b e rt the fi rs t M e ro vi n g king of

Au strasia w h o h ad b een bu t a p u p p et i n the han ds o f h i s
M ay or o f th e Palace At h i s death wa s made a ful l ce n tu ry
.
,

too soon th e fi rs t at tem p t o f t h at grea t fam i ly wh ich had o f

,

late h eld all real p ower to a dd th e sh adow t o th e sub stance

by assum ing th e royal n a me Ki ng S ig i b e rt had onl y reached
.

th e age of twe n ty seven wh e n h e died : h i s s on an d h eir

-

n am ed Dagobert after hi s gran dfa th er wa s bu t eigh t Tak i ng ,

.

’
advan tage o f th e b oy s you th th e May o r G ri m o a l d ha d h im
,

s tol en away fro m h i s cou n try b y th e h an d s o f a bi sh op an d ,

l odge d h i m i n an I ri s h m o nastery wh e re h i s h ead w a s s h orn

, ,

an d h e was con secrated as a m on k H avi n g go t ri d o f the .

righ tful hei r G ri m o a l d i n duce d h i s p arti san s t o rai se h i s o wn

,

ur i f so n C h i l d e b e rt o n th e sh ield an d salu te h i m as
U s p t
a on o ,

G im
r oal d 65 6. ki ng o f Au strasia B u t th e tim es were n ot yet
.

ri p e : G ri m o al d had m an y b i tter en em ie s an d th e m aj ori ty o f ,

the peopl e were n ot ye t accu stom ed t o th e i dea o f dethron ing

th e an cien t h ou se o f the M e ro vi n gs Wi th i n a few d ays a fter
.

th e u su r p ation Grim o a l d was sei ze d by a ban d o f Austrasian

,

n obl es cast i n t o fet ters an d h urri ed o ff t o Pari s wh er e h i s

, , ,

z oo
 Tne H i s t ory f
o t ne g r ea t M ay ors of t/ze P a l a ce 2 57

captors lai d h i m be fore th e feet o f king C hlo do ve c h 1 1 o f .

Neu stria t h e b rother o f th e decease d S ig i b e rt

, .

C hl o d o ve ch a cruel and de bauche d young m an slew Gri m

, ,

o a l d wi th h orri d tortu res I t appeare d as i f the greatn ess o f

.

t he h ou se o f Pi ppi n an d Arn ul f was dest i ned to be extingu ished

w ith the l i fe o f i ts chief : bu t th e Fates wi lled otherwi se .

Wi th i n a fe w m ont hs o f th e execu ti on of th e great Mayor ,

ki ng C h lo d o ve c h died leaving th e diade m to h i s l i ttle so n

,

C h l o t h a r 111 All th e Frank ish real m s were on ce m ore u nder

.

the n ominal rule o f a ch ild an d th e las t chanc e o f th e su rvival

,

o f th e ki ngly p ower was go n e i n N e u st ri a n ow as wel l as i n

,

t he E astern real m Th e h ou se of th e Au strasian mayors was

.

wi thi n a few years t o raise i ts head o nce m ore .

M ean wh ile th e m i n ori ty of C h l o t ha r 1 1 1 was desti ne d to be .

a tim e of storm an d trouble B efore h e had been fou r years o n

.

the thron e his A ustrasian subj ect s determ i ne d th at they woul d

o n ce m ore have a k ing o f their o wn an d n o t obey orders from ,

Soi s so n s or Pari s Accordingl y they to ok C hil d e ri ch th e

.
,

you nger bro ther of C hl o t h a r an d crown ed h i m as ki n g of th e

,

E astern realm Th e j oin t reign of t he b oys C h l o th a r 1 1 1 an d

. .

C h i l d e ri c h 1 las ted for te n years : a t first the ki n gdom s were kep t

.

i n a certai n measu re o f peace by the queen m other B a t hi ld is -

, ,

an Anglo Saxon lady o f great vi rtu e a n d abil ity Bu t after fou r

-
.

years worn o u t by th e troublou s task o f recon cil ing the opp osing
,

faction s of th e n obi li ty she reti re d i n to a n un n ery an d wh en

, ,

her gen tle i n fluen ce was rem oved trouble at on ce broke ou t ,

.

The m an m ai nl y respon sible for the evi l time of civil stri fe

that followed was E b ro i n Mayor o f th e Palace i n M y r E b i
, a o ro n .

Neustri a H e was a cr u el ambiti ous vin dictive

.
, ,

n obl e w ho aspi red t o much th e sam e p osi ti on that Pippi n t he

,

O l d an d Gri m o al d h ad once occupi ed i n Au strasia S trong .

by the power of u si ng th e royal n am e by h i s n umerou s ,

com i ta t u s an d by hi s u n s crupul ou s readi n ess to strike down

,

all wh o opposed h i m h e exercise d fo r several years w hat th e

,
’
contemp orary chroni clers calle d a 5 tyran n y H e was we are .
,

t old so greedy o f m oney that to h im the ma n with th e longer

, ,

P E RI O D 1 . R
2 58 E u ropea n H i s t o rj f , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

p u rse al ways se e med t o have th e better cau se Nor was gree d .

h i s wors t faul t ; h o wever s mal l th e o fle n ce an y crim e c om m i tted ,

by a m an that h e su sp ected o r e nv ie d b rough t th e i n variabl e

penal ty o f d eath H i s ma nda te s were as caprici ou s as th ey
.

were harsh for exampl e h e on ce i ssu ed a n order th at n o Fra n k

,

’
of B urgun dy sh oul d a p p roach th e ki n g s perso n wi th ou t th e
’
mayor s exp res s perm i ssi o n Thi s do mi nati o n o f E b ro i n l aste d
.

u n til h i s young master C hl o th a r 111 o f wh ose personal in fluen ce

,
.
,

o r c h a ra c t e r we h ear n augh t died o n th e verge o f m a n h o o d i n 6 7 0

, .

The au tocratic M ayor o f the P alace at on ce rai sed o n th e

’
sh iel d T h e u d e ri c h C hl o t h a r s y ou n ges t brother
, Bu t th e .

m aj ori ty of t h e Neu stri an s saw the i r c h an ce o f getti ng ri d o f

th ei r tyran t Ri sing u n de r th e leadershi p of Le o d e ga r bish o p
.
,

o f A fi t u n th ey proclai m e d C hi l d e ri c h o f Au s tra sia king o f the

,

West as well a s o f t he E as t Frank s an d calle d h i m i n to t hei r

, ,

ai d Th e p erso n al following o f E b ro i n was too weak to res i s t

.

t he Neu stri an a n d Au s trasian n obl es com b i n ed H e an d h i s .

p u ppet ki ng were m ad e captive an d b oth c ompel led t o take,

m on astic v ows — E b ro i n at Lu xeu il T h e u d e ri ch a t S t D en i s , . .

I t migh t have been be tter i n the en d for t h e Franks i f

L eo d e ga r had been l ess m erciful to th e van qu is hed Mayor
h e wa s ye t to give m uc h troubl e .

For thre e years C h il d e ri c h reigned o ver al l th e Fra nk s : h e

reach ed m an h ood i n th i s ti m e bu t t h e po wer o f the k i n gship
,

di d n ot p ass i n t o h i s o w n ha n d T he Mayor Wu l fo a l d rul ed

.

i n Au strasia whil e bi sh op L e o d eg a r admi n i s tered Neu s tri a

,

w ith som e success till t he ol d enem y o f m ank i n d wh ose won t

‘
,

i t alw a y s i s to fom en t d iscord bega n to s ti r u p again s t hi m

,

th e e nvy o f th e grea t men wh om h e had take n as hi s fellow s

at th e hel m an d to sow th e tares o f m alice be twee n h im an d
,
’
t h e k ing . L e o d e ga r was at las t th rust by his e n vi ou s col
leagues i n t o th e m o nas tery o f Lu xeu il wh e re h e fou n d hi s old ,

e n e my E b ro i n awai ting h i s com p any I n the sam e year kin g .

M urd r o
e f C h i l d e ri c h was mu rdered : h e ha d se ize d a fre e
C h i l d e i ch 1
r Frank n am ed B o d o l i n an d wi th ou t trial or j udg ,

m e n t b oun d h i m n aked to a stake an d fl ogged h i m i n t he

, ,
 Tae H i s tory f fi re g rea t M ay ors of fi re P a l a ce
o 2 59

p alace court No s oon er was th e furi ou s Neu strian freed fro m

.

hi s bonds than h e gathered a few frien ds an d slew the king i n ,

h is bed .

Th ere followe d anarchy al l over th e Frankis h real m , fo r

C hi l d e ri c h had l eft only an i n fa n t so n O n e party i n Neu s tria .

took o u t o f th e monastery of S t D en i s pri nce T h e u d e ri ch .

,
’
wh o had been E b ro i n s can didate fo r the Neustria n throne
three years be fo r e an d p roclai med hi m king Wu l fo a ld the
, .
,

Mayor of th e Palace o f Au strasia sen t t o I relan d to fi nd ,

D agobert th e l ong l o st prince whom G ri m oa ld had kidnappe d

,
-

an d sen t over sea i n 6 5 6 Sough t ou t by Wil fred bishop o f

-
.
,

York an d perhap s guarded by N orthu mbrian warriors D ago

, ,

bert was brought over t o German y a nd rai sed to the th ron e , .

Bu t an oth er party m ai nly com pose d of Au strasian s procl aimed

, ,

a boy name d C hl o d o ve c h wh om t hey sai d wa s a natural son ,

o f king C h l o t h a r 1 1 1 E b ro i n broke from hi s m onastery

.

prison le t h i s h ai r gro w a n d j oi n ed th e adheren ts o f C hl o d o

, ,

vech I n th i s three corn ered duel th e kings cou n ted for li ttle
.
-

o r n aug h t t h e mayors an d the n obl es fo r every th ing By his

~

, .

superior dari ng an d persi stency E b ro i n worked hi m sel f on ce

m ore t o th e fron t an d o n c on se n ti n g to aban don the b o y
,

preten der wh ose cau s e h e had feigne d t o espou se was m ade

, ,

Mayor o f Neustri a on ce m ore by ki n g T h e u d e ric h T yr a y o f nn

E bmi
H i s fi rs t care was to sen d fo r hi s ol d n'

e nemy L e o d eg a r agai n s t wh om h e en tertai ne d an u n forgotten

,

gru dge i n spi te o f their c om mon captivi ty at Luxeuil The

, .

goo d bi s h op was brough t b efore h i m bl in ded an d afterwards , ,

beh eaded Later generati on s remem beri ng hi s well m ean ing

.
,
-

govern men t an d cruel end salute d hi m as a sai n t ( S t Leger ) ,

. .

F o r th ree years th e wicked E b ro i n wen t forth con queri ng

an d to con quer : he u sed the n ame o f kin g T he u de rich to
cover hi s m is deeds an d ordered everything at h i s own plea
,

sure E n terin g Austrasia he cru she d i ts arm y and D agobert

.
, ,

the kin g from over sea was slai n by trai tors after h i s defeat
-
, .

Som e o f the E as t Fra n ks however refu sed to lay down th ei r , ,

ar m s an d pl aced at t hei r head the h ei r of th e house of Arnu l f

,
26 0 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

an d Pi p pi n a s th e m ost po p ular c hie f that Au strasia cou l d

,

fi n d Th i s was Pippi n th e You ng n ephew o f Mayor Gri m o al d

. , ,

so n o f An seg i se l an d B egga an d gra n dson bo th o f S t Arnul f , .

an d Pi p pi n t he O ld .

TH E G R E AT M AY O R S O F TH E PA LAC E .

St Ar ulf B p
. n , . of P X P PI N t he E ld r M y r
e , a o
M tz d d 6 4
e , ie 1. of Au r
s t as i a , di d 639
e .

An s e c i s e n, M a o y r Be g g a . G R I M O A LD , M a o 0 y r
o f A u s t ras i a 6 3 2 -3 8 . Au r s t as i a d d
ie 6 5 6 .

th e Yu
r M
o ng e a yo r t t t w Alp h a i d a C h i l d e b e rt , P ro
dK
, .

r i N u t ri
as a , e s a , a nd cla ime i ng o f
g u dy d i d 7 4
n , e 1 . Aus tr a s i a 6 5 6 .

y r
Q

C H A R L E S NI A R T I L , M a o
of Au r
s t as i a 7 1 7 , o f a l l t he
K d
i ng o m s 7 1 9 , i e 7 4 1 d d .

C AR LO M A N, P I I P P N the S o t. h r
y r f
Ma o o M a yor o f N e u s t ri a
Au t r i
s as a, 7 4 x, K i ng o f t he
di d 7 5 4
e . F r k
an s 752 .

C H AR E L S th e C AR LO M A N . Ad a lhard . Wa l a .

G r ea t.

E b ro i n , h ow e ver wa s s tron g en ough to overbear th e resi st

,

ance o f Pippi n : at La fa u x n ea r Laon h e defeated th e last , ,

Au strasian arm y i n th e o p en fi el d an d compelled all th e ,

’
Fran k s from M eu se t o Rh i n e to ackn owledge hi s p r oteg é
, ,

T h e u d e ri ch a s kin g H e h im sel f b ecam e m ayo r b oth o f

.

Neu s tria B u rgu n dy an d Au strasia an d m ight wel l h ave

, , ,

aspi re d to assu m e th e royal ti tle B u t a p rivate en emy wh ose .

,

d eath h e had bee n plotti ng secretly m u rdered h i m i n 6 8 1 , ,

an d wi th h i s death th e ascen den cy o f Neu s tri a cam e t o an

Ris
P i ppi
f e o

n “
en d Th e Au strasian s on ce m ore t ook u p arm s
:
.

u n der Pi p p i n th e Young an d after seven m ore ,

weary years o f civi l war a decis ive battle at T e st ry n ear S t , .

Qu en ti n settled th e fate of th e Frank ish realm s Pip p i n

w i th th e m en of th e E ast was c om pletel y victori ous an d T he u de ,

rich an d th e Neu strian s were com p elled to tak e what ter m

 Tae H i s tory f tae g rea t M ay ors of
o t/ze P l
a a ce 26 1

h e ch ose to gi ve th em H e clai med to be wh at E b ro i n had

.

been mayor both i n E ast an d Wes t bu t h e chos e to dwel l

, ,

h i msel f a t Metz the h ome o f h i s gran dfather an d from then ce

, ,

adm in is tered Austrasia al m os t as an i n depen den t rul er ; wh ile

regen t s nam ed by h i m guide d the step s o f king T h e u de ri c h
i n Neu stria By th e figh t of T e st ry th e qu esti on o f prece
.

den ce between Au strasia an d Neustria was fi nally settled i n

favou r o f the former From th is m omen t on ward th e E as t
.
,

Franki sh h ouse of th e descen dan ts o f Arnul f an d Pippi n i s o f

far m ore im p ortance i n Fran kis h hi story than th e effe te royal
fam ily Warned by th e fate o f G ri m o a l d they di d n ot agai n
.
,

deman d th e crow n for a space o f eigh ty years an d were con ,

ten t wi th a practical dom i n ation w i th ou t any regal nam e .

H en ceforth we shall fi n d th e Frank s m ore Teutonic and les s

Gall o Roman than they had h i therto been : the cen tral poin t
-

of the realm i s fo r the futu re to be foun d abou t Au strasian

M etz Aachen an d K oln not arou n d N eustrian S oisson s
, , ,

Pari s or Laon
,
.

P ippin the son o f An seg i sel wa s M ayor o f th e Palace for

, ,

twenty si x years ( 6 8 8
-
a p eriod i n wh ich h e did m uch t o
rescue th e Frank is h real m from th e dilapi dati on an d evi l
governance w hi ch i t had experience d for the last fi fty years .

H i s firs t task was t o en deavour to re store the ancien t bou n

d a ri e s of t h e kingdo m fo r duri ng th e reign s o f the son s an d
gran dson s o f D agobert the o l d li m i ts o f th e real m had
fallen back o n every side O n th e eastern border the homage
.

wh ich th e Bavarian dukes owed t o the M ero vi n g s D i l p i d t i a a on

h ad been completely forgotten fo r all practical f t h r l m ,

° e ea :

purposes th ey were now i ndepen den t Farther n orth th e .

,

Th uri ngian s were i n much th e sam e c on dition ; they had

been saved from the Slavon ic h ordes o f Sam o by thei r o wn
ch iefs n ot by th eir Frankish suzerai n an d s i nc e they had
, ,

rep u l sed the Slavs had gon e on their o wn way caring n ough t ,

wh o rule d at M etz o r K ol n The Frisian s o f the Rhine

.

m out h a race wh om th e M e ro vi ng s had never subdued were

, ,

pushi ng their raid s into th e valleys of th e Sch eldt an d Meuse .

26 2 E u ropea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

These were al l com parat ively ou tlyi ng tribes wh ose freedo m ,

i s easily explai ne d by thei r d is tan ce fro m th e cen tre o f

govern men t But i t i s m ore su rpri s i ng to fi n d that even the
.

S u a b i a n s or Alaman ni o n the very threshol d o f Au strasia

, ,

al ong th e Rhi ne an d N eckar an d i n the Black Forest ha d of ,

late re fu se d th e h omage which for two hun dred years they

ha d been accustom ed t o ren der t o th e M e ro vi n g s an d pai d ,

n o obedi ence to an y o n e save their o wn l ocal dukes I n th e .

sou th als o th e Gallo Roman s o f A qu itai ne had achieved

-

practical i n de p en den ce u n der a duk e nam ed E u d o wh o wa s ,

sai d t o be descen ded from C ha rib e rt ki ng o f Aqu i tai ne the , ,

b roth er o f Dagobert I .

For fi fty years Pi ppi n a n d hi s so n C harles were t o work a t

th e restoratio n o f th e an cie n t fron tie r o f th e Franki sh real m ,

beating d own by con s tan t hard fi gh ting the vari ou s vassa l

tribes wh o had slipped away from ben eath t he Frankis h yoke .

’
Pippi n s ch ief wars were wi th t he Fri s ia n s an d th e S u a b i a n s ,

again s t both o f w h om h e obtai ne d great succes se s After a .

l o n g s tru ggle he com pelle d Radbod th e duke o f the Fri sian s

, ,

t o d o h omage to k ing T h e u d e ri ch an d cede t o th e Fra n ks

,

p ri sia Wes t Fri si a th e grou p o f marshy i sland s between

-
,

su b du d
e
th e S cheldt m out h a n d th e Zui der Zee wh ic h i s
:
-
,

n ow calle d Zealan d an d S ou th H ollan d To protec t th is n ew .

c on qu es t P ippi n se t up or restored castles a t U trech t an d

D orstad t n e w town s destin ed to becom e the o n e th e e cc l e s i
, ,

a s t i c a l an d the o ther th e co m mercial ce ntre o f the lan d s by

, ,

th e Rh ine m outh D uke Radbod wa s also c om pel led t o give

-
.

’
h i s d augh ter i n m arriage t o Pi ppi n s eldest so n G ri m o a ld ,
.

An o ther serie s o f cam paign s were d irec ted again st th e

S u ab i a n s Pi ppi n fol l owed th em i n to th e depth s o f th ei r
.

forests an d compelled th eir duk e G o d fri d to ackn owledge

,

h im sel f as h i s fathers h ad don e th e vassal o f th e Fra n ks

, ,
.

’
I t i s very n oticeable th at u n der Pi ppi n s rule an d by h i s ai d
th e con ve rsio n o f G ermany t o Chri stian i ty wa s begu n Th e .

d escen dan ts of S t Arn ul f were a s b e fi t te d th e i s sue o f such a

.
,

h o ly ma n zeal ous frien d s o f th e Chu rch an d pa tro n s o f m i s

,
 T/ze H i s t o ry f t ae g rea t M ay ors of
o t /z e P a l a ce 26 3

s i o n a ry en terprise The M erovingia n k i ngs h ad been al m ost

.
,

with ou t exception a godless race Ch ri stian i n nam e alon e

, , .

They had take n n o p ain s to favour the spread of Chris tian i ty

am ong their vassal s : i t was su ffi cien t i n th eir eye s i f thei r
o wn people th e ruli ng race c on formed to th e Cath ol ic faith
, ,

for th e soul s o f S u ab ia n s Fri sian s o r Bavarian s they h ad n o

, , ,

care S uc h m issi onaries as had h ith erto been seen i n the

.

German fores ts al ong the sh ores o f th e Boden see o r the

, ,

upper reaches o f t h e D an ube an d M ai n had been almos t , ,

wi th ou t exception I ri sh monks drawn from the I sle of Sain t s

,

by th eir own ferven t zeal fo r the spread o f t he Gospel n o t by ,

an y en couragemen t from the Franki sh kings I n t he sixth an d .

seven th cen turies these h oly m e n overran the wh ole C on tin en t ,

seek ing for heath en t o convert or pl a n ting thei r h u mble ,

m onasteries i n t he wil dest rece sses o f the m oun tai n s o r the

primeval forest They wan dered as fa r as I taly an d Switzer
.

l an d wh ere two o f th e greatest of them fixed their h om es S t

, , .

F ri d i a n at Lucca S t Gall i n the h ill s above the Boden see

,
. .

B ut till th e tim e o f Pipp in n o system ati c a ttemp t ha d ; b ee n

made t o con vert th ose among th e German races who still lay
i n th e darknes s o f Pagan i sm I t was Pippi n who fi rst saw .

t hat thi s du ty was i ncu mben t on th e Frankish govern men t .

H e sen t to E nglan d for S t Wi ll i b ro rd th e firs t apostle o f the

. .

Fri sian s w h o wi t h h i s twelve c o m pan i on s wan dered over

,

th e n ewly con quered West Friesl a n d p reach i ng to th e wi ld ,

’
heathen I t was by Pipp in s encouragem en t al s o C v rs i
. f on e on o

G m W
that th e ngl ish man S u idb e rt laboured among
E ef a '

the H essian s t ill he an d h is co nverts were driven away by the

,

i nvasi o n o f t he pagan Saxon s A t the same time S t Ru pert . . ,

bi sh op of Worms complete d the con versi on o f Bavaria an d

, ,

foun ded there th e great bishopric o f Salzburg M uch

abou t the sam e da te the I ri sh m onk K illia n passed u p th e
Mai n an d along the skirts o f the T h ii ri n g e rwa l d to preach to ,
’
the Thu ringian s till h e m e t with a martyr s d eath at Wii rz
,

b urg E verywhere th e ascen den cy of th e gran dson of Arn ul f

.

was foll o wed by th e arrival o f zeal ou s m i ssi o n ary workers ,

 264 E u r op ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

Franks I ri sh o r E ngl ish w h o strove t o bear th e s tan dard o f

, ,

the Cross i n to th e G erman woodland s wh ere W oden a n d ,

Th un or al on e h a d h itherto bee n adored What Pippi n b egan .

,

hi s greater s on Charle s t h e H am m er an d h i s s till m igh tier

, ,

great gran d son Charle s th e E m peror were desti ned to com

-
, ,

p le t e
. B y th i s work al on e the h ou se of t h e great Au strasian
mayors d id m ore t o j u sti fy th eir exi sten ce i n th ree ge neration s
t han t h e wicke d M e ro vi n gs ha d don e i n eigh t .

The years during w h ic h P ip pi n govern ed t h e Fran k s were

m arke d i n thei r regal an n al s by fou r obscu re nam es Theu .

d e ri c h th e w eak ki n g w h o had b ee n d rawn from th e cl oi ster

,
’
to sit o n h i s brother s th ron e 1 died i n 6 9 1 h e wa s followe d ,

by hi s two in fan t son s C hl o d o vech 111 ( 6 9 1 a n d C h ilde

,
.

b ert 111 ( 6 9 5
. b oth o f w h om were recogni se d ali ke i n
Neu stria an d Aus trasia bu t ha d n o real au th ori ty C hl o d o vech
,
.

d ied wh ile ye t a boy : C h il d e b e rt survived t o early ma nh o od ,

begat a so n an d the n h asten ed t o th e grave Apparen tly th e

,
.

vices o f thei r ancestors had sa p pe d th e vi tal energy o f th e

later M e ro vi n g s scarce on e o f th em survived t o reach th e age
o f t hirty an d each l on g m i n or i ty m ade th e k in gl y p owe r m ore
,

an d m ore shadowy an d th e au th ori ty o f th e grea t mayor m ore

,

an d m ore real C h i ld e b e rt 1 1 1 wa s fol lowe d by on e m ore

. .

y ou ng boy hi s s on D agobert 1 11 ( 7 1 1
,
th e las t o f th e .

fou r puppe t k ings i n w h ose nam es the great Pi ppi n swaye d

t h e Fra n ki sh sceptre .

Pi pp i n l ived t o a great age an d had th e m i sfortu n e t o l ose ,

i n h i s decli n ing years h is two legi timate son s G ri m o a ld an d ,

D rogo wh om he h ad dest in e d to succeed h i m

,
The hei rs .

the n remai n ing t o h i m w ere T he u d o a ld a y oun g boy th e son , ,

o f G ri m o a l d an d Carl [ Charles M artel ] an illegi timate s on

, ,

w h om he had by a c on cubi n e na me d A l pha i da Th e fo rm er .

was onl y e igh t years o f age t h e lat ter twen ty fi ve ; bu t th e o l d ,

-

D
ea th f o man design ate d th e boy T h e u d o a l d as h i s su c
P i p pi n7 5r
cesso r h opi ng tha t h e m igh t be spare d t o see
‘ '

h i m grow u p t o m an h oo d H e d ied h owever wi th in a few .

, ,

1
S e e pa g e 2 59 .
 T/ze H i s to ry f
o t/i e g r ea t M ay ors of tae P a l a ce 26 5

m on th s , an d a s trange problem was p u t before the Franks ,

wheth er th ey would tolerate a child mayor rul in g i n th e name -

’
o f a child k i ng Pippi n s wi dow P le c tru d i s tried to seize the
-
.

rein s o f governme n t i n behal f o f h er l i ttle gran d son an d som e ,

o f the Au s trasian s adhered to her cau se As a precau ti onary .

’
m easure s h e cas t h er hu sban d s n atural son Charles i n to
pri son k n owi n g that many m en regarded h i m as the o nl y
,
’
p ossi ble heir to P ippi n s p osi ti on si nce the i dea o f a ch il d ,

m ayor was p reposterou s .

’
P l ect ru d i s en deavour to rul e i n th e nam e o f her grand son
p roved as m igh t h ave been expected a com plete failure
, ,
.

The cou nt s an d dukes o f Neu stri a has ten ed to take th e

Opportu n i ty o f sh aking off th e dom in ati o n of th e Austrasian s .

They m us tered i n arm s ch ose a certai n R ag i n fre d o n e o f

, ,

th em selves as Neu strian Mayor of th e Palace an d raised an

, ,

army t o i nvade Austrasia i n th e nam e o f t he young D ago

bert 111 Th ey di d no t shrin k from allying them selves wi th
.

t h e enem ies of the s tate th e Frisian s and Saxon s wh o attack ed

, ,

Au strasia from the rear while th ey themselves advanci ng , ,

through t h e Ardennes was te d al l th e la n ds between Meuse

,

an d Rhi n e w ith fi re an d sword P l e ct ru d i s an d her grandson .

shu t them selves u p w ithi n th e wall s of K oln .

B efore th e en d o f th e year h o wever two im portan t even ts , ,

occurred to give a new turn t o the war C harles the son o f .

,
’
P ippin escaped from h i s stepmother s prison an d R i s f
, ,
e o
was at once saluted as ch ief by th e maj ority o f C h rl s a e

M m "
th e Au strasian s who h ad bee n dri ven to wil d
,
a

rage by th e ravages o f th e Neustrian army an d yearn ed for a ,

leader capable o f c om ma n ding i n the fi eld S hortly after th e .

you ng k ing who m E ast an d Wes t had both ackn owledged

, ,

died as di d all h i s a n cestors j u st when h e had attai n ed man

, ,

h ood an d im m ediately after th e b irth of hi s fi rs t ch ild

,
.

Like the G ran d Lamas o f Thibet these wretched M e ro vi n gs ,

exp ired wi th hardly an exception j ust as they grew ol d en ough

, ,

t o i n terfere i n pol i tics As wi th th e Lamas s o wi th th e Frank s

.
, ,

we can n ot help suspectin g that t here was m ore i n these

266 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

su d den death s than appea r s o n th e surface : i t certainly was

n o t t o th e in terest o f those ab ou t th e pers on s o f th e k ings

that th ey sh oul d ever l ive l ong en ough to assert their regal

power .

O n th e death o f D agobert th e N eustrian s d rew o u t from

,

t he m onas tery where h e had bee n p laced i n earliest i n fancy

, ,

the s on o f C h il de ri ch the k i ng w h o m B o d o l i n ha d slain i n

6 78 . Th e m onk Dan iel was salu te d by th e royal nam e o f
C h i lp eri c h a n d rai sed on the sh iel d h e wa s the fi rs t M e ro vi n g
,

for eigh ty years wh o h ad reach ed ma nh ood at th e m om en t o f

h is accessi on being i n hi s thirty eigh th year C hi l pe ri c h in
,
-
.
,

sp i te o f h i s m o nastic rearing — o r pe rhap s i n vi rtue o f i t

C h i lp i h
er c tu rn e d o u t a far m ore vigorou s pe rsonage tha n
7 61 °

any o f hi s rel ati ves an d cann ot be calle d o n e o f

,
’
th e r oi s f a i n éa n ts
‘
H e co nt inually t ook th e fi el d a t t he h ead
.

o f hi s N eu s tria n s and di d h i s be st t o becom e thei r n ation al

,

champ i o n U n fortu n atel y th e tim es were agai n s t h im

. .

I n 7 1 6 th e N eu strian k ing an d m ayo r m arch ed toge th er

i n t o Au strasia to m ak e a n en d o f th e resi stan ce al ik e o f
P l ec t ru d i s an d o f Charl es At the sam e t im e Radb od th e
.
,

Frisia n duke pu sh ed u p th e Rh i n e towards K oln Charle s

,
.

o fle re d battle t o th e i nvaders n ear that c i ty bu t was defeated , ,

and fo rce d to tak e refuge i n th e m ou n tain s o f th e E i fel .

C h i l pe ri c h the n laid s iege to K ol n a n d compelled P le c t ru d i s ,

an d her party to ackn o w le dge h i m a s kin g give u p the royal ,

’
treasu re h oard o f Au strasia a n d w ithd raw t he boy T he u d o a l d s
-
,

clai m t o th e mayoral ty B u t whil e th e N eu s trian arm y was

.

returni ng i n t rium ph to i ts o w n lan d Charles wh o h ad , ,

assem ble d a new force fel l u pon i t n ear Mal m ed y o n th e

, ,

ski rts o f th e Arden ne s A t th e battle o f Am bl eve al l th e

.

’
w ork o f C h i l p e ri c h s vigorou s cam p aign wa s u n don e for hi s ,

arm y wa s rou ted an d h e an d h i s mayor R a g i n fre d barel y

, , ,

e scaped w ith t he i r l i ves

Thi s wa s the fi rs t bl ow o f C harles th e H am m er [Martel ] ,

as afte r gen eration s named h i m Fro m h ence forth hi s caree r .

was t o be o n e o f u n i nterru pted success agai n s t every fo e wh o

 Tli e H i s tory o f t he g rea t M ay o rs of fi re P a l a ce 267

dare d w ithstan d h im E arly i n the spri ng h e foll owed u p h i s

.

fi rst stroke by i nva d i ng N eu stria an d defeating Batt l e f , o

C h i lpe ri c h for a secon d ti m e a t Vi n cy near Cam Vi c y 7 7 ,

n , 1

bray Pressi ng on after h i s vic tory h e pu rsu ed t he Neu stria n s

.

u p t o th e gates o f Pari s an d whe n resistan ce ceased tur n ed

, ,

back i n triumph t o Au s tras ia Th ere b e comp elled hi s step

.

m other P l ect ru d i s t o gi ve u p K ol n to h i m an d dispersed ,

her partisan s Being n ow u n di spu te d master o f th e E a stern

.

ki ngdom h e proclai med a certai n C hl o t ha r k ing a n d n amed

, ,

him self Mayor of the Palace C hlo tha r I V wh ose descen t i s

. .
,

n o t certai n but w h o was perhap s grandso n o f th e I ris h exile

,

D agobert was o f course a m ere puppe t i n h i s m ayor s ’

han ds After securi ng fo r h i mself a legi timat e posi t io n i n th e

.

state Charles s tarted forth t o humble al l the en emi es wh o had

,

vexed Austrasi a i n i ts tim e of trouble H e drove the Sax o n s .

over th e Weser compelled Radbod th e Fri sian t o su rrender

,

Wes t Frieslan d for th e secon d tim e an d th en tur n ed agai n st ,

Neustria I t wa s i n vai n that king C hi lpe ri ch wh o fough t

.
,

hard to m aintai n h is i n depen dence j oi n ed force s with E u d o , ,

who i n the late troubles ha d m ad e him self i n depen den t duke

o f Aqu itaine Charles beat th em both at a battle n ear Soisson s
.
,

an d chase d k ing an d duke beyon d the Loi re Th is battle o f .

S oisson s was the last effort al ike o f th e M erovi ngia n house an d

th e Neustrian real m After i t had been lost they both bowed
.

be fore the Aus trasian sword an d humbl y took their orders ,

from t h e grea t Mayor o f th e Palace

’
At thi s co n j u n cture Charles s puppe t king C hl o t ha r 1 v ,
.

died The victor o f S oi ss on s m igh t perchance h ave ch osen

.

t o proclaim h i mself ki ng o f Austrasia bu t rememberi n g t he ,

fate o f hi s gran dfather G ri m o a l d pre ferred to offer term s to

,

th e exiled ki ng C h i lp e ri c h O n recogni si n g C harles a s m ay or

.

o f E ast an d West alike the van qui shed M e ro vi n g was allowed

,

to return to N eu stria an d proclaim ed Ki n g o f al l th e Franks

,

H e had deserve d a be tter fate than to sink i nto a m ere

n am e and s hadow an d i f he ha d been born eigh ty years
,

earl ier m igh t p erchance by h i s courage an d persi stence have

26 8 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

given a l onger lease o f power t o t h e M erovi ngian hou se Bu t .

t h e t ime s w ere n ow t o o la te for h i s energy to avail .

C h i l pe ri c h 1 1 d ie d only a year after h i s sub m i ss i on to

.

Charles T here remai n on l y t wo m ore n ames to chronicle

.

i n th e an ci en t royal hou se T h e u d e ri c h I V an d C hi l d e ri ch 1 1
,
. .

These obscure perso n s — s o obscure that th e chron i clers d o

’
n o t e ven give u s the date of T h e u d e ri c h s d eath — were t o o w eak

even t o be u se d a s tools by th e ene m ies o f th e great mayor .

A w el l k n own passage i n E i n hard d escribes thei r w retch ed

-

pos iti on For m an y years th e h ou se o f th e M ero vi n g s wa s

des titu te o f vigou r an d h ad n ot h in g i llustri ou s abou t i t save t h e
em pty n am e o f ki n g For th e r u lers o f thei r palace possesse d
.

both th e weal th an d the p ower of th e ki ngd om b earing th e ,

nam e o f m ayor an d had charge o f al l h igh m atters o f state

,
.

The re w a s n othi ng for the k in g t o do save to con ten t h i m self

w ith hi s ti tle an d s i t w i th hi s l on g hai r an d l ong beard o n th e
,

th ron e l ik e t h e effigy of a ruler to hear foreign ambassadors

, ,

harangue h i m an d an swe r t hem i n words pu t i n to h i s m ou th as i f

speak in g for h i m sel f H i s royal nam e wa s pro fi t l ess a n d h i s
.

allowance o f reven u e was a t th e d iscreti on o f t he m ayor n or ,

wa s there a nythi ng he coul d really cal l h i s own save on e royal

m an or o f m oderate val u e ( M on tmacq ) There he kep t h is .

Efi te e ne ss
fam ily an d h is l i t tl e e stabli shm en t o f servan ts .

o f t h l st
e a W hen h e h ad t o travel he se t o u t i n a c overed
M i g
e ro v n s.
carr i age drawn by oxen an d dr i ve n by a ru st i c ,

retai ner Thu s h e u sed t o travel u p to h i s palace or t o th e

.
,

n ati on al gath e rin g wh ich m e t on ce a year t o settl e the a ffairs

,

o f th e real m an d th u s h e w ould re tu rn
,
B u t th e adm i n istra
.

ti o n o f th e ki n gd om a n d everyth in g that had to be d on e

,

either at h o m e o r abroad wa s care d for by th e Mayor of t he

’ ’
Palace . T h e u d e ri c h s n am e covers th e years 7 2 0 7 3 7 C h il -
,

’ ’
d e ric h s th e years 7 4 2 7 5 2 B etween th e o n e s death an d th e
-
.

’
o ther s accessi on there was a peri o d of s i x years i n w h ic h th e ,

great m ayor d i d n o t eve n t rou bl e t o p rovi de hi m sel f w it h a

n om i n al ki ng bu t ruled o n h i s o w n au th ori ty
, .

’
Th e twen ty t wo years of Charle s Martel s rul e as mayor o f
-
 Tne H i s t o ry o f the g rea t M ay ors of fire P a l a ce 269

Neustria an d Au strasi a are th e turn ing poi n t i n the hi story o f -

Western an d Cen tral E u rope Con ti nu ing the pol icy

o f h i s father Pipp i n th e You nger bo th at h o m e an d abroad
, ,

h e devoted al l h i s e n ergies t o restoring the ol d bou ndarie s o f

th e Franki sh realm taming i ts heathen n eighbours spreadi ng
, ,

Chri s tian i ty am ong th e m ore di stan t Germa n tribes an d restor ,

i ng l aw an d order am ong the u n rul y coun ts an d dukes wi th i n

th e em pire . H i s strong h an d wa s a s valu able i n en ding
anarch y at h om e as i n wi n ni ng victory abroad .

Th e six years o f ci vi l war which foll owed the death o f Pippi n

th e Younger had u nd one m ost o f th e work o f that great man ,

an d Charl es h ad to com mence once m ore the task wh ich h ad

bus ied hi s father H e was howeve r i n a posi tion R i s e o f t h e
.
, ,

of greater fi rm nes s an d strengt h than Pippi n had m y l t Y a Of a

en j oyed an d was able t o m ake hi s w il l fel t all over th e

,

Franki sh realms i n a m uch m ore thorough fashion I t was h i s .

task to make th e arm o f th e cen tral govern m en t feared all over

the ki ngdom as much as i t h ad been i n t he days o f the earl iest
,

M erovingian kings The t a sk was hard because a cen tu ry an d

.
,

a hal f o f feebl e admi n istration h ad taugh t the l ocal c oun ts an d

dukes al l th e arts o f i nsubordi nation m ore especially the trick,

o f u tili s ing the an nual m eeti ngs of the great nati onal cou ncil

what E nglan d would have called the Wi tan — fo r th e purpos e

’
o f overawin g t heir ru ler They appeared at th e March fi e l d ‘ -
.
,

followed by great hosts o f armed foll owers an d boun d the m ,

selves together by fam ily o r party con federac ies to with stan d
the cen tral govern men t I n thi s they succee ded as lon g as th e
.

feeble M e ro vi n g s conti nued an d were able to elect the

,

o fficers o f state at thei r pleasure or t o distribu te th e l ocal

govern ors hi ps amon g each oth er The grea t mayors pu t an .

en d to thi s The hou se o f S t Arn ul f had gathere d such a

. .

great followi n g of fai thful partisa n s i n Austrasia that by their ,

aid i t coul d face an y com bi nation o f di sc on tented coun ts

,
.

Th e oth er grea t h ouse s o f Au strasi a seem to h ave gradually

disappeared an d al l the s maller n obil ity an d freem en o f the
,

l an d between M euse an d Rhi ne had becom e the enthusiastic

27 0 E u r opea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 —
9I8

foll owers o f Pip p i n an d Charl es I n return th e great mayors

.

plan ted Au strasia n s i n offi ce al l over th e ki n gdom an d trusted ,

main ly t o th ei r aid i n al l cri ses Thei r syste m was a d om i n a

.

ti o n of the Au s trasian s over th e Neu strian s B urgun dian s , ,

Aqu i tan ia n s a n d E a st G erm an s thei r empi re reposed o n th e

,

fact t hat th ei r o wn c ou n try m en were l oyal u n i ted an d self , ,

co n fi den t w h ile the other race s were j eal ou s divid ed an d

, , ,

hu mbl ed b y rece n t defea t Ye t th e s truggl e was n o ea sy on e

. .

I t n eeded th e repeated bl ows of Am bl eve Vin cy an d S oi sson s , ,

t o crush th e Neu strian s piri t o f separati sm Aqu i tai n e was .

onl y k ep t down by cam paign after cam paign directed agai n st

i ts di sl oyal dukes N ei th er s ou th Gau l n or sou th Germany
.

( S u ab i a an d Bavaria ) were reall y tam ed till th ey had been

d eprived o f thei r native duke s an d cu t u p i n to c ou n tsh ip s
,

o r ga ns ad m i n i stered by Au strasian ch i efs But th e h ou se

,
.

of S t Arnul f con tin u ed to p rod u ce great m en for gen era

.

ti on after gen erat ion an d th e tam i ng was fi nally aecom

,

pli s h e d .

Th e work o f t he great mayors w i th out was n o les s ardu ou s

th an wi thi n To sub d u e th ose i n dom i tabl e tri bes of n orth ern
.

German y from wh ose p athles s wo odlan d s even the i ro n legion s

,

o f Augu stu s h ad draw n back i n despa i r was a great work fo r ,

th e tu m ul tu ary arm i es o f Au strasi a t o accompli sh B u t th ey .

carried o u t t he struggle t o the bi tter e n d till they had c on ,

quere d th e very eas tern m os t Te u ton an d h ad l ook ed u pon ,

th e Balti c an d th e u nk n own b ou ndarie s o f the Slavs B avaria .

an d Fri sia t o ok many a hard bl ow ere th ey were i n corporated

wi th th e Franki sh real m ; bu t a t las t th ey reli nqui sh ed w ith a ,

sigh thei r h eathen i ndepen den ce E ven the I tal ian ki ngd om
,
.

o f the gallan t Lo mbards protecte d by the grea t Roman

,

fort re sses of P avia Vero na an d Raven n a cou l d n o t w it hs tan d

, ,

th e Au strasian sword .

But o f al l th e m ili tary ach i eveme nt s o f th e E ast Frank s

u nd er th e h ou se of S t Arn ul f th e gran des t as well as t he
.
, ,

m o st e n during i n effec t wa s t o be wo n over a fo e unk n own t o

,

th ei r an c e stors a n e w enem y w h o threat e ned n o t m erely t o

,
 T/z e H i s t o ry f
o t /z e g r ea t M ay o rs of t /z e P a l a ce 27 1

ravage the borders o f th e real m l ike Frisian o r Lombard bu t ,

to d is member i t by l o pp i ng away Aqui tai n e from A p p r ch f oa o

Western Chri sten dom Great a s were thei r other t h S r c =

.
e a a en ~

feats th e m ost importan t o f all was the turnin g back o f th e

,

wave o f M u ssul man fan atici sm a t th e battl e o f P o i c t i e rs For .

that crown ing m ercy i f fo r n oth i ng el se E u r o pe owes a n

, ,

e ternal deb t o f grati tu de to the great mayors o f the eigh th

cen tury an d the i nd o m itable h osts o f Au strasia .

Three years before th e deat h o f Pippi n the You nge r ki ng ,

Roderi c the Visigot h had falle n at th e battle o f the G u a d a l e t e ,

an d Spai n had bee n overru n by th e i n fi del I n 7 z o —th e fi rs t

.
,

year of the complete dom in ati on o f Charles over the two

Franki sh ki ngdom s — the Saracen s had pu shed beyon d the
,

b ou nds o f the I berian pe n i n su l a crosse d th e Pyrenees an d

, ,

en tered Aqu itain e where they laid s iege to Toulouse Thei r

,
.

fi rs t bl ow fell o n E udo duke o f Aqui tain e wh o had j us t

, ,

ackn owledged hi mself the vassal of th e Frankis h k i n g an d ,

given up hi s claim t o reign as an i n dependen t prince Th e .

duke ob taine d ai d from th e Frank ish governors on h i s

borders attacked the Saracen s in thei r camp a t Toul ou se an d
, ,

pu t them t o rou t wi th the los s of th ei r leader E l Sam ah -

.

B u t though beate n i n battl e the M oslem s kept a foothold

,

n orth of th e Pyren ees by h olding to the o l d Vi sigoth ic capi tal

,

o f Narbon n e The danger from th em was bu t postpon ed n ot

.
,

fi nally warded off E re l o n g Charles h imsel f was t o be

.

obliged to tak e th e fi eld to defend the s ou thern borders o f

,

th e Frankis h real m again s t exped iti on s far m ore form i dabl e

than that wh ich duke E ud o had turned back i n 7 2 1 .
 C H APTER XVI

T H E LO M BA R DS AN D TH E PA PA C Y
6 5 3 743
-

U sur pa t io n a n d succ e ssful wa rs o f G rim o a l d —R e ig n s o f Be rt h a ri a n d Cu n i

b e r t — Qua rr e ls o f t h e P a pa cy a n d t he e m p i r e —T he e x i l e o f P o pe M a r t i n I .

—G r a du a l a l i e na t i o n o f I t a ly fr o m t h e e m p i r e —C i v l wa rs o f Ar i b e r t u
i .

a n d A n S p ra n d —S ucc e ssful r e ig n o f L i u t p ra n d
— L e o t h e I s a ur i a n a n d
G r e g o ry 11 —I t a ly r e b e ls a g a i n s t t h e I c o n o cl as t s —L i u t pra n d c o n qu e rs
.

m o s t o f t he E x a rch a t e .

A FT E R th e death of R o t hari th e law giver th e Lom bard king -

d o m en tered i n to i ts secon d s tage i t h ad n o w al m ost rea ch ed

th e ful l growt h o f i ts terri to rial exten s ion an d had se ttled ,

down i n to i ts fi nal shape F o r n earl y a hu n dred years th e m ai n

.

even ts o f i ts p ol i ti cal hi story are c ivi l wa rs or defen si ve cam ,

a i g n s agai n st i ts two n eighbou rs th e Roman exarch a n d th e

p ,

C hagan of th e Avars There i s n o su stai n e d e ff ort ei th er to

.

expel the I m p eri al ists from I tal y or t o exten d th e bou n dary of

,

th e Lom bard real m to th e n orth I t was onl y i n th e m i ddl e.

o f th e eighth cen tury that th e estra nge m en t be twee n C on sta n

t i n o pl e an d i ts Roma n su b j ects i n I tal y l e d t o suc h a weak

cu i ng o f t he I m perial au thori ty t hat t he Lombard kings were
,

abl e to se i ze the l ong cove te d E xarchate Th e h i story o f the

-
.

cu tti ng sh ort o f the do m i ni on s o f th e ea stern Caesar beyo nd

t he Adri atic turn s m u ch m ore o n the growth o f the Papal
power an d o n th e quarrel on th e su bj ect of I conoclasm wh ich
, ,

su ndered th e chu rch es o f Rom e an d C on stan ti n o p l e than o n ,

th e am bi ti on o r abil i ty o f the rulers o f Lo mbardy .

’
O n th e mu rd er o f R o t h a ri s s hort l i ved son i n 6 5 3 th e -
,

Lombard s elected as the ir ki ng Aribert a ne p h ew o f th e ,

27 2
 T/z e L o m ba rds
’
an a t /ze P a pa cy 27 3

sain ted quee n The o de l i n d a whose n ame was stil l hel d i n

,

ki ndly m em ory al l over t he lan d Cou n t G u n d o a l d A ri b e rt s ’.

,

father had l on g bee n settled i n I taly : h e had A r i b r t 1

, e .

cro sse d t he Al ps w i th h i s piou s s i s te r m ore th a n 65 3 6 - 2.

h alf a cen tury before so t hat Ari bert h i m sel f was cou n te d a
,

Lombard an d n ot a B avarian The n ew k i ng reigned o b

, .

scu re l y fo r n i n e years ( 6 5 3 h e wage d n o wars a nd was

m ai nly n oted as a frien d o f the clergy an d a bui lder of
ch urches H e was a ferven t Cath ol i c an d di d h is bes t to
.
,

root ou t the few trace s o f Arian i s m yet remai n in g i n L o m

bardy The lan d had peace un der h i s sway but ere h e died h e
.
,

sowed the seeds of future troubles by th e un hap p y i nspiratio n

w hich le d h im to i n duce t he Lom bard Wi tan t o elect hi s two
son s G o de b e rt an d B e rth a ri as j oin t hei rs t o t he ki ngshi p
, , .

W hen thei r fa the r was dead G o d e b e rt t h e elder brother , , ,

dwel t as ki ng at Pavia wh il e B e rt hari took p osses sio n o f

,

M ilan B efore they had been reign in g a year t h e in evi table

.

c ivi l war broke o u t becau se evi l m i nd e d m en s owe d d iscord

,
-

’
an d su spi cion between th em Th ey were m u steri ng their
.

foll owers for a deci sive campai gn w hen G o d e b ert was ,

treacherou sl y m urdered by th e c hief o f h i s own su pporters ,

G ri m o a l d duke of B eneven to wh o had l eft hi s duchy i n the

, ,

south and le d hi s m en a t arm s t o Pavia u nder G i m l d k i

,
- -

,
r oa n
g
t he preten ce o f helping h is suzerai n agai n st h i s f t h L m o e o

b d ’fm ”
u nrul y younger brother Gri m o ald took posses .
ar s ‘

’
sion o f th e crown an d m arried h i s victim s si ster in order
, ,

t o c on n ect h i m self wi th the h ou se o f th e holy T h e o d e l i n d a .

H e chased B e rt ha ri o u t o f M il an an d force d hi m to tak e ,

refuge wi th th e C hagan of th e Avars i n th e far eas t by th e , ,

s h ores o f the D an ube .

The u n scrupulous u surper reign ed for n in e years ( 6 6 2 7 1 ) -

over th e wh ol e Lombard realm h old i ng hi s o wn court at ,

Pav ia w hile Romual d th e so n o f his fi rst m arri age rule d for

, , ,

h im a t B en even to Thi s was th e onl y peri o d i n the whol e

.

’
hi story o f the Lombards wh en t he ki ng s man date was as well
obeyed i n th e south ern Ap en n i n es as i n the valley o f th e Po .

P E RI O D I . S
27 4 E u r opea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

I t was th ere fore fo rtu nate fo r th e Lom bard race th at the

, ,

attack o n I taly o f th e vigorou s emperor Con stan ti n u s ( C o n

’
stan s fell wi th i n th e years o f G ri m o a l d s reign T hough .

h e overra n m u ch o f th e d uchy of B en eve n to th e e n ergy o f ,

C on stan t in u s fa i led before th e a d ven t o f k i ng Gri m o al d an d ,

th e danger passed away

H i s su cce sses agai n s t th e emperor were n ot th e o nl y
tri umph s o f k i ng Gri m o a l d : h e repelle d an i rrupti on o f th e
A v a rs i n to Ven etia an d repul se d a Franki sh arm y wh i ch th e
,

Mayor E b ro i n wh o ruled i n behal f o f ki ng C hl o t ha r

,

se n t across t he Western Al ps H i s on l y terri torial gain h o w .

,

e ver wa s the capture from th e I m perial i sts o f th e l ittl e town o f

,

F o ri m po p o l i n ear Ri m i n i w h i ch h e s tormed by su rpri se o n

, ,

E aster Da y a n d harri ed m os t cru elly

, slayin g the w orshippers ,
‘

at th e altar an d th e d eac o n s at th e bapti sm al fon t whi le al l

, ,
’
were e ngaged i n celebrati ng t he H oly Feast We m igh t have .

su p posed tha t th e R om an s i n cen tral I taly w oul d h ave fared

w orse afte r the repu l s e of Con stan ti n u s b u t n o oth er ci ty was
’
l os t I n t he s outh however Gri m o a l d s s on Romual d ca p
.
, ,

t u re d Taran to an d B rin disi two o f th e ch i ef remai n in g strong ,

h ol ds o f th e I m perial i s ts i n Apul i a B u t thi s was after th e .

death o f Con stan ti nus d urin g t h e trou ble s cau sed by the
,

rebell i on of M e z e c i u s i n S icily ( 6 6 8 9 P) .

I n spi te o f t he treachery b y wh ic h h e h a d attain ed th e

’
th ron e Gri m o a ld s victorie s made h i m very popular am ong th e
,

Lo mbard s an d m a n y tales s u rvi ve beari n g wi tne ss t o hi s

,

generosity a n d clem en cy n o less t han to h i s strong han d an d

,

cu n n ing B u t w h e n h e d i ed i t wa s seen that h i s p ower rested

.

pu rely u pon h is own personal m eri t : th e Lombard s d id n ot el ec t

as ki ng e ither h i s el der so n R om uald th e d uk e of B eneven to , ,

o r hi s younger s o n Gari bal d wh om th e daugh ter of A ribert

, ,

had b orn e h i m Th ey recalle d from e xil e ki n g B e rtha ri th e

.
,

s o n o f Ari bert wh om G ri m o a l d h ad d riven o u t o f M i lan ten

,

y e a rs be fore Th i s pri n
. ce ha d spen t an u n happy l i fe i n
wan de ring fro m lan d to land from the Dan ube t o the B ri ti sh ,

1
S e e pa g e 245 .
 Tne
’ ’
L o m ba ra s a na t/z e P ap a cy 27 5

s eas an d wa s sail ing to E nglan d when the n ews o f th e

,
’
u su r p er s deat h reached him H e return ed to I taly an d wa s .
,

received with subm i ss ion by t h e whol e Lombard race an d ,

s ol em nly crown ed at Pavia .

B e rt ha ri reigned for seven teen years ( 6 7 2 8 8 ) i n peace an d -

quietn ess for h e loved n ot war H e was a m a n of religion

, .
‘
,

a tru e Cathol ic tenac ious of j u stice a n ouri sher o f the poor

, ,

h e bu il t th e fam ous n un n ery o f S t Agatha an d the grea t .

,

C hurch o f the Vi rgi n ou ts i de the wall s of Pavi a ’ Th e ki n gs of .

this type wh om the m onas ti c chron iclers delighted m ost to

,

h onou r were n ot thos e w h o m ade h i story B e rt ha ri n ever

, .

attempted to con quer R om e or t he E xarch ate an d o n ly took ,

arm s o nce i n h i s reign w hen h e was assaul ted by a rebelli ou s

,

duke Ala h i s o f Tren t wh om he subdued a n d then pardoned

, , ,

— as a Christian man sh oul d —a pardon wh ich was to cos t

Lombardy much bloo d i n the n ext reign .

Th e reign o f h i s son C u n i b e rt ( 6 8 8 7 0 0 ) was far m ore dis -

t u rb e d Th i s ki n g was a m an o f m ixe d qual i ti es brave

.
, ,

generou s a n d p opu lar bu t careles s i ncauti ous an d given over

, , , ,

to the wi ne C U p H e was caugh t u nprepared an d driven from

-
.

Pavia by duke A la hi s who n ow rebelle d again i n spit e of the

, ,
’
fact that hi s l ife had on ce been spare d by C u n i b e rt s father .

C u n i b e rt was driven for a ti m e from all hi s realm save a ,

si ngle castl e i n t he lake o f Com o where he stoo d a long s iege , .

B ut Al a hi s by h i s tyran ny m ade h im sel f u nbearabl e t o the

, ,

Lombards an d ere m an y m on th s h ad elapse d th e lawful king

,

was able t o issue from h i s strongh ol d and fac e th e u surper i n

battle Th ey m et at Coronate o n th e A dda n ot far from
.
,

Lodi Al a h i s backed by the Au strian s o f Ven etia C u n i b e rt

,
‘
,

by th e Neustria n s o f P iedm on t The m en o f th e Wes t had

‘
.

th e better Al ah i s was slai n an d th e so n o f B e rt ha ri resu med

, ,

hi s k ingsh ip over th e w h ole Lom bard realm Thi s was n ot .

th e last rebell ion t hat C u n i b e rt had t o cru sh : al l through hi s

reign we h ear o f ri sings of th e un ruly dukes an d o f th e ,

pun i shmen ts wh ich were in flicted on them when they fell in to

’
their master s han ds .
27 6 E u ropea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Th ere i s n othi ng o f fi rs t rate h i storical i m portan ce t o rel ate

-

o f th e doi ngs of th e Lom bard k ings i n th is last quarter o f t he

seven th cen tury B ut w hil e B e rt ha ri wa s b u il di ng ch urches

.
,

o r C u n i b e rt strivi n g w it h h i s rebel s th e c ou rse o f even ts i n ,

the c i ty of R om e was growi n g m ore an d m ore imp ortan t The .

papacy a nd t he empire were gradually worki ng u p t o a p itch

o f estran gem en t a n d m u tual repul si on wh ich was i n th e n ex t ,

gen eratio n to l ea d t o ope n war betwee n t hem We have .

ske tche d i n an earli e r chapter th e w ork o f p o p e Gregory th e

G reat i n rai s in g th e papacy to a c on d itio n o f u npreceden ted
,

s p iritual i m p ortan ce i n t h e Christian worl d an d n o less i n ,

bu ild in g u p a p os itio n o f high secular i m portance fo r the

T h P p cy
e a
Pop e
a
i n th e governan ce o f Rom e For hal f a .

’
“
i th s v
n

m m
e

u
t h cen tury a fter Gregory s death th is s tate o f a fla i rs
e en

rem ai n ed u naltered Th e P o p e was n ow fi rml y .

e stabli she d as patriarc h o f th e We s t a n d sen t m i ssi on s t o ,

B ri tai n Gaul an d S pai n w i th out l et o r h i nd rance N o r was

, ,
.

h i s s ecular auth ori ty m uch i nterfere d wi th ei ther b y the ,

exarch o r by the h o m e go ve rn m e n t a t Con stan ti n ople B u t .

frictio n an d struggli ng began u nder t he reign of the stern an d

ru t hl es Con stan ti n us
( Con stan s I I ) an d th e h ot h ead ed p ope .
-

Marti n 1 We h ave me n ti on e d el sewh ere h o w the em p ero r

.
1

’
p ubl ished h i s Type or ed ict o f Com p reh en sion forbi d ding
‘
,

furth er di scu s si on s o n th e qu es ti o n of t h e M on oth elite h ere sy .

Marti n n ot m erel y re fu sed to acqu i esce i n l etting th e d i scu ssio n

sl eep bu t su mm on e d a cou n cil wh ic h declare d the Type t o ’ ‘
,

b e blas p h em ou s an d irreveren t Marti n wrote t o the same .

e ffe ct t o t h e ki ngs o f th e Franks Vi si goth s a n d E ngl ish thu s , , ,

calli ng i n foreign sovereign s t o participate i n a d ispu te betwee n

h imsel f an d hi s maste r Relying o n hi s rem oten ess from B y
.

z a n t i u m an d on th e gran deu r o f hi s posi ti on as Patriarch o f

,
’
th e West he attem pte d t o defy C on stan ti n u s Th e emperor s
, .

proceedings sh ow that h e was de termi n ed t o a s sert hi s powe r ,

but that h e was ful l y con sciou s o f the danger a n d d i ffi cul ty o f

de aling w i th such an i m portan t pe rsonage a s the bi sh op o f
1
S ee pa g e 2 44 .
 ’
Tne L o m oa ra s a nd the P p a cy
a 27 7

Rom e h ad n o w becom e H e had t o wai t for a favourabl e

.

Opportu ni ty for pu n i shi ng Marti n a nd i t was n ot by openly

,

arresti ng h im i n the face o f th e people bu t by F t t p p , a e o o e

secretly kidn apping hi m that h e go t hi m i n to h i s M r t i 65 5

,
a n,

p ower Bu t whe n o n ce sh i p ped to Con stan tin o p l e the Po p e

.

’
fel t hi s sovereign s wrat h : i n su l ted l oade d w it h chain s i m
, ,

prison ed and ban ish ed to th e rem ote Crimea M arti n learn t

, ,
’
that th e emperor s arm was s ti ll s trong e n ough t o reach o u t to
Rom e ( 6 5
B u t all I tal y regarded Marti n as a martyr to orth odoxy an d ,

h i s fate d i d much t o estra n ge the Roman s from th ei r l oyal ty

to t he em p i r e N or was thei r wrat h d im i n i shed by th e sacri
.

l e gi o u s plun der o f th e Pan theon an d o ther Roma n churches ,

whic h Con s ta nti nus carrie d ou t wh e n i n 6 6 3 h e deigned t o

,

visi t h i s Western dom in i on s I t w oul d see m that Con stan t i nu s

.

h imsel f was full y con sci ou s that t h e Roman se e was growin g

too s trong an d del iberately strove to sap i t s r e sou rces for at
, ,

th is time h e gran te d to th e archbi s h op o f Ravenn a a formal

exem p ti on fro m an y d uty of spi ri tual ob edience to t he Pop e
as patriarch o f the Wes t an d con s ti tu ted hi m an i n depen den t
,

auth ori ty i n the exarchate F o r twen ty years th i s schism o f

.

Rom e an d Raven n a c on ti n u ed bu t i n th e en d th e ol d tradi

,

t i o n al prestige of th e see of S t Peter tri umphed over the

.

ambi tion o f the R a ve n n e se archbishop s .

I f t here had bee n a s trong pon tiff at thi s m om en t i t i s p ro ,

bable th at an ope n rupture m igh t have tak e n p l ace between

th e papacy an d th e e mpi re Bu t p ope Vi talian was a weak
.

m an the fate o f h i s predecessor M arti n had cowed h im an d

, ,

th e idea o f cu tting Rome away from th e resp u ol i ca P omo n a ,

a s the em p ire was s till h ab itually called h ad n ot yet entere d ,

i n to the m i n ds o f th e I tal ian s ub j ects o f Byzan tiu m T o d i s .

o wn th e I m p erial supremacy wou l d have bee n tan tam ou n t t o

th rowi ng Rom e i n to th e han ds o f kin g Gri m o al d th e Lo m

bard an d n ei ther Pop e n or p eo p l e con tem p late d such a
,

prospect w i th equan im i ty .

Accordi n gl y t he bre ach b e twe e n R ome an d B yza n tium was

27 8 E u ropea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

deferred for an oth er generat ion After Con s tan ti n u s was d ead
.
,

m ore friendly relati o n s reigned for a space for h i s so n Co n ,

s t a n t i n e v w a s i mpeccabl y orth od ox
. H e held th e Counci l o f
.

Con stan tin opl e i n 6 8 1 wi th th e h igh ap p roval o f p ope Agath o ,

wh ose representative s dul y appeare d a t i t t o j oi n i n th e fin al ,

cru sh i n g o f t he M on o theli te heretics Con stan ti ne i n t h e

.
,

ful ness o f h i s frie n dsh i p to the pap acy even gran te d to th e ,

Roman see th e dangerou s privilege th at wh en at papal elec

t ion s th e su flrage s of th e clergy the p eo p le an d t he s old iery
‘

, , ,

the garrison of Rom e — were u nan im ou sl y fi xed o n any o n e

p erson that i nd ividual m igh t b e a t o n ce con secrated bi sh o p
,

o f Rom e with ou t havi n g t o wai t fo r an i mperial man date of

,

a pproval from C o n sta n ti n opl e As a m atter o f fact h owever

.
, ,

u nan im ou s el ecti on s were very rare and th e exarch s o f ,

Rave n n a are still fou n d i n terferin g t o d eci de between t he

cl ai m s o f rival candidates .

Sig n s of a breac h becam e eviden t o n ce agai n i n th e days

of t he tyran t J u sti nian 11 When pope S ergi u s refused
.

obedi ence t o h i s beh est s th e emperor bade th e exarch sei ze

,

h i m an d sen d h i m t o C on stan ti n opl e B u t n ot o n ly t he .

Roman m ob b u t th e sold iers of th e i m p erial garrison took u p

,
’
arm s t o resi s t Jus ti n ian s offi cial s w h en t hey tried to lay
han ds on Sergi u s : th e tie s o f m ili tary obedien ce had al ready
c om e t o be weaker tha n t hose of spi ritual respec t an d th e ,

Pope trium ph ed fo r Ju sti n ian w a s d epose d m u tilated an d

, , ,

sen t to Cherso n by h i s rebell ious subj ects ere h e h ad tim e t o ,

pu n is h th e Roman s .

The twen ty two years o f a narch y an d di ssolu ti on a t Con

-

s t a n t i n o p l e w h ich foll owed th e depos i ti o n o f Jus ti n ian

( 95
6
7 1 7 ) were fraugh t wi th i mportan t co n sequ ences i n I taly .

Th e ep hem eral em perors o f th ose day s were una bl e t o assert

th ei r au th ori ty over th e Wes t an d we once m ore fi n d th e
,

p opes assu m i n g secular fun cti on s a fter th e fash i on o f G regory

,

the G reat i n th e preced i n g cen tury J oh n vr l evied taxe s i n . .

Rom e m ade t reat ie s wi th th e Lombard d uke o f Beneven to

, ,

a n d e ven p rot e cte d a n d restor ed th e exarch Th eo h la c t u s

p y
 ’
Tae L om ba rd s a na the P p a cy
a 27 9

w hen he had bee n ex p elled from Ravenn a by a m il itary

revol t Gregory 11 wen t s o far i n h i s in d epen dence a s to
. .

refus e t o ack n owledge th e u su rpin g emperor Qu rr l f a e o

the Roman people ggzggi l i j ’

g
g l '
P h i l i pp i c u s ; by hi s a dvi ce ‘

d eterm i n e d that state d ocu m en t s sh oul d n o t bear p i

-
cu S

t he n am e of a h ere t ical Caesar n or the m o n ey be s truck wi th

,

hi s effigy S o th e portrai t of P h i l ip pi cu s was n ot se t u p i n

.

the Ch urch n or hi s nam e i n troduce d i n th e prayers a t M ass ’

, .

’
Gregory o nl y con sen ted to recogn ise P h il i ppi cu s succ essor
An astasi u s 1 1 when h e h eard that th e n ew emperor was a
.

m an of u n impeachabl e orth odoxy Th e i n depen den t p osi .

t ion of th e p opes had n o w gro wn s o m arke d that th e n ex t

q u arrel wi th C on stan tin opl e was desti ned to lead t o th e fi nal
rupture of relati ons be tween th e papacy an d th e empire I t .

was impos si ble th a t t h ings s houl d remai n as they were : th e

breach was i n evi tabl e I ts cau se was t o be th e accessi on o f
.

the stern I con ocl as t Leo th e I saurian an d h i s attem pt to

, ,

e n force h i s own religi ou s views o n th e wes tern n o less than ,

th e eastern province s o f h i s empi re Th e p rotagon is ts i n .

th e fi nal struggl e are Leo p op e Gregory , an d th e Lom bard

king L i u t p ra n d wh ose p osi ti on an d p ower we m u st n o w pro
,

c e e d t o expl ai n .

Wh en k ing C u n ib e rt die d i n th e year 7 0 0 h e le ft h i s ,

thron e to hi s youn g s on Li u t b e rt a m ere b oy whos e real m , ,

was to be admi n is tered by a rege n t gu ardian coun t An spra n d -

, ,

t h e w i ses t o f t h e Lom bards A m in ori ty w as always fatal t o

.

o n e o f the early Teuton ic ki ngdom s O n ly eigh t m on th s .

“
after Li u t b e rt had b ee n p roclaim ed king h i s n eares t adul t ,

ki n smen rose i n arm s again st h i m to cl ai m th e R b l l i ,

“
, e e on

crown . These were R e gi nb e rt duke o f Turin R g i b t f

, ,
e n er o

m r
an d h i s s o n Ari bert the chil d an d gran dchi l d o f
,
:

’
ki ng Go de b e rt an d th e cou s in s o f the b o y ki ng s fath er
,
-
.

R eg i n b e rt was fo ll owe d by al l the Neu strian Lom bards ,

an d was able t o d efeat th e regen t A n spra n d at N ov a ra H e .

died immedi ately after h i s victory but hi s so n Ari bert foll owe d
,

up th e succe ss by wi n n ing a secon d battle i n fron t o f Pavia ,

2 80 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

an d takin g p ri son er th e boy Li u t b e rt Th e victor seized th e .

capi tal a n d was haile d as ki ng by hi s fol lowers

, ,

u n der the n am e o f Ari bert 11 Th e rege n t .

A n s pra n d w ho had e sca p ed fro m Pavia tried

, ,

t o keep up the c ivi l war i n th e n am e o f hi s ward : bu t th e

n ew king pu t a n en d t o th i s attemp t by orderin g the b o y
L i u t b e rt t o b e stra n gle d i n h i s bath A n spra n d then fl ed .

over th e Al p s an d took re fuge w i th t he d uk e o f Bavaria .

Aribert 1 1 reign ed o ve r t h e Lo m b ards for te n troubled

.

years ( 7 0 1 ful l y occup ied by the task s o f pu tting down

rebell iou s dukes d ri ving back rai d s o f th e Cari n thia n Sl avs
,

fro m Vene ti a an d en deavouri ng to a ssert hi s p ower over S p olet o

,

an d Beneve n to The ti m e was op p ortun e for attacki ng th e

.

i mperial possessi on s i n I taly b u t Aribert re frai ned from ,

m ak i ng th e attemp t H e w as fri en dly t o th e p apacy an d

.
,

made over to p ope Joh n v1 a great gi ft of estates i n t h e .

C ottian Al p s : n or d i d h e assi s t hi s vassal F a ro a l d duk e o f ,

S poleto w hen th e latter i n 7 0 3 ma de an attem pt on th e

,

E xarchate Aribert preferred t o l ive i n p eace bot h wit h t h e

.

Pop e an d the E m peror .

Aribert 1 1 had gain ed h i s ki ngdo m by th e sword an d by

.
,

t he sword h e was desti ned t o lose i t I n 7 1 1 th e exile .

A n spra n d on ce th e regen t for the boy L i u t b e rt i n vaded I taly

, ,

at the h ead o f a Bavarian arm y len t to h im by duke Te u t ,

bert Man y o f th e Lom bards still l oved th e h ou se o f Ber

.

t hari an d hate d Ariber t as a m u rdere r an d u s urpe r Th e .

arm y o f An spra n d was ere l on g in creased by m any thou san d s o f

t he Au strian Lom bard s and h e was soon abl e t o face th e ki ng
‘
,

i n th e ope n fi el d n ear Pavia Th e battl e was i n dec i sive b u t

.
,

w hen i t wa s o ve r Aribe rt retired wi th i n th e wal l s o f th e ci ty .

H i s retreat d i scou raged h i s arm y w h i ch bega n to fal l away ,

from h i m : th ereupo n Aribert determ in ed to take wi t h

h i m th e royal treasu re an d fl ee t o G aul t o bu y ai d o f th e
,

Frank s While en deavou rin g t o cros s th e Tici n o by n igh t

.

wi th all h i s h oard h e was acci den tall y d rowned an d l eft th e

, ,

th ron e vacan t for h i s rival A n spra n d

 ’
Tao L om ba rds a na t /t e P a p a cy 28 1

Th e ex regen t was n ow p roclai med k ing b u t onl y su rvived

-
,

h i s triumph a few m on ths : on h i s deathbed h e p revailed o n

th e Lom bard s t o elect as h is c olleague hi s so n Li u tpra n d ,

wh o there fore b ecam e s ol e ruler w h e n h i s father died a few

days later .

L i u t pra n d was th e m ost ab le an d en ergetic king wh o ever

ruled th e Lom bard realm an d h is long reign of thirty o n e
,
-

years ( 7 1 2 4 3 ) saw th e c om pleti o n o f the l ong L i t p d

- u ra n ,

delaye d proc e ss o f th e evictio n o f th e E ast 535 12 2535 ,

Roman s from Ce n tral I tal y a n d t he ri se o f th e ,

Lombards to t he h igh est pi tc h of s ucces s wh i ch they e ver

k ne w — a ri se wh ich was t o be cl osely followe d by the e xt i n c
tion o f their kingdom .

When Leo the I sauria n com m e n c e d h is cfu sa de agai n st

i mage worsh ip Li u tpra n d had b een o n th e thron e for fourtee n
-
,

years I n t hese earl ier years o f h i s reign h e was occu p ied i n

.

s tre n gth en ing h i s p osi ti on an d made n o at tack o n th e

,

I mperial dom i n ion s i n I tal y th o u gh h e i s fou n d m aking war

,

o n t h e Bavarian s a n d capturing s ome o f thei r castles on

,

th e u pp er Adige .

B u t i n 7 2 6 th ings cam e to a head whe n Leo i ssued hi s ,

fam ou s e dict agai n s t i m ages forbid din g all worshi p o f ,

statues a n d painti ngs P op e Gregory 1 1 was not i n a m ood

. .

to l i s te n t o such a com man d from Con stant in ople Qu rr l f .

a e o

H e was al ready i n great di sfavou r wi th th e e m g ggfig ifi

g '

p e ro r for h aving advised th e I tal ian s t o re sis t I s ur i a an .

some extraordin ary taxation whic h Leo had im p ose d t o mai n

’
tai n the Saracen war Whe n h e rece i ved Leo s rescript an d a
.
,

l etter addres se d t o h i m sel f reque sti ng hi m t o carry ou t the

imperial orders an d destroy the images of Rom e h e burst o u t
, ,

i n to ope n c on tu m acy an d the Roman s wi th al l the oth e r

, ,

I talian s followed hi s lead

,
E xh i l a ra t u s duke o f N aples
.
, ,

wh o trie d to carry o u t th e e dict i n hi s d uch y was slai n by a ,

m o b an d man y other i mperial o fficial s were maltreated o r

,

driven o ff b y those w hom they governe d Th e ci ties elected .

n ew rulers ov er th em s e lves an d wo u l d hav e ch ose n an d ,

2 82 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

proclai med a n E m peror o f t he Wes t i f Gregory 1 1 had n o t k e pt , .

th em fro m th i s fi nal s tep M ean wh ile all th e i m perial pro .

,

Li tp
u d ra nvi n ces of I tal y bei ng i n ope n s edi tion an d qu i te ,
’’ h
gx h t
n
q
a rc
ue
cu t
a
os
ff from
e,
e
Con stan tin o p l e ki ng L i u t pra n d ,

2
7 7 . though t th e m ome n t h ad a t last come for rou n d
i n g o ff th e Lom bard d o m i n i on s by seizi ng th e l o n g co ve t e d ~

E xarch ate H e crossed th e Po took B ologna wit h m ost o f

.
, ,

th e othe r c i tie s o f f E m i l i a a n d the n co n quere d O si m o , ,

Rim i ni An cona an d al l th e Pen tap ol is Classi s th e seaport

, ,
.
,

o f Raven na fell be fore hi m bu t th e exarch Pau l su ccee de d

, ,

i n p reserv ing th e grea t C i ty o f th e M arsh es for a sh ort ti m e

l o n ger til l h e was m u rdere d by ri oters
,
The Lombard
’
ki ng s co nque sts w ere made wi th asto ni sh ing ease fo r i n each ,

c i ty the an t i — i mperiali s t facti on betrayed th e gat e s t o h i m

wi thou t figh ti ng .

So on after t he tri umph o f L i u t pra n d wa s c om pleted by

,

th e su rren der o f Raven n a i t sel f : th e exarch E u t ychi u s fled t o

Ve n ice al ready a sem i i n depen den t ci ty bu t o n e wh ich stil l
,
-
,

p reserve d a n omi nal al legian ce to t h e empire M eanwh ile .

,

“
pope G regory 11 was occupi ed i n wri ti ng length y man ifestos
.

G r g ry
e o
sett ing forth.
th e atroc iou s co nd uct of Le o an d ,

r b l s g i s t th e i n tri n si c ratio n al ity o f reveren ci ng i mages

e e a a n .

H i s letters t o th e emperor were couched i n

language o f stud ied i n sole n ce I m u s t u se coarse a n d ru de .

’
a rgu men ts h e wrote t o su i t a coars e a n d ru de m i n d such
, ,
‘

’
a s yo urs a n d the n proceed ed to say th at i f you were t o go
,
‘

’
i nto a boys sch ool an d a n n ou n ce you rsel f a s a destroyer o f
i mages th e smalle st chi ldren woul d th row thei r wri ti ng table ts
,

at your h ead fo r eve n babes a n d suckl i ngs m igh t teach you

, ,
’
t hough y ou refu se to li ste n to the wi se After com p letel y .

c on fu sing ki n g U zzia h wi th kin g H ezek iah i n an argumen t

d rawn from th e O l d Testam en t G regory th en proceeded to ,

qu ote ap ocryphal an ecd otes from earl y church hi story H e .

w ou n d u p by as serti ng tha t i n vi rtu e o f the power tha t h e

i n h eri ted fr om S t Pete r h e m igh t con s ign th e em peror
.
,

t o e ternal d am nati on bu t that Le o was s o th oroughl y damn ed

,
 Tlz e L om oa r a s
’ ’t
a na /ze P apa cy 283

by h i s own crim es that th ere was n o need to i n flict any

further c urs e on h i m A m ore practical threat was that
.

i f t h e emperor sen t an arm y agai n s t Rom e h e would ,

re tire i n to Cam p an ia an d tak e refuge wi th t he Lombard s

2 9)
( 7
A s a mat ter of fact h owever t o th row h im self i n to th e
, ,

han d s o f t he Lo mbards was th e l as t th i ng th at pop e Gregory

desired to d o H e had t he greates t drea d o f p s i t i
.
f o on o

fallin g u nder th e direct au th ority o f Li u t pra n d G g W ,

re O

for th e occu p ati on o f R om e by a p owerfu l an d strong hande d -

I talian king woul d have been fatal t o the secular p owe r of th e

pa p acy I t was easy to d i sobey a p owerless exarch an d a
.

d istan t emperor b u t i f Li u t pra n d ha d become rul er o f al l

,

I taly the p op es woul d h ave b een forced to be h is hu mbl e

,

subj ects Gregory wi sh ed to ri d hi m sel f of th e domi n ation o f

.

Leo wi th ou t fallin g i n t o th e clu tch es o f Li u t pran d Whil e

, .

disclaim ing h i s allegian ce to the em p eror h e preten ded to ,

ad here t o the em pi re .

M ean whil e an u nexpected turn of even ts h ad checked th e

career o f v ictory o f kin g Li u t p ra n d W hil e h e was ab sen t at
.

Pavia th e exarch E u t yc hi u s had collected som e troop s at

,

Ven ice an d aide d by th e forces of th e sem i inde p en den t

,
-

ci tizen s o f the lagoon city had landed n ear Raven n a The

-
.

place was betraye d to hi m by th e imperi al i st party wi th i n th e

wall s an d becam e once m ore th e seat of i mperi al p ower i n
,

I taly At th e sam e t im e th e dukes o f Sp oleto an d B eneven to

.

t ook arm s again st th ei r suzerai n an d al lied them selve s w ith

,

po p e Gregory
L i u t pra n d determ i ned t o con quer the Lombard rebel s
before resu mi ng th e h ard task o f retakin g Raven n a H e even .

m ade a truce with th e exarch by which i t was s tipu l ated tha t

,

they shoul d m u tually ai d each oth e r th e o n e in subdu in g the ,

revolted d ukes th e other i n compell i ng th e P op e t o return

,

to hi s allegi an ce Accordingly E u t ychi u s marched agai n st

.

’
Rom e an d Li u t pran d agai n st Sp oleto O n the kin g s approach
,
.

th e two d ukes sub m i tted to hi m , an d swore t o b e hi s faith ful

2 84 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 —
9I8

vassal s . th e n m oved toward Ro m e wh i ch th e exarch

He ,

Li tp
u ra n d
wa s al ready besiegin g B u t h e had. n o wi sh that
pac ifics l t lyath e i m peri al power sh oul d be strengthe n e d b y
,

t h e recovery o f Rom e an d en c am ping h i s arm y

, ,

i n th e Fi el d o f Nero ou ts i de th e c ity proceede d t o clai m to

, ,

act a s arb i trator b etween Gregory a n d E u t yc hi u s They were .

too w eak t o res ist hi m a n d the P ope at l eas t gladl y acquiesced

,

i n the pa ci fi ca t i o n o f I tal y w h ich Li u t pra n d prop osed Th e .

exarch was t o re tu rn t o Rave n na l eavi ng Rom e u n m olested

, ,

an d to b e con ten t wi th th e posse ssi on o f Raven n a only al l ,

h i s other l os t d om i n i on s i n t h e Pen tap ol i s an d [E m il ia re

maini ng i n t he han ds o f t he Lom bards G regory i n con .
,

si derati on of bei ng left u n m ol este d i n Rom e p rofesse d to ,

retur n t o h i s allegia nce but i n real ity rem ai ne d i n an i n de

,

pen den t pos i tion H e d id n o t wi thd raw h i s opposi ti o n t o

.

Ic on oclasm a n d t ook a dvan tage o f th e peace to cal l together

,

a great cou nci l o f I tal ian bish ops n i nety th ree i n n um ber,
-
,

wh o sol em nl y an ath em ati sed all wh o refused t o re veren ce

i mages th ough th ey di d n ot curse th e em p eror by nam e
,

Two m on th s l ater p ope G regory 1 1 d ied an d was su cceeded .

,

by G r e gory as grea t a n en em y o f I con oclas m as h is

namesak e H e h ad n o s o one r d i s play ed h i s vi ews than th e
.
,

emperor d isco nte nte d w i th th e p eace w h ich th e exarch h a d

,

c o nclu ded an d m u ch i rritate d by t h e anathem a o f th e

,

Cou n cil of Rom e revenged h i m sel f o n th e papacy by i ssu in g

,

an e dic t wh ic h rem o ve d fro m t h e j uri s dicti on o f t he P o p e as ,

Patriarch o f th e Wes t the I llyrian a nd sou th I talian di oceses

,

wh i ch had h i th erto paid spi ri tual obedien ce t o Rom e For .

th e fu ture n ot o nly E p i rus an d S icily bu t even A p ul ia an d

, ,

Calabria w ere to l ook t o th e Pa triarch o f Con s tanti n opl e a s

,

thei r hea d an d chi e f

I n 7 3 2 Le o took a m ore practical ste p for reduci n g th e
Pope to obedi ence H e fi tte d o u t a great armam en t i n the
.

ports o f Asi a M in o r whic h was to sai l t o I tal y to recover by

, ,

force of arm s th e l os t regio n s o f th e E xarch ate a n d t o arres t ,

G regory I I I an d sen d h im i n chai n s t o Con stan ti n o p l e Bu t

. .
 ’
Tb e L omba rds a na t /z e P a p a cy 28 5

the fates were agai n st the res toration o f imperial au thori ty i n

the Wes t : the fleet was com pletel y wrecked by a storm i n
the Adriatic an d th e fragm en ts of i t wh ich reach ed Rave n na
,

effecte d n othi n g Thi s was the last seriou s attemp t o f the

.

em p ire t o recover cen tral I taly H enceforth th e L s t ff r t

.
a e o

Popes wen t their o wn way wh ile the exarch , ,

pen ne d u p i n th e singl e fortress of Raven na 7 3 ,

2

awai ted wi th trembli ng the ou tbreak o f th e n ext Lom bard

war— a war w h ich would certain ly sweep away hi m an d hi s
shru nken E xarch ate .

B ut for eigh t years after th e treaty o f 7 3 0 k i ng Li u t p ra n d ,

m ain tai ned peace over al l I taly H e was a pi ou s prince an d

.
,

a res p ecter o f the papacy to wh ich h e h ad eve n made a gran t

,

o f terri tory ce din g th e t own of S u tri i n Tu scan y wh ich h e

, ,

had cap tured from t h e exarch i n th e war o f 7 2 8 3 0 H is -

.

reign was a ti me o f prosperity for Lombardy : t he sou th ern

dukes were compel led to obey orders from Pavia : the Slav
an d Avar were kep t back from the n orth ern m arch es Li nt ,

pran d al so kept u p h is frien dly relation s wi th Ch arles Martel ,

th e great M ayor o f the Palace i n Gaul When Charl es was .

l ooking ab ou t for a frien dly sovereign wh o sh oul d according ,

to o l d Teu ton ic cus tom gi rd w i th arm s a n d clip t h e h air o f

,

h is so n Pipp i n o n h i s arrival at m anh ood h e chose Li u tpra n d ,

to disch arge thi s frien dl y o ffice O n th e i nvasion of Provence

.

by th e S aracen s i n 7 3 6 7 Ch arle s aske d t he Lombard for the

-
,

ai d o f h i s hos t an d L i u tpra n d cros sed th e Alp s an d j oined i n

,

expelling t he i n fi d el s from Ai x an d Arles .

The peace of I taly wa s n ot brok en till 7 3 8 when Tran s i

m un d duke o f Sp ol et o rebelled n ot for th e fi rst t i me again s t
, ,

L i u t pran d. The ki ng cru shed t he revol t with hi s accu stomed

vigou r an d the duke wa s compelled to fly : he took refu ge
,

a t Rom e wi th pop e Gregory 111 Li u tpra n d

Li tp
.

d u ra n

promptly demanded h i s surren der : Gregory re t t cks R m a a o e ,

7 38“
fused an d the Lom bard arm y at on ce marche d
,

i n to the duchy of Rom e Th e ki ng ca p tured O rte B o m az o

.
, ,

an d two other town s i n sou th Tu scan y an d m enaced Rom e ,

2 86 E u rop ea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

wi th a s i ege Gregory 11 1 coul d h 0 pe fo r n ei ther h el p n or

. .

s ym p athy fro m h i s m as ter th e em p eror Le o w h om h e had s o ,

grievou sly i n sul te d Accordi n gl y h e determ i ne d to seek ai d

.

from th e o n e o th er p ower w hi c h m igh t be abl e to su ccour

hi m th e great M ayo r o f th e Frank s H e sen t t o C harl es
,
.

Martel th e gol de n keys o f the tom b o f Sa in t Peter a n d b e ,

sough t h i m t o defen d th e h oly ci ty again st th e i m pi ou s Lo m

bard H e con fe rred o n th e Mayo r th e high s ou n d ing t i tle o f
.
-

Roman P atrician w h ic h was n o t legally h i s to gi ve fo r o nl y

, ,

the emperor coul d con fer i t H e eve n offe re d t o

G r g ry 1 1 1
.
e o .

a sks i d fr m t ra n sfer t o the ruler o f the Fra nk s the s ha dowy

a o

th eFr ks “ al legian ce wh i c h Ro m e s till pai d to th e e m p eror

an
.

Thu s d i d G regory fi rs t o f al l th e R oma n p on tiffs ,

en deavour t o bring down u p on I tal y th e cu rse o f foreign

i nvasi on H e h ad d raw n u p on h i m s el f the wrath o f Li u tpra n d
.

by h i s secular p ol i cy : th e war arose pu rel y from the fac t tha t

h e had favoure d t h e rebellion of th e d uke o f Sp oleto an d ,

shel tered h i m w h en h e fled Yet h e m ad e the Lombard

.

i n vas i o n a m atter o f sacrilege com plai ni ng t o C harle s tha t

,
’
L i u t p ra n d s attack was an i mp i ou s i n vas io n o f th e righ ts o f
th e Church an d a del iberat e i n sul t t o th e maj esty o f S t Pe te r
,
. .

C on si derin g that t he ki ng ha d save d h i m from destruction

eigh t years be fore G regory m u s t be accu se d of gros s i ngrat i
,

tu de as well as o f d el iberate m isreprese n tati on an d hypocri sy

,
.

Bu t th e Pope had i mbi bed a bi tter an d qu i te i rrat ion al hatre d for

the Lo mbard rac e : t he danger t h at h e m igh t l ose h is secu lar
power by Rom e being an n exe d t o th e real m of Li u t pra n d
, ,

cau se d G regory t o view th e pi ou s peaceabl e an d orthodox , ,

k in g o f the Lo mbard s wi th as m uch d i sl ike a s h e fel t for

th e heret ical I con ocl as t at C on s tan ti n o p l e C on sid erin g t h e .

am iabl e charac ter o f L i u tpra n d an d th e respectabl e n ati onal

,

record o f th e Lo mb ard s whe n th ey are c om p are d wi th their

con te m porarie s beyon d th e Alps i t i s a ston i sh i ng to read o f
,

th e term s i n wh i ch Gregory an d h i s s ucce ss ors sp oke o f th em .

N o epi the t a p pl i ed t o th e hea the n i n th e Scriptu res wa s too

severe t o hea p u po n th e fe tid p e rj ured i m p iou s p l u n deri ng
‘
, , , ,
 T/ze ’
L o mba rds a n a t/ze P ap a cy 287

’
m urderou s race o f th e Lom bard s An d all th is i ndignat i on
.

an d abu se was produced by th e rational desire o f Li u tpra n d to

p u n i s h t he Pop e for harbou rin g h i s rebel s I t i s i m possi bl e
n ot t o wi sh th at t he great ki ng had succeeded i n taki ng Rom e ,

an d u n i fyi ng I taly a c on tingen cy w h ic h w oul d have spare d

,

t he peni n su la t he curses o f t h e Frank i sh i n vas i on o f i ts l ong ,

an d u n n atural con n ection wi th th e Western E m p ire and o f ,

that s ti ll greater disa ster th e perman en t establ i shm en t of the

,

tem p oral power o f the pap a cy .

’
Charles M artel d i d n ot acce p t Gregory s offers o r carry ou t ,
’
th e P ope s plan s : h e woul d n ot quarrel w ith h i s o ld fri en d
Li u t pran d o n s uch i n ade quate groun d s as th e P o p e alleged .

H e chose i n s tead t o e n deavou r to m ediat e betwe en Gregory

an d th e Lom bard ki ng H e acce p ted th e ti tl e o f Patrician
.
,

an d recei ve d th e Rom an ambassadors wi th great p omp an d

hon ou r sen d ing t hem h om e with man y rich presen ts B u t
,
.

h is own del egate s w h o acco mpan i ed t hem were charged to

recon cil e th e P ope an d th e ki ng n ot t o prom i se ai d to the
,

o n e agai ns t the oth er B oth C harle s an d Gregory as i t

.
,

ha p pen e d were at thi s m omen t on the edge o f t he grave

,

b oth d ied i n the n ex t year an d i t was som e ti m e b efore

th e fi rs t active i n terferen ce o f th e Fran ks i n b ehal f o f th e
p a p acy was desti ned to tak e p lace .

H o w u n called for was th e acti on o f p o p e Gregory i s sh own

by the fact that i n th e n ext year Li u tpra n d cam e to term s wi th
th e Roman See O n the accession of pope Zachariah wh o
.
,

p rom i sed to give n o m ore ai d to the rebel duke L i t p d u ra n

fgigzr s’
f e s e c
o f Sp oleto Li u t p ra n d res tored t he citi es h e had
, o e

taken from the Roma n duchy an d gran te d a 7 4 ,

2 .

peace fo r t wen ty years H e even p resen ted great offerings

.

to the Roman an d m ade a p resen t o f some valuabl e estates

to Zachari ah Yet the anger o f the po p es wa s i n n o way
.

appeased i n th eir h earts t hey hated th e Lom b ards as i f t hey

were still Ari an s or h eathen an d onl y awai ted ano ther o ppo r
,

t u n i t y for c on s p iri ng agai n s t them .

M ean wh il e Li u tpra n d d ie d i n p eace i n 7 4 3 after a reign

,
288 E u rop ea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

of th irty on e years i n wh i ch h e had adde d th e grea t er

-
,

part o f th e E xarch ate t o h i s kin gdom ha d e xten de d th e

,

bou n daries o f I taly t o n orth a n d eas t again s t th e Bavari an

an d Slav a n d h ad re du ced th e B en even ta n an d S po l e ta n
,

d uke s t o a n u n won ted state o f s ubs ervie n ce No o n e save

.
,

hi s e n em i es th e popes ever lai d a charge o f an y s ort agai n s t

,

hi s character a n d h e appears t o h ave bee n th e b est love d an d

,
-

best served k ing of h i s day We read wi t h pl easure that h e

-
.

d ied i n p eace e re th e terribl e i n vasi on o f th e Frank s bega n t o

,

a fll i c t th e lan d h e ha d guarde d so well . I t woul d have been

better perha p s for I taly i f h e ha d bee n a l es s vi rtuou s a n d
p iou s sovereign a l ess tem perate r u l er wo ul d have fi ni sh e d
h i s career o f con ques t by tak in g Ro m e an d s o woul d have
,
'

s tave d o ff the cou ntle ss i ll s t ha t Rom e was ab ou t to b n g

on th e w hol e I tal ian pen i n sula .
 C HAP T E R XV I I

C H A R L ES M A R TEL AND H I S WA R S

7 20 41
-

W a rs w it h x s a n d F si a n s— h l is s io a ry e n t e r p r is e s o f S t Bo i f c e
t he S a o n
'

i i
'

n . n a

T h e S a a c e s i n S e pt i m a n i a a d A q u t a i e — Ch a rl e s w i n s t h e b a t tl e o f
r n n i n

P o i c t i e rs —R e v o l t a n d subj e c t i o f duk e H u n o ld o f Aqu i t a i n e —Ch a rl e s

n o

a n d t h e P a p a cy .

TH E n am e of C harl es M artel i s gen eral ly rem e m bered as tha t

o f th e victor o f P o i c t i e rs b u t although th e defeat of the i n
,

va si o n of th e S arace n s o f Spai n was des tin ed t o b e the greates t

o f h i s achievem en ts h i s s truggl e wi th th em was bu t o n e o f a

,

long series o f wars wage d again st al l th e races o f i n fi d e l s w ho

s urrou nded the Franki sh real m I t was n ot till the twel fth .

year o f h i s mayoralty t ha t h e himsel f took th e fi el d to face th e

i nvade r from the sou th Up to that year h e h ad been far
.

m ore c oncern ed with th e h eathe n n eighbou rs o f h i s o wn

Au strasia an d m ust have spared com parativel y few th ough ts
,
'

fo r the danger of distan t Aqu itai n e a n d i ts h alf i n depen den t ,

-

duke .

Charles had fi rs t to deal wi th the Sax on s To pun ish them .

for t h ei r i n terference i n the Franki sh c ivil war o f 7 1 4 2 0 h e -

l ed several expedi tion s in to th e valley of th e Weser a n d ,

pu sh e d the Frankish fron tier u p to th e T e u t o b ii rg e rw a l d

an d th e h ead waters of th e Li ppe a n d the R i i hr Th e .

Fri sian s had already subm itte d to h im bu t he had com e ,

to t he con clusi on that th ei r h omage was worth li ttl e un til they

shoul d have ad opted Chris tian i ty an d he th ere fo re em pl oyed a l l
,

P ER I O D 1 .
 90 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 —
9 18 ,

hi s i n fl uen ce t o m ake thei r d uke Al dg is l c o — o perate i n the con

W ars f o
versi on o f hi s subj ects Th e d u k e a j us t an d p eace
.
,

C h rl s i
a e n l o si n g pri nce wa s n ot ave rs e t o th e schem e an d
, ,

6 m m” :
un der h is g uaran tee m i ssion ari es were des pa tched
by bi sh op Wi ll i b ro rd o f U trec ht o ver all th e F ri s ian di stri cts .

I n the c o u rse o f a gen erati on they h ad ch ri s tian ised the greater

part o f t he cou n try bu t the E as t Fris ian s were fa r beh i n d
,

the res t i n accept in g the go spel an d th ei r co n vers ion was to

,
’
b e reserve d ti l l th e reign of C ha rles s son .

F ri sia a nd Saxony havin g bee n deal t wi th i t was th e next ,

task o f th e grea t m ayor t o restore th e Fran ki sh suzera in ty

over B avaria wh i c h h ad di sapp eared for m ore than eigh ty
,

years B ut b e fore h e could compl ete th i s tas k h e was su m

.

m ou ed i n t o t h e Wes t to s upp ress a Neus t ri an re bel l i on Th e .

n oble s of n orth e rn Gaul in s pi te o f their deep hu m il iati on at

,

Vin cy an d S oi ss on s rose o n ce m ore un der R a gi n fre d th e late

, ,

m ayor o f C hi l pe ri c h 11 Bu t the ri sin g collapsed at th e fi rs t

.

appearan ce o f C harles an d th e en emy laid d own their a rm s

, ,

R a gi n fre d only s tip ula ti ng that h e sh ould retai n h is co un tsh i p

o f Angers o n gi v i n g up h is so n s as h os tages

Th e n ext t hre e year s were occu p i e d i n th e s ubj ugat ion o f

s outh eas tern Ge rman y M arch i n g ea stw ar d through S u a b ia
-
.
,

wh ose wa rri ors he c om pel le d to accom pan y h i m t o th e fi eld ,

C h arles ad van ced agai n s t the Bavari a n s After severe fi gh t .

ing lastin g over three ca mpai g n s h e retu rn ed i n tri ump h wi th

, ,

m uch plu n der a troop o f h ostages an d th e submi s sion o f

, ,

d uk e H u k b e rt The allegian ce o f the Bavari ans was s till

.

ve ry i ns ecure but s om eth ing had been don e t o e n force th e

,

long forgotten su ze rain ty o f th e Frank s Alarm ed b y th e

-
.

s ubj ection o f Bavari a the S u a b i a n duk e La n tfri d rebell ed

, ,

bu t Charle s sl ew h im i n ba ttle an d re fused to app oi n t an y

,

d uke i n hi s stea d i n order that S u a b i a m igh t m ore easily

,

am algam ate wi th th e n eigh bou ri n g di s tri cts w hen i t ha d lost

th e pri nce whose ti tle sym boli se d i ts se p ara te u n i ty
W h il e Charle s worked wi th th e sword again s t th e e as tern
G erm an s h e di d n o t n egl ec t th e o the r g re a t m ean s o f bin d ing
,
 ’ Wa rs
M a r t el a n a lei s
'

Cna rl es 3 9 1

them to th e Franki s h realm I t was durin g th e tim e of h i s S axon

.

a n d Bavarian wars tha t h e len t h i s p rotecti on to th e zeal ou s

Northumbri an m on k W in frith t he i n defatigabl e preacher an d

,

organ iser w h o wo n t he n am e o f the Ap ostle M i ss i n f ‘

’ o o

o f Germ any b y hi s long l i fe work among the B i f c t

-
on a e o
G rm
Bavarian s Thuringian s an d H essi an s
, ,
After ) .
e an "

spe ndi ng som e tim e with bi sh op Will i b ro rd at U trech t Wi n ,

frith had st arted eastward to fi n d n ewer an d wilder fi eld s for

h i s activi ty H e fi xed h i m self fi rs t am o n g th e H ess ian s where
.

n o m issionary had bee n see n s i nc e th e deat h o f S t S u i d b e rt 1 . .

H ere he met with such success that th e whol e lan d wa s soon

reckoned Chri stian Pope Gregory
. heari n g o f hi s triumph s ,

sen t for hi m t o Rome a n d con secrated him m issi onary bish op

,

o f all Tran srhe nan e Germany After swearing i mpli ci t obed i

.

en ce to the Apos tol ic See for hi m self an d al l h is con verts ,

Wi nfrith —o r as h e i s m ore Often called i n hi s late r years

Boni fac e — return e d to t he North with a papal le tter o f cred
ence recom men din g hi m to th e Mayor o f Aus trasia Charles .

u ndertook th e s upport o f th e n ew b ish o p wi t h th e greatest

ze al : w ith ou t the aid of the pri nce of th e Fran ks wrote
‘ ’
,

B on iface I sh oul d n ot b e able to rule m y c hurch n or defen d

,

th e l ive s of m y p ri ests an d n un s n or keep my c on verts from

,
’
la p sin g i n to paga n rite s an d observan ces I t was the fear .

o f the wrath o f Ch arles that kep t th e wil d H essian s a nd

Thuringian s from m urderi ng t h e u narme d m issi onary w he n ,

he cam e am on g th em wi th his l i fe i n hi s hand an d h ewed ,

down the hol y o a k o f Woden a t Fri tzlar i n the presen ce o f

th ousan d s of h eath en spec tators F o r th e n ext thi rty o n e
.
-

years ( 7 2 3 5 4 ) B oni face wen t forth con quering an d t o conquer

-

churches an d abbeys risi n g e verywhere ben eath hi s hand i n ,

the region s w here th e C hri stian n am e had n ever before bee n

kn own .

While Charles h ad been bu s ie d on the Austrasian fron tier

a n ew storm was ri sin g i n th e Sou th The Saracen s o f Spain .

were on ce m ore cros si ng th e Rh o n e an d th e Ceven n es t o

1
S ee p . 2 63 .
29 2 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

overru n s ou thern Gaul Lu ckily for th e Frank s th e efforts .

o f the M oslem s were m o st spasm odi c ; th e govern ors o f Spai n

we re a s a rul e m ore c on cern ed w i th preservi n g their ow n

, ,

aut h ority agai n s t revol te d l ieu tena n ts than w i th exten ding th e

boun d s of I slam Th e cen tre o f govern m e n t at D am ascu s
.

’
was s o far away t hat the Cal i p h s au th ori ty wa s only di splaye d
at rare i n terval s a n d a s a rul e th e vari ou s Arab an d B erber
,

ch iefs w h o re presen te d the sove reign w ere b u sily en gaged i n

d eposi ng an d m u rderi n g each oth er I n th e fi rst forty years .

o f M us sul ma n rule i n S pai n th ere were n o less than twe n ty

viceroy s o f w h om seve n c am e to vi ol en t en d s
,
.

We have already rel a te d th e d isastrou s i ssu e o f th e expedi

ti on o f El Sam ah agai n s t Toul ou se in 7 2 1
-
I t w a s n o t t ill .

7 2 5 that th e Saracen s stirre d agai n ; i n that year th e E m i r

A u b a sa i b n J o h i m set ou t from Narbon n e wi th a large a rmy
- -
,

an d s ub due d Carca ss on n e N i sm es an d th e rest o f n orthe rn

, ,

S e pt i m a n ia a s far as th e Rh on e H e placed
C on q e t
.

f u s s o

th eAr bs garrison s m the n ewly con qu ere d ci tie s a n d

a
,

G m" e
th en crossed th e river an d execu ted a r a p id rai d
th rough Bu rgu n dy as far as A utu n i n th e heat o f th e sum me r .

After sack i n g A fi t u n he retu rn ed w i th such speed t o S pain

th at th e Frank s were totally u nabl e t o overtake h i m B u t .

A nb a sa d ied be fore t he year was o u t an d for s even years h i s ,

su ccessors were too m uch en gage d i n s tri fe w i th each o ther t o

ren ew th e attack o n Chris te n dom E u do d uk e o f Aqui tai n e .
, ,

em pl oye d th e respite i n concili ati n g th e frien d shi p o f O th man

b e n abu Neza t h e M osle m govern or o f S e pt i m a n ia w h om he
- -
, ,

won to h is si de by givi n g h i m hi s daugh te r i n marriage I t w a s .

probabl y i n rel ian ce o n the ai d O f hi s son i n l aw that E ud o - -

i n 7 3 1 rebelle d agai n s t th e Franks an d on ce m ore declared ,

himsel f i n depe nde n t duke o f Aqu i tai ne C harles crosse d th e .

w w th
a rs
Loire bea
i
t E ud o i n th e fiel d an d ravage d th e
, ,

E ud f o o cou n try u p to th e gates o f B ordeau x Th e duke .

h owe ver p ersi sted i n h i s resistance till h e l earn t

, ,

that a n oth er fo e was a bou t t o attack h i m H i s s o n i h l a w .

- -

O th ma n h ad rebelled a gai n s t Abd e ra h m a n th e viceroy o f S p a i n ,

 ’
Clea r/es M a r t el a na lei s LVa rs 29 3

an d had been defeate d an d slai n After subduin g th e rebel

.
,
’
Ab d e ra h m a n res olve d t o m arch again s t O thm a n s ally a n d
fathe r i n law This drove E u do in to m aki ng a n abj ect an d
- -
.

i n stan t sub m is si on t o h i s Franki sh s uzerai n .

I n 7 3 2 th e v iceroy cross ed th e western Pyre n ees at th e

hea d o f th e largest Saracen army that Spai n h ad yet seen ,

s trengthen ed by rei n forcem en t s from Africa a n d t he E ast .

E u do s tood on th e de fen si ve agai n st h i m an d e n deavou re d t o

defen d th e l i ne o f th e Ga ron n e b u t was rou ted w i th th e los s
,

of al mos t the w h ole o f h i s arm y H e fl ed beyon d the Loi re

.

an d t hrew h im sel f o n th e m ercy of C harl es A b d h m e ra an

Martel ; meanw hi le th e Saracen s storm e d B or i v d s G ul n a e a ,

2
deaux an d m oved sl owly forward ravagi ng the 7 3
, ,
‘

coun try on all s i des till th ey drew n ear t o P o i c t i e rs [t was for .

n o m ere rai d t hat t hey had com e o n th i s o ccasi on bu t fo r ,

the permane n t con ques t o f Aqu i tai n e p erhap s even with t he

,

design o f attacki n g N eu s tri a al so H eaded by th e s trongest

.

an d m ost popu la r vi ceroy th at M oslem Spai n h a d yet kn own ,

an d m u stering n o t l es s than seven ty o r eigh ty th ou san d m en ,

they set n o l im i t to th ei r desires .

I n th e h ou r o f danger th e great Ma yor o f th e Palace wa s

n o t wan ti ng
. H e did n ot ru sh hastily i n to th e fiel d bu t dre w ,

together th e wh ole force o f both th e Fran ki sh real m s tho u gh ,

his fi rm e s t re l ian ce was on hi s o wn Au strasian s Leadin g an .

arm y wh ose like h ad n ot b een seen s ince t h e ear l iest days o f

the m o narchy— for n ever had Neu stria and Austras ia c o m
b i n e d for a n expedi tion o f such m om en t — h e crossed th e
Loire n ear Tours an d adva n ced t o meet Ab d e ra h m a n I t was .

’
close to P o i ct i e rs i n s u on ré i o P i cta men s i th at th e two great
'
‘

h ost s face d each other th ough b y som e freak of th e chronicler

,

i t i s Tours t ha t has given i ts n am e to th e battle i n th e pages

o f man y o f o u r h istories Ab d e ra h m an a n d Charles bot h fel t
.

that th ey were about to engage i n n o com mon contest Th e .

fate o f A qui tain e possi bl y o f al l Gaul m igh t be largely i n

, ,

flu e n c e d by the res ul t o f t he on comin g battle bet ween C hri stian

and Moslem . F o r seven days the two host s lay o pp osite
294 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

each other eac h wai t in g for th e en em y t o a dvan ce ; a t last

,

A b d e ra h m a n took th e offen s i ve an d h i s h os t p ou red o u t ,

fro m th eir cam p t o as sail the Frank i s h l in e H ardly a detai l .

o f th e great struggl e ha s survived : we on l y k n ow tha t the

S arace n h orseme n surge d i n vai n arou n d th e i mpenetrabl e
masse s o f t he Frank is h i n fan try w ho se fi rm shi el d — wal l wa s
,
‘

’
frozen t o the earth l ike a ramp art of i ce Th e Austrasian s b ore .

t he bru n t o f the figh t i n g ; th e m en o f the E as t huge i n stature

‘

Batt l e f o a nd iro n han de d hewed o n l on g an d fi ercely ; i t

-

P i ti
o c e rs73 was t hey w h o sough t ou t an d slew th e Saracen
r
2 ~

’
chi ef Th e figh t e n dured till nigh t fell w he n th e i n vaders ,

with drew leavi ng A b d e rah m a n an d ma n y th ou sand s m ore lyi ng

,

dead i n fron t o f th e Franki s h li n e I n th e darkness t h e Arab s .

h ad time to cou nt u p thei r l os ses wh ich were s o a ppalli n g tha t ,

’
th ey hastily fl ed rath er tha n face an oth er day s figh ti ng Thei r .

te nts crammed w i th all th e booty o f Aqu i tai n e t hei r baggage

, ,

an d m il i tary stores wi th t h ou san ds o f horse s a n d en orm ous

,

pile s o f arm s fel l i n to th e h an ds of th e victori ou s Franks

,
.

S o e n d e d th e danger o f western C h ri sten d om from th e

‘

M oslem in vader a dan ger w h ich has n ot u n frequ e n tly been

,

exaggerated e specially by Fren c h wri ters an x iou s t o gl o rify

,

th e Aus trasian m ayor wh om they ha v e ch ose n t o make i n to a

,

Fre nch n ation al h ero I t i s probabl e that even i f A b d e ra h m a n

.

had bee n victoriou s n ot h i ng m ore th a n th e d uch y of Aquitai ne

woul d have fallen i n to hi s ha n ds fo r th i s i n vasi on after ,

l eaving B ordeau x wa s degen erati n g i n to an i n cu rsi on fo r

pl u n der l ike that w h i ch i n 5 2 5 h ad e nded wi th the sack o f
,

A fi t u n Th e M o s lems o f S pai n had p roved them selves durin g

.

th e l ast forty years s o fact ious an d un rul y tha t we can not ,

bel ieve that eve n u n der a leader o f exceptional abili ty they

would have h el d togeth er l o n g a n d l oyally e n ough to e n su re
th e c on quest o f cen tral Gaul N eustria and st ill m ore
.
,

Au strasia w ere states o f a very di fferen t d egree o f vigou r

,

fro m th e decrepi t Vi sigoth ic m on arch y w hi ch fell i n 7 1 1 .

E ven i f P o i c t i e rs had fared a s A fi t u n th ere was stre n gth an d ,

cou rage en ough i n the Franks t o face ma n y s uc h a n oth er

 ’
Cna rl es [V /ri s Wa rs
'

l a r t el a na 29 5

blow an d we may d ou b t th e j udgm en t o f Gi bbo n whe n h e

,

draws hi s gloom y forecast o f the probabl e resul ts of a victory

for A b d e ra h m a n e n ding i n a picture o f t he M uezzi n calli ng
,

th e Tru e B el ievers t o p rayer i n the H ighlan ds of Scotlan d ,

a n d th e M ol lah s o f O xford di spu ti ng o n the attributes o f a

U n i tari an Godhead .

The re m n an ts o f th e S arace n ho s t made n o attempt to h ol d

Aqu itain e bu t fled hastil y acro ss th e Pyre nees s o that duk e
, ,

E u do was able to reoccupy B ordeau x a n d Toul ou se an d rul e ,

on ce m ore over th e wh ole o f h i s form er d omin ion s a s th e

vassal o f the Frank M ean wh ile Ch arle s return ed to Au s
.
,

t ra si a lade n with booty an d was haile d by al l western

,

Ch ris ten d om as th e greates t co n queror si n ce Con stan ti ne .

The Franki sh p oets an d chron icl ers con tin ue d to celeb rate
hi s tri umph wi th such fervour th at ere l ong th e world was tol d
an d bel ieve d that h e had slain Saracen s wi th th e l os s ,

Of n o m ore than 1 5 0 0 m e n o n h i s own s id e ! I f o nly h e

h ad bee n m ore o f a favouri te wi th t h e Church h e wou l d have
been e n sh ri n ed i n h istory as th e equal o f hi s gran dson ,

Charles th e Great B u t th e zeal wi th wh ic h he for warded

.

the con vers io n o f Germany an d s m ote the infi del d i d n o t

, ,

aton e i n the eyes o f th e m onk is h hi s torian s for th e h igh

, ,

han ded way i n whi ch h e h ad deal t wi th the Gau l ish church .

Because h e ban i sh ed b ish o p s an d forbad e syn ods to b e h el d

,

with ou t hi s leave an d occasi o nally lai d m ili tary bu rden s on

,

chu rch lan d he received a very half hearte d bless in g from th e

-
,
-

an nal ists of h i s day .

Charles spen t t he years that followed hi s great vic tory i n

regulati ng the govern men t of B urgu n dy wh ere h e replace d ,

m os t o f the coun ts an d dukes by followers of hi s own an d i n ,

com ple ti ng t h e sub j ecti on of Fri sia The peaceful duke .

Ald g i sl h ad b een su cceed e d by a fi erce p agan named B oddo ,

whom th e great m ayor was soon force d t o attack when he ,

com m en ce d to kill or drive away th e m i ssi onaries o f Will i

b ro rd an d B on i face After slayin g B oddo i n battl e an d
.
,

burn ing every h eath en s hri ne i n Friesland Charl es left th e ,

 2
96 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

cou n try s o tam ed that i t d id n o t revol t aga i n fo r full twen ty

years .

I n 7 3 5 h oweve r n ew troubl es began i n th e sou th D uk e

, ,
.

E u d o d i ed an d Charles th ough t th e ti m e wa s ripe for th e

,

c om pl ete i n corpora ti on o f th e great s ou thern d uch y wi th th e

Franki s h realm H e ro de th rough th e lan d and force d i ts
.

i nhab itan ts to d o h i m h om age bu t th ei r subj ecti on wa s on l y

,

the re sul t o f fear an d whe n h e h ad retu rn e d h om e th e

,
’
S ou thern ers p roclai m e d E u do s s o n H u n ol d as th ei r duke .

H u n ol d w oul d probabl y have bee n pu t d ow n h ad n o t th e

Saracen s begu n on ce m ore t o stir H eaded by Y u ssu f abe n .
-

A b d e ra hm a n th e so n o f t h e ch i e f w h o had fallen
W rs w it h
,
a

H u n o ld f o a t P o ic t i e rs fou r years before t hey sall ied o u t ,

Aq it i
‘
J a ne'
o f Narbon n e cro ssed th e Rh on e an d s eize d th e
, ,
7 35 4
-
0 '

o l d Roman ci ty o f Arl es The years 7 3 6 3 9 w ere .

-

main ly occupied i n dri vi ng back th ree su ccess i ve M oslem i n

roads i nto s outh eastern Gaul an d Charles wa s s o e ngrossed
-
,

i n th i s s tri fe that h e con sen ted t o recogn i se H u n ol d a s duke of

Aqu itai n e s o th at h e m igh t h ave h i s h ands e n ti rely free for
,

th e greater s truggle Com p l ete su cces s a t l ast crown ed hi s

.

arm s : Proven c e wa s swep t cl ear o f th e Arabs ; Arles a n d

Avign on w h ich th e I n fi d e l s had sei zed an d hel d fo r a spa ce
, ,

w ere recovered ; N i sm e s Agde a n d B ezie r s w h ich th ey had

, , ,

p osse ssed si n ce th e great i n vasi o n o f S e p t i m a n ia i n 7 2 6 ,

were taken di sm a n tled a n d bu rn t a n d a grea t h ost wa s de

, , ,

feated i n fron t o f Narb on n e Tha t c i ty h owever di d n o t yet

.
, ,

fal l i n t o th e h an d s o f th e Fra n k s togethe r w i th th e s outhern

ha l f o f S e pt i m a n i a i t s ti ll remai n e d a S aracen ou tpo st covering ,

th e passe s o f th e eastern Pyren ees F o r t w e n ty years m ore .

i t w a s fate d t o remai n u n con qu ered ; n ot Charles bu t h is

s o n w a s d esti n ed to m ove forward the Franki sh bou n da ry t o

th e foo t o f the m ou n tai n s M ea n wh ile th e Saracen s o f S pain

.
,

c owe d by th e cru shi ng bl o ws o f C harl es t h e H amm e r aban ,

d o n e d thei r attem pt t o pu sh n orthward a n d plu nge d i n to a ,

wea ry se ri es o f civi l w a r s .

W hile Charl e s was e ngage d i n h i s Sa racen wa r th e pu ppe t ,

 Clea r i es M a r tel a nd 1 m Wa rs 29 7

king T he u d e ri c h I V i n wh os e n ame he had been ru li n g fo r

.
,

t he las t seventeen years c han ce d to d ie S o l i ttl e had th e

,
.

royal name com e to mean that th e great m ayor F u r k i g

, o n _

di d n ot seek o u t th e n ext h ei r o f the c h ildless l s s y rs e ea .

ki ng a n d crown h i m bu t rul e d for the l ast fou r

,

years o f hi s li fe wi thou t an y suzerain H e di d n o t h imsel f .

,

ho weve r tak e the kingl y ti tle bu t con ti nued t o be style d

, ,

m ayor p rince o r duke of the Franks ; h e care d n ot for n a m e

, ,

o r s tyle s o l on g as th e real power was i n h i s hand s .

The reco n que st o f Provence an d n orther n S e p ti m an i a was

’
th e l as t o f th e great m ayor s triumph s B u t th e fou r years .

which h e had ye t t o l ive w ere n o t wi tho u t their i mp ortance .

I n 7 3 8 h e compelled the Wes tphal ian Saxon s o n th e Li pp e

an d E m s t o d o h im h omage an d pay tribu te I n 7 3 9 th e .

organ i sati on o f th e sou th German church wa s co mpl ete d by

th e erec ti on o f fou r b ish opri cs i n B avaria wh i ch l ooked to ,

Bon i face n ow archbishop o f al l Tran srhen an e Germany a s

, ,

their Metropol i tan Th u s B avaria be cam e eccles iasticall y an

.

i n tegral part o f the Franki sh Church eve n as politically i t h ad

,

al ready become an i n tegral part of t he Frankis h T h P p e e o

empi re B ut though Charles was a fi rm supp orter ks i d fr m

. as a o

Ch l ’m ar es
o f th e Ch urch i n h i s o w n domi n i on s h e wo ul d ‘

n o t in terfere i n eccl es iastical d ispu tes beyon d h i s fron tier .

P o p e Gregory 1 1 1 had plunge d i n t o a s truggl e wi th th e

.

Lombard ki ng L i u t pra n d an d i nvi ted the p iou s rul er of th e

,

Frank s to march agai n st the e nem y o f th e C hurch But .

C harl es re fu se d ; Li u t pra n d had give n h i m s om e ai d agai n st

the Saracen s an d he wa s n ot m i nded t o attack an o l d ally
,

m erely becau se the Lombard h ad fall en ou t wi th the P o p e

con cern i n g th e duchy o f Sp ol eto .

I n th e su mm er o f th e n ext year th e great mayor began to

feel hi s h eal th fai li ng t hough h e h ad n ot ye t c ompleted h i s
,

fi ft y fourth y ear
-
H e de termi ne d t o set hi s h ouse i n order
.

ere yet t he han d o f death was u pon h i m an d s um moned th e ,

great cou nci l o f al l th e Fran ki sh real m s to m eet h im Wi th .

i ts ap p ro val he procee ded to m ak e over th e r u l e o f t he

29 8 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

k i ngdom t o h i s s on s Th ere was n o M erovi ngia n kin g w hos e

.

righ ts n eede d t o be take n i n t o con si derati o n a s T h e u d e ri c h ,

Iv. ha d d ied fou r years back an d h ad l e ft n o successor , .

Accord ingly C harles an d th e c ou ncil d eal t wi th th e lan d as i f

C h rl s
a e
i t ha d al read y becom e the righ tful i n heri tan ce o f

d i v i d s h i th e h ou s e o f S t Arn ul f Th e great mayor had

e s . .

er alm
t hree grow n u p so n s ; t wo Carl o ma n an d P ip p in
‘

-
, ,

were th e o ffsprin g o f h i s wi fe R o t hru di s the th i rd Gri fo was , , ,

th e s o n o f S wa n h i l d i s a B avarian lady w h o m h e h ad take n

,

as hi s c on cubi n e d uri n g hi s B avarian campaign o f 7 2 5 .

Th ei r ages appear t o have bee n t we n ty se ven t wen ty six a n d -

,
-
,

seven tee n Charle s h an de d ove r t he rul e o f Au s trasi a an d

.

S u a b i a to Carl oman an d that of N eu s tria an d Burgun dy t o

,

Pippi n I t i s sai d that h e al s o co n tem p late d leaving a s mall

.

appan age o n th e border o f N eus tria an d Au strasia to Gri fo .

Bavari a an d Aqu i tai n e th e two grea t vassal d ukedom s were

, ,

n ot named i n th e d i vi si on th ough th e former fel l u nde r ,

the in fluence o f Carl om an an d t h e l at ter u n der th at o f

,

Pi p p in .

Sho rtl y a fter h e had accompl ishe d th i s d ivi si on o f h i s

realm s Charle s d ied at C eri sy o u O i s e o n th e 2 1 st of O ctober
,
- -

741 . H e h a d compl eted th e work wh ich h i s fath er P ipp in ,

t he Youn ger had taken i n ha n d for th e an cie n t b o u ndari es

, ,

o f th e Frank ish e m pi re h ad n o w bee n e very wh ere restored ,

Aqu i tai n e an d B avaria had been red uced t o vassalage Chri s ,

t i a n i t y wa s n o w fi rm l y ro ote d al l over Fri si a Thuringia an d , ,

H esse The di ffi cul ties h e had face d were far greater than
.

L i f w rk f
e- o th o se wh i ch h i s fath e r h ad to encoun ter H e h ad
o .

C h rl s
a e
rescu e d th e fortun es o f th e h ou se of S t Arn ul f
'

fro m th e l o w es t depth s — though Au s tras ia had been d ivided

, ,

th ough Neus tri a was h ostile a n d th ough an en ergetic k i ng ,

w a s for once swayi n g th e Fra n k i sh sceptre a n d en deavou rin g

t o rec o ver th e l ost privil eges o f h i s an ces tors H avin g fough t .

h i s wa y t o power Cha r l es had th en to face th e o n e seriou s

,

dange r fro m wi th ou t wh ich the Fra n k s h a d yet e n co u n

l ered . H e had m et i t wi th out fli n c hi n g an d s m i tten the ,
 Cna rl es M a r t el an d fi ts Wa rs 299

i n trusive M oslem s o hard that t he bl ow di d n ot n eed to be

repeated For the fu tu re w e h ear of Franki sh in vasi on s o f
.

Spai n n ot o f S aracen i n vas ion s o f Gaul Charle s then had

,
.

won peace wi th ou t an d w i th in h e h ad reorgan i se d t h e

,

Franki sh realm rai sed i t to a pi tch o f p ower a n d gl ory w hich

,

i t had n ever attain ed before an d m ade p os si ble t he triu m ph

,

an t career o f hi s s on an d gran dson As th e ch amp io n of

.

Christian i ty an d th e protector o f the evangel ist o f Germany ,

he h ad wo n a ye t n obler ti tle t o h o n ourable m em ory , an d the

complai nts of th e Gaulish bi sh ops wh o m urm u re d that hi s
,

han d was too hard o n t he Church may be lightly d isregarded

,

when we add up th e su m o f hi s m eri ts an d salute him as the

,

i naugu rator o f a n ew an d better era i n t he hi story o f E u rop e .

 C H A PTE R XVI I I

TH E I CO N OC L A S T E M P E RO R S— S T A TE O F TH E EA S T E R N

E MP I RE IN TH E E I GH T H CENTU R Y

7 1 7 80 2
-

a nd t he d e fe c e o f C o n s t a n t i o p l 7 8 — I m po r t a n c e o f hi s t r i u mp h
n n e ,
1

S o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c a l c o n d t i o n f t h e E m p i r e —D e c a y o f Ar t a n d
i o

L e t t e r s —S u pe rs t i t i o n a n d l c o no duly —T h e I c o n o cl a s t m o v e m e n t — Le o s
'

Crus a d e a g a i n s t I m a g e s —C o n s t a n t i n e C o p o n ym u s a n d h i s pers cu
r e

t i o s —S ucc e ssful w a rs o f C o n s t a n t i n e v —
n M i n o r it y o f C o n s t a n t i n e v 1
. .

I n t r ig u e s a d t r i u m p h o f I r e n e —R e s t o r a t io n o f I ma g e wo rsh i p—E n d o f
n -

t h e I s a ur i a n dy na s t y 8 0 2
, .

IN M arch 7 1 7 Leo th e I sau rian becam e mas ter o f Con sta n

t i n o pl e h i s predecesso r Th eodosiu s
, , h aving ab dicated
a n d refused to con tinu e t he civil w a r wh ich had begu n i n th e
previ ou s year I t i s probabl e tha t h is resignation was due as
.

m uch t o fear o f t he o n com i n g o f t he Sarace n s a s to th e d read

of Le o for th e arm ie s o f th e cal i p h S ol iman were al ready
,

ravagin g P hrygi a an d Cappadocia an d sl owly makin g thei r ,

way toward s th e B osph oru s Noth i n g save th e con sci o u s

.

nes s o f h i s own capaci ty t o stem th e ri si n g fl ood o f M oslem

i nvasi on coul d h ave j us ti fied Leo i n taki n g arm s a gai n st
Theod osi u s i n such a t i m e o f dange r ; bu t fortunatel y fo r the
em pi re he had n ot overval ued h i s own p ower an d wa s des ,

tin ed to sh ow that he was full y com peten t t o face th e s ituation .

H e wa s stil l a young man bu t hi s l i fe had already ,

bee n fu ll o f i n cide n t a n d adven ture ; h e was th e

s o n o f paren ts o f s om e weal th w h o had mi grated ,

from the I sau ria n region s i n the Tau ru s t o Thrace H e had .

3 00
 Tne I co n ocl a s t E mp ero rs 30 1

en tere d the army during th e sec on d reign o f Justin ia n R hin o

’
t m e t u s an d after servi ng h i m w ell had i n cu rre d th e tyran t s
,

su spicion an d been sen t o n a dangero u s exped i ti on i n to th e

,

Cau casu s from w hich h e was n ot i n tended to return B u t h e

,
.

extricated h im sel f from m a ny peri ls am o n g th e Alan s an d

Abasgi o f t hose di stan t region s an d cam e back i n safety t o b e , ,

made by Anastasiu s 1 1 govern or o f th e An atol ic them e H e

. .

was an active en terprisi ng persevering man w i th a talen t for

, , ,

organ i sation a great p ower o f maki ng h i msel f loved by h i s

,

sol diery an d an iron han d H i s l ater career sh ows that h e

,
.

was m ore than a good sol dier being al so o n e wh o l ooke d ,

deep in to th e causes o f th i ngs an d had form ed h i s o w n views

,

o n p ol i tics and religion .

Le o was on ly gran ted five mon th s i n wh ic h t o prepare fo r

'

the long dreade d adven t of th e Saracen s H e spen t th i s ti m e

-
.

i n accum ulatin g vast stores o f provi si on s recru iting the ,

a rri s i o n o f Con stan tin ople an d stre n gthen in g i ts f o rt i fi c a

g ,

ti on s
. O n th e 1 5 th o f Au g u st M o slemah wi th an arm y o r
Saracen s appeare d on the B ithyn i an c oast ; a few days
l ater a Syrian fleet o f over 1 0 0 0 sai l appeared i n th e Propon ti s .

took th e arm y o f M oslem ah o n b oard an d tran sported i t i n to ,

’
Thrace T he Saracen s lan d troop s at on ce com me n ced the
.
-

blockade o f th e capi tal by la n d whi le part o f the fleet m oved ,

i n to th e B osph oru s t o pos t i tsel f so as t o bl ock th e mou th o f

,

th e G ol de n H orn i n wh i ch the I m perial n avy h a d take n refuge

,
.

Leo delivered hi s firs t blow while t he S aracen ves sel s were

pas sing u p the B o sph oru s ; i ssui n g o u t o f th e Golden H orn
w ith man y galley s an d fi re s h i ps h e attacked the en em y as
they were tryi ng t o pas s u p th e strai ts an d b urn t M o sl e m a h ,

twen ty shi ps o f war The S arace n adm iral th en b s i g C

. e e es o n

t mi m pl S a e
dropped d o wn to th e s ou thern exi t o f th e B os '

p h o ru s an d left th e n orthern exi t free t o th e Roman s s o th at

, ,

Leo was abl e t o co n ti nu e to draw su ppl ies from th e Black Sea .

The blockade of Con s tan tin ople was therefore i mperfect , , ,

a n d we l earn without surprise that w hile t he Saracen s i n

their cam p o n the Thracian s ide of the strai ts su ffered s e ve re l v
30 2 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

from t he c old o f an u n u su ally severe autum n an d wi n ter th e ,

ga rri son w i th i n t he wall s was w el l fe d as w el l a s wel l h ou sed ,

an d con ti n u ed t o gro w i n self c o n fi d e n c e M oslem ah se n t i n

-
.

h as te fo r rei n forcemen ts a n d t h e Cal ip h supported h i m wi th

,

zeal ; a sec on d lan d arm y m arched up fr o m Tarsu s t o Chal

-

ced on i n th e spring o f 7 1 8 an d occupi e d th e B ithy nian sh ore

,

o f th e B osph oru s wh il e a great flee t from Africa an d E gypt

,

j oi ned t h e bl ocka di ng squadro n an d m oo re d at K a l o sagro s ,

o n th e ea s tern si de o f th e B osp h oru s i n order t o watch the ,

m ou th o f th e G ol den H orn and s top t he com m u n ication o f

,

th e c it y wi th th e Black S ea .

Th e preservati on of th e free wa terwa y t o th e n orth was all

i mportan t t o th e defence Accordi ngl y Le o dete rmi ned to
.
,

make a great e ffort t o d estroy th e E gyptia n fl eet H i s gal leys .

,

many o f the m fi tted wi th apparatu s for di scharging the fam ou s

Greek fi re sai le d o u t su dden ly a n d fel l o n t h e Sarace n sh ip s
, ,

as they l a y m oore d aga i n s t th e Asiatic shore Ma n y o f the .

crew s o f t he E gyptian s hip s were Chri stian s force d on b oard ,

agai n s t thei r will ; t hese m e n ei ther deserte d to th e Im perial

i s t s or fl e d as h ore an d d ispersed The M osl em sai lors on .

board ma de s om e resi stan ce b u t being caugh t a t anch or an d

, ,

u n abl e to m an oeu vre o r escape th ey were s oon overcom e ,

.

Th e w h ol e bl ockading s quadron was bu rn t o r towe d back

’
x

i n tri um ph t o Con stan ti n ople Th e re s t o f M oslema h s

.

fl ee t m ade n o furth e r attemp t t o bar th e B osph oru s and ,

al lo w ed th e Roman gall eys t o d om i nate i ts waters L e o th en .

th rew a force o n t o th e B i thyn ia n sh ore a n d di sperse d th e ,

S aracen troops wh o were en c a m ped th ere Th u s th e army o f .

Moslemah wa s c u t off from Asia an d c oul d d raw n o fu rth e r ,

suppli es from then ce I t h ad al read y e xh au sted t h ose o f th e

.

neare r d istricts o f Th race an d by t he sum m er o f 7 1 8 was

,

re duced t o th e verge o f s tarvation l iving from h an d t o mou th ,

on w hat i ts foragers coul d procure Man y had al ready .

pe ri sh ed o f p riva tion wh e n M oslem ah heard t h at a great

,

B ulgarian arm y ha d c ro sse d th e Balkan s a n d wa s a d van ci ng ,

agai n s t h im
. Le o had apparen tl y con vi nced k ing T e rb e l
 T/re I co n o cl a s t E mp er o r s 303

tha t a Saracen i n vasi on o f E u rope was a s dangerou s t o h i m as

to th e em pi re M osl emah d etache d a p orti on o f h is arm y
.

to h ol d back the B u lgarian s bu t nea r H adrian opl e i t was

,

completely cu t t o piece s b y th e barbarian s Th e Arab h i s .

t o ri an s con fes s that men fel l i n th e r ou t .

Th i s d eci de d M oslem ah t o rais e th e siege H i s fleet took .

th e rem ain s o f the lan d army on board an d pu t i t S i g f C m , e e o o

ashore n ear Cyzicu s Fro m th en ce he forced h is t t i p l

.
s an no e

r i s d ’7 8 a e 1
way back to Tarsu s but o f m ore than
,
men °

compri se d i n h i s origin al arm y an d i ts rei n forcem en ts M os ,

le mah brough t back o n ly Th e fleet fared yet worse ;

i t was caugh t i n a storm off the Lycian coas t an d alm os t ,

e nti rely destroyed Th e Roman s captu re d m an y o f the sur

.

vi vi n g ship s, a n d i t i s sai d that onl y fi ve vessel s o u t of a

thou san d got back to Syria .

Thu s peri shed th e las t Saracen armamen t w h ich ever s eri

o u sl y threaten e d th e exi sten ce o f th e E ast Roman E m pi re -
.

I t was p erhaps the m os t form i dabl e exped i tion that th e

Cal iph s ever sen t forth far larger an d better e quip p ed than
,

the predatory ban ds which h a d overru n Africa an d Spai n

wi th su ch ease a few years before or the army whi ch Charles
,

Martel faced at P o i c t i e rs a few years later I t was n o m ean .

achievem en t o f L e o the I saurian tha t ere yet firml y seate d

, ,

on hi s throne an d wi th al l h i s Asi ati c provi nces already over

,

ru n by th e e n emy h e s houl d beat off wi th ease su ch a m igh ty

,

armam en t H i s success m u s t b e ascribed primarily t o h i s

.

o wn courage energy an d skill n ext t o the i mpregnabl e

, , ,

stre n gth o f th e walls o f Con stan tin opl e an d l astl y to t h e , ,

i n experien ce o f the Arab s o n th e s ea wh ich compel led them,

t o u se u nwilling Chris tian seam en for thei r galleys a n d pre ,

ve n ted them from maki ng an y a dequate u se o f thei r mom en

tary n aval predomi n an ce The flee t o f M o slemah seem s to
.

have bee n as u seless an d u nwi eld y as th e fle et o f X erxes .

B ut however much h e m ay h ave been h el p ed by th e faul ts of

,

h is en emy Leo the I saurian deserves th e thank s o f all fu ture

,

ages for s tayi ng th e progress of th e Saracen in vader a t a

 3 04 E u ropea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

m om en t whe n th ere was n o oth er powe r i n easte rn E urop e

which coul d have fo r a m om en t h el d back the a dva n ci ng
M oslem I f Con stan ti n opl e had fallen i t i s ab solu tely certa i n
.
,

that the barbarous pagan tri bes wh o occup ie d all eas te rn a n d

cen tral E u ro p e woul d ha ve becom e th e s ubj ects o f th e
Cal i ph an d th e votarie s o f I slam There was n o capac ity fo r
,
.

prol onge d resistan ce i n t he B ulgarian Avar o r Slav ; an d i f , ,

th e E ast Rom an E mpi re had fall en th e wave o f S aracen

-
,

i nvas i on woul d h ave swep t al l be fore i t u p t o th e b orders o r

Aus trasia Wh eth er t h e Franks could have s tood firm i f
.

attack e d o n th e east as wel l as o n th e s ou th i s ve ry doubtf ul .

I t i s th erefore fai r to asc ri b e to Leo th e I saurian a n e ven

, ,

greater s h are i n th e salva ti on o f E urop e fro m th e M oslem

peril th an i s gi ve n t o Charl e s M artel .

After th e fai lu re of M oslemah th e vi c toriou s Le o had a

breathi ng t i me gran ted h im i n w h ich t o reorgan ise th e
,

sh attered real m th at h a d b ee n l eft hi m b y hi s predecessor .

Although th e S aracen war s ti ll wen t o n a n d b order raid s ,

n ever cea se d t il l th e ve ry en d o f h i s reign ye t there was n o ,

very seriou s danger i n these latter b icke ri n gs a n d Leo was ,

abl e t o t u rn h is a tte n ti on t o t h e i n tern al a fi a i rs o f th e empi re

'

wi thou t th e fear o f hav i n g a t an y m om en t a da nge rou s i n

va s i o n laun ch ed agai n s t h i m fro m beyon d th e Tauru s .

Leo was a reform er an d an i n n ovator i n e ve ry branc h o f

adm i n i stration H i s deal ings w ith t he C h u rch are those which
.

ca used m ost sti r an d are bes t rem e mbered bu t h i s act ivi ty ,

j a s as great i n secu lar as i n eccl esias ti ca l matters It is u n .

fo rtu n ate tha t m ost o f t he records of h is reform s ha ve

perished n oth i n g havi ng been p reserve d except hi s E clog a o r
,

new han dbook o f law B u t e n ough su rvives t o s h ow th e

.

character o f h i s adm in istration and i ts effec ts i n th e s ucceed

,

ing cen tu ry are ve ry m arked .

We have al rea dy po i n ted ou t i n a n e arlier chapter t ha t th e

Eas t Roman E m p ire had bee n i n a sta te o f ra p i d decay s ince
-

the m id dle o f the s ixth c en tu ry The d own ward m ovemen t

.

th at h ad begu n wi th th e wa rs a n d taxes of J u sti n ian ha d b ee n

 Ti re I con o cl a s t E mp er o rs 30 5

accelerated u n der h i s successors an d had t hreaten ed the ,

actual d es truct ion o f t h e emp i re d urin g the reign o f H eracl iu s .

That the S tate struggl ed through al l i ts trou bles an d emerged ,

bleedi ng at every p o re shorn o f m an y o f i t s m embers bu t

, ,

still al ive was due to th e perso n al ab iliti es o f H eracliu s an d

,

h i s descenda n ts Con sta n tinu s Con stan s a n d C o n D e c a d en c e f

-

s ta n t i n e v . Bu t though th e l i fe still l i n gere d i n t h m p i r e e e

th e bo dy o f th e S tate i t w a s yet i n t he m ost depl orabl e con

,

d it ion
. I ts purely O rien tal pr o vi n ce s — E gypt Syria a n d , ,

Africa — were go n e for ever Asia M in or was drea d fully

.

wasted by th e repeated i n vas i o n s o f th e Sarace n s Th e .

Balk an pen i n sula was as regards m ore than half i ts exten t i n

, ,

th e ha n ds o f th e B ulga ria n s an d Sl a v s I n th e s eve n th .

century Slavon i c t r ibes had m ad e thei r way eve n i n to H ella s

an d Pel o po n n esu s t h ere t o occupy al l th e m ore rem ote a n d
, _

m ountai n ou s corn ers of the lan d .

The d i sasters of t h e seve n th ce n tury were accom pan ied by

wh ol es al e d isplacem en ts o f popul ati o n I n E u rope th e o l d .

Lati n speaki ng p o p ul at i o n o f I llyricum M oesia a n d Thrace

-
, ,

had al most d isappeare d O n l y a fe w scattered fragme n ts th e

.
,

a n cestors o f th e m odern Rouma n ia n s an d D almatia n s s till ,

s urvived scat tere d am ong th e Sla v s o f the Balkan s I n Asi a

,
.

th e o l d provi n cial p op ulatio n had bee n gri e v o usly th i n ned by

Sarace n wars but o n th e o ther ha nd i t had been recru ite d by
, , ,

great ba n ds o f refugee s from a l l th e la n ds th at th e S aracen

h ad overr u n M a n y t h ou sand s o f Ar me n i a n s an d Persian s
.

had ch ose n to bec o m e subj ects o f th e E mperor rathe r th an

th e Cal iph an d i n pa r ticular the M a rd a i te s or Ch ristian s of th e
,

Syrian m o u n tai n s had emigrated wh oles a le i n to C h g i an es n

A si a Mi n or after mai n tai n i n g for man y years a P p l t i w

,
o u a

st r u ggl e i n the Le b a n o n a gai n s t the p o w er o f th e Saracen s .

Th e E u r o pea n th eme s w ere n ow Grec o Sla v n o t Grec o -

,

Rom an i n t heir p o pulati o n : th e Asiati c o n e s we r e far m ore

,

O rien tal a n d far less Greek tha n i n t he si xth cen tury By th e .

time o f Leo th i s ch a n ge wa s complete : t he emp ire was n o w

Rom an i n n othing bu t nam e an d adm i n i strati ve organ i sat i o n
P ER I OD I . U
306 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

O n th e other h and i t had n o t ye t becom e Greek as i t was t o

, ,

d o i n a later age I t s m os t imp ortan t elem en t i n th is an d

.

the n ex t t w o cen turies was t he As i atic I sauria an d Armen i a .

a n d th e o ther m ou n tai n l an ds of Asi a M in or sup pl ie d m os t o f

th e rulers o f th e e m p i re Th e y w ere n ot O rien tal s o f th e m ore
.

effem inate an d feebl e type — l ik e th e Syrian s or E gyptian s ,

w h ose o n ly show o f e n ergy for m an y years h ad been i n th e

hatc hi ng o f n ew here sie s a n d th e practice o f i rra t i o n a l ascetici s m
— bu t were a bold vigorou s race h ardene d by m an y ge n eration s
,

o f Persian an d Sarace n wars t h e m en wh o ever si nce th e fi fth

, ,

cen tury had bee n supplyi ng th e core o f th e E ast Roman arm ies
,
-
.

The ch ange i n th e p opulat i on o f th e e mpi re ha d bee n

accomp an i ed b y equall y great chan ges i n i ts social condi tion .

O f th e se the m os t i m portan t was t h e d isappearance o f th e o l d

R o man syste m o f p re d i a l serfdom o f great es tate s tilled by colo n i
,

o r peasan ts boun d to th e soi l an d u nabl e t o l eave th eir farm s .

Th i s tenu re wh i ch las te d o n i n t he West til l i t became th e

,

basi s o f th e feu dal sys tem had i n th e E as t en tirely d isappeare d

,

b etwee n J u s ti n ia n an d Le o th e I sauria n I n the ti me o f Leo .

w e fi n d th e soi l c ul tivate d e i t he r by free tenan ts w h o w orked ,

t h e estate s o f great lan d ow n ers a t a fi xed ren t or by v illage s o f

-
,

D cr e s o f
e a e free p e a san ts occupyin g their own c om mu nal lan ds .

s rfd m
e o
Th e very heal th y ou tcom e o f th i s cha n ge wa s a
grea t gro wth i n th e p r o portio n o f freem e n t o sl aves al l ove r
th e e mp i re : of th is th e m os t i mportan t an d be nefi cial resu l t
w as that the gove rn men t coul d reck on o n a m u ch larger an d
better recru it ing grou n d for the arm y tha n i n th ose earl ier
t im es whe n th e peasan t was fi xed to the soil an d absolu tel y
,

proh ibi ted from servin g a s a sold ier The c au se o f the va n i sh .

in g o f th e o ld te nure was wi th ou t dou bt the fac t tha t th e

, ,

ra v age s o f S la v Pe r sia n a n d Saracen b etwee n 6 0 0 a n d 7 0 0

, ,

h ad broke n u p th e o l d landmark s an d e i ther swep t away or ,

d i splaced t he form er servile populati on Whe n ma n y provi nces .

had bee n fo r m an y years at a t ime i n th e hand s of foreign

, ,

enem ies as h a p pe n ed to th e wh ol e of A si a M i n or duri ng th e

,

fi rst years o f H eracl iu s an d to grea t part o f i t i n th e anarch y

 T/t e I con o cl a s t E mpe r o r s 30 7

between 7 1 0 an d 7 1 8 i t wa s n o t won derful that o l d s ocial

,

arrangem en ts wh ich bore hardly o n th e bul k of the popula tion

tended to vani sh .

The d isappearance o f media l serfdom wa s a change fo r th e

bet ter wi th in th e empi re But i n m ost other th i n gs th e
.

cha n ges h ad bee n for th e worse Th e c ivil isatio n o f th e

.

wh ol e real m h a d sunk t o a very l ow leve l c omp ared wi th that

wh ich preva iled i n th e fi fth cen tu ry Arts a n d le tters h ad
.

reach ed the l owe t depth wh ich th ey eve r k n ew i n D e c a y o f

s
the E as t Al l l i terature save th e compil i ng o f r t s d a an

l rs
.

p olemical rel igi ous tracts ha d di sappeared : b e ette '

tween 6 2 0 a n d 7 2 0 w e h ave n o t a si n gl e con temporary

h i storian : the story of th e ti m es has t o b e learne d en tirely
from later sources Poe tical sci en tifi c an d ph ilosophical c o m
.
, ,

positio n had al so die d off ; except t h e H er a cl z a d— th e wars

'

of H eracl iu s tol d as an ep ic o f George o f Pisid ia th e seve n th

-
,

cen tury produced n o si n gl e p oem The s tu dy o f Lati n h ad

.

so far d ied o u t that th e great l egal work s o f J ustinian had

becom e u seless to th e i n habi tan t s o f the empire They were .

a seal e d book to al l save th e excepti o n ally learned s o that ,

systematic law h ad al m os t disappeared I n the variou s themes .

we fi n d j u s tice bei n g adm i n istered according t o local cus tom s

an d u sages in stead of by ol d Roman precep t Leo had t o
,
.

’
abridg e a n d t ra n slate J u stin ian s Code i n order t o ren der i t ,

e i th er u se ful o r i ntell igible Whe n d o i n g thi s h e omi tted

.

great section s of i t i n order t o bri n g the b ook i n to accordanc e

,

w i th the n eeds an d cust oms of th e day for bot h man ners an d ,

soci al con dition s had been tran s formed si nce th e reign of

J u sti n ian Th e decay o f art h ad been a s rapi d as that o f
.

l etters : very few remain s o f the u nhappy seven t h cen tury have
com e down t o u s bu t i n th ose w h ich are m ost n u merou s the
, ,

coi n s o f th e emperors we fi n d th e m os t barbarou s in capacity

,

t o express th e s imples t form s The faces o f H eracl iu s o r

.

Co n stan ti n e v are barel y h u ma n : th e leg n ds su rroun di n g

.
e

them are s o il l spel t as to b e almost u n in telligible : the l etters

are ill formed an d ill cu t .
308 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

Bu t th e m os t pai n ful feature o f th e ti m e wa s that the d ecay

o f art s a n d letters h ad been accom pan i ed by th e growth o f a

d en se s u perstiti o n an d ign o r a nce w h ich woul d have seeme d i n

credi ble t o th e a n ci en t Roma n o f the fourth o r even the fi fth ,

ce n tu ry Al th o ugh Co n stanti n opl e stil l prese rved all th e great

.

l i terary w o rk s o f a n t iqui ty th e m ind s o f i t s rul ers w e r e n o

,

m ore i n fl u en ced by the m tha n we re the eyes a n d ha n d s o f i ts

c raftsm en i n spi red by th e grea t w ork s o f G re ek scul ptu re that
s til l adorn e d th e streets I t wa s a ti m e o f the gr o wth o f
.

cou n tles s si lly supersti ti o n s o f w i tchcra ft a n d necroman cy

, ,

o f the fram i ng of w ild l ege n ds o f a pocryphal s ain ts an d o f ,

s tra n ge m i sco n cepti on s o f natu ral phe n om e n a .

Am on g t h e m o s t p rom i n e n t token s o f t hi s growth o f

i rra t io n al s upersti ti on s was t he great te n den cy o f th e s even th
cen tu ry t oward s i mage worsh i p — I co n o du ly a s i ts opp o ne n t s
-
,

calle d th e p r actice I n d i rect Opp osi tio n t o earl y Ch ri stian

.

cu stom i t becam e c o mm on to ascribe the m os t s tra n ge an d

,

m agical p owers t o rep r esentati on s wheth er sculp tu red o r ,

pai n ted o f O ur Lord a n d th e Sai n ts They w ere n ot merely

,
.

regarded a s u sefu l m em orial s to gu i de th e piety o f bel i evers ,

bu t were th ough t to have a h ol i n ess i nh eren t i n them sel ves ,

Im g
a e_
an d t o be capabl e o f perform ing th e m ost aston i sh
ow rsh i p i n g mi racle s
.
H eracli u s possessed a n d carried
.
,

abou t wi th hi m a s a fe tich a p icture wh ic h h e bel ie v e d to

,

have bee n pai n ted i n h eaven by angel i c han d s an d th ough t i t ,

brough t h i m all m a n n er o f l u ck T h e c ruci fi x ove r the door .

o f th e i m perial palace was bel ieved to have u sed h um an

speech E v e n pat r iarch s an d b i sh op s a ffi rm e d tha t th e ha n d
.

o f a cel ebrate d pi ctu re of th e Vi rgi n i n th e c a pi tal di stilled

fragra n t bals am E very chu rch a n d m o n a s tery had i ts w o n d e r

.

work i n g i mage a n d drew n o s mall reven u e fr o m pi ou s o ffe r

,

i ngs t o i t The fr e ak s t o wh ic h i ma g e w o r s h ip le d were ofte n

.
-

m os t grotesque : i t w a s fo r example a well k n ow n practice to

, ,
-

m ak e a favo u ri te pic tu re t h e g o d fa ther of a chi ld i n baptism-

by scrapi ng o ff a l i ttle o f i t s pain t an d m i xing i t wit h th e

bapti smal wate r .
 TIre I co n ocl a s t E mp er o r s 309

Th e act for wh ich t he nam e o f Le o th e I s au rian i s bes t

remem bered i s th e i ssue o f h i s edic t a gain st these puerile
su perstition s a n d h i s attem pt t o pu t down i m a ge worsh ip al l
,
-

through h is real m Leo wa s n o t o nly a m an of stro n g

.

com mo n sen se bu t h e was spru n g fro m th ose l an ds o n th e

,

M ohamm edan border wh ere Christian s had th e bes t o ppo r

t u n i t y o f c ompari n g th e gross an d material adorati on o f t hei r
c o rel igi o n is ts for st o n es a n d pai n t wi t h th e s evere spiri tu al
-
,

worshi p o f th e followers o f I slam The M o sle m wa s alway s .

taun ti n g th e C hri s tian wi th servin g i dol s an d th e taun t fou nd ,

t o o m uch j usti ficatio n i n man y practice s o f th e vulgar Th ink .

’
i ng m e n like Leo were m ove d by th e M oslem s sneer i n to a
horror o f th e su perstitiou s folli es o f th ei r co ntemp oraries .

They forti fi e d th em selves by th e vi ew that to make re pre se n

t a t i o n o f th e Godhead savou red o f h eresy because
I c cl s m ,
ono a .

i t lai d to o m uch stress on the m anh ood as opposed

to the d i vini ty of O ur L o rd Such an id ea was n o n ew thi n g
.

i t h ad o ften bee n m oote d am ong the E as tern Ch ris tian s ,

though m ore o ften by sch ism atics th a n by Cath ol ics O f .

’
Leo s own orth od oxy h owever there wa s n o doub t : eve n h i s
, ,

en emie s coul d n ot convict h i m o f swer v i n g i n the l eas t from

th e faith : i t was only on th is m at te r o f image w orship tha t h e -

differed from th em Wh erever he plu cked dow n the crucifi x

.

h e set u p th e plai n cross — o u the standards o f hi s arm y o n ,

th e gates o f h i s palace on h i s m on ey on h i s i mperial robe s

, ,
.

I t was purely to the an throp om orph ic represen tation o f O ur

Lord an d t o the over revere n ce for i mages o f sai n ts that h e
-

o bj ected .

Leo was n o m ere rough sold ier : h i s paren ts we re people o f

som e weal th an d h e had en tere d th e army as a n i mperial
,
’ ’ r
a i a e a e ca rm
1
- -
n o t as o n e o f the ran k a n d fi l e .

I t i s p r obable therefore that h e was su ffi ci en tly educate d t o

obj ect t o i mage worship o n rati onal a n d ph il osoph ic g rou n d s
-
,

n ot fro m the mere u n th in king prej u dice p icke d u p from

1
The s to y t h at
r he b e g a n l i fe a s a t t
po o r huck s e r r a v e l l i n g a b o u t wi th
a mu le is one o f the m a n y i n v e nti o n s o f h i s e n e m i e s t he m o n k s
.
3 10 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

Saracen s o r h eretics Th is m u ch i s certain that from th e

.
,

m omen t tha t h e declare d h i s pol icy h e fou n d the greates t

support am o n g th e h igh er o ffi cers of th e c iv il service an d th e
arm y E ducat e d layme n we re a s a rul e favou rabl e t o h i s
.

vi ews : th e mass o f the s ol diery foll owed hi m a n d the ea stern ,

p r o vi n ce s as a wh ole acqu iesced i n h i s reform ati on O n the .

o the r han d h e fo un d h i s ch ief oppo ne n ts am ong th e m onk s

, ,

w h ose i n terests were largel y b ou n d u p wi th i mage w orshi p -

,

an d am on g th e l owe r clas ses who were blin dly a dd icted to i t

, .

Th e E u ropea n the m es were as a w h ole Opposed to him : th e

fu rther wes t th e provi n ce th e m ore I con oduli c were i ts ten
’
den cies . O f th e wh ol e empi re I taly wa s t h e part whe re Leo s
views fou n d the l east footi ng .

Le o began h i s cru sade agai n s t i mage worshi p i n 7 2 6 eigh t -

,

years a fter h i s great vi ctory o ver the Saracen s Th e em pi re .

was by th i s ti me qu ieted d own an d reorgan is ed ; two rebelli on s

ha d al s o been cru shed on e u n de r a ce r tai n Ba si l i n I tal y
, ,

th e oth er un d er the ex em peror A rt e m iu s A n astas iu s w ho h ad

-
,

t rie d to resu m e th e crown by th e ai d o f th e Bulgari an s T h e .

h e ads o f B asi l an d A rt e m i u s had fall en an d n o m ore t roubl e ,

’
from rebell i on was exp ecte d Leo s e di c t forbade al l i mage
.

worsh ip as i rreveren t an d su p ersti tiou s an d ordered t h e ,

rem oval o f al l h ol y statues a n d th e wh i te wash i ng o f al l h oly -

’
p ictu res o n chu rch wal ls Fro m the very fi rs t th e emperor s
.

L
‘
eo s l co n ocom ma n d s m e t wi th a l ively resi s tance When .

l
C as ti E d i ct
c
hi s o ffi cial s began t o rem ove the great cru ci fi x
over t h e palace gate a m o b fel l u po n th em a n d beat them t o
,

death wi t h cl ub s Le o s en t o u t troops to clear th e s treets

.
,

an d man y o f t h e ri oters were slain Th i s evil begi n n i n g wa s

.

foll o wed by a n e quall y d isastrou s sequel Al l ove r the em pi re .

th e bul k o f th e cl ergy d eclare d agai n s t th e emperor : i n man y

provi nces they began t o preac h ope n sed i ti on Th e Pope a s .
,

we h ave al ready see n wh e n tell i ng the fat e o f I tal y pu t h i m ,

sel f a t th e h ead o f th e m oveme nt an d se n t m os t i n sul ti n g

,

le tte r s to C on stan tin o pl e I n 7 2 7 Rome re fused obed ience

.

t o th e edict an d wha t was o f m ore i m med iate danger t he

, ,
 TIre I con ocl a s t E rnpe r o rs 3 1 I

t hem e o f H ella s rose i n ope n rebell io n Th e garriso n .

troop s an d th e populace i ncite d by th e preach ing o f fa n atical

,

m onk s j oined t o p roclai m a certai n Cosm as em peror They

,
.

fi tted o u t a fleet t o attack Con sta n ti n ople bu t i t was defeated , ,

an d the rebel em peror was taken pri soner a n d beheaded I t .

’
i s ackn owl edged however eve n by Le o s en em ies that h e
, , ,

treate d th e bul k o f th e prison ers an d the rebel them e wi th

great m ild ness I ndeed h e seld o m pu n i she d di sobe dien ce
.
,

t o h i s e dict wi th death : s tripes an d i mpri so nmen t were th e

m ore frequen t rewards of those wh om th e I c o n o d u l e s styled
h eroes an d co n fessors o f the true faith Leo wa s determ in ed .

that h i s edict sh ould be carried o u t bu t h e was n o t by nature ,

a persecu tor : i t was as rioters or rebel s n ot as image ,

worsh ippers that h i s en em ies were pu n ished j ust as i n th e

, ,

reign o f E lizabeth o f E nglan d th e Jesu i t suffered n ot as a ,

Papi st bu t as a traitor Leo deposed th e aged patriarch

,
.

G e rm a n u s for refu si n g to work with hi m bu t di d h i m n o further ,

harm .
l
I n general i t was by promoting Ico n oclasts n o t by ,

mal treati n g I c o n o d u l e s that he worked ,

.

’
The last thi rteen years o f Leo s reign ( 7 2 7 4 0 ) were on th e -

whole a t im e of succes s for th e emperor H e succeeded i n .

getti ng hi s e dic t e n forced over the greater part o f th e emp ire ,

i n spite o f som e open an d m ore s ecret resistan ce only I taly

defie d h im From the reco n quest of Rom e he was kept back
.

by th e n ecess i ty of provi di ng fo r th e defence o f th e E as t for i n ,

— ’
7 2 6 th e cal iph H i sham heari ng n o doub t o f Leo s domes tic
troubles — comm en ced once m ore to i nvade th e Asiatic
th em es I n 7 2 7 a Sarace n h ost p ushe d for w ard as far as
.

N i c a e a where i t was repelled an d force d to retire W a r s w i t h

,
.

T here were less formi dabl e i n vas io n s i n 7 3 0 7 3 2 t h S r c , ,

e a a en

a nd 7 3 7 8 bu t n o n e led to a n y seri o u s l oss an d th e imperial

-
, ,

bo un dary stoo d firm ly fixed i n th e passes o f th e Ta u rus Th e .

Saracen war practicall y en ded wi th a great victory wo n by Leo

i n person at Ac ro i n o n i n th e A n atol ic them e wh ere an arm y
, ,

1
Th e s t o r i e s o f t h e su fle i g s o f G e rm a n u s a e l a t e i n v e n t i o n s o f
r n r

I c o n o dul e w r i t e rs .
3I2 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Of Arab raiders wa s c u t to p ieces w i t h t he l os s of all

i ts ch i efs Th e h ou se o f th e O m m e ya d Cali phs w as al ready
.

ve rg i n g t oward s i t s decl i n e : i t n eve r agai n prepare d a n y

exped iti on approach i ng th e strengt h o f the g r eat arm am en t of
M oslemah w h ic h Leo h ad so effectually tu r n e d back i n 7 1 8
, ,

an d i ts later s overeign s w ere n ot o f th e type of th o se fan atical

con querors wh o ha d cu t the bou ndari es o f th e em pire short i n
th e preced in g ce n t u ry Leo h ad e ffec tuall y s taved o ff an y i m
.

m in en t danger t o ea s tern Chris ten dom from M oslem c on quest

for three ful l cen tu ries .

Leo wa s succeeded by h i s so n C o n stan tin e fi fth of tha t ,

nam e accordin g to th e u su al rec k on i n g sixth i f the grand son ,

o f H eracli u s be gi ve n h i s tru e n am e an d n ot th e erron eou s,

ti tl e o f C o n stan s I I Th e se c o n d of t h e I sauria n e mperors

.
,

however i s l es s k n own by th e n um eral a ffixed to h i s n am e

,

than by th e i n sul ti n g epi thet o f C o pro n ym u s wh ich h i s ,

Ico n odulic en em ies bestowed o n h i m — sh owi n g thereby th ei r

own bad taste rather than an y u n wo rthi n ess o n t h e part of
th ei r sovereig n .

C on stan ti ne was a you n g m an o f twe n ty two a t the m om en t -

’
o f hi s accessi on H e had l o n g ac ted a s h i s fa ther s colleague
.

’
an d wa s th oroughly trai n ed i n Le o s m e th ods o f a d m i n i st ra t i o n ,

C on t n t i ne
s a
an d i nd octri nated w i th h i s I c o n oclastic views .

C p
o ro n ym H e seem s w h il e p ossess in g a great m easu re o f h i s
us , ,
’
father s energy an d a bi lity to have been in ferio r ,

t o h i m i n two respects L e o had c ombi n e d cau ti on w i th

.

courage an d k n e w h o w t o exerci s e m oderati o n C o n sta n t i n e

,
.

wa s b ol d to e x cess d i d n o t u n derstan d hal f m easures o r

,
-

tolerati o n a n d carried through e v ery sch eme w i th a h igh han d

, .

’
M oreove r w h il e Le o s p riva te l ife ha d been bla m eless a n d
,

e ve n se v ere Con sta n ti n e wa s a vo ta ry o f pl easu re fo n d o f

,
'

pom p a n d sh ows d evoted t o m u si cal a n d theatri cal e n tertai n

,

m e n ts a n d som etimes lapsi n g i n t o debauch ery H ence i t i s

,
.

easy t o see why he has been d eal t w i th by th e ch r o n iclers o f

th e next cen tu ry i n a n eve n harshe r spi ri t than h i s father an d ,

i s represe nted a s a m on s ter o f c ruelty a n d v ice .

 Tlre I con ocl a s t E rnp erors 3 13

C on stan ti n e was n o sooner seated o n th e thron e than he

’
s howed that he was determ i n ed t o con ti n ue hi s father s p o l icy .

H e was a t on ce assai led by the rebell ion o f th e I c onod ul ic

factio n : th ey i n duced hi s broth er i n la w Art a va sd u s ge ne ral
- -

o f th e O bsequ ian them e t o seize the capi t a l an d proclai m

, ,

h im sel f em peror wh ile C o n stanti n e wa s absen t o n a n e xp e

,

d i tion again st th e Sarace ns All th e E u ropean th em es

.
,

where t he i mage breakers were hated di d h omage to Arta

-
,

va sd u s . B ut th e Anatol i c an d Th ra c e si a n them es th e heart ,

o f Asia M i n or remai n ed true t o th e s on o f Le o

, H e sh owed .

hi s en ergy a nd ab ili ty by beatin g th e son s o f A rta va sd u s i n two

battles an d besieging th e rebel i n Con stan tin ople Whe n th e
, .

ci ty w a s well n igh reduced by fam ine A rtavas d u s fl ed bu t h e

-

, ,

was caugh t an d brough t be fore Con stan ti n e Th e emperor .

ordered h im a n d h i s son s t o b e bl inded an d con fi n ed them ,

i n a m onas tery Thei r ch ie f ad heren ts were behea ded

.

This sangu inary less on to the I con od ulic party seem s to

h ave cowed them to such an exten t th at they d id n ot rai se
a n oth er ope n rebell ion i n th e l o n g reign o f Con stan t i n e ( 7 4 0
B ut t hey adhered as fully a s ever to th eir fai th
n othi ng i s so difficul t t o e radicate as a well r o ote d supers tition -
,
’
an d Constan ti n e s strong han d wa s better fi tted to cow than t o
persuade As t he years o f hi s reign p assed by an d h e fou n d
.
,

image worship practised i n secre t by th ou s an ds of con scienti ou s

-

votaries th e emperor grew m ore and m ore determi ned to u p

,

root i t After a time b e resol ve d t o cal l i n th e spi r i tual sa n cti o n

.

t o aid the secu lar arm i n 7 5 3 b e sum m on e d a ge n eral cou nci l

to m eet a t C o n s t a n t i n o pl e bu t i t wa s oecume n ical o n ly i n n am e
,
.

T he P ope repl i ed by anathemas of con tumel y t o the summ o n s

t o a ppear ; th e patriarch s of An ti o ch J eru salem an d Alex , ,

and ria safe un der the pr o te cti on o f th e caliph den i ed th ei r

, ,

p rese n c e . B u t th ere a s sem bled a n impos i n g body o f th ree

hu n dred an d th i rty eigh t bi sh o ps pres ide d over by th e Con stan
-
,

t i n o p o li t a n patri arch Co n s t a n t i n e o f S yl a e u m an d by Theo

, ,

dosi a s met r op o li tan o f E phesus son of the emperor Ti berius 11

, ,
.

T h i s c o un cil comm itted i tsel f full y to I c o n oclastic doctri n e

3 14 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

i t p rescribed al l repre se ntation s of O u r Lord as blasphemou s

C u c l f
o n i
snares
o
fo r e n deavou ri ng t o express b o th H i s

“
C on

pl
st t i
e
an

75 3
'
h uman an d H i s d i vm e n atu re i n the m ere l i ke nes s
o f a m a n an d th ereby obscurin g H i s d ivin i ty i n
'

H i s h um an i ty At th e same tim e i t co ndem n ed th e w orsh i p

.

of i mages o f sain ts because all ad orati on exce p t t hat pai d t o

,

th e Go dh ead savoured o f h eatheni sm an d a n th ropolatry .

Th e em peror had other scruples of h i s o w n on wh ich he d i d ,

no t p res s t he cou nci l t o del iver a d eci sio n : h e de nied th e

i n tercessory p owers o f th e Vi rgin an d s crupled to prefix t he ,
’
epi the t dy o s holy t o th e n ames of even th e greatest sai n ts
i
, ,
.

’
H e sp o k e for exampl e of Pe ter the Apostle n ot o f th e h ol y
, , ,
’
Peter . O n th ese awful depth s o f free th ough t t h e I c o n o d u l e s
of h i s ow n an d th e succeedi n g generati on wa sted expressi on s
o f h orror worth y to b e em pl oye d o n a H ero d o r a J u das
,
.

Arme d wi t h th e decree o f the cou n cil of Con stan ti n ople ,

t h e e m peror p roceeded d uri ng th e remai n de r of h i s reig n to , ,

i n dulge i n w hat was a true rel igi ou s pe rsecu ti o n fo r he p u r ,

sued th e i mage worsh i p p ers as heretic s n o t as rebel s o r ri oters

-
,
.

H e i n fl icte d the death pe nal ty i n a fe w cases b u t th e maj ori ty

-
,

o f h i s victim s were fl ogged m u tilate d p illoried o r ban is hed , , ,

.

Th e m os t obsti nate su pporters o f I c o n oduly were fou n d am on g

th e m onk s w h o n o t onl y resi sted th em selves bu t n ever ceased
, ,

t o u se th ei r Ua s t i n flu en ce over th e m o b i n order t o tu rn i t
‘

agai n st th e emperor After a ti m e C on stan tin e resolved to .

mak e a n en d of the m onastic system a s bei ng th e s tron gest ,

bul wark o f superst iti o n To uproot a h abi t o f l ife foun ded on .

p rs cu t i
e e th e practice o f c e n t u ri e s an d highly revered by t he
on ,

of m k
°h
m ul ti tu de wa s o f course a n i mpossi bili ty M onas
8 ~
.

t e rie s ca n o nl y be s u ppre ssed as they were a t th e Refo rmati on , ,

i f th e n ation sides wi th th e so vereig n N everthele ss C o n .

,

s t a n t i n e d r o v e o u t a n d harried a vas t n u mber o f m o nk s He .

h el d tha t th ey were o v e r n u rn e ro u s tha t th ey were m e n w h o -

,

shi r ked th e ordinary duti es o f th e citi zen a n d that thei r pro ,

fe s s i o n was a cl o ak for sel fi s h n e s s a n d sl o th H e ai m ed n o t .

on ly at breaki ng u p th e C l o i sters bu t at seculari si n g thei r ,

 me I con ocl a s t E rnp er ors 3I5

i n mates O n o n e occasi on h e had all t h e m o nks an d n un s of

.

th e T hra ce si a n theme assem bled an d offere d th em thei r choice

,

betwee n m arriage o r ban i shm e n t to Cypru s The m aj ori ty .

cho se th e latter alternati ve an d becam e i n th e eyes o f thei r

,

con temporari es co n fessors o f th e true fai th O n an other .

occasio n h e exh ibi ted i n t he H ippo drome a processi on o f u n

frocke d m o nk s eac h h ol ding by the han d an u n frocked n u n
,

wh om h e was to m arry — the I conodule wri ters as m igh t be ,

’
expected call the backsli di ng n u ns harlots
,
Th e de serted
‘
.

m on asteries were eith er pulle d down for bu il di ng material s o r

turned i n to barracks .

’
B u t i t m ust n ot b e supp ose d that Cons tan tine s activi ty was
en tirely e ngros se d i n persecuti n g the worsh ippers o f i mages .

T he t hirty fi ve years o f h i s reig n were a peri od o f con si derable

-

m il itary glory an d th e emper o r wh o al ways headed his own

, ,

armi es t o o k th e fiel d for more tha n a dozen cam paigns I n

,
.

Asia th e fall o f the O m m e ya d Caliph s accompan ie d by savage ,

civil wars am ong t he Saracen s o ffered an u nrivalled

Opportun ity for exten d ing the b ou n d s o f th e empire Con .

st a n t i n e pu she d beyon d th e A n ti Tau ru s as far as th e -

E uphrates ; i n 7 4 5 he occupied th e di strict o f C o m m a ge n e ,

an d tran sporte d al l i ts Ch ris tian in habi tan ts t o Th race i n 7 5 1

he took M eli ten e o n th e E u phrates a n d the great W a rs f C
, o on

ti
Arm eni an fortres s o f The o d osi opoli s Part of t
.
S ah h e

th ese con ques ts were afterwards recovered by th e fi rst Abbaside

Cali ph Ab dallah A l Saffah bu t the res t remained to th e
,
-
,
’
empi re as a troph y o f Co n stan tine s wars Several Saracen .

attempt s to i n vade Cappadocia an d Cypru s were d ri ve n

back with great slaughter an d i n general i t m ay be stated
,

that Con stan ti n e e ffectual ly p rotecte d Asia M in or from the

M oham m eda n sword a n d th at th e cou n try began to grow
,

agai n both i n weal th an d i n population .

N or was hi s work l ess u seful i n E u r o pe H e c om pl etel y .

reduced t o order the Slavon ic tribes sou th o f t h e Balkan both ,

i n Thrace an d Maced o n i a th ey had got o u t o f ha n d during

t he trouble s o f th e years 6 9 5 7 1 8 an d requ ired to b e subdue d
-
,
3 16 E u r opea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

ane w Con stanti n e careful ly forti fied th e d e fi le s o f th e

.

Balkan s w h ich com mu n i cate w ith th e vall ey o f t he Danube

, ,

garriso n i n g on ce m ore the rui ne d castles which Ju sti n ia n had

bu il t th ere Thi s a dvan ce n orthward brought h im i n t o h ostil e
.

con tac t w ith th e B ulgaria n s wh o ha d l o n g been accu stome d ,

to h arry both th e Slavo n i c a n d th e Roma n d is tricts o f Thrac e

an d Macedon an d could n o t br o ok t o be walled i n by th e n ew
,

l i n e o f forts C o n stan ti n e w aged th ree s uccessful wars wi th

.

t he Bulgarian s ; t he first lasti ng from 7 5 5 to 7 6 2 en ded wi th , ,

a grea t victory a t A n chi a l u s a fter wh ich k i ng B aia n sued for ,

peace an d obtai ned i t o n prom i si ng to keep h is subj ects from

,

rai ding across th e Bal kan s The secon d wa r occu pie d t h e .

years 7 6 4 7 7 3 Co n s tan tin e c rosse d th e B alkan s wasted

-
.
,

B ulgaria sl ew th e n e w k i n g Tok i n n ear th e Danu be an d wa s

, ,

preparing i n th e n ext year t o c o mple te th e co n quest O f t h e

co un try wh e n h i s wh ole fl ee t an d arm y were destro yed by a
,

storm i n th e B lack S ea Lo n g a n d i n de ci s ive b ickering

on the l i n e o f th e Balkan s followed an d peace was made i n ,

7 7 3 o n the ol d term s T he l as t Bulgarian w a r provoked by

.
,

an attem p t o f k i ng Telerig t o i nvade M acedo n i a i n 7 7 4 5 -

was n otabl e for a great victory at Li t h o so ri a bu t C on s tan ti n e ,

d ie d wh ile leadi n g h is army n orthward a n d h i s successes had ,

n o p ermane n t resul t Th e Bulgarian s were n o t su bd ue d by.

him bu t th ey were kept a t bay an d so tam e d tha t th ey were

, ,

compelled to leave Th race al on e a n d con ten t th em sel ve s wi th ,

defe n di ng thei r o w n Da n ubia n pl ai n s fro m t h e attacks of the

E as t Rom an s
-
.

Th e S arace n an d B ulgarian be in g d ri ve n away fro m t he

fro n tier w e are n ot su rpri se d to hear that th e e m pi re fl ouri shed
,

u n der C o n stan ti n e H e plan te d many c o l on ies o n the wa ste

.

“
lan ds o f th e bord ers settl ing th e em igra n t C h ri stia n s o f ,

Con s ta ti Armn
e n ia i n Th race an d m a n y Sl avo n ic a n d Bul
n ,

h m g v r
o e garia n re fugee s i n B i thy n ia We are t old that
o e n .

m en "
agri cul tu re p rospered i n h i s ti m e s o muc h that ,

six ty m easu re s o f w he at s ol d fo r a gol d sol i dus H e ex .

term i n ated briga n dage a n d mad e th e roads safe fo r me rchan ts ,

.
 Tlre I con ocl a s t E mper o r s 3 17

He fur n ished C on stan ti n ople wi th a new water supply by -

res tori n g th e aqueduc t o f Vale n s b roke n m ore than a h un dred ,

and fi fty years before Wh en the capi tal ha d b een devastated

.

by a great pl a gue i n 7 4 6 7 h e m ore than replaced th e los t -

,

th ou san d s o f i ts p opulati on b y n ew se ttlers from H ellas an d

t he isla n ds for wh om empl oym en t was fou n d by th e i n creasi ng
,

com m erce w hic h fol l owe d th e grow th o f i n ternal p rosperi ty .

Wh en h e d ied i n 7 7 5 aged fi ft y seven he left a ful l t r easu ry

,
-
, ,

a l oyal an d devoted army an d a well orga n i sed real m ,

-
.

Con stan tin e was s ucceede d by h i s el dest s on L e o I v ofte n .

,

called Le o th e Ghazar becau se h i s m other I ren e h ad been a

,
’
C ha z a r prin cess Leo ha d acted a s h i s father s c ol leagu e for
.

’
ma n y years an d carri ed o n Co n stan tin e s pol icy th o ugh w i th
, ,

a l ess harsh han d I n t he begi n n i n g o f h i s reign h e sh owed

.

tolerati on t o th e I co n o du l e s but wh en th ey com m ence d t o ,

’
raise the i r h ead s agai n h e resu m ed h is fath er s pe r R i g f L e n o eo

s e c u t i n g m an ner fl oggi n g an d ban ishi ng man y pro I V 775 8 0

-r -
.

m i nen t i mage wor s hi ppers H e di d n o t h owever obj ect t o

-
.
, ,

m o n k s as Con stan ti n e h ad do n e bu t all o we d th em to rebuild

, ,

thei r con ven ts an d even promo ted s om e o f th em t o bi s hopri cs

,
.

I t i s probable that h i s res u mpt io n o f pe rsecu ti on i n 7 7 7 was

con n ecte d w i th th e d i s covery of a con spi racy agai n st h im
i n wh ic h h i s own bro thers N i ce ph o ru s a n d C h ri stoph oru s
had league d th emselves wi th th e d i scon ten te d party The .

treacherou s Caesars were pard o n e d by th ei r brother a n d th ei r ,

ass o ciate s su ffered ba n i s hm e n t an d n o t death .

’
L e o c o n ti n ued h i s father s war wi th the Saracen s In 7 78 .

hi s armie s in v a d ed C o mm a ge n e d efeated a g r ea t Saracen h os t ,

i n th e Ope n field a n d br o ugh t back u n der the ir protecti o n a

,

great b o dy o f Syrian Chri sti an s w h o were settled as col on ists ,

i n Th race Th e caliph M e h d y repl ied l n the n ex t year by an

.

i nvasi on of th e Anatol ic th em e : h i s army forced i ts way a s

far as D orylaeum bu t re tired i n di sorder an d mu ch harassed
, ,

by th e Roma n s a fter fail i n g t o take t hat place

,
.

Le o was o f a s ickly habi t o f b ody an d died a ft e r a short reign ,

o f five years i n 7 8 0 before h e had at tain ed th e age o f th i rty

, ,
3I8 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

t wo H e l eft t he th ro n e to h i s son Con stan ti n e v 1 fo r w h o m

. .
,
1

th e em pre ss I re n e wa s to act as regen t as th e boy was o nl y ,

’
n i n e years o f age Leo s earl y d eath was a fatal mis fortu n e
.

al ik e for th e I co n ocl asti c cau se an d the I saurian dyn asty .

The empre s s I re n e th ough sh e ha d su cceeded i n con ceal ing

, ,

’
t he fact du ri n g h er hu sban d s l i fe w a s a ferven t worsh ipper o f ,

i mages a n d th e m omen t that the rei n s o f p ower fel l i n to h e r

,

h an ds s et h ersel f t o reverse th e im perial p ol icy o f th e l ast

,

C on s tan tin e si xty y ears Sh e began by pu t ti ng a n en d to the .

VI d Ir
an repressi on o f th e I co n o d u l e s an d then grad ual l y
ene
,

d isplaced th e ol d m in i sters o f sta te an d go ve rn ors o f the

t hemes b y creature s o f h er o w n Thi s l e d t o a p l o t a gai n s t .

her th e conspirators p ropose d t o crow n N i c e ph o ru s th e el des t ,

o f he r brothers i n law bu t they w ere discovere d an d ban i sh ed

- -

, ,

wh ile al l th e fi ve brothe rs o f the decease d emp eror were for

c ib l y m ade prie st s t o di squal ify the m from sei zi n g th e th ro n e
, .

When the patriarc h Pau l d ied i n 7 8 4 I re n e repl aced h i m ,

by T a ra si u s a ferve n t i mage worsh ipper an d the n ven tu red to

,
-
,

call a gen eral coun cil at N icaea t o wh i ch sh e i n vi ted p ope ,

H adrian a t R o m e an d th e Patriarch s o f the E as t t o se n d

, ,

delegates U n der th e i n fl uen ce o f th e empress the c ou ncil

.
,

b y a large m aj ority d ecl ared th e l aw ful nes s o f m ak i ng rep re

,

s e n t a t i o n s o f O u r Lord a n d th e Sai n ts an d th e righteou sn es s ,

o f paying n ot worsh ip but ad orati on a n d reveren ce

t o th em Th e recalci tra n t I con oclas ti c bish op s
.

were excom m u nicate d The d oi n gs o f th e cou n ci l caused a .

R est r ti o a f
mu tin
on o
y o f th e I m perial guard i n C on stan tin opl e ,

im g w
a e- for t h e greater part o f th e army s till adh ered t o
or

h’ p ’7 8 5
S ‘

the views o f th e I sau ria n emperors B u t I ren e .

su cceeded i n steerin g th rough th e trouble d wate rs pu t d own ,

the m u ti n y an d re tai ned he r p owe r

,
.

M eanwhil e th e reign o f a ch il d an d a woman prove d

d i sas trou s to th e em pi re T he Slavs o f th e Balkan s burs t i n t o .

revol t a n d th e Saracen s i n vade d Asia M i n or The wan t o f

,
.

a n em pe ror t o hea d the army wa s grievou sl y fel t an d H arou n ,

1
O s e v e n t h if C o n s t a n t i n u s C o n s t a n s i s c o u n t e d
r ,
-
.
 Tlz e I con ocl a s t E mp erors 3 19

a l- Rasch i d the son o f th e caliph M e h dy ravaged th e whol e

, ,

Anatoli c a n d O bsequ ian them es a s far as th e B osph orus .

I ren e fel t hersel f u nable t o cop e wi th the si tuati on an d ,

bough t a peace by an a n nual paymen t of sol idi

S oon after the Bulgarian k ing declared war a n d ravaged Thrace ,

after slayin g the gen eral of the Thracian th em e i n ba ttle .

Among these di saste rs Con stan tin e V I grew u p t o m an hood.

,

but hi s m oth er wh o had acqu ired a great taste for p owe r an d

, ,

feared t o see her so n reverse her rel igiou s poli cy long refu sed ,

to give h i m an y share i n th e govern m en t Sh e C on s tantin e .

even m ade th e army swear n ever to recei ve her i z s p w r se e o e

s o n as sole emperor as l o n g as sh e sh oul d l ive Th e you n g .

emperor afte r chafi n g for som e ti m e i n hi s s tate o f tu telage

, ,

took m atters in t o h i s o w n b a n d s I n hi s twen ty fi rst year he

.
-

repai red to the camp o f th e A natoli c tro ops an d there pro ,

clai med h i m self o f age an d sol e ruler o f th e S tate H e

, .

’
bani shed h i s m oth er s favouri tes a n d c onfi n ed her for som e
,

m on th s to her o wn apartm e n ts i n th e palace .

W hen h e h ad fi rml y sei zed th e hel m o f p ower Co ns ta n ti n e ,

was w eak e n o ugh to take h i s m oth er again as h i s colleagu e on

the th ron e an d to associate her n am e wi t h hi s i n al l imperial
,

decrees The a mbitiou s an d u n natu ral Irene repa i d hi s co n

.

fi d e n c e by sche m i n g agai nst him S h e h ad grown so fo n d o f

.

power that she h ad resolve d to wi n i t back a t all costs C o n .

s t a n t i n e was l ike his an cestors a warl ike an d energe tic prin ce

, , .

H e won several successe s over the S arace n s a n d then engaged ,

i n a Bu l garia n war H i s p opulari ty was fi rst s haken by a

.

fearful defeat at th e han ds o f the B ulgarian k i ng I r e ne d e

Cardam by whi ch h e l os t m uch o f h i s i n fl uence t h r

, h ones er

wi th th e arm y S hortl y afterward s h e e ntere d

.
7 97 ‘

i n to a fi erce s truggle wi th th e Pat riarch a n d the clergy havi ng ,

di vorced i n spi te of their anath emas a w ife wh om h i s m othe r

, ,

had forced upon h im i n early youth an d e spoused T h e o d o ta

, ,

o n whom hi s o w n affecti ons were set Kn owi n g that th e

.

C hu rch was wroth with Con stan ti n e fo r th i s ou tbreak o f sel f

will an d th at the arm y n o longer loved h i m as before the
, ,
3 2 0 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

w icked I re n e determi n ed t o s trike a bl ow again st her s o n .

’
Sh e suborned som e o f th e you ng emperor s attenda n ts t o seize
thei r m a s ter and w h en h e fell i n to her han ds had hi s eyes p u t
, , ,

ou t H e w a s then i rn m u re d i n a m onastery w here he su r

.
,

v i ve d f o r m ore than t w e n ty y ears .

I t wa s by a m ere pal ace co n spiracy n o t by a n ope n ri s i n g -

, ,

tha t t he u n natural m other ha d dethroned an d bl i nded her

so n . I t i s t h erefo re al l th e m ore extraordi n a ry t o fi n d that
, ,

s h e wa s a bl e t o cl ing to p owe r fo r m ore tha n fi ve years i n ,

s p ite o f th e h orror w hich h er act ha d cause d The grati tu de .

fo th e i mage worshi ppers t o h er fo r havi ng res tored t o them

-
,

t h e p owe r o f practi s i n g thei r superstiti on partly expl ai n s b u t , ,

does n ot a t all excus e the i mpu n i ty w h ich sh e enj oyed afte r

her cruel dee d .

’
I re n e s five ye ars o f power ( 7 9 7 8 0 2 ) were d i sastrou s a t h om e -

an d abroad H e r court wa s swaye d by tw o greedy eu n uch s

.
,

Ac tin s a n d S t a u ra c i u s o n wh om sh e l avi sh ed all th e h igh est

,

offi ces Th ei r m i se rabl e quarrel s wi th each other a re t he chi e f

.

th i ngs recorde d i n th e an n al s o f h er i n te rnal govern me n t .

M eanwhi le t he fro n ti ers were overru n by t he arm ies o f H arou n

a l Rasch i d
-
Th e S aracen s harried th e A n atol ic an d T h ra ce si a n
.

t h emes a n d force d thei r wa y a s far a s E ph esu s Peace was

,
.

o nly gran ted wh e n I ren e c o n sen ted t o pay a large a n n ual

tri bu te to the Cal iph .

’
I n 8 0 2 th e cu p o f I re n e s i n i qui ties wa s full T o pu t a n .

en d t o a n archy abroa d an d wi thi n a n um ber o f th e chie f ,

o fficers o f S tate headed by th e trea su rer N i ce ph o ru s seized

, ,

h er by nigh t a n d shu t her u p i n a n un n ery N o o n e struck a

, .

bl ow i n her d e fe n ce fo r s h e wa s l ove d by n o o n e n ot e ven

, ,

D pe it i
os f by th e I c o n o d u l e s for wh om s he had do n e s o
on o ,

1 t eh ! 8 »m uch
°2
N i c e ph o ru s wa s p roclai med as h er
.

succe ss or an d ascen ded th e th r o n e w ith o u t an y d is tu rban ce

, .

Th u s e n ded th e h ou s e o f th e I s a u rian s afte r eigh ty fi ve ,

-

years o f rule They had e ffec te d m uch for th e em pi re ; for

.

’
th e d isasters o f I re n e s sh ort re ign had n ot su ffi ced t o u n d o th e
s o l i d w o rk o f L e o I l l a n d C o n stan ti n e v The bou n daries . .
 l e I co n o cl a s t E rup erors 32 1
L

’
were safe r the p opulation greater t h e weal th largely i n creased
, , ,

the arm ie s m ore effi cien t than a t th e com men cem en t o f the
cen tu ry E ve n th e I con oclastic persecu ti on s th ough th ey
.
,

had failed to crus h supersti tio n had don e s om e good i n

,

rooti ng o u t th e grosser v a garie s o f image worshi p -

Th e .

I con oclastic party still sub si sted a n d was stro n g i n th e army

,

an d ci vi l service ; we shal l see i t on ce m ore i n power du ring

the n i n th cen tu ry.

4 0 v t

I
P E R OD I .
 C HAPTE R X IX

P I PP I N TH E SHORT — WA RS
’
OF TH E FRAN KS
AN D LO M B A R DS
74 1 76 8
-

M ay o ra l t y of C a rl o m a n —Th e i r succ e ssful w a rs — Bo i fa c e

P i p pi n and n

r e fo r m s t h e F r a n k i sh chu ch — Abd i c a t i o o f C a rl o m a — P i p p d e
r n n in

t hr o e s C h l d b
n t 1 1 1 a n d a ssu m s t h e r o y a l t i t l e —Qu a rr e l o f A i s t u l f
i e er . e

a n d P o pe S t p h e n — T h e P o p e c a lls t h
e F a ks i t o I t a ly — P i p p i n t w i c ee r n n

subdu s A i s t l f—T h E x a rch a t g i v n t o t h e P a p cy — M r t yrd o m o f

e u e e e a a

St . B o n i f c e — C o n qu e s t o f N a rb o n ne — L o n g s t ru g g l e w i t h t h e duk e s
a

o f Aqu t a i e — D e a t h o f P p p n
i n i i .

TH E eve n ts wh ich i m mediatel y foll owed th e death o f Charle s

Martel showe d clea r ly e n o ugh t ha t th e h o use o f S t Arn ul f .

m u s t still depe n d o n t h e p o wer of th e sword to guard i ts

asce n den cy a n d th at i t c oul d o n l y co n tin ue to rule by c o n
,

t in n i n g to produc e a serie s o f a bl e c hie fs I t was fo rtu n ate .

for the Fran k ish real m th at Pi ppi n a n d Ca rl om an we re b oth

m en o f se n se an d vigou r th ough perhaps t hey d id n o t attai n ,
’
t o th e ful l statu re o f t hei r fath er s greatn es s N o t less fo rtu .

n ate wa s i t t hat u n l ike th e ki n gs of the M erovi n gian h ou se

, ,

th ey dwel t t o geth e r i n am i ty a n d bro therly l ove a n d u n de r ,

took eve ry sch eme i h c omm o n .

Th e m o m en t that Charles w a s d ead trouble s broke ou t o n

e v ery h and G ri fo th e you nger bro ther o f th e t w o mayors
.
, ,

decla r ed h im sel f wr o n ged i n the parti ti on o f th e ki n gdom s ,

seized La o n an d bega n to gather a n a rm y of Neu strian m al

,

con ten ts T h e u d e b a l d th e broth er o f th e duke o f S u a b ia

.
, ,
3 22
 P ipp i n t lz e S nor t 323

who had been overth rown i n 7 3 0 raised the Alaman n i i n revol t

,

i n E lsass an d th e B lack Forest H u n ol d duke o f Aqu i tai n e

.
, ,

d i sclaime d th e su zerai n ty o f th e Franki sh crow n wh ile th e ,

Saxo n s refus ed th e tribu te wh ich had been l ai d upo n them ,

an d i n vade d H ess e .

The w h ol e o f 7 4 2 was spen t by P ippi n an d Carloma n i n

deal i n g w i th the storm whi ch h ad burs t up on the m Th ey .

bega n wit h cru sh i n g the ir u n ru ly br o ther captu red h i m an d, ,

L
5
se n t h im captive to a fortre ss i n th e Arde n n es Next the y 7
'

. :

marched agai n st H un ol d of Aqui tai ne a n d h arried th e ,

s outhern ba n k of the Loire bu t t he duke retreated sou thward

,

wi thou t figh ti ng a n d other duties called away the two may ors
,

before h e was subdued I t wa s n o w th e da n gerous ri si ng i n

.

S u a b i a i n the very m id s t of thei r realm wh i ch E a rly m

, ,
ca

dem a n de d th e i r atten ti on They descen ded p i g

. f a ns o

P T? ”
u p o n th e Alama n n i wit h i rresi s tibl e force an d ,

s oo n su bdued th e wh ol e la n d as far as th e B avarian fron

tier B ut th ere was y et m ore fi gh ti ng to b e d o n e an d ere
.
, ,

th ey fi ni shed thei r task t he two mayors had determin ed to

,

legal ise their s omewh at an o malou s posi tio n as regen ts for

a n on ex iste n t sovereign
-
They so u gh t out an d crown ed
.

C h i l d e ri c h the la s t o f the M er o vingi an s as feebl e a ,

shadow as h is lo n g decease d ki n sman T h e u d e ri c h I V S o

-
, .
,

a fter an i n terregn um o f si x years th e Frank s had o nc e m ore

,

a ki ng.

I t was th ree years before th e authori ty o f Carloman an d

P ippin h ad been vin dicate d i n e very corn er o f the realm bu t ,

at l ast Aqu i tai n e had ackn owledged o n ce m ore i ts vassal

obligatio n s th e Saxo n s had bee n ch astised an d an attempt
, ,

o f Bavari a to m ak e i tsel f in depen den t h ad b ee n cru sh ed .

Th e struggle ha d n o t been wi th out i ts di fficul ties a n d t he ix ,

two mayors had been s o hard pressed fo r resources that th ey ,

’
had fo ll owed i n th eir fath er s steps by laying han d s o n Church
property com pelli ng bi sh ops an d abbeys to devote a certain
,

p orti o n of their lan ded e state s to t he support o f the war

expen ses o f th e crown O ther dealings with the Chu rch had
.
 2
3 4 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

bee n a s u npopul ar th ough l ess u n orthodox ; th e Franki sh

St B. if on
clergy w ere o fte n i rregular i n thei r l ives lax i n
a ce
,

r f rm s t h
e o

Ch m u “ thei r spi ri tual du tie s an d give n ove r t o al l

e

man n er o f secular pu rsu its Th e mayors set

,

th e ste r n m i ssi onary en thu s ia s t B o n iface t o reform th e se

evi l s At th e great syn o d o f 7 4 5 t o wh ich al l the prel ates
.
,

o f both Frankish real m s were b id den th e great arch b i sh op ,

en tere d i n to a cam paig n agai n s t cle rical abu se s o f al l sorts .

At h i s behes t can on s w ere pas se d agai n st i mm oral l ife plural i ,

ties the gran ti n g o f b e n e fi c e s t o un ordai ned person s the di s

, ,

obedience o f bi sho p s to th ei r m etropol i tan s th e l igh t a ssu rn p ,

tio n an d rej ecti on o f the m onastic hab i t an d vow an d th e ,

favouri ng of heresy B on i face ha d al s o m u ch trou bl e wi t h

.

th ose w ho h eaded by th e I ri sh m iss ionary bish op Clem en t

, ,

refused obedi en ce to the Rom a n See a faul t wh ic h th e great ,

archb ish op regarde d a s n o le ss h ei n ous than th e ope n pro fe s

si on o f u n orth o doxy I n al l h i s doi ngs h e re ceived th e zeal ou s
.

su pport o f Carl om an an d Pi ppi n E ccle siastical refo rm wi thi n.

was n ot u naccom pan ie d by eccl esia sti cal e xten si on wi th ou t .

I n th ese troubl ed years o f th e two m ayors B on i face portion ed ,

o u t th e newly con verte d l an d s o f cen tral G erman y i n to th e

-

th ree bi sh oprics o f Wii rz b u rg E rfurt an d B u rab u rg t o s erve

, , ,

respectively as sees for Fran c on ia T hu ri ngia a n d H esse A t , , .

th e sam e ti m e w a s fou n de d h i s grea t abbey o f Ful da th e ,

c en tre o f piety and learni ng i n Tran srhenan e German y d u ri ng

th e s ucceeding age .

T o the great s u rpri se o f all h i s con tem p orari es th e may or ,

Carlom an o n th e c om p l e ti on o f hi s ta sk of re establ i shi ng

,
-

C rl m
a o order i n Au strasia lai d d own h i s s w ord an d as
an , ,

i ’
a b d t ‘
ia7 47 su m ed th e m onk s gown i n t h e year 7 4 7
es i
Th e ,
.
‘

cau se s n o ma n kne w bu t i t wou l d see m that h e w a s truly

,

m oved b y a d e si re fo r th e c on tem pl ative l i fe an d fo r th e l ove

’
o f Go d I t was certai n l y n o weak n es s o r desi re for ingl oriou s
.

ease th at led hi m to foll ow t h e exam pl e of h i s a n ces tor S t .

Arn ul f an d seek ou t a h e rrn i t a g e

,
H e passed i n to I tal y .
,

ob tai ned the ble ssi ng o f P ope Zacharias an d b uil t hi m sel f a ,

 P ipp i n t he S ho r t 325

cel l o n M oun t S o ra ct e i n th e Sabin e h i ll s We shall hear o f

,
.

h i s nam e but on ce agai n seven years after hi s abdicatio n

,
.

’
By h is brother s reti rem en t Pippi n becam e m ayor o f Au s
t ra s i a as well as of Neu stria H e had one more s truggle t o wage
.

ere al l th ings were fully be n eath h is h an d I n 7 4 7 h is brother .

Gri fo e scape d from prison an d fle d t o Saxon y from w hence , ,

h e tried to sti r up trou bl e When O dil o duke o f B avaria .

died he seize d that duchy cl ai ming i t i n righ t o f h is moth er

, , ,

S wa n h i l d i s w h o was of th e ducal st o ck
,
Pi pp i n soo n drove .

h im ou t an d h e was con strain ed to flee t o Aquitain e B avaria

,
.

fell to Tassilo th e son of th e late d uke

,
.

After the rebellion o f Grifo we read i n th e Fra n k i sh an n als

the u n usual e n try tha t th e whol e lan d had peace fo r two
,
‘

’
years ( 7 4 9 B ei ng n ow i n com plete p ossessio n of the
Frankish real m an d feari ng n o fo e from wi thi n or fro m w ith
,

ou t,
Pippi n took th e step whi ch mus t alway s have been pre
sen t i n th e brai n s o f h i s ancestors si n ce th e d ay wh en th e ,

over hasty G ri m o a l d had en deavoured to sei ze th e royal power

-

’
i n 6 5 6 Warn ed by G ri m o a l d s fate Pi ppin the Younger an d
.
,

C harles Martel h ad scrupul ously refrai n ed from c l aiming the

t i tl e o f ki n g an d had religi ou sly kep t u p th e serie s o f pupp e t
,

pri n ces o f the old Mer o vingian s tock Thei r descen dan t was .

n ow determi ned to bri ng th e farce to i ts e nd an d wou l d n o t ,

even wai t for t he death o f the i mbecile C hi ld e ri c h w hose

vai n n ame had for th e l ast ten years serve d t o head Frank ish
charters an d rescrip ts E arl y i n 7 5 1 th e n ati onal c ou nci l o f
.

th e whole real m was su mm o n ed an d eagerly approve d o f th e ,

rem o val of C hil d e ri c h an d the election o f Pippi n as ki n g To .

be stow a still greater show of legal auth o rity on th e change ,

P ippi n then sen t an embassy t o R o m e t o obtai n the approval

O f t he P o pe I ts leader B urkhard b ish op o f Wii rz b u rg
.
, , ,

dem a n ded o f p ope Zacharias Whe th er i t was well o r n o t ‘

’
to keep to kings who h ad n o royal power ? P i i n d e
pp
The po n tiff whose chi ef desire was to w i n ai d t h C hild ro n e s e

" " III

,

against the Lombard s by flatteri n g th e am bi ti o n C ‘

o f Pippin m ade the an swer that was expected o f hi m It ‘

,
.
3 6
2 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

’
i s better h e said that th e m an w h o has th e real p owe r
, ,
‘

sh oul d al s o have the ti tle o f ki n g rather than th e m a n wh o ,

’
ha s th e m ere ti tle an d n o real p ower O n t he receipt o f th e .

’
P o pe s e n couragi n g m essage wh ich h e regarded as freein g h i m
,

fr o m a ny religi ou s obl igatio n re sti n g o n oath s sworn t o the

u n fo rtu n ate C hild e ri c h Pippi n on ce m ore summ on ed th e
,

Great C o u n ci l o f th e Frank s t o m eet I t assem bled a t Soi s .

son s i n O ctober o r N ovember 7 5 1 an d i n th e anci en t royal , ,

c i ty o f Neu stria P i ppi n was fi rs t acclaim ed a s ki n g an d l i fted

, ,

on th e sh iel d after th e an cien t Teuton ic cu stom by t h e

, ,

un an i m ou s voi ce o f th e w h ol e n atio n an d the n an oi n ted as , ,

b e fi t t e d a C hristi an sovereign by th e great Au stras ian arch ,

bish op B on iface C h i l d e ri ch was sh orn o f h i s regal l ock s

.
,

an d sen t t o spe n d th e remai n der o f hi s day s i n a n obscu re

m on astery i n stead o f the h ardl y les s obscu re royal m an or i n
,

wh ich h e ha d hi therto dwel t .

Th u s had th e h ou se o f St Arnul f at last reach ed th e .

sum m i t of i ts a mbi tio n an d th e Fran ki sh rac e once m ore

,

ob tai n ed a ki ng wh ose bu sy brai n an d stro n g righ t h an d

coul d make a real i ty o f t he titl e wh ich for four gen era ti on s
h a d been bu t a vai n nam e wh ile bor n e b y th e las t effe te,

M e ro vi n g s Rai se d o n the shiel d by t he Au strasia n cou n ts

“
.

p ippin as an d d ukes an oi n ted by th e Apostl e o f G erma n y

, ,

0 5 7 5 7 68
2-
bl ess ed by the Roma n po n ti ff Pi ppi n wen t fort h ,

con quering a n d t o con quer i n to la n ds where th e Fra n ki sh

,

ba n n er ha d n o t been see n fo r m an y gene r a ti on s Charle s .

Martel v i n dicate d t h e o l d fro n tier o f th e realm h i s son w as ,

destined to e xten d i ts b ou n ds i n to regi o n s wh ere n o Fra nkish

ki n g had ever ob tai n ed a perman en t fo oti n g .

Th e d oings of P ippi n th e Sh ort duri n g th e seve n tee n years

o f h i s k i n gly rule fal l i n to th ree mai n hea ds Fi rs t a n d m ost .

im porta n t are h i s deal i ngs w i th the popes a n d t he ki ngs of th e

Lombard s l eadi n g t o h i s two great cam paig n s i n I tal y O f
,
.

se condary m ome n t are h i s co n ques ts from th e Saracen s a n d

th e Aq ui ta n ia n d ukes i n the sout h o f Gaul H i s w ars again st .

or i m po rtan ce o nl y .
 P pp i /i
z t/i o S k ort 3 27

I n giving hi s bl essin g to the accessi on of k ing Pippi n pop e

Zacharias ha d kept i n view th e ai d wh ich th e Franks m igh t
gran t hi m i n h i s quarrels wi th h i s L o mbard neigh bou rs .

Zacharias d ied ere h e had ti m e to dema n d a return for h i s

complai san ce bu t h is success o r S teph en so on cl ai med the
,

grati tude o f the n ewly crown ed m onarch o f th e Frank s The

-
.

o ld Lombard ki n g L i u t p ra n d had died i n 7 44

T h L m b rd s ,
e o a

an d h i s nephe w H ildebrand wh o succeeded h im , d th ,

an e

p p cy
ha d hel d the thron e for n o m ore than a fe w a a '

m on th s The Great Cou ncil of the Lombards depose d h i m

.

fo r viciou s i n co mpetency an d elected i n h is place R a t c hi s

, ,

duke o f Friu l i T he n e w ki ng a man o f m i ld an d p i ou s

.
,

di sp ositio n kep t the peace wh ich L i u t p ra n d had made wi th

,

th e Papacy til l 7 4 9 wh en for reason s to u s u nkn ow n h e

, , ,

advanced to attack Perugia o n e o f th e few place s i n I taly ,

which still adhere d to the em pire P o pe Zacharias vis ited h is .

camp t o plea d wi th h i m i n behalf o f peace with th e u n ,

expected resul t that R a t ch i s n ot o n ly raised the s iege bu t ,

lai d down h is crown an d retired i nto a m on astery stricke n , ,

like hi s c on tem porary Carloma n w i th th e sudden h orror o f ,

secular t h i n gs wh ich occas i o n ally fell up on t he Teu ton i c

m onarch s o f the seven th an d eigh th cen tury .

R a t c hi s was su ccee ded by h i s b rother A i st u l f an amb i tiou s ,

a nd restless m onarch w h o raised the Lombard k ingdom to i ts

,

wides t terri torial exten t by c on quering th e l on g A i t l f t gk s u es

cove ted Raven n a When he attacked the shrunken R v

. 75 a enna , 2 .

E xa rchate i t received n o h elp from Con stan t in e C o p ro n ym u s ,

who deteste d hi s I talia n subj ects as ob stin ate i mage w or d - -

shippers an d was m uch o ccup i ed at th e m omen t by h i s

,

Sarace n war Raven n a fel l wi th hardly any resistan ce an d

.
,

E u tyc hi u s the las t exarch fled to S icily

,
A i s t u lf then bu si ed
,
.

h im self i n reducing th e i n depen de n t duchy o f B eneve n to to

vassalage H i s n e xt p roj ect w as t o an n ex th e town s o f th e
.

’
‘
d ucatu s Romanus — the valley o f the l o wer Ti ber— a n d to
make the P op e h i s l iegeman Al though he had con clude d a .

’
forty years peace w i th t he P a pac y ye t i n 7 5 2 5 3 h e was
-
, ,
-
,
 328 E u r op cm z H i s z o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8
‘
-

h overing abou t the n eighbou rhood o f Rom e an d occupying ,

th e Um brian a n d Sabi n e borders o f th e patri mony o f S t ‘

.

’
Peter A t last h i s ambas sadors appeared before S tephen I I
. .

to d eman d the h omage o f Rom e a n d th e paym en t o f a n ,

ann ual tribu te After trying i n vai n t o scare o ff A i st u lf fi rst by

.
,

t he terrors o f excommu n i cation an d th e n by emp ty menace s

,

o f applying fo r ai d to C on stanti n opl e w h ich th e Lombard ,

derid ed S teph en beth ough t h im sel f o f th e debt o f gratitu de

,

wh i ch th e Fran ki sh k i ng owed to th e H oly See After a sce r .

tai n i ng tha t h i s presen ce an d de man d s w oul d n o t be u n

acceptabl e to king Pi ppi n h e l eft Rom e i n O ctober 7 5 3
, ,

an d after maki ng o n e m ore appeal t o th e Lombard kin g t o

,

gran t h i m peace an d i n depe n den ce crosse d th e Al ps an d , ,

appeared before th e Fran ki sh Co urt at Pon th ion n ear Ba r ,

le D u c
-
.

H is recep ti on wa s all t hat h e coul d have wi shed P ippi n .

m e t h i m thre e m ile s from the town kn el t before h i m o n the ,

P p Ste ph e n
o e
roadsi de an d walked bes
,
id e h i s s tirru p to th e
inv itesP ippi palace gate leading h i s pal frey by th e bri dle
n , ,

w h ly a '

th ough the m on th wa s J anuary an d th e sn ow ,

lay o n t h e grou n d I n t h e royal chapel whe n the c ourt wa s

.
,

assem bled S tep hen wi th man y tears an d groan s l ai d before

, ,
‘
,

th e k ing the lam e n tabl e state o f th e C h u rch an d bes ough t h i m ,

to bri n g peace an d salvation to the cau se o f S t Pe ter an d th e .

Rom a n S tate Whereu pon Pi ppi n swore an oath th at h e

.

woul d gran t h i m al l h e aske d a n d u se every en deavou r to

,

pu t hi m i n pos sessi o n of t he exarch ate o f Raven n a as well a s ,

’
al l t he ci ti es wh ich bel onge d by righ t t o th e Roman republic .

I t wa s to n o purpose tha t an u n expected gues t a ppeared i n

Gau l to beg Pi ppi n t o swerve from h i s purp ose Th i s wa s hi s .

brother Carl oma n wh o l eft hi s Sabin e m o n astery to p ray

,

Pippi n n ot t o bring d ow n th e h orrors o f war u pon I taly — a

reque s t wh ich seemed s o stran ge to th e Chu rch h i storian s o f
th e day that th ey c oul d only suppose that h i s m in d had been
,

ove rpo were d by d iab ol ic delu si on s o r that h e was yiel din g to,

d read o f th e wrath o f A i s t u l f Pi ppi n refuse d to l iste n t o h im

. ,
 i n t/z e S /zo r t
P pp
z 329

an d bade h i m qui t the c ourt an d take u p hi s resi de nce at

,

Vien n e w here he s o o n afterwards died

,
.

M eanwh i le th e G reat C ou nci l of the Fra n k i sh realm s was

su mm on e d t o m eet at C eri sy s ur O i se a n d there th e king a n
- -

n o u n ce d t o h i s assemble d cou n ts a n d dukes that h e proposed

to make wa r on the Lombards i n order t o vi n dicate th e rights

,
’
of th e H o ly See Wo n over by thei r ki ng s zea l a n d by th e
.
,

great gi fts wh ich S teph en 11 di stributed am o n g th em the

.
,

Frank s eagerly clam o ured for war I n return for thei r good .

will the P op e solem n l y crow n ed Pippin his wi fe Bert ha , ,

an d h i s you ng s o n s C harl es an d Carlom an a n d pron oun ced

, ,

a cu rse on any o n e w h o sh ould eve r rem ove th e house o f

Pi ppi n from the Fra n kish throne .

I n th e sum mer o f 7 5 4 the hosts of th e Frank s choke d the

S avoyard passes with thei r m ulti tudes a n d prepared t o force ,

thei r way down in to I taly A i st u lf had m u stered h i s arm y

.
,

an d was ready t o m eet them I n the narro w gorge o f the

.

D ora hard by Su sa h e fell o n the Fra n k is h va n guard ; bu t

, ,

he suffered such a cru s hi n g defeat t hat h e ha d t o fall back o n

Pavia wi thou t strik ing a secon d blow Pippi n followed w a stin g .
,

Piedm on t wi th fi re an d sword a n d soon beleagu ered A i s t u l f

“
,

i n hi s royal s tronghol d Then wi th an alacri ty p i p p i b d

.
, n su u es

w h ich hi s con qu eror sh oul d h ave fou n d som e A i t 2 7 5 4 s u

what su spici ous A i s t u lf o ffered term s o f peace H e woul d d o

,
.

personal h omage to Pipp i n give h im hostages an d engage to

, ,

restore to the Rom a n See all that was i t s due So a treaty .

wa s sig n ed Stephe n was recond ucted i n tri umph to R ome

, ,

an d Pi ppi n retur n e d beyon d th e A l ps prou d that he h ad ,

adde d Lombardy t o th e lis t o f states depen de n t o n th e

Franki sh crow n .

O n h i s h omeward j ou rney th e kin g h eard o f the death o f

th e great arch bish op o f Mai nz th e apostle o f Transrhe n an e
,

Germa n y Zeal ou s eve n i n e x t rem e o l d age fo r th e co n ver

.

si on o f every subj ec t of th e Fra n k ish realm B on i face had ,

started on a m i ss i onary j ou rn e y to E ast Frie sla nd where ,

paga ni sm still hel d sway As h e lay en cam pe d at D okku m a

.
3 30 E z/ rop t m z H i s m/ y , 4 7 6 9 1 8
'
-

grea t m ulti tude of w il d h ea th en i n digna n t at th e i n vasi on o f ,

th ei r las t retreat fell u pon h i m a n d slew h i m w ith al l h i s

,

M n n/ d m f c om pa ni on s H i s d eath w a s n ot l o n g u navenged ;
“ o o
.
a

Sh 3 if ° th e C h r i stia n maj o ri ty o f the Fri sia n s t o ok arms

a ce
,

pu t do wn th ei r p a gan breth re n sl ew m a n y th ousan ds of them ,

an d com pelled th e res t t o su bm i t t o bapti sm By h i s martyr .

d eat h the great a rchbi sh op com pleted the c on vers i o n o f th e

lan d for wh ich h e ha d strive n s o m u ch du ri n g h i s lifetim e .

H e was bu ried a t U trech t a n d th e cathedral erected over h i s

,

sh ri n e becam e t he cen tre o f C hristian li fe i n all th e la n d s

o f th e Ysse l an d Zuider Zee I t w oul d have a ffo rded th e .

keen est pl easure t o B o n i face i f h e could have wi tn esse d t he

zeal wi t h wh i ch h i s patro n Pi ppi n wen t forward wi t h the task
of reducing the Fra n ki sh clergy t o can on ical d i scipl i n e .

I n th e year wh ich foll owed h is m arty rdom th e Syn od o f

Verneui l passed the m ost s tri n gen t l aws again s t e vil l ivi n g -
,

sim o n y th e practice o f secular avocation s a n d the o th e r

, ,

fail i ngs of th e clergy again st w h ich th e a rch b i sli Op had raged

i n h i s l i feti m e .

Th e easy prom i ses w h i ch king A i st u lf h ad m ad e w hen h e

wa s b eleaguere d i n Pavia h ad n ever been i n tend ed fo r keep
ing When the Franks had w ithdra w n fr om I taly th e ki ng
.

foun d pretext s for delay an d di d n ot restore t o Steph en I I a

, .

sin gl e on e of th e Sab i n e o r Lati n ci tie s wh ich h e had occupied

m t l f t t k i n 7 5 3 s till l es s t he E x archate o f Raven na wh ich
s u a ac s , ,

R m
0 e
th e P o pe had i mp ud en tly asked an d fon dly h o ped
to rece ive I n th e w i n ter o f 7 5 5 6 h e t o ok still m o r e u n m i s
.
-

takeable steps o f h os tili ty ; descen di n g t he valley o f th e Tibe r

h e sudden l y lai d siege t o R ome The wall s of Aurelia n were .

s ti ll to o stron g to b e storm ed bu t t h ree m o n th s o f bl ockade

,

brough t t h e ci tizen s n ea r t o yieldi ng Th e n e w s that ki ng .

Pippi n had once m ore taken arm s restored cou r a ge t o Pope

a n d pe opl e a n d e re l ong A i s t u l f wa s forced t o rai se the siege
,

and haste n n o rth t o d efen d Lom bardy O n ce m ore the .

Frank s fo rced the d e fi les o f th e Cen i s a n d cu t t o piece s a ,

Lombard force wh ich strove t o st o p th e w a y F o r th e .

 P ipp i n t he S h o r t 331

secon d ti me A i st u l f was forced i n to Pavia beleaguered an d , ,

compelled t o su e fo r peace Th i s tim e h e was given hard er

.

term s Pi pp i n deman ded o n e th i rd o f the royal hoard o f th e

.
-

Lom bards a n an nual tri bute a larger b o d y of h ostages an d

, , ,

th e i n stan t surre n der o f t he E xarchate The u nwillin g Lo m .

bard was fo rced to conce de everythin g ; Fra n ki s h en voys

rece ived a n d han ded over to th e P op e th e ci ti es o f Ravenna , ,

Ri mi n i P esaro Forli Urb i n o an d S i n i ga gl ia wi th all thei r

, , , , ,

depen dencies Thei r key s were brough t t o Rom e P i i i v s

.

n
pp g e
an d laid i n triu mph o n the sepul ch re o f S t P eter t h E x rch t . . e a a e

t th P p ° e °
Th u s di d the Pope becom e a n i m portan t secular e '

pri n ce by taki ng over th e o l d B yzan ti n e dom i n i on s i n cen tral

,

I taly I t would seem that the theory by wh ich h e j u sti fie d

.

thi s u surpation was that the guard o f th e p ossessio n s of th e

’
‘
Roma n Republi c i n I taly was i ncu mben t o n th e emperor ,

bu t that Con stan ti n e C Op ro n ym u s bein g an obsti nate h eretic

h is righ ts fel l i n to abeyan ce Th e Pope t hen s tepped forward
.

’
as the represe n tative o f the Roman Republic i n de faul t o f a
‘

Caesar an d cl ai m ed posse ssi on of al l that th e L ombards had

,
’
lately u surped Apparen tly h e con si dered h im self as Patrician
.
‘

i n the E xarchate bu t as a Patrician owing n o du ty o r obed i

,

en ce t o a heterodox emperor .

Ki n g A i st u l f died i n the n ext year killed by a fall from hi s ,

horse an d th e affairs o f I taly troubl ed P ippi n n o m ore D esi

, ,

d e ri u s duke o f I stria the n e w Lom bard ki ng bei ng occup ied

, , ,

w i th s trengthen ing h im self agai ns t an attempt o f th e ex ki n g -

R a t c h i s t o leav e h i s cloi s ter an d resum e th e crown Th e rest .

’
o f P ippin s reign was ma in ly devoted to th e completi o n o f the

Frankis h dom i n i on i n sou ther n Gaul S oon a fter h is pro cla .

m atio n a s king h i s offi cers had recovere d fo r h i m all the

Sarace n town s i n S e p t i m a n i a n orth o f Narb onn e I n 7 5 9 .

P ipp i n m arche d i n person to lay s iege t o th at city th e last ,

bulwark o f I slam beyon d th e Pyren ees The Christian i n .

habi ta n ts o f the place ros e a t h i s approach p i p p i t k s , n a e

sl ew the Arab garrison a n d ope n ed thei r gates N b m m m

,
ar u

t o th e Frank N o h elp came from Spa i n where c ivi l war wa s

.
,
332 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

— as u sual — ragi n g a n d th e bou n darie s of the real m

,
of Pi p p in
we re a dva nced t o th e Pyren ees .

O f far greater di ffi cul ty wa s th e co n ques t o f Aqu ita in e t he ,

last ach ievem en t o f Pi ppi n The o l d d uke H u n o l d th e a dve r

.
,

s ary of C ha r le s M artel h a d ret ire d i n to a cloi ster an d h ad

, ,

been succeeded by h i s fal se an d restl ess s on Wa i fe r O n .

bei ng su m m o n ed t o give u p som e Fra nki sh re fugees an d ,

surren der certai n chu rch lan d s t he n e w duk e took up arm s

,

again s t h i s suzerai n i n 7 6 0 ; wh e n Pi ppi n ap peare d wi th al l

th e h ost of Au strasia an d ravaged B erri an d Auve rgn e Wa i fe r ,

ask ed for peace an d di d h omage B u t th e m om e n t t h at h i s

,
.

l iege l ord h ad departe d h om e h e fl u ng h is feal ty to the wi nd s

,

an d began t o ravage B urgu n dy N ex t year the kin g re tu rn ed

.

i n force an d con qu ered Clerm on t an d th e rest o f Auvergn e to ,

wh i ch i n 7 6 2 h e ad de d B ou rges an d th e la n d of Berri Wa ife r .

h el d ou t w ith th e gre ates t obsti nacy a n d w a s co n fi rm ed i n

,

h i s resi stan ce by l ear n i ng o f th e revol t o f Tassil o duke o f ,

B avaria wh o j u dge d th e ti m e favourabl e fo r free in g h i s

,

duchy from th e Franks Th i s gave Aqui tai n e a certai n re

.

spi te bu t by 7 6 6 Wa i fe r h a d b een d riven b eyon d th e Garon n e

, ,

an d saw al l h is s ubj ects excep t the Ga scon s compell e d to d o

Con q u est f hoomage t o P i ppi n I n 7 6 7 h
. i s capi tal Toulou se
Aq it i
u a fle 7 57 fell an d soo n a f ter h i s d esp ai ri ng fol lowers en de d
'
,

th e war by m u rdering h im a n d layi n g down thei r arm s .

Aqu i tain e w a s n o w a n n exe d t o the Frankis h crown an d ,

d ivi ded u p i n to c ou n ties after th e man n er o f the rest o f th e

real m .

D uring t h e seven years o f the war o f A qui tai n e k ing

’
P ip p i n had fou n d ti me t o pu t dow n Tass il o s rebelli on an d ,

to cha stise som e s porad ic rai d s o f th e Saxon s agai n s t w hom

h e h ad at a n earl ier date ( 7 5 5 ) u nd ertaken a m ore seri ou s
expedi ti on which resulte d i n al l th e Westphal ia n tribe s doi ng
,

h o mage to h im B u t the ful l s u bj ec ti o n o f th i s w i ld race

.
,

wh ose obsti nate paga n i s m a n d u n c on querabl e c ou rage had

baffl e d te n gen era ti o n s o f Frankish m i ssio n aries a n d kings ,
’
wa s reserve d fo r Pipp i n s greate r s o n .
 P ipp i i z t he S h or t 333

I n the las t years o f h i s reign Pi ppi n o ccupied a cen tra l

place i n the affairs o f E u rope such a s n o pri nce h ad h el d
sin ce th e days o f Theodoric th e Great E ve n th e Abbaside .

Caliph o f Bagdad sen t t o sol ici t hi s allia n ce : troubled by th e

revol t o f Spai n u n der th e O m m e ya d pri nce Abder I m p o r tan c e
ahman h e e n deavoured to en l i s t th e ai d o f P i ppi n f P i p p i i
,
o n n

B ur p
for the drivi n g ou t o f the rebel The Frank .
° °'

wi sely allowe d the i n fi d e l s to t ea r each other to pieces wit h

ou t h el pin g ei ther party The E a ster n em peror Co n stan ti n e
.

C o pro n ym u s sen t frequen t e mbassies t o Gaul O n e was d e .

sign ed t o caj ol e Pippin in to restoring th e E xarchate to th e

Byzan ti n e real m An other bro u gh t a proposal for weddi n g
.

’ ’
C on sta n ti n e s el dest s o n to Gisela Pippin s on ly daugh ter
, .

O n a t hird occasi o n th e com m un ication was on religiou s sub

j e ct s
,
the E ast Roma -
n e n voys being cleric s wh o were to
e n deavour to i n terest the Frank s i n th e I conoclast ic con tro
v e rsy and i n du ce them t o j oi n i n the des truction o f i mages
,
.

The B yzan ti n e s hel d a dis cussi on wi th som e legates of th e

’
Pope i n Pippi n s p rese nce bu t got n o a ssi stan ce from th e
,

great ki n g o f th e West i n wh ose eyes th e dispute was far

,

fr o m h aving th e sam e i mportan ce that i t posses se d i n thos e

o f Con s tan ti n e .

I n th e ful n ess of years an d h on ours Pippi n passed away o n

S eptember 2 4 t h 7 6 8 at S t D en i s n ea r Pari s after a l o ng il l
, ,
.
,

n es s wh ich gave h im tim e to d ivi de th e ki ngdom between h i s

two son s be fore h e d ied H i s c h aracter i s som ewhat di ffi cu lt
.

t o fath om : h e possessed al l th e d istingui shi n g trai ts of the great

m e n of the hous e o f S t Ar n ul f courage am bi tion en ergy
.
, , , ,

adm i ni strative skill bu t sh owe d few special characteristic s of

,

h i s own I t i s n o t easy t o detect an y ruling pas si on or foible

.

i n h i s character bu t h i s i n terferen ce i n I tal y an d h is a ssu m p

,

tio n of th e royal ti tle sh ow that h e lacked the extreme cau tion

of hi s father . O n the other han d h is p ie ty D eat h f o

i s praise d by con tem porarie s n o t i n th e h al f P i p p i 7 68 n , .

h earte d way i n wh ich that o f Charles was de scribed bu t i n ,

the m ost u n quali fied term s o f l audation There are i n dica .

a
E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

t ion s th at h e possessed somewh at of that taste for l i terature

wh ic h we fi n d so wel l ma r ked i n h i s son Charles th e G reat .

B u t i t i s i mpos si bl e to d ra w a ny com plete p ictu re o f hi s per

’
s o n a li t y e ven hi s n i ckn am e the S h ort was gi ven h i m n ot by
‘

h i s o w n con tem pora ri es bu t by t h e chro n icl ers o f th e ele v en th

ce n tury wh o speak fro m t rad i tio n a n d n o t from kn owledge
,
.

O ur i dea o f h i m mu s t b e c on s tructed sol ely from what we

kn ow of h i s l i fe a n d acti on s
.
 C H A P T E R XX

C H A R L E S T H E G R E AT — E A R L Y Y E A R S 7 6 8 7 8 5 -

C O N QU E S T o r L O M B A R D Y A N D S A X O N Y .

Ch ar l e s a n d C a rl o m a n — F n a l c o n qu e s t o f Aqu i ta i n e —D e a t h o f C a rl o m a n
i

Ch r a c te r a n d h a b i t s o f C h a rl e s —S t a te o f t h e F r a k i sh E m p i r e — Ch a rl e s
a n

i n t rf r s i n I t a ly o
e e e n b e h a lf o f t h P o pe —H e subdu s t h e L m b a rd
e e o

m o a rchy — H i s l a t e r e x pe d i t i
n s i n t o I t a ly — F i rs t c o n qu e s t o f S a x o n y
on

E x pe d t n t o S p a i n — R b e ll i o n s o f S a x o n y fo ll o w e d by i t s r e c o n qu e s t
i io e

a n d p e r m a n e t subj e c t i o
n n .

THE m ome n t that ki n g Pipp i n ha d been lai d be n eath h i s

ma r bl e slab n ear the high al tar o f St D en i s hi s two son s .
,

d r ew apart a n d each retiri n g a few leagues from the place of

,
’
th eir father s dea th ha stily had th em sel ves saluted as kings by
th ei r cou n ts an d duke s an d an o i n ted by th eir bi shops
,

C h a r l es at No yo n Carloman at S oisso n s ( O ct ot h
, .
,

N o w for th e secon d ti m e i t appeared likel y tha t th e great

n ess o f t he h o u se o f St Arnu l f migh t be wrecke d b y the o l d
.

a n d evi l Fra n ki sh custom wh ich pre scri bed the di visi on of th e

ki n gdom am o n g the so n s o f the ki n g H o w that cu st o m h ad .

worked u n der t h e M e ro v i n g s we have already seen At th e .

death of Charles Martel i t had already threaten ed t o break u p

the power o f hi s h o u se a da n ger w hich was o nl y averted by
,

th e u n e x pected abdication o f th e elder Ca r l oman Un taugh t .

by th e e x perie n ce o f h i s own y ou th Pippi n th e S h ort had

committed the sam e m i stake : ol d habi t was t o o m uch for
h im . O n h i s deathbed as we ha e see n h e d ivide d h i s
,
v
,

realm betwee n h is t wo s o n s f H e had h oweve r don e h i s , ,

b est to leave hi s fi rst born s o superior in s trength to hi s

-

335
 3 36 E u r op ea n H i s /my 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

brother tha t th e younger k i ng sh oul d n o t b e abl e to co m pete

,

j i t rul
o n f wi th hi m Cha rle s was left th e warl ike half of
e o .

th e ki ngdom al l t h ose Fran k i sh la n d s b oth

, ,

7 68 7
- 2 . Au strasia n a n d Neus tria n fr o m t he Mai n to the ,

C ha n n el w h ich suppl ied th e ch i e f figh ti n g elem en t i n th e

,

Fra n ki sh arm ies I n addi t ion h e ob tai n ed th e western hal f o f

.

’
t he n ewly co n quered Aqu i tai n e C a rl o m a n s sh are co n s isted
.

o f B urgu ndy th e S u ab ia n lan d s on b oth side s o f th e u pper

,

Rh in e a n d th e wh ole M edi terran ean coast from the M aritim e

,

Al ps to th e border of Spai n — th e o ld P rovi ncia a n d Septi

mania M ore over h e took the eastern hal f o f Aqu i tai n e
.
, ,

th e c ou n try abou t Clerm on t Rodez Al bi a n d Toul ou se , , , .

Though w elln igh a s l arge as th e share of C harles h i s k ing ,

d om wa s n ot n earl y so powerful for the ki ng who coul d ,

c om man d th e s words o f th e Fran ks wa s th e o n e wh o coul d

give la w to th e wh ol e real m .

For reason s w hi ch we k n ow n ot Charl es an d Carl om an h ad ,

n ever bee n frien dl y — perhaps the you n ger s on as born after

’
h i s fath er s coronati on m ay have clai m ed som e precedence
over t he elder wh o was th e son m erel y o f a Mayor o f the
,

Palace We kn ow a t a ny rate that th rough ou t th e th ree years

.

o f thei r j oin t reign th ey w ere always o n th e edge o f a quarrel .

Nothi n g b u t the i n fluen ce an d advice o f thei r w orth y m o ther

B erth a kep t th em fro m an ope n ru ptu re Luckily for th e .

real m b oth w ere good son s an d l i stene d to the m aternal ,

plead i ngs : still m ore luck ily for th e Franks the l ife o f t h e
you nger ki n g was des ti n e d t o b e a sh ort o n e I f Carloman .

had bee n gran ted man y days o n earth we m ay be su re that ,

th e h istory o f th e las t qu arter o f the n i n th cen tu ry wou ld

have repeated th e o l d fratrici dal wars o f the M e ro vi n gs The .

h istorian s w h o wrote th e l i fe of th e great C harl es are n ever

tire d o f i n si sting o n th e man y provocation s wh ich hi s brother
gave h i m I f Carl om an h ad chanced to fi n d a n apol ogi st w e
.

m igh t perhaps have lea rn t th a t C harl e s al s o gave subj ects fo r

off ence .

Th e commen cemen t of th e j oin t re ign o f th e two k i ngs wa s

 Cha r /es t h e Grea t 3 37

fol lowe d by the promp t revol t of t he n ewl y subdued Aqui tain e .

D uke Wa i fe r the leader o f the Sou th erners i n t hei r l on g war

w ith Pippi n being dead hi s o l d father H un old emerge d from
, ,

h i s m onastery t o pu t hi msel f a t the hea d o f the i n su r rec tion .

The c ou n t r y a s far n orth as A n goul eme — which wa s kept down

by a Frank i sh garri s on — a t once fell away to hi m fo r the ,

Gascon s trusted that th e two j eal ou s b roth ers C h rl s b a e su _

w oul d be to o m uch occu pie d wi t h th ei r grie v du s A q u i t i e a ne

7 69
a uces again st each other to spare ti me fo r t he °

recon qu est o f th e sou th Charl es i mm ediately m arch ed

.

again s t th e rebels an d i n vi ted Carlom an to accompan y

,

h i m : the younger k i n g appeare d for a m om en t bu t on ly ,

t o hold a n angry coll oquy wi th h i s sen ior a n d then to return

to B urgu n dy H e d id n o t however take the opportuni ty t o
.
, ,

attack Charles a n d th e latter was able t o pursue u nai ded bu t

, ,

al so un hi n dered h i s ca mp aign agai n s t t he Aqu ita n ian s I t

, .

was compl etely successful : h e fo rce d h is way i n arm s as far

as Bordeau x bui l t a great forti fied cam p at Fron sac wh ich
, ,

was de stin ed to remai n as th e cen tral stro n ghold o f the

Garon ne fo r ma n y gen erati on s an d s o thorough l y beat H u n ,

ol d that th e o l d man fl e d for re fuge t o Lupus duke of th e ,

Gascon s B u t Lup u s feari n g th e wrath o f Charl es subm i tte d

.

to the con queror surren dered th e fugi tive a n d asked an d

, ,

obtai ne d peace Charle s wen t hom e i n triumph repl ace d

.
,

H u n o l d i n a cloister an d was h e ncefo r th u n d i spu tabl y ki ng

,

i n Aqui tai n e H e d ivi d ed th e cou n try i n to c o un tship s o n the

.

u sual F r ankis h sy s tem a n d plac ed th ese provi nces i n th e

,

ha n d s n o t o f natives bu t o f m e n from n orth o f th e Loire

,

w h ose fi del i ty he c o u ld trus t F o r th e fu ture Aqu itain e gave .

n o troubl e .

’
I n spi te o f C a rl o m a n s de n ial of h el p duri n g th e war i n th e
sou th Charles wa s e re l on g persuaded by h i s m o th er t o be
,

rec onciled t o hi s b r o th er Bu t h e to o k m easu re s to keep h im

.

i n ch eck for th e future b y m a k i n g allia n ce W i th th e n eighb ou rs

of Carloma n t o n o rth a n d s ou th H e c o n clude d a t r eaty wi th
‘

Ta s silo duke of Bavaria wh o s e depen de n ce o n the Franki sh

, ,

P E R I OD I . v
3 38 E u r op ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

real m ha d o f late grown very l oose an d allied h im sel f yet ,

m ore cl o sely w i th D esi deriu s th e ki ng o f th e Lombards by , ,

weddi n g h i s daugh ter D esid era ta Thi s m arriage w a s con .

clu de d i n sp i te o f th e m ost u n d i gn i fi e d sh riek s o f wrat h o n

the part of th e P o p e wh o besough t Charle s n o t t o m ix t he
,

fam ou s Fran ki sh bl o od wit h th e p e rfi d i o u s foul an d l e p rous , ,

Lom bard s tock — a trul y d iaboli cal c ou pl i n g which n o tru e ,

’
man c oul d cal l a m arriage Th e Pa p acy had learn t so w ell
.

h ow to u til is e t he dis tan t m on arch o f t h e Gaul s agai n s t the

n eighb ourin g l ord o f Pavia th at S teph en 1 11 lo oked u po n a n
,
.

all ian ce b e tween Fran k an d Lo mbard as h igh treas on again s t

t he H ol y See Th e marriage h ow ever was con sum mated i n
.
, ,
’
spi te o f S teph e n s th reat s wh ereup on wi th m ore pruden ce
, ,

than con s i ste n cy h e su ddenl y forgo t h i s fu ndam en tal o bje c

,

t i on s to th e Lo mbard race an d m ade h i s peace w ith k i n g ,

D es ideri u s les t he s h oul d be le ft u nai ded to feel th e w e igh t o f

,

t h e Lom bard arm .

W i th i n a year h o weve r Ch arl es su dden ly repu d iate d hi s

, ,

wi fe alleging that sh e was s ickly an d ba rren Whether th i s

,
.

was hi s real m otive o r whether pol i tical causes al s o i n flue nced

,

h i s action we can n o t tell ; bu t as Ch arl es wed ded imm ediatel y

,

a fter h i s d i vorce a fair S u a b i a n lady n amed H i ldegarde we , ,

may su spect that h i s m ot ives were p oss i bly th ose which guide d
H en ry V I I I o f E ngl an d i n a si m ilar c i rcu m stan ce
. B e t hi s as .

i t m ay he w o n by th i s d i vorc e th e u n relen tin g an d n ot n u

,
’
D th
ea f j u stifiabl e hatre d o f D e s i d e ra t a s father t he kin g
o ,

C rl m
a o
o f the Lombards
an
Trou bl e was s oon i n th e ai r . .

There was agai n a ru m our that war was ab ou t to break ou t

be tween Charles an d Carl om an i n whi c h D esiderius would ,

h ave take n part J u s t i n tim e t o preven t s uch a n o u t

.

break k in g Carl oma n d ie d ( D ecem be r

,
H e left an
i n fan t s o n bu t th e n obles an d bi shop s o f B urgun dy an d
,

Alama n n ia made n o a ttemp t t o se t th e ch ild o n hi s

’
fath er s th ron e Wi sely suppressi n g an y pa rti cu lari s t yearn
.

i ngs th ey beto ok the m sel ves t o C harles a t Corbeny su r Aisn e

,
- -
,

a n d there ( l i d h omage t o h i m as ki ng o f all t he Franki sh

 Ch a r l es the Gr ea t 3 39

real m s G e rb e rga t he wi dow o f Carloman fled with h er

.
, ,

ch il d an d a han d ful o f followers to Lom bardy where D es i ,

d e ri u s wa s n o w i n a state o f m i n d wh i ch m ad e h i m glad to
’
recei ve an y en em y o f Charles s an d m ore e specially on e ,

wh o had such a plau sible clai m to a share i n the Fra n ki sh

k ingdom .

O nce m ore the n a ll t h e land s be tween the m outh o f th e

, ,

Rh i n e a n d t h e m o u th o f t he Rh on e an d from the Ma i n t o ,

th e Bay of B iscay were u n ited u n der a s i n gle C h r c t r f

, a a e o

k ing An d thi s was a king such as n on e o f th ose C h rl s

.
a e

realm s had ever seen be fore — a her o ic figure w hose l ike we ,

h ave n ot m e t i n al l th e three cen turies wi th which we have

had to deal Th eo doric the O strogot h alon e d eserves a
.

m en tion by h i s side an d Theodoric had a sm al ler task a n d

,

less s ucces s than the great Charles For the fi rs t ti m e si nce .

we began to tell th e tal e of the D ark Age s we have com e

upon a m an whose form an d m i nd wh ose plan s a n d m etho d ,

o f li fe h ave bee n so wel l recorded th at w e c a n bu il d u p for

,

ourselves a clear an d tangibl e i mage o f h im Charle s th e .

H amm er k ing Pippi n Leo th e I saurian a n d even th e good

, , ,

Th e od o ric h im sel f are bu t sh adowy figures whos e outli ne s

, ,

we can bu t di mly sei ze but Charles stan d s before u s fi rm

,

an d masterful a l iving m an w ho m we c a n u n derstan d an d

, ,

adm ire .

’
‘
H e was tall an d s tou tly bu il t writes h i s chron i cler E i n , ,

hard ; h i s h eight j us t se ve n ti mes the length o f h i s o wn foo t

‘
.

H i s head was rou n d hi s eyes large an d l ively hi s n ose s ome

, ,

what ab ove th e common size hi s e xpressi on brigh t a n d cheer ,

ful Whe ther he stood o r sat h i s form was ful l C h rl s ’

.

a e s

o f digni ty ; for the good prop orti on an d grace o f p rs d e on an

h i s body pre ven ted th e observer from n otici ng h b it s a '

th at hi s neck wa s rather sh ort an d h i s person rather too

fleshy . H i s tread w as firm h i s aspect manly ; h i s v oice ,

was clear bu t rather high p itche d fo r so splen di d a body

,
-
.

H i s health was excellen t on ly for th e las t four years o f h i s

l ife h e su ffere d from in termi tten t fever To the very las t h e .
3 40 E n r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

con sulted hi s o wn g o o dwil l rathe r th an the orders o f h i s

d octors w ho m h e d ete sted becau se they bade h im gi ve u p
, ,
’
th e roast meat s that h i s s oul l oved .

Cha r l e s w a s always o f an ac ti v e h abi t o f body H e d e .

l igh ted i n ridi n g an d h u n ti n g an d was skilled i n swim m i ng

,

ab o v e o th er m en O n e of th e c hie f reas on s th at i n duce d

.

hi m t o make Aach en h i s cap ital wa s that h e l oved t o take

h i s sp ort i n the grea t swi mm in g bath t ha t wa s suppl ied by -

i ts h o t sprin gs .

H e always u se d th e Frank is h costum e an d l ove d n o t ,

foreign apparel Nex t h i s ski n h e wore a l i n en sh irt an d

.

d rawers ove r the se a wo ollen tu n i c wi th a silk b order an d

, , ,

breeches H e wrappe d h i s calve s an d fee t w i th th e l i nen

.

ba n dage s that were w orn ere stock i n gs w ere i nven ted a n d ,

d rew high boots over th em I n wi n ter h e w ore a coat of the

.

fur o f otter or erm i n e a n d over th at a b righ t bl u e cl oak A

,
.

sw o rd wi th a gol de n h i l t w a s always at hi s s ide O n grea t .

days o f s tate h e ass um e d a tu n ic a n d cl oak embroidere d w i th

gol d an d clasped w i th gol d b u ckles girt h i s h ea d wi t h a ,

j ewelled crown an d carri ed a sword wi th a j ewelled h il t

,
.

B u t for every day we ar h i s cl ot he s w ere n o t m ore spl en d i d

-

than th ose of h i s cou rtiers .

H e was tem perate i n foo d an d dri nk m ore h oweve r i n , , ,

d ri n k th an i n food No o n e e ver saw h im d rin k m ore tha n

.

th ree cu ps at h is din n er a n d he hate d d ru n ke n n ess a n d chas

, ,

t i s e d i t am o n g hi s s ui t e B u t eatin g h e l o v e d i n m od erati on
.
,

an d w oul d o fte n say that chu rch fas ts w ere bad for h i s h eal th .

There were n e v er m ore tha n fou r d i s h es o n h i s tabl e be si de s ,

a roast wh ich was brough t h i m h o t from th e ki tche n o n i ts

,

spi t a n d th i s wa s h i s favouri te fo o d
,
.

A t d in ne r h e u se d t o l i ste n to a reci ter o r a reade r H e .

l ove d hi stories and tale s o f th e a n cien ts a n d al s o the work s ,

o f S t Augu sti ne wh o se D e C i vi t a /e D e i del igh te d h i m espe

.
,

c ia l l.
y H e cau sed t o be wri tten ou t a n d com m i tte d to
mem o ry th e ancien t Fra n k i s h epics ab ou t th e d ee d s a n d wars
o f th e ki n gs o f o l d H e h i m sel f w a s well sk illed i n readi n g
.
 Ch a r/es the Grea t 34 1

al ou d an d s inging t o th e harp an d took m u ch pai n s i n i n ,

s t ru c t i n g others i n th ose accompl i shmen ts Al l th e l iberal arts .

were dear to h im an d h e l ove d learned men an d sum moned

, ,

th em from al l quarters o f the worl d To stud y gram mar h e .

se n t fo r th e deaco n Peter o f Pi sa I n m ost other arts h e ha d .

as h i s preceptor Alcuin th e E ngl is hman the m os t learn ed o f

, ,

al l m en with who m h e s tud ied rhetoric a n d dialectic an d

, ,

spen t m uch ti me i n acqu iri n g a knowledge o f astron om y

for he was curiou s abou t the t imes a n d m otio ns o f th e s tars .

H e i nve n ted German n a mes for th e twelve m on th s of the

year a n d th e twelve win ds H e tried too t o learn the art o f
,
.
, ,

the scribe 1 an d used t o keep paper an d n otebook s u n der h is

,

pill o w i n bed t o practi se h i s fi n gers at odd m om en ts i n form

,

i ng the characters 3 b ut h e began too late i n l ife t o get very

forward i n thi s u n dertaking M o reover h e l oved bu ildi n g.
, ,

an d desig n e d the spl end i d cathedral o f Aach en gloriou s wi th ,

lamps an d can dlesticks of g o ld an d s ilver an d doors an d rai l ,

i ngs of s o l id bro n ze When h e was erecti ng i t an d coul d n o t

.
,

ge t m a r bl e colum n s n ear at ha n d h e had them brough t all t he ,

way from Raven n a an d Rom e H e was a great ch urchgoer .

,

a n d always t o ok care that t he service i n h i s presence sh ould

be cond ucted wi th decorum H e used t o pray b o th i n

.

Frankish an d i n Lati n bei n g equally skilled i n both tongues

, .

For h e had a great power of acqu iring la n guage s a n d spoke ,

Lati n excelle n tly Greek h e learn t bu t u n derstood i t better

.
,

th a n h e spoke i t H e had a free an d fl uen t power o f speech

.
,

a n d always expressed hi s m ea n ing i n th e clearest way .

H e slept ligh tl y an d w oul d ofte n ri se th ree o r fo ur ti mes i n

,

th e n igh t Whe n he was d r essi n g fo r th e work of th e m or n ing

.

h e w oul d have n o t o nly hi s frie n d s i n h i s cha mber bu t woul d ,

bi d t he cou n t o f the palace b ri n g i n l i tiga n ts befo re h i m and ,

give a decisi o n fr o m hi s chai r j ust as i f he wa s i n a cou rt

law .

Charles had o n e lamen table fai li n g— h e was t o o carele ss of

the teachi n gs o f Ch ristian i ty abou t th e relation o f th e sexes .

We k n o w t h a t h e c o uld a t l e a s t s i g n h i s n a m e
1
.
342 E n rop ea n H i s t o f y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

H e d ivorced h i s fi rst w ife over l igh tly a n d whe n h i s th ird

-
,

wi fe d ied h e t o ok to him self t hree con cub i n es a t o n ce who ,

bore h i m man y basta r d ch il dren Th ere were scan dal s at h i s

.

court a n d two o f hi s o w n daugh ters were k n own to be l ivi n g

,

i n o pe n si n w i th t w o o f h i s cou rtiers Charl es t reated th ei r .

o ffe n ce l ightly an d n ever vis i ted the m w i th a n y rebuk e N o t

,
.

’
so h i s son Lewi s th e P ious w h o rega rded h i s sisters sham e
, ,

as s o hei n ou s tha t he ban i sh ed them wh en he cam e t o the

t h ron e I t was t he sh ortcom ings o f t h e grea t king i n respect
.

o f sexual m orali ty wh ich preven ted t h e Ch urch from decree

in g th e b e a t i fi c a t i o n o f i ts protector after h is death Th e .

spi ri t o f th e t i me s w a s wel l sh own by th e strange vi sio n o f

t he m o n k Wetti n o f Reiche n a u wh o fall i n g i n to a tran ce
, ,

an d wan dering through th e ot her w orld saw Charl es i n Pur ,

ga t o ry kept i n pu ri fyi n g flam es for a space t i ll th i s si n

, ,

sh ould be pu rged from hi s sou l .

S o m uch d o th e ch ro n i cles tell u s concern i ng th e perso n

an d the man n er o f l ife o f Charle s the Great bu t th ere are oth er
poi n ts w h ich i mpres s u s m ore than th ey d id th e con tem porary
o bserver Con siderin g that h e was s o far i n ad vance o f h i s age
.

i n th e cul tivation of l i teratu re art scie nce an d arch itectu re

, , , ,

that i n ad mi n i stration a n d orga n isation o f h i s real m h e s o far su r

passed al l tha t had l ived before h i m an d that he r o se i n m ost ,

o f h i s co n duct t o such a h igh con cepti o n al ike of h i s k ingl y ,

o ffi ce an d o f h i s personal respon sibili ty for al l hi s acti on s i t ,

i s d i sappoi n ti ng th ough n o t su rpri si n g t o fi n d that i n s ome

, ,

m atters h e was n o t ab o ve th e sta n dard o f h i s tim e We h ave .

al ready all u ded t o h i s l oose l ivi n g bu t a worse failin g was h i s

,

occas io n al liabi l i ty to ou tbursts o f i n h u man i ty The m ost .

savage o f the m wa s h i s massacre o f 4 3 0 0 u narme d priso n ers o f

wa r a t Verden i n 7 8 2, I f th e maj ori ty o f h i s wars were d e fe n
.

s ive o r at least n ecessary there were a few— n otably the Lom

, ,

bard war — i n wh ich aggres si ve am bi ti o n w a s th e mai n operat

i ng cau se bu t th i s w a s a s mal l faili n g i n th e u n scrupul ou s
,

e ighth cen tu r y O n th e w h o l e w e sta n d amazed a t the m a gna

.

n im it
y o f the m an a n d are so m uch s truck wi th h i s splen did
,
 Ch a rl es t he Gr ea t 343

qual ities that we are perha p s i n da n ger o f d oing h i m wron g

,

by j udging h i m from ou r o wn m oral stan dpoin t H e ri ses so .

far above that o f the Dark Ages th at i t scarcely occurs to the

,

h istorian to j udge h im by th ei r l ow standard Yet i t i s by .

rememberi n g what w a s t he sp i ri t o f those ti me s that hi s great

n es s is m o st read ily recogn ised .

We shal l h ave to deal with C harles i n th ree mai n aspect s ,

W a s o r a n i s gr
g an d as ,
th e i n trod of new

th-eories o f o li t i c a l l ife i n to the i ri st e n d o m It .

i s di ffi c u l t to keep the th ree l i nes o f activity clearl y separate

fo r all th rough h is reign from fi rst to las t Charl es was equally
, ,

bu sy i n each o f these capacities To make clear the logical .

sequence o f hi s doi ngs i t i s s om eti mes n ecessary to overri de

thei r chronol ogical order .

At the fi rs t glan ce t he most extraordi nary of the achieve

m en ts o f Charles appears to be h i s huge additi on s to th e terri
tory of the Franki sh real m by th e ann exati on of the C on q u e s t s f o

Lom bard ki n gdom t he Spa n i sh march Saxon y

,
Ch l
, ,
ar eS

an d the Slavon ic la n ds of the E lbe an d the D rave t o th e i n heri t

a n ce t hat h e had been left by h is fath er Th ese con quests .

represen t a pl an o f operation s del i beratel y u ndertaken carried ,

o u t wi th an u n swerving h an d an d brough t to a s uccessful

,

fi n i sh
. C harle s had i n herited from h is father an d gran d
father the du ty w hi ch they had u n d ertaken o f protecting
, ,

C hri stia n E urope from the Saracen the Slav an d the , ,

heathe n Sax o n the three e n em ie s whom hi s ancestors had

,

d r iven back b u t had n o t cru shed Closely con nected w i th

, .

this duty was th e obligat i on t o convert to C hri stian i ty the

n ew subj ects whom he m igh t su bdue to deal w ith Saxon an d ,

Slav as Charles M artel had al ready deal t wi th Frisian an d

Thuri n gian a n d s o to pu sh th e ou ter defen ces o f C hristen
,

dom i n to th ose parts o f ce n tral E urop e wh ich ha d h itherto

been su nk i n savagery and pagan is m The Saracen al on e i t was .

imp o ssi bl e t o convert H e m ight be expelled bu t then as n o w

.
, , ,

i t was fou n d ea sier t o extermi n ate the M oslem than to m ake

h im abando n I slam To these altogether u seful and salutary
.
 3 44 E u r op ea n H i s t o zy 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

ta sks wh ic h Charl es i n herited from th e great Mayors o f th e

,

Palace a n oth er w a s added t he l ess happy plan o f cem en ting

, ,

a cl ose u n io n w i th t he Papacy by crush i n g the n ati o n o f t he

L o mbard s P ippi n had c omm i tted th e Fra n k s t o thi s schem e
.
,
’
a n d Charles di d bu t carry ou t h i s father s pledges B u t by .

h is acti o n h e destroyed a heal th y an d vigorou s Chri stian state ,

t he p ossible base fo r a stro n g I tal ia n n ati onal i ty an d com ,

m i t t e d th e Fran ki s h ki n gdom t o a p ro fi t l e ss u n ion w hich was ,

t o bring fo rth seve n cen turies o f d i scord W hat was worst o f .

all h e fi rml y establi sh ed th e tem poral power o f th e Papacy a

, ,

cu rse to blast I tal y for a th ou sa n d years Th e gai n s which h e .

received i n return — th e religi ou s san cti on bestowed o n h i s

,

royal power by th e P ope an d th e i m perial ti tl e were but , ,

doubtfu l boon s I t was to be seen ere th e n i n th ce n tury ha d

.
,

expi red th a t th e h ouse o f S t Arn ulf l ike all th e dy n asties

,
.
,

that succeeded i t l ost m ore tha n i t gai n ed by pu tti n g i tself

,

un der obl igatio n s t o th e R o m a n Se e an d co n se n ting t o ,

’
accep t from the Pope s han d s the style of em peror an d ,

t he vague com m i ssi on to p rotect th e u n i ty o f Ch ristend o m ,

—a com mi ssion wh ich to th e Roma n p on ti ff m ean t l ittle

m ore t han th e d uty o f giving th e C h u rc h all tha t she ch o se
t o crave .

B e fore proceeding to relate th e earl ier con quests o f Charles

th e G reat i t i s n eces sary t o explai n t he b ou n da rie s of h i s
,

real m as i t stood at th e m om en t o f th e death o f h i s brothe r

Carloma n I n G erm a n y th e border t o n orth a n d s ou th w a s
.

held by th e two va s sal pe o pl es o f Frisia an d Bava ria both n o w ,

Ch ri stian a n d b o th red uced d uri n g th e las t fi fty years t o a

,

m o re strict o bed ien ce t o th e Frank s t han they ha d ever

kn own before bu t s till posses s i n g t hei r o w n n a ti v e rul ers and
, ,

n o t c o m pletel y u n i ted to the m o n arch y E a s t o f Fri s ia lay .

th e Saxon s th e race w h o m th e M e ro v i n g s a n d th e grea t

, ,

L im it s f o
mayors w h o succeed ed th em had a lik e failed to ,

C h rl s s
a e
'
tam e After th ree h u n d red yea r s o f ha rd fi ght
’
.

m
i n g th e b o u n da r y o f th e Fra n k a n d Sax o n re
”e a

m ai ned whe re i t had st o od i n th e ye a r 5 0 0 T o the cast o f .

 Cha rl es t he Grea t 34 5

Saxon y lay races hardly yet kn own t o th e Franks th e ,

Slavoni c tribes of th e A b o t ri t e s Wi l tz e s a n d Sorbs , ,

.

The d uch y o f Bavaria had as i ts eastern n eighb ours an oth er

group of Slavon ic peoples the race s w h o had on ce form ed th e
,

ephemeral ki ngd om of Sa rn o Czech s a n d M oravia n s o n th e

1
,

u pper E l be C a re n t a n i a n s o n the D rave

, B eyon d these Slavs .

lay the real ms o f the Avar C hagan n ow i n a state o f decadence ,

owi n g both t o civil wars an d t o rebell ion s o f i ts Slavoni c

subj ects.

Between Fri sia an d Bavaria th e fron tier of t he real m o f

Charles was hel d by th e Thu ringia n s n o w n o l onger u n der ,

th e rule o f native p rin ces b ut divided up i nto Fra n kish

,

coun ties as th e adj acen t S u a b i a h ad also been an d form in g

, ,
’
l ike S u a b i a an i n tegral part of Charles s m onarchy The .

n eighbou rs of the Th uri n gian s beyo n d the border were th e

Slavon i c Sorbs .

Th e south eas t fron tier o f th e Franki sh empi re wa s

~

form ed b y th e mai n chai n o f the Alp s beyon d wh ich lay ,

the Lom bard real m o f k i n g D esideriu s I ts south weste r n .

-

lim i t was th e m ai n ch ai n of the Pyre n ees beyo n d w hich ,

lay th e Sarace n s of Spai n over w hom a t thi s m om e n t ,

A b d e ra h m a n the O m m e ya d had j u st succeeded i n establi sh

ing hi s power a n d had formed a state i n dependen t of th e
,

Abbasid e cal iphate

O f all the n eighbours o f ki n g Charles i t was D esi deriu s ,

th e Lombard w h o was fi rst desti n ed to feel th e weight o f th e

’
Franki s h sword H e had n ot only receive d C a rl o m a n s widow
.

Ge rb e rga w he n she fled from B urgu n dy bu t had show n som e

, ,

in te n tio n o f proclaim i n g h er so n king o f th e Fra n ks Yet i t .

w a s n ot th is mach i n atio n agai n st Charles th at was the actual

cau se o f war bu t th e relati o n s o f the Papacy wi th D esideriu s
,
.

H adrian 1 h a d j ust b ee n rai sed to th e Papal thro n e

. He .

was a R o m an by birth a n d a great hate r o f the Lombard s

,
.

H e refu sed t h e fr ie n dship a n d allia n ce which D esi de r ius prof

fe re d an d very shortly after h e was co n secrated bega n to
,

1
S ee p . 177 .
3 46 E u r op ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

pick a quarrel with th e u n fo rtu nate ki n g H e deman ded .

l f th
fr om hi m th e i m po r tan t town s o f Ferr a ra an d
Qu a r re o e

P p
o e an d th Fae n za as p a r t o f th e E xarchate o f Raven n a
e ,
.

L mb ar d s
°
They had bee n prom i sed t o S t Pete r h e said
‘

.
, ,

i n 7 5 7 w h ile D esideriu s was struggl i n g for th e crown w i th

,

ki ng R a t ch i s a n d m u st b e hand ed over a t o n ce D esideriu s

, .
,

th i n ki n g th at Charles woul d be t oo m uch occupied beyon d

th e Al ps i n settl ing th e n ewly a n n exed d om in i o n s of hi s -

broth er t o allow of h i s appeara n ce i n I tal y repl ied to th e ,

’
P ope s challenge by sen di ng a host i n to the Pen tapol i s an d ,

seizi n g S i n i gag l i a an d U rb i n o S h ortly afterward s h e rai se d .

the full force o f th e Lombard real m an d m arched agai n s t ,

Rome H adria n ha d expected th i s H e fo rti fie d an d stron gl y

. .

garri s on ed the ci ty a n d se n t i n haste t o bi d th e l ord o f the

,

Fra n k s t o com e to th e hel p o f S t Peter an d force th e u n .

,

righ teou s Lombard s to carry o u t i n full th e treaty that ki n g

P ippi n had im pose d u p o n th em Th e n ew s o f the despatch .

o f th is embassy seem s t o h ave frigh te n ed D esi derius H e drew .

back t o Vi terbo an d i n stead of pressi n g t he siege o f Rom e

, , ,
’
sen t an embas sy to Charles t o explai n th at th e P ope s ch arges ,

w ere u n foun ded as h e was n ot keepin g back an yth i ng t hat

,

really bel o n ged t o the E xarchate ( 7 7 2 au tu m n ) ,

.

D esideriu s when h e firs t attacked Rom e was n ot wron g i n

, ,

th i nki n g tha t Charles w a s alrea d y occupied i n th e affai rs o f h is

o w n ki ngd o m H e had that su m mer com m e nced t h e great
.

un dertaki ng of th e con quest o f Saxo n y a task wh ic h was t o ,

tax hi s e n ergie s for the n ex t twen ty years I n th e sum m er of .

77 2 h e had en tered th e land c ompell ed th e M i d Saxon s,

o r -

E n g ri a n s to give hi m h o stages a n d cut d o w n i n t o ken o f ,

tri um ph th e I rm i n s u l a h ol y t ree reverence d by all th e Saxon

,

tribes wh ich s to o d i n a grove n ear Paderborn an d wa s adorn ed

, ,

with man y rich o fferi n gs O n h i s retu rn t o Aus tra s ia C harles

.
,

me t th e am bassad o rs o f H ad ria n a n d De si deri u s at Th i o n ville .

H e d i d n o t swerve fo r a m o m e n t fr o m h i s fa ther s policy of

'

su pp o rti ng the Papacy th r ough thi ck a n d t hi n H e sen t o ff .

a m bassad o rs to bi d D esideri u s give u p al l th e citie s bel ongi ng t o

 Cha rl es the Gr ea t 3 47

the H ol y See that h e was u nlawfully occu pyi n g a nd tol d h i m ,

do j us tice to S t Pe te r wi thou t delay The Lom bard ki n g was

. .

’
far t oo angry at th is i n terferen ce to gra n t the Frank s dema n ds .

H e s wore that he wo u l d restore n othi ng This drew down

.

Charles i n to I taly March ing from Ge n eva he C h rl s i

.

a e n _

crossed M o n t Ce n is with on e d ivi si o n o f hi s army v d s L m a e o

b rdy
,

whil e h i s u cl e Bernard wi th the rest followe d th e

n
a 7 7 3 ,
'

route of the Great S t Ber n ard Desi deri u s o n th eir approach

. .

forti fied th e Alpin e gorges by Susa an d I vrea an d stoo d upon ,

th e defen sive . B ut a chosen ban d of Fra n ks turned h i s

position at S usa by cl imbi n g over th e h ills a n d whe n h e saw ,

him self o u t flan k e d the Lom bard ki n g abandoned h is li n es

, ,

an d fel l back o n Pavia exactly as h is predecessor A i st u l f had

,

do n e i n the war wit h k i n g Pipp in C harles followed i n has te

.
,

an d lai d siege to Pavia wh ich held o u t for ma n y m on ths

,
.

Meanwh ile A d e l chi s the so n of D esideri us rai sed a secon d

, ,

Lombard army an d took p ost i n fron t of Vero n a Leaving

,
.

part of hi s army to m ai n tai n the blockade o f Pavia Charles ,

m arched agai n st A d e l ch i s co mpel led h i m to fl y an d captu red

, ,

Verona a nd afterwa rds B rescia an d B ergam o The Lombard

,
.

pri n ce took to the sea an d sough t Con stan ti n ople w here h e

, ,

e n deavoured to obtai n h elp from C o n sta n ti n e C o pro n ym u s ,

then i n th e m ids t o f hi s Bulgaria n war .

As k i n g D esideriu s hel d o u t i n Pavia wi th the greatest o b

st i n a c y
, an d th e siege was protracted for man y m on ths ,

Charles resolved t o spen d th e spri ng o f 7 7 4 i n vi si ting Rome ,

an d com in g to a complete u n derstan d ing with pope H adrian .

H e reach ed th e ci ty i n H o l y Week a n d celebrated the E aster

,

festivi ties with great splendour h i s comm u n i n gs w ith H adrian

’
e n ded i n h i s con firm ing h i s father s gran t to the Papacy o f the
whole E xarchate o f Rave n n a from Ferrara a n d C h rl s t
, a e a

R m
C o m m a c h i o o n the n orth t o O
,
si m o o n the sou th 7 74
,
o e , .

i n cl udi n g all the places that had bee n i n dispute between t he

P ope a n d t he Lombard ki n g Later Roman wri ters prete n de d
.

’
that Charles ha d e ve n i nc r eased Pippi n s l iberal gi ft by addi n g
t o i t n orth Tu scany Parma an d Mode na Ve n ice a n d eve n
, , ,
3 48 E u ro
p ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

th e i slan d o f Corsica B u t th ere i s n o trace o f thi s i n con

.

tem porary authori tie s : the Frank n ever made over t o th e

P ope t h e sovereignty o f Tu scan y o r zE m i li a m uch less o f ,

Vcu ice — w hich was n o t h i s to give o r th e d ista n t i slan d o f ,

-

C orsica .

O n retu rn in g from Rom e to th e vall ey o f th e P 0 i n t he early ,

su m m er o f 7 7 4 C harles foun d Pavia read y t o subm i t : D es i

,

F l l f p v i ’ d eri a s an d h i s m en o f war were wasted by fam i ne

a o a a

774 an d open e d the gates o n con d iti o n that th ei r l ives

s h oul d be spared T he ki ng was sen t as a pri son er t o N eu
.

stria an d d ied ma n y years a fter as a m on k i n th e abbey o f

,

Corbey H i s royal treasure was d ivi ded am ong th e Fra n k ish

.

arm y A d e l ch i s th e h ei r o f th e Lombard th ron e h ad as we

.
, , ,

have al ready m en tioned escape d to th e B yza n tin e cou rt an d , ,

’
d ied th ere m an y years afterward s as a patrician .

’
I n stead o f foll owing P ippi n s exam pl e an d al l owing Lom ,

bardy t o survive as a vassal state C harles h ad hi m sel f pro ,

claim e d as k i n g i n I tal y an d com pell ed al l t he L o mbard dukes

,

an d co un ts t o d o h omage t o h i m a t Pavia O nl y A ri c hi s of .

Be n eve nt o th e son — i n l a w of D e si deriu s p e rs i s t e d i n mai n tai n i n g

,
-
,

hi s i n depen den ce For th e futu re Charl es styl ed h i m sel f Kin g

.
‘

’
of th e Frank s a n d Lo mbard s an d R o man Patricia n , E xcept .

th at h e left a garrison i n t he capital an d han ded over some ,

o f th e m ore i m porta n t I tal ian ci tie s t o Fra n ki s h cou n ts i n stead

o f l eavi n g th em i n the han d s o f th ei r o l d L o m bard govern ors ,

h e made little chan ge i n th e adm i n i strati on o f I tal y H i s .

righ ts o f co n qu est w ere u sed w i th su ch m oderati on that I taly ,

gave hi m very l i ttl e trou bl e for th e rest of h i s reign Th e .

only seri ou s d i sturban ce that t oo k place wa s i n 7 7 6 w h en the ,

d ukes o f Fri ul i Spoleto an d B eneven to con spi re d t o sen d fo r

, ,

Ad e l chi s from Co n stan ti nopl e an d proclai m h i m as k ing o f

“
,

x p d i th e Lom bard s H eari ng o f th ei r pl ot Charles

“L t
a e, e e .
,
,

0 t 1t l y
°
descended u pon I t a l y sl ew th e duk e o f Friul i i n
a ~

,
t

battl e an d com pell ed the d uke o f S poleto to d o h i m h omage

,
.

A ri c h i s of Be n eve n to w a s n o t s ubdued : h e mai n tain ed hi s

southern d uchy i n tact th ough th e Franks sen t m ore than on e
,
 Cha rl es th e Gr ea t 3 49

expedi tio n agai n st him Apparently Cha rles regarde d th e

.

homage of th is d istan t s tat e as too small a thi n g to be w orth

h is atte ntion till 7 8 7 whe n h e m ade a n other de sce n t i n to
,

I taly i n person b esieged A ri c h i s i n Saler n o a n d fi n ally com

, ,

p e ll e d h im t o become h i s vassal B u t i n 7 9 2 Ari chi s bei n g

.
,

dead h i s s o n Gri m o a l d shook off th e Franki sh yoke an d mai n

, ,

t a i n e d a precariou s sem i i n depen dence for the futu re though

-

h e was several ti m es attack ed an d saw m ore than o n e o f h i s ,

chief t own s storm ed by th e arm ies o f Charles Th e g reat .

k i ng h i m self however n ever en tered Be n even tan terri tory

, ,

a gain an d i t w a s on ly h is presen ce that coul d have s ffi ce d

, u
t o sub due th e un ruly duke

B ut we m us t return to the doings of Charles a ft ei h i s fi rs t

.

co n quest of th e Lombard s i n 7 7 4 D urin g hi s absence th e .

Saxo n s had o n ce m ore taken arm s an d i t was n ow h igh t i in e

i

t o recom men ce th e campaign agai n st them which had been ,

i n terrupted by th e great expedition t o I taly Th e year 7 7 5 .

s aw th e fi rst o f t h e many subj ecti on s of Sax on y which Charles

was t o carry ou t during h i s l o n g reign .

Th e Sax on s were divided i n to fo ur great divi si on s Neares t .

t h e Frankis h fro n tier were the W e st ph a l i a n s w h o dwel t on th e ,

E m s an d Lippe an d ab out th e T e u t o b ii rg e r Wal d

,
B eyon d .

them to th e east th e E n gri a n s occu pied th e valley o f t h e

,

Weser from i ts m outh as far as th e b o rders of H esse E ast

, .

o f the E n g ri a n s agai n lay the E a s t p h a li a n s on the Aller an d

, ,

O cke r a n d E lb e Th e latter nam ed ri ver separated them from

.
-

the Slavon ic tribe s o f the Ab o t ri t e s w h o lived i n th e modern ,

M e ck l e m b u rg .The fou rth d ivi sio n of th e Saxon s were the

N o rd a l b i n g i a n s w h o dwel t i n H o lstei n b eyo n d th e E lbe o n
, , ,

t h e borders of the D a n es a n d were th e least accessible an d

,

m ost savage of th eir race Saxony was a lan d of .

State f o

w o od heath a n d m orass : o nly o n i ts south er n S x y a on .

, ,

border was there a hilly tract the sp urs o f th e H arz m ou n tai n s

, .

The ch ie f ob s tacle i n the way of con q ueri n g the c o untry was th e

“
fact that th e Saxon s had n o town s a n d ve ry few fo rtifi ed posts 5
’
they t o ok refuge i n woods or swamp s w hen the ki n g s arm y
3 50 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

app eared an d cam e forth agai n when h e w a s gon e The lan d

,
.

was qui te roadless so t ha t th e pu rsu i t of th e fly i n g tri bes was

,

very di ffi cul t I f surr o u n de d an d com pelle d t o d o h omage t o

.

Charles they gave h os tages an d pai d great fi nes i n cattl e bu t

, , ,

th e m o men t that th e Franks had l eft th eir neigh bourhood

t ook arm s again N i n e times d i d on e o r oth er secti on o f the
.

Saxon race rebel an d an y will les s s tro n g than that o f th e

,

i n flexi bl e C harles wou l d have yi elded be fore thei r i ntractable

,

ob sti nac y B ut h e persevered to the en d i n lead ing exped i

.

tio n after exped iti o n agai n s t th e rebel s pu n i shed th e ir revol ts

,

by fi re an d sword tran splan te d i n corrigible tribes ac r o ss

,

th e Rhi n e bu il t town s an d castl es all o ver the la n d erected

, ,

bi shoprics an d se n t forth cou n tl es s m i ssi onaries till i n the last

, ,

ten years o f h i s l i fe h e had t he sati s faction o f seei ng Saxony

b oth s ubm i ssi ve an d C hri stian .

The exped i ti on o f 7 7 5 began by the i n vasi on o f Westphalia ;

a fte r d ispersi n g i ts i n habitan ts an d storm i n g th ei r great
,
 Cha rl es t he Gr ea t 351

en trenched c am p at S ig i b u rg Charl es passed o n i n to E n gri a

, ,

defeated the M id Saxon s an d crossed the Weser Thi s brough t

-
.

him i nto E a s t pha li a which he ravaged as far as th e river O cker

,
.

Th e E a s tp ha l ia n s though the furthest of th e Saxon s from the

,

Franki sh border were the first to subm it to C harles a n d th eir

, ,

ch ief H essi eagerly accepted Christiani ty an d di d h omage ,

.

’
S oon after the E n gri a n s also cam e i n t o the king s cam p and ,

gave u p h ostages fo r their fi delity Th e Westphalian s held o u t

.

last an d o nly sub m itte d w he n C harles on h is retu r n towards

, ,

Austrasia ravaged thei r lan d fro m e n d t o en d an d F i rs t c q u s t

, , on e

made a great slaughter o f their warriors Th e f S w y .

o a fl

ki n g left garriso n s i n two great cam ps at S i g i b u rg an d E re sb u rg ,

to h old down th e We s tphal ian s an d E n gri a n s respect ivel y The .

hostages wh om he b rough t back were m ostly boys o f n o bl e

family whom h e sen t t o b e brough t up as Chri stia ns i n vari ou s
,

Austrasian m on as teries Three fourths o f Saxo n y had th u s

.
-

d on e homage t o Charles bu t their adhesion was of th e m ost

,

un stable sort Th ey hated the Franks as an cestral enemi es

.
,

an d detested Christian ity as a Fra n kish device for subdui n g

them body an d soul I t was only t he presence o f Charles an d
.

the fear o f h i s return that kept them i n order for a m omen t .

N o soon er had C harles started i n th e n ext year for his secon d

i nvasion o f I taly to pu t down th e dukes o f Fri ul i an d B ene
,

ven to tha n th e Westphalian s a n d E n g ria n s at once took arm s

, .

They storm ed the Franki sh cam p at E re sb u rg a n d slaugh tered ,

the garri so n bu t faile d i n a si mi lar attemp t at S ig i b u rg Th e

, .

m omen t that Charles h eard o f th is rebelli on h e has ten ed back ,

fr o m I taly wi th suc h speed that h e was already o n the Lippe

befo re the Saxon s su specte d that he had cr o ssed the Alps .

S o great was th eir fear of h i m that the whole race at on ce aske d

fo r peace a n d sen t thei r local chi efs to d o h i m h omage
,
p ro ,

m i si n g that they woul d al l be baptized and hold th ei r lan d as

,
’
true vassal s o f the king O nly o n e chi ef named Se c on d m
.
,
co

Wi t i k in d refused to subm i t an d fled n orth w a r d q u s t f

, , , e o ,

to tak e refuge w i th th e D an es Charles

replace d hi s garrison i n th e fort o f E re sb u rg an d buil t ,
3 52 E u r op ea n H i s to ry, 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

an oth er en trenche d camp a t Karl s tadt That wi n ter h e .

remain ed i n Austrasia cl o se t o th e Sa x o n border i n order t o , ,

watch th ese u n tru stworthy su bj ec ts I n t he n ext spring h e .

su m mon ed th e great n ati o nal cou n ci l o f th e w h ole Frankish

real m t o m eet a t Paderborn i n t h e h eart o f E n g ri a i n ord er , ,

to m ark the fact that S axon y had n ow becom e a n i n tegral part

o f h i s d om in i o n s T he n were a great mul ti tud e of t he ‘

Sax on s bapti zed an d followi n g t h ei r national cu stom th ey

, ,

swore t hat th ey woul d forfei t the i r fre ed om an d thei r la n ds i f

ever they rev o l te d again accordi ng to t heir o l d h ab it an d , ,

u nles s they kept th ei r C hri st ian i ty an d t h eir l oyalty to ki ng

’
C harles an d h is heirs .

To th i s great d i et a t Paderb orn cam e som e am bassadors

from Spai n bearin g an u n expected o ffer o f h omage to th e k in g
, .

A b d e ra h m a n th e O m m e ya d h ad fi nally s ucceeded i n co n qu er
, ,

in g wel l n igh th e wh ol e of the Span ish pen in sula from those o f

-

th e Saracen s wh o refu sed t o accep t hi m as ki ng The las t su r .

vi vo rs of h i s op pon e n ts i n desperate s trai ts sen t t o offer to , ,

becom e th e vassal s o f C harles if h e woul d preserve them from

th e co n queror T hese chiefs were S ol ima n I bn a l Arab i an d
.
- -

Kasmi n I b n Yu ssu f wh o were h ol d ing th e tow n s o f Barcelo na

-
, ,

Gerona an d H u esca i n th e extrem e n orth —

, west o f Spain o n
, ,

th e Frank ish b order C harles determ i n ed to accep t t hei r offe r

.
,

a n d s o t o t hru st fo rward hi s fron ti er b eyo n d t he Pyren ees as ,

to protect S e p t i m a n ia from Saracen raids by i n te rp o si n g a n ew

li n e o f fortres ses bet ween i t a n d the domi n io n of th e ruler o f
C ordov a H e bel ieve d that S a x on y was full y s ubdued an d
.
,

migh t be safely left al on e to settl e dow n i n to l oyalty an d

C hris tian ways .

Acc o rdi ngl y i n 7 7 8 Charles l ed h i s fi rst great expedi ti on

, ,

i n t o Spai n H e h im s el f crossed the Western Pyre n ees wi th

.

Ch a rl e s i th e h os
n_
t o f Neu stria wh ile t h e levy o f Au strasia , ,

v d s Sp i
a e Burgu n dy an d Lom bardy passe d the E astern
a n , , ,

778 '

Pyren ees The t w o arm ies m e t i n fron t o f Sara .

gossa an d Charl es th ere rece ived th e h omage o f th e rebel

,

Saracen ch iefs o f Barcel o n a a n d G eron a Saragoss a h ow .

,
 Cha r l es t he Grea t 3 53

ever d id n ot fall i n spite o f the great army that had been

, ,

conce ntrated agai n st i t an d Charles then wheeled abou t an d , ,

return ed to Aqu itai n e by th e sam e way t hat he had com e .

H i s expedi tio n h ad n ot proved a great success Th e Sarace n .

rebel s w ere u n trus tworth y va ssals n or was th e only other ,

resul t of t h e campaign th e homage paid to Charles by th e ,

Span i sh Basqu es an d N avarrese afte r he had storm ed thei r ,

town o f Pampeluna a m ore soli d gain I n deed whil e the

,
.
,

Frank i sh arm y was retur n in g th rough th e passes o f t h e

’
Pyrenee s the Basque s fell upon th e k ing s rearguard an d
,

waggo n trai n i n th e fam o u s d efil e o f Roncesvalles They cap

-
, .

t u re d m uch b o oty an d slew three great o ffi c i a l s— E ggih a rd the

, ,

sen esch al An selm th e coun t o f th e palace 5 an d H ru o t l a n d

,

( Rolan d ) th e warden
,
o f th e Breton m arches T he last n am ed .
,

o f W hom h i story k n ows n othi n g save hi s u n ti mely fal l a t

Ron cesvall es mu s t have been a great man am ong th e Franks
, ,

for wi th i n a s hort time a fter hi s deat h he had becom e th e h ero

of m a n y legends wh ich ul ti mately took sh ape i n the fam ou s
,
’
Cha n so n a e R o l a n d w herei n th e Breto n Margrave appears as
,

secon d on ly to Charles th e Great among th e ho sts o f Chri st

en dom
T h e k in g had n ot l ong reached Aqu itai n e when th e u n we l
com e n ews arrived that the Saxo ns had broken th ei r oaths an d ,

were on ce m ore up i n arm s The exi le Wi t ik i n d had returned .

from D enm ark an d called the t urbulen t you th of Saxon y

,

i n to th e fiel d Th e greater nu mber o f th e tribes had risen

.

at hi s call an d a great Sa xon hos t h ad storm ed th e n ew fo rt

,

o f Karl stad t an d harried H esse an d th e righ t bank o f t he

,

R hi ne as far as D eu tz a n d the m outh o f the M oselle burn ing

, ,

ch urches an d slayi n g the peasan try of th e cou ntry side i n

,
-

revenge for the destructi on o f th e I rm i n su l an d th e ravages

o f Charles i n 7 7 5 7 6 O n receivi ng th i s di sturbing n ews t he
-
.

king m ade h i s way to Au strasi a sen t o u t som e troop s to cl ear ,

th e Rh in e bank o f th e Saxon plu n derers b u t pu t off th e

-
,

general m u ster of th e h osts o f the Franks fo r a secon d c o n

qu est o f Saxon y til l n ext year I n th e summer o f 7 7 9 .
,

P E R I OD I . Z
3 54 E u r op ea n H i s t oi y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

however h e agai n s tarted o n h i s e n dles s task an d marche d

, ,

th rough Westphalia w ith fi re an d sword T he Westphal ian s .

on ce m ore su rre n dered after a defea t i n th e open fi eld ; th e

,

E n g ri a n s an d E a st ph a l i a n s yi el de d w i th ou t figh ti ng I n th e .

n ext spri n g he retu rn e d agai n hel d a great diet at the h ead ,

waters o f t he Lippe an d d i vided all Sa x on y i n to m i ssi on ary

,

F o ur t h m
di stricts
co
each to b e worked,
by a col on y o f m on ks

qu st f
e o from Au s trasia the fi rst step toward s th e parti ti o n
,

s x
o f the lan d i n t o th e l ater bi sh oprics Th i s activi ty
a °ny '

was rewarded b y th e con versi on an d baptis m of man y th ou

san d pagan s C harles ass i sted i n p erson o n m ore than on e
.

occas ion w hen w h ol e thou san ds o f Saxo n s were sim ul tan eousl y
,

passed through th e waters o f th e O cker an d t h e E lbe

H e t hen turn ed o ff toward s I taly F o r t he fi rst t i m e hi s
.

departure was n o t followed by an i m m ediate ou tbreak o f

reb ell ion Th e l an d rem ai ned qu ie t fo r m ore than two years
.

an d wh en b e n ext passed that way Charles t hough t

i t had advan ce d s o far i n th e path s o f peace that h e d ivi de d i t
u p i nt o cou nt ship s after t h e m odel o f the res t o f h i s e mpi re
, ,

an d gave t h e ch arge o f man y o f them to n ati ve Saxon chi efs ,

w hom h e h on oured wi th t he title o f coun t ; th e res t were

place d u n der o fficers o f Frankis h bl ood H e also publ i sh ed .

a code o f laws for Saxon y i n wh ich t he hars hes t pu n ish m en ts

,

were den ou nced agai n s t al l th os e w h o s till cl ung t o pagan i sm .

Such offences as sac rifici n g t o Woden burn i n g i n stea d o f ,

buryin g th e dead openl y derid ing chu rc h cerem on ies o r

, ,

robbing a chu rch were t o b e p un i sh ed wi th i n stan t death

, .

E ven t h ose wh o ob sti nately refused bapti sm or wh o after ,

bap ti s m refu sed t o fast i n Le n t an d conform to chu rch ,

d iscipl i ne were th reatened w ith capital pun ish men t

, .

I t wa s p erhap s i n con sequence of th e i ssu e o f th is cruel

code that th e Saxon s on ce m ore flew to arm s i n the autum n
of 782 T h e rebel Wi t i k i n d retu rned from D enm ark to p u t
.

h im sel f at thei r head an d m os t o f t h e n orthern tri bes rose at

,

h i s call The n ews quickly brough t Charles back i n t o th e

.

c o un try O nce m ore h e cam e i n overwhelmi ng force and

.
,
 Cha rl es the Grea t 355

man y of th e Saxon s at once lai d d own their arm s an d sub

m i t t ed . B u t n ow for th e fi rs t ti m e th e king s howe d sign s o f
vi olen t w rath again s t th e u n ruly race H e coul d n ot pardon .

them for slayi n g priests bu rn i n g churches an d wash i ng off i n

, ,

m ockery th eir m arks o f bapti sm H e bade each tribe sen d t o .

h i m i n b on ds th ose m en wh o had bee n m os t prom i nen t i n

casting o ff C hri sti an i ty an d fom enti ng th e last ri sing Four .

thou san d fi ve hun dre d capt ives were brough t before h i m by

their s ubmi ssive cou n trymen i n hi s cam p at M ss cr f a a e o

Verden o n th e Aller Yieldi ng to an i m pul se V rd

, .
e en

of revenge C harles had the whol e o f th is great b ody o f help

,

l ess prisoners beh eaded B u t in stead o f cow i ng th e Saxon s

.
, ,

th i s cruel execu tio n on ly roused them to wil d wrath E very .

ma n i n t he nati on h ad lost som e frien d or relative i n the

great m assacre an d even the tribes wh ich had h itherto been
,

m ost su bm is sive flew to arms T here followed m ore than two .

years o f unbroken fighti ng ( 7 8 3 Charles m arche d twice

through the land burn ing and slaugh teri ng over th e face o f
,

every Saxo n g a u from th e E m s to th e E lbe bu t th e i nfu riated

, ,

rebel s closed i n b eh i n d h i m after he h ad passed an d stil l ,

hel d o u t i n the woods an d m arsh es B ut the king o nly h ard .

en ed h i s heart H e refu sed t o qu it the lan d an d win tered

.
, ,

wi th all h i s arm y n ear M i n den i n the h eart of Saxon y At

, , .

last i n the spri ng of 7 8 5 the perseveran ce of th e rebels began

, ,

to quail ; i t was imposs ibl e to drive o ff t he i n flexible king o f

th e Franks an d they on ce m ore bethough t them o f su b m i s
,

si on The rebel ch ief Wi t ik i n d obtai n ed a promi se of hi s life

.

i f h e woul d surrender an d b e baptized and when h e wi t h , , ,

h i s chose n warriors subm i tted the great rising F i ft h m

, ,
co

was at last at an en d O n ce m ore the coun ts q u s t f

. e o

received charge of their ol d districts the m i s ,

s i o n a ri es returned t o rebu ild thei r ru in ed chu rches and th e ,

surviving Saxon s subm itted i n despair t o th e yoke o f th e

Frankish warrior an d the Franki sh priest .

I t was seven years before any fu rther trouble arose i n

Saxon y t h ough there were to be four m ore partial ri sings
,
3 56 E u rop ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

between 7 9 2 an d 8 0 4 But n one o f thes e t h reatene d se ri ously

.

’
t o shake Charles s d om i nation ; th ey were m ere l y th e las t
t h roes o f Saxon despai r a n d can n ot be c ompared t o th e great
,

struggle of 7 8 3 8 5 i n wh ic h the fate o f Saxon i n depende nce

-
,

an d Saxon heathen d o m was really settled .

I t was sh ortly after th e fi nal an n exati on o f the G erman s o f

the E l be a n d Weser that Charles fully incorporated the
German s o f t he u pper D a n ub e wi th h i s em pi re H i s vassal .
,

Tas si lo d uke o f Bava ria had been a somewhat u nrul y an d

, ,

di sob ed ie n t s ubj ec t H e was pard oned fo r m ore th an o n e

“
.

A x ti
nne a ou tbu rs t o f d isloyal ty b u t w h en h e was tre ate d
on ,

B v ri
a a
w i th ki nd n es s an d con si dera ti o n he b eh aved n o
a .

better than before At las t i n 7 8 8 h e was depr ived o f h i s

.
, ,

duchy wh ich was cu t u p in to c ou nt shi p s an d pu t un de r

,

Franki sh govern ors wh ile h e hi msel f was s en t t o en d h i s d ays

,
’
i n th e Neust ria n m on astery o f l u m i e ge s .
 C H AP TER X X I

TH E LA TE R WA RS AND C O N QU E S T S
OF CH A RLES TH E GREA T

7 85 8 1 4
-

W ide c o p e o f t he l a t e r c o q u e s t s o f Ch a rl e s —Ou t ly i n g p r o v i c es g o v e r ne d
S n n

by h i s s o n s—C o qu e s t o f t h e B a l t i c S l a vs—S ubj e c t io n o f B o h e m i a —W a rs

n

w i t h t he Av a rs a n d t h e i r fi n a l subj e c t i o n —H o s t i l t i e s w i t h t h e E a s t e r n
i

E m p i r e — C o qu e s t o f t h e S pa n i sh M a rch —L a t e r r e v o l t s o f t h e S a x o n s
n

W ar s w i t h t h e D a e s n .

K ING C H A R L E S had n ow com e t o th e e n d o f th e fi rst of the

stage s o f h is con quests an d the n earer en em i es o f the Fran ki sh
,

kingdom ha d been reduced to subj ect i on With com parati vely .

li ttle trouble th e fertile Lombard plai n had been w o n ; after

l o n g t oi l an d exertio n th e pathless wood s a n d m oors of
Saxony h ad been take n wi th i n the b ou n dary o f h i s real m .

B ut hi s sch emes of con qu est had a m uch wider scope th a n

t he annexati on o f Lombardy an d Saxo n y Before Chri sten dom .

could be reckone d as sa fe from al l foes with ou t there were ,

m ore realm s to be w o n m ore m arch es t o be made se cu re

, .

B y pu shi n g h is fron tier u p to the E lbe an d th e j ulia n Alps ,

\

Charles had take n up the a n cie n t feu ds o f the LM d

th e Sax o n w ith their eastern n eighbou rs th e Avar an d th e ,

Slav Moreover there was still th e Spani s h border to b e

.
,

m ade fi rm fo r the e xped ition o f 7 7 8 had resulted i n n o

,

permane n t gain ; the u n stable allegiance of Barcelon a an d

Gerona was once m ore bei n g pai d to the O m m e ya d kin g at
C ordova n ot t o th e l o rd o f t h e Fr a nk s
,
.
3 58 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Th e secon d peri od t herefo re i n th e record o f th e c o n

, ,

quests o f Charles the Great i n cludes th e hi story of th e makin g

fi rm o f h i s n ew easte rn a n d sou th western b orders Bu t th i s -
.

i s n ot l ike th e fi rst fi ftee n years o f hi s reign a ti m e o f c om

, ,

p e t e c onques t an d i n corporati on o f races wh o were n ear

l
aki n to th e Frank s Al l th e Teu ton i c pe ople s o f cen tral
.

E u rope were al ready gathered be neath t h e Sceptre o f Charles ;

th e tribes wi t h wh i ch h e h ad n o w to d o were s trangers t o the
Frank s n ot only i n religi on bu t i n bl ood a n d language Th e
, , .

W i d e sc p work o
of Charle
e
s i n the E as t i n th e secon d perio d
’
o f Ch l
ar e S o f hi s reign was to make th e Slav an d Avar
S ch m s
e e
h armless by compell in g th ei r pri n ces to pay
'

h omage an d t ribute n o t by occu p ying the ir real m s with

,

Franki s h garri son s o r carvi n g th em u p i n t o co u n tshi ps a n d

,

march es I n the West o n th e oth er hand h i s ta sk wa s t o

.
, ,

bu il d u p a stron g bo rder again st th e M oor by co n queri n g

m
, ,

o n e by o n e th e fo r tres ses be tween th e P re n e e s an d the

,
r

Egg . Th e Moslem had to be drive n ou t ,

h ope o f con verting h im I n th e town s from wh i ch h e was .

expelle d a n ew p opulati on grew u p n ei th er pu rel y Span ish ,

n or purely Frank bu t th e m ixe d race o f th e Catalan s i n

, ,

whose vei n s R om an o Spa n i sh Vi sigo th ic Aqu itanian an d

-
, , ,

Frank ish bl ood was m i ngled i n vari ou s p roporti on s s o that ,

they h ave alway s d iffered very c o n siderably both i n character ,

a n d i n la n guage from th e i n habi tan ts o f th e rest o f the pen in

,

sula B u t t he h is tory o f th e foreig n p o l ic y of Charles du rin g

.

th e secon d perio d o f h i s reign c o n tai n s m u ch m ore besi de s

h i s deali ngs wit h th e Slav th e M o or a nd th e Ava r H e h ad , ,
.

freque n t t r o ubles wi th t h e E ast Rom an E m pi re ari si ng fr om -

,

thei r di spu ted bou n darie s i n I ta l y I n th e very e n d o f h i s .

re ign he m et a n d tu r n e d o ff th e fi rst assaul t o f th e D a n e s o n

the Frank i sh real m a n attack i n sign i fica n t i n i tsel f bu t por
, ,

t en d i n g th e graves t dangers i n th e fu tu re We fi n d h i m .

i n terferi n g b eyon d th e B ri ti sh sea wi th th e a ffai rs o f North um

bria an d a t th e sam e ti m e exten d in g h i s han d far t o the
,

s o u th to sei ze th e Bal earic I sl es E ven t o t h e d is ta n t Abbasside .

 Cha r l es the Grea t 3 59
’
Caliph at Bagdad h i s fam e was kn own an d H aroun s am bas ,
~

s a d o rs sough t th e court o f Aachen to con cert an all ian ce wi th

him .

I n th e secon d h al f of hi s reign Charle s very frequen tly took

th e fi eld i n pers on bu t was n o t s o con stan tly at th e h ead o f
,

hi s arm ies as du ri ng the perio d 7 7 3 —8 5 H e h ad C h a rl e s m k s .

a e

n ow three growing son s whom h e i n tru sted wi th h i s s

,
s on

ki g n s
th e charge o f three i mportan t sec tion s o f h i s '

realm a n d h e l ooked to the m to guard each that p ortion o f

,

the fron tier o f the Franki sh empi re wh ich bordere d o n h i s

o wn su b ki n gdom -
Charles t h e el des t o f the three ruled i n
.
, ,

we stern N e u st ria ( Anj ou Mai ne Tourai n e ) P ipp in t h e, , ,

seco n d i n Lombardy ; Lewi s th e youngest i n Aqui tai n e

, , , .

Charles wou l d thu s b e sp ecially con cern ed with th e u nruly

Breton s o f Armorica wh o twi ce made u n su ccessful risi ngs i n
,
’
his father s reign ( 7 8 6 an d Lewi s was i n charge o f t h e
Sarace n fro ntier al ong the Pyren ee s Pippi n h ad t o keep watch .

over th e duke of B eneven to as well as to turn h i s atten tion to ,

t he Avars o n th e n orth eas t of I taly B u t the three p rin ce s

-
.

were n ot strictl y con fin ed each to h i s o wn sph ere Charle s was .

o ccas ionally sen t agai nst th e S axon s Lewi s condu cted at

leas t on e cam paign i n s outh ern I tal y ; P ippi n m ore than once
took ch arge of an attack o n th e Slavs o f B ohem ia Wh en ever .
,

i n short the great k i ng could n o t march i n person agai n s t a

,

rebel or a fo reig n enem y h e wou l d sen d o n e o f h i s son s to

,

take h i s place H e di d n ot allow the m to become completely

.

l ocal i sed a n d en gro sse d with th e affai rs o f their respective

gover n men ts bu t often kept th em with h i m a t Aachen for
,

many m o n th s at a tim e .

I n reviewi ng th e later con quests o f C harles th e Great i t will

be m o st c o n ve n ien t to follow th e geograph ical orde r from
n o rth to s outh rath er than th e chron ological order o f each
,

campaig n fo r hi s arm s were engaged i n s o man y quarters at

,

o nce that an a ttempt to tel l hi s doi ngs i n a purely an n ali sti c

form leads to dire con fusi on .

O n th e North West th e Fr anki sh b order after 7 8 5 was

-
, ,
360 E u r op ea n H i s to ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

fringe d by Slavon ic tribes all an ci en t enem ies o f t he Saxon

,
.

The se were the A b o t ri t e s i n th e n orth — i n the m odern M eek

l e m b u rg— th e Wil tz es beyo n d t hem i n we stern
Con u es
q to f
the N rt h r
o e P omeran ia an d th e S orbes i n B ran den burg on
n
, ,
S l v s“
a
th e H avel an d Spree The se tribes l ike th ei r .
,

ki n dred wh om we h ave al ready m e t i n t h e Balkan pe n i ns ula ,

w ere ru d e p eoples an d n ot very form idable en em ies owin g t o

, ,

thei r su bd ivi sion s u n der petty p ri nces an d thei r i ncapaci ty ,

for u n ion T h ough n u merou s an d n ot u n warlike all

.
,

th e S lavs between E lbe a n d O de r were su bdue d by

C harl es i n a s ingl e cam paign H e c rossed th e E lbe i n.

7 8 9 wi th an Au s trasian army stren gthened by l evies o f ,

Fri sian s an d o f Saxon s wh o serve d gladl y again st th ei r

,

an cestral foes Th e terror o f h i s n am e seem s t o have

.

strick en th e Slavs wi th d i smay After a v ery sl igh t resi sta n ce.

,

fi rs t t h e A b o t ri te s an d thei r c h ie f ki ng Wi tzin the n th e ,

Wi l t z es an d thei r ch i ef kin g D ra go vi t di d h omage t o

C harles gave h i m as m an y h ostages a s h e ch o se t o dem an d
, ,

an d c on sen ted t o pay hi m a tribu te an d t o receive th e Ch ri s

tian m i ssi on aries w h o m h e p repare d t o sen d am on g t hem .

Th e Fra nk ish arm y m arched th rough m oors an d w ood s til l i t

saw th e Bal ti c at the m ou th o f the Peene i n P omerania a nd ,

then re turn ed wi th s om e booty an d n o loss to th e bank s o f

th e Rh i ne S o th orough ly were th e Slavs subdu ed tha t d uri n g
.

the n ext revol t o f th e Saxon s th ey di d n o t tak e th e o ppo r

t u n i t y o f d i sown ing th ei r h omage to Charl es b u t ca m e t o ,

hel p h i m agai n s t th e rebel s Wi tzi n prin ce o f t h e ,

A b o t ri t e s was actually sl ai n by the E a s t ph a l ia n s wh ile i n

,

arm s fo r th e Frank s a n d h i s d eath was wel l reve n ge d by

,

th e ki n g w h o harrie d th e lan d s al o n g the E l be wi th e xc e p

,
’
t i o n a l severi ty t o aton e for h i s al ly s slaugh ter I n a later .

Saxo n risi ng ( 7 9 8 ) we agai n fi n d th e A b o t ri t e s taki n g arm s a t

th e bid di n g o f Charles Thei r n ew k i n g Th ra s u c o rec o n
.

quered th e N o rd a l bi n g i a n s wi th ou t Frank i s h aid an d brough t ,

’
thei r ch iefs i n bon d s t o th e ki ng s fee t wh ereupo n Charles ,
‘

’
h on oured h i m ma rvel l ou sl y an d gave the Slavs great gi fts ,
.
 Cha rl es the Gr ea t 36 1

Ten years la ter the same pri nce an d people fough t valiantly
again st the D an es wh en they i n vaded th e W rs f D a o ane
’ d Sl w
northern fron tier of Charles s realm t hough thei r ,
an a

n eighbours the Wil t z e s o n t h i s occasi on deserted t o the

e nemy The latter people h owever were subdued agai n i n
.
, ,
’
8 1 2 a t th e very en d o f the great ki n g s reign s o that h e left
, ,

hi s eastern boun dary u n di min i she d a t h i s death O n th e .

wh ol e the Slavs o f th e N o rth were n ot by an y m ean s the m os t

di fficu l t t o rul e o f the man y races wi th wh om Charles h ad t o
d e aL
With their fellow Slavs m ore to th e s ou th the Czech s o f ,

Boh emia t he Franks had comparativel y few rela S ubj c t ,” f

, e o

tion s The vast u n in habi ted tract o f forest an d

.
B h mi ° e a

m ou ntai n calle d th e B ohmerwal d se em s t o have l on g k ept

the m apart B ut i n 8 0 5 6 the ki n g sen t agai n st them hi s s on
.
-

an d n amesake Charles the You nge r wh o twice wasted all ,

th e val ley o f th e upper E lbe an d fi n al ly compelled th e ,

ch iefs o f th e Czechs t o ackn owledge th eir de p en denc e o n th e

Franki sh em pi re by paying tribute .

Sout h o f Bohem ia along th e D an ube an d the Raab an d

,

Lei the th e realm s of Charles bordered on th e Tartar tribe o f

,

th e Avars ancien t en em ies bot h o f t he Lom bards an d o f th e

,

emperors o f Co n stan ti nopl e T he Avars had of late years

.

fal len o n evil t im es They were vexed with civil wars s o

.

much that n o n e o f t hei r pri nces any longer ruled W w i t h t h

th e whole race o r coul d call h im self by th e title
,
A
ar

va “ e

o f Chaga n the ol d n am e o f thei r su preme ruler

,
Yet though .
,

waste d by their o wn dissen sion s an d by th e revol ts o f th e ,

Slavo n ic tribes wh o were th eir vassal s t he Avars coul d n o t ,

keep fr o m thei r o ld habi t o f m ak i ng descents o n th ei r n eigh

b ou rs They drew down thei r d oom o n th em selves by i nvadi ng
.
,

i n 7 8 8 at once t he L o mbard march o f Friul i an d th e vassal

,

d uchy o f Bavaria Wh en next h e had lei su re two years later

.
, ,

Charles plan ned a n i nvasi on o f their lan d on th e largest scale .

H e him self m arched down t h e D a n ube with an Au strasian

an d Sa xon arm y bu rst through th e lo n g lin e of fortificati on s
,
36 2 E u rop ea n H i s t o zy , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

w i th wh ic h th e Avars ha d stre n gth en e d th ei r b order a n d ,

wasted thei r land s a s far as th e Raab At the sam e m omen t .

a great Lombard h os t en tere d th e valley of the D rave pushed ,

i n to t h e heart o f Pa n n on ia beat th e Avars i n th e fi el d an d

, ,

stormed th ei r great ci rcular cam p s The com pl ete subj ecti on .

o f th e wh ol e tribe w ou l d h ave foll owed i n th e n ext year i f

Charle s h a d n o t been called away by a Saxon revol t wh ich ,

k ept h i m empl oy ed duri n g th e two n ext campaig n i ng sea son s .

Th e ki ng h i m sel f n ever agai n t ook th e fi eld again s t the Avars ,

bu t h is s o n Pippi n a n d E ric duke o f Friul i c on ti n ue d the

’
war o n h i s behal f Twi ce th ey cap ture d th e great ri n g o r
.
‘
,

royal cam p between D an u be a n d Th ei s s th e cen tral stron g

, ,

h o l d o f th e Ava r race an d sen t i ts spoil s t o Aache n i n such

,

qu an ti tie s that Charle s was abl e to sen d Avarie troph i es as

gi fts t o all h i s frien ds even to su ch di stan t ki n gs a s O ffa o f
,

Mercia At las t th e sp iri t o f the A vars was so m uc h broken

.

’
t ha t th e ir ch ie fs o r T u d u n s cam e o f th ei r o w n accord to
,
‘
,

Th e A a rs Aach e n to d o h omage t o Charles an d offered to

v ,

S ubdu d recei ve Chris tiani ty Th ei r subm i ssi on was a c

e
.

c e pt e d . The kin g a pp o i n ted o n e o f t hem t o rul e the wh ole

race as h i s vassal a n d bad e h i m a ssum e the an cien t t i tl e o f
,

Chagan Th i s p ri n ce was bapti zed by th e n am e o f "

Abraham pai d a regular tri bu te t o t he Frank s an d kep t h i s

, ,

subj ect s fo r t he fu ture fr o m t h e dange ro u s tem ptati o n o f

m eddl ing wi th th e Lom bard o r Bava ria n border Th e Avars .

were h o w ever i n a s tate o f d ecay at th i s ti m e an d th eir race

, , ,

an d k i n gd om were ere l ong to be swept a w a y by th e i n vading

M a gyars .

T h e sam e fate whi ch be fell th e Tartar Ava r s fell al so u pon

t h ei r sou ther n n eighb o u rs an d fo rm er vassal s th e Slavs of the ,

Save an d D rave Th ese C a ra n t a n i a n s ( Ca ri n th ia n s ) a n d

.

’
Sl oven ia ns were subdu ed by th e arm s o f Charl e s s Bavarian
and Lom ba rd su bj ec ts a n d becam e d epen dan ts o f the
,

Fra n k i s h em pi re fo rced t o pay tribu te a n d d o h omage bu t

, ,

n o t whol ly i n corp o rate d wi th th e real m .

We h ave al rea d y spoke n i n a p revi o u s chapte r o f t he

 Cha rl es the Gr ea t 36 3

dealings of Ch arl es wi th I tal y H e never su cceede d i n fully .

subdui n g the duchy o f B en evento t hough i ts duke s w ere ,

several times com pelled t o d o hi m h omage w hen h e m arch e d

i n person again s t them I taly was fi nally p u t u nder charge o f
.

’
P ippi n th e k i n g s second s o n w h o was gi ven th e royal ti tle
, ,
’
a n d au thori ty there as h i s fath er s del egate Pippin besi de s .
,

the ta sk o f st rivi n g t o h ol d d own Ben eve nto had also t o cope ,

wi th th e i n trigu es o f the E ast Rom an s i n I taly Th e C o n .

s t a n t i n o p o l i t a n emperor h ad still a foot hol d i n th e peni nsula -

at Naples Reggio and B ri n disi an d sti l l enj oyed the homage

, , ,

of th e half i n depen den t peoples o f Veni ce an d I stria Luck ily

-
.

for the Fran ks t he E as tern real m was during th e m ost i m

’
p ortan t years of Charle s s reign u n der the weak han ds o f the ,

empre ss I ren e ( 7 8 0 9 0 an d 7 9 7 — 8 0 2 ) an d th e u surpe r N i ce

-

p h o ru s 1 ( 8 0 2
. T he y bi tterly resen ted th e establ ish m en t
o f a n ew powe r i n I taly an d the assum pti on o f t h e i mperial
,

t itle by th e Frank i sh k i n g wh ich t hey regarded as th e wors t

,

i n sul t that coul d be pu t u p on th e m aj esty of the E a stern E m pi re ,

which clai me d t o be t he sole an d legiti m at e hei r W

o f Augu stu s a n d Con stan tin e Bu t thei r efforts E
.
w it h t h
R m a “
a rs

O anS
e

wen t l ittle further than en deavou rin g to sti r u p trouble i n

I taly by m ean s of the Lombard pri nce A d el ch i s t h e so n of ,

ki ng D esideriu s w h o had fled t o C on stan t in opl e an d becom e

,

a Byza n t i n e patrician H e tried to make m ore than o n e

.

desce n t o n I tal y b ut m et wi th u n i form i ll su ccess Th e o nly

,
-
.

seriou s fi ghting between Fra n k an d E ast Roman was i n the

years 8 0 4 1 0 when N i ce p h o ru s I u n derto o k several expedi tion s
-
, .

agai n st I tal y t o avenge the revol t o f Ven i ce I n th e fi rst .

n amed year a p arty am ong t h e Ve n eti a n s wh o were torn b y

, ,

civil st r i fe call e d i n th e Franks an d tran sferred th eir allegi an ce

,

t o Charles N i c ep h o ru s sen t o u t a fl ee t which h arried th e

.

c oas ts o f Tu sca n y an d th e E xarc h ate b ut c oul d make n o ,

s ol i d i mpressi o n o n the Lombard ki ngdom A l ittle later th e .

E ast R o man party i n Venice g o t th e upper hand an d once ,

m ore han ded the ci ty o ver to th e Byzan ti nes C on ten ted wi th .

t h e recovery o f h i s vassal state N i c e pho ru s th en m ad e peace

-

,
3 64 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

wi th Ch arles . Th e on l y n e t resul t of the war h ad bee n

tha t th e Frank s got perman en t p os sessi on o f P ol a an d th e
oth er coas t —ci ties o f I s tria whi ch ha d hi therto been E as t
,

Roma n M ichael R ha n gab e t h e su ccessor o f N i c e ph o ru s

.
, ,

wen t so far i n allyi ng h i m self wi th Charle s that h e con

.

sen te d to recogn i se hi m as E m pe ror o f th e Wes t a co n ,

ce ssi o n accep te d wi th pride by th e Frank s an d regarde d as a ,

lam en tabl e token of weakn e ss b y t he C o n st a n t i n Opo l i t an s

O n e o f th e con sequ en ces o f th e con quests o f C harle s i n

I tal y was t o brin g th e Franks i n to colli sio n with th e Sarace n
p irates w h o in fes ted the cen tral M edi terranean m aki ng th eir
, ,

harb ourage i n the ports o f th e i sl an d s wh ich face the western

coas t of the pen in sula At a date whi ch can n o t be accurately
.

fi xed th e Franks took p osse ssi on o f C orsica a n d Sardin i a

, ,

hu n ting o u t t h e S arace n c ol on i st s wh o had con qu ered th e

i slands fro m t he E ast Roman s som e fi fty or s i xty
-

years before I n 7 9 9 th e Frank s al so took p os

.

sessi on o f th e Bal eari c i sland s Th ese d is tan t de .

~

pen den cie s were attack e d a nd ravaged by fl eets from Spai n o n

m ore th an one occasi on bu t th ey were hel d d own t o th e cl ose
,

o f t he reign of Charl es They were given i n charge t o th e

.

cou n ts o f Gen oa an d Tuscan y wh o seem t o have bee n abl e

,

to rai s e a c o n s id erabl e fl ee t an d more than on ce gai n e d naval

,

victorie s over t he plu n deri n g M oor .

B u t t h e m ost seri ou s struggl e bet ween Ch arl es an d th e

M oslem s t ook pl ace i n Spai n wh ere du ri ng th e wh ol e of th e
,

seco n d peri od o f h i s reign t he figh tin g was al m os t c on ti n u ou s .

Th e pe rman en t advan ce o f the Ch ri stian s beyon d th e Pyre nees

began wi th the captu re of G ero n a i n 7 8 5 Th e c on duct o f .

the war fell m ain ly i n to th e ha n d s o f Lewi s the thi rd s o n o f ,

C harl es w hom h i s fath er ha d n ame d ki n g o f Aqu itai n e an d

, ,

truste d wi th all th e affai rs of th e sou th west H e an d hi s ch ief -

.

captai n an d cou n cill or Will iam cou n t o f Toul ou se —a great

,

h ero i n th e Fra n ki sh rom ances — h ad t o deal wi th th e two

fi rst O m m e ya d ki ngs o f Cordova Ab d e ra h m a n ( 7 5 5 8 8 ) a n d
,
-
 Cha r l es the Gr ea t 36 5

H is ham ( 7 8 8 both strong and capable rulers from ,

w h om i t was by n o m ean s easy t o wi n terri tory Nevertheless .

th e Christian b order sl owl y advan ced owin g to th e C q u s t s i , on e n

se di tiou s a n d turbulen t M oslem govern ors wh o Sp i

,
a n .

were always rebellin g agai n s t th ei r m asters an d calling i n ,

Franki sh ai d I n 7 9 5 th e n ewl y won lan d beyon d the

.
-

Pyrenee s — arou n d th e tow n s of Geron a Card on a Urgel an d , , ,

A u so n a— was m ade i n to a separate governmen t th e March o f ,

Spai n an d i n trus te d t o a Margrave o f i ts o wn , i n stead o f

,

form ing a depen den cy o f th e duchy of S e pt i m a n i a B arcelona .

the greatest tow n of Catal oni a was added to the March i n 7 9 7

, ,

by the treachery o f i t s govern or Zeid w h o fa i li n g i n a rebell ion

, ,

agai n st h i s m aster at Cordova h an ded th e place over t o th e

,

Franks Th e M oors recovere d i t fo r a m omen t i n 7 9 9 bu t

.
,

king Lewi s th e n cam e over th e Pyren ee s w ith th e w hol e levy

o f Aqu itai n e an d l ai d siege t o the town I t hel d o u t for
,
.

nearly t w o years bu t fell in 8 0 1 con quere d by fam i n e a fte r th e

, , ,

Franks h ad walle d i t i n wi th a circu m vallation an d sat be fore ,

i t i n the ir hu ts for th e whole w i nter o f 8 0 0 8 0 1 T he M oori sh -

.

p opulation de p arte d en ma sse after th e su rre nder an d the great ,

ci ty was ré populated wi th Goth s from S e pt i m a n i a T he

-
‘
.

Frank s were n o w fi rml y establ i shed beyon d th e Pyrenee s an d ,

’
i n th e last ten years o f Ch arles s reign su bdu ed th e w hole
sou th ern slop e o f the m ou n tain s from Pampelun a as far a s the
m ou th of th e E bro Tarragon a the s econ d town of Catalon ia
.
, ,

fel l i n 8 0 9 an d Tortosa t he great fortress wh ich c om m anded

, ,

th e lower course o f the E bro i n 8 1 1 After thi s the Frank s

, .

were able to cros s t he r i ver an d ravage th e w ide plai n s o f

,

Valen cia i t was p robably th ei r a dvan ce i n th i s di rection th at

i n duce d A l H akem th e third O mm eya d ruler o f Cordova t o
-
, ,

sue for peace i n 8 1 2 ce din g t o the Chris ti an s all that they ha d

.
,

gai n ed beyo nd th e Pyrenees Th e Franks were n ot destin ed

.

to h ol d perm an en tly th e en tirety o f their con quests bu t Bar ,

cel on a an d all the town s n orth o f i t were l ost to I slam an d wo n

fo r Chri sten dom : these strongh ol ds gu arded th e Aqui tan ian
front ier again st Saracen i n ro ads wi th succes s an d were ,
366 E u r op ea n H i s t o /y 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

ul timately to form th e n ucleu s o f t h e m ore im p ortan t h al f o f

t he C h ri stia n k i n gd om o f A rragon .

Such were t h e foreign co n ques ts o f Charl es th e Great B ut .

h i s offen s ive cam paign s were n o t the o n ly wars i n whi ch blood

w a s shed durin g the late r years o f h i s reign There w ere al s o
.

troubl e s though of c om parati vel y i n sign i fica n t scop e w i thi n

, ,

th e i n teri or of h i s real m We h ave al ready allu ded t o t w o

.

frui tless attem p ts of the B reto n s o f Arm orica t o resum e th e ir

anc ie n t i n depe n d en ce Thes e were easily cru she d but n o t
.
,

s o th e later Sax o n rebell i on s I t wa s s even years after the

.

a c i fi ca t i o n of 7 8 5 before the u n rul y dwellers b y t he E lbe an d

p
L t
a e, Sa xon Weser rose agai n bu t i n the eigh th su m mer some
,

re v o lt S
o f t he d istricts o f th e extrem e n orth t ook arm s

agai n an d relapsed in to their ancestral h eat he n dom returning ,

‘

’
l ik e t he dog to h is vom i t i n t h e w ord s o f th e c on tem porary
,

ch ron icler The i n surrecti on sprea d wi del y am ong th e E ast

.

h a l i a n s an d N o rd a l b i n i a n s i n th e fol lowing year and

p g
was n ot fi n all y pu t do wn till 7 9 4 t h ough i t n ever exten ded
,

o ver th e wh ol e lan d as di d th e great ri sin gs o f th e earl y part o f

,

the reign of Charle s E re tw o years m ore were passed there

.

w ere new t rouble s am ong th e E n g ria n s an d N o rd a l b i n g i a n s ,

wh ich re qu ire d the presen ce o f Charles bu t i t say s m u ch for

the growi n g strength o f h i s p ower i n th e cou n try tha t h e wa s
abl e t o suppres s the m by m ea n s o f arm i es composed partl y o f
Chri stia n Saxon s a n d partl y of th e l oyal S lavs o f th e Ab o t ri t e
,

tribe Th e la st ou tbreak i n the lan d wa s a s late as 8 0 4 : i t

.

exten ded o n l y o ver th e n orthern tribes a n d wa s s u p pre ssed

,

by th e sum mary tran sportation t o Gaul o f the wh ol e o f th e

u nruly N o rd a l b i n g ia n race the greatest offen ders am on g the
,

rebels Charles settle d

. o f thei r famili es i n sm al l
col on ie s am on g t he Neu stria n s an d g a ve th ei r vaca n t land s as
,

a gi ft t o h is vas sal th e ki ng o f th e A b o t ri t e s Th i s wa s the

,
.

last Saxo n rebelli o n : h enceforth they aban doned the worship

of evi l spiri ts an d gave u p the w icked cu stom s o f thei r fathers
, ,

a n d received the sacra men t of C hrist ian ba p tism m ingli ng wi th ,

’
the Fra n ks til l at last they were reck oned o n e race w ith th em .
 Cha rl es the Grea t 36 7

Th e co mp lete subj ecti on an d conversi on o f Saxon y i s marked

by th e cre ation o f th e fi rs t bi sh oprics i n th e C om pl ete b su _

coun try a t t h i s per i od Ch arl es establ i shed j t i . f ec on o

s x y
bi sh op s at B reme n M ii n st e r an d Paderb orn i n , ,
a °° '

8 0 4 6 to serve respectively as the religi ou s cen tres o f n orthern

-
, ,

western a n d south ern Saxony O thers were a fterwards ad ded

,
.

at H am burg O sn abruck Verden H il deshei m M i n den an d

, , , , ,

Magdeburg bu t these fou n dati on s belong t o th e n ext ge nera

,
’
t ion Roun d these bish op s sees grew u p th e fi rs t t own s o f
.

Saxon y fo r h itherto i t s i n habita n ts had l i ved a purely rural

,

l ife an d never gathered wi th in wall s

,
.

Th e p ossessi o n of S axony brough t Charl es in the en d o f h i s

rei gn i n to h ostile co n tac t w i th a race alm o st u nkn own t o h i s
ancestors b u t de st in ed t o b e o nly t o o well kn ow n t o h i s son s
,

— th e D anes o f the J utlan d pe n i n sula an d th e Scan di n av ian

i s l es wh o dwel t beyon d th e E i der o n t h e N o rd a l b i n g i a n
,

b order Th e a d ven t o f a n ew an d m il itan t C hris tian p ower

.

i nt o the recesses o f the u nk n own N orth seem s to have stirred

up th e D a n es t o u nwon te d activi ty They m u s t have heard .

from Wi t i k i n d an d th e o ther S axon exiles wh o took refuge

,

w ith th em man y t ale s o f th e u ntiri ng en ergy an d u nrel enti ng

,

sever i ty of th e great king of t h e Franks a n d feare d l est h i s ,

strong h an d woul d b e stretch ed o u t beyon d th e E i der t o ad d

them to the l ist o f hi s trib utaries an d force them W a r s w i t h ,

to accep t hi s religi on To guard again s t t h e t h D s

.
e ane ~

further adva n ce o f the Franks ki ng Godfre d bu il t i n 8 0 8 all ,

alon g h i s fro n tier at the n arrowes t poi n t o f th e i sth mu s o f

,

Schleswi g a great earthwork from sea t o sea lon g kn own as

, ,

th e D an newerk a n d fam ed i n wars down t o th e last con fli ct

,

of German an d D an e i n 1 8 6 3 B u t Godfred di d not confin e .

hi m sel f to defen sive works h e began t o make piratical descents

al l along th e Frisi an an d Flem ish coasts a s far as th e m out h
o f th e Sei n e an d at th e sam e ti m e attacke d th e A b o tri t e s an d
,

Wi l t z e s th e Slavonic vassal s o f Charles o n the Baltic God

, .

fred d id m uch dam age i n Fri sia an d actually s u cceeded for a ,

m omen t i n crush i n g the A b o t ri t e s an d subdui n g th e Wi l tz e s .

3 6 8 E u r op ea u H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

He gave t he Franks m uch t rou ble si nce h e ravaged al l th e

,

coast wh ere it wa s u ng u arded bu t t ook t o h i s shi ps agai n wh en

,

a large arm y wa s sen t agai ns t h im I n 8 1 0 h e penetrated so

.

far i n to Frisia that h e spoke i n boas ti n g mood o f paying

, , ,

Charles a vi s i t a t Aach en B u t i n the sam e year he was

.

m urdered by h i s o w n pe opl e a n d hi s n ephe w an d successor

,

H em m i n g made p eace wi th t h e Franks The peace wa s i l l

.

kept for we h ear of i sol ate d Dan i sh raids i n th e l ast years o f

,
’
C ha rl es s reign an d a fleet o f war sh ips wh ich were built i n th e
-

ports o f Neustria for the defen ce o f th e coast doe s n ot see m ,

t o h ave protected the Fri sian waters ve ry effi cien tl y .

B u t Charl es d i d n o t su rvive to see th e seri ou s develo p m en t

of th e D an i sh attack : h e die d befo re h is real m had suffered
an y seriou s l oss from the i r ravages an d m u s t h ave bee n far
,

from suspectin g th at ere h e was fi fty years dead t hese hal f

kn own an d som ewhat despi sed fo e s would pierce through th e
Frank i sh empire from en d t o e n d an d e ven sack h i s o wn
,

c hosen dwel ling th e royal palace of Aach en

,
.
 C H A PTE R XXI I

C H A R LE S TH E G R E A T AN D TH E E M P I RE
S urv i v a l o f t h e T h e o ry o f t h e E m pi r e i n W e s te r n E ur o pe a n d e s pe c ia lly i n
,

I t a ly — I t s i fl e ce — Tr o ubl e s o f P o p e L e o I I I —
n u n H e cr o w n s Ch a rl e s o n
.

Chr s t ma s D a y S o c —C o n s e qu e c e s i m m e d i a t e a n d r e m o t e o f t h e c o r o
i n , ,

n a t i o — T he n P a p a cy a d t h e E m p i r e — Ch a rl e s a s a d m i i s t r a t o r a n d
n n

l e g i sl a t o r — H i s e c o ur a g e m e n t o f L i t e r a t ur e Arch i t e c t ur e a n d S c i e n c e
n , ,

—H i s l a t e r y e a rs a n d d e a t h
~
.

W H I LE n arratin g th e n ever en ding wars o f the grea t ki ng of -

the Franks we have barel y fou n d ti m e to m en tion th e

,

i n ternal changes w hich h e wrough t i n the con diti o n an d

con sti tut ion o f h i s realm s O f t hese th e first an d foremos t
.
\
was h i s i n troduct ion o f a n ew p o l i tical theor y in to the govern
men t of We stern Ch risten dom wh e n h e cau sed h im sel f t o be ,

crow n ed emperor by P o pe Le o 1 11 i n th e m em orabl e year 8 0 0 . .

We have had occasion to remark i n an earl ier chap ter that

the the o ry o f th e u n iversal dom in i on o f th e Roman E m pire
had long survive d t he exti nction of an y real power o f th e
emperors i n m os t of t he cou n trie s o f Western E u rope .

T he o d o ri c th e O strogoth an d C hl o d o ve c h the Frank ha d

been prou d t o ackn o wledge them selve s as t he fi rst subj ects o f
th e Con sta n ti n op olitan Caesar a n d t o receive fro m h i s h a n d s ,

high sound i n g t itles a n d robes o f h on ou r Till the m iddle o f

-
.

th e sixth ce n tury Gaul Spai n a n d I taly h ad all o wn ed a

, ,

nom in al al legian ce t o the empire an d thei r h om age h ad on ly ,

b een de n ie d w hen Jus ti n ia n by h i s b ol d at tem pt to recove r

th e wh ol e o f th e West had forced the Teutoni c kings to tak e
arm s again st hi m i n th ei r o wn de fen ce
. Then B a d u i l a .
,

P E R OD 1 I . 2 A
 70 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

L e o vig i d , a nd T h e u d e b e rt h ad d isclai med thei r allegia nce an d ,

ba n ishe d th e im perial n ame from thei r coi n s a n d th ei r charters .

Th e las t practical traces o f the o ld Roman con nectio n had

bee n l os t i n Spai n whe n th e sol diers o f H eracliu s were
dri ven ou t by S w i n t h i la an d i n Gaul wh en th e e n
c o u ra g e m e n t an d the subsi di e s o f M au rice h ad failed t o su stain

th e p reten der G u n do va l d Ye t there s til l l in gered on

i n the m i n d s o f th e e duca ted classes a m em ory o f t he an cie n t
empire ; cu ri ou s turn s o f expressio n i n chro n icl ers o f th e
seve n th c en tury ofte n sh ow u s th at th ey still rem embered th e
ol d theory o f th e worl d wi d e rul e o f Rom e A Sp a n i s h c h ro
-
.

n i c l e r wri tin g i n th e seven th cen tu ry can s ti ll cal l th e E ast

’
Rom an armies th e s ol diers o f th e r esp u lz l i ea
‘
Subj ects o f .

the Fra n k i sh k ings i n G aul stil l date d th e ir l etters by C on

s t a n t i n o p o l i ta n i n diction s .

I n I taly o f c ourse th e trad ition o f the u n i ty o f Ch ri sten dom

, ,

u nde r th e em pe rors wa s i n n o danger o f being forgotten .

Appeals t o th e an ci en t temporal an d s p iri tual suprem acy o f

’
Rom e were t h e m ost p o werful i tem s i n th e Pop e s stock o f
argumen ts w h en a G regory o r a Zachari as s tate d hi s prete nsion s
,

t o p atriarch al au th ori ty i n th e We st o r den ou n ced th e w icke d,

n es s o f th e i n tr u sive Lombard Th e perso nal am bi tio n o f the.

Popes was always leadi ng them t o i n dulge i n fon d rem i n i scen ce s

o f th e an ci en t gl ories o f th e E mpire The van i ty o f th e d e
.

ge n erate p opulace o f Rom e sometimes fo u n d ven t i n fu ti le

’
claim s that they th e Rom an se n ate an d pe o pl e really w ere
,
‘
,

th e he i rs of Augu stu s an d Co n stan ti n e wh ile t h e Cae sa r a t ,

Con s tan tin opl e was n o th i ng m o re tha n a m ere Greek Wh en .

,

by th e ruptu re be twee n Le o th e I sau rian an d Pope Gregory

Rom e practi cally passed o u t o f th e ha n d s o f th e E astern
Augu stu s i t was ea sy en ough fo r an I tal ia n t o m ai n tai n
,

Th e E m pir e
t h at C o n stan ti ne C o ro n m u s or Le o th e C h a z a r
p y
a n d th e h ad n o longer a n y tru e righ t t o u se th e Roman
w " as
I m peri al titl e A n d the I tal ian m a l co n t e n t wo u ld
.

add n o t o f course tha t R o me had cea sed t o form part o f the

, , ,

1
S e e pa g e 224 . S e e p ag e 1 70 .
 Cha rl es t he Gr ea t 37 1

Roman E mp ire bu t that the t itle of em p eror had passed away

,

from the h ere tical I sau rian h ous e an d fall en i n to abeyance , ,

wh ile the empi re i tself s till existed for i ts ces sation had grown ,

to be i nconceivable to th e I talian m i n d .

The I tali an s a n d to a less exten t the Fra n k s were sorely

, ,

p uzzled by the long con tin u ance of th e an om al ou s con di t io n

o f affai rs w hen for sixty years th e titular emperors had re
,

mai n ed heretics an d had fai led to m ai n tain thei r h ol d o n

,

Rome N o r was the posi ti o n i m prove d when the E as tern

.

E mpi re relapsed i n to orth odoxy i n deed bu t a t the sam e ti m e ,

passe d i n to the han d s o f an em press regn an t a th i ng re pu g -

,

n an t t o all th o se wh o remembered the an ci en t Roma n horror

’
o f a woman s reign I ren e hersel f too had obtaine d the crown
.
, ,

by such a series of cri mes agai n st her s on that n o t m erel y ,

constitu ti on al j uri s ts bu t al l righ t m in ded m en sh rank i n spite

,
-

o f her extreme orth od o xy from th e i dea of recog n i sin g i n h e r

,

the l egi timate ruler of Rom e .

M ore than on ce duri ng th e long quarrel betwee n th e Pope s

an d the I saurian emperors there had bee n s om e talk o f elect
i ng a separate Augu stu s to bear rul e over Roman I taly — those ,

d i stricts of the pen i nsula wh ich were n ot i n the han ds o f th e

Lombard s The schem e ha d n o t bee n carried T e n d e n c ie s
.

out m a i nl y becau se th e Popes opposed i t bu t i t t s p r t i o e a a on

lt ’
, ,
’
i
had n o t been forgotten N o w t h a t t h e greate r .
y n a '

part o f I taly both Lombard an d Roman was u n der the rule

, ,

of a s i n gl e king an d o n e well l iked b oth by the Pope an d

,

by the Roman people i t woul d have been strange i f the i dea

,

of completely repudiati n g th e ign omi nious dependence o f Rom e

o n Co n stan tin o ple had n o t bee n once m ore m o oted F o r as .

l ong as there remai n ed bu t on e person beari n g th e Imperial

s tyl e — th e ruler o f the E as t — th e P ope an d hi s Roman an d
, ,

I tal ian contemporaries had an u n easy con sci ou sn es s that their

h omage ough t still perhaps to be pai d t o tha t person Greek
, , ,

an d h ereti c t ho u gh he o r s he m igh t be .

We may suppose that t hese dou bts har d l y trou ble d the Fran k
i sh vassals o f Charles th e Great bu t to h i s I tal ian subj ects ,
372 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 1 8
-

th ey we re a co n stan t s ou rce o f vexati o n o f sp iri t ; whi le

practical ly they we re l i egem e n o f th e Franki s h k i n g they were ,

n ot qui t e sure whether i n theory they m igh t n o t sti ll b e c o n

s i d e re d th e l iegeme n o f the h ated Caesars a t Con s ta n ti nople .

S uc h though ts m ust h ave bee n run n i n g through th e h ead s o f

all the Popes w h o hel d th e Roma n S ee fro m 7 7 3 to 8 0 0 B u t .

i t w ould see m t hat i t wa s P op e Leo 11 1 w h o fi rs t beth ough t h i m

.

o f the eas iest way o f set tling th e s ituati o n — t o declare the ki ng

of t h e Franks Roman emperor an d n ot m erely Rom an patri

,

c ian . A barbarian Augu stu s w ould be u n preceden te d bu t ,

n ot m ore so th an the femal e ru ler of th e E mpi re wh o n ow

swaye d Con stan t i n opl e I t was eviden tly th e sigh t o f a
.

woman — a n d a very wicked wom an — o n th e B yzan tine thron e

th at gave th e fi n al i m pul se t o th e desi re o f th e I tal i an s to c u t
o ff t he last th read o f co n n ec t io n wi th th e I m perial l in e i n th e

E ast Th eir desi re m us t have been wel l kn own to Charle s

.

h im sel f b u t i t woul d seem th at h e f o r s o m e ti m e sh rank from

,

gra ntin g i t P erhap s h e feare d th e resp on sibili tie s o f th e

.

ti tle ; m ore prob ably h e d i d n ot see h ow i t legally coul d be

co n ferred u p on h i m : there wa s n o p receden t t o settl e what
person o r bod y i n th e West coul d clai m t o give i t an d i t was ,

m ost certai n that the cou rt o f Con s tan ti n opl e woul d u tterly
refuse t o gra n t i t an d w ould v i ew i t s as su m pti on by a ba r
,

barian ki ng of the Wes t a s a gros s piece o f i n solen ce .

I t woul d seem tha t th e ferven t grati tu de o f P ope Le o 1 1 1 .

for h is d el iverance by t he han d o f C ha rl e s fro m certai n d omes ti c

en em ie s i n Rom e was th e act ive cau se o f th e great cere
,

m on y o f Ch ri stmas D a y 8 0 0 Leo h ad bee n cru elly m al

.

Le t, d treated by pers onal enem ies i n R om e th e ki n sm en

an ,

C h rl s
o f h i s predecessor H adrian I ; t hey had sei zed
a e
.

h i s person an d tried t o bli n d h i m B ut h e escaped fled over

.
,

t he Alp s a n d to o k refuge wit h th e great ki n g at h i s cam p

,

n ea r Paderborn i n Saxo n y Charles i n ves tigated th e d ispu te

, .

be twee n L e o a n d h i s en em ies an d h e determ in ed that h e

,

woul d c om e t o Rome an d deci de the m atter i n person m ean

whi le h e sen t L eo h om e un der th e protectio n o f som e Frank i sh
 Cha rl es the Gr ea t 37 3

amb ass ad ors Late i n the year 8 0 0 Charles m oved dow n i n to

.

I tal y an d hel d a syn o d at Rom e i n wh i ch h e carefully i n ve s

,

t i ga t e d the con duct of Le o an d pron oun ced hi m bl am eles s

, ,

wh ile h i s en em ie s were execu ted or thrown in t o pri son Th e .

Pope th en purged himsel f by an oath from all the charges that

had been made agai n s t h im an d was rei n state d i n h i s place
,

wi th m uch s ol em ni ty .

I t was on ly a fe w day s after Cha rle s ha d th u s restored an d

com men ded Leo that t h e Pope p ai d th e deb t o f gratitude by
,

crowning h i s saviou r as emperor Th e de tails o f thi s all i m

.
-

p ortan t cerem on y are curi ou s Th e royal an d papal courts .

’
w ere throngi ng S t Peter s basil ica to celebrate th e fe sti val o f
.

Christm as Wh en th e servi ce was en ded an d wh il e th e

.
,

emperor was s till k n eel in g before the altar i n si len t prayer ,

Leo advanced wi th a diadem i n h i s ha n d an d ,

placed i t upon the b o w ed h ead o f the great k i ng ,

cry i n g G o d gra n t l i fe a n d victory t o Ch arles t h e

,
‘

Aug u stus crowned by G od great a n d pacifi c E m pe ror o f th e

, ,
’
Roman s . Frank ish warriors an d I tal ia n clergy a n d citi zen s
j oi ne d i n th e c ry an d al l presen t i n clu di n g th e P ope h i m self
, , ,

ben t thei r k n ees to Charl es as h e rose and salu ted h i m wi th ,

th e fash io n of adoration pai d to th e an ci e n t emperors .

Charles h i m sel f was wo n t t o declare t hat the cere m o n y t ook

place wi th out his con se n t havi n g be en ob tai n ed an d t hat h e ,
’
woul d n ever have en tered S t Pe ter s that day i f h e h ad kn own
.
,
’
o f th e P o pe s i n te n ti on Ye t there i s n o doub t that h e h ad
.

seriou sly tak en th e matter in to con si deration l on g b efore ; i t

i s probabl e that Leo i n h i s o u tburst o f grati tude for hi s re st o ra
’
tion did n o m ore than force Charles s h an d by sweep i n g away ,
’
by h is su dde n act th e ki ng s li n gerin g obj ecti ons to th e coro
n ation H e kn ew th at the act woul d be hailed wi th j oy bo th
.

by Fran k an d Ro man an d that Charl e s h im self was rather

,

doubtful as to the p roper form fo r assu m i n g the t itl e t han

oppose d t o i ts actu al adopti on Th e way i n wh i ch th e coro na
.

tion was viewe d by th e maj ori ty o f h is subj ects may b e gathered

from an extract from th e Franki sh chron i cle of Lau reshe i m
374 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

‘
The nam e o f em pero r ha d ceased am ong th e G reeks for th ey ,

were en duri ng th e reign o f a w oman w h erefore i t seemed good ,

both t o Le o th e apostol ic P ope an d to th e h ol y fathers ,

( bish ops ) wh o were i n coun ci l wi th h im an d to al l Ch ristian ,

m e n tha t t hey sh oul d h ai l Charles k i ng o f th e Frank s as

,

emper o r For h e h el d Rome i tsel f where t h e an cie n t Caesars

.
,

a l ways dwel t an d al l th es e other p os sessi on s o f h i s o w n i n

,

I tal y an d Gaul an d Germa n y Wherefore as G o d had

.
,

gran ted hi m all t hese d omi n i on s i t seem ed j ust t o t he m tha t

,

h e sh o ul d accep t th e i mperial ti tl e al s o w he n i t was offere d ,

’
h i m by th e con sen t o f al l Ch ri sten dom .

That the re wa s m u ch t o b e sai d agai n st the legali ty o f th e

assu mption by Charle s o f h i s n e w s tyle cann o t be dispu te d ,
.

C ertai nl y th e P ope ha d n o righ t t o give i t : n or h ad th ere

bee n a p r eceden t for m an y cen tu ries fo r th e con ferring o f th e
i mperial title by th e d ecayed b ody o f n obl e s an d th e m i sc e l
l a n e o u s gath eri n g o f ci ti zen s wh o m igh t stil l call th e m sel ve s
’
‘
the senate an d peopl e o f Rom e Apparen tly the Pope .
,
’
whe n h e saluted Charle s as crowne d by Go d claimed th at
‘
,

t he i m p ul se t o hai l h i m b y th e great n am e o f em peror ,

d esce n ded by a d i rect i n spirati on from h eave n u pon th e

’
m ul ti tu de gathered i n S t Peter s B u t such a pl ea woul d
. .

hardl y appeal w i th m uch fo rce ei ther t o th e B y zan ti n e Cou rt

,

o r to the m ode r n hi storian I n tru th th ere was

Th m
e i g
ea n n
.
,

o f th e m u ch t o be said for th e a ssum pti on o f th e i m

c o ro n am n’
perial s tyle by C harl es as rec ogn i sing an aeco m,

p l i sh e d fact bu t l i ttle fo r th e particular form s by wh ic h i t was

,

carrie d ou t M os t especiall y di d th e fact tha t th e Pope

.

seeme d to co n fer th e ti tl e b y hi s own act an d i mpul se prove

, ,

o f i n calculabl e harm i n fu tu re years I f th e coron ati o n o f .

the grea t k ing had take n s om e oth er form i t w ou l d have been ,

i mpossi ble fo r th e P opes o f later ge nera ti on s t o bri n g forward

their prep os terou s clai m t o have th e power o f givi ng o r taki n g
away th e i m pe rial cr o wn The succe ssors of Charles woul d
.

have been spare d many a weary j ou rn e y to Rom e an d many ,

a bi tte r wra n gl e wi th t he H o l y S ee i f th ere had bee n a formal

,
 Ch a rl es t he Grea t 37 5

elec t ion cerem ony i n which all th e n ati on s o f th e We st cou ld

-

ha ve taken part o r i f Charles l ik e Napoleon i n a later age

, , ,

coul d h ave placed the crown o n h i s ow n h ead i n stea d o f

’
recei vi ng i t from th e p o n tiff s h and .

The assumpti on o f the i mperi al titl e by th e great king had

man y practic al con sequences at t h e m omen t an d m a n y an d ,

yet m ore impor t a n t i n fluen ce s up o n th e hi story of E urop e for

l ong cen tu r ies to c ome .

The m os t notabl e o f the i mmedi ate results o f t he c orona

tion was t hat Charl es a n d al l h i s su bj ects regarded h i s regal
au thority as being rea ffirmedg u ne m a u d me ne hall q we d
s
m m

shape b y th e cerem o n y Formerl y hi s p o wer reste d on h i s

.

election as kin g by th e Frank s and afterwards by the L o m

,
’
bard s : n o w he was crowne d by Go d as well as ch ose n by
‘

the peopl e For th e fu ture he sh owed an in creas ing ten dency

.

t o i n sist o n th e om n ip otence of hi s au thori ty i n th ings eccle

’
s i a s t i c a l a n d m oral as well as i n c ivil m a tters As H eaven s .

an ointed h e clai med to b e th e guardian o f m orali ty an d the

reform er o f Chri ste n dom as well as the protec tor C h rl s
,
a e
,
s

o f the Church . Charle s had always sh ow n a v i w f t h e s o e

E m pir
deep i n teres t i n th e spi ritual wel fare o f h is e "

d o m i n io n s We h ave seen al ready w hat en ergy h e d i spl ayed

.

i n enforci ng the conversi on o f Saxon y o f th e Slavs a n d o f t h e , ,

.

Avars H e had preside d at i n n u merable cou ncil s an d syn od s

.
,

stirri n g up h i s b i shops t o en force s trict di sc ipli n e an d sober

l ife am ong the clergy an d to root o u t h eathen survi val s an d
,

i m morality amon g th e lai ty N ow that h e had becom e em

.

p e ro r h e i n si ste d eve n m ore than before on the m oral s i de o f

h i s au th o ri ty h e though t of h im self n ot only as t he su cce ssor
o f C on stantin e a n d Theodosiu s bu t even as i n heri ti ng th e
,

theocratic p owers o f th e an cien t ki ngs of I srael —o f D avi d o r

o f J osiah . When Charles recrossed th e Alp s after h i s coron a
tion a n d hel d hi s n ex t great coun ci l i n Au s trasia he took th e ,

Opportun i ty of bri n gi ng hom e h is vi ews to h i s l iegemen H e .

m ad e all hi s su bj ec ts lay and secular swear allegiance to h i m

, ,

for a seco n d ti me u n der h i s n ew n am e o f emperor : every

37 6 E u rop ea n H i s t o l y , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

perso n ab o ve the age o f twelve wa s t o have the oath a d m in is

t e re d t o h i m by th e l ocal cl ergy an d to be w arned that h i s
‘
,

vow of homage was n o t m erely a prom is e t o be true t o the

em peror an d t o serve h i m again s t h i s en em ies bu t a prom ise
,

to l ive i n ob edien ce t o God a n d H i s law accordi n g t o t he

’
best o f each m a n s stre n gth an d u n derstan di n g I t wa s a .

vo w t o ab stai n from the ft an d oppre ss io n a n d i nj ustice n o ,

le s s tha n from h eath en pract ices a nd wi tchcraft : a vow t o d o

n o wrong to th e C hu rche s o f G od n o r t o i nj u re widows and
,

orph an s o f wh om th e em peror i s th e ch osen pro tector an d

,
’
guardian . M u ch m ore foll owe d to th e same effec t : C harl es
form ally clai m ed that t he de fen ce o f al l law an d m oral ity was
i n vol ved i n th e i mperial nam e an d warn e d h is subj ects that
,

an y o ffen ce agai ns t h i m a n d h i s ordi n an ces was a di rect cri m e

again s t th e an oin ted of G od .

I t w as n ot o n l y i n th e m i n d o f Charl e s th at th i s h igh an d
h o l v vi ew of th e d u ty an d p ower o f th e emperor fou n d a place .

H e su cceede d i n im pre ssi n g i t o n h i s o w n c o ntem p oraries

an d o n l ong cen turies t o com e : wi th h i m starts th e idea o f
’
th e H oly Roman E m pire wh ich a ffec ted s o deeply th e
‘
,

wh ol e sec ular an d religi ou s l i fe o f the M i ddl e Ages The .

Frank i s h ki n gsh i p a m ere rul e o f force ha d n o exal ted an d

, ,

spiri tu al m ea n i n g : th e n e w em pi re repre s en te d a cl o se an d
co n scious u n i on o f Chu rch an d S tate fo r t h e ad van tage o f
both I t s tarted w i th the c o n cepti on th a t th e
.

e m peror sh oul d be th e p rotec tor a nd overseer o f

t h e Ch urch : b y an u nh appy devel opmen t i t
e n ded i n m aki ng th e P ope th e oversee r of the S tate B u t th e .

’
ge nerati on w h i ch h ad see n P ope Leo on h i s kn ee s adoring ‘

th e m aj esty o f th e great Ch arl es coul d n o t have fo resee n the

,

day wh e n t he su cce ssor o f Charl e s sh ou l d h u m bly wai t for

h ou rs befo re the u n ope n e d d oo r of th e su ccessor o f Le o o r ,

beg a s a fav ou r th e p ri vi lege o f h o l di ng h i s sti rru p .

A n e w age the n com m en ces i n E u r o pe wi th th e co r o nation

o f C h arle s the G reat . T h e reig n o f pu re barbaric fo rc e i s
e n d ed : there foll ows a t im e wh en th e h i sto r y o f E urope i s
 Cha rl es the Gr ea t 37 7

compl icate d by the stri fe o f i deas n o les s than by th e str i fe of

armed n ati on s For th e future we m u st always b e o n the
.

watch to detect the i n fluence o n p ol i tics o f th e ideal c o n c e p

tion o f Ch ri s ten dom as a great emp ire u nd er a singl e rul er ,

ch osen by G o d to sway th e sword an d t he rival co ncepti o n ,

of i t as a grea t C h urch u n der a si ngl e Pat riarch at Rome ,

ap p oin te d to h old the keys o f heaven an d hell an d t o guide ,

kings i n the way th ey sh ou l d go .

Th e i n ternal govern men t o f the vas t real m of Charle s was a

di fficul t probl em I n h i s o wn l i fetim e th e great k ing provi de d
.

fo r i t by delegating h i s au thority i n certain large section s o f i t

t o hi s s on s : w e have alread y spoken of hi s n omi n ation o f
Charles Pippi n an d Lewis t o b e kings i n Neu stria I taly an d
, , , ,

Aqu itai ne C h arles con tem plate d t he p os sibili ty o f a singl e

.

empire exi stin g wh ile yet many of i ts parts shoul d be governe d

by vassal sovereign s I n hi s ow n time the plan w orke d well
.

en ough : he di d n ot p erhap s foresee that the problem woul d

, ,

be far harder i n t h e n ext ge nerati on whe n the C h rl s d , a e an

hi
h omage a nd obedien ce o the le sser kings would
f s

have to b e p ai d to a brother an u ncle an d at las t to a m ere

, ,

d istan t cou si n
.

Charles p ubl icly i ssue d in 8 0 6 t he schem e o n which h i s

real m was to be ruled after h i s death : th e ti tl e of emperor
an d al l the Frank i sh la n ds both Neu stria n an d Au strasian
, ,

were t o g o to h i s fi rst born C harles wi th t hem we n t Saxon y

-
,

Thuringia a n d B u rgun dy Pippin t h e secon d son had I taly

,
.
, , ,

together w ith B avari a an d eastern S u ab i a Lewi s th e .

,

you n gest chi ld was t o take A qu i tai ne Provence a n d the

, , ,

Span ish March Th i s divis io n h owever was re n dered frui tless

.
, ,

by th e u n exp ected deceas e o f the two el der ki ngs : to th e great

grie f o f thei r father Pipp i n d ied i n 8 1 0 an d Ch arles i n 8 1 1
, , .

Th i s n ecessi tated a n ew d ivis i on of the empi re : Lewi s wa s

n o w the only grown m a n i n th e family : t o h im therefore was , ,

l eft th e i m peri al n ame an d al l the realm save I taly wh ich was ,

t o be a vassal kingdo m for Bernard the you n g son o f Pippi n

-

, .

Charles w h il e al l h i s s on s yet l ived gave over t he charge

,
,
37 8 E u r op ea n H i s tory 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

of large section s o f h i s real m to them B en eath thei r a u t h o .

rity th e ki n gdom s w e r e rul ed by t he sam e h ierarchy o f duk es

an d c ou n ts wh o had exi s te d i n Merovi n gian times Whe n .

a n y n e w la n d su ch as Sa xo n y o r Lombardy w a s added t o
, ,

th e e mp i re i t wa s ere l o n g cu t u p i n t o c ou n tshi ps o n th e sam e

,

patter n tha t al r eady served fo r A u strasia a n d Neu stria Thu s .

a regular a scen di n g scale o f grades lay be t w ee n th e coun t an d

the empe ror T he c o u n t obeye d th e d u ke th e d u ke th e sub
.
,

ki ng th e ki ng hi s fath er th e s uzerai n of all I n t he con qu ered

, .

l a n ds Fra n k s were as a rule in tru s ted w i th the m ost i m

, ,

p ortan t provi n ci al govern m e n ts : bu t C h a r les often gave

c ou n t sh ip s i n th ei r o w n n ati ve di strict s to Lombards Aqu i ,

t a n i a n s o r e ve n Saxon s wh o h ad serve d h i m wel l and truly

,
.

The best securi t y for the u ni ty an d p eace o f t he em pi re

wa s th e n ever cea si n g activi ty o f Charle s h i ms el f wh o i n
-
,

cessan tly perambulated h i s real m fro m e n d to en d s o l ong

a s l i fe was i n h im I t wa s h i s own frequen t v i s it s t o Sa x on y
.
,

I tal y o r B avaria that were th e bes t m ean s o f keeping those

, ,

ou tlyi ng p r o vin ce s i n l oyal ty an d obedie n ce B u t h e had .

als o a regular sys te m o f travelli n g comm is si o n ers wh o were

T h M i ss i
e al w ays m ovi n g roun d the realm a n d reportin g ,

to hi m o n th e n eed s a n d requi remen ts o f th e

d iffere n t provi n ces Th e ci rcu i ts o f these M i ss i D o nn n zez
'

.
,

o r royal legates a s they were calle d were fully settle d by hi m

, ,

only i n 8 0 2 bu t h e had bee n em pl oyi ng th em les s s ys t e m a t i

,

cally at a far earlier d ate H i s fathe r an d gra n dfath er

.
,

Pippi n t he Sh ort an d Charl es M artel had bee n wo n t t o sen d ,

’
ou t occa si onall y trav ell i n g comm i ssi on s ( M i ssi a i seu r r en tes ) ,

bu t i t was Charle s th e e mperor who m u l ti pl ied a n d system

a t i se d the i r act ivi ty B y h i s arra n ge m en ts hi s em i ssaries w h o
.
,

were s o meti mes cl eri cs s ome ti me s laymen were appoi n ted

, ,
’
for a year s d u ty ove r a certai n n u m ber o f cou n tshi ps They .

vi si ted t h e as sem bl ie s o f th e i n habi tan ts o f th e d istrict ,

’
sum m one d t o th e c o u n t s z lf a l l u s 1 an d i nqu ired i n to the state
,

o f th e provi nce s C om pl ai nt s agai n st t h e c ou n t h i m sel f o r

.

1
S e e pa g e 12 5 .
 Cha r l es the Grea t 37 9

th e local bi s h op were brought before th em an d they woul d ,

sen d th em u p t o the ki n g or take accoun t o f them o n the

spo t We s ometi me s fi n d Al i ssi charged w i th other du ties
.
,

such as the con duct o f an e mbassy or a warlik e expedition ,

but thi s term inal i n specti on o f th e local govern o rs was th ei r

primary duty As l on g as m en o f prob i ty an d s trength were
.

ch osen n o better m ach in ery fo r keep in g togeth er the w ide

,

empire o f the Fra n k s coul d have been devis ed .

We h ave a l ready men ti on ed i n a n earl ie r chapter th e

i n teres t which Charles always showed i n art an d l etters an ,

interest w hich ha d bee n very rare a m on g th e Fra n ki sh ki ngs ,

wh ether o f h i s o w n h ou s e o r of the M e ro vi n gs O f al l th e .

t wo dy nasti es th e ru ffi a n C h i l p e ri c h 1 i s — curiou sl y en ough

.

th e onl y o n e wh o i s recorde d t o h ave sh own an y l iterary

taste s Charl es h owever aton ed for th e n egl ect o f hi s pre
.
, ,

d e c e sso rs H e collecte d learn e d me n from all quarters : th e

.

N orthum brian Alcui n an d th e Lom bard s Peter of Pi s a an d

Pau l th e D eac on were t h e be st k n o wn names E -

g
g
n c o u ra

among th em : at fi rs t h i s scholars were m ostly m t f en o

fo reig n ers bu t by t h e en d o f h i s reign h e had

,
l ea r nin g ’

seen a ge n erati on o f learn ed Fra n k s arise i n respon se to hi s

’
en courageme n t Two o f h i s proclamati on s t he Ep i stol a a e
.
,
’ ’ ’
l i tt er i s eol en a i s an d th e E n ey el i ea a e emena a t i on e l i hr o r u i n set ,

forth hi s p u rp os e H e complai n s t hat the l etters addresse d

.

to hi m by bi sh ops an d abbots from al l parts o f h i s real m are

’
‘
very correct i n sen tim e n t bu t very i n correct i n gramm ar s o ,

that h e has begu n to fear whe th er h i s cl ergy h ave e no u gh

kn owledge o f Latin to u nderstan d th e w hole sen se o f th e
Scriptures Wherefore h e will have sch ool s e stabl ish ed i n
.

every m o n as tery fo r the perfec t teac h i n g o f th e La ti n tongue ,

because i t i s u sefu l that m en o f G o d s houl d n ot o n l y l i ve by

the rule an d d wel l i n h oly conversation bu t shoul d devote ,

th em selves to literary med itat ion s each according to hi s ,

abil i ty that th e y m ay be able to give the m selves to th e

,
’
duty o f teaching others U nder th e fos terin g han d of Charles
.

all th e greater mo nasteries becam e cen tres o f learn ing : we

3 80 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

o we t o h i s care t h e preservatio n o f man y o f t he classical

auth ors for h e was i ncessan tly cau si n g th e ol d vol u me s
, ,
’
‘
alm os t w orn ou t as h e says by th e careless ness o f o u r
, ,
‘

’
an cestors t o be fai rly c o pied out an d m ul tipl ied E ach
,
.

m o n astery w a s u rged t o ha v e i ts o wn trea su res p reserve d by

se veral cop ie s an d t o i n terch a n ge t hem w ith t h ose of i ts
,

n eigh b ou rs H e pai d s pec ial atten ti on to t h e boo k s o f th e

.

O l d a n d New Te stam e n ts wa s s hocke d a t th e d iverse read

,

i n gs which h e fou n d t o e x ist — d ue as h e asserts t o th e , ,

extrem e ign orance o f c o pyi s ts — an d se t Paul the D eacon t o

co n s truct a n ew l ectionary correc te d accordi n g to th e be st ,

texts an d desti n e d t o b e u sed i n al l th e Churc he s i n hi s

,

M ul t i p l i c t i
a real m I t was n o t on l y to rel igi ous bo ok s t hat
on .

f b k
° °° s
h e turn e d h i s atte n ti o n : h e had th e o l d heroic
°

epi cs o f th e Franks — th e prototype s w e m ay suppose of su ch , ,

work s as th e N zoe/zm g en l zed — collecte d a n d wri tten ou t :

' '

u n fortu n atel y h i s p i ou s so n Lewi s d es troye d th i s i nvaluabl e

cor u s o f Franki sh p oetry becau se h e d eemed i t heathen i sh
p , .

H e i s al so fou n d setting h i s sc h olars t o work o n th e com pila

tio n of gram mars — b ot h Lati n a n d Ge rm a n — bi o graph ies ,

an d eve n of w orks o f secular h i story I t i s n o doub t t o h i s .

, ,

i n spi rati o n that we o we t h e su dden ex pan si on an d m ul tipl i

c atio n o f th e Fran ki sh ch ro n icl es O u r h i storica l s ou rces .
,

dow n t o h i s ti m e are few bal d an d j ej u n e ; s o o n after h i s

, , ,

access i o n they becom e fu ll sati sfac tory a n d nu m erou s Th e

, , .

ten th cen tury i n spi te o f al l i ts tro ublou s ti mes i s far better

, ,

k n o w n t o us tha n t he n i n th .

Ch arl es kept th e be st o f h is schol ars abou t h i s Court and ,

t reated th e m a s fam il iar fr ie n d s t e n h e wa s settled down at .

Aach en fo r th e w i n ter a nd was at rest from wars h e gathered

, ,

the m abou t h i m to d i scu ss al l m an n ers o f subj ects from ,

astron om y to l ogi c The l i terary ci rcle assu m ed o ld classical

.

n am es . Alcui n calle d h i msel f F la c c u s Charl es wa s addressed ,

as Ki n g D avi d o th er scholars styl ed them s el ves H om e r

, ,

M o psu s a n d Da m ze t a s Thei r d i s cu s si o n s were o fte n fru i t

,
.

l ess a nd some times chi ldi sh bu t i t was s om eth i n g new i n

, ,
 Cha rles the Gr ea t 38 1

Western Ch riste n dom to fi n d a w hole group o f sch olars bu s ie d

i n discu ssion s o f an y sort wh atever After look in g back a t
.

th e blank dark nes s o f th e seven th cen tury w e fi n d the cour t ,

o f Charles the Great a very ce n tre o f ligh t an d wisd om In .

i t lay the prom i se o f great th i ngs i n th e fu ture a p rom ise for ,

wh ic h we have looke d i n vai n i n an y p eri od o f the p receding

ages .

I t was n o t only i n literature that Charles bu sied h i s lei sure

h ours H e was a great adm i rer o f mu sic b oth secular an d
.
,

ecclesiast ical H i s ear was charme d by t he Gregorian chan ts

.

wh ich h e h eard at R om e an d h e took back wi th hi m I talian

,

ch oirmasters to teac h th e chu rch me n o f the n orth th e

son orou s cadences o f th e sai n ted Pop e .

H e was als o a m igh ty bu i lder At Aachen he reared a

.

great palace for h im sel f an d a m agn ificen t cathedral Th e .

former has p eri sh ed bu t en ough su rvive s o f t h e latter to S h ow

,

the exact exten t to wh ic h Roma n esqu e archi tecture had de

v e l o p e d by h is ti m e .S o m uch was h e se t on making i t th e
m ost mag n ificen t basilica t o th e n orth o f th e C h rl s a e

Alps that w hen he fou n d h is o wn workm en u n

,
bu i ld r as e '

able to carry o u t h is i deas h e sen t for an cien t colum n s an d

,

m arbles from d istan t Rom e an d Raven na H i s o wn co ffi n .

was a spl en did Roman sarcophagu s p robabl y procu re d from

,

I taly H e con structed palaces i n two other Austrasian tow n s

.

besides Aach en the o l d royal seats o f N i m u ege n an d E ngel

,

heim fo r h e was Au strasian to th e core an d always m ade

, ,

th e lan d of hi s an cestors h i s favouri te dwell ing H e bu il t a .

bridge at Mai n z five hun dred yards long th e fi rst effort o f ,

Fra n k ish engin eering in that class o f structu re Un fortu nately .

i t was destroyed by fi re i n 8 1 3 a n d never ren ewe d An other

, .

piece o f work which testifies to hi s i n terest i n engin eeri ng was

a ca n al to j o i n the Rh in e an d D anu be by m ean s o f th eir ,

tribu taries the Altmu hl an d the Redn i tz

, .

B u t to follow C harles i nto every departm en t o f h i s activi ty

during h is long l ife a n d reign woul d require many volum es .

H ere i t must su ffi ce to say t ha t a ft e r all these ach ievemen ts h e

'
38 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 —
9 18

d ie d at h i s chose n abode a t Aach en on t h e 2 8 t h o f Jan uary ,

8 1 4 carried o ff at a ri pe ol d age by a pl euri sy caugh t i n the

,

D th ea f w i nter col d
o
H e was buri ed i n t he cathedral
.

C h rl s 3 4
a e , th at h e h i m self had buil t an d over h is tom b
1 ~

was placed a g o lden s hri n e w i th h i s i mage an d th e i n scri p

,

ti o n S U B H o c C O N D I TO R I O S I T U M E S T C O R P U S K A R O L I
M A G N I E T O RT H O D O X I I M P E R A T O R I S QU I R E G N U M FR A N C O R U M
,

’
N O B I L I T E R A M P L I A V I T E T P E R A N N O S X LV I I F E L I C IT E R R E X I T
, .

I t w a s bu t a sh ort epi taph co n s idering t h e m ighty deeds of

h i m wh o lay ben eath bu t n o l e n gth of words could have d on e
,

j ustice to h i s great n ess A far better m em orial was left to h i m

.

i n the hearts o f hi s s ubj ect s ; h i s n am e survi ved i n th e m outh s

o f all th e races that had served h im a s the type o f power , ,

wi sdom an d righ teou sn ess Al l We stern E urope l ooked back

,
.

t o h i m for seve n h u nd red years a s th e c o m m o n p r i de o f

’
C h ri sten dom th e fou n der o f th at H o l y Roma n E mpi re
,
‘

w hich sati sfied thei r i deal of g o verna n ce H i s figu re loom s .

o u t th ough Ofte n w i th ou tl i ne s bl urred an d di storted from

, ,

d ozen s of th e l ege n ds a n d r o man ces w h ich sh ad owed forth

th e aspi rati on s o f th e M i ddle Ages Wi th i n a h un dred years .

o f h i s death i t wa s cu rren tl y beli eve d that h e had c o n quered

Spai n an d Byza n tium an d carrie d h is arm s as far as Palestin e

, .

S o great wa s th e i mpressio n he had le ft beh i nd hi m tha t ,

th e world th ough t n o thi n g too i m p o ssibl e fo r h i m to have

ach ieved Perhaps th e n otion that h i s reign h ad been a
.

ki n d of G olden Age was partl y produ ced by th e c on trasting

yea r s of trouble an d ci vi l s tri fe that followed hi s death Bu t .

t h e te nde n cy t o loo k back to h i s t im e as a period o f u n

exam pled s ple n dou r an d righteous n es s wa s n o del usi on bu t ,

a j u s t recog n i ti on o f th e fact tha t h e had gi ven th e Western

w o r l d a gl im pse o f n ew an d h igh id eal s such a s i t had n ever ,

k n o wn u nder th e brutal rul e o f twel ve ge n era tion s o f bar

barian ki n gs n o r i n th ose earlie r day s wh e n i t was stil l hel
,

t o gether i n th e i ron grasp o f th e Cae sa rs O f a n cien t R o m e .

 CHAPTER XXII I

LEWI S TH E P I OU S

8 1 4 840
-

Ch a r a c te r o f L e w is t h e P io us H e r e fo r m s t h e F r a k i sh c o ur t— H i s e ccl e s i n

a s t i a l l e g i sl a t i o — Aft e r a
c n a rr o w sc a p e fr o m d e a t h h e d i v i d e s h i s
n e

k i g d o m a m o g h i s s o n s —T h e p a r t i t i o n o f A a ch e n — R e b e ll i o a n d d e a t h
n n n

o f Be r n a rd o f I t a l y—T h e s e c o d m a rr a g e o f L a w s a n d i t s c o n s e qu e n c e s
n i

—S e c o d p a r t t i o n o f t h e e m p i r e fo ll o w e d by r e b e ll o n o f L e w i s e ld e r
n i
’
i

s o n s Th e i r r e pe a t e d r i s n g s T h e L ii g e n fe l d —L ew 5 t w i c e d e p o s e d
— — i
’ ‘
1

a d r s t o r e d — C o t n u e d t r o ubl e s o f h i s l a t e r y ea rs — H e d i e s w h i l e l e a d
n e n i

i n g a n a r m y a g a i n s t h i s s o n L e w i s — D i s a s t r o us c o n s e qu e n c e s o f h i s r e i g n .

C H A R LE S T H E G R E A T left h i s thron e an d h i s empire to hi s

onl y su rvrvm g son born i n lawfu l wedlock Lewi s th e P iou s as
h i s own age n amed h im th oug h later ch ron iclers s tyle h im ? “
, ,

Lewi s th e D é b o n n a i r Th e heir o f th e great emperor was a

.

devou t pri nce w h o proved — like o u r own E dward th e C on

,
’
fes s o r— a sai r sai n t for th e crown
‘
H e was a weak good .
,

n atured m a n n o l onger i n th e fi rst fl ower of h i s you t h whose

, ,

meek virtue s w ere far m ore sui te d t o adorn a m onastery than

a palace U tterl y wan ti n g i n self respect an d determ i nation
.
-

the slave o f h is wi fe hi s chaplai n s an d bi sh ops a doting

, , ,

father an d h usban d an d a n over li beral giver h e had o n e o f

,
-

those natures whic h are e n t irely un fi t to bear respon si bili ty ,

an d are o n l y happy when placed u n der the rule o f a stronger

will tha n their Own Lewi s had before h im th e problem s that
.

’
had taxed h is father s i ron n erve —th e task o f rul i n g each of ,

the n ation s that dwel t beneath the Fran k i s h sceptre i n the

'

way that i t n eeded wi th the ad di ti onal trial o f bei n g sorely

,
3 84 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

vexe d by the i nc ursi o n s of the D a n es w h os e fi rst ra vages ,

Charle s th e Great had hardl y l ived to see E n ough was .

th ere t o occupy h i s every m omen t eve n had h e been a m an ,

o f abil ity . B u t h e c h ose t o a dd t o h i s troubl es th e n eedl ess

t rial o f a d i spute d succe ssi o n a n d a spasm o d i c civil w a r Th e .

m ai n featu r e of h is reig n o f twen ty si x years i s the weary tal e -

o f hi s u n wi se deali n g wi t h h i s un du ti ful so n s an d o f t he evil s ,

that en sued therefrom .

T he great real m wh ich n o w fel l t o Lewi s ha d been bu il t

u p i n desp i te o f th ree mai n d i ffi c u l t i e s — th e en orm ous exte n t
th e co n quered land s an d th e
,
sl owness o f com m u n icati on be
tween t i em TIE n ati o nal d iffe rep c e s betl vgg n mu m
- ’

pe o ples which i nha b i t ed them an d th e o l d Teu ton i c cu stom

,

which favoured th e parti ti o n of a ki n gdo m am on g all th e son s

of i ts rul er j u s t a s i f i t w ere a private h eri tage The fi rs t two
,
.

dangers had n o t pr o ved fatal The person al e n ergy a n d n ever

.

e n ding travel s of C ha rl es th e Great h ad va n qui shed space a n d

tim e Racial d i verge n ces were l es s fo rmi dabl e than m igh t
.

h av e been expected fo r true n atio n al feel i n g was n ot y et

,

fully devel o ped i n Wester n E u r o pe I t was n ei ther th e en or .

m ou s exte n t o f th e Fra n k ish empi re n or th e heterogen eou s

c haracte r o f i ts i n habi tan ts tha t proved the di rect cau se of i t s
ru in b ut th e bale ful prac tice o f the partiti on o f heri tage s am o n g
,

all th e h eirs o f the reigni n g sovereig n H i therto the em pi re .

h ad been fo rtunate i n escaping t h e con sequen ces o f thi s evil .

C harl es th e H am m er h ad broke n u p h i s re a l m b u t t h e vo lu n t a ry ,

abdicati o n of th e elder Carl oma n had e r e l o n g reu n i ted th e

Neustrian an d Au stras ia n la n d s Pi ppi n agai n had d i vided .
, ,

h i s kingd o m bu t t h e co h ei r w hose su rvival would h ave

,
-

th warted th e l i fe work o f C harles t h e G rea t d ied young

-
, .

An d i n th e n ext gen erati o n too deat h had stri pped the ki ng

, ,

O f al l h i s lawful i ssue save O n e an d Lewi s th e Pi ou s received

,

an u n d ivi ded h eritage .

Bu t Lewi s u n happil y fo r hi m self a n d fo r t he em pire had

, ,

al ready t h ree hal f gr o w n so n s w he n h e succeeded t o the

-

em pi r e and was d estined t o see a fou rth reach m anhood e re

,
 L ew i s t he P i ou s 385

h e di ed The cu stom o f parti ti on was n o w desti ned to have a

.

fair trial an d develop to i ts u tm os t exten t .

Lewis was at D ou é i n hi s k i n gdom o f Aqu i tai n e when h e

, ,

received th e n ews of th e death of hi s aged father Making .

such speed as h e could h e arrived at Aach en after a j ourney

,

o f thirty days an d took possessi on o f the rei n s o f p ower

, .

Wi thou t sen di ng fo r th e P ope t o assi s t at h i s c oronation h e ,

celebrated hi s accession by taki n g the imperial crow n O ff th e

altar i n th e cathed ral o f h i s capital ci ty an d placing i t o n h is
,

o wn head whi le the assem bled cou n ts an d bi shop s sh ou ted

,
’ eu
Vi r a l f u zp er a t or Z u o oo i s ! Th e magnates al so saluted h im
’
by the ti tle o f th e Pi ou s an appellati on wh ich h e p lace d
‘
,

upon h is coi ns on wh ose oth er side app eared th e legen d

, ,
’ ’
‘
R en o z a t i o R eg /z i F r a n eor u u z
'
The renewi ng o f th e
.
‘

ki ngdom fou n d i ts fi rst e xpressi on i n the expul sion from

office o f th e m i n isters wh o had adm in i stered affairs du rin g
th e decl in i n g years of Charles th e Great Lewi s cam e t o .

Aachen with h i s o wn tru sted servan ts at hi s back an d was ,

determi ed n n o t to put him self i n th e han ds o f hi s father s’

favou ri tes .
’
There had b een m uch i n h i s father s li fe an d
court w hich h i s own scrupulous co nscien ce coul d n o t
approve As a man wh o led a singularly virtuou s li fe hi m
.

self he coul d n o t abi de the bi shop s an d abbots wh o had

,
’
conn ived at h i s father s imm oralities Th e
Acc s s
.

f e i on o

Franki sh court though teeming wi th e ccle si L w i s t h

, e e

P i us
a t
s i c s
, had o been a m odel o f soberness or
n t ° °

chastity an d the Ol d emperor h i ms elf h a d n o t set th e

,

best o f examples Lewi s was determ ined that thi s shoul d

.

cease .

Th e m om en t that h e was fi rml y seated o n th e t hron e th e

new m onarc h dism i ssed from h i s court h i s sisters whose l i fe ,
’
had been n oth i g less t han sca n dalou s du ri ng h i s father s later
n

years Their param ou rs were ban i she d or i mpri son ed — on e

.

was eve n depri ved o f hi s eyes H i s n ext step was t o sen d

.

away the t hree ch ief m i ni sters o f Charles the Great Th e .

Chancellor H e l i sa c h a r Abbot o f S t M axim in wa s relegate d

, .
,

PER IOD I .
2 B
3 86 E u r op ea n H i s t o zy , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

to h i s mona stery Th e two brothers c ou n t Wala a n d ab b o t

.
,
1
A d al ha rd had harde r m easure deal t o u t to th em
,
The .

emperor se n t A d a l h a rd to dwel l i n th e l on el y m o nastery o f

H e rm o u t i e r o n a n i slan d by th e Loi re m outh
, Coun t Wala .

was stri pped of s w ord an d arm ou r sh orn an d i m mu red as a , ,

m onk i n th e cloi ster Of Corbey .

T hes e cou n cill ors were replaced by m en wh o m Lewi s

had learn t t o kn o w wh ile h e was ye t bu t ki n g of Aqu i tain e .

Th e ch ief were E bbo h i s o wn foster br other abb o t H ild wi n

,
-
, ,

a n d coun t Bernard o f S e pt i m a n i a sE bb o thoug h bu t th e .

,

s o n of a serf was dea r t o th e empero r from early a ssociation ;

,

he h a d taken orders an d wa s made arch bi sh op o f Rh ei m s by

,

h is patron a t th e earl iest opp ortu n ity am i d the m urmurs o f ,

m an y h igh born Fra n ki sh eccle sia s ti cs w h o exclaim e d t hat

-
,

such preferm en t was n o t th e m eed o f a m an o f servile ext rac

t ion H il d wi n the n ew c han cellor was a shamel es s pluralis t
.
, , ,

three ab bots rolled i n to o n e an d ever seeki n g m ore prefer ,

m en t B ernard h owever a clever restless i ntrigu i ng Ga sco n

.
, , , , ,

provoke d even greater j eal ou sy a n d bi ttern ess am ong the o ld

c ourtiers o f Charle s t he Great a n d seem s t o have been th e ,

b es t hated m an i n th e realm B u t perhaps the m ost i n flu

-
.

n t i a l of all the advi sers o f Lewi s was h is wi fe H e rm e n a rd e

e g , ,

the d aughter of the c ou n t o f the H e s b a i n an am bi tiou s an d ,

u n scrupulou s w om an wh o exercised such an i n fluence over

,

h er u xoriou s s p ou se that she was even abl e t o d rive hi m once

an d agai n to dee ds of i ll faith and cruel ty very foreig n to h is -

m il d a n d righteou s d i sposi ti on .

C harles th e G reat had l eft t h e fron tiers o f h i s great real m

so well secu red that i n th e earl ies t years of Lewi s th e Pi ou s
there was n o foreign war t o cal l t he em peror in to th e fi el d .

I t was a characteri sti c sign o f th e n ew r rg i /n e that th ings

‘

ecclesiastical took precedence o f al l other s a t th e fi rs t m eeti n gs

Of th e mag n ates o f th e em pi re We h ear of l egi slati o n agai n st .

carnally m i n d ed bi sh op s a n d abbots who sh o cked th e piou s

-
,

1
Th e y w e r e C a rl o v i n g ia n s o f i l l eg i t i m a t e d e sc e n t s o n s , of Be r n a rd , a

b a st a rd o f C h a rl e s M a r t e l .
 L ew i s the P i ou s 3 87

by riding with cloak an d sword an d golde n s p urs l ik e secular

’ ’ ’
n obles A m oo u s o zo en a i was establi shed betwee n clerics of
.

servi le birth an d thei r former lords p roviding that on d ue ,

com pen sation being pai d th e vi llei n m igh t go free Th e .

emperor took th e keenest i n terest i n th i s question N ot onl y .

h is favourite E bbo but several others o f h i s cou nsellors had

,

been serfs an d he was m ost anxi ou s to defen d th em alike

,

against clai m s o f thei r ancien t masters an d i n sul ts at th e han d s ,

— ’
Of the free born clergy An othe r decree O f Lewis deal t wi th
.

the tenure o f the lan ds of mon asterie s After stipulatin g that .

fourteen great houses owed both m ili tary service an d aid s i n

m on ey to the empire an d sixteen m ore th e fi n ancial du ty alon e
, ,

h e declared t hat al l th e other m o n asti c establi shm en ts i n h is

wi de d om i ni on shoul d h old thei r property O n th e simple u n der
taki ng that t hey s houl d pray for th e welfare of th e emperor
‘

’
an d h i s ch ildren an d th e em pire Th i s threw a vast q uan .

ti ty o f estates i n to ten ure by what later age s E ccl e s ia s ti c a l

’
called frank al moi n an d rel ieve d Of i ts natural l g i sl t i
‘
,
e a on .

responsibili ty to th e S tate m ore lan d than could pru den tly be

su ffered to go scot free -
.

’
An other sign o f Lewi s extrem e regard for the Church was
give n at th e very commencemen t o f h i s reign When pop e .

Leo t he aged pontiff wh o had crown ed Charles the

,

G reat d ied i n 8 1 5 th e R oman s elected i n great haste

, , ,

Steph en W as hi s successor The n e w Pope was c on secrate d

. .

withou t th e i m p erial sanction being s ough t but Lewis made ,

n o objection a n d sh owed n o wrath at th is di sregard o f his

‘

prerogative S o far was h e from resen tm en t that h e allowed

.

S tephen t o represen t to hi m that h is coronation at Aachen

’
ha d lacked the Church s blessing in s om uc h as h e h ad taken ,

the crown from the al tar w ith h is own han ds To ren der .

’
Lewi s posi tio n m ore l ike that o f h i s great father the P ope ,

proposed to cross the Alps an d recrow n hi s m aster Lewi s .

took n o offen ce at the sl ur thrown o n th e form o f L w i s e re

hi s election t o th e empire bu t recei ved S t ephen,

i n great state at Rheims an d was there crowned for th e ,

3 88 E u r op ea n H i s to i y 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

secon d ti me Th u s h e l oosen ed h is o w n grasp o n th e

Papacy i n on e year a n d allowed t he P o pe t o tigh ten h i s
,

grasp o n th e em p ire i n th e n ext .

I n 8 1 7 happened a n ac ci de n t wh ich wa s to have th e gravest

’
c o nsequen ces on th e e m peror s character an d fate H e wa s .

passi ng wi th all h i s t rain ove r a woode n gallery wh ich con

n e c t e d th e cath ed ral an d th e pal ace a t Aachen w he n th e ,

w hole s tructure cam e cra sh i ng t o t h e grou nd M a n y of t he .

c o urtiers were k illed an d th e emperor h i m se lf re c e i ve d i nj u ries

,

whi ch con fi n ed h i m to h i s be d for man y weeks The s h ock .

a n d th e n arrow escape fro m dea th set Lewi s m ed itating on th e

i nstabili ty o f l i fe an d t h e n eces si ty fo r bei ng always prepared
fo r the grave . H e h ad n ever bee n a ny thin g b u t sobe r an d
sel f contained bu t h e n ow fel l i n to a m orbi d a n d lugubriou s
-
,

frame Of m i nd w h ich n ever le ft h i m til l h is dying day I f h e

, .

had onl y h i th erto been a dari n g si n ner h e m igh t h a v e salved

h i s con science by tu rn in g t o a n ew man n er o f l i fe bu t being
al ready a man o f blamel ess a n d virtu ou s habits hi s co n versi on ,

o nly l ed h i m i n t o an exaggerate d ascet ici sm H e aban don ed .

t he stu dy o f profan e l i teratu re w h ich h ad h i th erto soothed hi s

,

l eisure h ours an d wou l d fo r t h e res t o f h i s l i fe read n othi ng

,

bu t th eol ogy We are e ve n tol d that h e d estroyed th e c ollee

.

ti on o f O l d Fran ki sh heroi c poem s wh i ch h i s fath er h ad made

-
,

becau se o f th e man y trace s o f h eath en i sm wh ich h e fou n d i n

them I t wa s wit h d i fficul ty tha t hi s cou ncill ors preven ted
.

h im two years later from layi ng d own h i s crow n an d re tiring

t o a m on astery .

’
O n e o f th e fi rst e ffe cts o f Lewi s m orbi d brooding over hi s
l at t er end wa s th at b e de term i ne d to make a settle men t of the
i n heri tan ce o f h i s o wn d o mi n i on s i n vi ew o f hi s o w n p os si ble
death H e was n o w only forty th ree a n d h i s el d es t so n was
.
-
,

bu t seven teen bu t he resolved t o tak e th e u n trie d b oy i n to

,

part n ersh ip an d a ss o ciate h i m wi th h im sel f s o th at h i s suc ,

cessi o n m igh t be assu red at hi s own death At the sam e t im e b e .

determi n ed to gi ve h i s you nger son s a ppan a ges i n th e real m

’
wh i ch woul d be th eir brother s The o l d Germa n i n stin ct fo r
.
 L ew i s the P i o u s 3 89

d ivi ding the patern al heri tage was sti ll t o o stron g t o be

res isted .

B y th i s P a r t i t i on of A a chen the fi rs t o f m an y parti tion s ,

tha t w e shall have to bear i n m i n d Lo thai r th e el des t o f , ,

’
Lewi s thre e son s becam e c o em p er o r an d was all otted as h i s
,
-
,
’
speci al province during hi s father s l ife th e k ingdom o f I taly
, , .

’
Pi ppi n th e secon d son was to i n herit Aqu itain e h is father s
, , ,

original porti on Le wis th e t h ird son was assigned B avari a

.
, , ,

an d the wild marc hes to i ts eas t along th e D anube Thu s i t .

’
was provi ded t hat at the em peror s death h i s su ccessor should
hol d the grea t b ulk o f the realm con tai n i n g b ot h i ts cap itals ,

Aachen an d Rom e — an d i n clud ing all th e oldes t Fran kis h

lan d s Neu stria an d Au strasia al ike The ki ngs o f Aqui tain e
,
.

an d Bavaria woul d be far t o o weak eve n i f u n i ted to troubl e , ,

h i m by rebell ion s bu t Lewi s en de d h i s dee d o f gi ft b y a

,

solem n exh ortat ion to th e you nger son s to obey T h p rt i t i e a on

the ir b rother visi t h i s court o n ce a year an d b e f A ch

, ,
o a en .

h i s hel pers i n peace an d war I n spi te o f the experienc e o f

.

el der generation s o f h i s hou s e h e ho p ed that h i s c hi ldren

m igh t d well together i n am i ty .

There was one c l au se i n th e Parti tio n of Aachen w hic h was » n

certai n t o cau se i n stan t trouble I t nam e d I tal y as th e special .

porti on o f t he y oung Lo thai r N o w I taly was a n d ha d been .

, ,
’
for seven years un der th e govern men t o f th e em peror s n e ph e w i
,

Bernard so n o f th at Pipp i n of I tal y wh o d ied i n 8 1 0 Charle s

,
.

the Great had place d h i m there an d wh ile obeyi n g Lewis as ,

a loyal subj ect he looked upon t h e Ci salpi n e ki ngdom a s h i s

o wn appanage an d expected to retai n i t through all chan ges
,

i n the imp erial su ccession B ern ard was de term i n e d n o t to be

.

ou sted from h is real m ; t he m om e n t that the n ews o f t he Par

t iti on o f Aachen reached hi m h e flew i nt o re belli o n H i s rule . .

had been popular an d th e Lombards gladly took arm s i n hi s

,

behal f an d seized all the passes o f the Alps H e even tried .

to sti r u p trouble i n Gaul by th e ai d o f h i s frien d T he o d u lph

b ish op of O rlean s .

H avin g go n e s o far , B ern ard wo uld h av e do n e wisely t o ab id e

 3 90 E u r op ea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

al together by th e arbi tram en t O f the sword I n stead O f doing .

’
thi s he held back an d n egotiated Relyin g o n th e emperor s .

w ell kn own character for j u st ice an d m ode ration B ernard left

-

h i s army an d wen t t o a co n ference at C hal on s sur S a On e - -

.

H e s oon fou n d t hat he had made a fa tal m i stake H e was .

treated a s a cri mi nal o n trial n o t a s a pri nce wh o cam e ,

t o n egotiate te rm s o f peace The co n feren ce adj oi ned t o .

Aachen an d t here Bernard an d h i s c hi ef adheren ts were

,

j udge d an d condem n ed T h e cou n cil d oom ed th e accu sed

.

t o death bu t Lewi s hal f mi ndful o f th e safe —

, ,
c o nduc t that h i s
-

am ba ssad ors had p rom ised c om mu ted th e sen te nce to bli n d ,

i ng . The cruel order wa s executed bu t s o clum s il y was i t ,

D
ea th f
carried
o
out that B ernard d ied o f th e sh ock
, .

B r
e rd r Rum ou r ad ded that i t was th e empre ss H e rm e n
na o

h ’
a y
gard e wh o had bribed th e execu tion ers to d o th ei r
'

work so badly Th e rem ors e t hat seize d the em p eror for

.

hi s broken safe con duc t a n d th e d eath o f h i s n eph ew n ever

-

c eased to v ex h is soul fo r al l hi s remai n i n g years I t wa s th e .

o n ly grave m oral o ffe n ce tha t h e had ever com m i tted an d h is ,

tender con science wou l d gi ve h i m n o rest .

’
Wi th i n a few m onth s afte r Bern ard s dea th Lewis was vi si ted
by a calam i ty wh ich h e con si dered th e fi rst in stal men t o f th e
d ivi n e ve n gean ce fo r the dee d O n h i s return from an exped i .

ti o n t o B ri ttany h e wa s m e t by the n ews o f th e death o f h is

w i fe H e rm e nga rd e I t was whi spered that sh e ha d bee n
.

’
largel y guilty i n th e m atter of h er nephew s death an d that sh e ,

, was n o w payi ng th e pen alty Le wis at a ny rate seem s t o have .

l
had th i s i de a H e had been deeply attache d to hi s i m peri ou s
.

wi fe and lea n t m uc h o n her gu idance D eprive d o f he r he

,
.

fell i n to a state o f m orbid m ela n ch oly far worse than an y h e ,

had ye t experi en ced H e sh u t h i m sel f up w ith hi s grief

.
,

n eglecte d state a ffai rs a n d talk ed o f ret iring i n to a cl oi ster

, .

\ fter s om e m on th s h i s m i n i s ters fou n d th e s ituati on growing

so i m pos sibl e that th ey took eve ry mean s t o rouse h i m I t .

was we are told h i s bi sh op s wh o to ok the s tra nge ste p o f

, ,

u rgi ng o n h i m that h e mu st marry agai n as a p ubl ic duty ; h i s

 L ew i s the P i o u s 39 1

secl us io n inj ure d the re al m an d h e m ust remember that m an ,

was n ot m ean t t o l ive alon e Whe n th e emperor woul d .

n either go to seek a wife n or take a prin ces s wh om h e h ad n o t

’
see n o n a n other s recomme n dation h i s m i n i sters brough t to ,

h i s c ourt al l the fairest of the daughters of th e cou n ts an d n obles

of hi s realm Th e sam e scen e wa s rehearse d that was a fe w
.

years later to b e seen at Con stan ti nople wh en t he w id owed

The o ph ilu s t o ok h i s secon d wi fe Am on g th e crow d o f lad i es .

presented b efore h im th e eye of Lewi s fi xed up on J u dith a, ,

n oble dam sel from th e S u a b i a n Alps daughter o f Welf cou n t , ,

of Altdor f Presse d h ard by h i s c ou rt iers he co n sen ted t o

.

take her to wife an d rued i t all h i s re m ai n in g years

,
Jud i th .

was fair w i se w itty an d learn ed above al l t he wom en o f

, , ,

her day an d soo n acqu ire d an emp ire over h er m elanch oly
,

s p ou se n ot le ss t h an that wh ich her predecessor B i r t h f

,
o

h ad exerci s ed Two years later she p resen ted hi m C h rl s t h

. a e e

B ld
wi th a s on whose birth was to cau se un en din g
,
a '

evils to th e empire The boy was n amed Charl es after hi s

.
,

great gran d s ire ( A D . . .

F o r a space th i ngs see med to be goi ng wel l with Lewi s

bu t three years after hi s seco n d m arriage the black shadow
cl osed i n agai n over t he u n fortu nate emperor S ome cau se to .
,

u s u nk n own suddenly p lun ged h i m on c e m ore i n to a fi t o f

,

misery an d con tri tion H e remembered fi rs t that h e ha d n ot .

p ardon ed all h i s en emi es as a good Chri stian shoul d F o rt hwi t h .

al l wh om h e ha d ever i nj ure d were recalle d from exile The .

b rothers Wala an d A da lh a rd were draw n ou t of thei r m onas

t e ri e s
. The p artisan s o f B ern ard o f I tal y wh o had su ffere d
blin din g an d impri son m en t were sen t back to thei r h om es .

S O an xi ous was th e emperor to aton e for his harsh n ess t hat h e

m os t u nwi sely procee ded to place th e m ost i mp ortan t o f t he
exil es i n h igh p osts of trus t H e m ade A da l h ard master .

of h i s hou seh old an d sen t Wala t o hi s son Lothair to

,

be h i s fi rs t cou ncil l o r
_
H e h ad forgotten tha t others .

m igh t n ot forgi ve as h e coul d hi m sel f ; th ese app oin tm en ts -

-

placed i n power m en wh o a t t he bottom o f th ei r h earts

39 2 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

c oul d n ever pardon thei r years of weariness an d cloi stered

secl us ion .

Afte r d oing wha t he could t o recom pen se h i s victi m s for the

i ndign i tie s they had suffere d Le wi s took an ot her an d a m ore
,

startl ing step H e sum m o n e d a g reat c ou n ci l a t At tign y

.
,

h ard by the royal c i ty of S oi s s on s a n d pr o ceeded t o d o pe n ,

an ce for h i s s i n s befo re th e face o f h i s magnate s Comi n g .

forth crow n les s an d robe d i n sackcl ot h he recapitulated al l the

faul ts an d m i sdeeds that ha d e ver bee n c om m itted from th e ,

execu tio n o f B ernard o f I taly d ow n t o ma ny tri fli n g t ra n sg re s

si on s w h ich m os t m e n cou n te d as harm less fail i ngs an d all
, ,

had long forgotten H e even rehearsed wi th a somewh at

.
,

un n ecessary scrupu lou sness al l th e cri mes an d sh ort com i ngs

,
-

o f hi s grea t fath er th e em peror Charles The n h e be sough t .

h is bi sho p s to l ay o n h i m such a mee d o f penan ce as m igh t

fi t these ma ny an d g r ievou s s i n s N ot u nwilli ng to take .

’
advan tage o f th ei r sovereign s h um iliati on th e prelate s pre ,

s cribe d to h i m a cou rse o f stri pes a n d fas ti n g a n d v igil s o f ,

p rayer alm sgi vi ng an d bu ildi n g o f ch u rch es al l of whic h he

, , ,

conscien ti ou sl y carrie d ou t Th e a s ton i sh ed cou n ts an d

.
.

p
en an c f cou rt iers saw thei r m onarch bari n g h i s back t o
e o

At t ig y
n
th e lash a n d d ischarging wi th e xacti tud e al l th e
,

h u m il iat i ng burde n s th a t th e cl ergy l ai d u po n h im I t was .

th e ac t o f a sai n t bu t n o t o f an em peror
,
.

N oth in g c oul d have don e Lewi s m ore h arm than t hi s ou t

burst o f labou red pe n itence Wh i le h i s subj ec ts m arvelled a t
.

h i s C h ri stia n humil i ty th ey d rew fro m h i s con duct th e con clu

,

si on that a s a sovereign he wa s n o l onge r t o be feared o r

o beyed .Th e Frankish n oble s w h o remem bere d th e high
han ded Charl es th e G rea t an d ha d l o ve d h i m i n s pi te o f al l
,

h i s harshn ess fel t m ore sc orn th a n ad mi rati on for an em pero r

,

wh o we pt an d grovel le d i n public over d eed s wh ich fe w i n tha t

age c on sidered si n s a t al l Th ey m uttered tha t Lewi s wa s n o
.

better tha n a bra i n sick sel f tortu ri n g m onk For the fu tu re

-
,
-
.

the re was an u n der cu rren t o f c o n tem pt fo r th e emper o r pass

-

i n g through the mi nd s o f m ost o f hi s l ay va s s al s I t n ee d ed .

 L ew i s t /ze P i o u s 39 3

bu t some s mal l e ncouragem en t t o tu r n thi s feeling i nto active

disl oyalty .

The year o f th e council o f Attign y was the las t year o f good

fortun e for Lewi s I t was foll owe d by p rem oni tory sym p tom s
.

o f evi l all over h i s realm Th e M oors o f Spain qu iescen t

.
,

for m ore t han twen ty years se n t a su dden i nvasion i n to S ept i

,

man ia . Th e D ane s drove o u t th eir king H arald a prot é g é ,

of Lewi s an d a favourer o f C hristian i ty an d began to ravage ,

th e Frisia n coast B u t th ere were worse foe s than Sarace n o r

.

D an e awai ti ng Lewi s i n h i s own h ouseh ol d H i s eldes t s on.

Lothai r un der the tutelage o f the un forgiving Wala ha d begu n

, ,

t o d isplay an alarm in g amou n t o f self will an d disregard fo r

-

’
h i s father s wi sh es an d t h e comm on weal o f the empire H e .

bore h i m sel f l ike a n i n depen den t king at h i s court i n Pavia .

I n 8 2 9 th e fatal civil w ars o f th e n in th cen tury began .

Charles th e y ou ng son o f Lewi s an d Judith had n ow attai ned

, ,

h i s seven th year an d h i s fu ture had becom e the greates t con

,

cern o f hi s father an d m other The emperor always broodin g

.
,

over hi s o wn latter e n d was convi n ced that h e had n ot l o n g

,

t o live h e was filled w i th fears as to the fate o f the J o seph of

h i s ol d age when h e should fall i n to th e han d s of h i s brethre n .

U rged on by hi s wife h e determ i ne d t o m ake s ome provision

for the boy i n the even t o f hi s own early death H e se t asi de .

the duch y of Alam an nia an d th e Swi s s an d B urgu n d ian

Alpin e lan ds t o th e south of i t as a ki n gdom for h i s you ngest
,

so n .

Lewi s declare d hi s pu rpose o f erect ing the ki n gdom o f

Al aman ni a at a great cou nc i l hel d at Worm s to wh ic h n o ,

o n e o f h i s t hree el der s on s vou ch safed h i s prese n ce Th e .

m om en t th at th e edict was publ ish ed m u rm u ri ng a n d con

sp i rac y bega n The n ew ki ngdom was carved o u t o f territory
.

wh ich woul d have ul timately falle n t o Lothai r bu t hi s two ,

brothers sh owed th em selve s qu i te as resen tful at th e parti ti on

as was the h ei r o f th e em pire Thei r wrath fou n d ven t i n
.

sla n derou s ru m o urs : they d id n o t s hr in k fro m asserti n g that

_

Cha r les was n o broth er o f thei rs B ern ard o f S e p ti m a n i a

.
,
 E u rop ea n H z s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
'

39 4 ,
-

’
they said ha d betrayed t hei r father an d seduced the ol d m an s
,

w ife Th e accu sati o n wa s absolutel y wi thou t foundation bu t

.
,

i t m et w i th wi de bel ief T he chi efs of t h e h igh er c le rg y jo i n e d

.

them sel ves t o the r o yal prin ces ; Wal a fou n d an opportun i ty
of revengi n g h im s el f by ai d in g t he co nspi rac y ; th e m i n i sters
E bb o a n d H i ld w i n wh o h ad fou n d t hem sel ves su perseded i n
,

favou r by cou n t Berna rd h ad th e i ngrati tu de t o j oi n i n the

,

pl o t a gain s t the man w h o had rai se d th em from the d us t .

F i rs t C i v i l Th e two ch ief prelate s o f Gaul A g o b a rd o f Lyon s ,

w "8 9
a 2 '

an d J esse o f Am i en s were al so o f th e con spira

,

tors A general revol t was plan n e d before the u n sus p ec tin g

.

Lewi s h ad an y n otio n tha t augh t wa s am iss .

I t burs t ou t i n the n ext spri ng A n e w risi n g o f the B reton s

.
‘

had call e d the emp eror o ff i n to a rem ote corn er o f h i s realm .

H e summ on ed a smal l force t o fol low hi m an d wa s s oon l ost ,

to sigh t o n th e d istan t western m o ors B ut th e ve ry m om en t .

that the em peror wa s gon e h i s en e m ies se t t o w ork to st i r u p

rebellion The implacabl e Wala harangued th e wes t Frank i sh
.

n obl es an d sen t l etters t o t h e ch ief eccl esiastic s o f Gau l i n

,

w h i ch h e accused the emperor o f ru i n i n g th e u n i ty o f th e Chu rch

an d the em pire th e o n e by h i s i n terference wi th th i ngs sacred
, ,

the o the r by hi s n egl ect o f thi n gs secular Lewi s had becom e .

a mere to ol i n the han d s o f a n a dul terou s wi fe an d an u n fait h

ful servan t an d i t wa s th e dut y o f goo d Christ ian s an d patri oti c
,

Frank s t o re scu e th e em pire from i t s shame Pippi n o f .

Aqu itai n e s oon gave p oi n t t o th e harangue s o f Wala b y l ead

i n g a Gascon army t o Pari s where al l t h e c o u nts o f N eustri a
,

j oi n ed h i m i n arm s Lothai r sen t w o rd from I taly that h e

,

was approach i ng at th e h ead o f a great h o st o f Lom bards .

Pre sen tly Lewi s cam e back from B rittan y t o fi n d th e lan d i n

arm s beh i n d h i m h e pene trated a s far a s Compi egn e be fore
h e wa s surrou n ded by th e fo rces o f Pippi n B ese t by a n over .

whelmi ng h os t o f enem ies th e army o f th e emperor d i spersed

, ,

a n d h e h i m sel f fel l i nt o th e han ds o f th e rebel s H i s son s .

pu t h i m i n con fi n em en t pe n di ng th e m eeti n g of a gran d

,

c ou nc il . The em press J ud i th th ey d ragged from san ctuary

 L ew i s ti l e P i ou s 39 5

an d force d u nder t he terror of d eath to take th e vei l at P o i c

tiers B u t when the great cou n cil o f th e emp ire assembled
.

at N i m u e ge n i n th e n ext spring a reacti on had followe d t h e

first succe s s o f the rebel li on Th e m ee ti ng wa s i n the heart
.

o f the ol d Franki s h la nd wh ere the rebel s h ad few sympa

,

t hi se rs an d the coun ts of th e Rh in el an d an d n orthe rn G erm an y

,

cam e u p t o i t w i th such a followi ng o f armed m e n an d such

a trucul en t aspect that the N eu strian s an d Lom bards wh o
accompan ied Pi ppi n an d Lothai r were qui te overawed .

Wi th ou t a sword being d rawn or a blow stru ck t h e tables

were c omple tel y tu rned an d the o l d em peror fou n d h is rebel
,

s on s at hi s feet H e sh owed h im sel f m erciful — al l t o o merc i

.

f u l — l n th e m omen t o f h i s triu mph Lothai r was despoile d of

.

h i s i mperial t itle b u t perm i tted to keep h i s ki ngdom of I tal y

, ,

an d sen t back u n h armed to Pavia P ippi n re turn ed to Aqui

.

tai n e pardone d al so Th e ran corou s Wala th e soul o f th e

.
,

c on s p iracy was sen t back t o h is cl oi ster at Corbey an d bi dden

,

t o l ive according to h is rule till h i s d i sloyal m urmurings p ro

,

v o k e d the em p eror i n to ban i shi ng h im i n to a l es s com fortabl e

seclusio n o n th e sh ore s of th e Lake o f Ge n eva L e w i s d .

The d i sco m fi t u re of the rebel s released th e t hr d d one an

w d
em p ress J udi th from her n un n ery ; b u t Lewi s re s re '

t hough t i t n ece ssary t o m ake her clear h ersel f by com pu rga

ti on fro m the cru el charges that had bee n b rough t again s t
her be fore she was rel eased from her m on asti c vows
,
.

Lewi s was once m ore em peror bu t the m ercy w ith wh ich

,

h e had t reated hi s con quere d e n em ies was d esti n ed to bree d

h i m u n en ding troubles H i s u n duti fu l son s had been le ft as
.

powerful as before an d i n s tea d o f feel i ng gratefu l for the ir

,

pardon were on ly v exed at th e m ism anagem en t wh ich had

,

ruin ed th ei r well plan n ed conspiracy Whe n th ey had retu rned

-
.

t o t heir kingdo m s t hey m erely took b reath for a space an d ,

the n recom mence d t hei r i ntrigue s Th i s t im e Lothai r an d .

Pippi n took p ai n s t o en l is t their y ou nger brothe r Lewi s ,

o f B avaria i n th e pl ot,
By h i s m ean s th ey h o p ed t o d ivi d e
.

German y for t h e you n g kin g was very popul ar i n hi s own

,
 ’

396 E n r op m n H z s t o i y 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

realm a n d cou n ted m any a dheren ts beyo n d i ts boun ds

, H is .

broth ers prom ised h i m the S u a b i a n l an d s of the b oy C harles

i f h e w oul d j oi n t hem i n a fresh rebell ion .

The n e w trouble s broke ou t i n t h e S pri n g o f 8 3 2 The fi rs t .

’
signal w a s gi ve n by Pippi n o q u i t a in e w h o fl e d fro m h is father s
,

court refused t o a tten d th e E aste r great council an d began t o

, ,

arm h i s Gasc o n subj ect s Th e em peror determi n e d t o tak e

.

war n i ng by th e even ts o f 8 3 0 an d n ot to be caugh t agai n u n pre

pared H e su mm on ed th e wh ole force o f t h e em pi re t o m eet
.

for a n i n vasi o n of Aqui tai n e B u t n ext cam e the n ews th at

.

Lewis of B avaria ha d rai sed an army call ed i n th e Slavs o f th e

,

S e on d C i v i l
“
c D anu be to h i s a i d an d con que red S u a b i a
,
For .

W ’
3
o n ce provoked to righ te ou s wrath by h is son s
m i sd oings th e em peror proclai me d th at Pi ppi n an d Lewi s of
‘

Bavaria h ad forfeite d th eir k ingd o m s H e a n n ou nce d tha t h i s

.

favou rite Ch arl es sh oul d be crown ed k i ng o f Aqui tai ne ,

a n d that Lo th ai r —wh o h a d n o t ye t m ad e an y h ostile m ove ,

t h ough h e was reall y i n secre t agre em en t with Pippi n an d Lew is

— sh ould b e the hei r of th e wh ol e of the re s t o f the em pi re .

Th i s n ew proj ect o f part iti on onl y d i d h arm I t d id n o t .

wi n th e ai d o f Lothair , i t provoke d the B avarian s a n d Gascon s ,

both o f wh om were m u ch attache d t o thei r you ng k ings ; wors t

of all i t cau sed the whol e em pi re to exclai m th at i t wa s the
,
’
em per o r s u nreaso n abl e fon dness for h i s younges t son that
was at the botto m of al l th e t rouble Why shoul d th e wh ole
.

em pi re be u pse t m e rely i n o rde r tha t Charles m igh t ad d

Aqu i tai n e t o S u a b i a ?
Matters s oo n w e n t fro m bad to worse Lewi s the Pi ou s lay.

a t Worm s ga theri n g th e l evie s o f Austrasia an d Saxon y ,

whe n i t wa s a n n ounce d n o t o nl y that Pippi n an d Le wi s o f

Bavaria were approach in g bu t tha t Lotha i r ha d ta k e n the
,

fi el d wi th t h e fo rces of I tal y a n d had cros se d th e Al p s

, ,

b r i nging i n h i s t rai n p o pe G regory 1V a pon ti ff wh ose el ec

.
,
’
ti o n h e had c o n fi rme d wi thou t hi s father s leave some years
befo re .

Lewis m arched sou thward t o mee t h i s rebellious son s T he .

 L ew i s tne P i o u s 39 7

h osts face d each oth er i n th e plai n s o f the Rothfeld an d a ,

battl e app eared im m inen t Bu t the p iou s emperor was still

.
'

l oth that blood sh oul d be shed i n the quarrel : h e hel d back

from th e fi ght a nd offered t o treat wi th hi s s on s Th e princes .

’
kn ew their father s weak ness an d learn t th at hi s army was m uch
,

di scouraged and dem oral i sed They d eterm i n ed t o try frau d

.

rather tha n force an d assen ted to t he prO po sa l t o n ego tiate

, .

Pope G regory le n t h im self t o t heir pla n s an d presen ted h im ,

self before t h e e m p eror i n the character of an impartial m edi

’
ator But h e had n ot been l on g i n th e o l d man s camp before
.

th e i mperi al army bega n t o m el t away T o al l appearan ce t he .

P ope had s ol d h imsel f to h i s patron ki ng Lothai r a n d used ,

hi s opp ortu n i ti es to per s uade th e c o u n ts a n d bi sh op s wh o still

rem ai n ed l oyal that they were adheri n g to a doom ed caus e .

There s oon were agen ts o f all k in ds passi ng bet ween the two
camps an d th eir i n fluen ce was fatal O n e after an o th er the
,
.

’
ch i ef leaders o f th e e mperor s host fled away by n igh t to
thei r hom es or w ith s till greater basenes s took their sol diery
,

over t o th e h ostile e n cam pm e n t At last a m ere h an dful .

mu stered u n der th e imperial ban ne r Looki ng rou n d o n thei r .

s can ty ranks th e emperor exclai m ed hal f i n sarcasm half i n , ,

Christian res ignati o n Go ye als o t o m y s on s i t w oul d be a

,

pity i f an y man l ost l i fe o r l imb o n m y accou n t ’ Th e coun ts .

wep t b u t they departed an d Lewi s wa s left stan ding al on e i n

, ,

the door o f h i s te n t wi th hi s wife at h i s side an d hi s s on

,

Charles cl i n gi n g to h i s han d From t hat day the T h L ag

.
e en

plai n of the Rothfel d was calle d by th e Fra n k s f ld ’83 3 e °

— ’
the Fi eld of Lies the L ii g e n fe l d th e C a mpu s M en o a ei i
u oi
p l u r i m or u m fi de/i z u s ex t i u ez u est ( Ju n e 8
‘ ‘
.

At on ce t he son s o f th e emperor swoope d dow n o n thei r

h e l ples s prey They promptl y rode over to t he emp ty cam p
.

o f Lewi s a n d after saluting their fath er with feig n ed respec t

,

set a guard ove r hi s ten t J ud ith was rei n vested w ith th e

.

’
veil an d sen t over the A lps to Loth air s fortress o f Torton a
, .

The b oy Charles was con signed t o t h e m onastery o f P rii m

"
"

h i s extrem e you th save d him b oth from bl in di n g an d ordina

 '

39 8 E n r opea n H J s / o i y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

t io n Th e o ld emperor was forward e d to t he abbey o f S t

. .

M edard at Soi sson s an d placed i n con fin emen t i n i ts tower

, .

The m o s t strenu ou s efforts were made t o i n duce hi m to abd i

cate a nd tak e th e m onasti c vows B u t t h ough he w oul d have .

been willing e nough to d o s o i f u ncon strai n ed Lewi s refused ,

t o lay d own hi s crown w he n force an d th reat s were empl oyed .

Fail ing t o i n duce h i m to resign Lothai r an d archbi sh op E bbo ,

assembled an ecclesiastical c ou n cil o f the bishops o f Gaul an d

form ally declare d th e emperor deposed for i ncapacity an d evi l
govern m en t The u nthink ing Lothai r was i ndeed p reparing a
.

rod for th e back o f al l futu re e mperors wh en h e allowed the

clergy t o u su rp such p ower !
Though Lewi s w oul d n o t ack n owledge that h e wa s l egally
deth ro n ed to d o penan ce h e was n o w a s al ways on l y to o
, , ,

ready an d Loth ai r a t las t resol ved t o be conten te d wi th thi s

, .

’
H i s father s h um i l iati on coul d n ot have bee n greater i f h e h ad
formally resig n ed t he c rown Th e o l d emperor cam e be fore
.

the al tar o f S t M edard w i th h i s s word an d wearin g the

j ewell ed i m p erial dal ma tic Then layi ng th e weap on an d robe
.

up o n th e al tar h e cas t rou n d h im sel f a cloak o f sackcl oth an d

read a declaration i n eigh t articles whereby h e accuse d himsel f ,

o f being by h i s sin s ,
th e sole cau se o f the d isorders o f th e
,

empi re H e began w i th de pl ori n g th e death of Bernard o f

.

I tal y the sol e cri me o f wh ich h e c a n fai r ly be h el d g u ilty

,
.

Then h e wen t o n to accu se h i m sel f o f m any fu tile offen ces

such as th at o f sum m oni ng an arm y t o m eet d uring the h oly
season o f Len t H e was eve n m ean en ough to own tha t h e had
.

Th p
e c f d on e evil i n perm i ttin g h i s w i fe t o th row o ff the
enan e o

St M éd d
m onastic veil an d clear hersel f by com pu rgati on
af
,

from th e charges b rough t agai n s t her : i n s o doing b e con ,

fe ssed he m igh t h ave abetted perj ury

, .

H a v i n g read th i s hu m il iat i n g docum en t th e o l d m an laid ,

the parchmen t o n th e al tar an d reti re d agai n to h is pri son ,

t o we r .Bu t th e degrading sce n e ha d n o t th e e ffect tha t

Lothai r had h oped M en fel t m ore i nd ignati on a gai n st th e s on
.

w ho coul d force h i s father to such hu m il iati on th a n con te m p t ,

 L ew i s t/ze P i ou s 3 99

for the fath er w h o coul d subm i t to i t Th e crowd outsi de th e .

ch urch tried to m ob Lothai r The coun ts o f Au stra si a an d

.

Saxon y began to gather armed ban ds agai n st h im Scare d at .

'

t heir approach t h e youn ger k in g fle d a w ay i n t o B urgundy .

The German counts at on ce d rew Lewi s ou t o f his confin em en t ,

girt hi m o nce m ore wi th t h e sword o f empi re an d p roclai med ,

h i m sol e rul er of th e Franki sh real m A con siderabl e arm y .

se t o u t to pursue Lothair an d th ough he ch ecked i ts p u rsui t a t

,

a skirmi sh n ear Chal on s sur Sa on e he n on e t he L w i g i

- -
, e s a a n

d s3 4
less with drew from Gaul an d took re fuge i n h i s
,
t f es °f e i

o wn ki ngdom o f Lombardy Thi s was th e fi rst bl ood actually

.

s he d i n battle i n the ci vi l war .

The ve ngeance o f H eaven s eem ed to pursu e th e un duti ful

s on an d h i s a dhere n ts S oon after h e had reache d I taly a
.

pestilen ce sm ote h is arm y an d sle w h i s c h ief cou ncill ors th e

, ,

age d Wala an d Jes se o f Am ien s toge th er wi th M a tfri d cou n t ,

o f O rlean s the chi ef of hi s m en o f war

,
Lothai r h i mse l f wa s .

s tricken down an d lay for m an y weeks at th e gate o f death

, ,

bu t he struggle d t hrough to give m any m ore trou blou s years

t o t h e empire . T h e t wo great eccl esiastic s wh o had sh are d
with Wala th e guil t o f th e ill egal depositi o n o f t he ol d
em p eror E bb o o f Rheim s an d Ag o b a rd o f Lyon s fell i n to
, ,

th e h an ds o f t he parti san s o f Lewi s B oth we re deposed from .

their archbi sh op ric s an d E bbo th e ungratefu l foster brother o f

,
-

th e emper o r was pu t i n to soli tary c on fi nemen t i n th e abb ey

o f Ful da i n th e heart of Germany .

S til l u ntaugh t by h i s m i s fortu nes Lewi s n o w took th e on e ,

step m ost certai n to al ienate hi s n ewly recovered p opulari ty .

H e su mmon ed a diet at Cr em ieux n ear Lyon s an d propose d , ,

i n i t a n ew di vi sio n o f h i s real m Loth ai r was to be pun i she d

.

b y b ein g d eprived o f all hi s do mi n i on s save I tal y Th e greater .

part of the con fiscate d lan d — Burgu ndy Pro ve n ce an d th e , ,

o l d Au s trasian real m abou t M etz an d Tri er — was t o go

t o the dearly loved Charl es n o w a boy o f fourteen years of
-
,

age .

Thi s proj ect pleased n ob ody I t ren dered Lothai r de s .

400 E u r op ea n H i s t o / j f
, 47 6 9 1 8
-

perate d id n o t pl ease Lewi s an d Pippi n an d d isgusted t he

, ,

wh ole o f t he Frank s wh o exc laim ed that th e s o le cause o f

,
’
the w ars wa s t o be fo u n d i n the emperor s d o ti ng a ff ecti o n
for h i s y o ungest s o n I t i s probabl e that an oth er w a r woul d
.

have broke n ou t i f a n e w di sa ster had n o t fall e n u po n th e

,

real m Th e fi rs t grea t Vi king i n va sion was j u s t about t o

.

d escen d upon the em pi re Th e men o f th e N orth h ad seen

.

i ts forces turn e d asid e i n to fratricidal civil war an d took t he ,

opportu n i ty t o mak e h avoc o f th e u n defe n de d coastlan d I n .

8 3 5 when Lothai r wa s be ing dri ven back t oward s I taly th ey ,

lan de d i n great force i n Fri sia an d sacke d U trech t i ts m etro ,

pol ita n ci ty a n d D o rst a d th e great harbou r a n d mart of th e

, ,

provi n ce — the predecessor i n c omm ercial hi st ory of Rotte rdam .

In 8 3 6 w h il e Lewi s had bee n plann i ng the red ivi s ion o f hi s

’
em pire t o the prej u d ice o f Lothai r at the di e t o f Cre mi eux t h e ,

D a n es harried Fland ers an d bu r n t th e n e w ci t y o f A n twerp .

Now i n 8 3 7 they fell u p o n th e i slan d o f Walch ere n was te d i t , ,

an d w o rked u p the Rhin e m ou th wi th fi re an d s word a s far a s

N i m u eg e n Rel in qu i shi n g h i s plan s agai n s t I taly Lewi s the
.
,

Pi ou s turne d agai n s t the h eathe n o f th e N o rth an d m arche d ,

Th D
e ane s rapidly toward s the scen e o f th ei r ravage s Bu t
on .

th R hi ’8 3 6
e ne
th e D an es d i d n ot yet dare t o face t he full
i mperial arm y of Frankland a n d fl ed away t o thei r s hips
,

leavi n g n o th i ng in fr o n t of t h e em peror bu t ravaged fi eld s

a n d bu rn i ng village s .

Le wi s retur n ed a t o nce to h i s u nwi se schem e s for en d owi ng

hi s well bel o ved Charles At a grea t counci l a t Aachen i n 8 3 7
-
.

h e gi rt th e b oy n o w age d fi fteen w i th th e royal s word

, , ,

c rown e d h i m wi th h i s o w n han d s a n d best o wed o n h i m n ot

,

o n ly th e S u a b i a n an d Burgun dian l a n ds that h e had been

p ro m i sed a t t he d ie t o f Cr emieu x bu t a great tract of G erma n
,

lan d u p t o th e b o rders of Saxon y wh ich had bee n previ o u s l y

,

allotted to Lewi s o f Ba varia Th e c o u n ts an d p rela tes o f th e

.

n ew real m were h i d d e n t o d o h om age to t hei r y o u n g rul e r ,

a n d become h i s m e n .

Lewi s o f B a v aria h owe ve r was determi n ed n o t t o give u p

, ,
 L ew i s Me P i ou s 40 1

h is p rom i sed i n heritan ce i n G erman y an d fou n d sup p ort ,

am ong al l the Teu ton ic p eoples east o f the Rh i n e w h o ha d n o ,

wi sh to be han ded over to th e b oy Ch arl es H e m ustere d an .

army sen t t o beg the help o f h i s broth er Lo thair an d s too d\/

, ,

o n the de fen sive T he o l d emperor repl ie d by su mm o n i n g a

.

grea t cou n cil at C eri sy— su r O ise at wh ich h e d eclared Lewi s

-
,

depri ved o f all hi s lan d s save B avaria an d con ferred th em o n ,

the you ng Charl es I m m ediately afterwards Pi pp i n o f Aqu i tai n e

.

di ed an d t he emperor p u t th e fi n ishin g touch es t o hi s u n

,
’
wi sd om by h an din g over th e whole o f P ipp i n s realm s to h i s
darl in g I f thi s p lan h ad been carrie d o u t Lew i s woul d h ave
.
,

left all the Fra nk is h emp i re n orth o f the Alp s save th e s i ngl e ,

duchy o f B avaria t o h is you nges t c hil d Th e wors t p oin t i n

, .

the proj ect w as that Pippi n left s on s an d th e el dest o f them ,

h i s father s namesake — was a growing boy o f abou t th e sam e

’

age as Charles Th e maj ority o f th e p eople o f Aqu i tain e

.

woul d have n oth i ng to say t o th e trans fer o f t hei r al legian ce ,

’
an d proclai me d Pipp i n the younger ki ng i n h i s father s ro om .

Th e empero r wi th tran sparen t i nj u stice declare d the boy too

, ,

young to reign a nd bade t he A q u i tan ian s sen d hi m t o A ac hen

,

to be train e d u p a t h i s cour t an d l earn th e art o f govern me n t

an art wh ich Lewis was s o competen t to teach When th e
you ng P ipp i n di d n o t appear Lewi s threatened h i s s ou thern ,

subj ects w i th i n vasi o n .

At on ce the civil war burst o u t i n E as t an d Wes t an d

S ou th Lewi s of Bavaria broke i n to S u a b i a 3 the Gascon
.

foll owers of Pippi n th e You n g marche d o n th e L oi re At th e .

sam e ti m e the D ane s wh o h ad b een narrowl y watch in g thei r

opportu n i ty return ed to the Fri s i an coas t destroyed D o rsta d ,

for th e secon d ti me an d h arri ed all th e lan ds abou t the R hi n e

’
m ou th ( Spring of
. At h i s wi t s e n d t o kn ow which foe
h e sh oul d fi rst attack th e emperor resolve d to seek ai d i n the
,

on l y place wh ere i t migh t s till b e fou n d Con signi ng to .

oblivio n al l m em ories o f the Lii g e n fe l d an d the hu m iliati on s ,

before the al tar of S t M edard h e besough t t he help of h i s

.
,

el dest s on Lothair o n h i s si de was an x i ou s to recover h i s

.

P E RI O D r . 2 c
40 2 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 1 8 -

b irth righ t a n d t o be recogn ise d on ce m ore as heir t o th e

,

em pi re H e h urried fro m Pavia to Worm s t o place h im sel f

.
,
’
a t hi s father s d isposi tion Kn eel ing before t he o l d m an i n
.

ful l m ee ting of th e great c oun cil h e con fessed h is i n gratitude ,

a n d repeated t reason s an d asked fo r pardon , B u t while .

osten sibl y cravi ng for forgiveness only h e had secretl y s t i pu ,

lated fo r reward Accordingl y Lewi s the P i ous n o w proclaimed

.

t h e l ast o f t he m an y parti ti on s of the e mp i re w hich had been

t h e ban e of h i s life Th e P /a ei z u zn o f Worm s stated that
.
‘

Lewi s o f B avaria sh oul d retai n h i s o rigi nal Bavarian duch y

alon e that th e younge r P ippi n shoul d b e wh olly disi nheri te d
, ,

a n d that Lothair an d C harle s sh ou l d d ivide the em p ire T he .

el d es t s o n an d h ei r took I tal y Saxon y S u a b ia al l th e Frankish

, , ,

lan ds o n th e M euse an d Rh i ne an d th e B urgun dian an d ,

Proven c al real m s al ong t he Rh one Th e d early loved Charle s .

-

was given Neu stria an d Aqu i tai ne th e two k i ngdom s w h ose ,

u n io n roughl y represen ts the m oder n lan d o f France 1

.

The year 8 4 0 sa w th e com m en cem en t o f th e civil war wi th ,

a n ew arrangement o f combatan ts Lewi s th e elder Loth air .

, ,

an d C h arles again st Lewi s th e you ng an d Pi pp i n Fortu ne

, ,
.

favoure d th e ol d m an for once H e fi rst m arched in to Aqu i .

T h i rd C i v i l tai n e d rove th e rebels before h im an d force d the

, ,

Wa r, 83 9 b is hops an d coun ts of th e lan d beyon d th e Loi re

to d o h om age t o C harles a t C lerm on t i n Auvergn e Con trary .

to h i s u su al cu sto m th e em peror d i d n ot pard on all h i s

enemies b u t be heade d several o f the chief parti sa n s o f th e
,

y ou ng Pi pp i n .

Aqu i tain e was n o soone r overrun than Lewi s w ith a vigour , ,

wh ich h e had n ever sh ow n b efore — i t wa s t he dyi ng fl ash o f

’
h i s l i fe s en ergy — wheele d h i s arm y n orthward an d m arche d
agai ns t h i s s on th e kin g of Bavaria S o rap id was the attack .

that the younger Lewi s was driven o u t o f S u a b ia chased al ong ,

th e B avarian bank o f th e D an ube and force d to tak e refuge ,

i n th e far O s t M a rk o n th e Slavo nic b order

~
The em peror .

1
t h a t i s m i n us t he l a n d s b e t w e e n R h o n e
F ra n c e , , a nd A l ps , and p lu s
F l a n d e rs a n d C a t a l n i a o .
 L ew i s tne P i o u s 40 3

h ad n o w vi n dicated by t h e force of arm s th e parti tion of

Worm s : Pippi n was d isi nheri ted an d Lewi s dri ve n back i n to ,

a n arro w corner o f German y A great cou n ci l was s u mm on ed

.

to m eet i n Jul y an d th e em peror cam e back by sl o w stages

,

towards th e Rh i n e to presi de over i t B ut t he doubl e cam .

pa i gn o f th e spring ha d bee n t oo m uch for h i m F o r s om e .

years h i s lu ngs h ad been affecte d an d th e ch ill s o f a M arch ,

an d Apri l s p e n t i n arm s i n th e open fiel d brough t o n a rapi d

consumpti on At Frank fort o n M ai n h e dism i ssed h i s army
.
- -

an d took t o h i s c ouch H i s strength dwi ndl ed as the week s

.

passed away an d at last h e bade hi s atten dan t s place h i m i n a

,

boat a n d row h im down t o t h e Rhi n e t o a sp ot wh ich h e l oved ,

well t he i slan d i n m i d s tream h ard by h i s palace at I n gel heim

,
-

where th e tower o f t he Pfalz n o w ri ses from the ra p i d ru sh i ng

waters T hen i t contai ne d on l y a ro ugh hu n tin g lodge
.

thatche d wi th reeds an d i n th at p oor s hel ter th e dyi ng

,

emperor li ngered o u t th e m idsummer w eek s lying for h ours ,

m oti onle ss o n h i s cou ch with a l ittle cros s clasped t o hi s

breast H i s w ife a n d hi s s on C h arles were far away at Poi e
.

tiers i n Aquitai n e an d di d n o t arri ve i n ti me to receive h i s

, ,

dy in g bl essing B u t a cro w d o f bi s h op s an d m onk s m us tere d

.

’
aroun d th e e mperor s deathbed to gl oat over hi s edi fyi n g en d
, .

’
O n J u ne 2 5 t h th e ol d m an s las t agon y seize d h i m 5 h e starte d
up i n bed cried i n a lou d voice O u t ! Ou t an d fell back
,
‘

dead leavi n g the clerical t hron g arou n d to debate D t h f

, ea o

L wis
wheth er hi s last words bade som e evil spiri t e i

depart from hi s presence o r referred t o h i s own settin g ou t

,

for a better world S o en d ed ki ng Lewi s

.
,

t t
R e x H l u d o vi cu s, pi e t a t i s a n u s a m i cus ,

Qu i Pi us a p o pu l o , d i ci t u r e t i u l o tt .

He left th e empire which h e had don e so much t o di s m ember

to be fough t fo r b y h is three son s an d hi s gran d son H e .

left the i mperial dign i ty fatally i n j ured by h is grovell in g ‘

pen ances at Attign y an d S oi sson s H e had allowe d the D an es .

to spy o u t t he n akedn e ss o f th e lan d i n the N orth wh ile th e

40 4 E u r op ea n H i s t o zy , 4 7 6 9 I 8
-

Saracen s ha d al ready landed i n I taly to th e S ou th H e had.

su ff ered th e cl eri cal powe r agai n an d agai n to u su rp au th ori ty

over secular th ings as n on e o f h i s predecessors o f the Franki s h
,

race M e ro vi n g or Karl i ng had ever don e Ye t i n spi te o f all

, ,
.
,

h i s pi ety an d c on scien ti ou s desi re to d o righ t —o fte n a s i t was

m i sled — gave h im a greater clai m t o the respect o f h i s subj ects
than di d th e personal character o f an y o f h i s s ucce ssors E re .

l o n g m e n cam e to l ook back to th e ti me of Lewis the P i ou s as

to a n age of com parati ve qu ie t and p rosperity .
 C H APTE R XX IV

D I S R U P T I O N OF T H E F R A N K I S H E M P I R E — TH E C O M I N G
OF T H E VI K I N GS

8 40 8 5 5-

W a rs o f t h e s o n s o f L e wi s the us—B a t t l e o f Fo n tena y a n d P e a c e o f Ve rdu n

Pi o
—T h e V i k i n g s a n d t h e i r sh i p s a n d m e t h o ds o f w a rfa r e —All W e s te r n

E ur o p e sub j e c t t o t h e i r i n curs i o n s —Th e i r i n v a s i o n o f N e ust r i a a n d

Aus t ra s ia —I n t e r m i t t e n t c i v i l wa rs o f th e F r a n ks —Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld a n d
h i s po l i cy —D ea t h o f L o t h a i r .

AT th e m omen t o f h i s death Lewi s the P i ous ha d b een at

e n mi ty wi th h i s s on Lewi s o f Ba varia an d h i s gran dso n Pi ppi n
th e you n g o f Aqu i tai n e w h ile h e h ad by h i s l ast parti tion
,

s tatu te p rovi ded for th e d iv i si o n of t he bul k o f h i s real m

betwee n h i s el des t born Lothai r an d h i s younges t b orn
-
,
-

Charle s I t seem ed n atural therefore t h at wh en after t he

.
, , ,
’
o l d man s death th e su cces si on troubl es broke ou t wi th
,

ren ewed v igou r th e Frank s o f N eu stri a an d Au strasi a an d

th e Lombard s woul d b e range d i n battl e agai ns t th e E as t
German s a n d t h e Aqu i tan ian s .

Such h owever was n ot t o b e th e case th e govern ing force

, ,

i n the fu ture course o f even ts was to be n o t th e dyi n g wil l o f ,

Lewi s th e P iou s bu t th e disp os ition s o f h i s three s on s an d

, ,

still m ore th e u nw illi ngn ess o f th e vari ou s k ingdom s i n thei r

heritages to ab ide b y the u nn atu ral p arti ti on — la st am ong s o
m an y — wh i ch Lewi s ha d left beh in d him .

The fi rst questi on to b e s ettle d wa s w heth er th e empi re i n ,

th e sh ape i n whic h Charles th e Grea t an d Lewis i n h is earlie r

years h ad ru le d i t was t o c on ti n u e There was n o doub t as t o
, .

405
40 6 E u r op ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

th e successi o n t o the i m perial t itle Lo thai r had be e n crown ed .

c o regen t em peror man y years b efore and before h i s father s

-
’
,

death h ad been restored to favou r an d ack n owl edge d as h e i r ,

t o th e i mperial thron e B u t w ou l d h e be strong en ough

.

to sustai n t he burde n w h ich had be en too m u ch fo r h i s

fath er t o combi n e a s trong h an d an d a con cil ia tory pol icy
, ,

an d h ol d th e vari ou s race s o f hi s subj ects toge ther wi th ,

ou t d riving an y o n e o f the m to d isc on ten t an d revol t ?

Lothai r was b rave un scrupulou s act ive t rou bled by n on e
, , ,

of th e m orb i d scrup l es an d ill p lace d ten dern ess wh ich -

C h a r a c te f had b een s o fatal t o h i s father Bu t h e was

r o .

L th i
O a f
full o f faul ts o f th e Op p os ite extrem e a s
o

,
’
dangerou s t o a ruler as h i s pare n t s over great m ild n ess an d -

l o n g su ffering H e wa s qu ite desti tute o f n atural a ffecti on as

-
.
,
’
h is d oings at th e p enan ce o f S t M e dard an d th e L ii g e n fe l d .

ha d sh own a n d wa s n ot m e rel y wan ti n g i n ten de rnes s for

,

h i s ki th a n d ki n bu t u nabl e even t o prete n d t o a reasonable

,

regard fo r broth er father o r n ephew E ve n i n that rough

, ,
.

ti me h i s u n fi l ia l co n du ct h ad shocked h i s ow n subj ects an d

foll owers H i s ambi ti o n an d pri d e were th e onl y se n ti m en t s
.

to wh ich a n appeal coul d be m ade wi th su ccess H e was .

fi lle d wi th an o verween in g idea o f th e great n ess of th e i m

peri al p osi tion t hough h e had d o n e s o m uch h i m sel f t o cau se
,

i ts degrada tion i n th e eye s o f all th e nati on s o f the em pire b y ,

h i s cruel an d offen s ive treatm en t o f h i s fa th er H e ha d taugh t .

the Franks that an emperor coul d be i m pri soned p reached a t , ,

d i ctated to publ icly ch asti sed depo se d an d h e fool ish ly sup

, , ,

posed that hi s o w n im perial dign i ty w oul d n o t su ffe r from th e

preceden t Th e m omen t h i s accessio n was proclai med i t wa s
.

kn own th at harsh un ben din g rigou r w ould reign al l ove r t h e

Franki sh realm .

’
Ye t Lothai r s si tuati on i n 8 4 0 w a s n o t d i s a dvan tage ou s ; h i s
en em ie s Le w i s an d Pi ppi n h a d been d riven i n to rem ote
c orners of the em pi re H e was l oyall y su pported by th e
.

Lombard s of h i s o l d I tal ia n ki ngd om an d by the Au strasian s ,

the o l d rul ing race w h os e i m perial is t ten den cies ha d been

,
 D i s r up t i on o f tb e F r a n k i sn E r ip i re 40 7

sh own by th ei r co nstan t fi del ity t o Le wi s t he P i ou s through

o u t al l hi s troubles Bu t Loth air wasted h i s s tre n gth by a
.

stran ge comb inati on of arb itrary clai m s a n d dilatory act ion .

H e began by showing th e most reckless disregard for hi s

’
father s dyi ng w i shes H e mad e n o secre t of h i s i n te n tion o f
.

stripping h i s young brother C harl es o f th e Neu strian do

m ini on s wh ich had been left h i m though th e ch il d o f h i s ,
’
fat her s decl in i ng years had been s p ecially c om m e n de d t o h i s
p rotecti on B u t h e d i d n ot follow u p h i s th reat s by an y
.

p romp t acti on agai ns t th e y oung k i ng bu t we n t o ff to ,

Germany :to con clude t he campaign agai ns t h i s W f th e, r o e

brother Lewi s o f B avaria which h i s dea d father t hr b t h ,

ee ro e rS

had left hal f fi n ishe d B u t on arri vi n g i n B avaria he d i d n o t

.

’
strike d own h i s en em y bu t made a six m on th s t ruce wit h
,

h i m an d returne d t o Neu stria

,
There h e m ade a feebl e .

attempt to pu t down Ch arles bu t fi n ally return ed to Aache n , ,

wh ere h e spen t th e win ter i n p omp a n d fe asti n g wh il e h i s ,

t wo broth ers w ere repairin g the ir stre n gth an d rai si n g large

arm ie s Lewi s an d C harle s ha d determi n ed to combi n e for
.
,

t hey saw that strict u n i on was n ee dfu l agai ns t t hei r com m on

e n em y .

I n th e spring o f 8 4 1 th e ki ng o f N eu st ri a a n d th e k in g o f
Germ an y e ach drew toward s the Rhin e wi th the p urp ose o f ,

j oin ing t hei r arm ies Th e em p eror was frigh ten ed by th e

.

strength wh i ch t hey di splayed an d t h ough t i t n ecessary t o ,

add to h i s own force s by e n l i stin g i n h i s c au se h i s on ly p os

sibl e ally H e h as til y prom i sed t o confi rm th e youn g Pippi n
.

i n h i s kin gdom o f Aquitai n e i f he w oul d lead th e m en o f th e

sou t h t o h i s ai d P ippi n accep te d th e offer an d brough t an
.
,

arm y o f Gascon s acros s B urgu n dy t o j oi n h is u n cle Mean .

w hile Charles an d Lewi s had successfully u n i ted th ei r h os ts at

Chal on s su r S aé n e i n su ch force th at Lothair feare d to figh t
- -

them H e hel d th em off b y d isloyal negotiati on fo r som e

.

weeks till h e h eard t ha t h i s n ep he w h a d arrived w ith all th e

,

forces o f Aqu itain e an d t h en su dd en ly decl are d tha t n othi n g

,

coul d b e settled w i th ou t a ba ttl e an d p roceede d t o attack h i s ,

40 8 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

brothers Th e arm ies m et i n t he valley of th e Yon n e an d

.
,

t here followed the d e ci si ve an d d isast rou s bat tl e of Fo nten ay ,

th e grea te s t figh t that E uro p e had seen si nce C harle s M artel

B tt l
a f sm ote t h e S arace n s at P o ic t i e rs Th e wh ol e of
e o .

F0n t ena
¥ th e n ati on s o f th e em pire were arraye d again s t
~

eac h o the r O n th e h ill by B retig n olles Lothai r with th e

.
,

h os t of Aus trasia face d th e Bavarian s an d S axon s o f ki ng

,

Lewi s I n th e plai n b y L e fa y t he N eu strian s of Charles were

.

drawn u p agai n s t th e Aqu i tan ian s of th e you ng Pi ppi n After .

m uch hard fi gh ting th e N eu s trian s gave way be fore th e

o n slaugh t of thei r south ern cou n t rymen bu t o n th e ot her ,

flan k t he G erm an s o f Lewi s w on a far m ore deci si ve a d va n

’
tage over th e em pe ror s Au stras i an foll owers Lothai r wa s .

driven dow n from the h i ll w ith fearfu l slaughter th e fl ower o f ,

th e n obil ity of th e la n d betwee n M eu se a n d Rhi n e lay dead

on the fi eld I t was a bl ow from wh ich Au strasia n ever
.

recovere d H e r an c ie n t suprem acy over th e res t o f the

.

emp i re w on s ix ge neration s back at T e st ry a n d Am bl eve

, ,

wa s go n e for ever Th e sw ord s o f t he Teuton s o f t h e

.

east had sh attere d th e re p u tati on o f her i n vi nci bil i ty an d the ,

balan ce o f p ower was perm a n en tly tran sferred eastward ( J u n e

2 th Th e slaugh ter wa s lon g rem embered an d th e
5 , ,

evil s wh ic h the em p ire was t o pa ss th rough du ri n g t h e n ext

forty years were o fte n ascribe d t o th e resu l t o f th i s fatal fi gh t .

’
‘
B y that day says the ch ro n icler Regi n o th e strengt h o f
, ,
‘

th e Fra n k s was so cu t d own a n d thei r fam e a n d val ou r s o

,

dim i n i sh ed that for th e fu ture th ey were n ot m erely u nabl e t o

,

exten d th e boun d s o f th ei r real m bu t eve n i nca pabl e o f p ro

,
’
tee ti n g thei r o wn fron tie rs .

Lothai r d rew back th e wreck s o f h i s arm y t o Aach en ,

w h il e Pi ppi n fled sou th ward t o A qu i tai n e Th e vic tori ou s .

brothe rs Charles an d Lewi s

,
-
d be fore th e year w as
,

o u t i n su bdu ing al l th e partisan s o f the em pero r both i n ,

Neu s tria an d i n G erman y I t wa s i n vai n tha t Loth ai r tri ed

.

t o sti r u p t rou bl e agai n s t th e m by su pporting a re belli on i n

Saxon y whe re i n th e wild er c orn ers o f th e lan d a ri sing o f

, , ,
 D i srup t i on of tue F ra n iri s} E n zp i r e
/
:
40 9

the servile classes an d th e fe w survivi ng adheren ts o f pagan i sm

, ,

was trou bli n g king Lewi s .

I n th e n ex t sprin g t h e kings o f Neu stri a an d Ger ma n y

un i ted their arm ie s to drive Lothai r from Au s trasia Th ey .

m et at S trasburg wh ere they s wore to each o ther T h O t h f

, e a o

th e solem n oath w h ose wordin g i s so preci ou s t o S t r sbu r g

,
a o

u s as gi vin g t he fi rs t m on u m en t o f th e new Fren ch an d Ger

man to n gues that were j u st devel o p i ng i n t hei r realm s Wh en .

the y m arched on Aach e n Lothai r was c ompelle d t o take h i s

wife an d ch il dren an d th e royal treasure h oard a n d fl y sou th -
,

ward i n to B urgu n dy I t was l ong rem em bere d how on h i s

.

re treat he brok e u p the great s ilver gl obe wh ich had been the ,

pride of h i s gran dfather C harle s t he G reat wh ereon were re ,

‘

p resen ted th e divi sion s o f t h e worl d an d th e con stellati on s of

,
’
heaven an d th e cou rses o f the plane ts an d di stribu ted
, ,

i t s fragm en ts as pay am ong h i s di sco n ten ted s oldi ery H e .

hal te d at Lyon s an d there h is p rou d sp iri t at las t b owe d to

,

t h e n eces si ty o f aski ng for peace fro m hi s brothers The t wo .

ki ngs sh owe d t hem selve s willi ng t o treat an d th e fi nal resul t ,

o f the n egotiati on s was th e f amou s Partiti on o f Verdu n It .

was in dee d n o t im e fo r civi l wars Wh i le t he broth ers were

.

fighting the D anes had s acke d Qu e n t o vi c a great p ort o n th e

, ,

E nglis h chan n el an d th e M oors h ad lan de d i n P roven ce a n d

,

harri ed Arl es whil e th e S lavs b eyon d the E lbe had shaken o ff

,

th e Frankish yoke .

Th e Parti tion o f Verdu n fi nally broke u p t he em p ire

’
.

Th ough Charles an d Lew i s restored t o Lothai r h i s capital o f u

Aachen an d con sen te d to recogn i se h im a s emperor an d t o

, ,

respect h im a s elder brother yet for the futu re they were for
,

al l prac tical p urposes i n depen den t sovereign s The scheme .

wh ich C harles th e Great h ad worke d s o successfull y an d ,

Lewi s the P i ou s s o feebl y fo r con du cti ng the govern m en t o f

,

Western Christen do m by an emperor assisted i n certai n o u t

lying region s by sub j ec t k i ngs o f h is k i n dred n ow defi n itely
-
,

disappeared Lothair had n o po wer o r au th ority outs id e the dis

.

triet wh ich hi s brothers co nsigne d to hi s di rect sovereign ty .

4 10 E u rop ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

E xami n i ng th e boundari es fixed by th e t reaty o f Verdu n ,

we fi n d t h e Fran k i s h em pire d ivided i n to three l on g strips

T r t y f ru n n ing from n orth to s ou t h I n th e ea s t Lewi s
ea o .

Ver d u n84 3
i
o f Bavari a t ook all the Teu ton ic lan ds ea s t o f

th e Rhi n e — Saxon y Thuringia Bavaria S u a b i a a n d th e

, , , ,

su zerai n ty over th e Slavs o f th e E l be an d Save H e ha d .

al so o n e smal l trac t o f Au stra sian terri tory wes t o f th e Rh ine ,

th e g au s o f Speier W o rm s a n d M ai n z L o thai r kept h i s o l d

, ,
.

ki n gd om o f I taly toge th er w ith a l o n g na rro w stri p o f terri

,

t ory reach i n g from the m o u th o f th e Rh o n e t o t h e m ou th s o f

th e Rh i n e a n d Yssel T hi s strip c o n si sted o f Fri s ia the bul k
.
,

o f Au strasia the m os t of Bu rgu n d y a n d Provenc e

,
Charle s
.
,
 D i s r up t i on o f tne F ra n /ri s k E mp i r e 41 I

took the western k ingdom s o f Neustria a n d Aqu i tai ne w it h ,

the Span i sh March an d western B u rgund y fo r hi s ki n sman ,

Pi p pi n was aban d o n ed t o h i s m ercy by t h e emperor an d th e ,

lan ds sou th of th e Loire a s wel l as th ose n orth were p u t i n to

, ,

hi s sh are o f the empire .

Two o f these realm s th ose of Charl es an d Lewi s rough ly

, ,

correspon ded to n ation al un i tie s Th e eas tern ki ngdo m com .

prise d all th e Teuton i c di stricts o f the em p i re except Au s ,

t ra si a. The western formed by th e u n i on o f N eu stria an d

,

Aqu itain e was the fi rst foreshadowing of th e m odern kingdom

,

o f Fran ce com pri sin g a s i t d i d th e bulk o f th e Rom an ce di s

,

t ri c t s o f th e empi re wh ere th e Teuton ic el emen t had alway s

,

been smal l an d was of late growi ng less an d less prom i

,
’
n en t B u t Lothai r s ki ngdom was an u n natural an d u nwieldy
.

aggregation o f d istricts co n n ected n ei th er by bl oo d by lan ,

guage n or by h istorical t ies I ts s hape seem s t o h ave b een

,
.

determi n e d m erely by the wi sh t o gi ve the emperor b oth

th e im perial ci ties — Rom e an d Aache n — together w it h a
strip o f soil con ven ien tl y con n ect in g th em Th e Teu ton i c .

Au stras i an s th e Ro man ce speaki ng B u rgun di an s an d th e

,
-
,

I tal ian Lombards were i n n o w ise fi tte d for un i on wit h

eac h other an d were certai n to dri ft ap art al ike from
, ,

geograph ical an d from n ati on al reason s Th ey onl y ad here d .

’
to eac h o the r fo r on e m an s l ife an d fell asu n der th e m om en t ,

that h e died .

For the future we sh al l fi n d th e wi de real m of Charl es th e

Great con stan tly ten di ng t o m i n ute sub divis i on Th e con -
.

n e c t i o n between east an d west n orth an d south grows con , ,

s t a n t l y less an d ere l o n g we sh al l be com pell e d t o tell o f t h e

,

fortu n e s of the d i fferen t fraction s o f t h e em pi re i n separate

chapters si n ce the ce n tral cord o f con n ecti on formed by th e
,

kingl y power has fi nally sn apped B u t as l ong as t he gen era .

t ion o f th e s on s o f Lewi s the Pi ou s survi ve s t here i s s til l a ,

certai n i n terdepen den ce between t he hi story o f the E astern

an d Western Franks an d i t i s n ot till t he deposition o f
, _

Charles t h e Fat i n 8 8 7 t hat th e el eme n ts o f di ssolutio n

, ,
4 12 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

final ly t riu mph a n d al l i deas of the reun i on of the e mp i re

,

are fi nally d iscredi ted .

I n 8 4 3 co mmen ces th e triparti te govern men t of Lothair th e

em peror an d h i s t wo brothers wh om we m ay for the futu re
, ,

s tyl e by their well kn own nam es of Lewi s th e G erma n an d

-

C harles the Bald th ough t h e latte r styl e can hardly ye t h ave

,

been appropri ate to th e N eu stria n king wh o had only j us t ,

celebrated h i s twen ty fi rs t b irth day H i s elder broth ers w ere

-
.

n o w m uc h ol der me n Loth ai r hav in g a ttaine d h is forty fourth

,
-

an d Lewi s hi s th i rty eig hth year Bo th o f t he m had n o w

-
.

growi ng son s wh om th ey we re ere long to take a s c ol league s

i n part o f th eir real m .

T he peri od from t h e Pe ace o f Verdu n i n 8 43 down t o th e , ,

deposi ti on of C harl es th e Fa t i n 8 8 7 i s t he m os t cha otic an d , ,

perpl exing p ortion o f th e h i story o f E urope wi t h wh ic h w e

have t o deal F o r th e fortu n es o f the vari ou s frac ti on s o f t he
.

Th g r
e ds san
Fran ki sh
on
e mpire are bou n d u p wi th th e fortun e s
o f L w i th
e s o f th e m e mbers o f a m uch ra m i fi e d royal h ou se
e
-

i n wh ich — with a lam en tabl e wan t o f origi nal ity

— th e sam e four nam e s are con ti n ually recu rri ng We h ave .

h i th erto been con fro n te d only w i t h t h e t hree brothers

Loth air Lewi s an d Charle s
, , N o w eac h o f these brothers .

h ad three son s an d wi t h a perversity w h i ch t he reader an d

,

th e writer of h i story mu st al ike d epl ore e ach c hri sten e d h i s ,

’
boys afte r th ei r u n cle s Lo thai r s three son s were Lewi s
.
,

C harles an d Lothai r ; Lewi s n am ed h i s offs p ri ng Lewi s

, ,

Ch arles an d Carl om an ; an d C harles wh e n a t a later date

, ,

h e becam e a fathe r foll owed th e evi l exampl e by c h ri ste n in g

,

h i s ch il dre n Lewis Charles an d Carl oma n also The ge a ca

, ,
.

l ogical tabl e m u st be kep t care fu lly be fore u s l e st fro m th e ,

sim ilari ty of n am es w e con fu se th e imperial th e G erm a n an d , ,

t he N eu strian h ou ses of th e K arl ings .

Th e dates o f the reig n s o f the t hree con ten ti ous broth ers
were fo r Lothai r 8 4 3 8 5 5 for Lewi s 8 4 3 8 7 6 fo r Charl es 8 4 3
,
-
,
-

877 .Wh en they h ad settled d o wn after th e Peace o f Verd un ,

th ey fou n d t wo problem s before them Th e fi rst was that o f .

4I4 E u r op ea n H i s t o i y 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

keeping th e peace wi th each other i n spite o f all the grudges ,

wh ich the eve n ts o f t he last fi ftee n years had rai sed betwee n
th em T he secon d wa s t hat o f defen di ng Western Chri sten
.

d om fro m th e assaults from with ou t w h ich were dail y grow ,

i ng m o r e an d m ore da n gerou s Th e D anes wh ose fi rs t

.
,

ravage s we have related u n der the reign of Lewi s th e Pi ou s ,

w ere n ow bec o m ing n o l onger a m ere pes t to th e coastla n d ,

bu t a seri o u s da n ger t o t he wh ole empi re The Saracen s were .

c om me n cin g a series o f daring piratical descen ts o n P rovence

an d I taly T he Slavs beyon d the E lbe were gradually t hrow
.

i ng o ff their allegian ce t o the empi re an d recom menc ing the ,

raid s o n German y from wh ich t hey had been staye d b y

,

Charles the G reat .

—
Fo r te n years ( 43 5 3 )
8 th e th ree
-
ki ngs succee ded con trary
to al l expectati on —i n keepi ng th e peace wi th eac h other B u t .

i n spite of thei r temporary freedom from civil stri fe they d id ,

n o t succeed i n defen ding thei r real m s wi th s ucces s from th e

ou ter barbarian As th e ch ro n icler observed the slaughter

.
,
‘

o f Fonten ay seem ed n o t o nly to have th i n ned the ranks of th e

Frankish h ost bu t t o have robbed them o f thei r a ncien t i n y i n

,
’
c ib ili t y i n war Th e o n l y o n e o f th e three k ings w ho sh owed
.

th e slightest power to defen d h is borders was Lewi s th e Ger

man hi s t w o brothers su ffered on e co n tin ual series of ch eck s
an d d isasters .

Th e mai n problem wh ich n o w con fron ted th e Franki s h

rulers was the n ecessity for deal ing fi rml y wi th the i nvasio n o f
th e Scan di navian pirates Th e people s o n b oth sh ores o f th e
.

Cattegat had n ow thrown them selve s h eart an d soul i n to th e

occupation o f harryi ng th e la n ds of t hei r s ou thern n eighb ou rs .

They w ere a group o f ki n dred tribes som e o f wh om dwel t i n ,

J utlan d an d the D ani sh i sle s others o n th e

T h Vi ki g s
,
e n .

southern an d south eastern shore o f th e S can

-

d i n a vi a n pen i n sula oth ers al ong th e fi o rd s which face the

,

G erman O cean Western Ch ri sten d om often s tyled them

.

i ndi scri mi nately by the n am e o f D an es th ough i n tru th th e ,

D anes w ere only th e m os t s o u thern o f the fou r races w h ic h

 D i s r up t i on o f tue F ra n k i sn E mp i re 415

j oi ne d i n the i nvasion s A better com m on ap p ellation was

.

t hat of Northmen which woul d i nclu de th e S wede t h e Goth

, ,

an d th e Norwegian as well as th e D anish dwellers i n J u tlan d

an d Zealan d .

From t im e imm em orial the dwellers on th e Cat tega t an d

th e sou thern Bal ti c had been a sea faring race Taci tu s i n -
.
,

t he second cen tury of our era speaks of Scan dinavia as power

,

ful by i ts fleets Th e J utes an d Angles wh o j o in ed i n th e

.

con quest of B ritai n had sprung from these seas Th e D anes .

had bee n a ddicted t o pi racy from t he earl i est tim es Far .

back i n th e sixt h cen tury we have h eard o f Viking chiefs l ike

, ,

k i ng H yg e l a c w hom T h eu d eb e rt the Fran k sl ew as occa

1
,

s i o n a ll y descen di ng o n th e Austrasian an d Fri sian sh ores .

B ut it was n o t til l th e en d o f th e eighth cen tury that western

E urop e began to b e seriou sly troubled by th e N orth men Th e .

cause of the su dden i ncrease o f activi ty am ong races wh o had

s o lon g spared th e feebl e real m o f th e l ater M e ro vi n g s i s d iffi
cult to ascertain Perhaps t heir co n stan t wars wi t h th e Saxon s
.
,

tribes as fi erce an d un tameable as them selves had kept them ,

qu iet B ut i t i s certai n that down t o th e ti m e o f Charle s the

.

Great the y were m ai nly exp en ding t hei r en ergy o n wars with
each other an d were s eld om heard o f i n the N orth Sea o r the
,

B ritish Ch an n el t ill th e Frankis h empire wit h i t s wealth i ts ,

com merce an d i ts C hri stian propagan da cam e u p to m eet

,

them b y sub du i ng the Saxon and Fri sian an d stretch ing forth ,

i ts b ou n dary to th e E i der .

I t was j ust after Charles the Great had con qu ered Saxon y
that the Vikings began t o make themselves fel t Th e earl iest .

trace o f them i n western waters was a petty rai d o n th e E ngl ish

town o f Wareham i n 7 8 9 Withi n a few years however th e
.
, ,

scop e o f t heir exped ition s enlarged 3 i n 7 9 3 they sacked t he

great Northu mbrian mon astery o f Li n di sfarn i n 7 9 5 they are
heard o f i n I relan d fo r th e fi rst tim e I n 7 9 9 they E a rly V i k i n g
.

began thei r assaul ts o n t he Frankis h empire by r a i ds .

a tran sien t rai d o n Aquitai n e From thi s ti m e forward

.

1
S e e pa g e 1 13 .
4 16 E u rop ea n H i s t o i y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

th ei r acti vi ty grew i ncessan tl y ; every yea r their fleets d is

covered som e n ew an d ri c h fiel d for pl un der till n o creek ,

or estuary o f western E urop e was u nkn own t o thei r pilots .

We have al read y tol d ho w Charle s th e Great was so vexed by

thei r first ravages that h e en deavou red to e stabl ish a defen sive
fl otilla i n all t h e p orts o f Neu s tria an d h ow i n t he la st years
,

o f hi s reign the D an i sh kin g G odfred had given h i m seri ou s

troubl e both i n th e sou th Bal tic an d o n th e Frisian sh ore l .

We h ave me n ti on ed the far m ore i mportan t descen ts o f th e

Viki ngs o n th e lan ds abou t th e Rhi n e m ou th i n t he days o f
the feeble govern m en t o f goo d k i ng Lewi s B ut n o w the .

evi l was stil l growi ng : t h e em peror Lothai r an d hi s brothers

were to fi n d th e N orth men n o l onger a nu isance bu t a real
d ang e n
Nothin g could have been m ore daring tha n th e e nterpri se
o f th e N orth m en i n se tting out fro m th ei r di stan t h om es t o

u ndertake t he lo n g voyage t o I relan d o r Aqui tai ne Their .

vessel s w ere m erel y long n arrow Ope n boats gen erally som e ,

seventy — fi ve fee t long by fi fteen broad bu t drawi ng on ly th re e ,

an d a hal f feet o f w ater Th ey rel ied o n rowi n g m ore than o n

- -
.

Th e ship f saili ng an d thei r o n e m ast coul d easil y be l owered

s o , ,

t h Vi k i g s
e nan d ge n erally was taken d own be fore a n aval e u
g ga e m en t Whe . n th e wi n d w a s favourabl e they u sed a single

large square sail bu t i t was always i n th e s trength an d en du r

,

a n ce o f the oarsmen that they pl aced th ei r mai n confi dence .

Th e ordinary Viki ng vessel seem s t o h ave carried abou t o n e

h u n dred a n d twen ty men so that to tran sport a n y l arge
,

body a n en orm ou s n umber o f sh i ps was requi red B u t even .

i n s mal l n um bers th e Vikin gs were very formi dable ; they were

al l professi on al warri ors w h o h ad taken by ch o ice to th e trade
,

o f sea robbers an d were i n dividually far su pe rior to th e forced

-
,

l evies w h om E ngl i sh al de rme n o r Fra n k i sh coun ts c oul d h u rry

i nto th e fiel d agai n st t hem They were far bet ter a rm ed tha n
.

th ei r o pponen ts al m ost e very ma n bei ng wel l equi pped with

,

the sh irt o f ring m ail an d steel hel m et wh ile among the Frank s
-
,

S e e pag e 3 6 7 .
 D i s r up t i on of fi re F ra n /ei s /z E mp i r e 417

an d E ngl ish onl y the n obles an d ch iefs were as ye t wearing

armour They were al so fighting for thei r l ives : th e pirate
.

defeated i n a strange coun try was completely at the m ercy o f

th e people of th e l and an d alway s d oom ed to d eath ; hen ce
,

h e fough t with a far greater fury than h i s en em i es Bu t at .

first th e Viking cam e t o pillage rath er tha n to fight : h e

was bette r pleased t o plu n der som e rich u nd efen ded p ort
or m on astery an d then pu t ou t to sea tha n to win p re ,

cari ou s spoi l after hard h an ds trokes wi th t h e levies o f an angry

cou n try s ide
-
.

B y thi s t im e the Vik in gs were o p erati ng o n every coast i n

wes tern E urop e I t was n ot o n l y the Frank s wh o were su ffer
.

i ng from th ei r i n roads : th e E ngl is h kingdom s an d t he Celts o f

S cotlan d an d I relan d were fari ng eve n worse Th e expediti on s
-
.

of th e N o rth men were n ow takin g tw o well m arke d cou rses ; -

o n e was th e voyage pas t Fris ia an d th e Rh in e m ou th to the -

Neustrian an d sout h E n gl i sh coasts The oth er was a lon ger

.

an d bol der ad ven ture th e open sea voyage from th e wes tern
,

capes o f Norway to O rkn ey an d S hetlan d an d then ce sou th ,

wes t past th e H ebri de s to I relan d Wal es an d wes tern E n g

, , , ,

lan d Th e former li n e o f p lu n der was m ainly i n the han ds of

.

th e D anes t h e latter was m or e frequ en te d by the N orwegian s .

Th e other two n orthern peoples th e Swedes an d Goth s of t h e

,

Scan din av ian pen in sula were al mos t en tirely engrossed i n

,

crui ses eastward agai n s t th e Slavs an d Fi nn s of th e Baltic

, .

I n th e earl ier years o f th e Viki ng raid s I relan d su ffered ,

m ore tha n an y other c ou n try ; i ts tri bal ki ngs coul d give n o

protecti on to their subj ects Th ere wa s n ot a to wn in th e
.

islan d defende d by a ston e wall an d t he n u merou s an d wealth y

,

m onasteries protecte d by thei r san cti ty alon e lay op en t o

, ,

the sp oiler Th e Norwegian pirate s ranged at their good

.

pleasure over th e face of th e l an d an d ere l ong T h V i k i g

, e n s

com men ced t o wi n ter i n i t i n s tead o f retu rning i l l d

,
n re a n .

hom e at th e en d of their su m mer ravages I t was i n I rela nd .

that th ey fi rst bethough t them o f sei zing th e whole cou n try

an d t urning i t i n to a new Norse ki ngdom I t was i n the very .

P E R I OD I . 2 D
418 E u r op ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

year of the Pa rt ition o f Verd u n that a great ch ief name d

Tho rg i s l gai ned ful l possess i o n o f the n o rthern h al f of t he
i sland an d establ i shed h i m sel f a s king therei n H e reig n ed
,
.

fo r t w o years ( 8 4 3 4 5 ) with great success til l h e fel l by cha n ce

-
,

i n to t he han d s o f M al achy ki n g o f M eath wh o d row n ed h i m

, .

i n L o ch O we l . Wi th h is death hi s ki ngdo m fel l t o pieces

, ,

a n d t he I ri sh recovered m uch t hat he had c o n quered from hi s

d ivided followers B u t the Nor wegian s s till clu ng to al l the

.

p orts an d h eadlan ds o f I relan d at D ubl in Wexford Wa ter , ,

ford Li merick th ey bu il t their town s an d waged co n ti n ual

, ,

wa r again st th e I rish o f the i nland parts .

E nglan d fared at fi rs t be tter tha n th e sis ter i sle The .

great over ki ng E cg b e rt o f Wessex was well able to defe nd

-

hi s real m m os t o f t he Vik ing attack s were beate n o ff w i t h l os s

a s l ong as E c gb e rt l ive d ( 8 0 2 B u t u n der h i s weaker so n
E t h e l w u lf th e invasi on s grew m ore an d m ore desperate a n d
persi sten t till i n 8 5 0 we fi n d th e fatal sign that th e Viki n gs
,

s u cceeded fo r the fi rst time i n win teri ng i n the lan d forti fyi n g ,

them selves i n th e Kenti sh i sl e o f Than et an d defying th e ,

fyrd of We ssex to force the narrow waterway that separated i t

from th e main lan d .

Th e Danes i n th e Franki s h em pire h ad a far harder task

than thei r N orwegian breth ren had fo un d i n I rela n d an d for ,

a lo n g t i me th ey sh owe d m uc h greater cautio n i n ve n tu ring

i nla n d or accep ti ng battle i n th e o pen fi eld Th ey fled befo re
,
.

th e face o f Lewi s th e P iou s w he n he m arched agai n s t th em i n

force a n d i t was only wh en the em pire was d istracted by ci vi l
,

w a r that they began t o strike b o l dly u p th e great rivers a n d

pl u n der th e town s o f the i n terior I t was o f evi l i m port for the
.

em pi re that j ust befo re th e figh t of Fo n te n ay they h ad sailed

u p the Sei ne an d taken Rou en a n d that j u s t before the

p a c i fi c a t i o n o f Verdu n they had e n tered th e Loi re an d bu rn t

the great port o f Nan tes .

B ut whe n a t las t th e Franki s h ki ngs h ad made peace th e ,

Vikings had grown s o bold tha t they persisted n on e the l ess i n

th ei r attack s o n the empi re and i n th e yea rs th at fo llowe d th e
,
 D i s r up t i on f
o t i l e F r a n k i sn E mp i r e 419

n ew partiti on thei r successes were even greater tha n before

,
.

All the three b rothers were sorel y beset by th e N orthmen an d ,

two o f th em m et wi th an u nbroken serie s o f di sasters Lewis .

th e German fared best th e tough S axon tribes o n T h D an e s e

hi s fron tier always m ade a goo d figh t agai n s t i S x Y n a 0fl ~

t hei r h ereditary e nem ies the D a n es B ut th e k in g saw the .

n ew town o f H am bu rg bu rn t i n 8 4 5 s o that i ts b ishop ha d t o ,

fl y to B rem en an d i n 8 5 1 a great ex p edi t ion sailed u p the

,

E lbe d efeated the Saxon cou n t s i n th e open fiel d an d return e d

,

i n tri ump h to J u tlan d after ravagi ng the eastern h al f o f

Saxon y .

Lothair an d Charles fare d far worse Th e emperor saw h i s .

coastlan d i n Fri sia ravaged every year I t was in vai n t hat h e .

trie d t o gai n p eace by givin g th e i slan d o f Walcheren to R o ri k

th e D an e o n t he con dition that he s hould hold i t as a fi e f an d
,

guard th e coast fro m hi s brethren O ther greedy adven tu rers .

followe d R o ri k till t h e whole Frisian coast was d otted with

,

their pal isaded fo rts an d t he ir ravages pen etrated farth er an d

,

farther i nla n d till Lothai r i n his palace at Aachen bega n to

,

tremble for h i s own safety .

B u t th e l ot of th e you ng k ing Charle s an d o f th e Western

Franks was still les s happy H i s real m had a far greater
.

le n gth of exposed coastlan d than thos e o f h i s brethren an d he ,

was vexed by a l ingerin g civi l war for Pippi n of Aqui tain e ,

had never acqui esced i n th e Partiti on o f Verdun an d di d h i s ,

best to mai n tai n h imsel f am ong h i s partisan s south o f th e

Loire After m uch figh ti ng he was compelled for T h V i k i g s
.
e n

two years to do h om age to Charles bu t h e soon i F r c ,

n an e

rose i n arm s again an d th ough h i s u n cl e ha d th e better i n th e

,

contes t h e was still able t o keep U p an obstinate resi stance .

Ch arles though t m ore o f subdui ng Pipp i n than o f warding o ff

the D an es an d wh ile he was e ngage d i n Aquitai n e t he
,

n orthern p arts o f h i s real m were fearfully maltreated As .

early as 8 4 3 th e V ikings foun d c o u ra ge t o wi n ter i n Neustria ,

seizin g an d forti fying the m onastery o f N o i rm o u ti e r on an i slan d

at th e Loi re m outh Next year th ey were en able d to strike fa r
-
.
4 20 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

i nland for Pi ppi n o verborne by h i s u ncle Charl es ma dly

, , ,

called i n Jarl O scar t o h i s ai d an d brough t th e Viki n gs up th e ,

Gar o n n e a s far as Toul o u se Th u s i n trod uced i n to the very .

heart of th e la nd they were able b o th to spy o u t i ts fertili ty

,

a nd wealth an d to j udge o f the weak n e s s an d u n wi sdom o f

,

i ts rulers I t was n o t Aqui tai n e h owe ve r that fi rs t fel t thei r

.
, ,

heavy han d I n 8 4 5 th ey b o ldly e n tered th e Sei n e m o u th

.
-
,

pl u n de re d Ro uen for th e seco n d ti me an d the n a scended th e ,

river far highe r tha n they had ever m o u n ted before u p to the ,

very walls o f th e ci ty o f Pari s Charles dared n ot face th em .

,

bu t fo rti fied h im self o n t he heigh ts o f M o n tmartre and t he

abbey o f S t D en is while th e Vikings en ter e d Pari s an d
.
,

plu n dere d par t o f the ci ty t i ll st r icke n by a n i nexplicable , ,

S
ac k f
o
pa n ic t hey returne d t o the ir boats a n d d ropped
,

P
ar S i d ow n the river again I t was certai nly n o t t he .

a rmy of Charle s tha t they n eed have feare d fo r he was thi n k ,

i ng o f payi n g tribu te rather t ha n o f figh ting I ndeed he pai d .

7 0 0 0 l bs of gol d t o t h i s parti cular horde t o i nd uce t he m to

.

qui t Neu stria altogether .

From th i s tim e o nward th ings wen t from bad to worse fo r

k i ng Charles largel y owing to h i s o wn fa ults as we may
,

guess for he was a fickl e u n steady pri n ce al way s taki ng n ew

, ,

e n terpri ses i n han d an d d ropping the m sud den l y for som e

fresh plan before h e had half carried the m o u t Nor wa s h i s .

courage bey o n d su spicio n ; m ore than on ce i n h i s reign h e fl ed

o u t o f da n ger w i th a n alacri ty that sa v o u red m ore o f fear than

o f pru de n ce After the sack o f Pari s we fi n d t he Vik i ngs

.

h overin g ar o un d Neu stri a o n e very s ide one ban d ha d estab

l i sh e d i tsel f at th e Loi re m outh a n oth er u nder Jarl O scar -
,

watched the Garon ne an other devo ted i t se lf t o the harry ing o f

,

Flan de rs an d go t succou r wh e n requi red fro m the em peror

,
’
Lothair s Dani sh vassal s o n th e i sle o f Wal cheren S pas m o d i .

call y h urryi ng a bou t fr o m o n e sce n e o f Viki ng ou trages to

an other ki ng C h arl es protec te d n othi ng a n d al ways arrived
, ,

t o o late to b e of u se I n 8 4 7 eve n Bordeaux th e greatest city of

.
,

southern Gaul was beleaguered by the V ikings o f the Garon n e

,
.
 D i s rup t i on o f tne F ra n k i s h E mp i re 42 I

Thi s drew h i m for s om e t i me i n to Aquitain e where h e for ,

once won a succe ss by s ubd ui ng h i s n ephew Pippin wh o ha d

, ,

los t h i s forme r populari ty am ong th e Gascon s by S ck f a o

h i s d runken an d di ssol u te habi ts an d stil l m ore B d ,

or ea u X

by h i s u nwisdom i n call ing i n the D an es to h is aid B u t .

while Charle s l ay i n Aqu i tai n e h e su ffere d a greater d isaster

than an y he had ye t sustaine d by th e l oss o f B ordeau x whi ch , ,

was betraye d t o J arl O scar b y a di scon ten ted p arty am ong i ts

ci tizen s 1 I t was to be h el d for som e years by th e Vikings
. .

The plun der o f such a weal thy pl ace was wel l calculate d t o
draw m ore D an ish ho rdes i n to Gaul Th e c on di ti on o f th e .

cou n try grew progress ivel y worse an d we trace every year t he ,

advan ce of th e ships o f t h e in vad ers farth er an d farther up

th e great ri vers I n 8 5 0 th ey grew s o b ol d th at t hey forti fied
.

’
themsel ves high u p the Sei n e at Gi va ld s dyke ( Jeu fosse ) where ,

they abode m an y m on th s an d harri e d al l the cou n try abou t

Beauvai s an d M an tes at thei r lei sure Charles t he Bald e n .
,

gaged i n a luckless campaign again st th e rebel li ous duke o f th e

Breton s b rough t n o succou r t o h i s subj ects Nor was h e o n
,
.

t he sp ot wh en i n th e followin g year G hen t T e ro u an n e and all , ,

Flan ders were wasted Bu t probabl y th e cap ture o f h i s ol d

.

e nemy Pippi n of Aqu itai n e aton ed i n h i s eyes fo r m any such

disasters : the preten der was taken prison er by the cou n t o f
Gascon y wh o handed hi m over to th e king I n accordan ce
,
.

with ol d Franki sh custom Pip p i n was s horn an d th rust in to a

mon astery .

Th e year 8 5 2 saw th e kingd om o f the West Franks si nk to a

worse degradatio n than a n y i t had ye t k n own When the Dan es .

agai n cam e u p th e S ein e an d settled down i n their form er

’
camp at Gi va l d s d yk e Charles called o u t th e T h D s,
e ane
wh ol e force of Neustri a i n such overwhelm i ng t G i l d ’ a va s

strength th at t he Vikin gs reti red beh in d thei r dyk e ~

pal isades an d stood o n th e defen sive Prese n tly the emperor .

Lothai r wi th h i s warl ike Austrasian s m arched up to help h i s

1
By J w s cc rd i
e a o ng to o ne a cc o u n t by t
p a r i s an s of P i ppi n a cc o rd i n g
to a no t h er .
42 2 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

brother an d the d oom of th e D anes seemed se ttled B u t a fter

, .

a si ege wh ich lasted ma n y m onth s Charles suddenl y m ad e ,

p eace with G o dfred th e D ani sh c h ie f a n d gra n ted him a great

su m of m o n ey a n d a tract o f lan d a t the Loi re m ou th t o settle -

in . Lothai r a n d th e Aus trasian s wen t h om e i n w rath an d ,

n ever aide d th e fickle Neu stria n ki ng agai n .

Whe n th e Frank s were fari ng s o badly onl y on e m ore evi l ,

was wan te d to make thei r posi ti o n u n bearable an d t h i s was ,

’
so o n added I n 8 5 3 the te n years peace be tween th e broth ers
.
,

w h ich had lasted si nce th e treaty o f Verd un was broken The , .

restless peopl e of Aqu i tai ne th ough th ey h ad l ost thei r ol d

,

leader P ippi n h ad determ i n ed t o try a n ew revol t They

,
.

secretl y se n t t o ask ai d o f Lewi s th e G erm an an d h e t h ough , ,

m uch vexe d a t h om e by D an i sh raid s an d Slavon ic rebel lion s ,

was u nwi se e n ough t o gra n t th ei r peti ti on H e sen t h i s secon d .

C i il W
v f
ar o
so n Lewi s the S axon wi th a S u ab i an a nd
,

L w is
e d an B avarian arm y i n t o Aqu i tai n e an d d eclared wa r
, ,

C h rl s ’8 54
o n h i s brothe r Ch arl es Th e em peror Lothair
a e ‘

.
,

w i t h m ore sen se tha n h e us ual ly sh owed tried t o keep h i s ,

bro the rs from th e mad s truggl e B u t i t wa s n ot owi ng t o h i s

.

e fforts that the German s fi nally co n sen ted to retire from

southern Gaul bu t m erel y because th e younge r Lewis m et less
,

support th an h e ha d exp ecte d from th e Gasc o n rebel s a n d ,

fou n d h im sel f n ot stron g e n ough t o re si st th e ful l force o f

Neu stria wh en h is u n cl e t o o k th e fiel d agai n st h i m B u t
,
.

wh i le th i s w h oll y u nj u stifiabl e civil war was i n progres s th e ,

D anes had m ade worse h avoc than eve r i n th e m id s t o f th e

kingd o m o f Charl es They bu rn t Na n tes an d Tou rs harried
.
,

th e d istricts arou n d Anger s an d Bl oi s an d onl y checked the ir ,

course before th e wal ls o f O rlea n s wh ic h m ade a stu rd y an d

,

succe ssful re si stance ( 8 5 3

I n th e n ext yea r th e last formal l i nk w h ich stil l h el d
t o gether th e Franki sh em pire was snapped by t he d eath of th e
em pero r Lothair O l d before h i s ti me an d feel ing h i m sel f
.
,

utterly un abl e t o cope wi th th e evi l s o f the day h e re ti red ,

i n to the m onas tery o f Pr um an d d ied there on l y a few week s

,
 D i s r up t i on of tne F r a n ei s /i E mp i re 42 3

after he ha d take n the c owl H i s he terogeneou s emp i re at

.

on ce fel l to pieces h is el dest s on Lewi s w h o had already been

,

crown ed as h i s col league i n the em p ire by p op e Sergiu s

wa s l eft n othin g bu t the ki ngdom o f I tal y w i th
which to support hi s i mperial ti tl e T o I tal y h e
.
D
th
th f
35 5““
ea

at ,
o

was a good ki n g bu t beyond th e A l ps h e m et w i th n ei ther

,

respect n or o bedience H i s y ou n ge r broth ers Lothai r an d

.

C harles d ivi de d between them t he n orthern parts o f their

’
father s h eri tage Lothai r took Au strasia C harles took Pro
.
,

vence an d th e in termediate B urgu n di an territory was parte d

,

bet wee n them .

Thu s th e u n i ty o f the E mpire had alread y b ecom e a

m ockery a n d t h e real m of C harle s t he Great was spl i t i n to
,

fi ve kingdoms owin g e ach other n either l ove n or h omage

,

n or succour i n t i me o f n ee d .
 C HA PTER XXV

TH E D A R K ES T H OU R—A D . . 8 5 58 87

FR O M T H E D E AT H O F LO T H AI R I . T O T H E D E P OS I T I ON
OF CH A R L ES THE F AT

C i v i l W a rs fo ll o wi ng t h e d ea t h o f L o t h a i r I —K i n g L e wi s a n d hi s rul e i n
G e r m a n y —Tr o ubl e s o f L o t h a i r 1 1 — T h e V k i n g s i n N e us t r i a —
.

. i Th e E d i c t
o f P i s t re s —Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld i v a d e s Aus t r a s i a — Tr e a t y o f M e se n
n r

Ch a rl e s m a d e E m p e r o r —De a t h o f L ew i s t h e G e r m a n —W a r o f h i s so n s '

w i t h Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld —Ch a rl e s s succ e ss o rs i n N e us t r i a —D i s a s t r o us r e i g n
'

o f Ch a rl e s t h e F a t — H e u n i t e s G e r m a n y F r a n c e a n d I t a ly —Th e s i e g e o f
, ,

P a r i s —Ch a rl e s t h e F a t d e t hr o ne d .

E VI L a s h ad been th e years wh ich followed th e figh t o f

F o n t e n a y an d th e Parti ti o n of Verdu n t here were yet worse ,

t o com e I t wa s th e m i serabl e pecul iarity of t he seco n d half

.

o f t he n in th cen tury th at i t saw C hri sten dom for t h e fi rst ,

tim e sin ce t h e comm encemen t o f th e D ark Ages begi n t o ,

si n k back towards prim i tive c hao s an d barbari sm Afte r fou r .

hu n dred years of vac illating b u t perman en t p rogress toward s

u n i on strength an d civil i satio n i t bega n t o relaps e an d t o
, , , ,

fal l back i n to di sun i on weakn ess an d ign oran ce The reign

, , .

o f Charles th e G reat was t o be for l ong years th e high water -

mark o f p rogress The su cc eedin g age rapidly si n k s away

.

from i t and i t i s n ot til l th e m iddle of th e ten th ce n tu ry that

,

a rise i s on ce m ore percepti ble .

Bu t o f al l the evil years th ose between 8 5 5 an d 8 8 7 were to

be th e wors t Th e c ivi l wa rs o f th e d escen dan ts o f Lewi s th e
.

Piou s grew ye t m ore n um erou s a n d rui n ou s th e raid s of th e

Viki n g an d th e Saracen S pread w id er an d w ider ; the rulers o f
t he Fra n kish em pi re were st ruck by a bligh t dyi n g young o r ,
4 24
 The D a r k es t H ou r—A . D . 8 5 5 887 -
42 5

si nki ng wi th imbecili ty l on g before they attai ned m iddle age ,

till th e race seemed desti n ed t o disa p pear from hi st o ry wi th

the fall o f t h e cowardl y u nwiel dy i ncom p eten t Ch arle s the
, ,

Fat i n 8 8 7 .

Th e new troubles began imm ediately on th e death o f th e

e mperor Lothair H i s th ree s on s cou l d n ot agree i n th e
.

’
parti ti on schem e wh ich d ivi de d thei r fa ther s realm Lewi s .

th ough t th at h i s share — th e k i n gdom o f I taly — was far t o o

smal l for the eldes t son an d th e b earer o f th e i mperial ti tl e ;
Lothai r I I gru dged th e share o f B urgun d y w hich fell t o h i s
.

you nges t brother Charles an d tri e d t o seize th e you ng man i n

, ,

order t o ton su re h i m an d con fi n e hi m i n a m on astery Before .

an y ac tual bl ow had been struck p ope Ben edi ct I I I succeeded

,
.

i n patchi ng u p a truce between the brothers bu t they drew ,

apart an d sou gh t alliances agai n s t eac h ot her Lothair leagu ing ,

hi mself wi th h i s you n ger un cl e C harles th e Bald C i i l w ,

v ar on

wh ile Lewi s becam e t he frien d o f h i s el der u ncl e t h d t h f e ea o

L th i L ° a r
an d n amesake Lewi s o f Germ an y Two years .

later th e fam ily grudge l ed t o war u n der the m os t di sastrou s

c ircum stances Ch arles an d Loth ai r I I had u n i te d th ei r
. .

force s for a deci sive cam paign again st the D an es wh os e mai n ,

arm y un der a certai n Ja rl B i o rn h ad c on cen trated i tself i n

, ,

cen tral France an d burn t Pari s Chartre s an d Bl oi s

, , ,

Before th e u n ite d s trength o f N eu stria an d Au s trasia th e

Vikings drew back an d stockaded them selve s i n a great cam p
,

1
on th e S ei ne i slan d of-
O is sel Charles blocke d thei r way
.

down th e river b y bringing u p a fleet wh ich h e had lately ,

b u il t t o th e n ext reach an d determ i ne d t o starve th em ou t

, , .

Afte r a si ege o f th ree m on th s i t seem ed likely that h e woul d

ach ieve h i s purpose ; the D anes coul d n eit her beat h i m n or
escap e h im B u t j us t a s th ey were abou t to y i eld there cam e
.

to t he kin g o f Neustri a th e dire n ew s that hi s brother Lewi s

wi th the whol e h ost of German y had crosse d the Rhi n e an d ,

was m archin g agai n s t h im Charles s traightway rai sed th e

.

1
An i sl a n d or pe n i n sul a , e n cl o s e d by th e S e i n e a n d it s m a rsh e s , n ea r
Bo u g i v a l , c l o se t o P a r i s , i n d e pa r t m en t S e i n e -e t -O i s e .
426 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

siege o f O i ssel al lowed the D anes t o bu rn h i s fl eet an d t o

,

escape a n d t urn ed eastward t o resi st k i n g Lewi s

,
Thei r .

arm ie s me t at B rien n e su r Aube bu t wh en Ch arles saw t he

- -
,

overw hel mi n g n umbers o f th e G erma n s h i s heart fa iled hi m

a s i t o fte n d id i n such a cri s i s — a n d h e deserted hi s m e n
an d fled away i n to B u rgu n dy D eprived o f thei r l eade r h i s .

vassal s lai d d ow n th ei r arm s an d m o s t o f th e Neu strian ,

c o u n ts a nd bi shop s d i d h omage t o ki ng Le w i s Th e Germa n .

’
m onarch w a s abl e t o take p ossessi on o f h i s bro th er s realm ,

a n d t o p roclai m h i m self kin g o f t he Wes t Franks H is .

n eph ew Lothai r 1 1 sen t to beg f o r peace fro m h im an d i t

.
,

seem ed that Lewi s w oul d beco me th e su ze rai n o f all th e

real m s n orth of the Alp s B u t wh e n h e had s en t away h i s .

German troop s a n d prepared to wi n ter n ear Laon am o n g th e

,

L w is th G
e e
Neu
er
strian s th e i n stabil i ty of h i s power was sud
,

m an w i s
n d
an d e n l y sh own Charle s the Bal d had s ecretly
.

1
°S eS Neu s m a
raised a n e w army i n B u rgun dy H e m arch ed
'

o n Lao n at m i d wi n ter -
Th e Neu strian s refused to take arm s
.

agai n st thei r o l d ki n g an d Lewi s wi th a very smal l following

, , ,

had to fl ee away i n to Ge rman y an d abando n h i s ligh tly wo n ,

-

dom i n i on o ver th e Wes t Fran ks E igh tee n m on th s later the .

br o thers made peace bu t n o treat y cou l d u n d o th e

harm that th e reckless am bi ti on of Lewi s had brough t o n al l
th e Frank i s h rea l m s While th e w a r wa s ragi n g th e Dane s
.

ha d swep t u n resi sted acro ss the lan d O n e a rmy had harrie d .

th e Rh i n e m ou th an d Flanders an o the r ha d s acked Am i en s

-
,

a n d N o yon ; a thi rd had e n tered th e Med i terran ean sai le d u p ,

th e Rho n e a n d d eva s tate d the d i s ta n t k ingdo m o f Charl es o f

,

Proven ce th e y ou nge r brother o f Lo thai r

,
a weakl y you th
racked by epi lepti c fi ts wh o sh owed n o power to d efen d h i s
,

fertil e la n d from th e pi rates The last named ban d h ad even .

-

extend ed th ei r ravages t o I tal y a n d sacked th e fl ou ri sh ing ,

port o f Pi sa i n th e real m of th e e mperor Lewi s 1 1 .

From th e ti m e of h i s w i cke d i n vasion o f Neu stria onward ,

king Lewi s the G erman w ho had h i therto bee n th e m ost ,

fo rtu n ate o f th e Karl ing ki nd red began t o mee t wi th troubles ,

 The D a rk es t H o u r—A D . . 8 5 5 8 87
-
427

to w hich he had as yet bee n a s tranger Wh ile hi s atte n ti on .

ha d been directed to the Wes t hi s Slavon ic vassals i n th e ,

E as t t h e A b o t ri t e s rose i n rebellio n : wh en h e led a h ost

, ,

agai n st them in 8 6 2 h e encoun tered d efeat an d di saster Bu t

,
.

a far w orse bl ow came fro m the bo som o f h i s ow n fam ily : h i s

elde st s on Carlom an wh om h e had m ade govern or i n Cari n
,

thia a n d t he Bavaria n O stmark rose i n rebellion agai n st h i m

,
.

Twice conquered an d t w ice pardoned ( 8 6 1 an d F a m i ly

t he u ngrateful p rin ce took arm s fo r a thi rd t r ubl s f o e o

t im e i n 8 6 4 an d com pelled h i s fath er to gran t

222 3
5 3
,
3
h i m a share i n th e ki n gdom Feel ing o l d age
.

closing i n upo n hi m an d h opi n g to c on ciliate al l hi s s on s

, ,

Lewis t he German n ow took t h e u n wi s e step o f d ividi ng h i s

realm i n h i s ow n l i feti me j ust as h i s father Lewi s the P iou s
,

had done H e m ade Carl om an king o f Bavari a an d Carin thia

.
,

designa ted hi s secon d son an d namesak e Le wi s to be ruler

o f Saxon y T huri ngi a an d F ra n c o n i a an d h i s youn gest b orn
, ,
‘

Charle s the Fat to reign i n S u a b i a an d Rhae tia He

m u st h ave fel t that t he h an d of H eaven was lai d u pon
h i m i n pun i sh men t for hi s o w n u n fi l ia l co n d uct t o h i s father
Lewis th e Pi ou s for h i s son s deal t wi th h i m j u st a s h e had
,

deal t wi th the o l d em peror thirty years before T hey m ur .

m ured abou t the boun daries of thei r h eri tages an d ofte n took ,

arm s both again st h im an d again st each other Four separate .

rebell io n s of on e or an othe r or all o f the prin ces are recorded

b etween 8 6 5 an d 8 7 6 But Lewi s th e German was m ade o f
.

stern er s tuff than h i s pi o us father Tim e after tim e h e b eat .

down th e ris i ngs of h i s u n du ti ful son s an d after each victory ,

had th e con s tancy or t he feeble n es s to res tore the m t o thei r

former h on ours .

I n spi te of these reb elli on s a n d i n spite of th e s uccessful

,

revolt fi rst of the A b o t ri t e s an d then o f the M oravia n s b oth

, , ,

of w hom s ucceeded i n shaking o ff thei r d epe n de nce o n t he

emp ire German y was yet the m ost fortun ate o f the five Frankis h
,

real m s T he subj ects of the t hree s on s of Lothair L wh o were

.
,
’ ’
n o w ruli ng th e fragme n ts o f thei r fa ther s m id dle k i ngdom ‘
,
428 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 —
9I8

al l ha d evi l t imes t o e ndu re O f th e troubles of Lewi s .

the em peror i n I tal y we ha ve spoken el sewhere H i s two .

you nger brothers fare d eve n w orse T he epile p t ic Charles o f .

P rovence w a s vexed by Da n i sh an d Saracen pi ra te s a s wel l as ,

by th e i n trigu es o f h i s greed y u n cl e Charles the B ald who ,

trie d to ad d Provence t o hi s o w n Neustrian d om ini on s th ough ,

h e wa s e n ti rel y u n abl e to protect even Neu stria fro m the

D a n es Lotha ir 1 1 i n Aus trasia — o r Lo t h a ri n g i a a s m e n n o w
. .
,
’
bega n to cal l i t after i t s ruler s n am e — was s ore vexed by
,

th e Viki n gs who pu she d u p the Rh i n e as far a s Neuss an d

,

K ol n B u t he wa s far m ore i n com m oded by a trou bl e for

.

whi ch he was hi m se l f e n t i re l y respons ibl e H e d rove from h i s .

cou rt h i s wi fe T e u t b e rg a an d ope n ly m arried hi s con cubin e

,

Wa l d ra d a N o t onl y d id thi s bigam y l ead to th e rebelli on

.

’
o f T e u tb e r a s broth er H k
u b e rt
1
abbot of S t
Th B ig m y
e a g ,
.

o f L th ir
o M aurice an d duke o f T ra n sju ra n e Burgun dy bu t
a
,

I" i t brough t o n a quarrel wit h the Papacy whic h

’
embittered al l Lothair s remaini ng years Pope N icol as 1 . .

’
se t h i s face agai n s t the ki n g s u n righ teou s deal ings Wi th hi s
wi fe an d repeatedly su m m oned h i m t o take h er back t o h i s
,

couch H e i nd uced th e n obles of Lo t ha ri n g ia t o compel th ei r

.

king t o dism i s s Wa l d ra d a for a seaso n ; bu t Lothai r was

’
passi on s slave a n d s oo n chase d away h is wi fe a n d agai n se n t
,

fo r hi s m i stre ss Thi s brough t o n h i m fresh thu n ders o f

.

ecclesiastical cen su re an d for the las t ten years of h is li fe h e

,

l i ve d u n der th e ban o f the Pope till i n 8 6 8 he wa s s o fa r ,

hu mble d th a t h e cam e i n perso n be fore H adri an 11 an d m ade .

a com plete su rrender — on e o f the greates t trium ph s that th e

Papacy h ad won si nc e th e days o f G re go ry the G reat .

B u t th ough th e other Franki sh ki ngdom s fare d ill i t was , ,

a s u sual th e real m of Charles the Bal d which bore th e brun t

,

o f the trou bl es of Ch ri sten d om Th ere were n ow perman en t .

1
I I u k b e rt w a s t e x t r a o rd i n a ry ch a r a c t e rs o f t he t i m e a
o ne o f th e mo s ,

w a l i k e a bb o t w h m a i n t a i n e d a w h o l e h a r e m o f c o n cub i n e s a t hi s f s t n e ss
r o a

o f S t M a u r i c e e n Va l i s a n d k e pt c
.
- -
a , t r o l o f Va ud a n d Va l a i s a g a i n s t a ll
on

c o m e rs i n c lud i n g h i s l i eg e l o rd t he k i ng
, .
 Tue D a r /ees t H ou r— A D . . 8 5 5 887
-
429

h o sts o f D an es establ i sh e d at th e m ou t h of each o f t he great

rivers o f France th e S omme Sein e Loi re a n d Garonn e — the
, , , ,

chroni cle s cal l t hem p ag a n i S eou a n en ses o r p a g a n i L eger

‘ ‘

’
en s es as a m at ter o f cou rse Settled on i slan ds o r h eadla n ds
.

at t h e m ou th s o f th ese rivers eac h ban d devoted i tsel f to the

,

harrying of th e di strict which lay i nlan d from i ts camp Mean .

wh il e Charles the Bal d left th e defence o f h i s real m t o th e

,

l ocal coun ts an d bu si ed h im sel f i n fu til e sch em es for sei zin g

,

th e realm s of hi s n ephe ws Charles o f Proven ce an d Lothai r

,

o f Au strasia . H e was n ot w ith ou t h i s fam ily trou bl es ; hi s

ch il dren — l ike thos e o f Lewi s t he German — were very un rul y
h is secon d son Charles w h o rule d Aqui tai n e fo r h im tried to
, ,

m ake hi m sel f an i n d epe n de n t ki ng an d h i s younge s t son

,

Carloman was detec te d con spi rin g again st h i s li fe fo r wh ich ,

he was con dem ned t o blin di ng an d p erpetual i mprison m e n t .

B u t neither dom estic trouble s nor Viking rai ds coul d k eep

Charle s fro m hi s un en d in g i n trigues agai n s t h i s brother an d
hi s n eph ews Wh en h e d i d turn h i s atte n tio n t o h is own
.

proper bu sin ess h i s m e th ods o f deal i n g wi t h th e p robl em s t hat

,

lay before h i m were n ot generally wi se N 0 m an o f real i n .

t e l l i ge n c e w oul d have con ceive d th e plan that Charles i n ven ted

i n 8 6 1 fo r get ting r i d o f th e Vikings by bribin g the m to fi gh t
’
each oth er . Th e wily pi rate s too k the ki ng s subsi dy an d ,

then al l u n ited agai ns t him a s m igh t have been expecte d

, .

There were h owever two scheme s for organ i si ng resi st

, ,
’
ance again s t th e D an es which were broached at Charles s
counci l b oard that are worthy of n ote as foreshad owin g th e ,

m eth od s by which the i n vaders were ul timately t o be checked .

The great di fficulty wh ich the Frank s had h i therto fou n d i n

deali ng wi th th e Vikin gs cam e m ain l y from two reason s —the
p ower o f rapi d m ovemen t whi ch th e en emy p ossessed an d , _

th e fact that walled t own s were s til l very rare an d castles ,

qui te u nkn ow n i n the Franki sh real ms s o that th e in habitan ts

,

o f the cou ntryside had n o secu re sh el ter to s eek Th E di t f .

e c o

I n th e E dict o f P i stre s ( 8 6 4) Charles sh ows P i t 86 4 s re s , .

so m e a p preciation o f thes e two d i fficul ties an d en deavours to ,

4 30 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

di spo se o f th em by very well j u dged m easu res T o c ope .

wi th th e swiftly m o ving Vikings h e determ in es to mak e ,

th e Frank i sh a r my m ore m obile al so H e en deavours t o sub .

st i t u te caval ry fo r th e u nwi eldy ma sses of l ocal levies b y

orde r i ng t ha t o rn n es p ag errses F r a n ei q u i eou os lza oen t a n t
‘

na /rer e passa n t t u rn s u i s eo rn i t i ou s i n no stern ca n t The day o f .

feudal caval ry w a s i n deed j us t begi n n i ng an d from th e m ili tary ,

p oi n t o f vi ew thi s e x ped ien t was perfectl y co rrect ; u nhappil y

fo r th e m o n arch y th e day o f t h e feu dal h orsem an was al so to
,

be th e day o f feu dal separat io n an d d i su n ion Th e secon d .

m easu re ordered b y th e E dict of P i s tre s wa s o n e fo r th e

s tre n gtheni ng of the k i n gdom by m ean s o f forti fication s The .

particular plan w hi ch Charles m o st favo u red was that o f bl ock

i ng th e grea t rive rs by forti fi ed bridges To w n s lyi n g besi de .

t h e water were t o th row a bri dge across w ith a forti fie d bridge ,

head o n th e o pposi te ba nk Thu s th e V iki ngs would fi n d

.
,

thei r a d van ce u p th e l ines o f th e ri vers com pletely checked ,

si n ce th ei r b oats woul d n o t be able t o pass u n der th e bri dge s

til l th e forts at eith er e n d o f the m w ere tak en a l ong m atter ,

i n th ose days whe n th e art o f p ol i orcetics had s un k s o l ow

,
.

As t h e fi rs t frui ts o f th i s edic t a strong bridge was bu il t a t

,

P i s t re s i tsel f l ow down the Sei n e w h ere th e E ure fl ows i n to

, ,

t h e grea t river I t wa s at the sam e ti m e that th e i slan d o n

.

wh ich o ld Pari s l ay was furn i sh ed wit h two forti fied bridges ,

across th e n orthern an d s ou th ern b ra n ch es o f the Sei n e j oi n ,

i n g i t t o th e mai nl an d I t wa s m ainl y owi n g to th ese defe nces

.

th at wh en n ext attacke d by th e Viki n gs Pari s th ough twi ce

, , ,

plu n dered before h el d o u t su ccessfull y a n d di d n ot su ffer

, ,

capture an d desolati o n afte r i ts th i rd si ege .

I n 8 6 3 d ie d Charles ki ng o f Provence t he you ngest s on

, ,

o f th e em peror Lothai r I carr i ed o ff by th e epilepsy that had

.
,

al ways a fll i c t e d hi m H i s l i ttl e ki ngdo m was d i vided betwee n

.

h i s broth ers Lotha ir 1 1 an d Lewi s th e E mpe ror to the great

.
,

d isco n ten t o f Charl e s th e Bald wh o woul d have l iked to h ave

,

a han d i n th e partiti on B u t Charles was vexed for th e

.

m o m en t n o t o nly by the Dan es bu t by hi s n eph ew Pi ppi n ,

 T/i e D a r /z es t H o u r—A D . . 8 5 5 8 87
-
43 I

th e You nger wh o had escape d from h i s m on as tery an d rai sed

,

a n ew rebellion i n Aqu itai n e Wh ile the kin g was deal in g .

with h i s nephew the Viki ngs of the Loire m ad e th e wid es t

,

sweep roun d cen tral Fra n ce that an y hord e had ye t carried o u t

,

burn ing P o i c t i e rs Angoul em e Perigueux Li m oges T h

, , d f , ,
e en o

Clermo n t a n d B ourges i n o n e s i ngl e i n cursi on P i p p i f n o

q
.
,

The reb el P ipp i n j oin ed hi m sel f to th em an d i s A u it i a ne ‘

actual l y said t o have cast asi de hi s C hri stia n i ty an d worsh ipped

Wode n i n their camp — ex m a n u cao ap os t a ta f o et u s r i tu r n ,
’
pag a n or u m sero a o i t H e fell i n to h i s u ncle s h an ds before th e
.

year was ou t an d with th e gen eral approval of the Franks was

,

con dem n ed t o perpetual sol i tary confi n emen t .

F o r a sh ort ti m e after these even ts the Wes t Fra n ki s h

k i n gdom was destin ed t o h ave a time o f comparative re spit e
from the i n roads o f th e N orthm en I n 8 6 7 al l th e Viki ngs o f
.

the West massed t hem sel ves for an attack o n E nglan d w h i ch ,

had hi therto suffered comparatively little at t hei r han ds .

’
From t he cap ture of York i n 8 6 8 d own to Al fred s great
victory at E t ha n d u n e i n 8 7 8 th e m ain strength of the D an es
,

was spen t i n w i n n i n g a ki n gdom b eyo n d th e ch an nel Th e .

i nvasion o f E nglan d was n ot for plun der but for co n quest an d ,

’
‘
the Great Army led by two ki n gs an d fi ve j a rl s was composed
, ,

o f al l the hordes w ho had been harryi ng th e Con ti n e n t fo r t he

last t e n years I f they di d n o t succeed i n sub d uing th e wh ol e

.

of E nglan d they yet w o n t he great D anelagh the eastern hal f

, ,

o f the i slan d an d settle d down i n th e lan d th ey ha d su bdued

,
.

B u t t he c o mparat ive i mm un ity from Viki n g rai d s wh ich

the Frank s obtained between 8 6 8 an d 8 7 8 was n o t o f m uch
profi t to them I n 8 6 9 Lothair I I died as he was j o urn eyi ng
.
, .
,

h om e from I taly i n a d iscon s ol ate m ood after m aking hi s ,

peace wi th the Pope l

From that ti m e there was u n en d ing
.

t rouble between h is two elderl y un cles as t o wh ich of them ,

sh oul d i n heri t Austras ia th e o ld Franki sh lan d between

,

Scheldt an d Rhi ne t he an cestral h om e o f their race At th i s

, .

momen t began th e s truggle bet ween France an d G ermany fo r

1
S ee p a g e 4 2 8 .
432 E n rop ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

’
th e i n heritan ce o f the m iddle kingd om w h ich Lothai r had‘

ruled a struggl e w hich was to last for a th ou san d years W ho

,
.

c a n say eve n yet i f th e fi n al fate o f Aach en a n d Trier a n d

Metz an d Li ege a n d Strasbu rg has bee n set tle d ?

’
The m omen t that Charles th e Bal d h ear d o f Lothai r s
death he crosse d th e M eu se a t th e h ead o f th e l evies o f
,

Neustria a n d h ad h im sel f crown ed at Metz as k ing of Loth a

,

t i ngia Th e B reton s were i n open revol t that year an d a s tray

.
,

V iki ng band wa s l evyi n g con tri bu tion s o n Tours an d Angers ,

b u t for such m in or di stracti on s Charles cared l ittle Lewis .

t h e G e rma n wa s bedrid den at th e m om en t an d hi s son s were ,

absent o n an expediti o n again s t th e Slavs B ut n ex t spring .

h e took the fi el d w ith all G erm an y a t h i s back w hereupon ,

C harl es th e Bald al ways be tter at seizing tha n at ,

P rt i t i
a f
on o

Me rs e n 87
figh ti ng 0
d.
re w back an d,
offered t o n egotiate ,
.

The n fol l owed the Parti ti on o f M e rse n by wh i ch ,

L o t h a ri n g i a wa s divi ded bet wee n th e brothers : Charl es took

’
the Bu rgu n dian part of h i s deceased n eph ew s real m a n d ,

western Au strasi a as far as t he M euse ; Lewis had Fri sia an d

ea stern A u strasia T o Ch arl es th ere fore fell Lyon s Vi enn e
.
, , , ,

Besan c on Toul Verdu n Cambrai Li ege T o n ge rn M e ch e l n ;

, , , , , ,

t o Le wi s Aach en K oln Trier S trasbu rg U trech t N i m u e g e n

, , , , , , ,

an d Maestri ch t .

Bu t th e Treaty o f M e rs e n wa s onl y to p atch u p m atters

for a s hort ti m e Five years o f c om parative res t fol lowed
.
,

w hi l e th e Vi ki ngs w ere stil l em ployed i n E nglan d agai n st the

gallan t k i ngs o f Wessex B ut i n 8 7 5 d i ed th e em peror Lewis
.

the last o f th e th ree son s o f Lothai r I Like h i s t wo .

broth ers h e l eft n o m ale hei r a n d there followe d o n e m ore

, ,

struggl e bet w ee n h i s aged u ncles Lewi s the G erman an d

Charl es th e Bal d fo r the i mperial t itl e a n d the I talian realm .

N o w as always C harle s m oved wi th ras h an d i ncon siderate

, ,

C h rl s t h
a
h
e
aste an d wa e
s fi rst i n th,
e fiel d Leavi n g Neu stria .

B ld i
a t o sh i ft fo r i tsel f b e posted i n to I tal y at th e head
n

I t l y ’8 7 5 o f a smal l arm y an d swooped down o n the d ie t

a '
,

o f the Lom bard kingd om wh ic h was s ittin g a t Pavia and ,

,
 Tue D a rk es t H ou r —A D. . 8 5 5 887-
43 3

di spu ting abou t the ch oice of a successor t o their late m onarch .

H e was acclaim ed as king b y som e o f th e Lom bard s an d ,

the n m ade ready to marc h o n Rom e where h e kn ew that th e

,

Pope was ready to give h i m the i mperi al crown B u t m ean .

,

while Lewi s the German was prepari ng to in terfere H e fi rst

,
.

sen t h i s you n ges t son Charles o f S u a b i a — better k nown as

Charles th e Fat — to opp o se the Neu strian kin g B u t Charles .
,

who always through ou t h i s l ife con si s ten tly m i smanaged every

th i ng th at was i n trusted to h im wa s easily scared by h i s u n cl e
, ,

an d fled back i n to th e Alp s . Then th e k ing o f German y

sen t d o w n i n to Lombardy h i s u n rul y el des t bor n Carlom an ,

th e ki ng o f Bavaria with an i mposing array o f Bavari an an d

,

F ra n co n i an levies Charles th e Bal d feared to face th is arm y

.
,

an d prop osed to Carl om an that bo th t he Neu strian an d the

German force s s houl d wi th draw from the p en i nsula an d allow ,

the disputed successi o n to b e settl ed by peaceful n egotiation .

’
The Bavarian pri n ce was b eguiled by h i s u ncl e s speci ou s O ffer ,

an d betook h i msel f h omeward over the Bren n er B u t in stead .

,

o f m aking a corre spon di ng ret reat t owards th e Cen is Charle s ,

th e Bal d tu rne d sou thward an d made a dash for Rom e H e .

reached i t an d was duly crowned em peror by h i s frien d J oh n

,

VI I I
. Bu t h e di d n ot l inger i n I taly to h elp the P ope agai ns t
the Saracen s a s th e latter b esough t h im bu t retu rn ed at on ce
, ,

to N e u st ria to exh ibi t h i s n ew imperial crown at home .

At th i s momen t died Lewi s th e Germ a n n ow an o ld m an ,

o f s even ty si x ; i t was sixty years si n ce he had been app oin ted

-

ki ng o f Bavaria by h is fath er an d thirty th ree si nce h e had

,
-

ob tai n ed sway over the w hole of Germany by th e award o f

th e Treaty o f Verdu n H e had been o n th e D t h f
.

ea o

whol e a successful ruler i n spi te of the many L w i s t h

,
e e

G rm ’8 7 6 e an
revolts o f h i s son s an d i n spite o f th e fact that he
,
'

had n ot b een able to retai n all h is Slavon i c vassal s un der hi s

hand . T o h i m m ore than to an y other king Germ any owed
her organ i sation as a u n i fied nation al ki ngdom H i s lon g .

reign gave Saxo n an d Fran conian Bavarian an d S u a b i a n ti m e

, ,

to grow t ogether an d to learn t o regard t he m selves as a nati on

P E R I OD I.
2 E
434 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

a p art n o t m erely a s provi nces o f th e Frankish em p ire

,
B u t if .

t o G erman y h is reign was o n e Of un qual i fied good h is tory can ,

n ot pardon h i m th e two occasion s i n 8 5 4 an d 8 5 8 when he

del iberately sacri fice d th e gen eral wel fare o f Christen dom t o
private amb i ti on an d a ttacked h i s Neustri an bro ther w h il e
,

Charle s wa s i n t he th ick Of h i s Viki ng wars These are th e .

darkes t s p ots o n th e repu tation o f th e fi rs t king o f G ermany .

We h ave already relate d h ow Lewi s followi ng the evi l ,

cu sto mo f hi s fam i ly ha d d ivi ded h i s real m am ong hi s th re e

,

son s Carloman Lewi s an d C h arle s th e kin gs o f B avaria

, , , ,

Saxony an d S u ab i a They were n ot dest i n e d h owever t o

,
.
, ,
’
i n h eri t th eir fath er s real m i n peace N o soon er did Charles
.

t he Bal d h ear that h i s eld er bro ther was dead than h e m ade ,

another vigorou s attemp t t o seize L o t h a ri n g ia arguing that as ,

emperor h e was en titled t o th e i mperial c ity o f Aach en an d ,

op en ly as serti ng th at th e o ath s of M e rse n had been sworn t o ‘

’
C h rl s t h
a e
th e father
e
bu t n o t t o th e son s At th e head of a .

B ld b
a t l arge arm y Charles en tered Au strasia an d o ccu
e a en ,

zzgf
d ‘ e"
p i ed Aach en an d K ol n O f th e thre
. e youn g ki ngs
o f Germany Lewi s alon e cam e o u t again s t h i m .

Carl om an was away far i n th e E ast figh ti ng with rebel lious

Slavs an d C harl es the Fat was o r purported to be o n a bed
, , ,

of sickness The fate of t h e lan d s be tween Rhi n e an d Scheld t

.

was settled by a battl e a t An dern ach i n w h ich th e Neu strian s , ,

th ough s uperio r i n n u mber were com pletel y defeated by the

,

Fran c on ia ns an d Saxo n s o f Lewi s o f Saxon y Ch arles the .

Bal d was — as u sual — th e fi rst to fl y an d arri ved i n sa fety at ,

’
Lie ge th ough th e greater part o f hi s army wa s cut to pieces
,
.

H e return ed t o h i s h om e t o fi n d a Dan i s h flee t u p th e

Sei n e for th e Viki ngs were j u st begin n i n g to dri ft back from
,

E ngl an d B u t s uch trouble s m oved h i m l i ttl e a n d t hough

.
,

h i s Au strasian ex p edi ti on had fared s o ill h e started o ff wi th ,

’
hardl y a m om en t s pau se o n an equally rash an d ill j udged -

descen t i n to I tal y where th e i m perial crown tha t h e had s o

,

l igh tl y gai ned i n 8 7 5 was n ow i n j eopard y H e sen t the .

Viki ngs 5 0 0 0 l bs o f si lver t o i n duce th em to t ran sfer the ir

.
 Tk e D a rk es t H o u r—A D . . 8 5 5 8 87
-
43 5
’
ravages from Neu stria to h i s G erman n e p h ew s land an d ,

hastened to Lom bard y w i th a smal l an d hastily equi ppe d

arm y fo r the best o f h i s m en had bee n slai n or captured at
,

t h e battle of An dernach . C harl es m et h i s frien d p op e

J oh n VI I I at Pavia an d was ab ou t to proceed to Rom e when
.
,

h e heard th at hi s elde st n ep hew Carloman o f B avaria wh o

, ,
.

p osse ssed man y supporters am ong th e eastern Lombards ,

had crossed the Alp s an d was m arch ing again st h im eager to ,

reve n ge th e treachery t o wh ich he h ad been su b C h rl s d ie s a e

j e c t e d i n t h e preceding year Charles

. hasti ly fled i I t 135 877 n 61
«

before th e ap p roachi n g force s o f t h e B avarian bu t as he wa s ,

crossi ng th e Cen i s he was stri cken down by dysen tery an d ,

d i e d sudde nly i n a m i serable b u t at the fo ot of t he pass

Charles th e Bal d was s till below t he age o f s ixty b ut h e ,

had been a k ing from h is b oy hood an d h ad reigned over the

,

Wes t Frankis h real m which the treaty of Verdu n gave h i m fo r

th irty four d isastrou s years O f al l th e K arli ngs he was th e
-
.

man wh o wrough t the e m pi re th e m ost h arm : h i s birth ha d

been a m is fortu n e : t h e en dowmen t o f hi s youth cos t the state
a l ong c ivil war : hi s man h oo d was fli g ht y u n scrup ulou s , ,

eager yet u n s table H e s tarted fou r several wars by reckles s

,
.

sn atch ing at th e h eritage s o f h i s ki n sm en b u t wh en w i thstood

,

an d face d h e alway s sl unk away i n rapi d retreat The con di .

ti on o f N eu stria wa s a di sgrace to h i s n am e : i f hal f th e bribes

’
an d subsi dies that he h ad sp en t to buy t he D anes d eparture ,

h ad been u sed i n m ili tary preparation s agai n st them they ,

m ight easil y have been driven o ff B u t C h arles was al ways

.

b us ied wi th fan tastic sch em es o f foreign con quest ; an d wh il e

h i s eyes were fi xed abroad h e all owe d h i s real m t o fall to .

p i eces at hi s feet H i story ca n fi n d n oth ing to p raise in the

.

fi rs t k i ng o f Fran ce .

I n th e ten ye ars wh ich foll owed th e death o f Charl e s t he

Bald a b light seemed t o fall u p on t he hou se of t he Karlings
, .

Ki ng after k in g was swe p t away by a n un ti mely death som e ,

by acciden t m ore by d i sease I n France an d i n German y

, .
“

si x reign ing m o n arch s died wit hout leaving a singl e child o f

436 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

l egiti mate b i rth an d by 8 8 7 the royal h ou se was re p resen ted

,

by o n e sol itary mal e h eir a n d h e a boy o f only eigh t years o l d

, .

M eanwh il e t he D an es had re turn ed from E nglan d i n ful l

force an d t h e wh o l e empire o f these sh ort l i ved kings was
,
-

en du ri n g th e worst cri si s that had ye t fallen u pon i t .

Charl es th e B al d wa s succeeded i n Neustria an d Aqu itain e ,

or Fran ce a s we m ay n ow cal l th e Western real m by h i s son

, ,

Lewi s b et ter kn ow n a s Lewi s th e S tam m erer Th e n ew .

king w a s a p ru den t an d ci rcum spect rul er v ery u nl ike h i s ,

fli g h t y paren t H e a t on ce gave u p all pre te nsi on to the k ing

.

d o m o f I tal y an d th e i m perial crown th ough J oh n V I I I urged , .

’
R ig
e d
n an
hi m t o reassert h i s father s clai m s H e prom ptl y .

d th f m ad e peace w i th h i s Germ an co u sm s ren ewin g

“
ea o
,
L th e

Sa gi w
na
W i th th em th e te rm s o f th e Treaty of M e rs e n by ,

87 7 87 9
-
~
w h i c h ea stern L o t ha ri n g i a fel l t o G erman y a n d
western L o t h a ri n g i a t o Fran ce H e th e n took the fiel d .

agai n s t th e D anes w h o ha d j u s t return e d on ce m ore t o t he

,

m ou th of th e Loi re bu t w h ile e n gage d w ith the m h e was

,

stricken down by di sease a n d di e d a few m o n th s l ater l on g

, ,

b efore he h ad complete d th e sec o n d year o f h i s reign

H e left two son s Lewi s an d Carlom an an d a thi rd ch il d wa s
, ,

born to hi m j u st after h i s death a n d ch ri sten ed Charles The , .

coun ts and bish ops o f France foll o wi ng the i n variable an d u n ,

h appy cu sto m O f t h e t i me s crowned both Lewi s an d Carloman ,

as kings Th e t w o lad s — they were bu t seven tee n a n d sixteen

.

n o t t o e nj oy a qu iet heri tage Al fre d had j us t expelled .

’
from E nglan d th ose of t h e D an i sh Great Arm y w h o had re ‘

fu sed to settle down i n the D an elagh an d d o h i m h om a ge .

The swarm of Viki ngs fell o n Flan ders an d burn t G hen t an d ,

’
S t O mer be fore the y oung ki n gs reign was two
A cc e ss io n f
.

L w is 111
e m o n th s ol d At t he sam e Lew i s ki ng o f Saxony
.
.
, ,

8
on wh om th e s pi ri t o f greed that h ad posse sse d
272
Charles th e Bal d seem ed n o w t o have d escended ,

i nvade d N eu st ri a — sum m oned i t woul d appear by som e d is , ,

l oyal coun ts Bu t th e Wes t Frank s ral lied arou nd thei r y oung

.

masters an d Lew i s the Saxo n co n sen ted to re tire o n cond i tion

,
 Tk e D a rk es t H ou r—A D 8 5 5 8 8 7 . .
-
437

that Western Lo th a ri n gi a — the la n ds that Charl es the Bald

had acqui red by th e Treaty o f M e rse n te n years before
’
sh oul d be cede d to him S o Lie ge Namu r Cambrai an d
.
, , ,

T o n g e rn became for the m om en t German an d n ot Fren ch .

I n an oth er part o f th e We st Frank ish real m an equally

seriou s l os s was at the sam e tim e taking plac e S in ce th e .

deat h Of the good em peror Lewi s I I Proven ce an d sou thern .

’
B urgu n dy had been u ni ted t o Neu stri a ( 8 7 5 B u t Lewi s
only daugh ter t he prin cess H e rm e nga rd e had n ow foun d a
, ,

s trong an d ambiti ou s hu sban d i n B os o cou n t of Vie n n e o n e , ,

o f th e govern ors o f B urgu ndy Takin g advan tage o f t he crisi s

.

’
i n Neu stria th i s c o u nt B oso resol ved t o as sert h i s wife s clai m
,
’
to h er father s heri tage I n I tal y h e fai le d to wi n su ccess
.
,

t h ough th e Pope woul d gladly have helped h im b u t i n P ro ,

venc e an d Lower Burgu n dy the n oble s rallie d t o h i s stan dard .

H e was proclai me d k i ng i n O ctober 8 7 9 an d afterwards ,

crown ed at Lyon s .H i s new real m O f Ar l es B s m ad e , o o

P rovence o r Lower Bu rgu n dy— for i t i s fou n d k i g f Arl s

,
n o e ,

s tyled by al l these n am es — was the first fract ion

87 9 '

o f th e empire o f Charles the Great to pass away from t he m al e

’
he irs of th e great royal li ne B os o s dom i ni on s nearl y coi n
.

c ided i n size w i th th e kingdom o f Provence as i t had bee n

hel d by Charles the son Of the emp eror Lothai r I Th ey i n .

cl u ded the wh ol e valley o f th e Rh on e from Lyon s to th e sea ,

an d the borders o f I tal y .

While the Wes t Frankish kingdom was bei ng cu t s h ort to

north an d sou th Germany was o n th e w hol e i n better c on d i
,

tion The th ree so n s o f Lewi s th e Germa n un l ike m ost royal

.
,

brothers o f th e tim e dwel t together i n h armon y The tw o

, .

el de r bro thers h ad com e t o a n agreemen t that Carlom an

s hou l d prosecu te h i s fortu n e s i n I taly w hi le Lewis sought t o,

aggra n dis e h im sel f i n L o t h a ri n g ia But Carl om an after dri vin g

.
,

C harles th e Bal d o u t of Lom bardy an d m asterin g m os t o f the

,

lan d n orth of th e P 0 was stricke n down wit h a fever wh ich

,

term i nate d i n a paralytic str oke H e was carried back t o.

Bavaria an d survi ved for two years bu t n ever ros e fro m

, ,
438 E u r op ea n H i s tory 4 7 6 —
9 18
,

hi s cou ch again Feel in g th e ha n d o f death upon h i m h e

.
,

h a n ded over th e a d mi n i strat i o n O f hi s real m t o hi s brother

Lewis on ly stipulati n g that the fron tier duch y o f Cari n th ia
,

s h ou ld be gi ve n t o h i s own illegi timate son Arn ul f th e c h il d ,

of a S la vo n i c pri ncess w h om h e h ad taken a s h is con cub i n e .

Carl oman li ve d ou t an othe r year an d d ied i n 8 8 0 before h e

,

h ad passed the l i m its o f m iddle age .

M eanwh il e hi s place i n I tal y had been taken by h i s shift

,

less you nger br o ther th e k ing Of S u a b i a Charles th e Fat

,
.

C h rl s t h
a e
en tere de
I tal y i n the au tum n of 87
9 was e very ,

F t ki g f
a n wh ere recogni sed as ki ng a n d solemnly received
o

It ’
, ,
a y ’8 79 “ th e Lombard crown from J oh n V I I I at Ravenn a . .

Bu t h i s n ew ki n gdom saw l i ttle o f h i m : th ough he wa s

ear n estly besough t t o oppose th e Saracen i n vaders o f th e
sou th h e di d n oth ing o f t he ki n d bu t wen t i ngl ori ou sly bo rn e
,

to S u a b i a .

Th e D an es were by th i s t im e m u steri ng i n greater strength

than ever for a n a ssaul t o n the Franki sh em pi re They had .

gath ered toge ther from all the s h ores o f th e Wes t an d thi s ,

t im e th rew t hem sel ve s o n the E astern real m n o t o n their o l d ,

p rey i n Neu stria Th e year 8 8 0 was l ong remem bered by

.

th e German s for th e awful defeat suffered o n the L uneburg

Gr
Im m
ea t D
a “
i sh H eath n ear H am bu rg by th e l evie s of Saxon y an d
an

T hu ri n gia B ru n o duke o f Saxo n y t wo bi sh ops

:
.
, , ,

wi th n o less than twelve coun ts w ere l eft d ead u po n th e fiel d

, ,

an d the victoriou s Viki n gs ravage d t he wh ole valley of th e

E lbe w i thou t furth er resi stan ce Alm ost a t the sam e m ome n t
.

an other D ani sh arm y appeared i n Au strasia fough t an i n ,

deci sive battle wi th k in g Lewi s an d t h o ugh th ey l eft h im the

,

field were able t o e stabl i sh them selves perman e ntly o n the

Scheld t a t a great camp n ear C o u rt ra y th reaten ing Neu stria
, ,

an d Au strasia al ike .

I n the s pri n g o f 8 8 1 th ey m ad e u p thei r m ind s that the

Western real m sh o uld fi rs t be thei r sp o il M arching o n .

B eau vai s they m et a t Saucourt th e y o u ng k ing o f Fra n ce a n d

,

h is le vies T o the jo y an d surpri se O f al l Western Ch ri ste n d o m

.
 Tk o D a rk es t H o u r—A . D . 8 5 5 8 87
-
4 39

Lewi s 1 1 1 i n fl icted a crushing defeat o n th e i nvaders slew

.
,

8 0 0 0 o f them an d ch ased the m as far a s Ca m brai

, B tt l f , a e o

88
beyon d the borders o f hi s o wn ki ngdom Thi s .
"

was the only pitch ed battle of fi rst rate i mportance that th e -

Franks had won over th e Vi kings an d great h o p es were ,

e n tertain ed that i n Lewi s 1 1 1 E urop e m igh t fi n d a saviour .

from the sword O f the pagan s B ut ere a year was ou t th e .

1
gallan t young ki ng met h i s death i n a fooli sh frolic an d left ,

th e N eu strian throne t o h i s bro ther Carloman .

Th e D ani sh army w h ich had bee n defeated at Saucourt

retired t o G hen t where i t was strength en ed b y n ewly arrive d
,

ban ds u n der two fam ou s sea ki ngs S i e gfre d an d Go dfred -

,
.

Then the h os t t hrew i tsel f o n Au strasia a s th e au tu m n was

cl osin g The lev ies o f the Ol d royal lan d o f the Frank s were
.

b eaten : thei r king Lewi s o f Saxon y was far away an d th e

, , ,

wi n ter m onth s o f 8 8 1 2 saw the w hole cou n trysi de harried -

,

from the Sch el dt m ou th t o th e E i fel Th e i nlan d parts o f

-
.

Au strasia had h ith erto b een excep ti on ally fortu nate i n e scap
i ng th e D an ish sword b u t i n thi s fatal win ter A us t r a s i a
,

Li ege Maes tricht T o n g e rn K Ol n B on n Neuss h rr i d b y a e

ane s “
, , , , , ,

Zul p i ch Mal m edy N i m u eg e n an d every other th D e

, , ,

town i n th e district was pi llaged M ost h eartrending o f all .

was the sacki ng o f th e royal city o f Aache n : t he D an es

p lu n dered th e palace stabled their h orses i n th e cathedral, ,

an d broke th e shri n e an d i mage above t he tom b o f Charles

t he Great .

T o the des p ai r o f all German y ki ng Lewi s t he Saxon whose , ,

task i t shoul d have been t o attack th e i n vaders i n th e n ext

sprin g di ed o n January 2 0 t h 8 8 2 — the fourth Caroli ngian
, ,

m onarch wh o had been carried to the grave within t hree

1
L e w i s w as spr i g h t l y yo u t h an d gi v e n t o a ff a i rs o f l o v e an d i t
a ,
‘

ch an c e d o n e d a y t h a t i n s po r t h e ch a s e d a c e r t a i n d a m s e l t h e d a u g h t e r o f ,
’
G e rmu n d S h e fle d i n a t h e r fa t h e r s g a t e a n d t h e k i n g fo ll o w e d h e r
.
, ,

l a u g h i n g B u t h e fo rg o t t o s t o o p su ffi c i en tl y a t th e p o r t a l a n d w a s
.
,

crush e d b e t w een th e r o o f an d th e hi g h po m m e l o f hi s s a ddl e so t h a t he ,

’
d i e d w i t h i n a fe w d a ys .
4 40 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

y ears H i s subj ects foun d noth ing better to d o than t o el ect

.

h i s onl y survi ving broth er C harles th e Fa t t he king o f , ,

S u a b i a a n d o f I taly a s h i s successor
,
.

Thu s began th e u n happy reign O f Charles th e last Caro ,

l i n g i a n em peror of th e full bl o o d H e w a s at thi s m omen t i n .

I taly w h ere h e had been vi sitin g R o m e a n d receivin g th e

,

i m perial crown M aki n g a lei su rel y j ou r n ey h omeward — th e

.
,

C h rl s t h
a e
Dane s were m eanw h ile sacking Tri er an d M etz
e ,

h e reached th e Rh in e i n J uly an d su m m oned t o

2232? y
4 f o
,

h im th e levies O f Saxony S u a b i a Ba v ari a a n d

'

, ,

Fran con ia : h e had brough t a Lom bard arm y i n h i s train .

Wi th th i s great h ost t he larges t that had bee n seen s i n ce th e

,

deat h o f Charle s th e G reat h e m oved again st the D a n e s ,

.

G odfred an d S i e g fre d retired be fore h i m to a great cam p

w hich th ey h ad buil t at E l sl oo o n the Meuse Th e fai n t .

h earted emperor faced them fo r twel ve d ays a nd the n i n stead ,

o f orderin g h i s vas t arm y t o assaul t th e cam p bega n to n ego ,

t i a t e wi th th e ene my A few days later hi s sol diery h eard t o

.

th ei r dismay an d disgu st that Charles had con sen ted to all ow

,

th e Vik ings to wi th draw wi th al l th ei r pl un der t o pay th em ,

2000 l bs Of s ilver an d t o gran t k ing G od fred a great

.
,

duchy by th e Rh i n e m ou th wi th the han d o f h is cou si n

-

G isela an i llegitim ate daughter O f k i n g Lo thai r I I I n re

,
.

tu rn t he D an e con sen ted to be baptized a n d t o d o h o mage

to the em peror Thi s expedien t for buying o ff G o dfred was
.

probably suggested by the way i n wh ich Al fred Of E n glan d

“
h ad deal t w ith Guth ru m fou r years before a t th e peace o f
Tr ty
ea Wed m ore U n fortunatel y C harl e s forgo t that
.

13 1 1 8 33
5 0
whi le Al fred wa s s tro n g en ough to c o m pel G u th
2 :

ru m t o keep fai th h i s O w n characte r wa s hardly l ikely to have

,

a sim ilar i n fl uen ce o n G od fred .

K i n g S i e g fre d wi th th o se o f th e Dan es wh o did n o t wi sh

,

t o settl e d ow n by th e Rh i n e m ou th to o k th ei r wa y fr o m -
,

E lsl oo i n to Neu stria Cha rle s th e Fa t had m erely s ti pulated

.

for th e evacuation O f h i s o w n k i ng d om an d ca red n ough t ,

for what m igh t happen to h i s c ousin Carl oman Th e wi n ter .

 T/ze D a rk es t H ou r —A D . . 8 5 5 8 87 -
44 1

of 88 2 3
-
was as disastrous for n orthern France as th at o f
8 8 1 2 had been fo r th e Rhi n elan d
-
From Rh ei m s t o Am ien s
.

an d C o u rt ra y th e wh ol e coun trys ide was h arri ed : ki ng

,

Carlom an an d hi s n obles i n stead of copyin g the con duct o f

,

Lewi s an d rem emberi n g th e triumph o f S auc ou rt foll owed ,

t he m i serabl e example of Charl es th e Fat an d pai d th e ,

i nvaders the en ormou s bribe o f lbs o f s il ver to i n duce .

the m to transfer them selves to Au stra s ia E nglan d I reland , , ,

or an y ot her real m th at they m ight ch oo se I n the m om en t .

Of res t obtai ned by th e tem porary departure o f the pirates ,

Carloman d ied ere yet h e ha d reached h i s twent iet h year

,
.

H e was acci dentally slai n by o n e o f h i s com pan io n s wh ile ,

h u n ting th e b oar i n a fores t n ear Les A n dely s Th e

Caroli ngian l in e wa s n ow well n igh spen t : fi ve ki ngs h a d
-

die d i n fi ve years an d th e o nly m ales surviving were th e

,
’
sh iftles s em peror C harles th e Fat an d C a rl o m a n s younger
,

brother a ch i l d o f fi ve the p osthu m ou s son o f Lewi s th e

, ,

S tamm erer the prince wh om th e next generation was to k n ow

,

as Charles th e Si mple .

Rath er than face th e horrors o f a m i n ority the West ,

Frank s sen t t o th e emperor an d besough t h i m t o ta k e up th e

k i ngsh ip o f Neu stria Al l the empire that had C h rl s t h
.
a e e

obeyed C harles th e Great was th erefore u n i ted F t i h r i t s a n e

N t ’’8 8 4 eu S r a
once m ore ben eath a singl e sceptre save th e
°

l i ttl e real m of kin g B oso in P roven ce B ut Charles the Fa t

,
.

was a s orry s ub sti tute for hi s great n am esake Th e th ree .

years O f h is reign over th e whol e of t he Franki sh kingd o m s

( 8 8 4 7 ) were fated to shatter th e last rem n ants o f l oyal ty i n
-

th e breasts o f the su bj ects o f the emp ire an d to cau s e them ,

to cas t away th e o l d royal h ou se i n despai r an d seek n e w ,

savi ours an d n ew ki ngs .

The hi story of these three evi l years i s eas ily tol d H earing .

of t he death o f Carl oman th e D an es fl ocke d back to Neu stria :

,
’ ’
‘
Oath s sworn to a dead man th ey said di d n o t cou n t
, ,
‘
.

Bu t t hei r retu rn was chiefly cau sed by a th orough beat i n g

which t h ei r main body had su ffere d at Rochester from th e
44 2 E u r op ea n H i s tory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

st rong han d o f ki ng Al fred At th e sam e ti m e th e con verted .

Vik in g G o d fred rose i n rebell io n o n th e Lower Rh i n e H e .

i mpu dently bade the em peror give h i m t he rich lan ds abou t

B on n an d Coblenz because h i s du chy had n o vi n eyards to
,
‘

’
y iel d hi m wi ne C harl es d id n o t tak e arm s agai n s t hi m bu t
.
,

sen t ambas sadors to lu re h im t o a c on ference When th e .

D an e appeared th e cou n ts H en ry a n d E berhard treach erou sl y

,

cu t h i m d own a n d massacre d h i s reti nu e Th e arm y o f

, .

G odfred broke u p ; som e o f h i s warriors wen t pl un dering i n

Saxony where th ey were cu t t o pieces the res t j oin ed k ing
, ,

S i eg fre d w h o wa s j u s t ab ou t t o i n vade Neu stria

,

The great h os t o f th e Vikings h ad once m ore un i ted i t self

un der S i e gf re d an d e n tered n orth Fran ce as i f design in g to
, ,

sub due th e wh ole cou n try an d settle down the rein B ut th ey .

m et wit h a n u n expected re si s ta n ce at Pari s where th e l ocal ,

c ou n t an d b i sh op O d o an d Go z e l i n ha d gathe red together

, ,

al l th e best warri ors o f N eu stria Th e defen ce o f Pari s wa s .

th e braves t fea t o f arm s wh ich th e Franks h ad wrough t sin ce

Gr ea t Si g et he battl e o f Saucou rt They m ai n tai ne d th e
e .

f P ri s
° a :

i sl e o f Pari s wi th i ts tw o forti fi ed bridge head s

,
-

ove r the two bra n ch es o f th e S ein e for m ore than el even ,

m on th s again s t al l the assaul ts O f th e Northm en ( Nov 8 8 5

,
.

O ct . Seven h u n dred Vikin g keel s w ere drawn ash ore

o n th e flat l an d wh ere th e C k a rnp rt e M a r s n ow l ie s an d ,

Vikings be set th e ci ty on all si des B u t though .

sham efully aban don ed by t h e em peror — w h o ch ose th e ti m e

as su i table fo r a j ou rn ey to I taly — O d o an d G o z e l i n refused
t o d espai r eve n w he n th e n orth ern bri dge —
,
h ead wa s cu t o ff
from the ci ty by a n i nun dati on a n d burn t by the besiegers ,
.

At l ast i n the sum m er o f 8 8 6 Charles the Fat s o far

, ,

bestirred h im sel f a s t o rai se the n ati onal levi es of th e wh ol e

em pire an d m arch to th e rel i ef o f Pari s w ith a n arm y n o t le ss
,

tha n tha t w h ich h e had le d fou r y ears earlie r a gai n s t the

cam p o f E l sl oo B u t whe n h i s vanguard recei ved a check
.
,

an d i ts lead er H e n ry duke O f Francon ia wa s sl ain the

, , , ,

emperor r e fused t o risk an a ttack o n t he D an es O nce m ore .

 Tk e D a rk es t H o u r—A D 8 5 5 8 8 7 . .
-
44 3

th e disgraceful sce n e o f E l sl oo was ren ewe d : Charles p ai d

t he D an es 7 0 0 lbs o f s ilver an d gave them C h l t h
.
, ar e s e

permission t o pass u p th e Sei n e i nto Burgun dy F t b r i b s a e

D an e s
,
th e
an d work their w i ll there H e was angry wi th th e
"

B urgu ndian s for refu sing h im Obedience an d l ean i ng t o th e

cau se o f Boso t h e ki n g o f Arles a n d cho se th i s despicable
, ,

m ean s o f wreakin g h i s vengeance o n th em .

Pari s was saved an d th e reputation of it s gallan t defen der

, ,

coun t O do raised t o the highest p i tch

,
B u t the emperor .

h ad thrown away h i s l as t ch ance an d forfei te d the resp ect o f

,

eve n th e m eanest o f hi s subj ects H i s remai n in g day s were

.

fe w a n d ev il Attacked by soften i n g o f th e brai n an d bu r

.
,

d e n e d by an ever i ncreasi ng c orpulence he retired t o German y

-

after the disgraceful treaty Of Pari s There hi s d oom was .

awaitin g h i m : th e cou n t s an d d ukes o f the E ast F ranki sh

real m c on spire d again st h im headed by h is i llegi ti mate
,

n ephew Arn ul f duke o f Cari n th ia th e s on o f king Carl oman

, , .

I n 8 8 7 th e y oun g duke took u p arm s o p enl y ann ou nci ng ,

that he was abou t to m arch o n Fran kfurt an d de p ose h i s

un cle C harles trie d to raise an arm y bu t n on e o f h is
.
,

vassal s woul d len d hi m ai d : i n sh ee r despai r h e sen t h i s

roya l crown an d robe s t o Arnul f aban doni n g th e A bd i c atio n
,

k ingdom an d craving o nl y fi ve m an ors i n h i s f C h rl

,
o a es

th F t e a ’
native S u a b i a to main tai n hi m for h i s few rem ai n
i ng days Thi s boon the duke gran ted an d t h e u nwi el dy
.
,

ex Caesar dragge d hi m self away t o a royal villa at N e i d i n g e n

-

where he died l ess than t hree m on th s after worn ou t by t he ,

b odily i lls which form th e only possibl e excu se for h is sh i ftles s

an d c owardly c on duct d uri ng the las t three y ears .

M eanwh ile Arn ulf en tered Frank furt an d was there hai led ,

as k i ng b y all th e cou n ts an d dukes of German y H e was .

k nown as a brave an d abl e young man an d though h e was

“
,

bu t a Karl in g of bastard blood th e E ast Franks A m ” k i g

, e , n

gladly i n tru ste d t he msel ves to th e p rotection of G r m y e an ,

hi s arm . B u t th e other parts o f the empire di d

n ot co n s id e r themsel ve s b o u n d t o foll ow the l ead o f German y .
444 E u r op ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

I n each o f th e ki ngd om s a n obl e o f great l ocal n ote a nd

p ower stepped forward t o cla i m th e crow n o f h is nati ve lan d .

I n Neu stria there st ill su rvi ve d o n e Karling o f th e direc t

’
l in e the boy C harles th e Si m pl e C a rl o m a n s younge st br o th er ;
, ,

b u t h e h ad only reach e d the age o f e ight an d whe n Pari s

,

w a s bu t j u st save d a n d th e D an e s were still o n the Sei n e i t

, ,

wa s n o tim e t o gi ve th e c row n t o ch ild ren Two clai man t s

“
.

o em k i g h appeared fo r the N eu stri a n thron e Wi d o duke ,

Fr m e
a
o f S pol eto an I tal ian n obl e wh ose m other had
,

been a daughter o f t h e e mp eror Loth ai r a n d O d o coun t of

,

Pari s the he r o wh o had saved h i s ci ty fro m th e Da n es i n th e

,

past year Th ough h e c oul d boas t of n o Carol in gian blood

.

i n h i s vei n s O do easily carrie d the day a gai n s t h i s ri val ; h e

,

w as crowned king at Com pi egn e by Wal ter arch bi sho p o f ,

 T/ze D a rk es t H o u r— A D 8 5 5 8 8 7 . .
-
44 5

S en s an d s oon force d Wi d o to leave France an d re ti re t o

,

I tal y.

We h ave related i n a n other chap ter h o w B e re n ga r of

Friul i was ch osen ki n g of I taly an d how h e was obliged to
,

figh t h ard for hi s crown wi t h Wi d o when th e latter return ed

,

from h i s un su cces sfu l exped i tio n to France .

A fourth ki ngdom was establi s hed in the Jura an d the

western Alp s by cou n t Ru dolf o n e o f th e govern ors Of
,

Upper B urgun dy H e fi rs t got h im sel f crown ed at S t

.
.

M aurice by the cou n ts an d bi sh o p s of H el vetia an d t hen , ,

pu s hing beyon d the J ura was agai n proclai me d k in g at Toul

, .

B u t Ru dol f neve r got an y fi rm footi ng i n L o t ha ri n g i a : h i s

realm was l i m i te d to the lan d s n orth of t he Alps R u d ” k ,
o ln
g
west o f the Aar an d east of th e Saon e The f U p p r
, . o e

— B u rg u d y
ch ief town s of thi s the s mall est o f th e fraction s n

of the Carol i n gian realm — were Lau san n e Ge n eva S t , , .

M aurice an d B e san eo n
, .

’
B oso s kingdom o f Arles or Lower B urgun dy was n ow i n
the n in th ye ar o f i ts exi sten ce ; i ts fou n der ha d died i n 8 8 7 ,

bu t h i s son Lew is — a Carol i ngian o n the fem al e s id e through

hi s m other H e rm e n gard e th e daughter o f th e emperor Lewi s
,
’
of I taly had su cceede d w i th ou t trou ble t o h is father s thron e
, .

Thu s th e Franki s h empire wa s cu t u p i n to five state s n ot ,

ephemeral creati on s Of a heri tage parti ti o n l ike the m an y

’ -
,

kingdom s which we have seen ri s i ng an d fall i ng from th e day s

O f the M er o vi ngian s o nward bu t m ore permanen t divisi on s
, ,

th ree o f whi ch represente d re al n ati o n al differences wh il e ,

eve n th e other two — th e Upper an d Lower B urgun dy— had a

certai n n ati onal coh eren ce a n d i n divi dual ity o f their o w n an d ,

were destined to last fo r several generation s O n e o f th e fi ve .

realm s was rul ed by a bastard Carol ingian t wo by two pri n ces

wh o boasted a Carol ingian desce n t o n th e spi n dle si de only
Fran ce and Upper B urgu n dy were i n the han ds O f m o narch s
wh o could lay clai m t o n o drop o f th e anci en t royal bl ood 1 .

1
Rud o l f o f U ppe r B ur g u n d y w as c o nn e c t e d by m a rr i a g e w i t h t he
K arl i n g s H e w a s n ep h e w o f th e e m pr e ss J ud i t h t he m o t h e r o f Ch arl e s
.
,

t h e B a ld an d t h e r efo r e c o us i n t o al l t h e N e us t r i a n K a rl i ng s
, .
 C HA P TER X X VI
I T AL Y A ND S I C I L Y I N TH E N I N T H C E NT U R Y
( 8 2 7 9 2 4)
-

I n v a s i o n o f S i c i ly by t h e M o o rs t h e W e s t e r n h a l f o f t h e i sl a n d c o n qu e r e d
— —
C i v i l wa rs i n S o u t h e r n I t a ly T he M o o rs i n v a d e I t a ly P o p e Leo s ’

v i c to ry a t O s t i a —Qu a rr e ls o f t h e E a s t e r n a n d W e s t e r n Church e s —T he
F a ls e De cr e t a ls —C a m pa ig n s o f t h e E m p e r o r L e wi s 1 1 a g a i n s t t he .

M o o rs —A n a rchy i n I t a ly a ft e r h i s d e a t h — T h e Byz a n t i n e s r e c o n qu e r
S o u t h e r n I t a ly —T h e M o o rs i n C a m pa n i a — C i v i l w a rs o f W i d o an d
B e re n g a r—K i n g Ar n ulf s i n v a s i o n o f I t a ly —L o n g p e r i o d o f a na rchy
’

a ft e r h i s d e p a r t ur e .

ON th e fortu ne s of the k in gdom o f I taly tha t i s o f the o l d -

, ,

Lom bard realm whi c h had n ow becom e a provi nce o f th e

,

em pi re o f Ch arle s the Great we h ave al ready h ad occas ion t o

,

tou ch o n m ore than o ne occasi o n B ut wh il e n orthern I tal y .

wi th i ts ki ng establ ished a t Pavia an d c entral I tal y with i ts ,

p on ti ff a n d i ts turb u len t Rom an m o b have from time to t im e ,

claime d o u r atte n ti on we ha ve had li t tle n ece ssity t o m en tion

,

th e so uthern th ird o f th e p eni n su la or th e great islan d wh ich ,

faces i t across t h e strai ts o f Me ssi na .

I n th e n in th ce ntu ry t h e bulk of s ou thern I tal y al l those ,

val leys o f the A p e n n i n es wh ic h h ad i n ancien t days bred the

,

warl ike Sam n i t e rac e wa s s til l i n the han d s o f the dukes o f

,

B ene ve nt o We h ave m en ti oned t hat t hey had m ore tha n

.

on ce been force d to p ay h omage t o Charles t he G reat b ut ,

St t
a e o f S u t h sin ce h is day th e em pi re h ad left the duch y alon e
o
.

em I t lya
T wo dukes Sic o a n d Sicard ha d hel d B en even to
.

, ,

duri ng th e reign o f Lewi s th e P i ou s an d ha d to d o wi th h i s ,

son Lothai r the sub king of Lom bardy Lu ckil y for them th e
,
-
.

hei r o f th e e mpi re was m ore set on mai n tai n ing a hol d n orth
440
 I t a ly a nd S i cily i n tk e N i n tk Ce n t u ry 447

of the Al p s than o n com p leting th e Franki sh su p rem acy i n

I taly
.

B u t i t was n ot th e whole o f sou th I taly that th e Ben even tan J

dukes ruled Th e E ast Roman em perors h ad n ever lost h ol d

.

’
Of th e toe an d heel of th e p en i n sula ( i f we m ay u se th e
‘

fam iliar phrase that describes s o wel l the s ha p e o f I taly ) I n .

B rin dis i d welt a st r a teg os wh ose au th ority exten de d over t h e

,

s ou th ern part of t he ancien t Ap ul ia I n Reggi o an other

.

governor ruled the anci en t lan d o f B ru tt i u m n ow kn ow n by ,

th e n am e o f Calabri a B eyon d th e straits o f M essin a a th ird

.

m ilitary ruler h ad th e h ard tas k o f preservi ng from the Sarace n

’
th e hal f l ost them e o f S i ci ly w here si n ce 8 2 8 an u nendin g
-
‘
,

s truggl e with the M osl em i nvader had been raging .

B es i de the Ben even tan du ch y an d t h e Byzan ti n e the m es ,

t here were yet m ore s t ate s i n s outh I tal y Naples pre .

served a precariou s i n depen den ce u n der a series o f hereditary

consul s : i t st il l pa i d a sh adowy allegian ce t o th e E astern
E mp ire a s di d al so th e neighbouri ng A m a lph i an d Ga eta
'

, ,

wh ich l ike Naples had n eve r fallen i n to th e han ds o f th e

, ,

Lombards Bu t these c i tie s were rather allies th an s ubj ects

.

o f th e B yzanti nes an d pai d n o ob edien ce to th e gov e rn ors

,

o f t he neighbouri ng th em es .

T he o n e i m portan t el emen t i n th e p ol itics o f south ern I taly

durin g t h e n in t h cen tury mu st b e sough t i n th e approach ing
p eril of con quest by the S aracen At first i t was o nly the B y
.

z an t i n e p oss essi on s that were endangered bu t very soon th e

,

whol e o f t he C hristian states were i nvolved i n the sam e

troubl e Th e storm clou d from th e sou th wh ich h ad threat
.
-
,

en ed C o ns tan ti n ople i n 7 2 0 an d Gau l i n 7 3 5 had n ow s hi fted ,

i t s p osi tio n T h e n ew attack was i n the cen tre n o t o n the

.
,

eastern o r t h e western flank of th e l i ne o f de fen ce o f Christen

dom F o r twen ty years I taly was t o b e i n deadly peril an d
.
,

th er e appeared every prosp ect t hat Naple s an d B en even to ,

i f n ot Rom e als o woul d share th e fate that h ad fallen o n

,

Carthage an d Tol edo a h u n dre d an d fi fty years before .

The trou bl e b egan w i th the land ing o f a M u ssul m an arm y

448 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

i n S icily durin g th e y ear 8 2 7 They had been called i n by a .

a trai tor n am ed E uphem iu s a t u rm arc h i n th e S i cilian theme

, ,

wh o rebelled agai n s t t h e em peror M i chael th e A m o ria n .

E uph m iu s
e E uph em iu s had carri ed O ff a n u n fro m a con ven t ,

r eb l s i
e
an d the em peror had ordere d th e s tr a teg os o f
n

S icil y to p u n is h h i m by cu tti ng o ff h i s n ose But .

th e s ol d ier i n stead o f sub mi tti ng sl ew t he governor i n duce d

, , ,

hi s t roo p s to rebel an d seize d S yracu se H i s ri sing was pu t

, .

d own by a fle et sen t fro m Co n sta n ti nople bu t E uph em ius hi m ,

sel f escape d by sea an d took refuge w it h Z i a d e t Allah on e o f

,
-
,

th e Ag la b i t e m o narch s wh o r uled i n n orthern A frica si n ce th at

lan d h ad shaken off i ts all egiance t o the Cal iph at Bagdad .

Th e M oor con s e n te d t o len d E uphem i u s h is aid n ot i n ,

order to replace h i m on th e S ici l ian th ron e bu t i n th e h Ope of ,

win ni n g S i cil y for I slam an d addin g i t t o h is o wn dom i n ion s

, .

H e p roclaim ed the h oly war an d n am ed as gen eral Ased i bn ,

-

Forat a n aged d octor o f law wh o was worsh i p p e d as a sai n t

, ,

by al l Africa Th e preachi ng o f Ased gath ere d a m u ltitu de

.

o f fan at ical adven turers Arabs B erbers an d M oors — to j oi n

-
, ,

th e regular troo p s wh o m h i s m aste r place d u n der h i s ord ers .

Taki ng E uphem i u s w i th th em i n th e h ope that th e S icilian s ,

E ph m
u e
w oul
ins
d rise i n h i s beh al f the Saracen s lan ded at ,

c lls i t h
a n M azara on th e s outh coa st o f the i slan d earl y i n
e ,
M ° ° rs °
J u ne 8 2 7 Th e n ati ve s execrate d the t rai tor
.
,

an d re fused to j oi n h im bu t wh e n th e s t ra teg os P h o t i n u s le d
,

t h e army o f S icil y agai n s t the i n vaders h e wa s com pletely

defeated Th e fa n atical fu ry of th e M u ssul ma n s swept al l
.

b e fore i t ; we are t ol d that th e age d Ased h i m self cha rged i n

t h e fron t ra nk i n sp ite o f h i s s even ty years an d sle w so m any ,

Ch ri stian s that th e cl ot te d bl ood gl ued h i s lan ce to h i s h an d .

Th e arm y o f S ici ly was al m o st exterm i nate d an d i ts c o m ,

m an de r fled to Calabria an d d i ed th ere , .

The M u ssulman s the n seized G irgen ti an d m arche d t o

be siege Syracu se B u t before i ts walls w hil e they cam ped i
.
,
i

t he m arsh es o f th e A n a po th ey were sm i tten by th e sam e de t h i’

,
fti} " ‘

m arsh fever w h ich ha s struck d own so man y other besi t N 7 "

?
 I t a ly a n d S i ci ly i n tk e N i n t k Cen t u ry 4 49

of that a ncien t city Ased died o f th e pestilen c e an d h i s arm y

.
,

fled from thei r plagu e stricken camp an d fell back o n Castro

-
,

giovan n i ( E n na ) to which they lai d siege H ere th e traitor

,
.

E uphemiu s fell — as h e well deserved — him sel f th e vi cti m o f

treac hery H e was tamperi ng wi th the officers o f th e garri so n
.
,

t o i n duce them to surren der th e place wh en two brothers w h o , ,

p reten de d to l is ten to h i s offer en ticed h i m to T h M rs ,

e oo re .

m eet th em un der th e walls an d prompt l y cu t O ff p l l d fr m

, e e o

s y ’w
hi s hea d when h e came to th e secre t i n terview .
a se '

Th e siege o f E n n a was soon afterwards raised b y a forc e

sen t from Con stan ti n ople an d th e M u ssulman s fell back o n
,

th e fort o f M i n eo wh ere th e y w ere beleagu ere d by th e

,

B yzanti n es .

But j u st as victory seem e d abou t to crown t he E ast Roma n

ban n ers the wh ol e aspect o f th e war was su ddenl y chan ge d b y
,

the arrival o f two n e w Sarace n hos ts A force despatche d by .

Z i a d e t—Allah to ai d hi s fi rs t arm y fell u p on Palermo an d took

i t A secon d force comp osed o f M oors o f S p ai n a ban d of
.
, ,

exiles driven o u t of th ei r own lan d by ci vi l war lan ded on t he ,

sout h c oast relieve d t hei r besi eged c o religi on i sts a t M i n eo

,
-

an d defeated t he s tr a teg os o f S icily i n th e ope n fi el d .

F o r som e tim e t h e emperor T h e o p hi l u s w h o had j u s t s uc ,

“
c e e d e d hi s father M ichael o n the B yzan ti n e thron e con tin u ed ,

to sen d su ccou r to Sicil y B u t i n 8 3 2 h e beca m e i n volve d i n

.

a desperate war wi th th e cal iph M o ta sse m wh ich d i stracted ,

al l h is atten tion to th e E ast Thi s war i n As ia prove d th e .

ru i n o f S icily The African M oors ke p t p ouri ng i n fres h

.

fanatical hordes an d gradu ally sub due d all th e cities of the

,

western h alf o f th e i slan d For a m om en t i t seem ed l ikely

.

that S icily woul d be perman ently d ivided between T h M rs e oo

Greek an d African j u st as i t had been twelve c q u r E s t

,
on e a
S i c i ly
hu nd red years before i n the days O f D i on ysiu s
,
'

an d H i ero 11 B u t at last th e stu bborn defence o f th e B yz an

.

ti n es was brok en d ow n b y tw o fatal blows th e fal l o f M essin a ,

i n 8 4 2 an d t hat o f E n na th e strongest p ost i n the cen tre of th e

, ,

isl an d seve nteen ye ars later i n 8 5 9 T hi s d rove the E as t

, ,
.

P E R I OD I . 2 F
450 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Roman s back t o th e eas tern c oast wh ere th ey retai ned n o ,

m ore tha n th e sea gi rt ci ty o f S yracu s e an d th e s trong town s

-

abou t th e ro ots o f M ou n t E t n a — Taorm i na Catan ia an d , ,

Rametta T he M oslem s ma sters o f t he bulk o f the i sland

.
, ,

were n ow a t l ei sure to turn thei r arm s farth er afield an d to ,

cros s th e Straits o f M es si na to i nvade th e mainland .

I n south I taly all t he elem ents o f disaster were ready an d

p re p ared S icard duke o f Ben even to a ru fli an an d a n o p
.
,

pressor had been assassi nated by h i s ou trage d subj ects i n 8 3 9

,
.

Th e B en eve n tan s th e n p roclai m ed a certai n co un t R a d e l c h i s

as th ei r p ri n ce Bu t the i mportan t town s o f Capu a an d
.

Salern o adh ered t o S i c o n u lf t he bro th er o f th e d eceased,

tyran t A civi l war broke o u t b etween the se tw o pretenders

. ,

which was d estin ed to last w i th m a n y variati on s o f fortu ne

, ,

fo r n o les s tha n t w el ve ye ars I n t he secon d year o f the .

s truggle ( 8 4 0 ) R a d e lc h i s hard pressed by h i s rival had th e

, ,

u nha p py i n sp iration o f askin g ai d from t h e M oslem s o f Sicily .

Th e cha nce w as t o o good t o be los t an d a M oori sh army wa s ,

lan ded a t Bari w here i t was rece ive d by th e partisan s o f

,

R a d e l c h i s an d allowed t o take p ossess ion o f th e t own

,
The n .

S i c o n u l f as mad as h i s e n emy an swere d evil w i th evil by sen d

, ,

i ng to Crete t o c al l i n t o hi s ai d th e Saracen pi rate s of Can dia .

Th ey cam e an d th e sam e sigh t was seen wh ic h

,
T h D uk s f
e e o

B ene v t c l l occurre d S i x hu n dred years late r whe n th e r i val

en o a ,

i th M
n e r em p erors o f C o n s tan ti n o p le calle d i n the Tu rks
oo .

84 °
Th e auxili ari es o f each p ri n ce sacked the town s
i

h el d b y h i s rival an d gen erally e n de d by garri son in g them

‘
, ,

an d h o l di n : th em o n thei r o wn accoun t Apuli a an d Luca n ia .

were o ve rr n by th e M oors an d C retan s wh i le at th e sam e , ,

m omen t t e S icil ian Saracen s crossed th e strai ts — Messina had

'

j u s t fallen — an d swept al l over the Byzan ti n e p ossessi on s i n

Calabria B etwee n 8 4 3 an d 8 5 1 th e w h ole o f I tal y from
.
,

Reggi o t o th e gates o f Rom e was ove rru n by th e M osl em ,

m arau ders an d i t seemed a s i f Ch ri sten do m was to l ose th e

,

southe rn part o f th e p en in sula H al f i ts town s Bari Taran t o .

, , ,

Reggio Bri n disi eve n th e castl e o f M i se n u m at th e very gate s

, ,
 I t a ly a nd S i ci ly i n tk e N i n tk Cen t u ry 45 I

of Naple s had n ow become Saracen fortres ses I n 8 4 6 a

,
.

great fl eet from Africa appeare d at O stia an d th e pirates over ,

ran th e Roman C ampagna an d even sacke d th e rich churches ,

o f S t Paul ou tsi de th e Wal l s an d S t

. Peter on the Vatican . .

B u t for th e s ol i d ramparts o f Au relian th ey woul d have en te red

th e e ternal ci ty i tsel f an d th e town O f Romulu s an d Gregory
,

m ight have b ecome a M oslem stronghol d .

B u t already the man t o wh om above al l others I taly was t o , ,

’
o we her salvati on h ad crossed th e Alp s an d take n up hi s l ife s
,

task Lewi s the el dest so n o f the u n wi se emperor Lothai r

.
, ,

was app oin ted k ing o f I taly by h i s father i n 8 44 s oon after the ,

Partition o f Verdun a n d app eared i n th e n ext year before

,

Sergiu s t o b e sole m n ly crowned at Rom e Th e Pop e .

m ade th e young Frankish pri nce swear t o pro tect t he C hurch

an d al l i ts pri vileges bu t whe n o nc e crown e d Lewi s m ad e
,

Sergiu s an d all the n obles of Rom e do hi m hom age an d when ,

i n 8 4 7 S ergiu s died an d Le o I V fol l owe d h im th e i m p erial

,
.
,

righ t o f confi rmati o n was duly ack n owledged .

Lewi s an d Leo wh o li ved i n c on cord an d am i ty were th e

, ,

“
fi rst t o d i sc o m fi t th e Saracen s an d g i ve som e hop e o f salvat ion
,

t o I tal ian Christen dom I n 8 4 9 the African an d P o p e L

.

S icilian M oslem s sen t a secon d an d larger e xpe v i c t ry t o a

o w " 8 49
dition agai n st Rom e P ope Leo took th e fi el d
.
e ‘

h im self w ith th e force s o f th e Rom an an d Lati n cou n ts an d

baron s wh il e t he fleets o f Napl es an d A m a l fi u n der t h e
, ,

con sul C a e sa ri u s guarded th e harb ou r of O stia Wh en t he

, .

i n fi d e l s app eared battl e was j oi ned at sea bu t a tempest arose , ,

an d drove m ost o f t he Afri can fl eet ashore Caugh t between .

’
th e Neapol i tan ship s an d th e P ope s army t he M oors were ,

crushed the few wh o e scaped death b y t h e sea an d th e

sword becam e th e slave s o f th e R om an s an d we re set t o ,

labou r on the wal l which Le o bu il t to pro tec t t he Vat ican an d

’—
S t Pe ter s th e n ew qu arter of Rom e whi ch got fro m h im th e
.
,

n am e o f the Le on i ne ci ty Th e great fresco o f Raphael re pre

.

’
s en ting th i s vic t ory has m ade pope Le o s triu mp h the o n e n in th
cen tury even t i n I taly wh ich i s wel l remembere d by th e world .
452 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

I n th e next year the empe ror Lewi s c om p elled th e rival

B ene ve nta n d uke s t o com e to t erm s H e m arched i n to
.

Sam n iu m a n d th reate n e d t o a ttack R a d e l c h i s i f h e re fused t o

make peace w i th h i s e n em y S i co n u l f U n de r th i s pre ssu re a
.

partiti o n o f th e d uch y wa s m ad e : R a d e l c h i s k ep t th e c a pi tal

an d th e ea stern hal f o f th e prin cipal ity S i c o n u l f becam e
’
‘
p ri n ce o f Salern o an d rul ed th e Campan ia n an d Lu ca n i an
,

L e w i s 11.
hal
. f Th e co n cl usi o n o f peac e wa s celebrate d

p ac ifi
es by th e m assacre o f th e Sarace n au xil iaries o f
R a d e l c h i s w h om t he d uke qu ietl y betrayed to
,

t he sword o f Lew i s n o w that h e h ad n o further n eed for thei r

,

ai d
B u t though th e ci vi l war i n sou th I tal y was end ed th e ,

si tuati on was stil l pe rilo us Th e wh ol e c oast from Bari t o

.

Reggio was st ill i n t h e han d s o f th e M oslem s w h o were coal ,

e s c i n g i nt o a si ngl e state u n der M o fa re g i bn Salem th e pi rate

- -
,

k i ng wh o govern ed Bari H e h ad take n th e ti tle o f S ul tan

.
,

an d t he m aj ori ty o f h i s cou n trym en h ad don e ho mage t o him .

F o r eigh tee n years ( 8 5 3 7 1 ) h e was th e terro r o f s ou th I tal y

-
,

an d m igh t have fou n de d a ki n gd o m an d a dynas ty i f h e had ,

n o t bee n Oppo se d by a w arri or a s active an d obs ti n ate as h im

sel f i n t he p erso n of th e em pero r Lewi s .

T h e youn g Fran ki sh Caesar wa s already maki ng hi s p ower

fel t i n I tal y as n ei ther h i s si re n or h i s gran dsire ha d don e .

U nl ike m ost o f h is race b e c on centrate d hi s m i n d o n o n e

,

ki ngd om an d de vote d h i m sel f t o i ts defence I t re sulted t hat

,
.

h e was an excellen t ruler fo r I tal y bu t tha t he n ever gai n e d

,

su c h a footin g beyon d th e Al p s a s h e m igh t have cl ai me d i n

v irtu e o f bein g th e el des t hei r O f Charles t he Grea t Th ough .

a crow ned e mperor h e n eve r reign ed at Aach en o r h el d a foo t ,

o f lan d ou tsi de th e peni n sula except the si ngle cou n ty o f Pro

,

ven ce B u t i n I taly h i s power was very real H e deal t m ost

. .

fi rml y wi th th e Papacy Wh en Bene di ct I l l a n d An astasiu s

. .

’
con tested th e Papal th ron e i n 8 5 5 th e em peror s legate h el d
,

a court o f i n qui ry i n th e Lateran an d adj udged th e form er t o

be the t rue succes sor o f S t Pe ter . N i colas I th e next
. .
,
 I t a ly a n d S i ci ly i n tk e N i n t/i Cen t u ry 453

p on ti ff was n om inate d by Lewi s i n opposi ti on t o the m aj ori ty

,

o f th e Roman clergy when h e ven ture d to oppose h i s creator

h e saw hi s c ity occup ied by a Lombard army an d soo n had ,

t o m ake h i s peace .

H adrian 11 wh o foll owe d Nicol as was n o l ess con ten t to

.

keep o n good term s w i th th e em peror whom h e prai se d as ,

‘
the sovereign wh o wars n ot l ike other ki ngs agai n s t C hri s t ian s
, , ,

bu t on ly agai n st th e s on s o f B eli al th e e n em ie s of th e ,

Ch ri stian fai th w he refore th e h an d o f th e Apostoli c See wil l

alway s be stron g o n th e s ide o f th i s m ost pi ou s emp eror an d ,

the great D ispen ser o f bat tles through t h e i n t erce ssi o n o f th e

, e

’
c h ie f o f th e apostles will en sure h is trium ph
,
.

The success of Lewi s i n k eeping the Pa p acy i n han d wa s

all the m ore n otable because t he three popes B en edic t /
Nicolas an d H adrian were al l m en o f mark wh o u rr l f
, ,
Q a e o .

left th ei r impres s for ever o n the h i story o f the B d i c t n d en e a

P h°t i u s
Roman S ee I t w as B en edic t wh o began that
.
°

quarrel wi th th e patriarch P h otius o f Co ns tan ti n opl e wh ich

brough t ab ou t th e fi nal sch ism be tween the E astern an d th e
We stern Churches S tartin g wi th a m ere dispute as t o the
.

val idi ty o f t h e elect ion of P h otiu s i t was s oon compl icated by

,

w ran gles abou t t h e suprem acy o f the Roman See o ver the
I llyrian a n d M ace don ian bi sh opric s a suprem acy which ha d ,

ceased to be real s i n ce Leo th e I saurian had declared them

to o we n o obedien ce save to Con stan ti n opl e 1
B en ed ict
d ied i n 8 5 8 bu t h is succes sor N icolas kep t up the s truggle
,

wi th vigour styl ing P h otius an i n truder an d u sur p er becau s e

, ,

h i s predecessor had n ever legall y resign ed th e patriarchate ,

an d finally declarin g h i m dep osed fro m h i s m etropol i tan

thron e That on e patriarch s hou l d ven ture to remove an d
.

exco m mu n icate an oth er w i th ou t th e ai d o f a gen eral c ou n cil ,

an d merely i n virtue o f h i s powe r as th e successor o f Peter ,

appeared m on strous t o th e B yzan tin e clergy They p ai d n o .

atte n tion to the lett ers o f N icolas an d th e emperor M ichael

,

th e D runkard th re aten ed to make h is a rm fel t i n I tal y an d t o ,

1
S ee pag e 2 84 .
4 54 E u ropea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8
,
-

reclaim by the sword th e righ t o f th e success or of Justin ian

ove r Rom e N icola s replie d by c omparin g the By zan ti n e
.

ruler t o Se n nacheri b an d by taun ting hi m wi th ,

B re a ch b e

tw g
eeh t m th e l oss o f S icily a n d Cala bria to th e Saracen s
ae e ,

d W st r
a n e
whi ch h ad deprived h i m o f any opp ortun i ty o f
e n

C hurch s e .

exerc i s i n g h i s p ower west o f the Adr i at i c .

After seven years of wran gl ing th e d ivi si on be tween E as t a nd

Wes t was fi nally formulated by th e Syn od o f C on stan ti n opl e
wh ere th e patriarch th e emperor an d a th ou san d , ,

b ishops a n d abb ots drew u p th e eigh t articles wh ich declare d

th e Ro man Churc h to have departed fro m th e orth odo x faith
an d d iscipl i n e S i x o f th e articl es onl y d eal t w i th smal l ri tual
.

m at ters such as the observan ce o f Len t a n d th e shaving o f

,

the clergy B u t th e th i rd wh ich denou n ced th e e n forced cel i

.
,

b acy of the p riesth ood as a s n are o f Satan an d t he seven th , ,

whi ch con demn e d th e Rom an doctri ne a s t o th e processio n o f

th e H oly Gh os t were all i mportan t The E astern Ch urch
,
-
.

n o w formally state d th at t h e Western Church b y declari ng ,

that th e H oly Spi ri t p roceede d both fr o m th e Father an d th e

S on fel l i n t o a heresy s o awful as t o d eserve a th ousan d
,
‘

’
an athe mas .

P h otiu s was soon afterward s d ep osed but h i s fall did n o t ,

h eal t h e b reach betwee n the c hu rches fo r the Byzan ti n e ,

em perors an d clergy al l adhered t o th e s tatemen ts o f d octri n e

co ntain e d i n th e dec ree of th e Syn od o f Con stan ti n o p l e To .

th i s day th ey are held by th e E astern C hurch .

N icolas 1 was n ot onl y th e p on tiff wh o preci pi tate d th e

.

quarrel wi th th e E aste rn C hurch ; h e w ill al so be rem embere d

a s th e protec tor o f t h e i nj ure d qu een T e u t b e rga an d th e ,

chas ti ser o f th e adul terou s k i n g Loth ai r of Lorrai n e wh ose ,

fortu n es we have rel ate d i n an other chapter 1

B u t h e has wo n .

h i s greates t fam e from bei ng th e fi rs t Pope wh o u sed th e

’
Th p g
e a
fam ou s Forged D ecretals
e
U p t o h is tim e th e
‘
.

D cr t l s
e e a collecti on of the le tte rs an d edicts o f th e bi sh op s
o f Rom e wh ich al l t he C hu rc h kn ew an d u sed e xte n ded n o
, ,

1
S e e pa g e 4 2 8 .
 I ta ly a nd S zci ly i n tk e N i n tk Cen t u ry 45 5

further back than those o f S iriciu s ( A D B u t there was

. . .

brough t t o Rom e abou t the year 8 6 0 a collec tio n o f fi fty n i n e -

d ecretals which pur p orted to be those of t he Po p e s o f th e

,

secon d an d th ird cen tu ries an d th irty n in e m ore which were

,
-

i n terp olated am on g the real docum en ts exten d ing from

S iriciu s d o w n to Gregory 11 ( 3 8 4 There was al s o i n
.

t hi s preci ou s collec tio n th e celebrate d don ati on of Con stanti n e

an d the ac t s o f several cou ncil s Thi s won derful series o f .

d ocumen ts i t was s ai d had been d i scovere d i n Spai n b y

, ,

R i cu l f archbish op o f Mai n z
,
I t was a t once i n corporate d i n
.

th e au then tic series of Acts o f Council s edited by the great ,

I sidore of Seville an d th e n e w as well as th e old documen t s

,

were i n fu ture called by h i s nam e .

To an y o n e w ith a com peten t kn owledge o f early ch urc h

h istory o r with a turn for textu al cri tici sm the Fal se D ecretal s
, ,

woul d have betraye d th e ir c haracter at o nce B u t th ese .

accomplishm en ts were rare i n th e n i nth cen tury an d the few ,

wh o could have exp osed the n e w decretal s were p recisel y t h e

person s m ost i n teres ted i n proving t hem to b e authen tic .

For as was natural con si deri ng t hei r origi n they were full
, ,

of authori tative deci si on s o n th e p oin ts i n w hich th e n in th

century clergy were i n tere sted Wha t could be m ore deligh tfu l
.

than to fin d S t Clem en t or S t Fel ix gi vi ng j u st suc h deci

. .

si o n s o n t h e qu estion s of church lan ds o r cl eri cal celibacy as

w oul d have been gi ve n b y th e reign i n g pon tiff ? To i nqu ire
wheth er th e Chu rch had a n y lan ds i n the secon d ce n tu ry o r ,

whether the i dea o f cl erical cel ibacy ha d th en been broached ,

woul d have been n o t onl y i mpi ous bu t u n wise S o th e False .

D ecretal s wi th al l the ir anach roni sm s an d con fu sion s of person s

an d i m po ssi b li t i e s Of styl e an d form were greedily I fl f n nenec o

swallowed by the Pope an d th e wh ol e clerical t h F l s e a e

D cr t ls
bo dy an d promptly turn e d i n to weapon s o f war
,
e e a :

agai n st th e c i vil p ower th e E astern chu rch an d any oth er

, ,

e nem y for wh ose d i sc o m fi t u re they were su ited I t i s i m p o s .

s ible n o t to su pp os e t hat Nicolas I kn ew what h e was d oin g .

i n accep ti ng the D ecretal s : h e had i n h i s o wn hand s t he

4 56 E u r op ea n H i s t ory 4 7 6 9 I 8,
-

genu ine decree s o f th e P opes fro m 3 8 4 prese rve d wi th care ,

a n d accuracy ; h ow wa s i t p os si ble t hat m ore sh oul d exi st i n

a c orn er o f Spain th an i n th e papal C hancery ? Woul d t he
m os t i m porta n t t i tle deed s O f th e Roman S ee which prove d
-
,

t hat from the days o f th e ap ostles d own ward th e P ope s ha d

exerci sed th e p ower o f l egi slating for t he wh ol e Western
C hu rch have bee n su ffered t o pas s i n t o obl ivi on ? O n suc h
,

poi n t s Ni colas m u s t h ave h ad h i s own view s bu t the docu

m en ts were t oo tempti ng t o b e n eglected an d fro m h enc e ,

forw a rd th ey were freel y u se d a s a basi s for t h e m on s trou s

clai m s of th e m ediaeval pa p acy .

Wh o forged th e P seu do I si dorian D ecre tal s we s hal l n ever

-

k n ow They were fi rs t h e a rd o f at Mainz an d i t woul d seem

.
,

that i t was eithe r at Mai nz o r at Rhei m s tha t they were c o m

p osed . Rome th ough sh e u sed them di d n o t have the
, ,

s ham e of fram i ng them I n deed th ey were originally i ntended

.

to serve th e e n ds o f th e l ocal b i sh ops rather than th ose o f th e

P op e Th e fi rs t t i me that t hey were u s e d i n a case o f i m
.

p ortance was i n 8 6 6 H i n c m a r archbi sh op o f Rheim s h ad

.
, ,

d epose d R o t h a d b i sh op o f S oi sso n s for i n competence

, , .

R o th a d appealed to N i colas o n t he p l ea t hat acc ording t o

t he D ecre tal s th e p owe r o f deposi ng a b i shop lay with th e

Pope al on e an d n ot wi th t h e arch bi sh op
,
N icolas then .

restore d th e bish op o f S oi sson s to hi s s ee to the great wrath

O f H i n c m a r wh o woul d h ave repud iated t h e d ecretal s bu t
,

for the u n fortu nate fact tha t h e h i m sel f had u se d th em i n th e

p revi ou s year H e ha d t o con te n t hi m sel f wi th th e cau ti ou s
.

’
say ing t hat the docu m en ts we re a m ou se trap for archbishop s
‘

—ci r cu rnp osi ta o m n i bu s rn et rop oli t a ru s rn u sezpu l a — becau se they

'

t hrew al l p ower i n t o the ha n ds o f th e Ro man pon ti ff .

B u t we m us t re tu rn to th e secular a ff ai rs of I taly I n 8 5 3 .

the e m peror Lewi s m ade t h e fi rs t o f h i s attem pts t o expel th e

Saracen s from th e p en in sula i t failed owin g t o th e slack n ess
o r treach ery of th e duke of B en even to wh o bough t a pri vate ,

peace for h i m sel f from th e S ultan o f Bari an d rej oi ced to se e ,

the wors t of the M osle m raid s tu rn e d o ff agai ns t h is n eighb ours

 S z ozly i n t he N z n té Cen t u ry
' ' '

I t a ly a nd 457

of Salern o . Naples al s o long rem embere d th e day wh en

M o fa reg forced hi s way to i ts very gates an d sat i n t rium p h ,

o n a heap o f corp se s by the bank o f th e S e b e t o w hile h i s ,

s old iery lai d the h eads o f t he i r victim s at h i s feet .

S ome years later Lewi s began a sec on d serie s of cam paign s

agai n st the in fi del At fi rs t h e m e t wi th man y c h ecks b ut i n
.
,

8 6 7 h e force d the dukes o f Be neven to a n d Salern o to d o h i m

h omage an d to j oi n h i s Lombard s i n the fiel d H e took on e .

after an other m an y o f the town s o f Apul ia a n d at las t i n 8 6 8 ,

lai d s iege to Bari i tsel f Th e leaguer laste d n o

’
.

l ess t han three years bu t while i t was i n p ro i i ifii frfi

s
, ver

gres s Lewi s was clearin g Lucan ia an d Calab ria o f t h M rs e oo ,

the en em y Ye t a s long as th e sea was open Bari

.

n ever faile d t o o btai n provi si on s an d rei n forcemen ts a n d Lewi s ,

was force d to fi n d som e naval p ower t o back h i m H e aske d .

the ai d of t he e m peror B asil th e M acedon ian w h o had j ust ,

succeeded M ich ael th e D ru n kard o n th e B yzan ti n e thron e .

Accord ingl y th e admiral N icetas O ri ph a s swep t the Adriatic

with a hu n dred sh ips an d drove the M oslem s ou t o f i ts reces ses .

H e t he n blockade d Bari for a space bu t s oo n quarrelled wi th ,

Lewi s an d w ithdrew Th e S ul tan h o wever deprived o f th e

.
, ,

c o mm an d o f the sea had been driven t o extrem i ty an d i n

, ,

February 8 7 1 th e empero r su cceeded — even with ou t B yz a n

ti n e ai d — i h storm ing the ci ty The garri s on was pu t to the
.

sword all save th e Sul tan wh om duk e A d e lgi s o f B en even to

, ,
.

h a d ca p tured i n th e citadel .

Lew i s n o w turn ed to seize Taran to th e last Sarace n ,

strongh ol d i n A p ul ia an d spoke o f completin g hi s work by

,

cleari ng Calabria an d attacki ng Sici l y Bu t treachery fru s .

t ra t e d th i s gran d an d sal utary sch em e Wh ile the e m p eror .

was p ay ing a vi si t t o Ben evento i n company with hi s wi fe an d

,

daugh ter th e n ew duke A d e lg i s treacherousl y seized h im an d

,

threw h im i n to a dungeon Th e trai tor i s s ai d to L e w i s k w

.

have been persu aded by h i s prison er th e Sul tan m p p d b y a e

o f B ari th at th e further succes s of Lewi s woul d

duk A d lg i e e s '

m e an t he ann e xation of all I taly t o the i m p erial do mai n

 ’

458 E u ropea n H z s z o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
‘
-

an d the exti n cti on o f al l the s ou thern pri nci p al itie s o f th e

p en i n sula .

B u t pu ni shmen t was a t han d O n th e n ews o f th e fal l o f

.

B ari th e A gla b i t e m o narch i n Africa h ad res ol ved that I tal y

sh oul d n o t be l os t t o I slam an d had pre p are d a vast expedi
,

t ion aga i ns t southern Christen dom D uk e A d e lg i s had onl y.

kept h i s suzerai n forty day s i n bon ds w he n h e heard t o hi s

d i sm ay that M oors u n der a ge neral na med Abdallah ,

wh o styled h i m se l f t h e Wo l f o f I taly had lan de d at Tara n to

,
.

I n terror a t thi s ap p roach in g storm the duk e l iberate d h i s

august pri son er after mak i ng hi m swear t o bear n o ranc ou r
,

fo r h is captivity I t was fel t th at Lewi s alone coul d save I taly

.
,

an d th e arm ies o f the Lom bards w oul d be n eede d t o drive ou t

th e African Mean wh ile th e Wal i Abdallah l ai d s iege t o
.

Saler n o w hic h i ts duke Wa i fe r defe nde d w ith great courage

, .

Th e m omen t th at h e was released th e emperor su m m on e d

th e hosts of n orthern I tal y to Rom e they m u stered i n great
strength eage r t o avenge Le wi s o n th e treacherou s duke an d
, ,

pope H adrian 1 1 a t o n ce declare d th e oath that had bee n

.

s worn at Be n e ve n to n ull an d void becau se extorted by force

,
.

L ew i s rou ts B u t before pu n ish ing th e trai tor Lewi s was ,

th
e M rs
oo magnan im ou s e nough t o resolve to drive away
,

87
2
th e M oors wh o lay be fore Salern o H i s vanguard
'

u n d er c ou n t Gu n the r defeated n ear Capu a th e coveri ng army

, ,

w i th wh ich th e besiegers were protectin g th ei r mai n operati on .

Th en th e em peror hi m sel f cam e d ow n o n th e M oori sh cam p

after a sh ort struggle t he i nvaders fl e d t o t hei r sh ips A .

tem pest s wept d own o n the m ere th ey had well go t ou t to sea ,

an d th e wh ol e arm am e n t was engul fed ( Aug . .

I t wa s n ow t im e t o deal wi th the trai tor d uke o f B en eve n t o .

I n th e spri ng o f 8 7 3 Lewi s supported by th e sole m n blessin g

,

o f p ope J oh n v m m arche d i n to th e d uch y overran i t an d

.
, , ,

forced h is way t o the gate s o f th e capi tal B u t h i s succe ssful .

cam paign d i d n ot en d as m igh t have bee n e xpec ted by th e

, ,
’
an n exatio n o f A d e lg i s domi n i on s A t the in tercessi on o f
.

th e Pope the duke wa s admitte d to pardon a nd o n d oin g ,

 ’
I t a ly S i ci ly toe N z u tfi Cen t u ry
'

a nd zu 4 59

h o m age an d pen anc e was re in ve sted w ith th e s over e ign ty o f

Ben ev e n to .

Lewi s had n o w leisure to u n dertake h i s great sche me for

ex p ellin g the M oors fro m Calabri a an d S icily B u t to th e .

grief o f al l h is subj ects an d the eternal m i sfortu n e D e at h f

, o

o f I taly h e died i n 8 7 5
,
To crown th e d isaster L w i s 87 5
.
e ,

h e left n o m al e heir bu t onl y a daughter an d th e pri ncess

, ,

H e rm e n gard e was n ot yet m arried to an y stalwart cou n t wh o

’
coul d have ch amp ion ed her claim to her fath er s realm .

Lewi s was b y far th e bes t of the later Karlin gs J u s t p i ou s .

, ,

an d forgiving l ike hi s gran dfath er a n d n am esake he was n o ,

weakling as th e elder Lewi s had been bu t a m ighty man o f ,

w ar from h i s youth up I f he h ad succeeded hi s father

.

Lothai r i n all h i s ki n gdom s th e fall o f th e em pire o f th e

,

F ranks woul d h ave been stayed for a n other gen erati on I f .

h e had l ived longer an d l e ft m al e iss u e a stron g an d compac t ,

kingdom o f I taly woul d probabl y h ave com e i n to bei ng B u t .

w hen they b ore hi m to rest i n th e ol d basili ca o f S t Am brose .

at M ilan the hop e o f a u n i te d I taly was buried i n hi s grave ,

’
an d th e Age o f I ron as i t was afterwards styled set i n for
‘
, ,

all the provi n ces o f th e p en i n su la .

We have na rrated i n an other cha p ter th e troubles which were

brough t upon I taly an d al l th e ot her kingdom s of the F ranki sh
em p i re by the ext in cti on o f th e el dest l in e of t h e descen dan t s
o f C harles the Great an d t he vacancy o f th e i m p erial th ro n e
1
.

Charles th e Bald b ecame th e n om i n al su cces sor o f Lewi s

bu t w hil e h e was ab sen t i n N eu stri a th e Sarace n s recoveri ng
,

from their fe arfu l defeat o f 8 7 2 began o nce m ore t o i n fest

Apu l ia an d Campan ia They th rice d efeate d A d e lg i s o f
.

Ben even to i n th e Open fi el d an d i t was i n vai n that h e

,

an d pope J oh n j oi ne d to beg Charle s th e Bal d t o retu rn an d

deli ver t he m .

D el iverance however cam e n et from th e West b u t from th e

, ,

E ast. W hil e th e Franki s h emperor failed t o app ear Basil th e ,

M acedonian h ad resolved to take up the task of driving th e

1
S ee pag e 4 3 2 -3 .
 E u rop ea n H zs t o ry , 4 7 6 —
’

46 0 9I8

M oors from I tal y H i s armies cros sed th e I on ian Sea an d

.
,

seized Bari i n 8 7 5 They m et wi th u nbroke n su ccess Th e

. .

Apulian t own s open ed th ei r gate s o n e after an other i n order

t o get succou r from th e i n fi del Two splen did n aval victorie s .

an n i hila ted for a space th e p i ratical flee ts o f t he African an d

Th By
e m
S icilian
z a
M oors The i r strongh ol d o f Taran t o was
.

s c q u r storme d an d then i n thre e years the gre at

.

ti ne on e , , ,

gen eral N i ce p h o ru s Ph oca s gran dfath er of th e ,

em p eror o f t he sam e n ame overran Calabria an d , ,

le ft n ot a si n gl e Sarace n o n th e eastern si de o f I taly ( 8 8 4

Th e Byza n tine s t h en wen t o n t o attack the duchy o f B ene
ve n to They swep t over i t w i th ease an d force d duke U rso
.
,

t o fl y i n t o exile F o r fou r years E as t Ro man govern ors rule d

.

at B en even t o i tsel f ; b u t i n 8 9 4 W i d o ki ng o f I tal y d rove

t hem o u t o f that c i ty an d recon stitu ted the B e neven ta n state
,

on a smaller scal e I ts sou th eastern hal f the p rovin ce s

.
-
,

wh ich got fr o m th e Greeks th e name s o f th e Basil icata a n d

C a t a pa n a t a rem ai ne d perman en tly i n th e han ds of th e eastern
,

emperor I t i s s trange to fi n d that whi le the Byzan ti n e s were

.

fari n g s o wel l i n I taly th ei r fate i n Sici ly had been di sastrous

, ,

u n less i ndee d i t wa s succ ess i n o n e quarter that led t o th e

, ,

n eglect of th e othe r I n 8 7 7 a great hord e o f Africa n an d

.

S i cilian M o slem s lai d si ege t o Syracu se the mai n pos t o f th e ,

E as t Roman s i n th e i sla n d I t wa s defen ded s tubb orn ly by

.

two forgotten worth ies j oh n t h e P atrici an a n d N icetas of ,

Tarsu s an d hel d ou t for t e n m on th s

,
B y M ay 8 7 8 th e .

besiege d w ere redu ced to feed o n grass n e ttles an d u n cl ean , ,

ani m al s an d the fain ti ng troops coul d n o l onger man th e

,

S yr cus
a
wal ls
e
Th e M oors bu rs.t i n an d m assacred th e ,

t k
a en by t h patricia n an d th e remain s o f th e gallan t garrison
e .

Nothin g n ow rem ai n ed to the empi re i n S ici ly

save a few forts am on g th e roots o f E tn a an d t he si ngl e town
o f Cata nia The se were hel d th rough ou t th e war a n d only
.
,

fel l i n th e begi n n ing o f the n ext cen tu ry .

Wh i le th e Byzan ti n e s were main tain ing thei r struggle i n

sou th I taly a n d S ici ly wi t h th e Agla b i t e mon arch s o f th e
 I ta ly a nd S i cily i n t he N i n tn Cen t u ry 46 I

M oors Lombardy an d Rome had trouble s o f thei r own

,
.

M uch vexed by Sarace n i n road s on Campa n ia p op e ,

J oh n V I I I su mm on ed Charles th e Bal d t o retur n to I tal y

.
.

The ki n g o f Neu stria di d for o n ce appear to vin dicate h i s

i m perial claim s i n 8 7 7 Bu t i t was onl y t o fl y i n haste an d
.
,

t o expi re wh il e cross i n g the pass of M on t Ce n i s .

The ti tl e o f emp eror an d t he ki ngdom of Lom bardy were

bo th n ow vacan t ; several pri nce s stepped forward to clai m
them The maj ori ty of the Nort h I talian s heade d by t he
.
,

bi sh op o f M i lan chose to rul e t hem Carloma n t he e l des t s on

, ,

o f Lewi s the Germ an though th e Pop e trie d t o support

,

t h e claim s o f c oun t B oso a B u rgun dian n obl e w ho ha d ju s t

, ,

m arried th e princess H e rm e n g ard e t he h eires s o f th e goo d ,

emperor Lew i s 1 1 B ut Carlom an n ever wa s abl e t o m ake

.

good h is rul e over Lom bardy soon after hi s election he l os t

h i s h eal th an d fel l i n t o a l ethargy which oblige d h i m t o
, ,

aban don all S tate affairs Yet till hi s d eath i n 8 8 0 h e hel d

.

the ti tle o f kin g o f I taly .

M eanwhil e th e pen i n sula fared very ill withou t th e

han d o f a ruler to guide i t W hil e t h e E ast Roma n armie s .

were evi cting th e M oors from t h e Adriati c sh ore the ex ,

p e ll e d i n fi d e l s kept t hrow in g themselve s up on Lati u m an d

Campan ia Aide d by n ew swarm s from Africa th ey i n
.

fe st e d the regi on s abou t Naples Cap ua an d Ga e ta till i n

' '

, , , ,

despai r the Neap ol i tan repu bl ic m ade a pri vate peace wi th

,

t hem an d bough t i mmu n i ty from th eir ravage s by allowi ng i ts

,

harbour to become a bas e of op erati on s for the plun der o f t he

neighbouri ng lan ds A veri t a bl e colony o f M ohamme dan s was
.

soon e stabl ishe d o n th e banks o f th e Garigl ian o an d from 8 8 2 ,

till 9 1 6 the cen tral I tal ian powers were quite u nable to drive
them o u t Thei r ravages exten de d far an d wide T h M rs i
.
e oo n

in to th e Sam ni te Apen n in es an d even a s far as C m p i ,

a an a

Tu sca n y Yet strangely en ough the adventu rers n eve r suc

.
, ,

cee d e d i n capturing Ga eta o r Capu a o r a ny other o f the strong

town s arou n d t hem They were pur e predatory an d showed

. _
,

n o sign s o f s e ttl ing down i nto a n organ is e d state .

46 2 E u ropea n H i s t o ry, 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

I n h i s despairin g search fo r a n em peror wh o sh oul d save

Rom e an d I tal y p o pe J oh n fi nally crown e d Charl es the Fa t
, ,

t he m os t u n prom i si ng can d idate upon w ho m h e coul d possi bly

have pitched B ut th e i n capabl e an d u nw ieldy m onarch s oon
.

retu r n ed t o G erm an y an d even took with h i m fo r n orthe rn

,

wars t h e Lombard levie s w h ich J oh n had fon dly hoped t o u se

fo r t h e exti rpatio n o f th e Cam pan ian M oslem s
Nex t year J oh n VI I I d ied H e was th e las t o f th ose a bl e
. .

p on ti ffs o f th e n i n th ce n tury wh o di d the ir bes t t o d efen d

I tal y from t he i n fi del an d t o strengthe n an d exten d th e Pa p al
,

p ower over th e Frank is h kin gs a n d t h e Franki s h church .

Afte r h i s decease th e sam e bligh t wh ich h ad already fal len o n

th e h ou se o f Charles th e Great seemed t o d escen d o n th e
bearers o f th e R om an keys Th ree Pope s d ied i n eigh t years
.
,

an d m en o f m ark ceased to appea r o n the papal th ron e Th e .

l ast fi fteen years o f the cen tury saw th e fi rst of t hose scan d a
l ou s p rel ates w h o w ere for a cen tu ry t o be t h e di sgrace o f
Chri sten dom .

The i n glori ou s reign of C harl es th e Fat wa s n o les s fatal t o

I taly than t o th e rest o f th e Franki sh real m s Th e M oors o f .

Sicily an d th ei r col on is ts o n th e Garigl ian o sen t thei r exped i

ti on s farthe r an d farthe r afi el d ; the i r vessels were see n a s far
n orth a s Pi sa an d G en oa An other b an d from Spai n de sce nded
.

o n th e P ro ve n gal coast at th e same m om en t a n d seize d the ,

sea girt fortress o f F ra xi n e t w here t hey establ ishe d a s trong

-
,

colon y wh ic h la sted n earl y a h u n dre d years ( 8 8 8

,
The
rai d s of th e M oors o f F ra xi n e t reached far i nlan d i n despite ,

o f th e k ings o f Arles a n d Upper B u rgun d y We read to o u r

.
,

su rpri s e o f i n cursion s w h ich d evastated th e w h ol e vall ey of th e

,

Th M
e rs f
oo
Rho
on e an d reach
,
ed as far a s Lau san n e an d S t .

Fra xine t , Mau rice i n S witzerlan d O n o n e occasi on a ban d

.

888 9 7 5
o f P roven cal Saracen s an d a ban d o f Magyars

fro m th e D an ube m e t an d fough t a t O rbe i n th e lan d o f

Vau d I t seem ed a s i f th e en em ie s o f E urope had met a t her
.

cen tral poi n t a n d th at Ch ri sten dom was d oomed to succum b

,
.

A fter the deposition o f Cha rles th e Fa t n o m ore Karlings

 I t a ly a nd S i ci ly i n tae N i n tli Cen t u ry 46 3

of legi ti mate blood survived I tal y l ike the oth er Franki sh .

,

realm s had to seek a n ew royal h ouse Two p ri nces courte d

,
.

the suffrages o f the Lombard D i et an d th e bles sing o f th e

Pope — Wi d o duk e o f Spoleto the m os t powerful an d the
, ,

mos t turbulen t o f the n obl es of ce n tral I tal y an d B e re n ga r , ,

m argrav e o f th e m arch of Friul i th e I talian b orderlan d ,

toward the Slavs of I llyria B oth clai me d Karl ing bl oo d o n .

th e spi ndle side B e re n ga r wa s t he son of Gisela a daughter

.
,
’
of Lewis the P i ous an d t he empress J u di th ; Wi d o s m other
was a daugh ter o f Lothai r I an d a si ster of th e goo d emperor .

Lewi s I I At fi rs t there app eare d s om e chance that the t wo

.

competi tors migh t n ot com e t o bl ows fo r Wi d o had th e b old ,

i dea o f crossi ng the Alps t o seize th e Lotharingian d om in i on s

o f h is gran dfather Lo thai r i n th e general break u p o f th e ,
-

em pire wh ich followe d t h e d ep os i ti on o f Charles the Fat .

H e agreed to allow B e re n g a r t o b e crow ned kin g o f I taly i f

h e him sel f was ai ded i n h i s Tran salpi n e sche m es Th e m ar .

grave of Friuli therefore was duly el ecte d by the Lombard

, ,

D ie t an d an oin ted ki ng by the arch bi sh op o f M ilan whil e

, ,

duke Wi d o en tered B urgu n dy an d got h im sel f crown e d at ,

Langres B u t after a short struggl e w i th O d o of France t he

.

“
S p o l e t a n prince aban don ed hi s h opes beyon d th e Alps an d fell
back o n I taly Then d isregarding the oath s h e w rs W i d
.
, a o

had sworn to B e re n ga r h e com me nce d t o i n d B

,
g an e re n ar

trigu e w ith the coun ts o f cen tral I taly an d soo n laid cl ai m to ,

the crown There follo wed four years of bitter war between
.

B e re n gar an d Wi d o th e form er supp orte d by Lombardy the

, ,

latter by Tuscan y an d all central I tal y an d backed by t h e

Pope Preten ding that th e archb ishop of M i lan ough t n ot to
.

have crowne d Be t engar t he privi lege bel onging to th e Papal ,

See alon e , S tephe n V an oi n ted Wi d o an d p roclaim ed hi m

.
,

E mperor as well as K i ng o f I tal y Th e struggl e

betwee n th e rival ki ngs e n de d i n th e vic tory o f Wi d o wh o ,

took Pavi a drove B e re n gar back i n to hi s own du chy o f

,

Friuli an d rule d al l th e Lom bard real m for three years

,
.

H e m ade p o p e Formosu s crown hi s s on Lam bert as co

464 E u r op ea n H i s t o i y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

regen t em peror w i th h im an d th ough t that h i s dynasty wa s ,

firml y establ ish ed .

B u t a n ew c o m peti t o r fo r th e i m peria l thro n e n ow i n ter ~

ven ed Th e h u mbled B e re n ga r se n t o ver th e Al ps to ask ai d

.

from A rn ulf ki n g o f G erman y Th at pri nc e h ad always

,
.

claim ed the primacy am o n g the vari ou s rul er swh o n ow share d

the empire o f C harl es the G reat betwee n them a n d was onl y ,

A m mfi d t o o gla d o f a n opp o rtu n i ty to i n terfere i n I taly

nva es .

I t ly 89 4
a
H e crossed th e Alp s i n 8 9 4 was j oine d by
, ~

B e re n g a r an d lai d siege t o B ergam o the s trong c l i fl bui l t

, ,
-

ci ty wh ic h dom i nates the Lom bard plai n s fro m th e last spu r

o f th e Alps Th e G erm an s storm ed t he town an d Arn ul f
.
,

h u ng cou n t Ambrosiu s th e govern or i n h i s a rm ou r before , ,

the gate after m assacrin g the w h ole garri son Th e terror o f

,
.

th i s deed c owe d the p arti san s o f Wi d o an d all I taly n orth o f ,

th e P o did h omage t o Arn ul f The S po l e t a n emperor retired .

s outhward t o p repare t o defe n d the l in e o f th e Apen n ines .

Th ere he d ied leaving h i s clai m s t o h i s son Lam bert

, .

N ext year Ar n ul f returned i n fo rc e passe d triumphantl y ,

through Tu scan y an d th ough d isease m uch th i n n ed th e rank s o f

,

h i s arm y appeared before t he walls o f Rom e N o t Lam bert

,
.

o f Spolet o bu t h i s m other E n ge l t ru d defe n de d th e E ternal

,

ci ty I n spiri te d by her the Roman s hel d ou t for s om e day s

.
,
’
bu t wh e n Arnul f had storme d the Leon i ne C i ty t he n ew ‘
,

quarter b eyon d th e T iber th e em press an d h e r warriors fled , ,

an d the Pope open ed th e gate s Form osus wh o had al ways .

,

Am m ku Opposed th e S po l e t a n s l o oked o n Arn ulf as a

a es ,

R m
° '
del i verer an d crowned h i m em peror wi th j oy ;
,

bu t th e violen ce an d rapi n e o f th e c on queri ng sol diery d i s

gu sted th e p opul ace o f Rom e wh ose con fidence had n ot ,

been won b y Arn ulf s fi rs t act — t he beheading o f thi rty

’

ci tizen s w h o had favou red th e c aus e o f Wi do an d Lam

bert .

Attacked by fever: an d a paralyti c stroke Arnu l f return ed ,

’
to Ge rman y wi th ou t h avi ng con quered Lambert s heredi tary
d uchy i n th e U m brian Apen n in es Th e m omen t h e was .
 I ta ly a nd S i ci ly i n Me N i n tn Ce n t u ry 46 5

gon e all cen tral I taly rose i n favou r o f th e S po le t an Po p e .

’
Form osu s Arn ul f s ch ief supporter d ied at thi s m omen t an d
, , ,

th e n ew p op e S tephe n V I a rabi d su pp orter of th e faction o f

,
.
,
’
La m bert violated h i s predeces sor s sepulchre declare d h i m
, ,

an an tipop e an d u su r p er an d cast h i s cor p se i n to t he Tiber

,

Arnul f s tricken down b y diseas e return ed n o m ore to

, ,

I taly an d i n h is ab sen c e B eren gar o f Fri ul i on ce m ore

,

becam e m aster o f Lom bardy wh il e Lambert o f Sp oleto was ,

ackn owledged i n Rom e Tu scan y an d Umb ria Fortun ately , , .

fo r I taly Lambert d ied eighteen m on th s later ki lled by a fall

, ,

from his horse an d h i s m other E n ge l t ru d se n t to B e re n ga r t o

,

recogni se h im as sole ki ng maki ng n o clai m i n B

g r s l
,
et en a o e

behal f of her young gran dchil d th e s on of Lam k i g o f I t l y , n a ,

bert Arn ul f died a year later an d thu s i n the

.
,

last year o f th e cen tury ( 9 0 0 ) B e re n ga r was l eft wi thout c o m

p e t i t o rs .

That h i s reign was n o t likely t o be ha p p y m ay be gathere d

from the p reced ing pages Th e Saracen s o f Cam pan i a were .

still i n th e fi el d 3 a n ew scourge th e Magyars fro m the ,

D an ube a p peare d for the fi rs t ti m e i n I tal y i n 8 9 9 an d

, ,

raid e d as far as Vero na s h owin g by their bru tal cruelty t hat,

Christendom m igh t have even worse foes than t he M oslem .

Rom e meanwh ile was a prey t o an arch y six Popes d i ed i n ,

fo ur years n or was th ei r loss m u ch t o be deplored Bon i

, .

face V I I had bee n twi ce dep osed from th e pri esthood for
.

p ro fli a c
g y For S tephe.n VI wh o s howe d hi s d isp osi ti on by .
,

hi s horri d treatmen t o f the cor p se o f F o rm o su s we need n ot ,

m uch grieve w hen we read that h i s en em i es caugh t him an d

,

strangled hi m i n p ri son O f the o ther Popes creature s Of a.

,
’
fe w m on ths reig n w e kn ow so littl e that i t i s h ard to take any
,

in terest i n their fate They represen ted n othin g m ore than

.

p artie s among t he ci tizen s o f Rom e o r the baron s of Latium .

S o cl ose d the n i n th cen tury wi th prospects as black for ,

I taly as fo r the other kingdom s which a h u n dred years before

h ad j oi n ed i n saluting Charl es the Gr e at a s em p eror Th e .

P E R I OD I . 2 G
 46 6 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

onl y favourable p oi n t i n t he outlook wa s th e h o p e t hat a

n ational Lombard kingsh i p m igh t b e o n ce m ore restored i n
t he p erso n o f B e re n ga r .

I t was the u nfortun ate con nec tio n be twee n the P o p e t he ,

I tal ian crown an d t h e i mperial title that wa s still t o b e

,
’
B e re n g a r s ban e H e had h ardl y reign ed a year i n peace
.

( 9 00
) w h en P ope B en ed ic t I v an d th e remai n s o f t he
. party of

Lambert of Spol eto fou n d a n ew competi tor to p i t agai n st

h im Thi s was Lewi s k i n g o f Prove n ce ( or Arl es ) th e s on o f
.
, ,

kin g B os o an d th e I tal ian p ri ncess H e rm e n ga rd e an d there

, ,

fore th e gra nd son o f th e good em p eror Lewi s I I Lewi s won .

several su cces ses over B e re n g a r wa s crowne d king o f Lom ,

bardy at Pavi a an d th e n receive d th e i mperi al crown a t Rom e

,

i n February 9 0 1 B u t h e coul d n ot perman en tly hol d h i s o wn

.
.

’
After a year s fighti ng B e re n ga r succeeded i n c hasi n g h i m b e
yon d t he Al p s H e retu rn ed i n 9 0 5 agai n called i n by th e
.
,

rebel l iou s coun t s o f cen tral I taly an d o nc e m ore w o n som e ,

fl eeting advan tages over th e nati ve ki ng o f the lan d B u t as .

h e lay i n Veron a h e was suddenl y su rrou n ded by a n arm y o f

’
B e re n ga r s parti san s ; the ci ti zen s o f th e place threw open th e
gates at n ight an d the y ou n g Proven c al em peror fell i n to hi s
,
’
rival s ha n d s B ere n g e r bad e h i s s ervan t s bl i n d th e cap ti ve
.
,

a n d se n t h i m back i n s orry pligh t to abide i n h i s ki n gdom by

th e Rh on e An d s o at last h e fi rm l y h el d th e I tal ia n c rown
.
‘
,
’
wh ich had cos t s o m an y prin ces th eir l ives Bu t i t wa s onl y .

a precariou s empi re over th e Lombard plai n tha t B e re n ga r

enj oyed Th e P ope an d t he cou n ts o f cen tral I taly eve n wh e n
.
,

t hey d i d n ot rai se u p an y ri val a gai n st h im system atically set ,

h i s c omm an ds a t n ough t The i m perial ti tl e h e ei t her d i d n o t

.

B
e re n ar
cove t or c ould n ot obtai n from th e Pope til l i n ,
g
c q u rs t h 9 1 5 J oh n x bough t h i s support agai nst th e
on e e .

Saracen s o f th e Ga rigl ian o by con ferring o n

h i m th e l on g wi th h el d dign i ty I n th e fol l owing year I tal y
-
.

wa s h appily rel ieved from that ban d o f m arau ders The .

troops o f B e re n ga r o f th e dukes o f S polet o a nd B en even to a n d

, ,

o f the Pope were al l for once u n i ted i n the h ol y wa r a n d whe n ,

 I ta ly a nd S i ci ly i n tne N i n t/i Cen t u ry 46 7

u n i ted t hey p rove d i nvi ncibl e Th e forts o f th e Mu ssul man s

.

were s tormed thei r arm i es beaten i n th e fi el d an d th e wh ole

, ,

colony fi nall y rooted o u t .

B u t after th i s triump h B e re n gar wa s n o t fated t o d i e i n

peace I n hi s ol d age h is e nemie s sti rre d up agai n st hi m ye t
.

an other k i ng from beyon d the Alps R u dol f I I o f Upper Bu r

,
.

gundy B ere n gar wa s on ce m ore deserte d by m an y o f hi s

.

foll owers an d on ce m ore saw th e greater part O f D t h f

, ea o

Lombard y overrun b y a Tran sal pin e arm y Bu t B g r .

et en a ,

9 4 2
th i s ti m e h e was n ot d esti ned to survive h i s
°

t roubles Wh il e besiege d i n Veron a i n the year 9 2 4 h e was

.
,

m u rdered by trai tors an d l ost hi s life a s wel l as the royal an d

, ,

imp eri al crown fo r whic h h e had so o ften co n ten ded

, .
 C HA PTER XXVI I

GE R M A NY 8 88 9 1 8
-

Ar n ul f k i n g o f G e r m a n y —H i s v i c t o ry a t L o uv a i n o v e r t he D an e s —H i s
— —
,

e px e d i t i o n t o I t a ly H i s t r o ubl e s W i t h h i s so n Z w e n t i b o l d A pp r o a ch o f
t h e M a g y a rs — R e i g n o f L e w i s t h e Ch i ld — I n te r n a l a n a rchy a n d d i sa s te rs
fr o m M a gy a r i n v a s i o n s —R e ig n o f C o n r a d o f F r a n c o n ia —H i s t r o ubl e s
,

a nd de ath .

A R N U L F o f Cari n thi a was b ase b orn th e so n of th e Slavon ic -

,

m i stres s o f k ing Carl oman bu t h e p ossessed a c on siderable

,

share o f th e strength an d vigou r o f h i s ancestors For the .

t wel ve years of h i s reign th e German real m m ade h ead agai n st

i ts enem ie s to n orth a n d eas t a n d h e ld th e primacy a m on g th e
,
‘

states o f Chri sten do m Th e Frank i sh empi re had n ow falle n

.

apart in to five states b u t t he ki ngs w h o hel d th e other shares

all came to seek o u t Arnul f a n d Ob tai n h is recogn i ti o n of th ei r
righ ts O d o th e rule r o f t he West Fra n k s was th e fi rst to
.

ap pear be fore th e G e rman mo narc h a n d crave h i s frien dsh ip .

I t woul d al m os t appear that b e recogni sed Arn ul f as h is

su peri or an d l iege l ord fo r on h i s retu rn t o Ne u stri a h e had
-
,

hi m sel f cro wn ed for a secon d tim e at Rhei m s i n the presence

of G erm an am bassadors an d with a diade m wh ich Arn ul f ha d
,

gi ve n t o hi m Rud ol f th e rule r o f Up per Burgun dy wa s the

.

S upr m c y
e f
next
a
t o vio
si t th e G erman c ourt : h e cam e to Regen s

A lf i th
rn u bu rg Obtain ed recogni tion from Arn ul f a n d re
n e , ,
Emp " e
tu rn ed i n peace B e re n g a r o f Lom bard y al ready
'

th reaten ed wi th war by h i s c o m peti to r Wi d o O f Spole to m et ,

th e k in g of G erman y a t Tren t o n the b o rder o f h i s realm , ,

a n d pr o m i se d to be his fai th ful su pporter i n al l th i ngs Lastly .

403
 Ger m a ny 8 8 8 9 I 8 -
46 9

H e rme ngard e , the widow o f B oso o f Lower B urgun dy ( Arles ) ,

’
placed her young so n Lewi s u n de r Arnulf s protection an d b e ,

sough t hi m to u n dertak e th e regency o f th e P ro ve n ga l realm .

Though Arnul f had n ot obtai n ed th e i mp erial ti tle h e was

for all practical purposes far m ore o f a gen eral suzerai n an d
ruler o f the wh ole Franki s h real m th an an y o f h i s relatives
had been fo r th e las t fi fty years Th e best sign o f hi s strength
.

was that h e su cceede d i n checki ng t h e i n roads o f t he V iki ngs

i n a m an n er wh ich made th em fo r th e fu ture th e least dangerou s
o f th e m an y e nem ie s o f Germ an y I n 8 9 1 th e D ane s cam e
.

fl oodin g i n to Au strasia i n great force an d h arried all the ,

land s o n th e M eu s e an d M oselle Th e l ocal levi es o f Lo thar

.

i n gi a were b eaten an d S u n d e ro l d archbi sh op Of Mai nz wh o

, ,

had led t hem fel l o n th e fi el d B u t Arn ul f w h o h ad bee n far

,
.
,

away i n B avaria came fl yi ng westward on th e n ews o f thi s

,

disaster an d ch ase d t he D an es as far as the ir great forti fie d

,

camp at Lou vai n o n th e D yl e There th ey h ad en trench ed

.

t hemsel ves wit h th e river at thei r back an d a marsh i n th eir

fro n t wh ich ren dere d i t i m p ossi ble fo r th e Fran ki sh horse
,

m en to ap p roach them Bu t Arnul f bad e a l l h is T h Batt l e f

.
e o

warri ors dism oun t an d taking axe i n han d led L uv i 89

,
o a n, 1

them th rough th e swam p an d up to th e D an i sh palisades .

The German s h ewe d d own th e breas twork broke i nto th e ,

camp an d drove the D anes i n to th e ri ver wh ere m ost o f

, ,

the m peri s hed . Th i s was the last fi rst class engagem en t -

wh ic h th e D an es ever fought i n t h e E as t Fra nki s h real m .

They con ti n u ed t o c om e on p lu nd eri ng excu rsi on s to Fris i a

a n d th e lower Rh i ne bu t n ever att em p ted agai n ei ther t o
,

pe n etrate deep i n to the lan d o r to set up an y in dep en den t

pri n cipal i ty up on i ts borders .

After defeati n g the D an es an d p u tti ng down som e ri sings

o f hi s eas tern Slavon i c vassals the Czech s an d M oravian s
, ,

Arnulf u n dertook th e u nwise en terp ri se o f c o n Ar ul f , n "

qu ering I taly w hen ce h i s frien d an d vassal I t l y

,
a .

B e re n ga r had of late been expelled b y Wi d o o f Sp oleto

“
Of .

th e detail s o f hi s t wo i nvasi on s Of 8 9 4 a n d 8 9 5 6 we have -

47 0 E u r opea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

spoken a t lengt h i n o u r I tal ian chapte r 1 Arn ulf return ed .

from I tal y w earin g th e i mperi al crown wh ose splen dou r ,

see med t o rati fy th e primacy that h e already p ossesse d over

h i s brother ki ngs ; bu t h e was broken i n heal th by the feve r
-

that h e had caugh t i n th e Roman cam paig n an d h e l eft I tal y ,

beh in d hi m i n a s tate O f comple te d isorder an d mai nl y i n t he ,

han d s o f Lam bert o f Spolet o .

’
After h i s I tal ia n exped itio n Arn ulf s reign was m uch le ss
fortun ate A fatal s ucces s ion d i ffi cu l t y arose i n h i s o wn
.
-

h ou se an d cau se d en dless troubl e F o r many years he ha d

, .

n o lawf ul i ssue b orn to h i m : s o he persuad ed th e nati ona l

cou n ci l of the German s to allow h i m t o designate h i s bas tard
so n Z we n t i b o l d a s h i s he ir Four years l ater h e m ad e
th is pri n ce su b ki ng i n Lo t h a ri n gi a B u t th e sam e year ( 8 9 3 )
-
.

h i s wedded w i fe O ta bore h im a so n kn ow n i n h i story as ,

D y na s ti c Lewi s the C hild w h o was there fore recogn ,

i s e d
T r ubl s
o e a s t h e l awful h e i r t o th e empi re to th e great grief
, ,

a n d anger of the n ew ki ng o f L o t h a ri n g i a From .

th i s ti m e forward Z w e n t i b o l d a n u n ruly an d turbulen t youn g ,

’
m an was a perpe tu al th orn i n hi s father s si de H e grudge d
, .

h i s i n fan t b roth er th e heritage o f th e German k ingdom an d ,

persis ten tly s ti rred u p st ri fe H e fell in to a l ong an d bl oody

.

feu d wi th s om e Of th e ch ief n oble s o f Lo t ha ri n gi a an d n otabl y ,

with Reginal d wi th th e Long Neck cou n t o f H ai nau l t an d th e

- - - -
,

M a a sg a u I n revenge for h i s tyran n y Regi nal d a n d man y

.

others o f the Austrasian s called i n to the ir ai d C harl es th e

S i mpl e th e m on arc h o f N eustria a n d d id h omage t o h i m as
, ,

king of L o t h a ri n g ia han ding over to hi m th e o l d royal t own s

,

of Aach en an d N i m u e ge n Th e attem pt t o tear away Austrasi a

.

’
from G erman y failed n ot becau se o f Z w e n t i b o l d s arm s bu t
, ,

because C harles th e Sim pl e feare d t o face th e wh ol e force o f

’
th e Ea s t Frank i sh real m whe n Arn ul f took u p hi s s o n s cau se
,

H e agree d to reti re i n to h i s o wn states an d e vacuate d ,

Au strasia .

’
O f eve n greater i m port of evi l to G erman y tha n Z we n t i b o l d s
S e e p ge s 46 3 4 a -
.
 Germa ny 8 8 8 9 1 8 -
47 I

u nruli n ess was th e arrival on the eastern fron tier o f th e king

dom of a n ew race o f e n em ies These we re th e Ugri an tribe
.

o f th e Magyars or H ungarian s wh o a p peare d i n 8 9 6 o n th e

m i ddle D a n u be an d Th ei ss where th e decayi ng rem n an t o f th e

,

Avars were n o w dwell ing m ixe d am ong the Slavon i c M oravi an s .

The Magyars had bee n driven westward by an other wi ld horde ,

t he Tartar P e t c he n egs wh o th ru s t th e m ou t of S ou th Ru ssia

,

an d force d t hem to fi n d n ew hom es They were a race Of .

l igh t h orsemen m igh ty w i th th e bow skil ful i n su dde n

, ,

on sets an d feign e d re treat s but wan ti n g t he p erseverance

,

an d s teady strength i n pi tche d battl e wh ich Th H e un ,

woul d have ren dere d t he m i nvincible Thei r g i s .

at an .

ra id s were even m ore rap i d an d destructive t han thos e o f

the N orthmen bu t t hey were n ot such form idabl e foe s t o
,

m eet as the Viki ngs fo r th ey n ever coul d learn to besiege a

,

fortifie d place o r t o defen d t h em selves i n entren che d cam p s

, ,

o r t o figh t i n regular l i n e of battl e Al l t hei r attack s were

.

m ere ambu shes o r su dden surpri ses an d they seldom allowed ,

th e h eavy h orsem en of German y t o fight them on equal term s

an d i n th e op en fi eld Thei r custom was to ri de through th e
.

open cou ntry burn i n g defen celes s m onasteri es an d village s ,

bu t avoi di n g walled t own s an d always escap i ng i n haste if th e

levies of the dis trict cam e ou t agai n st t hem i n ful l force .

Arn ul f h i m sel f was resp on sibl e for the fi rst vi sit o f t he Mag
yars t o t h e empire D uri ng h is M ora vian war he hi red som e
.

of th ei r warriors to follow hi m t o t he fi el d as au xiliary ligh t

horse Thu s they learn t the way i n to M oravia an d German y
.

’
al ike : du r ing Arn ulf s own l i fe t hey do n ot seem t o have
seriousl y m olested h i s ki ngd o m for th ey were m ai nl y o ccu
,

p i e d i n evicting th e S lavs from th e plai n s by th e D anube

.
.

Bu t n o soon er was th e emperor dead t han t hey began to

exten d their ravages in to B avaria an d T hurin gi a At an eve n .

earl ier date t hey are fou n d already harassing n orth I tal y ,

an d vexing th e s ou l o f king B ere n gar by ravaging h i s n at ive

d uchy of Friul i
I n D ecember 8 9 9 Arn ul f d ied Ol d before h i s t im e an d was
, ,
47 2 E u rop ea n H i s to i y 4 7 6 9 I 8
,
-

bu ri e d i n h i s favouri te ci ty o f Regen sburg T he n t he duk es .

,

c oun ts an d bi sh op s o f G erman y me t at Forch h ei m an d c h ose

,

D eat h f as k i ng Lewi s the Chi ld th e si x year o l d s on o f

o ,
- -

Ar u l f 899 t h ei r deceased m onarch Th e rei gn o f a m i n or

n s .
.

was always dangerou s t o t h e o l d Teuton i c k i ngdom s an d ,

tha t o f Lewis was n o excep ti o n to th e rul e The eleven years .

during whi ch h e n om in ally ruled a s k in g O f German y were

al m os t th e m ost d i sastrou s ever k n own i n the h i story of th e
E as t Fra n kish real m H i th erto th e lan d had been fortu nate
.

i n i ts rul ers ; o f al l th e descen da n ts o f Charle s t he G reat th e

German l in e h a d been by far t he m os t abl e an d vigorou s ;
save th e u n happy Charle s th e Fat —wh o on ly reign ed for,

fi ve years — t hey h ad all prove d s tron g an d capabl e rul ers .

w k ea f
B
ness o
ut n o w un der th e n om i nal sway o f Lewi s th e

L w is th
e C hil d al l t he evil s t hat h a d b een kep t d own by
e

C h i ld ’
'

h i s fa ther s stron g h an d cam e t o a s u dden h ead .

German y wa s de p ri ve d o f al l cen tral au thority an d e x p ose d ,

t o two e vil s at on ce i n vasi on by t h e en em y from w i th ou t

,

an d c i vil war at h om e .

The fi rs t troubl es c am e fro m Lo t ha ri n g ia where k ing ,

Z we n t i b o l d ha d mad e h i m sel f s o ha ted that many Of th e

Austrasia n nobles determ i ne d t o d isavow their al legiance t o
h i m an d t o ack n owle dge hi s b oy brother a s i m mediate rule r
,
-

as w ell a s suzerai n W hil e wagi ng war o n h i s reb ell iou s sub

.

jec t s Z we n t i b o l d fel l i n battl e ; as h e very happi ly le ft n o

male i ssue h i s k ing dom was at on ce reun i ted w i th th e mai n
,

b ody o f the German ic realm .

B u t worse was to come : i n 9 0 2 th ere burs t o u t the fi rs t Of the

great fam ily feu ds w h ich w ere t o b e suc h a cu rse t o G erman y .

D urin g the last ge n erati o n t he success ion to th e posts o f d uke ,

coun t a n d m argra ve th rough ou t th e lan d had been ten d i n g

,

m ore a n d m ore toward heredi tary righ t I t was g r owi n g qu i te

.

’
u sual to con tin ue the s o n i n th e fat her s o ffi ce a n d t o give to ,
’
b roth ers c ou n tship s i n each othe r s cl ose n eighbourh ood .

U n der a strong governmen t t h i s had n ot led to an y d anger .

Arn ul f had been p owerful en ough t o k eep al l h i s va ssal s i n

 Ger m a ny 88 8 9 1 8 -
47 3

order . But h is so n was a m ere ch il d withou t a ny grown

relative at h is si de to act as p rotector an d n ot even p rovide d
,

wi th a strong Mayor o f the Pal ace to vi n d icate th e royal

au th ori ty S o far a s there was an y cen tral govern m en t a t all
.
,

i t was worked b y two great b is ho p s Ad al b e ro o f Augsburg

,

an d H atto O f Mai n z — th e w icke d prelate Of Germ an tales o f ,

whom posteri ty pers isted i n bel ievin g that he was devoured

al ive by rats i n d ivin e pu n i sh men t for h i s si n s B u t H atto an d .

A d al b e ro were n o t even formally ackn owledge d as regen ts by

t h e national die t an d ha d n o au thori ty to u se th e royal n am e
,

save to execu te t he behests o f t hat cou n cil .

I n th e th ird year o f Lewi s two p owerful fam ily groups o f -

coun ts i n Franconia began to wage open war on eac h other ,

n o t u n der an y preten ce o f servi ng the crown bu t purely t o

settl e a personal feu d Adalbert o f Bamberg an d h i s two

.

ki n sm en w h o governe d the lan d o f th e S aal an d u pper

,

M ai n fel l up on Conrad an d E berhard two C i i l w m

, , v a rs

brothers wh o rule d i n H e sse an d o n t h e La hn F r c i ,

an on a

an d for four years cen tral G erm any was t orn by thei r i n ter '

m i tten t s truggles The m eet i n g of t h e n a t i o n a l c oun cil an d

.
,

the an athemas o f the b i shop s prove d qu i te u nabl e to bri ng th e

feu d t o an e n d Pre sen tly the quarrel sprea d in to w estern
.

Lo th ari n g i a w here two other cou n ts Gerhard an d M a t fri d

, , ,

esp ou sed th e cau s e o f Adalbert an d attacked hi s enem ies i n

H esse .I t was on ly after fou r cou nt s ha d fallen i n battle an d ,

t h e wh ole Mai n valley had bee n m i serably ravaged that a ,

die t sum m on e d by b ishop H atto a t Tribu r fi nally pu t i ts ba n

, ,

on Adalbert o f Bamberg as th e fomen ter o f th e war an d

, ,

raise d a great arm y agai n s t h im H e was beleaguered by th e

.

nati on a l levy i n hi s castle of Theres captu re d and executed

, ,

wh il e hi s frien ds Gerhard an d M at fri d were exile d But i t .

had taken four years to in duce the n atio n t o m ove an d m ean ,

w hile ot her great co un ts an d duke s had learnt the les so n th at

th ey m igh t enj oy a l ong i mpun i ty whatever tu rbulen t en terpris e
,

they m igh t take i n han d A fe w ye a rs later we fi n d B urchard

.
_

m argrave o f Rhaetia en deavou ri ng t o make h im sel f d uke o f all

47 4 E u ropea n H i s to f y , 4 7 6 —
9 18

S u a b ia by c oerci ng th e s mal l govern ors i n h i s ne ighbou rhoo d ;

w hen h e w a s pu t down an d execu ted by counci l o f the bi sh ops ,

wh o su rrou n ded t h e y oung ki ng p opul ar sym path y was d e ,

c i d e d ly i n favour of th e feudal u su rper an d n ot of th e cen tral

govern men t I n L o t h a ri n g ia too troubl es n e ver ceased ; they

.

cul m i n ated i n a secon d attemp t of coun t Regi nald with the - -

Long Neck t o m ake over th e Au s trasian cou n trie s t o th e king

-

o f N e u s t ri a C harles th e S imple
,
.

B u t seriou s as were th ese civil b roil s thei r i mportance was ,

as n oth in g co mpare d wi th th e greater di sasters cau se d by th e

’
H u n garian s ravages o n th e eastern fron ti er From th e fi rst .

year O f ki ng Lewi s Onward t heir at tack s k n ew n o i n termi ssi on .

They bega n b y raid s on B avaria an d Cari n thi a ; a l i ttle late r ,

while th e Fran con ia n c ivil war was i n p rogress we fi n d them ,

pe n etrating i n to S u a b i a an d even i n t o the di stan t Saxon y I n .

9 0 7 they defeated th e wh ol e l evy of Bavaria an d sl ew i ts duke ,

Lu itp ol d t oge the r wi th th e arch b ishop o f S al zbu rg an d th e

I v si s
n a on
b i sh op s o f Freising an d Seben Th e c on seque nce .

o f th e o f th i s disaster wa s th e temporary l o ss to German y

H u g ri
n s of i ts eastern fron tie r th e Bavarian O stm ark ’
a an ' ‘
, ,

w hich we n ow kn ow as Au stria ; th e Magyars overran th e

wh ole of i t a s far a s th e E n n s I n t h e ve ry n ext year th e
.

victori ou s h orde e n tere d Thuri n gia an d slew i ts d uke togeth er

with th e bi sh op o f Wu rzbu rg I n 9 1 0 the you ng ki ng h im self
.
,

n o w sixtee n years O l d took th e fi el d a gain st them for th e firs t

,

ti me an d for once Bavaria n s S u a b i a n s an d Francon ian s we re

, , ,

fou n d u n i te d u n der h i m for a com m on cam paign again s t the

i n va der B u t th e fi rst figh t o f kin g Lewi s wa s a d i sa ster : h i s
.

army w a s caugh t i n an am bu s h an d rou ted w ith great slaugh ter ;

onl y th e Bavarian troops e scaped the pan i c an d succee ded i n

check ing th e o u tse t o f t he vi ctori ou s e n em y .

H o w Lewis m igh t have fared i n fu tu re warfare agai n st th e

Magyars we ca n n o t say for a year l ater ere ye t h e h ad
, ,

attai n e d t he th resh ol d o f m a n h o od h e wa s carried o ff by ,

di sea se Wi th h i m wa s e xti n gu ished the G erman l i n e o f th e

.

Carol ingia n h ouse fo r he left n o m ale h e i r of an y kind

, ,
 Ger m a ny 8 8 8 9 1 8 -
47 5

whether brother u ncle o r cou sin to take u p th e heavy h eri tage

, , ,

o f the Teuton ic c rown .

Th e only alternative s th at n ow lay before the German n obles

were ei th er t o elect as k in g o n e of th e French bran ch o f th e
Carolingian lin e o r el se to follow th e exampl e o f th e Burgun
,

d ia n s I talia ns an d Proven c al s an d ch oose on e of them selve s

, ,

as t he n ew ruler After much h esitatio n the latter course

.

c om m en de d i tself t o th e d iet an d at Forc hh ei m the Franco ,

n ia ms Saxon s S u a b i a n s an d B avarian s j oi n e d i n el evati n g t o

, , ,

th e th ron e C on ra d a coun t of l ower Fra nco n ia th e son o f

, ,

that Con rad wh o had fallen i n the war w ith Adalbert o f B am

berg fi ve years before O nly the Au strasia n s E l e c tion o f
.
,

fai thful n ow a s ever to the h ouse o f Charl es the C r d 1 9 on a -9 11 '

Great refu sed t o ack n owl edge th e n ew ki ng an d o n ce m ore

, ,

d i d homage t o Charles the S im ple t he weak bu t ambitiou s ,

m onarch o f Neustri a Co nrad seem s to h ave b een remotel y

.

descen ded i n th e fem ale l i ne from the h ou se o f S t Arn ulf .

,

bu t coul d n ot preten d to rep re sen t the o l d tradition s o f

Frank is h royal ty H e was sim ply th e m ost powerful o r
.
,

al mos t the m os t powerful man am ong th e German n obl e ,

houses an d was c hosen p urely fo r his m il i tary abilities

, .

’
Conrad s reign of seve n years ( 9 1 1 9 1 8 ) was o n e con tinu ou s -

story of reb elli on an d di saster U n der a ruler o f a n ew l in e .

,

w ho m they regarded merel y as o n e o f them selves t h e local ,

governors becam e eve n m or e in solen t to the cen tral p ower than

before They made war on each oth er at their good pleasure
.
,

an d each en deavoure d to pu t d ow n h i s weaker n eighbou rs an d

make thei r p ossessi on s h i s own E ach o f t he ancien t d ivi .

si on s o f the Germa n real m th e origi nal tribal u n i ti e s o f ,

S u ab i a n an d Bavarian S axon an d Frank sh owe d a te n den cy

, ,

to draw apart from i ts fellows E ac h sough t t o reassert it s .

i n divi du al ity u n der som e n e w rule r o f i ts o wn to hail i ts ,

stron gest n obl e as duk e an d foll ow hi m eve n agai ns t the king .

I t required a stro n g an d perseverin g m onarc h to keep this

se p ar a tist ten den cy u n der an d to p reve nt i t fro m spl itting u p
,

the real m .
47 6 E u r opea n H i s t o i y 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

Conrad I was d efi cien t n eith er i n energy n or i n p erseverance

. .

H i s w hol e reign was filled w ith struggles agai n st t he u su rpa

tion s o f th e greater n obles but h e wa s s til l far from havin g ,

w o n a v ictory whe n h e d ied E xcept fro m h is fel l ow cou n try

.
-

m en i n Francon ia an d fro m the higher clergy h e go t l i t tle

, ,

assistan ce i n th e s tri fe an d h i s o wn l as t w ords were a warn in g

,

t o th e German s that they m u st ch oose a s tronger kin g than

h im sel f if the ir ki ngdo m was to su rvive .

I t woul d b e wearisom e t o rel ate th e m any campaign s of

C on rad agai n s t h i s t oo — powerful su bj ect s t o tel l h ow th e ,

Palatine cou n t E rch an ge r trie d to make h i m sel f duke i n

S u a b i a ; h ow Arnul f t h e son o f tha t Lui tp ol d
R b ll i s ,
e e on

a g i sta n who m the H u ngar i an s had sl am cla i me d th e ,

C m d L
° a
d ucal power i n Bavaria ; how the great Saxon
H en ry so n o f duke O tto — to b e bette r kn own a few y ears
,

later as k ing H en ry th e Fowler — d e fi e d hi s l iege lord t o d rive

h i m o u t o f S axon y Conra d was generally u n succes sful i n hi s
.

stri fe again s t th e rebel s i t i s tru e t hat b e defeated capt ured , ,

an d execu ted th e wou ld be duk e o f S u a b i a an d tha t h e d rove

~

Arn ul f th e Bavarian i n to exile for a tim e B u t h e u tterl y .

failed i n h i s attemp t t o wi n back Au strasia from Charle s th e

S impl e an d h i s expedi tion i n to Saxon y agai n st d uk e H en ry
,

cam e to a di sastrou s e n d so t hat he w a s c om pelled to m ake ,

’
peace a n d to recogn i se H en ry s d ucal p ower ove r th e wh ole
coun try I t i s sai d that H atto the great arch bish op o f Mai nz
.
, ,

d ied o f sh eer an ger an d d i sgus t o n h earin g o f t h e t riu m ph o f

th e Saxon agai n st wh om he h ad a person al gru dge H att o
, .

had bee n the c hi ef supporter of the ce n tral go vern m e n t i n th e

reign o f C on rad as i n th e reign o f Lewi s th e Ch ild an d c oul d
, ,

n o t bea r to see th e fo rces o f d i su n i o n fi nally victori ous .

I t n eed hardly be adde d that w h il e civi l war raged al l over

th e G erman k i ngd om th e fo reign enem y w as m ore active than
,

F u rt h r e
eve r I n stead o f a fflicting o nly t h e ea stern border
.

M gy r
a ao f the l an d the Magyars cam e fl ood i n g i n over
,
mm d a
i ts w h ole exten t They e ve n reached th e Rhi n e
s '

i n 9 1 3 we fi n d them before th e wall s o f C oblen z : i n 9 1 7

 Ger m a ny 8 8 8 9 1 8
-
47 7

th ey sur p ri se d an d burn t Basel th e sou th we stern most of

,
-

al l th e ci ties o f the realm M ea nw hile the S u ab i an s an d

.

B avarian s were to o m u ch o ccupi ed i n resi sting th e king t o be

able ei ther t o u n ite o r defen d th em selves .

I n th is m elanch oly p os i tion Of a ffairs Con ra d I d ie d o n th e .

2 3 d o f D ecember 9 1 8 H i s last ac t was t o assemble hi s

.

brothers an d h i s chi e f coun ci llors a t h i s bedsi de an d t o warn ,

t h e m that i f G erman y was t o be save d they m us t D t h f ea o

fi n d a s tron ge r m an tha n h i m sel f t o crown as C r d 9 8 on a ,

1

ki ng H e advi se d th em n ot to look withi n h i s own fam il y

.
,

b u t to el ec t t he p owerful d uke of Saxo n y H e n ry the Fowl er , .

Though H e nry was a n ob sti n ate e n em y of h i s own C on rad ,

c on s i dered h im th e strongest an d m ost capabl e s tatesman i n

th e real m an d p u tti n g asi d e all person al enm i ty gave h i s vote
,
’
i n the Sa xo n s favour H i s advice was take n an d the happiest
.

results en sued .

H ere th en we m u st leave Germ any s ti ll i n evil pligh t but on

, ,

the eve o f bette r th ings S he had ye t t o s ol ve th e questio n

.

wh e ther th e work o f Charle s th e Great — th e blen ding o f

Frank Saxon S u a b i an an d Bavarian i n to a si ngle n ationali ty
, , ,

was t o e n du re o r wh eth er th e d isrup tive ten dencies were

,

still too s trong Fortunatel y fo r her th ere were two great

.

force s at work i n favou r o f u n i ty Th e Church owe d her rise

.

an d growth i n Germ any to the p rotecti on o f th e great Franki sh

k ings an d i n gratitud e always fough t up on th e s i de of royal ty
,

an d u n ion B u t eve n m ore i mp ortan t was the pressure of

.

hostile n eighbou rs from w ithou t : i t had becom e eviden t s in ce

th e death o f king Arnulf to even th e m os t turbulen t o f th e
S u ab i a n coun ts an d th e m ost u nrul y o f th e Sax on tribe s that ,

i f German y was to surv iv e s he m us t subm i t hers el f to a s ingle

ruler I f t he reign s o f Lewi s the Ch il d an d Con ra d the
.

Francon ian h ad been di sastrous failu res i t was becau se th e ,

o n e was t o o you n g an d th e other to o dest itute both of h eri

d i t ary claim s an d of p erson al followers When a s trong m an .

’
wi th o n e o f the great duchi es at h i s back t ook Conrad s place ,

the problem of savi ng Germany was foun d n ot to be i n solu bl e .

 C H A P T ER XXVI I I

T H E EAS T E R N E MP I RE I N TH E N I N TH CEN T U RY

8 02 9 1 2
-

—
N ice ph o ru s I a n d hi s w a rs H e i s sl a i n by t h e B ul g a r i a n s —S h o r t r e i g n o f
.

M i ch a e l I — L e o v d e fe a t s t h e B ul g a r i a n s —H i s e ccl e s i as t i c a l t r o ubl e s
—
. .

M i ch a e l t h e A m o ri a n d e t hr o n e s h i m a n d r e ig n s n i ne y e a rs H i s p o l i cy
Rei gn Th e o p h i lus — H is wa rs w i t h t h e C a l i p hs —H e pe rse cu t e s i m a g e
of

w o rsh i pp e rs —L o n g m i n o r i t y o f M ch a e l I I I — R e s t o r a t i o n o f i m a g e
i

w o rsh i p —O r g i e s a n d e n d o f M i ch a e l —B a s i l I
.

a nd t he. M ace d on ia n
dy na s t y .

T H E E ast Roman E mp ire was alway s a t i ts best whe n i t wa s

subj ect for several gen eratio n s t o pri n ces o f th e sam e fam ily ;
i t w a s al way s at i ts worst i n th e period s bet ween th e fall of on e
dynasty an d the ri se of a n oth er whe n th e crown h ad becom e
,

for th e m om en t a prize that c oul d be gras p e d by every

succes sful gen eral o r i n trigu ing statesman I n su ch t imes .

attempts at u su rpati on grew s o fre que n t that ci vi l war becam e

a n e ndemi c di sease a n d whi le th e empi re was troubl e d wi th i n
, ,

foreign en em i es were always ready t o take th ei r opportu n i ty t o

as sail i t from w i th ou t We have al rea dy n ote d o n e o f these
.

a narch ic an d d isastrou s in terval s th at between 6 9 5 an d 7 1 7

, ,

wh en th e hou se of H eracl ius ha d fallen an d that o f Le o th e ,

I sauria n ha d n o t ye t c om e to th e fron t We have n ow to .

record a secon d period of sh ort reign s a n d o f troubles both ,

a t h om e a n d abroad be twee n the depositi on o f th e empress

,

I ren e an d th e e stabl is hm e n t o n the thron e o f M ichael the

A m o ria n the fou n der o f th e n ex t dynas ty
,
Thi s peri od wh ich .
,

fi lled th e years betwee n 8 0 2 an d 8 2 0 wa s by n o m ea n s s o ,

47 3
 The E a s tern E mpi re i n th e N i n tn Cen t u ry 47 9

di sastrou s as that which follow e d the fall o f J ustin ian I I i n th e .

earl ier cen tury bu t n evertheless i t was distin ctly a time o f

, , ,

decl in e an d d ecay from wh ich the em p ire to ok m an y years

,

t o recover .

Th e wicke d empres s Iren e was dethron ed as we have ,

already had occas i on to relate by a palace conspi racy h eaded ,

-
,

b y her high treasurer N i ce ph o ru s Th e new m on arch was a

-

,
.

m an o f m ature years wh o was k n ow n merel y as a capable

,

fi nan ce m ini ster and ha d never been su spected o f an y great

,

ambiti on When he had se i ze d the rei n s of govern men t h e

.

p roved th at he h ad m ore character m ore sel f w ill an d more ,

-
,

en ergy than hi s con tem porarie s had credi ted h im wi th H e p u t .

d own wi th su cces s t wo reb el lion s of d i scon ten ted mi li tary chiefs ,

wh o though t that th ey had as goo d a righ t to the thron e as he ,

a n d establ i sh ed hi m sel f so fi rmly on h i s seat that n on e could

shake h i m I n matters ecclesiastical h e revers ed the p o licy
.

o f th e superstiti ou s I ren e an d s h owed a p erfect t oleran ce for

,

the I con oclasts as wel l as for all the oth er di ssiden t sects i n
,

th e empire H e kep t a fi rm han d over the patriarch an d

.

clergy w h o would h a ve bee n glad to persecute these schism atics

, ,

a fac t which probably explain s the bi ttern ess wi th which th e

ch ron iclers of the succeed ing age write o f h i m — a bi tterness ,

wh i ch n othing i n hi s action s seem s to j u sti fy H e was n ei ther .

cruel n or arb itrary i n h i s ru le an d the onl y accusati on agai n st

,

h i m wh ich see m s to h ave th e least fou ndation is that after hi s ,

acce ssion h e sti ll rem ain ed t o o m uch o f the h igh treasurer -

,

cari ng m ore for a goo d bal an ce i n t he exc hequer than for the
welfare Of h i s subj ects .

’
N i c e ph o ru s s reign was n ot u ntrouble d by wars H arou n a l .
- ~

Rasch id s t ill sat o n the th ron e of Bagdad an d th e caliphate ,

Wa s still a dangerou s n eighbour t o th e empire N i ce p h o ru s .

refu sed to pay th e tribu te whi ch I rene had p rom ised to th e

Saracen so H arou n ren ewed th e i n termit ten t war with th e
,

E ast Rom an s which h ad dragged o n wi th sh ort in tervals ever

, , ,

si nce th e days of Con s tan tin e C o pro n ym u s Th e emperor -

was n ot favour e d by fo r tune i n th e war ; i t woul d seem that

4 80 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 47 6 9 1 8
-

’
th e m aladm in i strat i on o f I ren e s eun uch m in i sters had cau sed -

W w it h
ar the ar m y t o deteriorate an d matters wen t s o ill that ,

t h C l P’
e
N i ce ph o ru s was glad t o buy a peace when H aroun
a ‘ "

o ffered to gran t h i m on e Th e em peror was to pay .

so/ i a
’
z an nually
'

besi de — a cu ri ou s,
detail — six large gold m edal s
O f greater weigh t for h im sel f an d o n e for hi s s o n an d hei r , ,

S t a u ra c i u s .

I n s p i te of thi s hu m il iati ng treaty i t was n o t th e Sarace n war

’
th a t was t o pro ve N i ce ph o ru s s d ire st trouble ; n or did he fare
very badly i n hi s struggl e with C harle s th e Grea t The long a nd .

d esul tory war with the new western e m p ire term i nated i n a
t reaty wh ich l eft Frank an d E as t Ro m an exactl y wh ere they
s tarted N o t even Ven i ce wh ich was n ow completely sur
.
,

rou n ded by th e d omi n i on s o f Charl es an d whi ch had bee n ,

for a tim e i n h i s b a n d s was sacri ficed N or d id N i ce pho ru s

,
.

fi n d h i m sel f compelled t o take what h e would have regarded

as th e degradi ng step o f recogni sing Charle s as h i s e qual an d
c olleagu e i n th e adm ini stra ti on o f the em p ire .

I t was a war wi th th e comparativel y i n sign i fican t power o f

th e B ulgarian s whi ch was to be the worst Of t he disasters of
N i c e ph o ru s S i n ce th e failure Of the great expedi ti on o f C o n
.

sta n t in e V I i n 7 9 6 the predatory tri be beh i n d the Balkan s

.
,

h ad b ee n growin g mor e an d m ore ven turesome Un der a .

n ew kin g the c ruel b u t abl e C ru m n they were making rai ds

, ,

far i n to Thrace w h ich at last drove N i c e ph o ru s t o take th e

,

fi el d agai n st them i n person At t he h ead o f a great arm y .

,

draw n from all th e E u ropean an d Asiat ic them es an d aecom ,

a n i e d by h i s son S t a u ra c i u s h e crossed th e Balkan s i n 8 1 1

p , .

Vi ctory at fi rst crown e d h i s arm s ; h e defeated th e Bulgarian s

’
i n th e Open fi el d an d took an d plun dered thei r king s palace
, .

B u t a fe w day s later a s h i s victori ou s arm y l ay carel essly e u

,

cam pe d an d payi ng n o h eed to th e defeate d enem y i t was ,

Ni ceph bese t by a fi erce n igh t attack I n th e con fusi on

o ru s -
.

232 22 2:3 3
an d pan i c wh ich fol lowe d the emperor wa s slain ,

811 . an d h i s s o n S ta u ra c i u s d esperately wou nded Left .

wi thou t a leade r the Byzan tin e a rmy broke u p an d retire d ,

 Tne E a s t ern E mp i re i n Me N i n tn Cen t u ry 48 1

i n great di sorder leavi n g th e b ody of th e e mp eror w i th t hose

,

o f man y of hi s chie f offi cers upo n th e fi eld Th e B ulgarian .

ki ng cu t o ff th e head of N i c e ph o ru s an d m ade h i s skull i nt o

,

a d r i nking cup as Al boi n had don e wi th the sku ll o f kin g

-
,

C u n i m u n d three ce n tu ri es b efore .

Th e wreck s o f th e i mperial arm y rallied at Adrian opl e ,

wh i ther th e wou n ded S ta u ra c i u s was born e H e was at o nc e .

’
proclaim ed Augustus i n h i s father s room but he n ever rose
from hi s couch for hi s h urt was m ortal I t was eviden t that
, .

hi s en d was near an d that h i s crow n woul d s oon be th e pri ze

,

o f som e u surper Seei ng thi s h i s bro ther i n —

.
,
law M ichael -
,

R ha n g a b e wh o had married th e on ly daugh ter of N i c e p h o ru s I

, .
,

bribed the gu ards of hi s dying master an d had h i mself salu ted

,
’
as emperor before the breath was o u t o f S ta u ra c i u s s body ( 9 1
M i chael R ha n g ab e ow ed hi s rise pu rely to th e ch an ce that
h ad con n ecte d h im wi th th e fam ily o f N i ce ph o ru s H e was .

pers onally i n sign i fi can t sup erstitiou s and cowardl y Bu t hi s

, ,
.

ac cessio n h ad s om e i mp ortan ce from th e religio u s poi n t o f

view ; h e was a E uropean Greek — the fi rst o f hi s race t hat
ha d yet worn t he i m perial crow n — and l ike m os t o f h i s ,

coun trymen was a strong I c on odule a n d wh olly opposed t o

, ,

- — ’
hi s father i n law s tol eran t e cclesiastical p ol icy H e su r .

rou n ded h im self wi th fan atical m onks an d set t o work t o ,

reverse the doi ngs Of N i ceph o ru s an d t o rem ove all I con o

,

clasts from high O ffi ce i n state an d arm y .

These action s m igh t hav e bee n p opular i f Michael had been

a man o f strength an d energy bu t h e was a weak an d i n ca p
able ruler . H e refuse d for s om e ti m e to en ter th e fi el d
again st th e B ulgarian s wh o were ravagin g Thrac e far an d
,

wi de an d when h e did at last h ead an army i t wa s only t o

, ,

suffer a crush i ng defeat H e took w h at h i s sub j ects c on sidere d

.

th e degradin g step o f conciliating the Fra n ks by formally ,

recogn isi ng C harles th e Great as a legi tim ate em peror an d ,

treating with hi m as an e qual I n e veryth i ng that h e d i d

.

i n deci si o n an d wan t o f courage was to b e traced .

’
T he arm y was fated to b e the i n strume n t of M ichael s fall .

P E R I OD I . 2 H
48 2 E u r op ea n H i s t o i y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

It w as d eeply leavene d w i th I con oclasti c feel ing an d highly ,

di sco n ten ted wi th a m aster wh o s en t i t n ei ther encouragemen t

n o r orders At las t whe n M ich ael all owed k ing C rum m t o
.
,

pen etrate so far i n to Th race that h e actually approach ed th e

wall s o f the capi tal th e arm y c on cen trated a t Adrian opl e
,

ope n l y th re w Off i ts allegi an ce an d took th e deci si ve step o f ,

salu tin g as emperor o n e o f i ts gen eral s Le o th e Armen ian ,

.

p n f a P riests an d c ou rt iers c oul d gi ve M ichael R ha n gab e

o

M i ch l L S 3 l ittl e support w hen th e wh ole m ilitary caste turne d

ae I :

agai n s t h im h e wa s dep ose d w i th l ittl e troubl e an d se n t in to

a m onastery while t he rough soldier w h o had heade d th e
,

revol t becam e em peror i n h i s stead

Leo t he Arm en i an was a ca p abl e m an n o t destitu te of good ,

qual i ties wh o migh t h ave foun de d a d yna sty ha d fortu ne

,

playe d h i m fai r H e su cces sfull y disch arged th e task for

.

wh i ch h e h ad b een c hose n emperor — th e en din g o f th e

B ulgari an war I m medi atel y after h i s acces si o n th e king o f
.

Bulgari a m arch ed u p to t h e very walls O f Con stan tin opl e a nd

camp ed over agai n st i t Le o a t fi rst s trove t o ge t ri d o f
.

C ru m n by th e d ishon ourable expedien t O f attem pti n g to seize

or sl ay h i m at a con ference — m uc h as Charle s th e Fat d eal t
wi th k i ng G odfred Th is attem p t failed bu t th e B ulgarian s
.
, ,

after plun deri n g th e subu rbs reti re d from before the wall s , ,

an d i n the n ext year wh en they agai n a dva nced i n to Thrace ,

Le o m et th em a t M e se m b ri a an d i n flicte d on t hem
L eov .

d f
e eat th s
a bloody de feat
e
S o cru sh i ng was th e revers e
.

B ul g r i
a s that th e n ew B ulgaria n ki ng i n s tan tl y aske d for
an ,

8 4
1
peace an d t h e emp ire wa s n ot trouble d by an oth er
°

B ulgari an i n vasi on til l a whol e ge nerati on h ad gon e by .

Leo rei gn ed for si x y ears m ore u n vexe d by wars wi thou t , ,

an d swaying t h e sce p tre wi th a very fi rm han d H e re .

organ i sed th e arm y a n d th e fi n an ces an d d id m u ch to repai r ,

th e harm caused by th e depredati on s o f Sarace n an d B ulgarian

i n t h e reign s o f N i c e ph o ru s I an d M ichael R ha n ga b e Bu t . .

u nfortunatel y fo r hi m sel f a n d th e e mpi re he so on becam e i h ,

vol ved i n th e o l d Ic o n oclastic c on troversy a n d ha d n o p eace ,

 Tne E a s t e r n E mp i re i n t /ce N i n t/i Cen t u ry 48 3

th ereafte r Le o was l ike m os t o f th e i n habi tan ts o f the

.
,

E astern themes an d m ost o f the higher o fficers i n th e army

, ,

stron gly i mbue d wi th t he doctrin e s of h i s great n am esake th e

I s aurian F o r th e fi rs t two years o f hi s reign h e kep t his
.

opi n i on s to hi msel f an d e ndeavou red to m ai n tai n a s tric t

,

n eu tral ity betwee n t h e image worsh ippers an d th e image -

breakers B u t th e I c on odul e clergy were too veh em en t an d

.
,

Le o h i m sel f to o con sci en tiou s for su ch a tru ce t o en dure fo r

very l o n g I n 8 1 5 t he struggl e broke o u t Leo ha d requested
.

the patriarc h N i c e ph o ru s t o order c ertai n i mages wh i ch we re ,

e s p ecial stumbl i n g block s to the I c on oclast s owi ng to th e

-
,

grovelli ng p opular devot i o n w h ich t h ey attract ed t o be rai sed ,

s o far fro m th e grou n d th at devotee s sh ou l d n o l onger be able

t o ki ss an d embrace th em The patriarch refu sed bade al l .
,

h is clergy comm en ce speci al p rayers fo r deli veran ce because ,

th e church was i n dan ger an d excom mu n icated a bis hop ,

wh o m he su specte d o f having cou n selle d th e imperial order .

Leo repl ied by deposing N ice ph o ru s an d su bsti tutin g for h im ,

a successor o f decid ed I co n oclast views Th e n ew patriarch .

at once h el d a coun ci l wh i ch declared i mage worship super -

s t i t i o u s an d re a ffi rm e d al l th e d ecree s agains t i t wh ic h had

,
-

been p asse d i n 7 5 4 by th e syn od hel d by Con stan tine C o p ro n y

,

mus . B u t Leo di d n ot plu nge i n t o p ersecu ti o n as h i s

I sauri an predecessor had do n e : b eyon d rem ovi n g a few church
dign itaries fro m O ffice a n d ban i sh i ng a n abb ot wh o m ade an
,

o p en display o f i m ages i n th e s treets o f the capi tal h e took n o ,

re p ressive m easures again s t th e I c o n o d u l es H i s m o d eration .

profi te d hi m l ittle for th e i mage worship p ers hate d a h ere tic

,
-

as m uch as a persecu tor an d hi s m ild ness only gave the m th e

,

better O p p ortu n i ty o f i n trigu i n g an d con spi rin g agai n s t hi m .

The las t years of h i s reign th ough full o f outward p rosp eri ty , ,

were a ti m e of di scon ten t an d u n res t be neath the L v d t h eo . an e

surface an d i t was fel t th at h e had offen de d too I

,
d l con o u es

man y o f h i s subj ects fo r hi s life t o be safe or h i s thron e ,

secure Kn owin g o f th is u n qu iet sp iri ts among h i s gen eral s

.
,

an d courtiers began t o draw togeth er an d pl ot again s t h im .

4 84 E u r op ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8
-

The ch ief o f t hes e m alco n te n t s was M ichael th e A m o ria n ,

’
a turb ule n t s oldi er w h o h ad b een t he em peror s close frien d
wh en both w ere p ri vate person s an d wh o h ad been prom oted
,

t o high Offi ce w h e n Leo gai n ed t he crown H i s con spi racy

.

w a s d etec ted an d h e wa s th row n i n t o p ri s on bu t whe n h i s

, ,

c on federat e s l earn t th a t they were i n danger o f di sc o very they ,

resolve d to strike at O n ce before th ey were arrested Le o wa s .

a tten di n g m ati n s o n Chri stmas D a y i n h i s pri vate ch apel ,

w he n t h e con spirat ors fel l u p on h i m S natch in g t h e great

.

cros s fro m th e al tar h e fough t desperatel y w i th i t agai n st hi s

assaila nts bu t before h elp could arri ve h e was cu t down an d
, ,

fell dea d i n th e san ctuary .

Th e murderers has ten e d t o th e cell of M ichael th e A m o ri a n ,

an d sal ute d h i m a s em peror H e was d raw n from hi s d u n

.

geon an d presen te d t o th e people i n th e im perial robes be fore ,

th e fetters had bee n struck fro m h i s feet a n d ere the day was
,

e n de d t he patriarc h h a d c rowne d h i m i n S t S op h ia ( D ecember

.

25 ,
M ichael was very i n feri or to th e m an wh om he had
d eth ron ed : h e ha d n o th i n g t o back h i m save hi s m il itary
talen t an d a certa i n m easu re o f u n scrupul ou s ab il i ty H e wa s .

qu ite u n ed u cated an d h i s provi nc ial d ialect an d u ngramm atical

,

expressi on s were th e j e st o f th e court a n d ca pital B ut h e .

knew h ow to s trike hard an d h i s harshn es s c owe d h i s en em ies

,
’
m ore than Leo th e Armen i an s m il d p ol icy H i s accessi o n .

was th e sig n al for rebelli o n all o ve r th e em pi re : a certai n

Thomas rai sed th e h eretical sect s o f Asia M in or an d th e
I co n o clast pa rti s an s o f th e l ate e mperor i n rebel l i on an d for ,
’
th ree years m ad e M ichael s t h r o n e i n secure H e even b e .

l eaguere d Con sta n ti n opl e an d migh t have taken i t ha d n o t

, ,

h i s foll o wers al ie n ated pu b l ic sympa th y by th ei r ravages i n i ts

n eighb ou rh ood . H e was ul ti matel y pu t d own an d slai n bu t ,

hi s reb el l i on cau sed a seri ou s los s t o th e empire Whil e th e .

wh ol e of th e i m perial fl ee t an d arm y was acti ng again st h i m ,

a h ord e o f Sa racen pi rate s de scen ded o n th e great i slan d o f

C rete an d o verra n i t from en d t o e n d
,
A fte r peace
had been restored M ich ael mad e two attem p ts t o expel th e
,
 Tne E a s ter n E mp i r e i n t/i e N i n t/i Cen t u ry 48 5

adven turers bu t b oth failed and for a hu ndre d an d th irty

, ,

fi ve years the i slan d o f t h e h undred ci tie s rem ain ed a

‘

S arace n ou t p os t an d a sad hi n dran ce t o th e com merce o f th e

,

[Ege a n . H ardly had the exped ition s sen t again s t Crete re

tu rne d w ith l oss an d d i sgrace t han M ichael h eard L ss f C r t o o e e

d S i i’
,

that a new provi nce was being assaile d by th e Y an C '

sam e e n em y I n 8 2 7 th e M oslem s o f Africa summoned by

.
,

th e trait or E u phem iu s lan ded i n S icily an d began th e c o n

, ,

ques t o f that i slan d We h ave descri bed i ts slow bu t steady

.

progress i n an oth er chapter 1

.

T h e l oss o f these two ou tlyi ng provi nce s d oes n o t seem t o

h ave trouble d M ichael H e was p erhap s con ten t that h e wa s
.

preserved from a greater Sarace n war wi th t he wh ol e force o f

the cal iphate owi n g t o th e c i vi l stri fe o f the descen dan ts of
,

H aroun a l Rasch i d
- -
N or di d t he peace ful Lewi s t h e P iou s
.

sti r u p the Frank s agai n s t h i m Th e con qu est of Crete an d .

S icil y was a vexati on s i nci den t n o t a press i n g danger , .

I n dealing wi th th e th orn y ecclesiasti cal qu esti on s wh i c h

h ad p roved s o dan gerou s to h i s predecessor M ichael th e ,

A m o ri an showed cau ti o n rather tha n zeal H i s accessi on had .

b ee n supporte d by the i mage worshippers wh o cordially de -

,

teste d Le o th e Armen ian B u t whe n safe o n th e thro ne h e

.

refuse d to pu t h im sel f i n to th ei r han ds or t o com m en ce a per ,

s e cu t i o n o f t h e I con oclasts H e was probabl y at heart a

.

con tem ner o f images h im sel f an d h i s son an d colleagu e ,

Theophi lu s had a fierce hatred for th em H i s l i ne of poli cy .

was t o p rocl ai m com pl ete tolerati on of both parti es an d to ,

recall an d replace th e prelates w h om Leo h a d b an i shed B u t .

i n public worship h e m ai n tain ed th e con diti on o f thi n gs th at

he foun d exis tin g an d refu sed t o rest ore th e images wh ich h i s
,

pre dece s sor had rem ove d o r m u tilated O n th e oth er han d h e .

’
allowed such figures a n d p i ctu res i s had e scaped Leo s h a n d
t o remai n an d perm i tted th e m on ks to practise as m an y
,

supersti ti on s as they ple ase d w i th i n th e wall s of thei r m onas

t e ri e s
. Neither p arty was satis fi ed ; b o th acc u se d M ichael o f
1
S e e p p 448. an d 449 .
4 86 E u r opea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

ti m e servi ng an d l ukewarm service o f G od bu t th ey kept fairly

-
,

qu ie t an d the c on trovers y wa s fo r a t im e quiescen t

,
.

M ichael reigne d for n in e years onl y an d at h i s death i n 8 2 9

,

le ft th e th ro ne t o h i s eldes t so n Theoph i lu s a man of m uch ,

greate r m ark an d i nd ividual i ty th an h im sel f Th e n ew .

em p eror wa s a n active warl ik e prince wi th a great l ove o f ,

splen d ou r an d p om p an d a s tron g determ i natio n t o h ave hi s

,

o w n wil l i n all th i ngs M ore over— and thi s was certai n t o gi ve

.

th e em pi re trou bl ou s times — h e wa s a fi rm and co n scien ti ou s

I con oclas t : i t ha d b een wi th great d i ffi cul ty th at h i s fath er
restrai n ed h i m fro m tak in g hars h m ea su res agai n s t i mage
worshi p wh ile h e was stil l o nly h i s j u n i or colleague on t he
,

thro n e Th e c hron icle rs bear s tron g w i tn ess to h i s c ou rage

.
,

h i s person al vi rtues an d hi s e ven — ,

han d ed j u stice bu t h i s ,

m e ddl ing i n th i ngs e cclesiastical h as s u fli ce d t o black e n

h i s ch aracter i n thei r pages .

The greater part of th e reign o f Th eoph i lu s wa s taken u p

w i th a l o n g s truggl e wi th th e cali ph ate T h e Abbassi d e e m pi re
.

ha d been m u ch w eaken ed sin ce th e death o f H arou n a l -

Raschi d fi rs t by th e civil stri fe betwee n hi s s on s an d the n by

, ,

t h e religiou s wars exci ted b y th e h eterod ox cal iph E l Mam u n -

.

The oph i lu s th ou gh t that th e an ci en t e nem y wa s s o red uce d

by th e loss o f m a ny o u tl yi n g provin ces an d by long stri fe at ,

h om e that th e em pi re w ould be able t o w i n back some o f th e

,

lan d s l os t t wo ce n turi es before by H eracl iu s Acc o rdingly h e .

provoke d a war wi th E l Mam u n by shel tering th e man y re

-

fu g ee s fr o m Pe rsia a n d S vri a w h o fled b e fo re t h e persecu tion s

,

o f th e cal iph Un fortu nately fo r The oph il u s the tr o u ble s o f

.
,

h i s ad versary were j u st a t a n en d an d th e S arace n s h ad th eir

,

hand s once m ore free fo r a struggl e wi th th e e mpi re Th e .

l ong war wh i ch se t i n reveal ed that th e force s o f th e cal iph

an d th e empe ror were n o w so eve nl y bal a n ce d tha t i t wa s i m
p ossi ble fo r ei ther to deal th e oth er a n y deadl y bl ow bu t qui te ,
’
p ossi bl e for each t o h arry a n d m ole st th e other s fron tiers for
a n in defi n i te t im e W i t h som e tri fli ng i n terruptio n s o f truce
.

a n d a rmi stice i t lasted m ore than thi r ty years The cal i ph

,
.
 T/i e E a s t er n E mp i r e i n t ne N i n t u Cen t u ry 48 7
’
b egan th e s truggle by i nvad in g h is ne ighbou r s Cappadocia n
borders an d overrun n in g th e l an d a s far as H eraclea
,

H i s fl eets at th e sam e tim e m ade s om e descen t s o n the

Cyclades an d th e M ys ian coast El Mam u n le d th ree e xp e .
-

d i t i o n s i n person i n to Asia M in or an d after gettin g possession,

of the passes o f Tau ru s to ok th e great t own of Tyan a a t their

,

n orthern exi t an d fortifie d i t as a base for fu rther Operati on s

,
.

Fortun ately for Theoph ilus the caliph d ied a t th i s m om en t ,

an d h i s arm ies retired t o Tarsu s abando ning thei r con que sts ,

bey on d th e m oun tai n s Th e emp eror was m ore fortu nate

.

again st th e n ew Sarace n m o n arch E l M o ta sse m th e broth er ,

-
,

o f El— Mam un The op hilu s was abl e t o i n vade Syria an d M eso

.

p o tam ia a n d to cap tu re th e i mportan t t ow n of S a m o sa t a

, ,

where th e B yzan ti n e ban n ers h ad n o t b een see n s i n ce th e

tim e of Con stan ti n e C Opro n ym u s B u t t he ravages o f Th eo .

p hi l u s o n th e E uphrate s an d especial ly h i s sack of Z a p e t ra

, ,

a place fo r w h ich E l M o t a ss e m h ad a speci al regard p ro

-

vo k e d th e Saracen s to greater efforts I n 8 3 8 th e calip h took .

the fi el d a t th e head of a vast arm y h e h ad sworn to sack the

’
emperor s b irthplace A m o ri u m i n revenge fo r the plundering
, ,

o f Z a pe t ra an d i t i s sai d th at
,
m e n m arche d o u t of
Tarsus each wi th th e w ord A m o ri u rn pain ted o n hi s sh iel d
,
‘
.

The op hilus h as ten e d forth to defen d hi s ancestral town

bu t on e divi sio n o f th e S arace n arm y defeated T h e o ph i lus
h i m w i th great slaugh te r a t Da sym o n wh i le a n b t b y ea en

s a r a c e n s ’8 3 8
,
’
other u n der t he cal iph s person al orders s torm e d
, ,
‘

A m o ri u m an d sle w th e w h ol e p op ulati on — men wome n an d , ,

children — t o the num ber o f n ot l ess than

’
Such a di saste r an d th e sigh t of the cal ip h s troop s advanc ing
,

as far as the centre o f Phrygi a seeme d to porten d danger to the

,

emp ire B u t havi n g satiated h i s wrath an d vengean ce E l

.
,

M o t a s se m re ti red an d the gen erals o f Th eoph il us rec o vere d

,

the w h ol e of th e l ost l an ds as far as th e l in e o f Tau ru s .

I n testin e troubl es kep t th e calip h bu sy at h om e a n d after th e ,

E ast Roman s had recom m e nce d their i n vasion s of Syria an d

take n L a odi cea th e p ort of An ti oc h a tru ce was patc hed u p
, , ,
488 E u r opca n H i s t o i y 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

w h ich lasted with some i n te rm i ssion s down t o the deat h o f

, ,

th e emperor an d t he cal iph b oth O f w h om expi red i n 8 4 2 ,

.

When n o t empl oye d i n th e fi el d again st th e Saracen s ,

Th eoph ilus ha d bee n busy at home a gai n st th e i mage wo r -

sh ippers I n 8 3 2 he i s sue d a n edic t agai n st al l k in ds o f

.

represe ntati on s o f o u r Lord an d th e Sai n ts wh ether i n th e ,

form o f s tatues pi ctu res or m osaics an d ha d th em sough t

, , ,

o u t an d destroye d n ot o nly i n publ ic places but i n m onas ,

t e ri e s an d private dwelling s H i s e special wrath w a s reserve d

.

fo r the pai n ters w h om he foun d work i n g i n secre t t o reproduce

th e proh ibi ted figu res ; h e m uti lated th ei r d i sobed ien t hand s
with h ot i rons an d bran de d th ei r foreheads wi th word s o f
,

c on tumel y Th e patriarch J oh n t he G ra m rn a ri a n aided the

.

em peror by excom m u n icating all t he cl ergy wh o refu sed t o

abide by th e decrees o f t he sy n od o f 7 5 4 Theoph ilu s th e n .

laid ha n d s on th e recalci tran t m o nk s an d b i sh op s an d i m ,

pris oned o r ba n i sh ed th em H i s w rath h owever di d n ot .

, ,

lead h i m i n t o th e extrem es that th e I sau ria n em perors h ad

c ou n tenance d ; h e di d n ot i n fl ict th e p enal ty o f death for
d isobedien ce n or di d h e en deavou r t o su ppress th e m on astic
,

system l ik e Con stan ti n e C o p ro n ym u s Th ose

T h p h lu s
eo i
,
.

p rs cu t s
e e wh o ben t before th e s torm m et n o hars h t reat
e

im g a
:
e
m en t : i t was o n ly ope n di s o bedien ce that m oved
w rsh p p rs
o i e .

Theoph i lu s to an ge r H i s ve ry palace wa s ful l .

o f s ecre t i mage wor s h i ppe rs chief a m on g wh om was hi s ow n

-
,

w i fe th e e m p re ss The o dor a
,
.

Like h i s wester n co n temp orary Lewi s th e P iou s th e ,

em peror y i elded to th e u n happy i n spi ratio n o f ch oosi n g a

second wi fe by p ubl i c c o m peti ti on When h i s ch il dless .

empress d i ed i n 8 3 0 b e sum m o n ed al l th e fa i rest d augh ters

,

o f h i s n obl es t o h i s C ourt an d passed th em i n review ,

I l is .

eye was caugh t by th e y o u n g The od o ra th e chil d o f t h e ,

h igh adm i r al Mari n u s an d h e esp o u sed her w ith o u t tak ing th e

-
,

tr o ubl e to d i scover th a t she wa s a ferve n t a n d bigoted i m a ge

’
worsh i pper D uri n g he r hu sban d s l i fe s h e c o n ce a le d her
.
'

vie ws and con te n ted he rs e l f w i t h protectin g all t h e I c o n o d u le s

,
 T/z e E a s ter n E mp i re i n t/i e N i n t/i Cen t u ry 48 9
’
wh om she coul d sh elte r B u t after T h e Ophi lu s s death sh e
.

was destin ed to un do all hi s religiou s schemes an d to bri n g ,

’
up hi s ch i l dren to l oathe t hei r fa ther s creed .

I n sp ite o f the Saracen war a n d the ecclesiastical quarrel s

wh ic h ren dere d hi s l i fe u n quiet the reign o f Th eophilus — l ike
,

t hat of h is father— was n ot an un prosperou s t i m e fo r the

emp ire H i s stric t an d exact j u stic e benefi ted far m ore o f
.

h i s subj ects th an h i s bigo try harmed Th e reven u e was i n .

suc h good con di tio n that even i n war ti m e h e was abl e t o -

execu te m an y great publ ic works — such as th e s trength e n ing

an d embellish i ng o f th e wall s o f the capi tal a n d th e bu ilding ,

o f m a n y palace s an d hos p ital s H i s care for the fostering o f

.

trade w as sh ow n by the con clu si on o f com m ercial treaties ,

n o t only wi th Lewi s t he Pi ou s but even wi th th e di stan t

,

caliph o f Cordova ; an d Con stan tin opl e becam e i n h i s day

m ore than ever th e cen tre o f th e w hol e trade o f E urope ,

becau se th e I tali an p orts w h ic h were her o nl y rivals were

, ,

n ow s u fferi n g greatl y from the occupat ion o f t he cen tral

M ed iterranean by th e M oors o f S icily .

T o t h e great loss o f the empire Theophilus d i ed i n 8 4 2 , ,

wh il e s til l i n the prim e o f h i s l ife l eavi ng a so n an d h ei r o f

,

only fou r years o f age We have already sp oke n m ore tha n

.
,

once of th e da n gers o f a long m i n ori ty i n that ti me a n d th e

, ,

yout h of M ichael 11 1 was n ot t o b e an excep ti o n t o the rule

. .

F o r fourteen years a cou nci l of rege n cy governe d i n hi s beh al f

t o the smal l profi t o f th e emp ire Th e ch ief place i n i t was
.

taken by th e empres s — d o wager w hose i n terests were m ain l y

,
’
religi ous Al m ost before th e b reath was o u t of h er husba n d s
.

body Theodora se t to work t o u n do h i s p olicy Calli ng t o .

her ai d th e w hol e i m age loving party i n the palace sh e

-

deposed th e p atriarch drove i n t o exile th e ch i ef I con oclastic

,

bi shops a n d sum m o n e d a c oun cil a t Con stan tin ople w h ich

, ,

anathematised the en emies o f i mages an d re T h e o d o r a ,

a ffi rmed all th e doctri nes w hi ch had b ee n c o n r s t r s e o e

d e m n e d i n 8 3 0 b y order o f Theop hi lus O n ly .

thirty day s afte r th e n ew reign had begun I con oduly had

49 0 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

once more become o rth o dox a n d I co n oclasm was prosc ribe d

,
.

Act ive persecu tion agai nst hereti cs fol l owed ; th e Paul ician s
an d othe r d i ss iden ts o f Asia M i n or were s o mal treate d tha t
they m igrated en m a sse t o th e d om i n io n s o f th e cal iph an d ,

from the nce reve n ge d th em selves b y makin g i ncursi on s i n to

th e em pire .

Th e two m en w h o share d th e c hief po wer with Theodora

w ere her worthl ess bro ther Bardas a n d th e cou n t T h e o c t i st u s
,

t hey were bit terl y j eal ou s of each other an d B ardas u lt i ,

’
m ately procu red hi s rival s death E ach o f the se personages
.

believed hi ms el f to be a great gen eral an d thei r am bitiou s ,

bu t i ll —manage d expedi ti on s agai n st t h e Sarace n s ended i n

u n i form di saster I t wa s fortu nate for the em pire that th e
.

caliphate had n o w passe d i n to th e hand s o f t w o i n capable

bigots a n d d ebau chees Wa t h e k a n d M o t a w a k k il w h o were
, ,
’
qui te u n able to p rofi t by thei r n eighbour s weakn e ss ( 8 4 2
In deed the Byzan tin e arm s w o n som e su ccess w hen n ei ther
Bardas n o r T h e o ct i st u s were presen t an d o n e daring ex
,
~

p e d i t i o n even seized an d hel d Alexandria for a yea r Th e .

l ong weary war dragge d o n bu t n ei ther empi re n or caliph ate

, ,

go t an y ad van tage from i t .

I n 8 5 6 th e young M ic hael attai n e d hi s eigh teent h year a nd ,

took t he govern m e n t i n t o hi s o w n han ds H e at o nce sen t .

away hi s m oth er wh ose l ong dom i nati on h e h ad secretly

,

rese n te d an d confi scate d m os t o f h e r treasure an d e states

,
.

M ichael was a n il l di sp o sed y o uth bu t owe d m uch o f h i s evil

-
,

character to h is un cl e Bar d as wh o had brough t h i m u p i n the

,

worst o f fashi on s a n d taugh t h i m t o pl unge w hi le yet a m ere

, ,

boy i n to dri nki n g gam bl in g an d d e bau ch ery M ichael an d

, , ,
.

h i s u ncl e were sworn c om pan i o n s i n all k i nd s o f ri bald ry an d

evil l i vi ng an d th ei r cou rt wa s a scen e o f pe rpetual sca n dal s
-
,
.

Bardas was m ade Cae sar i n 8 6 2 a n d fo r th e next fou r years

,

h ad as m uch t o d o wi th th e gover n m en t o f th e em pi re a s hi s
n e ph ew B u t h e was u n wise en ough to take t o o much upon
.

h im to trea t M ich a el a s a d runk en b o y a n d to as su m e a

, ,

superi ori ty over h im wh ich th e y ou ng em peror coul d n o t

 Tli e E a s t er n E mp i re i n tue N i n tn Cen t u ry 49 1

brook After they had reign ed togeth er fou r years M ich ael
.

cause d h i s u ncl e to be slain an d took an other ass ociate i n the

,

em pire
H i s new c o lleagu e was B asil th e Macedon ian a young man ,

o f Slavon i c descen t wh o had l on g been on e o f hi s b oon

,

com pan i on s Whe n M ichael was s till a boy h e had been

.

i mpresse d by t he cou rage an d strength o f Basil w h o h ad ,

e n tered hi s service as a groom Th e y oung em peror pro .

mote d hi m from on e office to another till h e b ecame P r ot o ,

s tr a t o r o r Coun t o f th e S tables — M arsh al as he wou ld h ave

,

bee n cal led i n a western m o narch y Th e n ew favouri te was .

bold rea dy wi tted a n d hard h eaded ; h e coul d d ri nk dow n

,
-
,
-

th e emperor h imself at t heir feasts —a power w hich i nspi red

Mi chael wi th th e grea tes t respect S o tru sting t o the fai th o f
.

the frien d o f h is y ou th M ichael preferred h im to the place of

,

the m urd ere d Bardas .

Whe n n ot u nd er the i n fluence o f th e w in e cup M ichael th e -

,

D ru nkard — as h i s subj ects nam ed hi m — was a warl ike an d

en ergetic sovereign H e o ften took th e fiel d again s t th e
.

Saracen s an d t he Bulgarian s an d s om etim es m e t with success

,

whe n cou rage coul d take the place of strategy After a suc .

c e ssfu l cam paign beyon d th e B alkan s h e forced the B ulgari an

ki ng n ot only t o do h i m h omage bu t to becom e a Christian , ,

a c hange wh ich d i d m uc h i n later yea r s to m ake relati on s

easi er b etwee n th e emp ire an d i ts n orth ern neighbours .

M ichael some time s bu sie d hi m sel f abou t t hings e cc l e si

a s t i ca l : h i s m other had brough t h im up as a ferve n t i mage

worshipper an d b e disti ngui she d h im sel f w hen h e cam e t o

,

years o f discretion b y the d i sgraceful ou trage of exhu mi n g

an d bur n i n g th e b od i es of Con stan ti n e C o p ro n ym u s an d the
patriarch J ohn t h e ch ief repre sen tati ves — lay an d spiritual
,

o f Icon ocl asm An o the r o f h i s doings had a graver cou se

.

u e n ce : i t was h e wh o offende d by the austere m oral s o f th e

q ,

patri arc h Ignatiu s deposed h i m an d n om in ated P hotiu s i n

,

hi s stead Th e prefermen t o f P h oti us was as we have al ready

.
,

stated wh en deal ing wi th th e Papacy th e origin al cau se of ,

49 2 E u ropea n f I i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

that breach between E a st an d West wh ic h has n ever ye t been

h eal ed 1
.

M i chael had at ta i n e d th e age o f thirty on e a n d seemed -

,

des ti ned t o rul e for many m ore years wh en h e wa s sudden l y ,

cu t O ff H is frien d a n d boon c o rn pa n i o n Basil wh o m h e h ad

.
-

, ,

rai sed from a groom to b e a Caesar was t he m u rdere r A t ,

. ,

t h e e n d O f on e of thei r debau ch es the Macedo n ian rose an d

bade s om e of h is frien d s slay h s ben e fac tor
B asin
M i chael was stabbe d as he lay I n a d ru nken
i .

m u rd ge ,

i h l III sl eep an d th e crow n passed away fro m th e

g7
c ae "
,

A m o ri a n h ouse B asil h ad al ready as col

'

league i n th e em pire g o t the rei n s o f p o wer i n h i s han d s an d

, ,

th e mu rder o f M i chael pass ed un revenged N o on e rai sed .

’
h i s voice i n behal f o f th e dead m an s i n fa n t son s an d th e ,

n e w dynasty w a s in augura ted wi th ou t a s truggle o r a c ivil w a r .

T he Maced o n ia n th ough h e had sh o w n h im sel f an u n

,

grateful trai tor w a s a ma n o f great abi li ty H e hel d fi rml y

, .

t o h i s i ll gotten c rown an d fou nded th e l onges t dyn asty th at

-
,

eve r sat upon th e B yza n ti n e th ro n e I t wa s n o t till 1 0 5 6 that.

h is h ouse was exti ngu i shed A s em peror h e d i d al l that h e

.

c oul d t o m ak e h i s su bj ects forget that h e h ad once been the

deep dri nking favouri te o f M i ch ael 1 11 H e prove d h i m sel f a
-
.

h ard workin g sovereign econ om ical pruden t an d j ud i ci ou s

-
, , , ,

an d th e empire fl ou rished unde r hi s rul e S om e o f h i s work .

was de stin ed t o b e perm a n en t ; h i s c od e a n e w revi si on o f ,

’
th e laws o f J u stin ian su persedi ng L e o t he I sau rian s E clog a
, ,

rem ai ne d th e text b ook o f the ea stern empire dow n to i ts las t

-

day s H i s fi n an cial arran geme n ts w h ic h see m t o h ave bee n

.
,

excellen t were al so desti n ed to e n d u r e for n e a r ly t w o ce n tu ri es

,
.

I n m atters ecclesiastical he d i d h i s bes t to pa tch u p the breach

wi th th e Rom a n ch urch ; b e rei n stated the d eposed patriarch
Ignatiu s an d se n t Ph o ti u s i n to private l i fe ; bu t th ough the
,

cau se o f o ffence wa s rem oved th e q u arrel rem ain ed an d t h e ,

exorbi tan t claim s o f th e Popes preven ted an y reu nio n o f th e

E ast an d Wes t Find in g thi s t o be th e case Basil res tored
.
,

S e e p ag e s 4 5 3 4 -
.
 T/i e E a s t er n E mp i r e i n t ne N i n t/i Cen t u ry 49 3

P ho t iu s wh en Ignatiu s died an d al lowed th ings to take the ir

,

in evi table course .

E xcep t i n Sicily th e wars of Basi l were gen erall y su ccessful .

The empire o f th e caliph s was rapi dly b reaking u p ; th e

dyn asty o f th e S a ffa ride s h ad l opped o ff th e eastern p rovi nce s
o f their real m an d E gyp t had falle n in to t h e h an ds of Ah med
,

i bn Tulu n
-
. Fou r caliph s had bee n m urdered i n ni n e years
(86 1 an d the in cessan t civi l war wh ich raged at Bagdad
stripp ed the Sarace n fron t ier o f m o st of i ts defe nders Th e .

Chri sti an arm s t herefore di d n ot fare badly during th e reign o f

, ,

B as il a n d h i s s on Leo a n d fo r the fi rst tim e th e E ast Roman

,

b oun dary began t o m ove eas tward an d n ew th emes were ,

carved o u t o f the capture d terri tory Th e B yzan ti ne armi e s .

ravage d n orth ern Syria an d M esopotam ia as far a s Am ida an d

Alepp o Cypru s was recovered though o nly for a ti m e an d
.
, ,

t he rebell i on of the Paulici an heretics o n t h eArm en ian fron tier

’
wa s suppressed At the same tim e B asi l s fleets wo n Vi ctorie s
.

i n th e E g ea n an d th e I on i an sea over th e corsairs o f Crete

an d Afri ca We have al ready men ti on ed i n an other place
.
, ,

h ow t he admiral Ori pha s ai de d Lewi s 1 1 t o recon qu er Bari .

,

an d h ow N i ce ph o ru s P hocas drove ou t th e S arac en s from

Lucan i a an d B ru tt i u m an d adde d th e s outhern W rs f
’
,

pen i nsul a o f I taly to h i s m as ter s real m I n Si cily 3 L

.
a

3 5 “ o

alon e was d isaster m e t ; th e fall of Syracuse i n 8 7 8 mark s the

practical exti n ct i on o f th e E ast R oman p ower i n th at i slan d .

B u t success elsewhere aton ed for th i s sin gl e l oss .

I f Basi l h ad been succeede d by a st ro n g an d en ergetic

ruler th e E ast Roman empire m ight have had an Opp ortun it y
,

o f exte n ding i ts sway over alm ost all t he provin ces that had

ob eye d Ju stin i an three ce n turie s before The calip hate grew .

m ore an d m ore decrepi t I tal y was a s we h ave already seen , , ,

a prey to anarch y fo r m ore than half a cen tury an d th e ,

Slavs o f E astern E uro p e were bei ng crushed by th e newl y

arrived horde o f th e Magyars Non e of t hem coul d have
.

Oppose d an y stron g defence again st a capable comman der

h e adin g th e w ell armed a nd well di sci p li n e d h ost that th e
- -
4 g sr E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8

E astern em pi re coul d s e n d o u t B u t th e so n an d gra n dson of

.

B asil whose l on g reign s occupied the n ext eigh ty years were

, ,

a c oupl e o f n arrow mi n ded an d pedan tic m e n of l etters equally

-
,

desti tu te of tas te an d o f abi lity for e ngagi ng i n s chem es o f

c on qu es t Leo V I wh o m after gen eration s cal le d Leo t h e
. .
,

Wi se n o t for h is practical clevern ess bu t becau se h e had a

, ,

taste for th e occul t scie nces a n d wrote obscu re prophecies ,

wa s th e i mm ed iate succe ssor o f Ba sil By som e s trange freak .

o f natu re th e hard d rin ki ng u n scrupul ou s en ergetic M ace

-
, ,

d o mia n u surper w a s th e father o f a labori ou s c ompiler o f books ,

’
th e m ildest an d l east s tirrin g o f m en Leo s proph etic oracles .

an d hi s ecclesias tical wri ti n gs are o f sm all profi t t o th e reader ,

R ig
e n of L
bu t pos teri ty mu st ack n owledge that i t owes h im
eo

th W is
e e a c on siderable deb t fo r publ i sh ing hi s Ta ct i ca a
.
,

m i litary m an ual giving a n excellen t accoun t o f

t he organ i sation strategy a n d tactic s Of th e Byzan ti n e armie s
, , ,

with u seful n otes as t o th e habi ts a n d man ners o f th e en em ies

whom th e arm y was called u pon to face I t was probably .

fortu n ate for th e em pi re that he n ever tri e d to pu t h i s book

kn owledge o f th i ngs m i l itary t o p ractical u se i n th e field .

’
I n spite o f Le o s feeble pers on al i ty an d of th e fac t tha t h is ,

n egl igence occasi on all y allowe d the foes o f th e empi re t o

s natch u nexpecte d advan tage s th i s reign was a time o f growth ,
’
for th e i m p erial b orders Th e n e w t hem e s o f Lyc a n d u s an d
.

M esopotam ia were w o n from th e e n feeble d caliphate

Apulia was co n qu ere d from th e duke s o f Ben eve n to an d t he
’
I tal ian Saracen s a n d form ed i n t o th e th em e of La n g o b a rd ia
,
‘
.

’
B en eve n to i tsel f was for s om e years i n Leo s han ds 1 an d i f ,

h e had sh own a l it tl e m ore en ergy h e m igh t h ave pushed h is

arm y u p t o th e gates o f Rome w h il e th e cou n ts o f cen tral ,

I tal y were en gaged i n th ei r en dless b ickeri ngs w i th king

B e re n ga r B ut th e empero r n eglected t o su pport h i s general s
.
,

an d wi th a tran qu i l m in d le t the m fai l for wan t of resources

. .

Le o d ie d i n 9 1 2 l eavi ng th e th ron e to hi s onl y son C o n

,

st a n t i n e V I L better kn own as Con sta n tin e P orph yrogen i tus

, ,

S e e pa g e 4 60 .
 The E a s t er n E mp i r e i n t he N i n t h Ce n t u ry 49 5

a weak l i terary m an of the sa me type as h im self Th e n ew .

em p eror was a boy o f only fi ve an d hi s wh ol e reign was o n e

,

lon g m in ori ty for after h e reache d m an h o od he allowe d others

,

t o govern for h im an d remai ne d buri ed i n h i s book s

,
.

B u t i n sp i te Of th e feeblen ess o f Le o an d Con stan tine the ,

empire was fari ng well I ts n eighbours were t o o weak t o

.

troubl e i t wi th seriou s wars t hough n ow an d then a d isaster

,

occu rred s uch as th e su rprise of T h e s sa l o n i ca by th e Afri can

,

pirate s i n 9 0 4 . Suc h m i sfortun es w ere du e to th e m i s

’
di rection o f the empi re s resources n o t t o th ei r i nadequacy
,

for defence Th e realm was n ever rich er n or stronger s in ce

.

the days o f J ustin ian ; Con stan t in opl e had becom e th e s ol e

ce n tre o f th e com m erce o f th e Christian worl d th e on e place ,

where E as t an d We s t coul d freely exch a n ge t heir comm odit ies .

Th e revenu e was abu n dan t an d easily raised th e army wel l ,

p ai d an d efficien t an d on ly n ee ded ade quate gen eral s t o

,

enabl e i t t o se t o u t o n a wi de c areer o f con que st Bu t the .

em pire was n ot to obtai n a capable ruler for man y years the

days o f Joh n Z i m i sc e s an d B asil B u lga ro k t o n o s were st ill far
o ff an d m eanwhi le t he E ast Rom an s un der the feeble l eader
, ,

sh i p o f Le o an d Con stant in e remai ned i n a con di ti on of

,

station ary p rosperi ty du e to the wel l organ i sed admin i stration

,
-

of th e empire Th e B yzan ti n e civi l service was wel l able to

.
-

carry o n th e bu si ness o f govern me n t u nless i t was handicappe d

,

by the p resen ce o n th e thron e of a strong han ded tyran t an d -

whatever were thei r faul ts the sovereign s of th e Mace donian

h ouse n ever deserve d that n am e There are w o rse th i ngs for
.

an y real m than a series of m ediocrities o n the th ron e .

 C H A P TE R XXIX

THE END OF THE N I NTH CENT U RY

I N \V E S T E R N E U ROPE . CO N C L U S I ON

R e ig n O d o i n F r a n c e — H i s D a n i sh w a rs — H i s c i v i l w a r w i h Ch a rl e s t h e
of t
S i m p l e —Ch a rl e s succ e e ds t o t h e t hr o n e —H e g r a n t s N o r m a n dy t o H r o lf
—L o t h a rrn g ia a n n e x e d t o F r a n c e — R o b e r a n d Rud o lf r e b e l a g a i n st
t
—
Ch a rl e s t h e S i m p l e —M urd e r o f Ch a rl e s a t P e r o n n e S p a i n a n d t h e
M o o rs —G r o w t h k i n g d o m o f t h e As t ur ia s u n d e r P e l a g i us a n d t h e
o f t he

t hr e e Al fo n s o s — I t s c o n t i u e d n r
p g o r e ss — S u m m a ry o f t h e p e r i o d
F e ud a l s m I t s m i l i t a ry a n d p o l i t i c a l m e a n i n g —C o n cl u s ro n
i , .

WE l eft th e mu ch vexed N eu strian real m han ded over to a

-

ki ng wh ose t i tl e to th e crown lay i n hi s stron g han d a n d h is

good sword an d n o t i n an y h ereditary righ t O d o cou n t Of
, .

’ ’
Pari s was n ot sprung ei ther o n t he father s or the m oth er s
si de from th e hou se o f th e Ka rlin gs H i s fath er was Robert .

the S trong a coun t Of Angers a n d Bl oi s u n der Charles the

,

Bald o n e o f the fe w Franki sh ch iefs wh o w o n a reputation

,

i n the struggle w ith th e Viki ngs W hen Robert fel l by a .

D an i sh arrow h i s s on appears a few years later i n power by

,

the m iddle Sein e an d Loire an d especially i n charge o f Paris

, ,

w here he w o n h i s great nam e an d h is crown by th e gallan t

d efe n ce of th e ci ty i n 8 8 6 7 .

O do wa s w ith o u t d oub t th e best can didate that c oul d have

been ch o se n fo r the Wes t Franki sh th ro n e The s ole l eg i t i .

m ate h eir o f the Karli ngs — Charles th e Sim ple th e posthu m ous ,

so n p f Lewis the S tam m erer — wa s only e i gh t years o f age an d ,

to han d th e kingdom over t o a m in o r would h ave been a piece

o f mad n ess N evertheless the choice o f O d o was a bad alter
.

native a t the best h e was but on e am ong a d ozen personages

49 0
 ’
E na of the N i n th Cen t u ry i n PVes t ern E u r op e 49 7

of equal posi tio n each o f w h om believed hi m self to be h is n ew

,
’
master s equal B etween 8 5 0 an d 8 8 7 all th e greater coun ties
.

o f Neustria an d Aquitain e were becom ing heredi tary C harles

.

t h e B al d an d hi s short l ived successors had everywh ere bough t

-

a temp orary freedo m from t rou ble by app oi n ti n g the so n to

’
fi ll the father s place a n d i n the n ext generati on G r w t h f t h
,
o o e

th e rulers of th e cou n ties and duchies l ooked upon G r t F i fs i ea e n

’ Fr c
thei r titl e t o succeed t o th ei r an cestor s govern or an e '

ship as fi xed an d ab solu te I n every on e o f the se d istricts

.
,
’
wh ich were afterward s to b e k n ow n as th e G reat Fiefs th e ,

first commen cemen t o f h ereditary rule dates from the fatal

days betwee n t h e battle o f Fon tenay an d th e deposi tion o f
Charles the Fat Th e first sovereign i n th e cou n ty of Toulouse
.

wh o passed o n hi s dom i n i on s t o h is so n dates from 8 5 2 i n

Flan ders the date i s 8 6 2 i n Poitou 8 6 7 i n Anj o u 8 7 0 i n
Gascony 8 7 2 : i n B urgu n dy 8 7 7 : i n Auvergn e 8 8 6 To al l .

these rulers O do was b u t a fortun ate e qual wh om they had ,

con sen ted t o elevate to t he th ron e becau se o f th e i mm i n en t

danger wh ich th e ki n gdom was su fferin g from the Viking
raids I n spi te o f th e oath s that they had sworn hi m they
.

coul d n ot i n their o w n mi n d s l o ok up on hi m as a k i ng o f t h e
sam e sort as th e Karl ings had been I n a ti m e wh en here
.

di t a ry righ t was begin n in g to coun t s o highly it was a fatal ,

weaknes s i n a ki ng to owe hi s p ower to the Old Teu ton ic

righ t o f electio n alo n e I n readi ng th e c h ron icles o f th is
.

period o f French hi story w e are rem i n ded i n a striking

man n er o f the trouble s of th e ki ngs o f the Spani sh Vi sigoths .

We fi n d on ce m ore t he u tter confusio n that en su es from

th e el ective system w hen th e n ob ility i s too strong an d the ,

royal nam e has b ee n l owered b y a series o f weak o r i ncapable

rulers .

’
I n O do s fi rst year h e was comparat ively free from troubles
w ith i n the Viki ngs were spread all over th e face o f the lan d ,

an d even the turbu len t cou n ts of N e u s t ri a refra i n e d from

rebell ion in face o f th e danger while Wi d o o f Spoleto th e rival
, ,

o f the n ew king h ad to qu i t th e realm for wan t of followers

,
.

P E R I OD I . 2 I
49 8 E p
u ro ea n H i s to /y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

The el ectio n of O d o received i ts bes t j usti ficati o n w h en i n

J u n e 8 8 8 h e sm ote the great arm y o f th e D a n es at M on tfauco n
i n Cham pagn e a n d d ro ve them from the valleys of th e M euse
,

and Mar n e The wh o l e real m c o ncu rred w ill i n gly i n h i s

.

secon d coronat ion at Rh eim s where h e w a s i nvested w i th a ,

crow n wh ich h is n eighbou r Arn ul f had sen t h im i n token o f

, ,

friendsh ip as wel l a s o f a clai m o f su zerai n ty .

E ven th e di sta n t an d ever rebell iou s sout h bowe d for a ti me

-

before th e sceptre o f O do wh en h e m arc hed i n to Aqui tai n e

R a rn n u lf cou n t of P o i c t i e rs w h o had t hough t for a m om en t
,

of establ ish i ng h i m self as an i n depen de n t duke sout h O f the

Loi re struck n o bl ow agai n st h im but di d i n stan t homage
, ,
.

W rs f
a o
B ut wh il e O do was i n Poi tou th e V ikings had
Od w ith
o agai n gathered i n great force o n th e l o w er Sei n e ,
th
e Dane s ’
u nder ch i efs am ong w h om we descry for the fi rs t
t im e th e n ame o f H rolf or Rollo th e fu tu re d uke of N ormand y ,
.

They lai d siege fo r th e th i rd ti m e to Pari s : th e brave town

h el d o u t fo r m an y m on th s b u t O do les s able t o defen d h i s
, ,

old fi e f as ki ng than h e had been as coun t follo w ed the de ,

pl o ra b l e preceden t o f C harles th e Fat and gave th em mon ey ,

t o take them selve s o ff t o B ri ttan y .

O f course they return ed ere l on g bu t w h en th ey on ce m ore ,

i nvaded cen tral France O d o i n flicted a cru sh i ng defeat o n

,

the m at M on tpen si er : th eir ch ief O sk yt e l wa s captured w i th

ma n y o f h is m en Like Guth rum i n E ngland th e van qu i sh ed
.

D an e Offered to become a C hri s tia n bu t as h e i ssue d fr o m th e ,

bapti stery cou n t I ngo th e stan dard bearer o f O do cu t h im

, ,
-
,
’
d ow n . Never tru st a D an e bapti zed or u nbaptized sai d
‘
, ,

th e m urd e rer an d h i s master l eft h i m u n pun i shed as if h e

, ,

fel t tha t th e cyn ical plea wa s su ffi cien t j usti fication

J us t w he n h e appeared t o be stro n gest O d o wa s i n tru th ,

nearin g h is greatest danger Th e D a n es bei ng fo r a ti me .

d rive n o ff th e u n rul y cou n ts o f France free from the i m

, ,

pen di ng terr o r began a t o nce t o con spi re again st t hei r king

,
.

H e wa s to o m uch o n e o f them sel ves for th em to regard h im

as th ei r absol ute master an d t o o strong han ded for them t o
,
-
 ’
E na f the N i n th Ce n t u ry i n Wes t er n
o E u r op e 49 9

feel their n ew h ereditary fi e fs safel y th ei r Ow n I n 8 9 3 som e .

o f the great n obles sen t fo r th e boy C harles th e S im ple th e ,

hei r of the Karl i n gs from hi s refuge i n E ngland Richard

,
.
,

duke o f B urgun dy Will iam coun t o f Au vergn e H eribert

, , , ,

coun t o f Verman doi s an d Fulco archbishop o f C i v i l W rs

, ,
a
Rhei m s were t he chief o f the rebels There f O d
, d . o o an

followed s i x years o f des p erate ci vil war : O do fi fz

g
( i th ‘ e

S
was far t oo strong fo r th e fourteen year o l d b o y - -

wh om h i s treacherou s vassal s had rai sed up agai n st hi m agai n

an d agai n h e drove Charles fro m the cities wh ere h e ha d for
t i fi ed h i m sel f an d chasti sed the rebel s w h o adhered t o h i m
, .

B u t s om e o n e o f t he cou n ts o f Neu stria or Aqu itain e was

al ways rising i n favour o f the Karl in g D rive n from on e
.
.

di strict h e reappeared i n another an d th e lan d h ad n o res t ,

.

I t was to n o purpose that O do o nce offered to mak e hi s rival

kin g of Aquitai n e an d rul e h i m sel f in Neus tria alon e such a
compromi se woul d n o t have su ited h i s amb i tiou s vassal s wh o ,

were i nspi red not by an y real loyalty to th e an ci en t house bu t ,

by a wish to gai n comp lete local i n dependence .

At last O do worn ou t w ith the struggle died o n th e last day

, ,

o f the year 8 9 8 H i s brother an d h ei r Robert refu sed to co n

.

ti n n e the struggl e again st th e heir of th e Karl ings a n d di d ,

hom age to Charles th e Simpl e receivi ng from h im con firmation ,

as ruler o f th e D uchy o f France — the lan ds of Paris O rlean s , ,

Tours Chartres B eauvais an d Le Man s Thu s th e civil war

, , ,
.

en ded bu t at th e cost o f th e establish me n t o f o n e m o re great

,

fi e f an d th at o n e com p rehen ding t h e wh ole o f th e heart o f

,

Neustria a very ki n gdom i n itself

, .

Charles the S impl e was n o w u n dispu tedly k ing o f the w hole

real m o f th e West Frank s an d was recogn ised as its ruler for
,

thi rty on e years t ill h i s u n ti mely deat h i n 9 2 9 H e had by

-
,
.

th is ti me reach ed the age of twen ty an d had gai ned C h rl s t h ,

a e e
m uch experien ce i n t h e u ncertain ties o f war an d S i m p l K i g e, n

f Fr m
i n th e beari ng of adverse fortu n e H e
° a e ,

8 99 9 9 -
2
was a m an o f energy an d resou rce th e worthy ,
‘
brother of the long dead Lew i s -
a n d h i s n ickname the
5 00 E u rop ea n H i s t ory , 47 6 9 I 8 -

’
Sim pl e given hi m because h e wa s too pron e to tru st h is
,

treacherou s vassal s an d wa s s o Often deceived by th em i s

, ,

rather a titl e o f hon o ur tha n th e reverse From the very fi rst .

h i s positi on wa s far w eaker t han that of a n y o f h i s predecessors

had been The g reat fi e fs had n ow become defi n itely h eredi
.

’
tary : an y e n deavour t o preve n t th e reversi on o f th e father s
’
la n d t o th e son w a s regarded a s a u surpation o n th e ki n g s
part an d resen ted b y th e w hole body o f vassal s o f the realm
,
.

I n every part o f Neu stria an d Aqu itai n e th e coun ts a n d duke s

had n o w becom e sem i i n depen den t sovereign s an d i t was o nly
-
,

i n th e royal dem esn e an d i n th e lan d s o f the great e c cl e s i

,

a s t i c a l fi e fs that the ki ng retain ed m onarchical power

,
.

Charles w a s by n o m ean s d es ti tute ei ther of ambi ti on or o f

energy H e di d h i s be s t t o assert h is royal auth ori ty ove r hi s
.

vassals and to cope w it h th e n eve r en di n g D an i sh in vasion s

,
-
.

H e d id n ot forget th e traditio n al poli cy of th e Neu stria n Kar

l i n gs thei r desire to u n ite w ith thei r o w n real m th e w h ol e o r
,

part o f Lo t h a ri n g i a th e p l an tha t h ad l e d hi s gran d father

,

Charles the Bal d i n to s o man y u nhappy w ars M ore fortunate .

tha n h i s ancestor Charl es succeeded i n layi n g hand s o n a large

,

porti o n o f th e disputed realm The Au strasian s had grown .

weary o f thei r u n ion w ith German y w h il e ruled by the t u rb u

len t an d tyran n ical Z we n t i b o l d wh om Arnu lf had set over ,
’
them After Arnul f s death th ey cast o u t an d slew hi s bastard
.
,

an d adhered for a tim e t o Lewi s th e C hild Bu t wh en the .

you ng Lewi s foll o wed h i s fa ther to the grave th e Lotharingian s ,

refused t o con cu r w ith th e o ther Teu ton ic races i n setting

C on rad th e Fran con ian o n th e th ron e H ead ed by th e c ou n t .

o f H ai naul t Regi nal d wi th the Lo n g Neck th ey d eclared that

,
- - - -
,

they woul d h ave n on e b t rt a Karli n g to reign over th em an d ,

L th
th rew them sel ve s in to th e arm s o f Charle s the
o gi
a ri n a

j
o rn e d t Si mpl e From 9 1 2 o nward s h e reigned as their
o .

Fr
an c ’9 ” e
k i ng an d fo un d hi s best su ppo r ters among thei r
°

w arri o rs fo r Au strasia w a s n ot ye t so feu dal i sed a s Neu stria

, ,

an d t h e l ove o f the Ol d r o yal h ou se wa s still strong wi thi n i ts

bord ers .
 ’
E na o f t h e N i n th Cen t u ry i n Wes te rn E u rop e 50 1

Th e Viki ng raids never ceased during th e reign o f C harles .

The civi l war of 8 9 3 8 had given t he D a n es an opportu n i ty

-

o f return i n g to Neu stria an d they were n ot slow t o take i t

, .

When the chro n i clers o f th e ti m e are n ot recou n ting the

’
rebelli on s o f Charl es s u n du ti ful subj ects t hey are generally ,

occupied i n detailing D an ish ravages B u t i t i s n o w to b e .

ob served that th e i n roads of th e Viki ngs are n ot nearly s o

dangerou s to th e real m as they h ad on ce been th e spell o f
th e i n v in cib il ity o f the N o rt h m e n h ad been b roken an d when ,

ever they app eared th ey were fi ercely w ith stood by t he local

coun ts an d dukes Th e lan d n o longer gave them su ch ri ch
.

prey for th e Open town s h ad n ow surrou n ded them selves with

,

walls an d were n ot as form erl y th e defenceless victim s o f

,

every raider who coul d mu ster a few hu n dred men at his back .

Still th e i nvaders n ever ceased to com e fo r m any o f t heir ,

former fi eld s o f actio n were n ow closed : i n E nglan d Al fred

an d hi s so n were to o strong for them an d i n Ge rman y they ,

n ever had thei r o l d goo d fortun e after thei r great defeat at

Louvain France th erefore had n o w to bear the bru n t o f
.
, ,

thei r attack s an d all thei r h ordes con cen trated them selves o n
,

the coast betwee n t he Scheldt an d the Garon ne .

I t was i n 9 1 1 that Charles the S imple took a step wh ich

was to change the aspect of th e great struggl e wi th H r o l f t h on e

th e D anes Thei r m ai n arm y was n ow lying o n S i 9

.
e ne i 1 0- n

th e lower S ein e an d t hei r chi ef camp was at Rouen a great

, ,

ci ty wh ich they had sacked an d desolated a n d m ade their o wn .

Their war lord was n ow th e sea ki ng H rol f o r Roll o as the

- -
,

Frank s called h i m wh o h ad asserted hi s power b y right O f

,
’
superior abili ty above all t he other j arls H rolf s bands ranged .

far an d w ide i n t he S ein e valley and had fough t at Chartre s

,

a bloody but i n deci sive battl e wi th th e h os t of th e Franks ,

’
headed by th e king s greatest vassals the dukes of France an d ,

Burgun dy an d th e cou n t o f Poi tou .

D espairi ng as Al fred had despaired thirty years before o f

, ,

ever being able t o drive away the D a n e Charles took the ,

same ste p th at t h e great k in g of W essex had tak en H e .

50 2 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

determin ed t o o fle r t h e Viki ng leader a great tract of lan d as a

settlem en t for h is followers if he woul d con sen t t o draw them
,

all togethe r an d to conclu de a stabl e peace Th e experim en t .

had bee n m ade before by t he Fra n ki sh m o n arch s w ith n o ,

encou ragi n g resu lts an d t h e tal e o f Charles th e Fat an d k ing

,

Godfre d m u st h ave been fres h i n th e m i n d s o f th e Vikings .

N everthel ess th e offer was m ade o nce m ore : i f H rol f woul d

se ttle d own h e sh oul d have an am p l e D a n el ag h — as the
,

E ngl ish w oul d have call ed i t —fo r h i s m en C harles pro ff ered .

h i m Roue n an d t he l ower valley of th e S ei n e an d w ith them ,

the han d of h i s daugh ter G i sela T he N o rt h rn a n blustered .

’
an d affected to despi se th e ki ng s o ffer b ut presen tly he began ,

to haggle an d t o speak of term s Th e m on arch of th e Wes t .

Franks an d the veteran sea ki ng m et at Clai r— -

sur Epte an d -
,

T re at y f o
there
,
t h e bargai n was con cl uded H rolf a sked .

C l i r su r
a -
an d received all th e lands fro m t he rive r E pte t o
E p t ’g
e u ’
the sea a gran t which th e Danes in terpreted as
,

givi ng th em al l t he coas t lan d from t h e m out h of th e S omm e

-

t o t he borders o f Bri ttan y Charles added to t hi s th e easy

.

pro mise of the suzerai nty o f B rittan y itsel f when H rol f sh oul d ,

s uccee d i n con quering t he u n ruly princes o f that land wh o ,

for m an y years had pai d n o allegian ce to the Franki sh crown .

’
The Viki n g th erefore receive d the han d o f th e ki ng s d au gh
ter prom ised t o subm i t to bapti sm an d becam e th e man o f
, ,
‘

C harl es t he S i mple A well kn own story tell s h o w H rol f

.
-

refu sed t o bow t h e k nee h im sel f to th e Frank when th e oath ,

o f h omage had to b e given an d d eputed on e of h i s chi efs to

,

b e h i s proxy a n d how th e D an e w ith designed clum s in ess

, , ,
’
w he n h e be n t before th e k ing s feet succeeded i n upsetting ,

king an d th ron e together B u t Charl es overl ooked th e in sul t

.

i n return for th e tangibl e be n efits that the subm i ssi on of H rolf

i nvol ved an d l oaded th e Danes wi th gi ft s o n thei r departure
,
.

Th e Viki ng chief th erefore settled d own to l ive as a Franki sh

T h D uch y
e d uke at Ro uen h e h ad h i m sel f baptized accord ,

m d Y i n g to hi s prom i se an d th e maj ori ty

o f h i s warriors
O TN OF an
,

foll owed h i s e xam pl e Con trary to wh at m igh t have b een

.
 ’
E na o f t he N i n th Cen t u ry in Wes t er n E u r ope 50 3

ex p ected the ex p erimen t of plan ting th e Northm en o n the lower

,

Sein e proved a complete succes s for th e Frankish king Th e .

m aj ority of th e D a n ish war ban ds i n Gaul drifted on e after

-

,
’
th e other to j oi n H rolf s followers an d to receive from h i m a
, ,

fi xed settlem en t i n h is n e w duchy B y sacrificing a part o f .

h i s realm Charl es the S impl e had saved the rest The duke
, .

’
of N orm an dy n o longer r ex p i r a ta r u m bu t th e ki n g s truste d
, ,

vassal was on th e wh ole very faith ful to th e oath s that h e had

,

sworn at Clai r sur E pte H e adhered to k i n g Charles i n all

- -
.

h i s troubles an d sen t h im a con ti ngen t o f D an es when ever

,

h e was asked for aid I t was o nly wh en Charle s ha d been

.

deposed by rebel s t hat H rolf agai n turn ed loose hi s pl un der

i ng ban ds upon Fran ce an d becam e once m ore the scourge o f
,

N eustria .

Th e s umm er o f 9 1 2 saw C harles both freed from h i s Viking

war by th e cession of Norm an dy an d hailed as kin g o f ,

L o t h a ri n gi a by t h e Austras ians The n ext eigh t years were

.

th e m ost fortu nate period o f hi s reign h e waged n o i mportan t

wars ab road an d had n o very seri ou s troubles at hom e B u t
, .

h i s authority over th e greater part of Fran ce was very li m i ted

m ore esp ecially i n the lan d s south of the Loire n othing b u t
l ip service was gran ted h i m : n either tribute n or m ili tary ai d
-

could be expected from th e great cou n ts o f t h e S ou th Yet .

weak as h e was C harles th e S imple was st il l stronger than h is

,

great vassals cared that h e sh oul d b e Three of th e greate st .

magnates o f h i s real m resolved to compas s h i s deposi ti o n

their ch ief was Rob ert duke o f Fra n ce w h o i n h i s ol d age ,

b egan to covet th e crow n t hat h e had refu sed to clai m i n 8 9 9 .

H i s con fe derates were Rudolf secon d duke o f B urgu n dy

, ,

an d H eribert coun t o f Verman doi s They commenced their .

operation s by b iddi ng th e ki ng di sm i ss h i s ch ief R e b e ll ion

m i n ister an d favourite cou n t H a ga n o ,
W hen f R b t . o o er

f Fr c
h e refused they sen t h i m a fOrm a l di savowal o f
,
° an e '

their allegiance an d after a space p roclai med Robert of

,

Fran ce k ing o f th e West F ranks .

C ivil war at on ce began : supp orted by th e Loth aringian s

504 E u r opea n f ] i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

an d t he N orman s ki n g Charl es made h ead again st th e rebel s ,

th ough th ey rai sed again st h i m all th e w arriors o f France an d

B urgund y The armies m et at S o i sson s for a deci sive engage
.

m en t : the troops o f th e Karl i n g w ere beaten bu t i n the ,

m om en t o f victory th e rebel k in g wa s pierced by a N orman

’
la nce an d by Robert s death th e ri si n g w a s l eft with out a
,

leader
’
Th e grea t vassals w ere cow ed for a m om en t by thei r c hief s
fall a n d sorely d istracted by a Da n i sh i n v a si on Rol lo had
,
.

lau n ched agai n s t th e territories of th e rebel dukes a great

h orde o f North me n an d th e i nvaders w ere j oi ned by a fresh
,

arm y from E n glan d u n der R e g n a l d whom E dward th e E lder ,

had j u s t dep osed from the k i ngsh ip o f N o rt hu rn b ri a B u t i n .

s pi te o f th e ravages o f the D anes who swarmed i nto Bur ,

gu ndy a n d threaten ed t o establ i sh a secon d Dan elagh i n the

,
'

valley o f th e Sao n e th e re b e l s re s o lve d n o t t o subm it to thei r

,

C o nti n u e d righ tful l ord Th ey n o w pro cl a m e d as anti ki ng

.
-

i il w
c v
Rudol f d uke of B urgu n dy fo r H ugh s on o f
a rS
, ,
’
Robert o f Fra nce refu sed to take u p hi s father s clai m s
, .

C ha rl es m igh t h ave fo ugh t d o wn th e i n su rrecti on for a great ,

Norma n a rmy wa s com ing t o hi s aid i f h e had n ot fall en by ,

treachery H eri bert o f Verma n dois o ffered to subm i t to h im

.
,

a n d begged h i m t o com e to a con fere n ce at Peron ne The .

simpl e ki n g hasten ed t o th e m eet ing an d w a s sei zed an d ,

th row n i n to a d u n geon Th e o nl y d rop o f bi tternes s in

th e cup o f th e rebel s was that Ed g i va th e E ngl ish wi fe o f ,

C harles escaped w i th her son Lewi s t o th e cou rt o f her

,

father ki n g E dward th e E l der There was still an h ei r o f the

‘

Karli n g h ouse safe beyon d th e seas .

For fou r trou bl ed years Rudol f o f Bu rgun dy reigned as

ki n g o f France an d C harles th e Sim pl e lay i n durance at
,

Pero n n e Rudol f wa s bu t a pha n t o m k i ng : Aqu i tain e

.

refu sed to ack n owl edge hi m : th e Danes ranged all over h is

real m and beset hi s n ative d uch y o f Bu rgun d y wi th especial
fu ry H i s own c o n federate s i n th e rebell i on paid h i m scanty
.

h omage an d we n t each o n his o wn way After a space

, .
 ’
E na o f t he j Vi n t h Cen t u ry i n Wes ter n E u r op e 50 5

H eribert of quarrelled wi th R u dolf an d to spi te

V e rrn a n d o i s ,

the n ew ki n g drew Charles o u t o f h i s dungeo n an d proclaim ed

h i m on ce m ore m on arch o f the Wes t Franks B ut Rudolf .

bought over th e doubl e traitor to rej oin h i m : an d fo r a

secon d tim e H eri bert seized the person o f hi s n atural lord an d
master Th i s ti me Charles di d n ot esca p e wit h m ere i m pri
.

s o n m e n t : th e cr u el a n d treacherou s coun t starved

M urd r f e o

h i m to d eath at Peron n e At last Rudo l f th e C h rl s t h a e e

S im p’
.

B urgun dian coul d cal l hi mself withou t di spute ’9 9 e 2 '

kin g of France
H ere we m u st leave th e h i story of th e western real m at a ,

m om en t when i t had reache d m uch th e sam e wretched con

di tion that German y attai ned at th e ti m e o f th e death of
Con rad I M ore u n happy t han th eir eastern n eighb ours th e
.
,

Franks o f N e u st ri a an d Aquitai n e were n ot yet to see an y such

great rulers as H en ry t he Fowler an d O tto th e Great set over
them T hey were desti ned to dri n k the cup o f feudal anarchy
.

to th e dregs ere a strong m onarchy was o nce m ore to ari se

,

am ong them Th e figh t between the Karl ings an d the duke s

.

of France was to drag o n for two generati on s more ere H ugh ,

Capet fi nally gai n ed th e crown that h is gran dfath er Robert

and hi s great u ncl e O do had worn An d when the house
-
.

o f t h e dukes o f Fran ce had seized th e t hron e t hey were to be ,

fo r long ages as powerl es s as th e K arl ings whom t hey had

supplanted .

As yet th e only favourabl e symptom i n t he con di tion o f

Fran ce was t he com parative im m un ity from Viking raids that
i t was begi n n in g to e nj oy Thanks to the feu dal h orseman
.

an d th e feu dal castle thanks still m ore t o t he n arrowin g o f

,

D an is h ambitio n to th e Norman duchy an d i ts neighbouring

lan ds o f Main e an d B rittany th e k i n gdo m was begin n ing to
,

e n j oy a certai n m easure of peace from the outer enemy .

U nfortunatel y th e great vassal s of th e crown onl y u sed their

’
opportun ity to redouble their w icked feuds an d the n ation s ,

worst foes were t o b e those of i ts own hou sehol d for many a

l ong day .
5 06 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8

Th ere i s stil l on e region o f E uro p e at w hic h we have cast n o

glan ce for a h u n d red years B u t th e fortu ne s o f Spa in l i e far
.

a p art from th ose o f th e Fran ki sh em pire an d d uring th e n i n th ,

a n d ten th cen turi es form n o part of t h e gen eral h istory o f

Christendom We h ave ha d occasi o n t o men ti on however
.
, ,

H i s to ry f that th e M o slem con querors o f th e pen in sula

o

Sp i
a n r 7 9 8 p ai d for forty years a waveri ng allegiance to th e
0 0- I

O mm e ya d cali p h s a n d were rul ed fo r a ti m e b y a series Of

,

ephemeral viceroys m o st o f w h o m cam e to vi ol en t en ds O f

,
.

th e fat e o f th ose o f the m wh o ven tured t o attack t h e Frank ish

empire w e h ave s p ok e n whil e d eal i ng wi th th e an nal s o f
,

Charl es Martel an d P i p p i n th e S h ort .

I n 7 5 6 Spai n b ecam e separated from th e cal i p hate o f

Bagdad After th e m assacre o f t h e Om m e ya d hou s e by thei r
.

Ab bassid e succes sor o n e m emb er o f t h e Older fam il y escaped

,

t o S p ai n T h e you ng Ab de ra h m a n after l ong struggles pu t

.
, ,

down all th ose w h o opposed h im an d b eca me an i n depen den t ,

sovereign H e ruled at Cordova for m ore than th irty years

.
,

an d n ot u npro sperou sly t h ough h e wa s vexed al l t h rough h is

,

l i fe by i n cessan t rebell io n s such a s t hat o f th e ch iefs wh o

,
’ ‘

i n 7 7 8 called i n C harles th e Great agai n st hi m an d l ed th e ,

Fran ks t o t he gates o f Saragossa .

B u t wh ile A b de ra h m a n was rul in g i n great s tate at Tol edo

a n d Cordova an d wi n n ing t h e ad m iration o f all t h e M oslem
,

worl d by h i s cou rage h is w isd om an d h i s m agn i ficence a

, , ,

l ittl e clou d was arising i n t h e west wh ich was i n later day s to ,

overshadow al l M oham medan Spai n .

After th e destructi on o f th e Vi sigothic ki ngd om i n 7 1 1 1 2 -

,

t he viceroys o f Spai n h ad overru n wel l n ig h th e whole land -

,

an d p lan ted i t t h ick ly w ith col on i st s from Arabia Syria an d , ,

Africa B u t th ey ha d n ever com p letel y sub dued t h e extrem e

.

n orth west o f t h e pen i n sula Th e Cantabrian an d Astu rian

-
.

h ighlan ds had alway s b een th e last refuge o f broken tribes

from th e fi rst dawn of Span i sh h i story There th e Ga la e c i .

an d Ast u re s had l o n g wi th stood t h e Roman legi o n s : t here i n ,

a l ater age th e S uev i had resisted th e Visigoth s for m ore than

,
 E nd f
o t he N i n t h Cen t u ry i n Wes tern E u rope 507

a c e n tury An d n ow i n th e sam e rugged h ills th e last o f

.
, ,

t he Vi sigoths took refuge fro m t h e advancing p l g i u s i e a n

Saracen The an nal s o f th i s rugged regio n are A s t u r i

.
a t

very scan ty bu t we l earn that a certain cou n t P elagi us a chi ef

, ,

wit h a Rom a n nam e an d p erhaps therefore of native Span ish

, , ,

rather than Gothic blood mai n tain ed h im self wi th succes s

,

again st t h e M oslem s Th e narrow rocky tract between th e

.

Bay of th e B i scay an d th e Can tab rian m ou ntain s prese nted

few attraction s t o th e Saracens wh o preferred to s ettle i n th e,

fertil e p lain s of An dal u sia an d Valencia a n d th ey pai d n o heed ,

to Pelagiu s whe n h e drove thei r scat tere d garriso n s o u t of th e

Asturias an d bu ilt up for h i m self a l ittle k ingdom i n the h ills
,
.

H e i s said to have reigned for eigh teen years ( 7 1 8 3 6 ) over th e -

Asturian s O n h i s death his so n Favila an d hi s so n i n law

.
- -

H il defu n s ( Al d e fo n su s Alfon so ) followed h i m o n th e th ron e

, .

T h e last named wh ose p u re Visigothic n am e recalls that of

-
,

the sai nted archb i sh op o f Tol edo was th e fou n der o f th e ,

greatn es s o f the n ew kingdom Taki ng advantage o f th e civil.

wars of th e Saracen s h e is sued fro m hi s hills an d t hrew him

, ,

sel f u p on th e n eighbouri n g p rovi nce o f Gal icia wh ere a few ,

B erber chiefs hel d down a d iscon ten ted p opulati o n o f C hri s

t ian s The n atives ros e t o ai d h i m an d th e M oham m edan
.
,

set tlers were drive n ou t o f th e lan d and chased down in to the ,

p lai n s o f n orthern Spai n

Alfon s o followe d the flyin g foe an d m ade him self a lodge ,

m en t on th e south ern sl op e o f t h e Can tab rian hills occupying ,

th e town s of Astorga an d Leo n an d pu shin g h i s i ncursion s as

,

far as th e n orth bank o f t h e D ouro H e i s said to C q u s t s f .

on e o

have driven th e Saracen s completely o u t o f th e A l f 1 °° S°

’
broad Ti er r a a o C a mp os t he plai n o f Leon an d to have l eft
, ,

i t behin d h i m an u n i n hab i ted desert w hen h e drew back to ,

h i s fastn esses i n t h e m ou n tain s H e laid Op orto Zam ora .

, ,

an d Salaman ca i n rui n s bu t was n ot s trong en ough t o occupy

,

th em a n d add th em to h i s ki ngdom .

Alfon so died i n 7 5 7 j u st at th e m om en t wh en th e p en i n sula

,

was fall i n g i nto the han d s o f Ab derah m a n th e Om m e ya d Th e .

50 8 E u r opea n H i s t o ry 4 7 6 9 I 8 ,
-

kings o f Cord ova pr o ved m ore form idable foes t o the n e w

C h ri stian s tate t han th e o l d viceroys of S p ai n had been an d ,

fo r s om e generatio n s i ts growth wa s c omparativel y slow Fo r .

fi fty years t he ki ngs o f Astu rias an d Gal icia are m ere nam es to
u s : i t w oul d appear that they w ere often con strai n ed t o pay
tribute t o t h e O m m e ya d pri nces an d that th ey fou n d thei r ,

chie f safety i n t he civi l wars w it h wh ich t he M osl em s were so

con tin ually vexed .

Alfon so I I ( 7 9 1 8 4 2 ) s uccessfully repelled th e last M oslem

.
-

attempt t o recon que r Gal icia H e appears on ce i n Franki sh .

hi story as sen di n g a mbas sadors t o Charles th e G reat t o say ,

t hat h e c on si dered h i m self th e man o f the great ki ng an d ‘

,

to offer hi s h omage B u t th e Fra n ks d i d n ot acqui re a n y real

.

suzerai nty over Astu rias o r com e in to a n y con tact w ith i ts ,

borders The reign o f Charles h owever left i t s m ark on

.
, ,

Pen i n sular hi story i n an other quarter i t wa s h e w ho conquered

’
from t h e Saracen th e m arch o f Spai n wh ich u nder i ts later
‘
, ,

nam e O f th e cou n ty o f Barcelon a becam e th e secon d great ,

Ch ri stian stat e beyon d the Pyrenees At fi rs t th e S pa n ish .

‘

’
March w a s a depen den cy of the duch y o f S e pt i m a n i a bu t ere ,

T h C ou n ty
e
lon g the y were separated an d th e cou n t Of Bar ,

o f B l cel ona became as free from a n y active i n terference

a rc e O n a

o n th e part o f th e Fran kish k ings a s were h i s neigh bours the ,

cou n ts o f Aqu itai n e .

The l ong reign Of Al fon so I I w a s a peri od o f ra p id gro w th .

an d exten sion for th e kingdom Of Astu rias H e p u shed h i s .

arm s forward a s far a s t he Tagus an d i n o n e exped ition h e ,

took an d sacked Li sb o n B u t he drew t h e l i n e o f hi s garri son s

.

at t he D ou ro w h ich remai n ed for som e ti me th e l i mi t o f th e

,

occupation o f th e Asturian s Th ey w ere engaged fo r a wh ole .

gen erati on i n repeopl i n g th e deserte d plai n s o f Leon wh ic h ,

had l o n g bee n a waste march between the Ch ri stian and the

M oslem .

An other Al fon so th i rd O f th e nam e wh o a scended th e

, ,

th ron e i n 8 6 6 w a s th e n ex t pri nce wh o pushed forward the

,

Astu rian border To t he k i ngd om that h e i n heri t e d h e added

.
 ’ t he N i n th Cen t u ry i n Wes t er n E u rop e
E na o f 50 9

O l d Castille n orthern P ortugal an d the lan d beyond the D ouro

, , ,

t he extr ema D u r i i wh ich keeps i ts nam e o f E strem adura til l

,

th i s day M ohamm ed k ing of Cordova coul d make n o h ead

.

again s t h im for a ri sing u n der a ch ief n amed S ucc s s s f

, e e o

—
O mar ben H afs had torn h is n orthern dom in ion s
- Alf 1” °n s °

fro m hi s grasp an d wh ile en deavouring t o sub du e th e rebel

, ,

h e had to leave th e ki ng o f Asturias to pre ss forward

u n opposed .

’
I n Alfon so s ti m e th e coun ty o f Castille an d th e ki ngdom
o f N avarre took t hei r rise The former was a border march
.

again s t th e M o or in tru sted by th e king to the braves t o f h is

,

vassals The latter was fou n ded by a Gascon cou n t Sancho

.
,

wh o though a vassal o f th e Frankish crown m ade con quests

on hi s own accoun t beyon d th e Pyrenees an d obtai ne d the ,

aid of th e king o f Asturias by doin g h i m h omage .

Alfon s o strengthen ed hi s real m by bu ilding t he grea t fron tier

fortresses o f Zam ora S imancas a n d O sma t o protect hi s n ew
, , ,

acqui sition s from the raids of t he M oslem s I n 9 1 0 hi s so n .

Garcia removed hi s resi den ce from the Asturian town of

O viedo to Leon sou th o f the h ills as if t o mark t h e advance
, ,

of h is b orders in to th e plai n s o f n orth ern Spai n .

The progress o f th e Ch ristian s s outhward an d eastward was

never to be checked th ough i t was often delaye d for a s p ace
,

when strong rulers sat o n th e thron e o f Cordova Three cen .

t u ri es before i t was th e G oth s w ho had been a turbulen t un ruly

,

aristocracy rul ing a n ation o f serfs a nd the Saracen had swep t

, ,

their m onarchy o ff th e face o f th e earth i n two years N ow th e .

M oslem h ad becom e even as h i s Goth ic prede T h S p a i sh e n

cessor l u xuri ou s p roud u n true t o h i s ki ng a M m

, , , ,
o

hard master to th e p easan try wh o pai d h i m toll an d tribute .

Religiou s persecuti on was n o t rare an d An dalu sia coul d cou nt ,

man y martyrs the accu satio n o f having blasphem ed th e n ame

o f M oham med always s tirred th e M oslem crow d t o su dden

cruelty an d victi ms o f al l ages an d con diti on s from an arch

, ,

bi shop o f Toledo down t o ob scure m onks an d trades folk suf ,

fe re d on that charge While t he con qu erors were losing thei r

.
5 I0 E u ropea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

ancien t stren gth th e new C hri stian k ingdom i n th e n orth wes t

,
-

w as breedi ng a n i ron han de d race o f m e n i n i ts rugged m ou n

-

tai n s a race wh ose l i fe was o n e co n stan t cru sade again st the

,

I n fidel Th ey had l ost i n thei r com m on dange r al l m em ory

.

o f th e anci en t grudge s that separated Vi sigot h an d Roman 1 ,

an d had becom e a p erfectl y h om ogen eou s peopl e welded ,

com pletely t ogether by th e day o f ad versi ty Th e stubborn .

Span i sh nation poor proud warl ike an d fanatically orth odox

, , , , ,

wa s the natural product o f t h e ti m e when C hri stian i ty an d

freedom coul d o nl y be prese rved by acceptin g exile i n th e
Can tabrian h ills an d a l ife o f con stan t s truggl e again st t h e
,

Saracen Th e M oham m eda n ari stocracy c ultured wealthy

.
, , ,

luxuri ou s turb ulen t an d sel fi sh coul d n ot i n th e en d resis t

, , ,

s uch en em ies Th ough b rave an d n um erou s th ey were

.
,

d i vi de d by cou n tless l ocal fam il y an d n ational feud s — th e Arab

,

hate d th e Syrian an d t h e Berber whil e al l three despi sed th e ,

S pan is h — b orn M o slem Th ei r m on arc h at Cord ova onl y

.

exi sted by pl ayin g o ff o n e facti o n agai n st an other an d wa s ,

Often de p rive d for w hole years o f h i s con trol over a n i m p ortan t

town or provin ce .

I t i s smal l w on der th en tha t th e Asturian kin gdo m waxed ,

while th e caliph ate o f Cordova wan ed Perhap s w e ough t .

rather to m arvel that the M oslem s ruled i n Spai n s o l ong a n d

w i th s o m uch spl en dour i n sp i te o f all thei r feu ds an d civi l
,

wars I t i s stra nge that i n t h e m i d st o f s o much tu rbulen t

.

di sorder they sh oul d have bee n able t o foun d a ve ry flourish ing

l iterature an d t o leave their m ark o n t he face o f th e lan d i n
,

th e shape of su ch triu m ph s o f arch i tectu re as th e grea t M osqu e

o f Cordova o r th e Alcazar o f S eville
,
Certai nly th e Sarace n .

was seen a t h is bes t i n Spai n i n th e o ther lan ds that h e co n

qu ered decay an d decl in e cam e o n hi m m uch m ore rapidly
,
.

The Abbassides o f Bagdad had s u nk in to decrepi tude som e

1
I t is t
r t h y t o m a rk h o w R o m an a n d Go t h i c n a m e s a re fo u n d
n o e wo

s i d e by s i d e i n t h e l i s t s o f k i n g s o f A s t u r i a s R o ma n n a m e s l i k e P e l a g i us
.
,

Au r e l i us M a u ri ca t u s a l t e r n a t e w i t h G o t h i c n a m e s l i k e H i lde fu n s
, ,

( A l fo n s o ) Be re m u d ( B e r m ud o ) a nd F a v i l a
, , .
 ’
E na f the N i n t h Cen t u ry
o in Wes t er n E u r op e 51 1

time before th e O m m e ya d s of Cordova m e t with thei r fall .

Syria E gypt and Persia becam e th e prey o f Turk an d Mam e

, ,

l uk e an d Tartar l o n g ere An dalusia yiel ded to t he C hristian .

Arabia i tself su n k back in to tor p or wi th astoni sh i ng rapi d i ty

an d ease I t was certai n l y i n Spai n that th e con queri n g
.

M oslem s retain ed longe st al l th e best an d worthiest charac

t e ri st i cs Of the days o f th ei r early greatnes s .

We leave E urope at the en d o f o u r perio d i n a day o f

“

gloom an d depression Th e p icture i n deed has i ts brigh t

.

poin ts : i n Spai n th e balance had defin itely turn ed i n favour

o f C hris ten dom an d th e crescen t was already begin ni ng to
,

wane At Constan tin ople the rule of the Basilian dynasty

.

promi sed a period o f stationary pro sp erity even i f n o strong ,

emperor should arise to lea d th e Byzan tin e arm ies on ce m ore

to victory B u t i n tho se great la n ds of C entral E urop e wh ich
.

then an d alway s have formed th e heart of C hristen dom th e

, , ,

outlook was very black — blacker than i t had been at an y tim e

s i nce the evil days of the seven th cen tury I f t he attacks o f .

th e Vikin gs were v isi bly slacken i ng an d if th e Saracen s h ad

,

at last been driven ou t o f sou thern I taly s o that ,

S u m m ry a .

the i nvaders from w i th ou t were for a t im e checked ,

yet th e s tate o f affairs wi th i n sh owed n o s ign s o f m en din g .

The empi re was dead : the papacy was fallin g i n to prem ature
decay an d corruption .

I n the m idst of all the treason and sel fishn ess th e wars
i
, ,

m urders an d reb el l i o n s o f th e d ismal age that lies betwee n

,

th e battl e o f F o n t en a y an d th e en d o f th e ten th cen tury th ere ,

i s on e though t onl y that can afford th e s tu den t an y con sola

t i on After the break —
. u p o f th e emp ire o f Charles the Great ,

wh ile D ane Saracen H u ngarian an d Slav were s im ul tan eously

, , ,

besetting the gates o f Christen dom t here was a very seriou s ,

danger that th e fabric o f civil ised E urop e m igh t crum ble to

pieces beneath thei r bl ows That i t di d n ot d o s o m us t be
.

attribu ted t o th e un expected powers of resi stance develope d

5 12 E u rop ea n H i s to i y , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

by the d isi ntegrated fraction s of the Franki s h empire u nder

the feudal sys tem D i sastrou s as were m ost o f the effects o f
.

that system i t at l east j u st i fie d i ts exi ste n ce by savi ng Ch ri s

,

t e n d o m fr o m th e fo e w i th ou t What the succe ssors o f

.

Charles th e G reat had faile d t o d o wh e n al l th e m il itary force

o f t he em pire was at thei r back s w a s accom pli sh ed by th e,

pe tty cou n t s an d m a rgraves w hose p ower w a s devel oped o n

th e ruin s o f th e central au th ority I t wa s th e m ailed feudal .

horseman an d the i mpreg n abl e w all s of th e feudal castle

, ,

that foiled t h e attacks o f th e Dan e th e Sarace n an d the , ,

H u ngaria n .

W hile the emperor o r ki ng wa s expected t o protec t every

c orn er of the real m a nd a s a m atter of fact protected n one o f
,

i t t h e govern ors o f th e g a u s an d mark s proved o n th e w hole

, , ,

t o be equal to th e task when o n ce they had go t th ei r ha n ds

,

fre e an d w ere n ot fettere d by th e cl ose supervi sion o f thei r

m aster E urope l apsed i n deed i n to u tter decen tral i sati o n
.
, , ,

an d l ost for cen tu ries the ad m i n i strative u n i ty which th e reign

of Charles the Great had prom i sed A h ea vy blow wa s deal t .

at th e slowl y devel op in g c ul ture an d c ivi li sation wh ic h the

eight h cen tu ry had prod uced I t was n ot w i th ou t j ustice tha t
.

th e n in th ten th an d el even th cen turie s have been called th e

, ,
‘

’
D ark Age s Li terature an d art sank back to th e level from
.

wh ich C harle s the Great had fo r a tim e rai sed them ; h istory
has once m ore t o be reco n structe d from the scan tiest
material s Arch i tecture was stagnan t save i n the singl e de
.
,

p a rt m e n t o f castl e building — th e o n e devel opm en t that these

-

cen turies produced Th e i nternal h i story o f conti n en tal

.

E urope w h en i t ceases t o be a series o f Da ni sh Sarace n an d

, , ,

Magyar raids becom es a dismal record of tireso me l ocal feu d s

,

a n d private wars Th e remai n s o f th e o ld Teu to n ic l i berty

.
,

w h i ch had survived i n sl owl y d wi n d li n g m easure fi nall y d is ,

appear a s feudali sm i s perfected a n d t h e freema n becom es ,

everywh ere t he vassal o f som e greate r or smaller l ord .

Bu t al l th e d etai l s o f thi s u nhappy cha n ge m us t n o t bl in d

u s to the fact that Ch ri stend om wa s saved from d estructi o n
 ’ t he N i n th Cen t u ry i n Wes ter n E u rop e
E na f
o 513

by th e m en of th e feudal age I n spi te o f all th e faults o f .

thei r system its sel fishness i ts particularism i ts feuds its

, , , ,

degradation o f th e l ower classes i t served th e acqu ired en d i n ,

producing the con di ti on o f m il itary efficiency w h ich was

n eeded t o beat o ff t he i nvadi n g hordes from w ith ou t Th e .

proble m wit h wh ich E urope had to deal was that o f faci ng

qu ickly m oving assaila n ts wh ose obj ect was p ri marily p lun der

““
-

rather than fightin g an d who therefore had to b e T h f ud l

, e e a

m m
caugh t an d b rought to bay if th ey were t o be e e :

checked Th e slowly m ovi ng masses o f foo t s ol diery wh i ch

.
- -

t he Frank ish emp ire pu t i nt o the fiel d were qu ite u nabl e t o

deal with t hi s p rob lem Th e light cavalry of the Magyars
.

an d Saracen s coul d ri de arou n d o r away from them : the

D an e took to h is ship s and disappeared whe n th ey tardily
crept up to drive hi m from h is prey The l ocal cou n t o r .

duk e w ho coul d pu t a few hun dred m ailed horsem en o f

approved val ou r i n to th e fi el d m en boun d to h im by every ,

tie o f di scipl i n e an d obedien ce and trai ned to war from thei r ,

youth up was really a far m ore form idabl e foe to t he plun der
,

i ng i nvader E ven if h e coul d n ot check the raiders fo r wan t

.

o f n u mbers h is troop o f riders hun g rou n d the in truders cut

, ,

o ff thei r stragglers i ntercepte d them at every defen si bl e pas s

,

o r for d w here th e few can wi th stan d th e many ci rcu m vented ,

t hem by cross road s wh ich the native m u st k n ow bette r than

-

the stranger .

No les s i mp ortan t than t he ri se o f the mailed h orsem an

was th e rise o f the feudal castl e I n the Frankish empire .

forti fied places had h ith erto b ee n rare : save the town s that
pos sessed an cien t Roman wall s there seem to have been n on e
th at could defen d them sel ves : Franki sh ideas of fort ificatio n
wen t n o further than h eapi n g u p a m ou n d surrou nding it ,

wi th a di tch an d crown i n g i t wi th a pal i sade T h f ud l

,
. e e a

” w
S uch temporary stronghol d s were i nadequate ,
e :

an d safety from th e D an e was only foun d by th e u se o f p er

man en t fortificatio n s o f fi rm m asonry E very town th at h ad .

n o t peri shed s urrou n ded i tsel f wi th a ring wall : forti fied -

P E R I OD I . 2 K
5I4 E u r op ea n H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 I 8
,

bridge head s w ere bu il t to shu t u p th e ri vers to t he Viking

-

sh i ps B ut m ost importan t o f all were th e castles w hich rose

.
,

u p o n every ha n d to form safe resi dences for th e c h iefs

,

wh o had o n ce d wel t i n o pen villas a n d to serve as ba ses for

,

t he d efen ce O f th e cou n try s i de Fe w i n n u mber at fi rst th ey

.

gradually spread over the bread th Of th e land as each l ord ,

w ho w a s abl e reared h i m s el f a s tro n gh ol d Th e exi ste n ce o f .

th ese castles changed th e w h ol e face o f war : w he n an en em y

appeared there w ere n ow cou n tle s s place s o f refuge t o seek ,

an d th e i n v ader i nstea d o f sweepi n g easil y over the d istric t

,

i n search o f pl u n der fou n d that i t co ul d fo r the fu tu re only

,

be procured at the cos t o f a series o f length y s iege s There .

wa s hardly an y sure m eth od kn own of reduci ng a stron g place ,

save the exped ien t o f starvi ng i t o u t : bu t to si t th ree m on th s

be fore a castl e t il l fam i n e sh oul d red uce i t wa s n ot w hat D an e ,

o r Magyar desired Thei r booty woul d be l im ited wh ile th e

.
,

delay woul d allow t he whole m il itary stre n gth o f the coun try
t o be m ustered agai n s t them H ence i t may be truly said
.

that th e ri se o f the feu dal castl e was the bes t rem edy that
c oul d h ave been fo u nd again s t t he pressi n g evil s that th reat
en ed Ch r iste n dom i n th e n i n th century .

The m il itary tri um ph was a pol itical disa ster At a m om en t .

w hen the k i n gly powe r was s haken by th e u n happy civi l wars

o f th e descendan ts o f C harles the G reat w hen al m ost every ,

provi nce was d isputed by two l ords i t was absol utely fatal ,

that th e control of th e w arlike strength of E urope sh oul d pass

i nto th e han ds of a crowd o f petty magnates each
C
on clu s i on .
,

i n ten t o n hi s o w n aggran d i s emen t an d cari ng ,

n ough t for th e gen eral wel fare o f th e kin gdom s o lon g a s h is

o w n cou n ty w a s well guarded The price at wh ich Ch ri sten
.

d o m bought i t s safety wa s e n orm ou s : n evertheless n o price

was t o o h igh when th e fu ture o f E u rope was at stake An y .

ran som was worth payi ng i f thereby Rom e was saved fro m
,

th e Saracen M ain z fro m th e Magyar Pari s fro m the h eathen

, ,

o f the N orth .
 A PP E N D IX

TAB L E S O F S O V E R E I GN S

(I) Fo r VA N D A L KI N G S se e tab le on pag e 12 .

F R AN K I S H KI N GS se e tab l e s on pag e s 166 an d a

and 413 .

(3 ) For LO M BA R D KI N GS s ee ta b le on pa g e 1 83 .

(4) E M P E R OR S AT C ON S T AN T I N OP L E
Z en o, 47 4 9
-
1 . T h eo do s i u s 7 1 5 17
-
.

An a sta s iu s I 49 1 5 1 8 .
,
-
. Le o II
I , I s a u r ian , 7 1 7 4 1
.
-
.

J u s ti n I 5 1 8 2 7
.
,
-
. C o n s ta n ti n e V o r V I , C o p ro n y . .

J u s ti n ian I 5 2 7 6 5 .
,
-
. m u s, 7 4 1 7 5 -

J u s ti n 56 5 7 8
-
. L e o I V t h e C h a z a r, 7 7 5 80
.
-
.

T i b e r i u s C o n s ta n ti n u s 5 7 8 8 2 ,
-
. C o n s ta n ti n e V I o r V I I , 7 80 9 7 . .
-
.

M au r i ce 5 82 60 2
,
-
. I r e n e , 7 9 7 80 2 -
.

P h o ca s 6 0 2 1 0
,
-
. N i ce ph o ru s I , 80 2 1 1 .
-
.

H e r acli u s 6 1 0 4 1 ,
-
. S t a u ra c i u s , 8 1 1 I 2 -
.

H e r a c li u s C o n s ta n ti n u s 6 4 1 ,
. M ich a e l I , R h a n g a b e , 8 1 2 1 3
.
-
.

H e ra cl e o n a s , 6 4 1 42 -
. Le o V , t h e A r m e n ia n , 8 1 3 2 0
.
-
.

C o n s ta n ti n u s ( C o n s ta n s 64 1 M ich a e l t h e A m o ri a n , 8 2 0 2 9 -

68 . Th e o ph i l u s , 8 2 9 42 -
.

C o n s ta n ti n e I V o r V , P o g o n a t u s , . M i ch a e l the D r unk a r d ,
66 8 8 5 -
. 8 42 6 7 -
.

Ju s ti n ia n 68 5 9 5 -
. B a s il I , t h e . ace d o n ia n , 86 7M
Le o n t i u s, 6 9 5 9 8 -
. 86 .

T i b e r i u s Ap s i m a ru s , 6 9 8 7 0 5 -
. L e o V I , t h e Wi s e , 88 6 9 1 2
.
-
.

Ju s ti n ia n I I ( r e s t o r e d ) , 7 0 5 1 1
.
-
. C o n s ta n ti n e V I I o r VI I I , P o r . .

P h i l i p p i cu s , 7 1 I 1 3 -
.
p h yro g e n i t u s , 9 1 2 5 9 .

Art e m i u s An a s ta s iu s, 7 1 3 1 5 -
.

( 5) OS T R OGO T H I C K I N GS IN I TALY
T h e o d o r i c, 49 3 5 2 6 . H il d i b a d , 5 40 4 1 -
.

A t h a l a ri c , 5 2 6 3 4 -
. E ra ri c , 5 4 1 .

Th e o d a h a t , 5 3 4 3 6 -
. B ad u il a ( T o tila ) , 5 4 1 5 2 -
.

W i t i g e s, 5 3 6 40 -
. T eia , 5 5 2 5 3 -
.

5 15
5 16 E u r op ea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 I 8 -

(6 ) V I S I GOT H I c K I N GS IN S P AI N
E u ri c, 466- 8 3 . S i s ib u t , 6 1 2 20 -

—
.

Ala r ic 8
4 3 5 06 . R e c c a re d 6 20 2 1 -
.

T h e o d o r i c a n d A m a l ri c , 5 0 6 -
22 . S w i n t h i la , 6 2 0 3 1 -
.

A m a l ri c al o n e , 5 2 2 3 1 -
. S i s in a n d , 6 3 1 3 6 -
.

T h e u d i s, 5 3 1 48 -
. C h i n t h i l a , 6 3 6 40 -
.

T h e u d i g i s e l, 5 4 8 4 9 -
. T u l g a , 6 40 4 1 -
.

A s l la , C h i n da sw in t h, 6 4 1 5 2 -
.

A t h a n a g rl d , 5 54 6 7 -
. R e cce s w in t h, 6 5 2 7 2 -
.

Le o v a I , 5 6 7 7 2
.
-
. Wam b a , 6 7 2 80 -
.

L e o v i g i l d , 5 7 0 86 -
. E rw i g , 6 80 8 7 -
.

R e c c a re d I , 5 8 6 6 0 1 .
-
. E g i ca , 6 8 7 7 0 1 -
.

Le o v a 60 1 0 3 -
. W i t iz a , 7 0 1 1 0 -
.

W i t t e r i ch , 6 0 3 I o -
. R o d e r ic , 7 1 0 1 1 -
.

G u n d i m a r, 6 1 0 1 2 -
.

( 7 ) P OP E S
S implici u s 46 8 8 3 ,
-
. E ugen i u s I , 6 54 57 .
-
.

Feli x 48 3 9 2
-
. Vitalia n , 6 5 7 7 2 -
.

G ela s i u s I 4 9 2 9 6 .
,
-
. A d e o d at u s , 6 7 2 7 6 -
.

A n a s ta s i u s 49 6 9 8 -
. Donu s I , 676 78 .
-
.

S y mmach u s 49 8 5 1 4 ,
-
. A g at h o , 6 7 8 8 2 -
.

H o r mi s d a s 5 1 4 2 3 ,
-
. Le o 6 82 83 -
.

J o h n I 523 26
.
,
-
. B en ed i ct 6 83 85 -
.

Feli x 1V 5 2 6 5 3 0 .
,
-
. Jo h n V , 6 85. .

B o n i fa c i u s 530 32 -
. C on o n, 68 5 87 -
.

Jo hn 532 3 5
-
. S e rg i u s I , 6 8 7 70 1.
-
.

A g a pe t u s I , 53 5 3 6 .
-
. J h o n VI .
, 7 0 1 -
0
5 .

S i l ve riu s , 53 6 3 7 -
. J h o n VI I .
, 7 5 08
0 -
.

Vi g ili u s , 5 3 7 5 5 -
. S isi n i u s, 7 0 8 .

Pela g i u s I , 5 5 5 6 0 .
-
. C o n s ta n ti n e , 7 0 8 1 5 -
.

John 560 7 4
-
. G reg o r y 715 3 1 -
.

B e n e d ict I , 5 7 4 7 8 .
-
. G r eg o r y 73 1 41 -
.

P e la g i u s 5 7 8 90
-
. Z ac h a r i a s , 7 4 1 5 2 -
.

G r e g o r y I , 59 0 6 0 4 -
S te p h e n 7 52 57
-

Pa u l I 7 5 7 —
. . .

S a b in i a n u s , 6 04 0 7 -
. . 68
, .

B o n i faci u s 607 . Step h e n 7 68 7 7 - 2

B o n i fa c i u s 1V , 6 0 7 1 5 .
-
. H a d r ia n I 7 7 2 9 5 .
,
-
.

Deu s de di t, 6 1 5 1 8 -
. Le o 7 9 5 8 16 -
.

B o n i fa c i u s V , 6 1 8 2 5 .
-
. Step h e n 1V , 8 1 6 1 7 .
-
.

H o n o ri u s I , 6 2 5 3 8 .
-
. Pa s c h al I , 8 1 7 2 4 .
-
.

Se v e r i n u s , 6 3 8 40 . E ug eni u s 8 24 2 7 -
.

Jo h n 1 V , 6 40 4 2
.
-
. Vale n ti n u s , 8 2 7 .

T h e o d o r u s I , 6 4 2 -49 . . G r e g o r y 1 V , 8 2 7 44 .
-
.

M a r ti n I , 6 49 5 4.
-
. Se r g iu s 8 44 4 7 -
.
 Appen d i x

Le o 1 V , 847 5 5
.
-
. R o ma n u s , 8 9 7 .

B e n e d ict 8 55 5 8 -
. Theo do r u s 897 9 8 -
.

Nic h o la s I , 8 5 8 6 7 .
-
. Jo hn Ix , 898 90 0
.
-
.

H a d ria n 86 7 7 2 -
. B e n e d ict 1 V , 9 0 0 0 3 .
-
.

J I
o hn V I I , 8 7 2 8 2 .
-
. Le o V , 9 0 3
. .

M a r ti n 8 82 84 -
. C h r i s t o p h o r u s, 9 0 3 0 4 -
.

H a d r ia n 8 84 8 5 -
. S e r gi u s I I 904 1 1 .
,
-
.

S t e p h e n V , 88 5 9 1 .
-
. An a s ta s i u s 911
-
13 .

F o r m o su s , 8 9 1 9 6 -
. La n d o 9 1 3 1 4
,
-
.

B o n i faci u s V , 8 9 6 . . J ohn X .
, 9 1 4- 2 8 .

St e p h e n V I , 8 9 6 9 7 .
-
.

( 8) CAL IPHS .

Ab u B e k r , 6 3 2 3 4 . W e l id 7 43 4 4 -
.

O ma r, 6 3 4 43 -
. Y e z id 7 44 .

O t h ma n , 6 43 5 6 -
. I b r a h im , 7 44 .

Ali , 6 5 6 6 1-
. M e rw a n 7 44 5 0 -
.

O M M E Y AD S . ABBAS S I D E S .

M ua v ia ,
66 1 7 9
I .
-
. Ab u l Ab b a s 7 5 0 5 4 ,
.

Y e z id I , 6 7 9 8 3
.
-
. E l M an s u r 7 5 4 7 5 ,
-
.

M u a v ia 683 . E l M e h d y, 7 7 5 8 5 .

M e rw a n I , 6 8 3 8 4 . . E l H ad i , 7 8 5 86 -
.

Ab d e l m e l i k , 6 8 4 7 0 5 -
. H a r o u n e l R a s ch i d , 7 86 —
- -
80 9 .

W e l id I , 7 0 5 1 5
.
-
. E l A mi n , 8 0 9 1 3 .

S o lima n , 7 7 1 5- 1 . El M am u n , 8 1 3 3 3 -
.

O ma r 7 1 7 20
-
. E l M o ta ssem, 83 3 4 1 -
.

Y e z id 7 20 24 -
. W a t h e k , 8 4 1 47 -
.

H i sh am , 7 2 4 43 -
. E l M o t a w a k k e l , 8 47 6 1 -
.
 I NDE X
AAC H E N c a pi ta l o f Ch a rl e s t h e G r e a t
, , A l a h is . duk e o f Tr e n t r e b ls , e a ga in st
3 40 ; c a t h e dr l o f 3 8 ; p a r t i t i o n a , 1 B e r t h a ri a nd C u n i b e rt 2 7 5 , .

of 3 8 9 ; L o t h a i r I dr i v n fr o m
, . e , Al a man ni r c Th
, a sk p o t e t io n o f eo

40 9 ; s e i z e d by Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld , d rco i 25 subdu d by
, e C h l o d o ve c h ,

43 4 ; s a ck e d by t h e D a n e s 4 3 9 , . 6 0 ; by Ch rl s M a r t l 9 ; by a e e , 2 0

Abb a ss d e c a l i p hs r i s e o f t h e 3 1 5
i , , . P i pp i n t h e S h o r t 3 3 , 2 .

Abd a ll a h M o o r i sh ch i e f i n v a d e s, , Al a r i c 1 1 k i n g o f V i s ig o t hs sl a i n by
.
,

I t a ly 4 5 8 , . C h l o d o ve c h 2 6 6 3 , , .

Abd a ll a h Abu S a hr c o n qu e rs Afr i c a - -

, , Alb o in Lo m a
, i ng 1 8 3 ; i n a e b rd k , v d s
238 . I lyta 1 84 ; m
, e of 1 86 urd r , .

Abd -
e l- Meli k
c a l i p h 49 5 0 , , 2 ,
2 . Alcu in a t o , of a e t he G e a c ur t Ch rl s r t ,

A b d er a h m a n b e s i e g e s C o n s t a n t i no p l e ,

2 47 . Al e xa n d rra t a k e n by Sa r a ce n s , 2 20 ,

v i c e r o y o f S p a i n sl a i n a t P o i e ,
237 .

t i e rs 2 9 94 , 2 , 2 . Alfo n s o I h i s c o n qu e s t s fr o m t he
.
,

k i n g o f C o rd o v a 3 45 3 6 4 5 0 6 7 -
M o o rs 5 0 7
—I I wa rs o f w i t h t h e M o o rs
, , , .
, .

Ab o t i t e s S l v o n i c t r i b e 3 6 0 3 6 1
r , a , , , .
, , ,

42 7 .
5 08 .

Abu kr firs t c a l i p h 1 6
Be -
, , 2 . wa o f, 5 09 rs .

Abu O b e i d a S r a c e n ch i e f 2 1 7 2 1 8
-
,
a , , . A l i , so n i n - l a w o f M o
-
h a m m e d 2 40 , .

A c ro i n o n b a t t l e o f 3 1 1 , , . s s r Th e o d o r i c wi fe
A m a l a frid a , i t e o f ,

Ad a lbe r t st i rs u p c vil wa rs 47 3 ;
, r , O f T h ra sa m u n d , 2 8 m urd e r e d 7 5 , .

be h e a d e d 47 3 , . A m a l a sw i n t h a d a u g h t e r o f Th e o ,

Ad a l h a d d i s m i ss e d by L o u i s t h e
r d o r i c 2 9 ; h er r eg en cy fo r A t h a
,

P o us 3 8 6 ; r e c a ll e d 3 9 1
i , , . l a r i c 7 4 7 9 ; T he o d a h a t h e r c o l
,
-

Ad a lo al d k i n g o f t h e L o m ba rds
, , l e a gu e 8 ; m ur d e re d 8 0
, 0 , .

A m a l i c V i s i g o t h i c k i n g 2 6 6 3 ; sl a i n
i
1
9 r , , ,

A d e l hi s , so n o f De i s d e r i us , 3 47 , 3 48 , by t h e F r a n ks 1 1 5 , .

3 63 . A m bl ev e b a t t l o f 2 6 6 , e , .

A d el g i s , duk e of Be ne v e n to im A m o ri u m s i e g e o f 2 5 5 ; d e s t r o ye d
II
, , ,

p r rs o n s L e w rs .
, 457 . by S a r a c e n s 48 7 , .

Afr c k d
i a ing o m , o f V a n d a ls i n 8 ; , A m r o u S a ra c e l e a d e r 2 2 0 2 3 7
,
n , , .

c o n qu r e d by B e l i s a r i us 7 6 7 9 ;
e ,
-
A n a st a s i us I e m p r o r 46 ; ch a r a c .
, e .

c o n qu e r e d by S a r a c n s 2 3 8 2 5 1 e , , . t e r o f 47 qu e lls r e b e ll i o n o f I s a u
,

A g a t h o po pe 2 7 8 , , . r i a n s 4 8 ; wa r w i t h P e rs i a 48 h i s
, ,

A g i la V i sig o t hi c k in g 1 3 3
, , . h e t e r o d o xy 5 t r o ubl e s w i t h B lu e ,
1

Ag i l u l f L o m b a rd k i n g
, 170 1 93 ; , , a n d G r e e n fa c t i o n s a n d w i t h V i t a

h i s c o n v e rs i o n t o Chr i s t i a n i t y 1 93 ; ,
l i a 5 ; d ea t h 5 2
n , 1 , .

wa rs W t h t h e e m p i r e 1 9 4 i , . d e t hr o n e s L e o t i u s 2 5 4 h i s n ,

Ag o b a rd o f L y o n s c n s p i r e s a g a i n s t ,
o o r t h o d o xy 2 7 9 r e be ls a g a i n s t Le o
,

L e w i s t h e P i o us 3 9 4 d e p o se d 3 9 9 , . . t h e I s a ur i n 3 1 0 a , .

A i s t lf L o m b a rd k i n g 3 2 7
u , co ,
n A a t o l i c t h e m e 2 42
n , .

qu e rs Ra ve n n a a n d Be n e v en t o 3 2 7 ; , A n b a sa i b n J o b i m i n v a d e s Ga ul 2 9 2
- -
, .

t hr e a t e n s R o m e a n d i s subdu e d by ,
A ch i a l u s b a t t l e o f 3 1 6
n , , .

P i p pi n 3 2 9 ; be s ie g e s R o m e 3 3 0 ;
, , A d a lus ia c o n qu e s t s o f Ea s t R o m a n s
n ,
-

d e fea t e d by P i ppi n an d d ie s 3 3 1 , . in , A D . . 1 06 , 1 3 3 - 1 3 4 .
 5 20 E u ropea n H i s t ory , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

A n d e r n a ch b a t t le o f 4 3 4 BA DL I L A k i n g f t h e G o t hs ( To t i l a )
‘

, , .
, o ,

A n dre a s m urd rs C o n s t a n t i n us C o n e 9 7 ; c o n qu e rs N o r t h I t ly 9 9 t a k e s a
-

oo ; c o q u e rs S a rd n i a a d
,

s t a n s 2 46 , . Ro m e , I n i n

A n se g se l so n o f S t Ar ul f 1 7 8
i , . n , . S i c i ly 0 ; d e fe a t e d by N a rs e s a n d
,
1 2

An s p a n d r r e g e n t fo r k i n g L u i t , skfi n , 1 0 4 .

p ra n d 279 2 80 ; k i ng o f t he
, ,
Ba l e a r i c i sl a n ds w o n by t he F r a n ks ,

L o m b a rds 2 8 0 , .
3 64 .

A n t i o ch t a ke n by P e rs i a n s 9 2 1 5 5 ; , ,
Ba rce l o na t a ke n by t h e F r a n ks 3 6 5 ,

by S a ra c n s 9 e , 2 1 . co u nt y o f 5 0 8 , .

A n t o n i n a w i fe o f B e l i sa r i us 7 0 9 4
, , , ,
B a rd a s C a e s a r r e g e n t fo M i ch a e l , r

95 4 90 m urd e r e d by h i s n e p h e w ,

Aqu i t a i ne c o n qu e r e d by C hl o d o ve ch , 49 1
62 ; i n v a d e d by S a r a c e n s 27 1 , ,
Ba r r M o o r i sh k i n g d o m o f 45 2 ; re
, ,

292 ; r e be ll io n s o f a ga i n s t t h e ,
t a k e n by L e w s 45 7 r .

F r a n ks 2 9 96 3 2 3 332 337
, 2, 2 , , , ,
Bas l I t h e M a c e d o n a
r fa v o ur ite o f i n,

42 2 . M i ch a e l 49 1 ; m u rd e rs h i s be n e
Ar a b ia be fo r M o h a m m e d 2 1 3 e , . fa c to r 4 9 2 ; h s r e i g n 49 3 ; h s rn t e r
, r , r

Ar a d e e m p r e ss 3 7 46 47
i n , , . , . n a l a d m i n s t r a t o n a n d w a rs 4 2 ;
9 i i ,

Ar i a n i s m i n Afr i c a 8 1 0 I I ; i n , , , a i d s Le w i s 1 1 a g a i n s t M o o rs 4 5 7 .
, .

S p in 6 2 1 30 1 41
a su pp re sse d by
, , ,
B a s i l i scus r e b e ls a g a s t Z o 38 in en ,
.

R e cc a re d 1 4 2 , . Ba squ e s e s s t t h e G o t hs
, 23 r2 24 r ,
2 , ,

Ar b r
i e t Lo m a , ing 2 7 2 2 7 3 b rd k , , . 22 9 ; sl a y R o l n d t h e F r a n k 3 5 3 a , .

2 7 9 2 80 , . Ba t hi l d i s m o t h e r o f C lo t h , 257 ar .

A ri c h i s o f Be n e e n t o e e ag a in t v r b ls s Ba v r a n s o r g n o f t h
a i 1 1 8 ; r be l
, i i e, e

Ch rl s
a e t he G e a 3 48 r t , . aga s t t he F r a ks 2 6 ; subdue d
in n , 1

A ri o a ld L o m ar i ng
, 1 96 b dk , . by Ch a rl e s M a r t e l 2 90 ; c v r , on e

Arl s b s
e e ie g e F an 26 63 ; d by r ks , , s i o n o f 2 9 7 ; a nn e x e d by Ch a rl e s
,

d
g a me and o S ar a e n , 2 9 6 ; l s t by c s t h e G re a t 3 5 6 , .

k di ng o m o f 43 7 , . Be g g a d a u g h t e r o f P i p p i n t h e E ld e r
, ,

Ar c qu r d by r c s
me n ia o n e e S a a en 25 0 , . 1 78 .

Ar u f
n l b sh
St i tz
,o p o f Me 178 . . Be l s r ius
i a rly h s t o ry o f 7 0 ; g o ve r
, ea i ,

duk C r th
e of r b ls
a in ia e e ,
nor f D r a s 6 9 ; d e fea t s P e rs a n s
o a , i ,

s t h rl s
a ga in C a e t h e F a t 44 3 ; i h 6 9 ; l e a ds t r o o p s a g a i s t N ka ‘ '

, n i

v d s I ly
a e ta r 464 e i g n o f 46 8 7 1 , ,
-
r e be ll o 7 3 ; c o n qu rs Va n d a ls
i n , e ,

d f s
e ea t s
t h e Da n e 46 9 7 6 7 8 fi ns t r i u m p h a n d c o n sulsh i p
-
, .
,

r b ll
A rt a va s d u s e e i o n o f , 3 1 3 ,
.
7 9 ; c n qu rs O s t r o g t hs 8 1 8 8 ;
o e o ,
-

A s s us
A rt e m i u s Au s t
na t a i S ee a a . r fus s G o t h c cr o w n 8 7 ; r c ll d
e e i , e a e

s ru s I I . by J us t i n i a n 8 8 ; s e c d P e rs ia n , on

Ase d ib n F o r a t S a r a c e n l e a d e r 448 wa 9 3 ; d s g r a c e d 9 5 ; c o m m n ds
r, i a
- -
, , . ,

As t ur a s k i n g d o m o f 5 0 6 1 0
i , ,
-
. a gai i n I ta l n 9 9 0 1 ; d e fea t s t he y, -
1

A t ha l a ri c k i n g o f O s t r o g o t hs 7 4 7 9
, , , . H u s 1 0 8 ; d i s g ra c e d a n d r e s t o r e d
n , ,

A t h a l o c b i sh o p r e b e ll i o n o f 1 4 2
, , , . 108 .

A t h a n a g i ld V i s i g o t h i c k i ng 1 3 3 , , ,
l3 e ne d k n; I I L , re c o n c fle s t h e on of s s
1 34 . Lo t a i h r
42 5 h is a e , w rt h qu rr l
Aud i n L o m b a rd k i ng 1 8 2
o , , . P ho n u s 4 5 3 ,

Aus t r a s i a o r ig n o f m e 1 6 2 .
i na ,
. v r
Be n e e n t o o i g i n o fduchy of 1 87 ;, ,

Au t h a ri L o m b a rd k i n g 1 7 0 1 9 2 ;
, , ,
in a e v d d by Ch rl sa r
e t h e G ea t 3 49 ; ,

h i s w a rs w t h t h e F r ks 1 9 2 1 9 3 i an , , . l nr hd o o rs 4 5 o ; b l yz a n fi n e s 4 6 0 . , .

A u xi m u m t a k e n by B l i s a r us 8 6 e i , . B e re n g a r o f F i i i ng o f ta r ul , k I ly
Av a rs t he o t he D a n ub e 1 46 1 8 3 ;
, ,
n . , 4 4 5 ; h i s wa wit VV rd o 46 3 , rs h ,

t h i r w rs w i t h t he e m p i r e 1 49 1 5 1
e a , , , d s d
e po e 46 3 ; e g a i n h i s i n g o m ,
. r s k d
1 53 ; in v d I a ly 1 9 5 ; t hre a te n a e t ,
d f ts
46 5 ; e ea Le w i o f e 4 66 ; s Arl s .

C o n s r n t i n o pl e a
207 ; b e sie g e i t , ,
d f s
e e at t he M o o 46 6 ; m de e rs , ur r d ,

2 01 2 1 ; subdu e d by Ch a rl e s t h e
,
1 46 7 .

G r ea t 3 6 1 3 6 , , 2 . r rd k
Be n a i ng o f t a , 3 7 7
, e e I ly r b ls ,

d th
3 89 ea 3 90 , .
 I n d ex

r
Be n ar d
o f S e pt ima ni a , m i n i e of st r C a rl o m a s o o f Ch a rl s M a r t l
n, n e e
L e w i t he P i o s 3 86 us , . M a y o r o f Aus t r a s i a 2 9 8 hi s ca m ,

rh
Be t a , m a ie Et e e of en , rr s h lb r t K t p a i g s 3 2 3 ; a bd i c a t e s 3 4 ; 0 p
n , ,
2

1 61 .
p s e s w a r W t h Lo m b rd s 3 2 8
o i a , .

f
w i e o f P i pp i n t h e S o 329 ; h rt , so o f P i p p i n t h e S h o r t cr o w n e d
n ,

r c cl s
e o n i e her o n , 3 3 6 s s . at S o i ss o n s 355 qu a rr e ls w i t h ,

Be rt h a ri L o m a i ng, 273 ; de b rd k , Ch a rl e s 3 3 7 ; d e t h 3 3 8 ,
a , .

po e s d
and e to e 2 7 3 , 2 7 4 ; h is r s r d , k i ri g o f Ba v a r i a 4 2 7 ; r e b e ls ,

r
e ig n 2 7 5 , . a g a i n s t Le w i s t he G e r m a n 42 7 ; ,

ss s v r r R
B e a , g o e n o o f o m e 9 9 1 00 i n v a d e s I ta ly 43 3 46 1 i ll ne ss a n d
j rl r v s us r
, , . , ,

B io rn , a a a ge N e t i a 42 5 , , . d a t h 43 7 8
e ,
-
.

lu r f c s
B e a nd G e e n a t i o n 5 0 ; i n t he
’
, so n o f Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld co n ,
‘
k d r d by
N i a se it i o n 7 1 7 3 ; a m e ,
-
S p i r e s a g a i n s t hi s fa t h e r 4 9 ,
2 .

ur c
M a i e , 1 54 ;by h c s P o a 1 57 , . k i n g o f F r a c e 4 6 buys pe a c e n , 2

Bo do l i nsl ys
a C h i l d e ri c h I 258 .
, . fr o m t h D a n e s 44 1 ; k i ll e d hu n t
e ,

Boet ih us s t d h
h i s i m p ri o n m e n a n d e a t
, , i ng44 1 . .

30 . Ca r ht age , ta k e n by Be l i s a r i us 7 8 ; ,

h
B o e m ia on e e C a e t he c qu r d by h rl s by S a r c e n s 2 3 2 2 5a , , 1 .

r
G eat 3 6 1 ; e o t 43 4 , r v ls , . C a S l in u m b a t t l e o f 1 0 6 1 9
i , , , 1 .

Boni a e fcSt ( W i n i fri t h ) m i i o n

, . ss , C a s t i ll co u n ty o f 5 9
e, , 0 .

r y
a ry t o G e m a n 291 ; a i op , rchb sh C ha b e t I
ri king o f P ris 6
r .
, a , 1 0 .

of Tr srh
an e na ne Ge ma n 2 97 ; r y , 1 1 k i g o f Aqu i ta i e
. n 78 n , 1 .

r fr s
e o m Church
t he 3 2 4 ; a no int , s Ch a rl e s M a r t e l 64 ; l de r o f ,
2 ea

r yrd
P i p pi n 3 2 6 ; m a t o m o f, 3 2 9
, . Aus t r a s i a s 6 5 ; d fe a t s N e u n , 2 e

Bon us rc d f ds C s
pat i ian, , e en o n tan i t st i ns
r a 266 ,2 67 ; h i s rul e a s ,

n o pl e , 2 1 0 m a y o r 2 6 7 6 9 ; w rs W i t h S x o n s -
2 a a

89 —
.
,

Bo rd ux k by
ea ta en Da n e , 42 1 s . a d n F i s ia s r 2 90 subdu e s n , 2

Bo o s k Arl s
in g o f e 43 7 Aqu i t a n 2 9 2 ; d e f a t s S a r ce n s
i e, e a

c o n q u e rs
, , .

r
B eton s d d c
i n e pe n e n e o f , 5 5 9 ; re
, , at P o i t ie s 93 2 94 ;
c r , 2 -

ll s
h e i o n o f, 3 5 9 , 3 66 , 4 2 1 4 3 2 , 5 0 2 , . P r o v e n c e a d S e p t m a n ia 2 9 6 n i , .

B r ev i a r z u m A l a r i c z , Got i hc t he Gr a t cr o w ne d a t N o y o n
'

la w e

subdu e s A q u i t a n e 3 3 7
, ,

bo o k 1
32 335 i

ch r a c t e r o f 3 3 8 43 ; c o n q u rs
.
, ,

B ru n h i l d i s m a i e S i g i b ert I 133 ; rr s . a ,
-
e

s rs
ti u p wa 1 63 i m p i o ne rs , rs d by L o m b a rds 3 47 8 e x pe d t i o s
,
-
i n

C hil p e ri c h 1 6 4 ; m a i e M e ro v e c h , rr s a ga i n s t S a x o s 3 46 3 5 3 53 355 n -
1 -

c o n q u e rs
, , , ,

1 65 h er eg en cy 16
5 8 h er e o n s c d r ,
-
3 66 i n v a de s S pa i n 3 5 ,
2

re g en cy , h rd r
172 ; t i e g en cy
174 ; , t h e S l a vs 3 6 th Av rs 3 6 2 3 6 3
, 2 e a ,
-

m u rd e r e d 7 4 ; ch a r a c t e r 1 7 5 , 1 , . w a rs w i t h E a s t R o m a s 3 6 3 wit h n ,

B u cce l i n d e fe a te d by N a rs e s 1 0 6
, , , S a ra c e s 3 6 5 ; t h e Da e s 3 6 8 ;
n ,
n ,

1 19 . h is i n t r o d ct io o f th t h e o ry o f
u n e

B u c c e l l a ri i , 131 , 2 42 . t he e m p i re 3 69 c o ro n t i o a s ,
a n

ul r
B ga ia n s r a va g e M o e s ia 49 se t t l e e m p ro r e 37 3 ; a d m i n i st r a t io n,

48 ; d e fe a t e d by J us t i n i a n
, , ,

t here 2
3 7 5 9 ; e c o ur a g e m t o f ar t a n d
n en
-
,

2 49 ; w a rs o f w i t h C o s t a n t n n i e l r ni g 3 7 9 ; dea t h 3 8
ea n , ,
2.

C o pro n ym u s 3 6 ; w i t h C o S t a n 1 n o n o f C h a rl e s t h e G r e a t k i n g o f
s

N e us t r i a 3 5 9 ; c o n q u e rs B o h e m i a
, ,

t ine V I 3 1 9 ; w i t h N i ce p h o ru s I
.
, .
, , ,

48 0d f t e d by L eo V 4 8 e ea .
,
2 .
36 1 di s 37 7 e , .

B ur g u dy k n g d o m o f 5 ; a t t a ck e d
n , i , t h e B a ld k i g o f S a b i a 40 0 ; ,
n u ,

by F r a ks 6 subdu e d by F r a n ks n , 2 , i m p r i s o n e d by h i s br o t h e rs 3 9 7 ; ,

1 1 5 . k i n g o f N e us t r i a 4 2 ; w a rs w i t h , 0

Lo we r k in g d o m
, o f, fo u n d e d by L o t h i r 40 7 ; subdu e s Aqu i t a i ne
a , ,

Bo so 4 2 ; v x e d by V k n g s 4 9 4 2 2 ;
-
e i i 1
43 7 , . 1 ,

r
U p p e ( o r T ra n sju ra n e ) i n g , k do m a t t a ck e d by L e wi s t he Germa n ,

o f , fo n e u d d by Rud lf
o , 44 5 .
4 2 2 4 6 ; i ssu e s e d i c t o f P i s t e s
,
2 r ,

4 9 ; buys p a c e fr o m t he D a e s
2 e n ,

CAR DAM k i n g o f B ul g a r ia 42 0 4 3 4 ; i n v a d e s P r o v e n c e 4 2 8 ;
-
, , 3 19 ,
 E u rop ea n H fS ZU / j '
, 47 6 9 1 8
-

inv a d e s Aus t r a s ia 4 3 2 43 4 ; e m ,
-
wa rs wi t h Aus t r a s ia s n . 1 74 ; inu r
p 4 3 3 ; d e t h 43 5
e ro r , a , . d e rs B ru n h i ld i s , 17 4 ; d cle i ne i n
Ch a rl e s k i n g o f P r o v e n c e 42 6
, , powe rof 17 8 , .

d ea t h 43 0 . . C hl o t h ar k i ng of N e us t r i a , 257 ,

k i n g f Aqu i t i n e 4 2 9 o a , . 258 .

t he F a t k i n g f S b ia 42 7 ; , o ua ,
w k i ng of Aus t r a s i a , 2 67 .

i n v d e s I t a ly 43 3 ; e m p e r r 4 3 8 ;
a , o , C h o s ro e s ing o f P e ia 69 ; k rs ,

buys p a c e fro m t h e Da e s 440 ;

e n , k s
ma e pe a e Wi J tini an 6 9 ; c t h us ,

fa i ls t o r l e v e P a r i s 44 2 ; d e t hr o n e d
e i , r c v s
e ei e em a o m W i t i g e s , 86 ; b ssy fr
44 3 ; d t h 44 3 ea w a r w it j t i nian 9 96 ; wit
2 - h us h
J us
, ,

t h e S m p l e 44 1 r e b ls a g a i n s t
i ,
e tin 1 47 .

Od k i n g f F r a n c e 49 9 ; c e d e s
o , o , p a e o n t o ne Ma i e l c d hr by ur c ,

N o r m a n dy t o H r o lf 5 v i l wa rs , 01 Ci 1 5 1 ; wa r w i P o a 1
5 5 ; Wi t th h c s . h
o f, 0
5 4 505
-
; m u rd e i e d , 5 0 5 . He a i r cl us
205 2 1 1 ea 212 , d th -
, .

C h i l d e b e rt k rs 1 1; i ng o f Pa i 1 C h ra m n s o n o f C h l o t h a r 1 20 ;
c q u rs ur u dy
, ,

on e w a rs B g n , 1 14 ; bur n t a l v e 1 1 i , 2 .

w i t h V i s i g o t hs 1 1 5 ; d e a t h 1 2 , ,
1 . Chr i s t o ph rus r e b e ll i o n o f o , , 3 17 .

k i g o f Aus t r s i a 1 6 4 n a ,
'

C h o t h l d i s ( Cl o t ld e ) w i fe
r e i i of Chl o
w a rs w i t h L o m b a rds 170 92 ,
-
1 d o ve c h , 5 9 6 0 ,

W l li N us t r ia n s
i 7 ; d e at h
e 71 , 1 1 ,
1 . l r sur
C ai -
re t y o f 5 0 2
bfip t e , t -
a ,
.

k i g o f t h F r a n ks 6 4 n e , 2 . l ud us
C a r l o f Re ar d 1 42
i , g e ne a cc e , .

so o f G i m o a ld usur p e r 2 5 6
n r , ,
. l
C e men t b sh i o p p o se s
op Bo n fa c , ,
i e,

C h i ld r c h I e i k i n g o f Aus t r a s i a .
, , 3 24
257 4 59 0 C le p h o ing o f t he L o m a , k b rds 1 8 6 ,

l a s t k g o f t he F r a ks
11 ,
in n , d
C o e o f J t inia n 1 0 9 ; a us , br d g e d by
i

26 8 3 3 ; d t hr o e d 3 2 5
,
2 e n , . Leo t he a ia n , 3 0 7 ; I s ur by B a s i l i .

C h lp
i h 1 k i g o f S i ss o n s 1 6 0 ;
e ri c n o , 49 2
m urd rs h is W fe 1 6 ; w a rs W t h
e i , 1 i C o lch i s w o n by J us t n ia 1 0 8 i n , .

S i g i b e rt ,
1 63 ; a t ro c u i e s o f, 1 68 ; C n ra d o f Fr a n c n i a k ng o f G e
o o ,
i i

d ea th , 1 69 . m ny a 4 7 5 ; h i s t r o ubl e d r g
,
ei n,

k n g o f N e us tr i a 6 6 ; i h
i ,
2 47 6 ; d fe a t d by S a x o s 47 6 ; e e n ,

v a d e s Aus t ras ia 2 6 6 ; d fe a t e d by ,
e d e a t h 47 7 , .

Ch a rl e s M ar te l 2 6 6 7 d t h 2 6 8 ,
-
ea , . C o n s t a s 1 1 S ee C o n s t a n t i n us
n . .

C h n d a win t h
i s k i g o f V s g o t hs ,
n i i ,
Co s tan t ne W o r V Po g o a tu s e m
n i . .
,
n ,

2 25 h i s s t r o g a d m i i st ra t i n 2 2 6 n n o , .
pe 2 46 ; s a v e s C n s t a t i no pl
ro r , o n e

C h i n t h i l a k i n g o f V i s ig o t hs
, 5 , 22 . fr o m S ar a c n s 2 47 w a r w i t h B u l e ,

C hl d o m
o k i g o f O rl e a n s 1 1 1 ;
e r, n g a ri a ns 2 48

“
.
, ,

sl a i by B ur g u n d ia n s 1 1 4
n , . V . or V1 .
, C o pro n ym u s , 312 ;
C h l o d v l d ( S t Cl o ud )
o a 4 , 1 1 . h is c o cl a s t i c z e l
i on a , 3 1 4- 3 1 5 a rs

C hl o d o ve h 1 ( Chl d w i g ) k i n g o f
c o w it h S ra ce s 3 1 5 a n ; Wi t h B ul r ga
5 2 6 5 8 ; c o n q u e rs
.
, .

th e F r n ks a , 2 , ,
ia n s 3 6 ; d a th 3
, 1 e ,
17 .

N o r t h e r Ga ul 5 9 ; m rr i e s C h ro
n , a vi . or V i i 3 1 8 ; h i s m i n o it
,
r y ,

t e h i ld i s 5 9 ; subdu s Al m a n n i
,
e a , 3 18 se i z e s p o we 3 19 et o ne r , d hr d
6 0 ; h s c o n v e rs i n 6
i w rs w i t h o 1 a by I r e ne , 320
s 6 2 ; c o n q u e rs Aq u i
, .

B ur g u n d i an , vi 1 . or Vlll . Po p r hyr o ge n i tus ,

t a i n e 6 3 ; k i g o f a ll t h
, F r a n ks n e , 49 4
64 . C s t n t i o p l p o s u io n n d i m p o r t
on a n e, a

ki ng of Ne us t r i a ,
1 7 9 , 25 6 , a n ce f 3 5 ; S ge f by Av a rs
o ,
ie o

a n d P rs i a s 0 2 ; firs t s i e g e
e n , 21 , 1 1

C h l o t ha r k i n g o f S o i ss o s 1 1 n ,
1 ,
by S r a c e n s 4 7 ; C o u n c i l f 2 48
a , 2 o , ,

1 12 ; urd rs h s p h e w s 1 4 ;
m e i ne , 1 27 8 ; s c n d s ie g by S a r a c s e o e en .

c o n qu rs B ur g u n dy 1 5 : w a rs
e
, 1 3 0 3 3 ; Co u c i l o f 3 4 ; S y o d
1- 0 n ,
1 n

w i t h V s g o t hs 9 ; d fe a t e d by
i i ,
1 1 e o f , a n a t h c ni a t i s e s t he
po p e 4 5 4 . .

S a xo ns 1 20 ; s o l e k i n g o f t he
,
e m pe o r r ,

F r a ks 1 2 1n d a th 2 , e ,
1 2 , 237 rs ; wa wit h Sa a en 2 3 8 -9
’
r c s ,
‘

C h lo t ha k i n g o f N e us t r i a 1 6 9 ; Wi t h S l a vs ; li i s Ty
‘
r , , 2 40 pe , 2 4 1
 I n d ex 523
t cks L o m b a rds
at a
44 74 , 2 , 2 d ss
E e a ta en P e ia n 95 k by rs s , .

qu a rr l w i t h P o pe H a dr i
e 76 ; an , 2 E d z c t u m R o t/l a r i s , L o m a
'

b rd c o d e ,

Afr i c w 4 5 m urd r e d
an 46 a r, 2 e , 2 . 1 97 .

C roo t b t tl e f 7 5
na e , a o , 2 . E g i ca , V i s ig o t h i c k i n g 2 3 1 3 2 , , 2 .

C s m s r b ls g i s t Le o
o a e
3 e a a n 1 1 y c o qu e r e d by P e rs a n s 2 0 6 ;
E g pt n i

Cr t c q u r e d by S r a c s 4 8 4
, . , ,

e e on e a en , . by S a r a c e s 2 2 0 ; r e v o l t s fr o m n ,

C m ru B ul g r i
n, k i g h i s v i c to r i s a an n , e ,
C a l phs 3 4 i , 2 .

4 80 4 8 2
-
. E i h rd chr o i cl e r 2 6 8 3 3 9
n a , n , , .

C s h
te i p o n t k by S r c e s 9 a en a a n , 21 . El M a m u n c a l i p h w a rs o f w i t h e m
-
, , ,

C u n i b e rt ,k i g f L m b rds 7 5 n o o a , 2 p i r e 4 8 6 t a k e s Ty a n a 4 8 7
, , .

crush e s r b ll io o f A l h i 7 5 e e n a s, 2 . E l M o t a ss e m c a l i p h w a rs o f W t h
-
, , ,
i
C un im d k i g f G pi d
un 83 , n o e ae, 1 . e m pi r e 48 7 ; t a k e s A m o i m 4 8 7
, r u , .

Cy p rus i v d d by S a r c s 3 7 ;
, n a e a en , 2 E l S a m a h S a r a ce n l e a d e r
-
71 , ,
2 .

r c o v e r e d by B s i l 4 9 3
e a . E lsl o o t r e a t y o f 440, , .

Cyz i cus h ld by S r a c e s 47
, e a n ,
2 . E m p r e t h e H o ly R o m a n t h e o ry o f
i , , ,

376
D AG OB E RT I 1 7 8 ; h i s wa rs 1 7 9 ; .
, ,
E n g e l t ru d , e m p e 3 54 3 66 de r ss , ,

a i ds S i s i n a n d 23 , 2 . f ds
en R o m e 46 4 , .

se t t o I re la n d 2 5 9 e n , r l d Vk
Eng a n , i i n g i n 4 1 8 43 1 s , , .

s t o r e d a nd cr o w e d 2 5 9 sl a i n n , ,
E n g ri a n s t h e 3 49 , 3 5 1 , , .

2
59 . E rchi n o a l d , M a o i n N e t i a , 1 8 0 y r us r .

2 64 . r r sr
E a io , O t o g o t i in g 9 7 hck , .

Da m a scus
k e n by P e rs i a n s 2 0 5 ;
ta Vs
E rw i g , i ig o t i in g 2 3 1 2 3 2 hck
Aq u
, , , , .

by t h e S a r a ce n s 1 7 , 2 . E ud duk
o e of
, i ta i ne e ea te d f , d
D a n e l a g h t h e 43 1 , , . by Ch rl s a e M a t e , 2 6 7 ; hi s wa r l rs
D a ne s S e Vi k i g s
. e n . h r c
w it S a a en 27 1 2 9 2 2 93 s , ,
-
.

D a n e w e rk t h e 3 6 7
n , , . E ud c d u
o ia a g te of a enti ni an
, h r V l
D r a s bu i l t by A n a s t a s i us 49 b a t t l e
a , rr d
m a i e t o H u n n e ri c 1 0 , .

o f 6 9 ; b e s i g e d by C h o s o e s u h us r b ll
E p emi e e i o n o f , 4 48
‘

e
, 93 ; r , , .

t a k e n by P e s ra n s 1 47 r , . k Vs
E u ri c , i n g o f i i g o t 5 58 hs , , .

D a s t a g e rd s a ck d by H e r a cl i us 2 1
, e , 1 . rr s A
E u t h a ri c m a i e m a a w in t a , 2 9 l s h .

D e cr e t ls t h e F a ls e 4 5 4 4 5 6
a , .
-
. x rch l
E u t yc h i u s e a o e and e o e
, , s s r c v rs
D e s i d e r a t a w i fe o f Ch a rl e s t h e G re a t
, R v a e nna , 2 82 3 ; e iege ome -
b s s R ,

338 2 83 .

s d r us
De i e i b rd k
Lo m a ing ,
, 33 1 x rch
E a ate of R a e n na , 1 9 0 ; c o n v
ll d
a ie h rl s
to C a e r t he G ea t , 3 3 8 ; qu r d by
e e Lom a , 3 27 b rds
qu rr ls t h
a e wi cy
the P a pa , 3 46 de v
g i e n t o P a pa P ip pi n , 3 3 1 cy by .

t hr d by Ch rl s
o ne a e , 3 48 . E xhil a ra t u s , e o f Na
p e , 281 duk l s .

s
D i g e t o f j u st i n i a n 1 0 3 , .

D iz a b u lkh urks
a n o f the T
, , 1 47 . A A ba t tl e o f 9 7
F ENZ , , .

r sy b l
D o i , a t t e o f, 1 7 1 . ls
F a e De cr e t a ls t h e 45 4 45 6 , ,
-
.

D u ca i‘zz s R o m a n u s , t h e , 1 8 9 , 1 9 1 , F a ro a ld , duk e o f S p o l e t o 1 8 7 ; , de
2 87 . s t r o ys Cl a ss i s 1 9 3 , .

F e ud a l i s m m e r i t s a n d d e fe c t s ,
o f,
E AS T P H A L I A N S t h e , e i t a e , r s s Ch rl s 41 3 41 5
-
'

r
t h e G e a t , 3 49 , 3 5 1 , 3 5 4 3 5 6 , . F ie , fs r r ce 49 7
t he g ea t
,
i n F an , .

E bb o rchb sh
a , Rh
i op o f e im 3 86 ; s ,
F ie s l b s d by l s ar i us 8 6
o e e ieg e Be i , .

c s r s s s
o n pi e a g a i n t L e wi t he P i o , us b l
F o n t e n a y, a t t e o f, 40 8 .

b sh d
3 94 ; a ni e 3 99 , . s r d by Grim o a l d
F o ri ni p o p o l i , t o m e ,

b rh rd f uds
E e a e o f 47 3 , , . 27 4 .

surr d rs
E b e rm u n d , en e t o Be i a i , l s r us Fo m or sus p o p e cr o w n s Ar n ul f , ,

82 . e m p e r o r 46 4 , .

E b ro i n , M a o i n N e t i a 2 5 7 ; i m y r us r ,
F r a n ks i n G a ul 5 c o n ve r t e d t o ,

rs d
p i one 258 ; t ann ,o f, 2 5 9 ; yr y Chri st i a n i t y 6 1 ; c o n s t t u t i n o f t h e ,
i o ,

m urd e r e d , 2 60 . 1 2 2 S ee u n d e r n a m e s o f k n g s
. i .

E cl og a of Le o t he I s a ur i a n , 3 04 . F ra xi n e t M o o r i sh c o l o n y a t 46 2
, , .
5 24 E u r op ea n H [s t a r] , 47 6 9 1 8
-

F r e d e g u n d i s m a rr e s C hi l peric h 6 1 i , 1 t he I s ur ia n 2 8 4 w i t h L u i t p ra n d
a , ,

m urd e rs S g i b e t 1 6 4 ; e v l d e e ds i r , i 285 a sks a i d o f t h e F r a n ks 2 8 6 ,

.

o f 1 6 8 ; he
, w rs a g a i s t Aus t r a s a r a n i G r e g o ry 1V p o p e a ds r e b ll i o n .
, , i e
1 7 1 ; de a t h 72 , 1 . a g i n s t Le w i s t h
a P i o us 3 9 6 3 9 7 e ,
-
.

F ri d i a n S t 2 6 3 e x a rch o f Afr i c a r e b e ls
, .
, .
38 , ,
2 .

rs s r v s
F i ia n a age sub
o f t he ,26 1 ; , G r i fo s o n o f C h a rl e s M a r t e l 2 9 8 ;
, ,

du d by
e by Ch a rl e s
P i p pi n 262 r e b e ls 3 2 ; cl a i m s Ba v a r ia 3 2 5
, 2 ,
.

r l
M a te c v rt d t o
267 270 ; on e e ,
-
G m o a l d M a y o r i n Aus t r a s i a
ri
79 ;
, ,
1

Chr s y
i t ia ni t 2 00 3 3 0 , , . hi s usur p a t i o an d d e a t h 2 5 6 2 5 7 n ,
-
,

F uld Abb y f u d d
a e o n e 324 , , . duk o f Be n e v e t o m urd e rs e n ,

k i g G o d eb e rt 2 7 3 h i s w a rs w it h
n ,

G A i N A s t he G o t 34 , h , . E a s t R o m a n s 2 44 2 7 3 2 7 4 ; h s , ,
-
i

s rc
Ga i e i an a ing ,
o n e V d l k , c qu rs g o ve r n m e t 74 n ,
2 .

Afr ci a 7 hi s e 8 ; h is i o
, rul , v c t ry , so n o f
P i ppi n 2 62 264 -
.

9 . duk v t r sss
e o f B e ne e n o , e i t
Ga ll
S t 263
, .
, . h rl s r
C a e t h e G e a t 3 49 , .

G a l s w i n t h a m a ierr d to C h i l pe ri c h , G u a d a le t e b tt l
a e of 234 , , .

134 ; m urd r d
e e 1 62 ,
. Gu nd i mar V s th c k
i igo i ing 2 2 2 , , .

G e i la m i r d hr s
et one H i ld e ri c 75 ; , G u nd o b a d k ur u dy
in g o f B g n 5 , , ,

d f d by
e e a te l s r us
Be i a i 77, 78 ; , 25 h
2 6 ; h is wa r w i t
, C h l o d o ve c h ,

surr e d rs 7 9 n e , . 62 ,

G n o a s a ck e d by F r a ks 1 1 7
e n ,
. G u n d o va l dr b ll
e e io n o f 1 70 379 , , ,
.

G eo r g e o f P s d i a p o e m s o f 3 0 7 i i , , . G u nt ha m u nd V d lk an a i ng 1 1 , . .

G p i d e d fe a t d by Th d r c
e a 6 ;
e e eo o i , 1 u r
G nt am k ur u dy
ing o f B g n , ai , ds
e x t e r m i n t e d by Av a r s a n d L o m a C h i ld e b e rt rs
1 6 8 ; h i s wa wi th
b a rd s 1 46 1 8 3 ,
-
V s t hs
i ig o 1 40 1 42 170 ; w it , , ,
h
G e b e rg a w i f
r f C a rl o m a n 3 3 9 3 4 5
, e o , , . Lo m ab rds 191 1 92 , , .

G e rm a n u p a t r i a rch d e po se d by
s,

A D R I AN 1 p o pe i n v i te d t o C o u c l
,

Le o 31 1 . H .
, ,
n i

ne p h e w o f j st i n i a u n , 1 02 . o f N i c a e a 3 1 8 ; q u a rr e ls w i t h L o m ,

G e sa l i c e , r b e ls a g a i n s t
A m a l ri c 2 6 , , b a rds 3 45 , .

63 . H a dr i n i i p 0 p e h u m b l e L o t h a i r 1 1
a ,
s

G i va l d s D e yk s i eg e o f 4 2 1
'

, , .
42 8 h i s fr i e n dsh i p w i t h L e w i s 1 1
G o d e b e rt k b rd s
i ng o f L o m a 273 , , .

Go d fr d
e , Da n i sh k v d s
in g 3 6 7 ; i n a e Ha r a ld k n g o f t h e D a ne s 3 9 3 i

r o u n a l—
, , , .

rs
F i ia 4 1 6 , . Ha R a sch i d c a l i p h i n v a d e s
-
, ,

V k l d r r v s us t r
i ing ea e a age Ne ia , , As i a M i no r 3 9 3 2 0 ; s e n ds e m , 1 -

42 2 ; r v s Aus r s
a a e
g t a ia 43 9 ; , b a ssy t o C h ar l e s t h G r e a t 3 5 9 ; e ,

ma e k s c h Ch rl s
p ea e w it a e t he h i s w a w i t h N i c ph o r s 47 9 4 80
r e u -
.

F a t 44 0 ; m, urd r d e e 44 2 , . H a t t o b i sh o p o f M i n z m i n i s t r o f
, a , e

G o d fri d duk e o f S u ab ia 2 62
, ,
. L e w s t h e Ch i ld 4 7 3 4 7 6
1 ,
-
.

Go n o m ad r k ur u dy
ing o f B g n 1 14 , , , H e l i sa c h a ch a n c e ll o r o f L e w i s t h e r,

P o us 3 8 5
i

i
1 1 , ,

G o z e in ,
b i sh o p d e fe n ds , r s 440 Pa i , . H e l m i h s c o n s p i r e s a g a i n s t Alb 0 n
c i i ,

r
G ego ry 198 ch a r a c t e r 8
p o pe
i
, ,

l cy a nd a c t v it y o f I I e i i m ing Dan i sh k i n g 368

-
20 1
2 00 ; po i i , , , .

202 tr y h eat w i t A g il u l f 1 9 5 2 0 2 , ,
l i m o / i co n , of e no Z .
46 .

r e g a rd h c s fo r P o a ru 1 5 7 ; fo r B n , Hen ry c o u n t sl a ys G o dfr e d 44 2 ;
, , ,

b ld s 2 0 2
i i , , sl a n i n b a t t l 4 4 2
i e , .

po pe r e fus e s t o a ck n o w l e d g e th Fo w l e r duk e o f S a x o n y
e

q u a rr e ls w i t h
, . ,

Ph i l i p p i c s 27 9 u . r e b e ll io n o f 4 7 6 m a d e k i n g 47 7 , , .

Le t h e I s a ur ia n
o h i s l e t t e rs t o , H e r c le o n as e m p e r o r 2 3 4 ; d e po s e d
a , , ,

Le o 282 ;, h o lds sy no d a g i n st a 235 .

I c n o cl a s m
o 2 84 c o n se cr a t e s , He r a cl i u s l e a ds fl e t a g i n s t P h o c as e a ,

Bo n i fa c e 2 9 , 1 . 156 ; e m pe r r 203 ; d i s s t e rs o f o , a ,

po pe h i s d i s p u te s W i t h L e o ,
2 0 4 ; v i c t o r ie s v e r P e rs i a n s 2 0 8 o ,
 I n d ex 525
211 ; d e fe a te d by Sa r a c en s , 217 ; I C O N O C LA S M o r i g i n o f 3 0 8 3 0 9 ; e d i c t , ,
-

de a t h 2 2 0 , . o f L e o t h e I s a ur i a n 28 ; t r o ubl e s , 1

H e r a cl i us C o n s t a n t i n us c o mm a n ds , r e sul t n g fr o m 3 1 0 3 1 2 ; c o n d e m n e d
i ,
-

a a in st S a ra cen s h i s sh o r t by C o u n c i l o f R o m e 8 4 ; a ff r m e d
g 2 0 ; , 2 , 2 i
rei g n 2 3 , by C o u n c i l o f C o s t a t i n o p l e 3 4 ; n n , 1
_
e x a rch o f A fr i c a d e fe a t s P e r , c o n d e m n d by C o u n c i l o f N i c a e a e ,

s i a n s 1 5 0 ; r e b e ls a g a i s t P h o c a s
, n , 3 81 r e s t o r e d by Le o V 4 8 3 ; pu t .
,

1 s6 . d o w n by Th e o d o r a 48 9 , .

H e ri b e rt c o u n t o f Ve r m a n d o i s 50 3 5 ;
, ,
-
I c o n duly e x t r a v a g a c e s o f 3 0 8
o ,
n i ,

r eb e ls a g a i s t Ch a rl e s t h e S im pl e n , r e s t r e d by I r e ne 3 8 ; by Th e o
o , 1
H e m a f i d T hur i n g i a k i g 1 1 4
r n r , n n , . do ra ,

H e m e n e g i l d r e b e ls a g a i n s t h is fa t h e r
r , I llus m i i s te r o f Z e n o 3 8 43 ; h i s
,
n , ,

1 3 8 ; dea t h 1 40 , . r e b e ll io n 44 , .

H e r m e n g a rd e w i fe o f L e w i s t h e , I m a g e w o rsh i p S ee I c o n o cl a s m
-
. .

P i o us 3 8 6 ; d e a t h 3 9 0
, , . I g o m urd rs O sk yt e l 49 8
n e , .

da u g h ter o f L ewi s 45 9 ; I n g u n t h i s w i fe o f H e rm e n e g il d 1 3 7
, , .

m a rr i s B o s o k i n g o f Arl e s 4 3 7
e , , . I n s t i t u t e s f J us t i n i a n 1 1 0 o , .

H e ss i E a s t p h a l i a n duk e 3 5 1 I re la n d Vi ki g s i n 4 1 7 41 8 n -

H ij r h t h
, .
, , , .

a 2 14
, e, . I r e n e e m p r e ss r eg e n cy o f 3 1 8
, , ,

H i ld e br a n d L o m b a rd k i g 3 2 7 n co n s p i r e s a g a i n s t h e r so n 3 1 9 ;
H i l d e g a rd e q u e e n o f Ch a rl e s t h e
.
, , ,

, bl i n ds h i m 3 1 9 ; d e t hr o n e d by ,

G re a t 3 3 8 , . N i ce p h o ru s 3 2 0 , .

H i l d eri c V a n d a l k i n g 2 8 d e t hr o n e d
, , x s c u ry c a s t d o wn
I rm i n su l S a o n a n t a , ,

by G e i la m ir 7 5 m urd e r ed 7 7 , , . by Ch rl s
a e r
t h e G e a t 3 46 , .

c o u n t r e b ls a g a i n s t W a m b a ,
e , I s a ur i a n s fa v o ur e d by Le o I 3 6 ; a n d .
,

229 . Z e n o 3 8 ; r e b e l u n d e r L 0 n g i nu s 4 8
, , .

th c k
H il d i b a d Go i ing win at e o f
, , s b tl I sl a m r e l i g io n o f 3 1 3 1 5
, ,
2- .

r vs
T e i o 96 d s ie 97 I s p e r i ch B ul g a r i a n k i n g 2 48
I t a ly G o t hs i n 9 2 4 ; r e c o n q u e r e d
.
, , , , .

H il d w in ch c ll r
an e o of Le w i
, the s , , 1 -

P io us c s r s
, 3 86 ; on pi e a g a i n t him s , by J us t i i a n 8 0 04 ; L o m b a rd n ,
-
1 ,

3 94 i v a s i o n o f 1 8 ; i t s d i vi s io n s 1 8 7
n , 1 ,

H i n cm ar, a rchbi sh o p of Rh e i m s , 1 8 9 ; M o o rs i 45 6 6 S ee u n d e r n, 0- .

45 6 L o m b a rds a u d P a p a cy .

H is am ,h a ip c l h in va de s Ana to i lc
I
,

t em eh 311 s , .
J E B E L TAR K (G i br a l t a r ) 2 3 4
-
, .

k
in g o f o C rd o v a 3 6 5 , .
J e rus a l e m t a k e n by P e rs i a n s , 2 05 ;
r sd s
H o mi a Pe rs i a n k i n g 1 49 ; d e , , by r c s
S a a en 219 , .

po s d 1 5 1 e , .
J e ss
e of A s c s r s
m i en o n pi e ag ain st
H r o lf b e c o m e s duk e o f N o r m a n dy
, , s us
L e wi t h e P i o d h
3 94 eat 399 , , .

a i ds Ch rl s t h e S i m p l e 5 94 s rs cu d by h c s
Je w p e e t e P o a 1 56 ;
5 1 0 a e , .
,

H ru 0 t l a n d ( R o l a n d ) d e a t h o f 3 5 3 , , . rs cu d by V s hs
pe e te i i g o t , 1 43 2 2 3 , ,

H u k b ert duk e o f B a v a r i a 2 9 0 232

duk o f A q u i t a i
.
, , .

H u n o ld , 96 ; e ne, 2 Jo h n s e n t by Th e o d o r i c t o
p o pe ,

r e b e ls a g a i n s t P i p p i n a n d C a rl o Co ns le 3 1
ta n t i n o p , .

ma n
3 23 ; ,ag a in st Ch a rl e s t h e VI p o pe hi s s e cul a r a c t i v i t y
.
, , ,

Gre a t 3 3 7 , . 27 8 ; r e c i v e s e s t a t e s fr o m Ari e

H u n e ri c k i g o f t h e V a n d a ls 0 1 1
n n 1 b er t 2 80
V III
, , , . .

H ung a ri n s S M a g y a rs
a . ee . cr o w n s Ch a rl e s t h e Ba ld
.
, ,

H u s C o t ig u r t h r ea t e n C o n st a n t i
n , r , 43 3 ; cr o w n s Ch a rl e s t h e F a t 43 8 , ,

n o pl e , 1 0 8 .
46 2 .

H u n w u lf, ot e br h r
o f O oa e , 1 4 d c r . t he P a t i r c ia n d e fe n ds S yr a cus e
, ,

H yg el a c D a n i i ng , sh k
1 1 3 , 41 5 , .
46 0 .

H yp a t i u s , n e p e w o f h
n a ta i , 5 1 , A s s us C a p p a d o c i a m i n i s te r o f J u s
of ,

5 2 ; p o a im e r cl
e m pe o di n t he r r t i n i an 7 ; d i sg r a ce d 9 0, 1 , .

N ik a s d B l o o dy o ffic e r Be l i
'
e i t i o n , 7 1 -7 3 . the of ,

sa ri u s , 85 .
 5 26 E u rop ea n H i s t o ry , 4 7 6 - 9 1 8

J ud i t h fe f L e w i s t h e P i o us 3 9 1
, wi o , r e p r e sse s i m a g e - wo ip rsh , 48 3 ;
t w i c e fo rc e d i n t o a c o n v e n t 3 9 5 7 ,
-
. m urd e r e d 4 84 , .

J ul i a n b i sli 0 p o f T o l e d o 2 8 2 3 1 2 Le o vi t he W i e , ar a s c te r a n d
ch
J ul i us N e po s h i s k i ng d o m 6 ;
, , , .

, , r e ig n of 494 ; h is i t e a
, l r ry w o rks ,

m urd r e d 3 e , 1 .
49 4 0

J us t i n i e m pe r o r 5 3 ; p e rs e cu t s
.
, , e
p o pe e i e e a e , d l v r d by Ch rl s
t h e Ar i a s 3 0 ; d e a t h 5 4 n t he G e a t o wnr cr s Ch rl s
, , .
372 ; a e ,

e m pe ro r 1 4 5 ; Av a r i e w a rs e m pe o r r d h
, 37 3 ; ea t
3 87 , , .

of 1 4 6 ; P e rs i a n w a rs o f 1 4 7 ; 11 15 v c ry v r
, , iv p o p e h is i t o
. , o e th e ,

lu na cy 4 8 ,
1 . r c s
S a a e n 45 1 . .

Jus t i n a n i n e p h e w a d c o ll e a g u e o f
i .
,
n L e o d e g a r ( S t L e ge ) h i s e e i o n . r , r b ll ,

J us t n 5 3 ; e m pe r r 6 5 ; ch r c
i , o , a a 258 e Ne rul s
ia 2 5 9 ; m e e us t r , urd r d
te rof 65 m a rr ie s Th e o d o r a 6 5
, , by E b ro i n 2 5 9 , .

fo r e i g n p o l i cy f 6’8 ; firs t P e rs i a n o Le o n t h e i n g o m o f 5 0 9
, k d , .

wa 69 : Ni ka se d t i o 7 1 L eo n t i u s e m ne ro r 2 5 1 2 5 3
‘
r, i n, , , .

subdu e s t h V a n d a ls 7 6 9 ; G o t h i c e ,
-
Le o a 1 v Vs hck
i i go t i i ng 1 3 4 , .

w rs o f 8 1 8 8 ; h i s bu ld i n g s 8 9
a ,
-
i . i i V s th c k
i i go i i n g 1 43 2 2 1 , , .

9 ; fi n a n c i a l o p pr e ss i o
0 9 0 ; se c o n d n, L e o v i g i ld Vs hc k
i ig o t i in
g 13 2 1 35 ;
, , ,

P rs i
e w a r 9 3 ; the l o g ica l
an i e ws ,
o V h i s wa rs 1 36 1 39 ;d h ea t 1 40,
-
.

o f 1 07
,
l e g a l w o rk o f 1 0 9 0 ,
-1
. s
L e wi the Pio us ( o r D é b o n n a ir ) so n
e m pe r o r 2 49 ; w a rs o f of C ah rl s e r
t h e G e a t k i ii g o fAqu i

3 5 9 ; c o n q u rs B a rc e l o n a
, , ,

2 49 2 5 ; d i s p u t e w i t h p o pe S r g i us
- 0 e , ta n e i , e ,

2 7 8 ; d e t hr o ne d a n d b a i sh e d 2 5 1 ; n , 3 6 4 ; e m pe r o r 3 8 3 ; l e g i sl a t i o n o f , ,

e sc a p e s 2 5 2 r e g i s t hr o n e 5 3 ;
, a n ,
2
3 85 3 8 7 ; p e r l 3 8 8 ; m k e s P a r t t i o n
-
i , a i

hi s t yr a n n y a n d d e a t h 2 5 3 , . o f A a ch e n 3 8 9 ; s e c o n d m a rr i a g , e

o f 3 9 1 ; t W i ce d e p o s e d by r b e l
,
e

K A R I J NG S t a e o f t h e 4 1 3 , bl ,
. l i o us s n s 3 9 3 3 9 9 ; hi s l a s t w a r
o , , ,

K ss i m ib n mmon Y ussuf su s Ch rl s d a th 4 3
— t he G e r m a n k i n g o f B va r ia
a -
a e -
40 1 e , 0 .

t h e G e a t t o S pa i n 3 5 2 r , .
,
a ,

Kh l d
a e S a a en ie 2 1 7 2 1 8
,
r c ch f , , .
3 89 re b ls a g a i s t h i s fa t h e r 3 9 6 e n , ,

Kh z s
a ar i n a e P e ia 2 1 0 ; e e i e v d rs , r c v 40 w r w it h Lo t h a ir
1 407 40 8 ;
a -

us
J t i n ia n 202 . w i t h Ch a rl e s t h e B ld 4 2 ; co n a , 2

K ll
i i a n , m i io n a to i n g ia ss ry Thur , qu rs a n d l se s N e us t r i a 4 2 6 ;
e o ,

2 63 . r e b e ll io s o f hi s s o n s 42 7 ; hi s n ,

K b d k
o a , i n g o f P e ia w a o f Wit rs rs , h i n flu n c e i n G e r m a n y 4 3 3
e d ea t h , ,

A n a s ra s n i s 4 8 w i J i n i a n, 6 8 . t h us t .
43 4 .

K r
o a n t he 2 1 5 , ,
. 11 r r 4 3 ; w a rs W i t h h i s
e m pe o , 2

br o t h e r L o t h r 4 5 h i s d a l i g s ai , 2 e n

A AU K b a t t l e o f 1 7 2 6 0
L P , , 2 , . w i t h t h e P pa c 4 5 1 4 5 2 ; ca m a y, -

La m be r t o f S po l e t o k i n g o f I t a ly , , pa i g n s a g a i n st t h e M rs 4 5 7 ; i m oo .

464 ; w W i t h Ar n ul f 46 1 46 5 ;
ar
p r i o n e d a t B e n v n t o 4 5 7 fur t h e r
s e e
-
, ,

d e t h 46 5
a , . v c t r i e s o v r t he M o o rs 45 8
i o e ,

L a n t frid duk e o f S a b i a 2 9 0 ,
u , . de ath 45 9 , .

L a u re s h e i m chr o n i cl o f 3 7 3 ,
e , . t he S x o n re be l s a g a i n s t h i s
a ,

L a n d e r b i sh o p o f S e v i ll e
e , 38 ,
1 . fa t h r 4 2 7 ; d e fe a t s C h rl e s t he
e ,
a

Le o i e mp ro r 3 6
.
,
e , . Ba ld 4 3 4 ; a t t a cks N u s t r ia 4 3 6 ;
,
e ,

t he I ur ia n e m p er o r ~
a , , h i s w a rs W i t h t he D a n e s 43 8 ,

2 5 5 ; d e fe n d s C o s t a t i n o p l e 30 1 n n , , d ea t h 43 9 , .

3 30 h is d i c t a g a i st i ma g e s 2 8 e n , 1 11 ( t h S t a m m r r ) k i ng o f
. e e e .

3 0 ; qu a rr e ls w i h G r e g o ry i i a n d
1 t . F ra n c sh o r t r g n o f 4 3 6
e ,
ei , .

8 2 2 8 4 ; v i c t o r ie s o ve r S a r a
2 ,
k i g o f F r c 43 6 ; h i s n an e,

c ns 3
e . 1 1 . w a rs w i t h t h e Da n e s 4 3 8 ; v i c t o ry ,

iv t he C h a a r . h i s r e i g n a nd
,
z , o f S a uc o ur t 4 3 9 d a t h 43 9 ,
e ,
.

wa rs 3 7 ,
1 . t he Ch i ld k i g o f G e r ma ny ,
n ,

V t he Ar m e n i a n
.
, h i s usur pa , 47 2 h is re g 4 7 2 47 4 i n, -
.

t i o n 48 2 ; his Bul g a r i a n w a 48 2 ; r, k i n g o f Arl e s 445 i nv a d s ,

e
 I n d efl:

I t a ly , 46 6 ; bl i n d e d by Be re n g a r , 1 50 ; Pe rs ia n wa r , 1 5 0 -1
51 Av a r ie
46 6 . wa r, 5 2 ; S l a v o n i c wa r 1 5 3 ;
1 5 1 -1 ,

b r us v a d e s S p a i n 1 3 3
Li e i in , ,
d e t hr o n e d a n d m urd e r e d 1 5 4 , ,

ba t t le o f 3 6
L i t h o s o ri a , , 1 . M a y o rs o f t h e P a l a c e t h e i r o ffi c e , ,

t h s o p pr e ss i o n by t he 9 0 9 6
Lo g o e te , , , . 123 r i s i n g p o w e r o f 1 7 6 ; t a bl e
; ,

Lo m a b rds o r g o f t h e 1 8 ; c o n
,
i in ,
2 o f 2 60 , su pe rs d e k i g s 2 5 9 e n , .

qu r r t h r n I t a ly 1 8 4 88 co n
e No e ,
-
1 M e hd y c a l i p h i n v d s e m p r 3 1 7
, , a e i e, .

v e r t e d t o Chr i s t n t y 1 9 3 ; t bl e ia i , a Me o r h m a rr i s B u h i ld i
ve c 1 65 ; e r n s,

o f L o m b rd k g s 1 8 3 ; d ea l i g s a in ,
n m urd e r e d by F r e d e g u d i s 1 6 6 n , .

o f w ith th
, P a p a cy 7 88 co e ,
2 2 -2 n M e o vm g
r th r go vern m nt 1 2 1
s, ei e ,

qu e r e d by Ch a rl e s t h e G r a t 3 44 e , 1 7 2 t bl e o f t h e 1 66
a e n d o f t he ,

3 48 . dy s t y 3 6 na ,
2 .

Lo t ha ir so n of Le w i s t he Pio us , M se n pa r t i t i o n t r e a t y o f 4 3 2
er ,
-
, .

3 89 s ag st h s
h is r e b ll e io n ain i M e s o p o t m a a t t a ck e d by P rs i s
a i e an

9 ; c o n q u e r e d by P e rs i a s 1 5 5
,

fa t h e r 3 9 4 3 9 6 ; r e c o n c l e d W i t h
,
-
i 2 n ,

L e w i s 4 0 ; e m p r o r 40 6 ; w a rs
, 2 e , by S a r a c e s 2 0 r a v a g e d by E a s t n , 2

W t h h i br o t h r 40 7 ; d e f t d a t
i s e ,
ea e R o m a s 49 3 n , .

F o n te n a y 4 0 8 ; t r o ubl e s W i t h t h e ,
M e z e i s usur p e r i n S i c i ly 2 46
c u , , .

V i k i g s 4 9 ; a ll i e d w i t h Ch a rl e s
n , 1 M i ch a e l I R h a g a b e e m p e r o r 3 6 4 ;
.
,
n , ,

t h e B a ld 4 2 a bd i c a t e s 4 2 2 , 1 , .
48 1 r e s t o r s m a g e wo rsh p 48 1 e i -
i ,

qu a rr ls w i t h h i s br o t h e rs e d ep o se d 482 , .

4 5 ; w a rs w i t h t h e V i k n g s 4 8
2 i , 2 the A m o ri a n c o n spi re s ,

a ll i e d t o Ch a rl e s t h e Ba ld 4 5 ; ,
2 ag a in st Leo V e m p e r o r 48 4 ; c i v i l .
, ,

m a t r i mo nia l t r o ubl e s of 42 8 ; , w rs o f 4 8 4 ; l o ss o f Cr e t e a n d
a ,

d e a t h 43 1 , , S i c i ly 4 8 5 e ccl e s i a s t i c a l p o l i cy o f
, ,

L o t h a ri n g i a n a m e o f 4 2 8 , , .
48 5 .

Lo uva in a t t e o f 46 9, b l , . ru k a rd l o n g m i n o r i t y
th e D n ,

L ii g e n fe l d t h e 3 9 7 , , . o f 48 9
, d e p r a v i t y o f 49 0 ; w a rs o f ,

L u i t b e rt L o m a ing 27 9
, b rd k ,
-
2 80 .
49 1 m urd r e d by B a S l t h e M a c e e i

u ld duk
L i t po , e o f Ba a i a v r , sl a i n by d o n t n 49 a , 2 .

M a g y a rs 47 4 t r a v e ll i n g c o m m i s
’
Mi D m
' '

, . rrz o z n z ez ,

L u i t p ra n d , L o m b a rd k i n g 2 8 1 , co n sio n s o f Ch a rl e s t h e G r e a t 3 7 8
er , ,

qu rse the E a a rb i x rch a t e 2 8 2 ; , M i ss i o n a r i e s i n G e r m a y 63 2 9 1 n , 2 ,

t r a t e s b e t w e e n p o p e a n d e x a rch , 3 30 »

2 8 4 ; a i ds Ch a rl s M a r t e l a g a n s t e i M o fa re g i b n -S a l e m , M o o i
-
r sh k i n g in
S r a ce s
a 285 qu a rr e ls Wi t h
n , I t a ly , 45 2 c o n qu e r e d by L e wi s
G r e g o ry 2 8 5 ; de a t h 2 87 , .
45 7
L ii neb e g H e t h b a t t l o f 43 8
r a , e , . M o ham med , hi s ch a r a c t e r , 213
L u pus G a sc o n duk e 3 3 7
, , . c a re e r f 2 1 4 2 1 5 o ,
-
.

L yca n d u s t h e m e o f 4 9 4 , , . M o h a m m e d n i sm its go o d a n d e v il a ,

point s 2 1 4 2 1 5 ,
-
.

M AGYAR S ppe a r a n c e o f t h e 47 1 ;
, a , M ono p h s i t e h r sy t h e 3 8 4 5 5 0
y e e , , , , .

r a va g e I t a ly 46 5 ; t h e i r a t t a cks o n , M o o t h e l i t e h e r e sy
n
4 2 7 6 ; co n , 2 1 ,

G e r m a n y 47 1 ; sl a y L u i t p o ld o f , d e m me d by C o u n c l o f C o s t a t i i n n

B a v a r i a 47 4 ; fur t h e r r a v a g e s o f 47 6
. , . n o p le , 2 48 , 2
7 8 .

M a llus F r a n k i sh c o ur t 1 7 5 3 7 8
, , , . M o n z a Ba s i l i c a o f 1 93 r e l i cs i n
, , ,
226 .

M a n t u a t a k e n by L o m b a rds 1 94 M o o rs r e b e l a g a i n s t H u n n e ri c 1 1 ;
co q ue re d
.
, ,

M a n u e l t a k e s Al e x a n dr i a 2 3 7 , . a g ain t s H i ld e ri c , 75 ; n

M a rch o f S pa i n w o n by Ch a rl e s t h e by r ce s 3 3 ;
Sa a n , 2 i n va d e S p i a n,

G re a t 3 6 5 d e ve l o p m e n t o f 5 0 8
, , . 2 34 t h e i r rul e i n S p a i n 2 3 4 5 0 6 , ,

M a rchfi e ld a ss e m bly o f F r a n ks 2 6 9 5 1 0 ; i n v a d e I t a ly 4 5 0 ; d e f a te d e
—
.
, , ,

M a r ti n p o pe d i s p u t e s W i t h C o n , by L e w i s 4 5 7 45 8 e x p e ll e d by
sta n s 2 44 3 7 6 ba ni h ed 2 7 7 , s , . B e re n g a r 4 6 6 , ,

M a r t i n a Wi fe o f H e r a cl i us 2 1 8 h e r
, , M o sl e m a h b e s i e g s C o n s ta n t i e no p le ,

i n t ri g ue s 2 3 5 b a n i sh e d 2 3 6 , , ,

M a ur i c e v i c t o r i e s o f 1 49 ; e m pe r o r
, , ,
M o sl e m s . S ee S a r a ce n s ,
 528 E u ropea n H i s to ry , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

M u a v ia , go ve r n o r of S yr ia , 239 ; O sc a r D a n i sh a rl 4 2 0 4 2 1
, j , , .

c a l iph 2 45 , ; h is wa rs wit h Con O s k yt e l V i k i n g ch ie f 49 8

, , .

s t a ns 2 45 , .
l M t t
O s r o g o hs w ar s o f W i t h Z e n o 40 ; , , ,

M u m m o lu s . gene a r l f o G u n t ra m , c qu r I t ly 9 ; s t t l e d I t a ly
on e a , 1 e in ,

d e fe a t s t he Lo m ba rds , 1 63 , 1 87 '

22 ; w rs f w i t h J us t i i a 8
a 05 o , n n, 0- 1 .

r e b e ll 70 io n o f , 1 . O t h ma c l i ph 3 8 3 9 n, a . 2 -
2 .

M us a g o v r n o r o f Afr i c a
, e ,
2 3 4, O th m ab an N z a M o r i sh ch i f u e , o e
2 9 2 -2 9
3 .

N AN I H I LD I S
’‘
ee n eg ent , qu r 80 , 1 . Ot r a t o b s ie g e d by
n e Ba dull a , 99 .

Na p e l s b s
e ie e
g Be i a d by l s r us 8 2 ; i ,

by B a d u i la 9 8 ; ea ing . d l s o f with , A
P DE R B RN O d t
ie o f 3 5 2 , , .

M o rs 4 6
o ,
1 . Pa du a ta e n k by A g i l u l f 1 94 , .

N a rb o n e h e ld by S r a c e n s 2 7 1
n a , l r
Pa e m o a e n t k by l s r us 8 by
Be i a i ,
1
t a k e n by P p p i th S ho rt 3 3 1 i n e , . t he M o o rs
4 49 , .

N a rs e s r e fo rc s B e l i s a r us 8 6 co n
in e i Pa n e d cts
of J us
t i n ia n 1 09
q u e rs t he Go t hs 0 2 1 0 5 ; l g n d
, , .

,
1 , e e h
Pa n t eo n p n e elu d r d by C o s t n s n a ,
o f h s m e ss a g e t o L o m b a rds
i 84 , 1 , 27 7 .

N a v a rr e k i n g d o m o f 5 0 9
, , . Pa pa cy p o w e r o f t h e 1 8 8 1 8 9 ;
, ,
-

N e us t r i a o r ig i n o f n a m e o f 1 8 7
, , .
g r o wt h o f i m po r t a n c e o f 2 7 6 ; i t s ,

S ee u n d e r n a m e s o f k i n g s . s t ru g g l e s w i t h t h e e m pe r o rs 2 7 6 ,

N i c a e a C o u c i l o f c o n fi r m s i m a g
,
n ,
e 2 7 9 ; r e l a t o n s o f w i t h Ch a rl e s t he i ,

w o rsh i p 3 1 8 , . G rea t 3 7 4 , .

N i ce p h o r i e m pe r o r us 3 20 ; wa r .
, , P a r i s s a ck e d by es 420 ; a g a in , ,

W i t h Ch a rl s t h e G r e a t 3 6 3 ; h i s e , 4 5 ; fo r t fi e d by
2 h a rl e s t he Ba ld i C ,

S a c e n a n d Bul g r a w a rs 4 7 9
ar a i n , 4 3 ; r e p ls t h e D a n e s 44 2 ; fo ur t h
0 e ,

48 0 h i s e ccl e s a s t i c a l po l cy 47 9 i i , s i e g e o f 49 8 , .

sl a i i n b a t t l e 4 8 0
n , , P a ul t h e D e a c o n 8 5 2 44 3 7 9 3 8 0 , 1 , ,
-
.

C a s r r e b e ll o n s o f 3 1 7 3 1 8
e a , i . , . P a ulus V i s i g o t h i c c o u n t r e b e ll i o n o f
, , ,

P h o c a s c o n qu e rs S o u t h I t a ly , , 2 29 .

46 0 . Pa V i a Go t i
, o ng o , 96 ; a en h c str h ld t k
Ni ce ta s of Ta rsus d e fe n ds S yr a cus e , by Alb o in 1 85 ; e ie g e P ipp i n , b s d by ,

46 0 .
3 2 9 3 3 1 ; ta en
, a e t he k by Ch rl s
O ri p h a s , a d m i r a l d e fe a t s , t he r
G e a t 3 47 3 4 8 ,
-
.

M o o rs 4 5 7 , , l
Pe agi us k ing o f As t ur
, i as r s sts
e i ,

Ni co la s p o p e h i s qu a rr e l w i t h , the M o o rs 507 , .

k i n g L o th a r 4 8 h qu a rr e l i , 2 is P e re d e o sl ys Al b
a o i n 1 85 , .

W th th
i p a t r i a rch P h t i us 4 5 3 ;
e o rs
Pe ia n wa r o f A s s us
na ta i , 4
8 49 ; o f -
,

us e s t h e Fa lse De cr e t a ls 4 5 4 , . us
J t i nia n 6 8 6 9 9 2 9 6 1 0 7 ; o f ,
-
.
-
,

N i ne v e h b a t t l e o f 11, , 2 , J us ti n a n d iT b r us
e i 1 4 1 48 ; o f
7
-
,

N o rd l b g i a s w a rs f w i t h Ch a rl e s
a in n , o , ur c
Ma i e 15 0 ; of P o a h c s 153 ; of
, .

t h e G re t 3 49 3 6 0 3 6 6 a , , , . He a i r cl us 20 5 2 1 2 ; o f t he S a a r ,
-

N o r cu m e v a cu a t e d by O d o a c e r 1 4
i , , . ce s 2 9 n , 1 .

N o rs e m e n S ee V k i n g s . i ,
P e te r o f P sa 3 4 1 3 7 9 i , , .

P hi l i p p u s usur p e r 2 5 3 ; h i s q ua rr e l
ic , ,

O D O d e fe n ds P a r i s 44 0 ; p r o cl a i m e d
, ,
w i t h G r g o ry 279 e .

k i n g o f F r a n c e 444 ; V i k i n g w a rs , P ho ca s d e t hr n s a n d m urd e rs o e

o f 4 9 5 -49 6 ; c i v i l w a rs w i h Ch a rl e s
. t M a ur c e 1 5 3 ; d i s s t r o us r g n o f
i ,
a ei ,

t he l
S i m p e , 49 8 ;d thea 499 , . 1 5 4 1 5 5 ; sl a i n
. 1 57 , .

d c r l v us t r c
O oa e , F a i pa i i a n i n , , I ta ly ,
P h oe i x b t t l o f 1 5 9
n , a e , .

s
1 ; h i s p o i t io n 4 ; w ars o f, 1 3 , , 14; P h o t i us pa t r rch h i s qu a rr e l w i t h
, ia ,

d e fe a t d by Th e o d r i c e o , 1 5 ; sl a i n ,
th P a p cy 4 5 3 4 9 2
e a , . .

18 . P i ppin i t h e e ld e r .
7 4 ; M ay o r o f
, , 1

Oma r c a l i ph t a k e s J e rusa l e m 2 1 9
, , , t he P a l a c e 1 7 9 , .

c o n qu t s o f 2 3 7 ; m urd e r e d 2 3 9
es , , . th Y u g e r l e a ds t h e e o n ,

O m m e ya d dy n a s t y r i s e o f 2 4 5 ; fa ll , ,
Aus t r a s i a n s a g a i n s t E b ro i 26 0 ; n,

o f, 315 . h i s v c t o ry a t T e s t ry 2 60 ; h i s
i ,
 I n d ex 5 29

v r
g o e n m en , 26 1 , 2 63 ; ea t t d h , R e ccesw i n t h , V i s g o t h i c k i ng
i , 2 26

2 64 . 267 .

P i p pi n i i i t he S o , Ma o of h rt y r R eg i n a ld c o u n t o f H a i a ul t r e b e ls
,
n ,

us r
N e t ia 298 ; h i s wars , 323 ; , a g a i s t Z we n t ib o ld
n 47 0 ; l e ag u e d ,

e ccl s s c l r f r s
e ia t i a e o m 3 24 3 30 ; , , W i t h Ch a rl e s t h e S m p l 47 4 i e, .

k ing o f t he F a n r ks cr
325 ; d
o wne , R e g i b e rt
n duk e o f Tur i r e be ls
, n,

by t he pOpe , 3 2 9 ; L o m a b rd rs wa , a g a i n s t L u i t b e rt 2 7 9 , .

3 2 8 -
3 30 f x rch
h i s g i t o f t he E a a te Rh az a t e s P rs ia g e n r a l 2 1 1
, e n e , .

t o t h e po p e 3 3 1 ; c qu rs on e Nar , R h o d e s c p t ur d by S a r a c e n s 2 3 9
a e , .

b o n ne a nd Aqu i ta i n e , 33 1 332 ;
-
R i m i i t a k e n by B l i s a r i us 8 5 ; by
n e ,

d heat 333 , . L u i t p ra n d , 2 8 2 .

so n of Ch rl s
a e th e r t G ea , R u r
ip a ia n F a n , 5 6 ; r ks
e subdu d by
rul re o f Lo m a b rdy c qu rs
3 59 ; on e , C h l o d o ve ch 5 9 , .

t he Av rs
a 362 ; d h ea t , 3 7 7 , . R b r
o e t t he S t o n g ai n i i ng ,r , sl by V k s
so n o f L e wi s us k
th e P i o ing 49 6
,

—duk
.

of Aqu i t a i n e , 3 89 ;r b ls e e s
aga i n t e of F an e , mi to r c sub t s
L ewi s 3 94 3 9 6 ; d h e a t , 40 1 -
Ch rl s
a e t h e S i m p e , 49 9 g t the l fi hs
Aqu
.
,

u r
t h e yo n g e of i ta in e , d i s , Vk i i ng 50 1 s pa t i o n o f, 5 0 3 ;
, usur
h r t d by
in e i e s
Le wi t he P i o us , 40 1 sl a in i n a t t e , 5 04 b l .

40 2 fi g h t s a t F n t e a y 40 7 w a rs o n , R d rc
o e i , i ig o t i Vs hck
i n g 2 3 1 -2 3 3 , ,

o f W i t h Ch a rl e s t h e B a ld 4 9 4 1 ;
, , 1 -
2 R o d o a ld L o m a , b rd k
ing 1 9 8 , .

t ur n s h e a t h e n 4 1 i m p r i s o n e d fo ,
2 r l d
R o a n ( H ru o d a n d ) C a n o n d e , 3 5 3 , h s .

l i fe 43 , 1 . Ro me ta en k by
Be i a i , 8 2 ; b e l s r us
P i s t re s e d i c t o f 4 2 9
, , . s i eg e W i t i g es 8 3 84 ; t a en
d by ,
-
k
P l a g u e g r e a t o f A D 5 42 9 4
, , . .
, . by Ba d u i l a 9 9 r c v r d by l
e o e e Be i
,

P l e c t ru d s W i fe o f P i pp i n
i ,
2 65 s r s
a in , 101 ; r k bye t a en Ba d u i l a ,
2 67 . k by
1 0 2 ; ta e n rs s
Na e rul d
1 04 ; e ,

P o i c t i e rs b a t t l e , o f, 2 7 1 ,
2 93
-
2 94 . by r ry G eg o the r G ea t , 2 0 1 2 0 2 ; -

b sh o p 1 6 5 ; m urd e re d
P re t e xt a t u s , i , v s d by C s s
i ite o n t a n , 2 45 ; i ts i m
by F r d g u n d i s 1 6 81e e , r c c ury
p o ta n e i n t h e 7 t h e n t 27 6 ; ,

P r o c o p i us h i s t o r i a n S ecret H i, , s C u cl
o n i o f 2 84 b s d by
e ieg e , Lo m
t o ry o f , 6 7 . b rds
a hr
, 3 46 ; t d by r c s
e a te ne S a a en ,
P ro t a d i u s M a , yo r of B ur g un dy , 1 7 1 45 1 s r d by Ar ulf
to m e n 464 , .

1 73 . Ro m o a ld duk , v
e o f Be n e e n t o 2 44 , ,

P r o ve n c e k i n g d o m o f , . S ee Arl e s . 273 vc r s
i to i e o f, 2 7 4 .

R ulus
om d s d
A u g u s tu l u s e po e , 1 , .

RAD BO D duk e o f F r i si a 2 6 2 , , . c sv ll s b l
Ron e a e att e o f 3 5 3 , , .

R a d e l c hi s duk e o f Be n e v e t o c a lls
,
n , R o ri k D a n i
, sh ch f ie , 4 1 9 .

i n t h e M o rs 45 0 o , . R s u d
o am n f
wi e of Alb , o i n, 1 83 ;
R a g i n f e d m a y o r o f N e us t r i a 2 6 5 ;
r , , m urd rs e hi m 1 8 5 , .

r e b ls a g a i n st C h a rl e s M a r te l 9 0
e ,
2 . R o t h a ri , L o m ab rd k ing 1 96 ; h is ,

R a m n u l f c o u n t o f P o i ct i e rs usur p a
, , c qu s s
on e t l s
an d a w , 1 97 .

t io n o f, 49 8 , 5 0 1 . f , rt l
R o t h ru d i s W i e o f C h a rl e s M a e , 2 9 8 .

R a t ch i s , L o m b a rd k i n g 3 7 ; a bd i ,
2 Rud lf duk r b ls
o e,
, e e s t Ch rl s
a gain a e
ca t e s , 327 ; r e b e ls a g a i n s t D e s i l
t he S i m p e 5 03 ; k ing 5 04 , , .

d e riu s , 331 . I k i n g o f T ra n sju ra n e B u r

.
,

R a ve nna k by Th e o d o r i c 1 7 by
t a en , g u n dy 44 5 ; do es h o ma ge to
,

B e li s a r i us8 7 ; e x a rch a te o f 88 , , 1 , Ar n ulf 46 8 , .

19 9 8 ; t a k e n a n d l o s t by L u i t
0, 1 d e t hr o s B e r e g e r 46 7 ne n , .

p r a d 2 8 2 2 8 3 ; t a k e n by A i s t u l f
n R g i a n s d e fe a t d by O d a c e r 1 4
u e o
-
, , , .

3 2 7 g i v e n t o t h e P a p a cy by P i p p i n ,
Ru p e r t S t c o n v er t s t h e B a v a r ia n s
, .
, ,

2 63
g
31 . .

R c ca re d V i si g o t h i c k i n g , 1 40 ;
’
c o v e r t e d t o C a t h o l i c i sm
n , 1 42 ; S A I ON E S , ki n g s me n 2 2 1 3
or
‘ '

, , 1 .

r e i g n o f 1 43 l r duchy o f 45 ; o v e rru n by
—I I V i si g o t h i c k i n g 2 2 3 S a e no ,
, .
, 2

, . M o o rs 4 5 7 , .

P E R I OD I .
 ’

S3 0 E u r o/ fiem / H zs to f y , 4 7 6 9 1 8 -

Sa l a n F r a ks 5 6
i n , . S ig i m s u n d k i ng , of B ur gu n dy , 2 6 -2 7 ,

S a m o l e a d r o f S l a vs 1 7 7
, e , . 1 14 .

S a r a c e n s c n qu e r S yr i a a d E g y p t o n , Si lv r i us p o pe a n d t h e S e na t e i n v i te
e , ,

2 1 4 2 9 ; i n v a d e A fr i c Be l s a r i us t o R o m e 8 3
, 1
3 8 2 45 ; a , 2 , i , .

t a k e Ca r th a ge 2 5 1 i n v a d e S pa n , i , S i ro e s k i n g o f P e rs i a m urd e rs h i s
, ,

2 34 ; cr o ss t h e P yr e n e e s 2 7 1 , f t her 2 1
a ,
2 .

r a v a g e G a ul 9 2 ; d f a t e d a t ,
2 e e S i S b t V s i g o t h i c k i ng 2 2 2 ; h i s
i u , i ,

P o i c t e rs 2 93 ; b s i e g e C o n s t a t i
i , e n chro i cl e 2 2 ; r e i g n o f 2 3
n ,
2 , 2 .

n Op l 30 1 303 e, w a rs W l t h Ch a rl e s -
S ism d r e b e ls a g a s t S W i n t hi la
an in ,

t h e G r a t 3 5 2 3 64 3 6 5 e S ee l so , , ,
. a 1 7 9 2 24 m a de k ing 2 2 5
, , .

u n d e r M o o rs . S l a vs cr o ss t h e D n b e 1 5 1 5 2 ; w a rs
, an , 1 -

S a r g o ss
a F r a n ks d fe a t d a t 1 2 9 ;
a, e e , of w i t h t h e F r a n ks
, 178 ; W th , i

Ch a rl e s t h e G r e a t a t 3 5 2 , . L o m b rds 1 9 5 ; s e t t l e i n B a lk a n
a ,

S a u c ur t b a t t l e o f 4 3 9
o , .
p e n n sul a 2 4 ; d e fe a t e d by C o n
i , 0

S a x o s d e f a t C h lo t ha r
n , 1 0 ; ia e 2 s t a n s 2 4 1 ; c n qu e r d by B l
, o e u

v d e Aus t r a s ia 2 6 5 ; d e fe a t e d by
a , g a i a n s 2 4 8 subdu e d by C o n s t a n
r ,

Ch a rl e s M a r te l 2 6 7 8 9 2 9 7 ; , , 2 , t ine v 3 5 ; r e b e l a g a i n s t I re n e
.
, 1 ,

r e b e l a g a i s t P p p i t he S h o r t 3 2 3 ; n i n , 3 8 ; o n t h e Ba l t i c 3 6 0 ; c n qu e r e d
1 , o

subdu d by P i pp i n 3 3 2 ; by Ch a rl e s
e , by Ch a rl e s t h e G r a t 3 60 3 6 2 re e ,
-

t h e G r e a t 3 46 3 5 1 l a t e r r e b e ll io n s , , v l t fr o m t he F ra n ks 40 9 4 1 4 sub
o ,
-

of ,
35 5 36 6 r e be l a g a i n s t , du d by Ar n ulf 47 0
e , .

Le w s t he G r m a n 4 8 ; d f a te d
i e , 0 e e S o i ss o n s b a t t l o f 6 7 ; co uncil o f, e , 2 ,

by t he Da e s 43 4 ; r e b e l a g a i n s t n , 3 2 6 ; R o b r t o f F r a n c e sl a i n a t 5 04 e , .

C o n r a d i 47 6 .
, . S o l m a n c a l ph 2 5 4 ; s
i ds e x p e d i
, i , en

S ch i s m of E a s t e r n a d W e s te r n n t o i a ga ns t C o n s ta n t i no pl e 2 5 5 in , ,

Church s 4 5 3 e , .
3 00 .

S e b a t o p o li s b t t l e o f 2 5
s , a , 0 .
-
i b n -a l -
Ar a b i i n it e v s t he F r a n ks
S ecr et H i s t o ry ,
the . 67 , 68 . to S pa i n , 352 .

S e n a te the R o m a s e n ds e m b a ssy t o
, n ,
S o p ia Sth , . , church o f bur n t i n ,

Z e n o 1 ; t r ia l o f Bo e t h i us i n 3 0 ;
, ,
‘
Ni a n ot 73 ; k '

, r e bu i l t by Ju s
r e o r g i s e d by B a d i l 1 0 2
an u a , . t in ia n 90 , .

S e r g i us p a t r i a rch 2 0 7 2 8
, ,
-
0 . emp e 1 46 ; r ss , her r e g e n cy ,

p o p e r e fus s o b e d i e n c e t o J u s
, e 1 48 .

t in i a n 27 8 . S o p h ro n i u s P a i a , t r rch of J e rus a l e m ,

V .
, cr o wn s t h e e m pe o r r L ew i s 219 .

42 3 . S pa i n . S ee u n d e r V s ig o t hs i , Sa ra
S h a r b a rz P e ia n g e n e a 2 0 5 2 1 0
, rs r l ,
-
. cen s .

Si ac rd v t
o f B e ne e n o
, m e e , 45 0 ,
urd r d . S p o l e t o duchy o f 1 8 7 , .

S i co n u lf ,firs duk
t e o f S a e no a l r c lls ,
St au ra cn s sh o r t r e i g n o f 4 8 0 4 8 1 i , ,
-
.

i n t he M o ors 4 5 0 45 2 ,
-
. S t e p h a n us m n s t e r o f J us t i n i a n l l ,
i i

Si ic ly c qu r d by
on e e Be i a i 81 ; l s r us , 2 5 0 -2 5 1 .

s s
C o n t a n i n 2 45 ; a t t a e t he ,
ck d by S te p he n p o p e a sks a i d o f P i p p i n ,

Moo rs l
44 7 ; o ng w a ,
i n , 44 9 ; rs t he S ho rt 3 2 8 r e c e i v s t h e E xa ,
e r

fi lly r duc d by
na e e Mo o 46 0 rs , . ch a t e 3 3 1 ; m b a ssy t o C h a rl e s
,
e

S i e g fre d Vk ch f
i i ng ie 43 9 ; i n a e
, , v d s the G re t 3 3 8 a , .

Ne us t r ia 44 1 ;s b e ie g e Pa i , s rs ,
W cr o w s Le w i s t h e P io us
. n

44 2 3 87 .

S i g i h e rt in g o f o n
, a of k o K l lly Chl . v cr o w n s W i d o
. e m pe o r r , 46 3 .

d o ve c h 3 9 h is e a t , 6 4 d h p o p e , 46 5
vi
—
. . .
, ,

i 1 60 ; m a ie Br u n h ild i s , 1 6 1 ; rr s St a r sbur g Oa o f 40 9 , t hs , .

his war W i t Lo m a 1 63 ; Wi t h b rds h , S / r a t eg z e o n o f M a 5

i e, 1 0 ur c .

C hi l pe ri c h , 1 6 3 ; m e e 1 64 urd r d , . r
S t a teg o o fi e o f t h e , 2 43 s f c ,
.

m urd e r e d by C hl t h a o r S u a b ia n s ( a ma n n i ) e e Al r b l ag a inst
- the F an 262 r ks , subdu e d by
lll .
, k i ng of Aus t r a s i a , 179, P i p pin 11 2 6 2 a e by Ch rl s M ri ] a e ,

290 P i pp i n t he S o t by h r 223 , .
 I n d ex 53 1

S u ev i rs o f W i t h V i s ig o t hs 1 3 1
, wa , , a nd M a ce do n ke s t rms , 43 ; ma e

1 3 8 ; subdu e d by L e o v i g l d 1 39 i , . w ith ; i v a d e s I t a ly 1 6 ;
Z e no 4 3 , n ,

S u i d b e rt m i ss i o na ry t o H e ss e 2 6 3
, , , d e fe a t s O d o a c e r 1 7 8 ; k i g o f ,
-
1 n

29 1 . I t a l y 1 9 ; ch a r a c te r a d a d m n i s
, n i

S w i n t h il a i ig o , Vs th i c k i ng , 2 23 ; his t ra t i o of 21 2 2 ; fo r e i gn p o l cy
n , ,
i ,

Wa rs
2 24 3 7 0, , . 2 4 ; w a rs w i t h F r a ks a d B r n n u

S ya g ri u s e in , rul r Ga ul , 5 57 ;
-
sl a i n g n d i n s 2 6 6 0 ; k g o f S pa i
u a , , in n,

by C h l o d o ve c h , 58 .
7 ; t r o ubl e s o f h i s l a t e r y e a rs 2 9
2 , ,

y
S mma e e chus x cu t e d by Th e o d o r i c
, , 30 ; d ath 3 2 e , .

Th eo d o s i us br o t h e r o f C o n s t a n s 2 4 1
i
1 .
, , .

Sy a cu se , C o n s t a n s m urd e r e d a t , Iii e m pe r o r 254 ; a bd i c a t e s , ,

2 46 b e s i g e d by t h e M o o rs 448 e , 2 55 .

t a k e n by t h e M o o rs 46 0 , . T h e o d o ta , Wi fe of Co s ta n t i nen vi .
,

S yr i a i n v a d e d by K o b a d 6 9 ; by
, , 3 19
C ho s o es 9 2 c o n qu e r e d b v S a r a
r , Th o d o t us
e , m in i s t r o f J us t i
e n ia n
c en s 2 1 8 , . 2 5 0 -2 5 1 .

Th e p h i lus e m p e r o r 4 8 6 ; w a rs w i t h
o , ,

T AG I N AE , a t t e o f 1 04 b l , . S a r a c e n s 4 8 7 fa v o urs I c o n o cl a s m
, ,

T a ra s i u s , p a t i a 318 r rch , .
48 8 m a rr i a g e o f 4 8 8 , .

T ss l
a i o, e v r
of r b ls
Ba a i aduk e e , T h eu d e b al d k n g o f F r a ks 1 1 8 ; , i n ,

a g ain st h r
P i ppi n t h e S o t 332 ,
i v a d e s I t a ly 1 0 6
n , .

r y
t ea t t h Ch rl s
of wi a e r th e G e a t ,
, duk e o f S u a b i a r e b el s a g a i n s t ,

337 ; d s de po e 3 56 , . P i p pi n 3 2 3 , .

T e ia Go th c c u
,
i k
o n t , 1 03 ; i ng o f th e T h e u d e b e rt I k i n g o f R i p u a ri a .
, ,

Go t hs sl
1 04 ; a in
, 1 04 , . v d s I t a ly 8 6 1 1 6 1 1 7
1 1 6 ; in a e , ,
-
.

T e m po ar l r cy
p o w e o f t he p a p a its , 11 k i n g o f Aus t r a s i a 1 7 1 ,

c c
o m m e n e me n t s bl sh d
1 97 e ta i e ,
wa r w i t h T h e u d e ri c h 1 7 3 , .

by Ch rl s a e r
t h e G e a t , 3 44 . T h e u d e i ch I k i n g o f Aus t r a s i a
r .
, ,

ul r k
T e rb e l B g a i a n i n g , 3 0 2
, . 1 1 1
; c o n qu e rs Thur i n g i a 1 3 ; , 1

b l
T e s t ry, a t t e o f , 2 6 0 . deat h 1 1 6 , .

f h r
T e u t b e rg a W i e o f L o t a i , 42 8 . k i n g o f B ur gu n dy 1 7 2 ,

h
T e me s cr t e a i o n o f t h e , 2 42 ; m a p
,
h i s w a r W i t h T h e u d e b e rt 1 7 3 , .

o f t he As c ia t i 2 43 , . k i n g o f Aus t r a s i a 2 5 8 2 5 9 ,
-
,

T h e o ct i st u s c u o nt st r m in i e , of , 2 64 .

ch
M i a el urd r d
m e e , 49 0 . 1V last of the M e ro vi n g s , 268

h ck
T he o da h a t G o t i urd rs
ing , 80 m ,
e 297 .

A l s h
m a a w i n t a 8 0 ; a t wa r w i t h ,
T he u d i s , r e g e n t i n S pa i n 2 7 ; k i g , n

us s d sl
J t i n ia n , 8 1 d e po e a n d a i n , of t he V i s i g o t hs 1 1 5 1 8 h i s , , 2

82 . d e fe a t i n Afr i c a 1 3 2 sl a i n 1 3 3 , , ,

T h e o d el i n d a , w i e o f Au t h a ri , 1 9 3 ; f T h e u d i g i s e l v i c t o ry o f a t S a r a g o ss a
, ,

o f A g il u l f 1 9 4 - 1 9 5 , . 119 1 9 ; k i g o f V i s i g o t hs
,
2 133 n ,

Th d r f us
eo o a , w i e o f J t in i a n , 6 6 ; h e r sl a i n,

early l f ch r c r
i e 67 ; a a t e , 6 8 ; co n
,
Th e d o a l d g r a n ds o n o f P i pp i n
u ,
’
duc dur t k r
in g Ni a io t , 79
d h eat 1 06 , . Th o m a s r e b els , a g a in st M i ch a e l
f Th h lus
Wi e o f r ss
eo p i , em p e 484 .

r e g en t , r s r s
4 88 ; e to e i m a g e wo r -
r ds o f i n I r e l an d 4 1 8
T ho rg i sl , a i , , .

sh b sh d
i p , 489 ; ani e , 49 0 . T h ra sa m u n d ,Va d a l k i g 2 8 n n , .

Th d r br h r
eo o e , r cl us
ot e of He a i , ‘
Thr e Ch a p t ers o f J us t i n i a 1 0 7
e
'
n

Thur i g ia c o n q u e r e d by T he u d e
, .

n ,

Th e o d o r i c so n o f T i a iu s r e b e ls
, r r ,
r i ch 1 3 r c o ve rs i t s i d e pe n d 1 e n

a g a i st Z eno 41n m a k e s t er m s , e n ce 6 1 ; c o n v e r t e d t o Chr i s t i a n i t y

,
2 ,

wi t h h i m 4 d ea th 43 ,
2 , .

s o n o f T h e o d o m i r e a rly l i fe o f , , T i b e r i us C o n st a n t i n us e m pe r o r , ,

42 t a k e s a r m s a g a i n s t Th e o d o r i c , 1 48 ; m a k e s p e a c e w i t h Av a rs ,

s o n o f T ri a ri u s 4 1 r a v ag e s Thr a c e , 1 49 .
532 E n ro ea n p H i s to ry 4 7 6 9 1 8 ,
-

T i b e r i us Apsi m a u s e m pe r o r 2 5 2 ; r , , crush e s r e b ll i o n o f P a ulus 2 2 9 ; e ,

x cu t e d 2 5 3
e e , . h i s l a w s 2 3 ; d e po s e d 2 3 1 , 0 , .

T o t i l a S e B d u ila
. e a . V V rn h e r M a y o r o f Aus t r a s i
a ac 76 , a, 1 .

To ul o us e S a r a c e n s d e fe a t d a t 2 7 1
, e , c a l i p h 49 0 , .

D n s a t 420
a e c o u n t y o f 49 7 , , . W e l d ca l ph 2 5 4
'
i , i , .

T a n s i m u n d duk e f S po l e t o r e b e ls
r , o ,
\ V n ds t h e i r w
e ,w ith Da g o be rt 1 7 8 ar , .

g a i st L u i t p a n d 2 8 5
a n r VV e e g e l d a m o n g t h F r a n ks 1 2 5 1 2 6
r e -
, . , .

T r e v i so b t t l o f 9 6 a e VV e t p h h
s s w rs o f W i t h Ch a rl s
a an a e

T b o i n q u ae s t o r o f J us t i n i a n 7 1
, , .
, ,

ri n a , t h e G r e a t 3 49 3 5 4 ,
-
.

’
,

a i ds J us t n i a n s l e g a l r e fo r m s 1 0 i
9 , .
W t t n o f R i ch n a u v i s i o n o f 3 42
e i e e , , .

Tru e C o ss t h e c a rr ie d o ff by P e r
r , W i d o a s pi r e s t o F r e n ch t hr o ne 444 ,

s s
ra n 5 w o n b ck by H e r a
,
20 , a e x p e l s B yz a n t ne s fr o m B e n v e n t i e o ,

li u s
c 1 ; r e s t o r e d t o J e rus a l e m
, 2 2 46 ; w rs W i t h Be re n g a r 46 3
0 a ,

2 17 t k n t o C o n s ta n t i n o p l e 2
a e W i t h Ar ul f 4 6 0 ; e m p e r o r 4 6 3 n
9 , 1 . , , .

Tul g a ’V s g o t h i c k i n g 2 2 5
, i i , . \ V i l frid o f Y o rk 59 ,
2 .

T y pe t h e o f C o n s t a s
, 4 , n . 2 1 . W ll a m c o u t o f T o ul o us 3 6 5
i i , n e , .

a p o s t le o f Fr s 263 i ia ,

U R i AS Go t i h c ch f ta k e s M l a n 8 6
ie , , i , . s e ds m i ss i o n a r i e s t o G e r m a n y
n ,

rs
U o Be n e e n a n
, v t d uk e 46 0 , . 290-2 9 1 .

t r ch
U e t se e o f o n f u d e d 3 3 0 ; s a ck e d
, , , W i l t z e s subdu e d by C h a rl e s t h e
by s
D a n e , 4 00 4 3 9 , . G re t a ,
3 60 ; subdu e d by t he D a n s e ,

36 1 367
-
.

VA N DAL S i Afr i c a 8 ; t a bl e o f k i ng s n , fa c e S ee Bo n i .

of 12 ;
, t h e r o pp r e ss i v e g v e r i o n W i n t ri o duk r e b ll i o n o f 1 7 2 e , e
, , .

m e n t 8 ; d e s t r o y d by Be l i s a r us 7 9
, 2 e i
,
.
W it g s t O st r g o t h ic
e . k i ng 8 2 o ,
O
I

V a hnes
ar P e rs a n usur p e r 51. i , 1 . b e s i g s R o m 8 3 subdu e d by
e e e,
V e rd e m a ss a cr e o f 3 4 3 5 5
n, , 2 , . Be l i s r us 8 7 at a k e n c a pt i v e t o
i ,

V e rdu n p r t i t o n t r e a t y o f 4 9
, a i -
,
0 . C o n s ta n t i n pl 8 8 o e , ,

V r e i nam p r ss 3 8 44
,
e e , , .
W i tik i d S a x ch i e f 3 5 1 ; l ds
n ,
on . ea
V e r o n a h e ld by G o t hs 8 7 ; t a k e n by , S a x o n s a g a i n s t Ch rl e s t h e G r e a t a ,

L o m b a rds 1 8 5 ; t a k e n by Ch a rl e s ,
3 5 3 3 5 4 ; sub m i t s t o Ch a rl e s 3 5 5
-
, .

t h e G e a t 3 47 ; B e re ng a r b e s i e g e d
r , W ti i V s ig o t h c k i ng 2 3 1
za ,
i i , .

i n 46 7, .
W i t t i h r e b e ll i o n o f
er c , Vi s i ,

V é s é ro n c e a tt e o f 1 1 4 , b l , .

go t h ic k i g n ,
221 .

V l us
igi i p o pe i m p i o n e, , rs d by J us t i W u l fo a l d M y o r o f Aus t r a s ia 2 5 8 ;
, a ,
ma n 1 0 7 , .
r e s t o r e s Da g o b e r t 259 .

V k s fi rs r v a g e s
i ing , t de a o f, 400 ;
scr f he 4 4
i pt i o n o t 1 17 ; ai o f, i n ,
-
r ds Y E R MA K b a t t l e o f t h e 2 1 8 , , .

I re l a n d 4 1 7 4 1 8 ; i n E ng a n , 418
-
l d ,
Y e s d g d l a s t k i n g o f P e rs i a 2 1 9
i er , , ,

43 ; i 1 Ge r m
n y 4
an 1
9 4 3 8 ; i n LO ,
-
238 .

t h a ri n g i a 4 9 46 9 ;
1 -
in N e t ia , us r ,
Y ussuf i v d s G ul n a e a , 296 .

4 1 9 44 2 ;
-
on e No ma n 501 c qu r r dy ,

kh u s
.

V cy b t l
in at e o f 2 6 7 .
Z A B E RG A N a n o f t he H n , 1 0 8 , .

th
, ,

V s hs dr v
i ig o t i en o m Ga 62 ; in fr ul ,
Z ch r s
a a ia p o pe m a e p e a e w i , , k s c
S pa i n 1 2 8 e o me C a ,
o i 1 42 b c t h l cs ,
b rds
Lo m a 2 87 ; e n o ag e P i pp i n , c ur s
v r
g o e n m e n o f t he 2 2 1 on e e t , c qu r d tos z r
ei e F an i o wn 326 ; k sh cr ,

by M o o rs 3 4 2 k s c
m a e pe a e W i t Ra t ch is 3 2 7 h , .

ch r c t r sr t
, .

V i t a l ia n po p e 4 5 2 7 7 ,
2 - Z e no a a ,
e a nd a m i n i t a io n d
subdu s r b ll s
, .

c o u n t r e b e ll i n o f 5 1 sl a i n 5 3 o , , .
o f, 3 7 ; e e e i o n o f Ba i
k s d c r
,

l i s cu s 38 39 ; ma e
, O oa e -

\V A 1F E 1t duk e o f Aqu i t a i n e
'
, r e b e ls , rc
P a t i ia n 1 3 9 ; w a W i t t he t wo , , rs h
a g a inst P i p pi t he S ho rt 332 ; n ,
Th d r cs
eo o i 42 ; en eo o i , s ds Th d r c
sl a 3 3 7 in, . to I ly
ta 1 5 -4 5 ; hi s e e ia i a
, ccl s st c l
d k f S a l r no 45 8
u e o e , .
po i l cy 45 ; d eat 45 ,
h , .

\Va l a c o u n t , e x i l d by Le w i s t h e , e Z ia d e t All h
a Moo i i n g , 44 8 ; , r sh k
P i o us 3 86 ; r e c a ll d , 3 9 ; co n e , 1 v d s c ly
in a e Si i 44 9 , .

s pi r e s a g a n s t L w i s 3 9 4 ; ba n i sh d i e . e l ot t o fi t rs duk ,
e o f Be n e e n t o 1 87 v ,

t o C o rb y 3 9 5 ; d e t h 3 9 9 e , a , . Z we n t i b o l d k i n g o f L o t h a ri n g i a , ,

V i s g o t li i c k i n g 227 28 ,
-
2 r b ll s
47 0 ; e e i o n o f 4 7 2 , .