46
A bitter race antagonism1 had long prevailed between the Franks and the Saxons. As already related, the latter had been subjugated2 by Charlemagne’s predecessors4 and forced to pay tribute. Saxony extended along both sides of the Weser, westerly to the vicinity of the lower Rhine, southwesterly to the Harz[26] and the Unstrut,[27] and northerly to the ocean, except the country occupied by the Frisians. Four races inhabited Saxony—the Westphalians, living between the Weser and the Issel; the Eastphalians, on the right bank of the Weser to the Elbe; the Eugen, between both these; and the Northmen, or Nordalbingi,[28] who lived on both sides of the Elbe. “Phalen” or “Falen” means a great plain, and one of these names (Westphalia) is in use to-day.
47
The Saxons were not far advanced in civilization. The hatred5 which they entertained against the Germans, who had been converted to Christianity by Boniface[29] and other missionaries7, had caused them to break off friendly intercourse8 with their ancestral associates. They worshipped Odin and other heathen divinities in their forests, as of old. Charlemagne conducted his campaign against them, not so much in the interest of religion as to overthrow9 the power of a dangerous neighbor, before he went to Italy to subjugate3 Desiderius. He invaded Saxony and occupied Eresburg, in the vicinity of which was Irminsul, the mystic idol10 revered11 by the Saxons.[30] Its significance is still doubtful. Some maintain that it typified the world-ash tree “Ygdrasil,” whose trunk, the Germans believed, was rooted in the underworld and whose branches shadowed Odin’s palace, Walhalla. Others contend that it was a memorial of Arminius who freed Germany from the Roman yoke12. The Irminsul was demolished13 by the Franks. The Saxons at last sued for peace, which Charlemagne granted after they had given him twelve hostages. Then he retired14 with his army.
48
After this opening success over the Saxons, Charlemagne began his campaign against Desiderius; but hardly had he deposed15 the Lombardian King before he received the news that the Saxons, in violation16 of their promise to remain peaceable, had invaded Hesse and were laying it waste. He appeared among them so suddenly and in such force that they were again easily overcome. Once more they submitted, sent him hostages, and were pardoned. It was not his good fortune, however, to enjoy the fruits of victory long. An uprising in Italy, led by Adalgis, son of Desiderius, who had previously17 escaped, as has been related, next confronted him. Adalgis betook himself to the court of the Greek Emperor to seek his assistance, and made an alliance with his brother-in-law Arighis, Duke of Benevento,[31] who had married the rejected Desiderata. By this alliance he secured the help of the other Italian nobles, who had been left undisturbed upon condition of remaining loyal. The landing of Adalgis with his Greek auxiliaries18 was the signal for an uprising. Upon receipt of the news of his enemy’s designs from the Pope, Charlemagne hastened to Italy. Only one of the nobles, however, Duke Rotgund in Friaul, had ventured to take up arms, and he was quickly defeated, taken prisoner, and made to do penance19 the rest of his life. The remaining nobles were stripped of their possessions and the country was divided into earldoms, governed by Frankish nobles.
49
As soon as the Saxons learned that Charlemagne was engaged in Italy, throwing their promises to the winds, they rose again, destroyed a number of Christian6 churches, and advanced to lay siege to Eresburg, which was occupied by the Franks. Failing to capture the stronghold by assault, they resorted to trickery. By a pretended retreat they induced the Franks to make a sally, then turned upon them, slaughtered20 them, and demolished the fortress21. A few of the garrison22 saved themselves by flight to Siegburg on the Ruhr,[32] which was attacked by the Saxons without success. Charlemagne, in the meantime, having returned from Italy, suddenly appeared in Saxony and overcame all opposition23. He once more pardoned those who implored24 mercy, restored Eresburg, and built the fortress of Lippestadt. To appease25 the King, several of the nobles, among them Bruno, son-in-law of Wittekind,[33] accepted Christian baptism and remained as hostages with the King. Charlemagne did not avenge26 this disloyalty upon his hostages, but continued his efforts to overcome opposition by mild measures which were not altogether satisfactory to his leaders. In his opinion the time had not yet come to undertake forcible conversions27, for he was convinced that Christian belief and faith could not be imposed by violence. He was fully29 resolved to Christianize the Saxons, but he had other methods in view of bringing about that result. He was equally determined30 that the Saxons should become a political element in the great German nation, but he was cautious about taking any measures that were not absolutely necessary.
50
It was Charlemagne’s custom to call an annual assembly of the leaders of his people upon the Champ de Mai[34] to discuss affairs of state. He decided31 that year (777) to hold it in Saxony, and selected for its locality the district at the source of the Lippe near Paderborn. He hoped the Saxons would regard this gathering32 as a peace measure. Their leaders were invited to participate and appeared in a body, with the exception of Wittekind, who bitterly hated the Franks. He had escaped after the defeat; and as Adalgis sought assistance from the Greek Emperor, so he appealed to his brother-in-law Siegfried, King of Denmark, to aid him.
The Saxon chiefs beheld33 Charlemagne for the first time in the majesty34 of peaceful surroundings. Heroes of the sword and dignitaries of the Church were gathered around his throne. Many of these chiefs willingly acknowledged such a master. It happened also that a Moorish35 Embassy from Spain was in Paderborn at this time. The Saxons beheld the newcomers with astonishment36, so different was their splendid attire37 from that of the northern peoples. The Moorish leaders had come to seek the help of Charlemagne against Abderrahman, Caliph of Cordova, and promised to transfer their allegiance to him in case he freed them from his power. Charlemagne was glad of the opportunity to interpose in Spanish affairs. He promised to help the petitioners38, and in the meantime decided to demand a district in northern Spain for himself as a defence, in case of emergency, against the Moors39 of the southern part. The Saxons for the first time realized the wide extent of his authority and fame. How could they longer withstand him, they asked themselves. Ozanam says:
51
“Many of them swore allegiance and promised to surrender their country and their freedom if they violated their word. Many renounced40 idol worship and were baptized. A multitude of men, women, and children went down to the river in white garments, accompanied by chanting priests, and came back Christians41; at their head the priests and monks42, who had thus laid the foundations of the Christian Saxon Church. The world rejoiced at the conversion28.”
No one was more delighted than Charlemagne. It heightened his hope and enthusiasm when he set out upon the Spanish expedition the following year. He crossed the Pyrenees, overcame Pampeluna and Barcelona, and made Navarre, Aragon, and Catalonia subject to his authority. Saragossa was next invested, and after a short resistance its people submitted to him and gave hostages and tribute. Thereupon he made northeastern Spain, as far as the Ebro, the limit of the Frankish kingdom in Spain, and established a barrier against the Moors, intending thereby43 to discourage pagan invasions and prevent the disturbance44 of the Christian world, as his grandfather had done before him.
52
Unfortunate news from home forced Charlemagne to leave Spain. While crossing the Pyrenees a part of his army met with serious disaster. The rear guard, led by Roland, was ambushed45 in a narrow valley near Roncesvalles by the Basques and slaughtered to the last man. It was impossible to offer resistance, for the enemy occupied an impregnable position on the heights, from which they rolled down huge rocks and hurled46 showers of missiles. The hero Roland and his brave comrades, the paladin Anschelm and the seneschal Eckart, who were slain47, were celebrated48 at a later period in song and romance. Charlemagne undoubtedly49 would have turned back to avenge them had not a new Saxon uprising forced him to return as speedily as possible. He soon defeated the Saxons and laid waste their country to the Elbe. The usual result followed. Wittekind fled, the Saxons took the oath of allegiance and gave securities.
53
Charlemagne well knew that the roots of the Saxon animosity were grounded in their heathen religion. He determined to eradicate50 it by force. His scheme was to pardon only those who consented to be baptized and to remain faithful to the Christian faith. Death should be the penalty of participation51 in the heathen service. Forcible measures of this kind, imposed for the purpose of changing ideas and sentiments, are improper52, it is true; but under existing circumstances it seemed the only preventive of their constant uprisings. It also promised to be of great advantage, as the younger generation would be influenced by the abandonment of the heathen religion to become loyal.
54
Charlemagne not only determined to introduce Christianity, but Frankish laws as well. Saxony was divided into districts to which Frankish chiefs were assigned. He deemed it of the highest importance that a people who had violated their obligations so frequently should be restrained by severe measures. The immediate53 outcome of this, however, was the almost complete destruction of a division of the Frankish army and the massacre54 of four princes and twenty distinguished55 nobles, by the Saxons, led by Wittekind and his brother Albion. Charlemagne’s grief at their loss was as intense as his anger against the Saxons. His patience was exhausted56. He determined that justice should be inexorable in dealing57 with these murderers and perjurers. If he overlooked their bloody58 deed it would only incite59 the Saxons to perpetrate fresh atrocities60. He determined to execute a penalty severe enough to intimidate61 the Saxons ever after, and to protect those who might be exposed to danger if the guilty went free. Charlemagne acted upon the theory that a judge who releases a murderer is equally guilty if that murderer commits fresh crimes. He put down the uprising at once; and when the Saxons as usual implored mercy and charged Wittekind (who had again fled) with the blame, he demanded the surrender of the guilty persons. They were tried by a military court, found guilty, and beheaded. Four thousand five hundred in one day! This was the massacre at Verden![35]—a grewsome deed!
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1
antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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subjugated
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| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subjugate
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| v.征服；抑制 | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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6
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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7
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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8
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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13
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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14
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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17
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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20
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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23
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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26
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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27
conversions
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| 变换( conversion的名词复数 )； （宗教、信仰等）彻底改变； （尤指为居住而）改建的房屋； 橄榄球（触地得分后再把球射中球门的）附加得分 | |
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28
conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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29
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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30
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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31
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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32
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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33
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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34
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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35
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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37
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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38
petitioners
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| n.请求人，请愿人( petitioner的名词复数 )；离婚案原告 | |
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39
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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40
renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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41
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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42
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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43
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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44
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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45
ambushed
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| v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 )；埋伏着 | |
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46
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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47
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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48
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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49
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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50
eradicate
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| v.根除，消灭，杜绝 | |
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51
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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52
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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53
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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54
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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55
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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56
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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57
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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58
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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59
incite
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| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
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60
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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intimidate
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| vt.恐吓，威胁 | |
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