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Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for CHARLEMAGNE commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1915 by Florence Austin. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE ANCIENT GERMANS AND ROME ................................ 4 ALARIC THE GOTH AND ATTILA THE HUN ...................... 11 THE RISE OF THE FRANKS ............................................... 18 CHARLEMAGNE ................................................................ 23 THE DIVISION OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE ................ 31 THE RISE OF THE THREE GREAT KINGDOMS ................. 34 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS ................................................. 42 HENRY THE EMPEROR ..................................................... 46 GREGORY THE POPE ........................................................ 52 IN THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY ............................................. 58 THE CRUSADES ................................................................. 63 FREDERICK THE RED-BEARD .......................................... 69 RUDOLPH OF HABSBURG ................................................. 78 THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION ................................. 90 MARTIN LUTHER THE REFORMER .................................. 97 THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR ............................................. 107 THE AFTERMATH ........................................................... 122 Original Copyright 1915 by Florence Austin. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 and from the Rhine to the Vistula and even beyond, into the CHAPTER I land which we now call Russia. Impenetrable forests covered the land; huge oak, pine, THE ANCIENT GERMANS and beech trees formed giant barriers which were rendered the more mysterious by the dense fog and mist peculiar to that AND THEIR STRUGGLE WITH ROME damp, cold country. And through the gloomy forests, underneath the giant trees, flowed great rivers, with here and I there waterfalls and torrents which gave sound and life to the vast wilderness. But in the desolate tracts that lay far remote The name of Julius Caesar, warrior and conqueror, has from these large rivers, and from the cultivated lands, the been renowned through the ages, and its fame has suffered no country was mainly swamp where black mid oozed from moss eclipse to this day. In the earlier part of the century before the and rushes, and silence brooded over the misty scene. birth of Jesus Christ, Cesar reduced to submission a large part Imagination could conceive no land more desolate than of Europe, securely established the foundations of the Roman the grey, cold forests of ancient Germany. Wolves and big Empire, and was penetrating into Asia and North Africa when brown bears lurked in the shadows, huge wild oxen emerged he was struck down in the year 44 B.C. After his death his to drink at the rivers, fierce boars multiplied undisturbed under nephew, the Emperor Augustus, who succeeded him, sent the cover, and in the air eagle and falcon wheeled and governors to rule all those broad lands that had become subject screamed above their nests among the rocks. to Rome. The Germans who inhabited this land were tall and Augustus was still Emperor when Jesus Christ was very powerfully built, they had bright blue eyes, fair born. The country of the Jews formed part of his realm, and he complexions and flaxen hair, which the freemen wore uncut it was who took that census of his people which caused Joseph and flowing loosely on the shoulders. and Mary to journey to Bethlehem. One of the governors whom Augustus sent to rule in Palestine was Pontius Pilate, The clothing of both sexes was very simple, consisting the judge who delivered Christ to suffer death at the hands of of a sleeveless woollen tunic which covered only the body, the Jews. leaving arms and legs entirely unprotected. In the winter they also wore a cloak of wool, fastened with a brooch, or, more Now the Romans were ever a warlike and ambitious simply, with a sharp spike of thorn. In some parts of the race, and they sought to extend the empire won by Julius country, in place of the woollen garments, the men wore skins Caesar, never resting from their labour of conquest, never of animals, so arranged that the grinning tusks of the boar or seeking content in the blessings of peace. And having subdued the horns of the wild ox rested on the head and enhanced the many tribes in Gaul, they found themselves confronted by the fierceness of the gleaming eyes beneath. race to which they gave the name of Germans. The Germans did not dwell in numbers, side by side in The territory of the Germans was large, extending from towns and villages, but each chose a lonely stream and the frozen Baltic and the North Sea southward to the Danube, meadow, and built a single farm; sometimes a tiny hamlet of two or three such dwellings would appear. Original Copyright 1915 by Florence Austin. 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 Their houses were primitive huts of mud and timber, with skins for clothes and bedding, horns which they bound thatched with straw or rushes, and surrounded by a palisade of with silver and used as drinking-vessels, and flesh to eat. tree trunks or a hedge of thorn, protection alike from beast and The care of the household and children, together with than. the cultivation of crops, was left in the hands of the women, Over the doorway and at the gates hung antlers of deer, who also superintended the work of the slaves; the latter horses' skulls or ox-horns, trophies of the forest hunting, farmed the land for their lords, retaining a small proportion of supposed to ward off from the dwelling evil spirits who might the products for their own use. send disease on, man or beast, blight on crops, or defeat in war The Germans were brave in war, faithful to their lords and council. and kinsmen, to their wife and family, honest in dealing, and The interior of the dwelling of one large room, at the, so truthful that even their enemies declared of them that their further end of which a fire burned under the large cauldron word was as good as an oath. Their love of freedom was hanging from a chain. Chimney or window there was none. intense and their hospitality unbounded. To no guest was The smoke found a way through a small hole in the roof, or shelter ever refused, and if the father of the family found wound in lazy clouds around the blackened timbers of the himself unable to offer what his guest desired, he would speed ceiling. Seats for the master and his guests were placed beside him on his way with parting gifts, or lead him in safety to the, hearth, and rough benches round the walls served for the another farm, where he would be gladly received and family and slaves. furnished with the best that the household could afford. Here they lived, eating the wild berries, roots, and The defects of the German character were great herbs of the forest, the flesh of wild animals and the products laziness and a passion for gambling and strong drink. of their fields. For they cultivated oats and barley, and their wine was unknown except to the few who lived near wealth consisted of large flocks of sheep, small, stunted cattle, the navigable rivers and could exchange their goods for the and swift, shaggy ponies, small in size but hardy and strong. precious casks that came from sunnier lands, for the German War was the ancient Germans' joy. They knew no fear, climate, generally speaking, was too raw and cold for the and in the heat of battle they would fling aside their shields, cultivation of the vine. rushing unprotected on the foe. They fought with sword and But from their own grain and heather-honey they lance, and happy was the youth who, perfected in the use of brewed strong beer and heady mead. It was thought no shame weapons, received publicly the arms of a full-grown man, and for warriors and huntsmen, when their tasks were done, to henceforth took his place beside his father in the fight. Even throw themselves upon the bearskins and spend days and the women would not be left at home in time of war, but nights in one long riot of excess.