Pomeranian Gods Part III – Ottonis Vita Second Tour (Conclusion)

With this post we conclude the Life of Otto (for part I see here, for part II see here).

Ebbo IX

[Temples at Gutzkow]

“The Apostle of Pomerania, after spending the following week in spreading the knowledge of the faith and in handing on baptismal grace in this town, appointed over its inhabitants the devout priest John. He then made for another town called Chozegow [Gutzkow], which contained temples of great beauty and marvellous design, in the building of which the citizens of this town had spent three hundred talents.”

“They offered our blessed father a very large sum of money if he would refrain from destroying them and would keep them whole and uninjured as an ornament to the place. This the man of God altogether refused to do, as he declared that he could by no means agree to preserve these sacrilegious buildings which after his departure would give rise to apostasy and be the cause of ruin to those who were weak. He said that he would not become responsible in the sight of God for this offense.”

Herbordus VII

[Temples at Gutzkow – Herbordus version]

“He then bade good bye to all the people (at Hologost), and having with much affection committed them to the Almighty God, he turned towards Gozgaugia [Gutzkow]. In this town was a temple of great size and beauty.  When the bishop spoke to its inhabitants concerning the Christian faith through an interpreter for the Duke had already left him on his own business they declared that they were prepared for anything if only their temple might remain intact, for it had been recently built at great expense, and they were very proud of it because it appeared to be an ornament to the whole town. They made attempts secretly and sent some men to try to soften the disposition of the bishop by gifts in the hope that the building might be preserved. Finally they asked that it might be altered and used as a church.”

“But the bishop consistently maintained that it was unfitting that a building that had been erected and called by the name of a demon, and that had been profaned by indecent rites, should be transferred to the service of God: ‘For what concord has Christ with Belial?’* or ‘what hath the temple of God in common with an idol temple?’  He spake also a parable unto them,  ‘Do you sow your wheat on top of brambles and thorns?  I think not.  If then you root up the thorns and thistles from your fields in order that, when good seed has been sown, they may bring forth the wished-for crops, so is it right that this root of idolatry be utterly destroyed from among you in order that from the good seed of the gospel your hearts may bear fruit unto eternal life.’  With these and other similar words he continued day after day, in season and out of season, to entreat, denounce and accuse, till at length he so far influenced the minds of the pagans that they themselves with their own hands demolished the images and broke up this accursed building, concerning which the discussion had arisen.“

* note: this does not mean that Slavs worshipped Belial (whether or not that is the same deity as Baal) – Otto’s exclamation is a quote from 2 Corinthians 6:15. 

Ebbo X

[The Guetzkow Gods Turn the Other Cheek]

“At the very time that he was destroying these shrines of marvellous workmanship in the town of Chozegow [Guetzkow] certain honourable messengers from Duke Adalbert arrived, who carefully examined his condition, and at the same time there came messengers from his own farms at Muecheln and Schidingen, who brought him the supplies that had been promised. When they perceived the grace of God and saw that the Church there was growing and becoming strong they were filled with great joy and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.  And indeed it was a joyous sight when images of great size and marvellously sculptured, covered too with most beautiful designs, which many yoke of oxen could hardly move, had their hands and feet cut off, their eyes dug out and their nostrils mutilated, and were drawn down to a certain bridge to be burnt with fire, while the supporters of the idols stood by and with loud ejaculations exclaimed that help should be given to their gods and that the wicked subverters of their country should be cast down from the bridge and drowned.  Others who were of wise counsel protested that if these were indeed gods they should be able to defend themselves; inasmuch as they kept silence and could not even move out of their place except when drawn, it was clear that they altogether lacked feeling and actual life.

The idol priests, however, endeavoured to stir up discord in order to secure their own gain. For, as we read in the prophet Daniel, dishes of food and drink of every kind and in great abundance were placed in front of these large projecting images, all of which the priests and their friends declared were consumed by the gods, though they had themselves secretly entered and taken them away.”

Ebbo XI

[The Attack of the Giant Flies and How They Fled to Rugia]

“But we must not omit to relate the miracle which was manifested while these shrines were being destroyed.  For, all of a sudden, whilst many people were standing by, flies of unusual size, such as were never before seen in that land, rushed from the ruins of the idols in such vast numbers that they darkened the whole of the district round the city and seemed to obscure the daylight by a hideous darkness, and, as by their fierce onslaught they distressed the eyes and lips of all, they caused to those who saw them no small horror.  When, however, they were driven away by violent slaps of the hand, they kept coming on with no less insistence, till at length as the believers sung aloud the praises of God and carried round the standard of the Cross, a detestable monster fled out of the open doors and with utmost speed made for the country of the barbarians who are called Ruthenians [he means Rugians].”

“In the opinion of all who were wise this portent clearly presaged the expulsion of the devils, of which Beelzebub, that is the man of flies, was chief, for these devils could not endure the grace of Christ which was brought by these new teachers, and when they were denied any resting place in these parts, they went to the Ruthenians [Rugians] who were still ensnared in pagan error.”

Ebbo XII

[Of Mizlaus, the Chief of Guetzkow]

“When then the idol shrine had been destroyed and the people had been gathered into the bosom of Mother Church by the washing of regeneration, the holy preacher began to build a new church for Christ.  There came to its dedication the chief of this place called Mizlaus, who, at the conference that was held at Pentecost in Uznoim [Uznam], had with other chiefs received the grace of baptism, and to them the good bishop spoke through his interpreter Adalbert, who afterwards became a bishop.”

[there follows an account of Otto freeing Christian captives and Mizlaus trying to negotiate for one particularly valuable Danish hostage; then Otto prevents the invasion of Pomerania by the Poles of Boleslav III and mediates their peace treaty; after that it’s back to the business at hand]

Ebbo XV 

[Onto Stettin/Szczecin]

“The apostle of the Pomeranians, who wisely considered that the will of God was hereby revealed, but who judged the Ucranians [people on the River Ukra/Uker] unworthy to hear the word of salvation, directed his journey to the people of Szczecin/Stettin who, as we have already said, had apostatized from the faith, although many who were faithful to Christ and were his friends would have recalled him from this attempt.  For the idol priests had stirred up all the apostate people to seek with one accord his death.”

He himself being eager for martyrdom and perceiving that none of his companions would venture to undertake this task, gathered together on a certain day his episcopal clothes, and placing them on his neck started on the journey alone, and seeing a boat that happened to be passing he paid his passage money and went on board with all speed.”

“When, in accordance with the divine will, Udalricus discovered what had happened, he immediately told his companions, who followed him with quick steps, the first being Adalbert the interpreter, who caught him up and compelled him to return, though he was unwilling and strove to resist. He groaned deeply, and bitterly deplored his capture, and said that he deserved now to have companions from amongst his attendants on this dangerous journey, whilst they, having regard to his great zeal, thought that it was wrong to recall him or to leave him unattended.”

“…Accordingly they embarked in a boat, and when they had come near to the town of Stettin/Szczecin those on the look out recognized the bishop and, having scanned him carefully, raised a great disturbance and cried out to the citizens that the former teacher of error had come, and that they ought to attack him with swords and clubs and treat him with indignity in order to vindicate the honour of their gods. When the servant of God had learned this through his interpreter, being fearless and armed with the ardour of his faith, he raised the standard of the cross, and having made himself ready by putting on his bishop’s dress contemplated going forth to meet them.  He first of all entered the church of the chief of the apostles, which he had built in front of the gate of this city, and offered to Christ the worship that was His due, and then awaited the onset of the barbarians and the completion of his life in Christ.  After a little while the people burst forth from the gates with a tumultuous noise, but when they beheld the servants of Christ singing the praises of God, they hesitated much and long and conferred amongst themselves as to what they should do, and at length, by God’s help, they were overcome with fear and retreated in confusion [and returned to the city] by the way by which they had come…”

Herbordus XIV

[Szczecinians Decide What to Do]

“And they began to be more kindly disposed and they said that reason rather than force was needed to decide whether these things should be accepted or rejected.  Then some who were wiser than the rest in reference to these matters secretly gathered together the priests, saying that it belonged to them to defend their own religion by suitable arguments.  Whilst they muttered these things among themselves they gradually departed one by one to their own homes. This happened on a Friday.”

Herbordus XVI

[And the Solution Is… Dvoeverie!] 

“The wicked priests, when in a certain year men and beasts suffered illness and death owing to the changes in the temperature, declared that this calamity was sent by the gods, and, with the consent of the people, they had broken down the bells and had begun to destroy the church of the blessed martyr Adalbert.  Whilst one of them was striking the altar with a mason’s hammer, he was suddenly struck by the Lord with languor and stupor, and as his hammer fell from his hand he too fell to the ground.”

“When, after a long space, he had recovered his breath, he addressed the people who were standing by as one whose character had been reformed by the blow that had befallen him, and said, ‘It is in vain, O citizens, that we strive; the God of the Christians is strong and cannot be driven away by us. My advice is that we keep Him, but at the same time that we do not part with our ancient gods and that we build an altar for our gods next to His altar, so that by worshipping them all alike we may secure that He and they are equally propitious to us.’  What were the people to do? Terrified, as they were, by the portent, they approved the advice given them and, having impiously built an altar next to the altar of the Lord, they served God and devils even as the ancient historian says, ‘The people of Samaria worshipped the gods of the nations, but none the less served the Lord.'”

[this passage is basically Ebbo I as above]

Ebbo XV

[On the Pyramids of Szczecin]

“As the Sunday dawned in the early morning after the service of the Mass had been completed, Otto, the servant of God, having put on his episcopal headdress and with the standard of the cross borne in front of him, went forth to the multitude of the people in order to preach to them. He took with him Udalricus, who wore a dalmatic, as a deacon, and Adalbert who served as a subdeacon and others to assist in preaching.”

“There were there some large pyramids surrounded by walls to a considerable height in pagan fashion. The good preacher ascended one of these pyramids with his companions, and through his interpreter Adalbert began to explain the way of truth to those who had gone wrong and to threaten them with eternal destruction if they did not turn from their apostasy.”

Ebbo XVI

[Wherein Otto Continues to Seek Martyrdom and, Again, Fails]

“As he was engaged in preaching the chief idol priest came running breathless and perspiring, and creeping in amongst the closely pressed crowd he struck the pyramid and with a great shout ordered the servant of God to be silent. He and his companions on the previous night had planned to effect the death of the bishop at the earliest dawn of Sunday, but by God’s providence he had been overcome with deep sleep and had been prevented from carrying out his purpose.  When he awoke, at the second hour of the day, and heard that the man of God was already preaching in an open assembly, he was extremely angry, and rushing thither ordered him to be silent. The servant of the Lord, however, continued stedfastly to carry out the work which he had begun. The idol priest endeavoured to restrain by his noisy and high-pitched shouts the gentle voice of Adalbert, the interpreter, and with a strong voice ordered the barbarians to transfix forthwith Christ’s preacher with the spears which, in accordance with the old custom of the Roman Quirites, they always carried.  When they were about to obey his commands and had raised their right hands aloft in order to strike him, influenced by divine power, they became stiff like stones, so that they could neither put down their spears nor open their mouths, but their hands remained suspended and immovable and seemed as though they were chained.”

“When the unfortunate idol priest saw this, he was inflamed with anger and began to charge them with cowardice, and seizing a spear from one of them, he tried to transfix Christ’s servant. He too immediately became rigid, and overcome with shame turned to flee. When he was gone Otto made the sign of the cross and invoked a blessing upon the people, who, being forthwith released from their bonds, put down their right hands which held the arrows; whereupon the bishop gave thanks to God for this manifest miracle and entered the town with confidence; and when he saw that the central part of the church of St. Adalbert had been destroyed, he wept bitterly and, kneeling together with his companions, engaged in long and earnest prayer.  Meanwhile the barbarians, armed with swords and clubs, had gathered together and had surrounded the cloor of the church, seeking to kill God’s servants, but as a result of divine influence, they were suddenly overcome with trembling and turned to flee. Then the chief, Witscacus, who had once been delivered by Otto from his captivity with the Danes, intervened together with other friends of the bishop and begged him by any possible way to leave the city before he met his death by the treachery of the priests. The saintly bishop refused, saying, ‘It is for this purpose that I have come.'”

Herbordus XVIII

[Wherein Otto Continues to Seek Martyrdom and, Again, Fails – Herbordus Version]

“When all had become silent and most of them were eager to hear his discourse, one of the priests who was a man of Belial [again, author means Baal but this is obviously interpretatio Mesopotamica], and was passionate, fat and tall, rushed into the midst of the crowd, and brandishing his spear in his hand, advanced panting and gasping as far as the steps, and, raising his hand once and again, struck the top of the steps with preat violence. When a great clamour had arisen and o o strange words of abuse had been uttered, he demanded silence while he spoke, and his loud and raucous voice drowned the speech of the interpreter and of the bishop. Addressing the people he said, ‘O senseless, foolish and indolent people, why are ye deceived and bewitched?  Behold, your enemy and the enemy of your gods is here. For what do ye wait? Are they to suffer derision and injury for nothing?’  While all the people were advancing with spears in their hands, he said, ‘Let this day put an end to all his deception.’  Addressing them all, he spoke also to those individuals of whose evil disposition he was assured, calling them by their own names. Those who were inflamed with a spirit of madness and who were accustomed to act with rashness rather than with discretion, roused by the voice of the speaker, began to raise their spears, but while they were brandishing them in readiness to throw them, their limbs became rigid in the very act of throwing them, and, marvellous to relate, they were unable to throw their spears, to relax their right arms, or to move out of their places. They stood immovable, as images, a spectacle to the faithful and the pious. As many as were unbelieving and evil disposed and had fallen away from the Christian faith, and, continuing in their persistent folly in unbelief, had raised impious hands against God’s servant, stood suffering this punishment until the good had been strengthened in their faith, and in the case of the others by the punishment inflicted on their bodies the wickedness of their hearts had been corrected. The bishop, making use of the opportunity afforded by the miracle, said, ‘Ye see, my brothers, how great is the power of the Lord.  It is indeed, as I perceive, by divine power that you are held fast. Why do you not throw your spears?  Why not put down your right hands?  Why continue so long in one position?’ They however, whether through confusion or astonishment, made no reply. Then he continued, ‘Let your gods for whose religion ye contend help you if they can. Let this noisy priest of yours call upon the gods on your behalf, let him give you counsel or assistance. If he knows anything or can do anything, now is the time for action.’  The priest, however, stood amazed at the course which the events had taken and did not venture to mutter anything more. And when all were silent and held by a great fear, the bishop being moved with pity said, ‘thanks be to Thee, O Lord, Jesus Christ, who are wont to exercise Thy power and strength, when occasion arises, to terrify those who oppose and to protect Thy servants.  But, inasmuch as Thou art holy and compassionate, we pray that Thou wilt pardon the ignorance, or the temerity, of this people, and that with Thine accustomed pity Thou wilt restore to these the use of their bodies, of which by Thy restraining power they have been deprived.'”

“When he had said this and had made the sign of the cross towards them, his speech produced an immediate effect. The bishop added also, ‘If hitherto you have been unwilling to listen, prove now by touch and feeling how great is the compassion of our God and how true is the faith which we declare unto you.’  He argued at length and with great force concerning the judgment and compassion of God and the uncertainty of this present life and the continuance of things that are eternal, and he instructed the sinners in Zion who were afraid, and when they had been overcome by the saving medicine of his eloquence, he gave them his blessing and dismissed the assembly. Descending then from the steps he visited, with the faithful believers who were zealous on behalf of God’s house,  the Church of St. Adalbert and, having first offered a solemn prayer, he destroyed the altar of abomination and, having broken it into small pieces, cast it out. Having then performed a service of cleansing and reconciliation he caused the broken parts of the church to be restored at his own expense.”

Ebbo XVI

[Democracy In Action]

“After fourteen days a general Conference was announced, at which the priests and people might arrive at a definite decision either to take upon them the yoke of Christ or to abjure it altogether.  On the appointed day the bishop ascended the hill of Triglav in the middle of the town where was the Duke’s dwelling place, and entered his large house which was a convenient place for this Conference. The chiefs together with the priests were present, and when silence was made the man of God said, ” The day that was fixed for our meeting has now come, and I, who eagerly desire your salvation, wish to hear from your own mouths whether you have decided to serve my Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true light, or the devil, who is the prince of darkness.” One of the priests answered, ‘It was not right that this Conference should have been delayed so long, inasmuch as in former time and now and always it is our determination to worship the gods of our fathers; do not therefore labour to no purpose, for thy speech has no place amongst us.'”

“On hearing this the man of God said, ‘I perceive that Satan has destroyed your vision so that you cannot behold the true light. I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I have not shunned to declare unto you the word of God in season and out of season.  But as you have cast away the yoke of my Lord Jesus Christ, I commit you to the power of Satan whom ye have chosen, so that, being delivered over with him to eternal destruction, you may possess that heritage where the worm clieth not and the fire is not quenched.’  Rising then from his place he took up his spiritual arms and placed his stole on his neck in order that he might bind them by his solemn curse.  When the chiefs saw this they were seized with timely fear, and prostrated themselves at his feet humbly, entreating him to suspend his curse, and to allow them a brief space of time in which to confer.  The good bishop at once agreed, and placing aside his stole he sat down. The chiefs then went out of the house, leaving the priests behind, and with one accord they abjured the uncleanness of their idolatry and accepted the faith of Christ.  First of all Witscacus, who was the man of chief rank amongst them, went in to the servant of God and delivered this opinion on behalf of them all. ‘Honourable father, I, together with the chiefs who rule this place, being inspired by God, have by a unanimous vote agreed that we banish to a distance from our lands these sacrilegious priests who have incited us to all evil, and that with ready mind we follow you as our leader and teacher on the way that leads to eternal salvation.'”

“Then he turned to the priest who had spoken before and said, ‘Wretched and miserable man, what help did your gods render to me when I was closely fettered and guarded, and was already awaiting sentence of death, my companions having been cruelly strangled, and when I distinctly saw Otto, my lord and father, freeing me from my fetters and restoring me to the liberty for which I longed ? Is it not better for me to serve the living and true God who was my liberator, than to serve logs and stones which have neither life nor feeling? Go then with your companions whither you will, and beware that you appear no more in our territory, for inasmuch as our Lord Jesus Christ is King over us, there is no room for you and your idols in these parts.’ When they heard this all the idol priests rose up without delay and fled with haste, and none of them was afterwards seen in that place. The bishop thereupon rendered cordial thanks to God, and he and his companions began at once to destroy the idol temples.”

[elsewhere in the Vita it is told that Witscacus had been captured by the Danes and was able to escape after he saw Otto in a vision]

Ebbo XVIII

[The Nut at the Nut Tree] 

“There was a certain shrine situated at a distance to which the bishop had sent his faithful and beloved friend, the good priest Udalricus, in order that he might destroy it.  There were, however, a few persons who supported the worship of idols, and, when they saw him from the wall as he was coming thither, they tried to break his head by throwing stones and pieces of wood. By the help of God he avoided these and was uninjured, and returning to his father Otto he told him of their plots.  The man of God immediately raised the standard of the cross and binding on his episcopal headdress he proceeded without hesitation to undertake this perilous adventure.  The barbarians would not endure his presence and dispersed hither and thither, seeking to conceal themselves by flight.   When the shrine had been destroyed, and the man of God was returning he found a very large nut tree which was consecrated to the idol together with a fountain the water of which flowed beneath.”  

“He at once ordered his companions to cut it down, whereupon the people of Szczecin/Stettin came out and earnestly begged that it should not be cut down because the indigent man who was its guardian obtained his poor subsistence from its fruit.  They declared also with an oat. that by a general edict they would for ever prohibit the sacrifices which had been there offered to demons. The good teacher, influenced by the justice of their reasonings, acceded to this request.  While they were engaged in mutual discussion the barbarian who was the guardian of the tree suddenly came up and, approaching secretly from behind, struck a violent blow with an axe at the sacred head of the bishop. By divine providence he missed his aim and struck the axe with such force into the wooden floor of the bridge on which the bishop was standing that the difficulty of drawing it out again caused delay to the assailant.”

Ebbo XIX

[The Magnanimity of Otto]

“When the interpeter, Adalbert, saw this he was struck by so great a fear that he quickly snatched the axe from the hands of the barbarian and ran off. The others, overcome by unaccustomed horror, attacked the sacrilegious man and threatened him with death. The pious Otto, however, interfered to prevent the murderer from suffering any harm and procured for him, unworthy as he was, life and safety…”

Ebbo XX

[More Idol Priests and More Snares]

“When the inhabitants of Stettin/Szczecin had been confirmed in the faith and teaching of the Lord and the man of God was arranging to return to Uznoim/Uznam, the citizens of the town came to him and begged that by his intervention he would put an end to the dispute which at the instigation of the devil had broken out between them and the Duke Wortizlaus.  Whereupon he said, ‘I will do as you wish, but I desire that you should send messengers of honourable rank with me to bring back to you the terms of peace and, if the Duke has any just cause of complaint, to explain the points that may be raised.’  The people of Szczecin/Stettin immediately appointed messengers to accompany their good pastor, who also served as a guard to the bishop on the journey.  For two idol priests had laid snares in order to secure the death of the man of God, and had sent on secretly eighty-four soldiers to find and kill him on his return journey and to bring back to them his head fixed on a post.  But against the Lord is there no wisdom, no fortitude, no counsel.  For the holy Otto, being protected by divine providence, came forth unharmed, whilst the unbelievers fell into the snare and pit which they had prepared.”

“For in the absence of the good bishop the chief idol priest called together his friends and with exceeding joy bade them keep this day as a festival day for their gods, and he said, ” Our god whom that old deceiver has attempted to destroy has appeared to me, and has clearly announced that Otto’s head is to be cut off today, and sent to me today.” When he had given vent to this wild utterence with laughing voice, his neck was suddenly shattered by the devil and his head was bent back crosswise, in a horrible and pitiable manner, and his brain coming out of its place was dashed against the wall with a cruel impact. When his friends saw this they were struck with amazement and inquired of him the cause of this strange calamity. He cried out with a dreadful voice and at length exclaimed, ” It is because I have tried to ensnare the servant of God, and to separate you from the way of truth, that I have been terribly afflicted by God.” Having said this he expired and the place was thereupon filled with so dreadful an odour that as he was dying no one could stand there on account of the unbearable smell.  And as it is written, ‘When a pestilent man is punished the wise man will become wiser,’ so all the people, when they heard of his death, were more and more encouraged to persevere in the faith.  There was, however, one other idol priest who was not overcome with remorse, but began an altercation with the man of God and declared that his teaching would soon be done away with in those parts.  He endeavoured also to draw away from the true path all whom he could influence, and as a result he also perished soon afterwards by the judgment of God. For whilst for some urgent reason he was crossing the sea in a boat, he left the boat for a short time in order to retire to a neighbouring wood.  By divine providence it came about that some of his companions, armed with righteous zeal, followed him secretly, and when they had caught him in a cruel snare they hung him up in a closely wooded place. So his grief and his iniquity descended on his own head.   When then the eighty-four soldiers who, as we have said, had been sent on by that wicked idol priest had seen the man of God as he was sailing, they burst forth from their hiding place and demanded of him in a loud voice whither he was going.  The messengers from Szczecin/Stettin asked in return why they made this inquiry, but the others, recognizing the voices of their own friends and citizens, stopped and said that they had been unaware of their presence there.  They replied, ” The Lord’s bishop is going to put a stop to the discord that has long existed between us and the Duke, and for this reason we will not suffer any harm to molest him on his journey, but are prepared to suffer death on his behalf. If therefore you desire to consult your own interests, return as quickly as possible by the way by which you came.”

Herbordus XXIV

[Wicked Priests, Their Assassins and the Sea Battle with Otto]   

“The wicked priests, however, who were inspired by devils, as they could not act openly, tried to injure God’s servant by craft.  They accordingly brought together a great number of assassins, and invested the route by which he was leaving at the narrowest part where the ship would pass, having foretold, as though by divination, the death of the bishop to his friends, who were unaware of what was being done.  When they came to the spot the enemy seized their arms, laid hold on those who were climbing the ropes and attacked those who were sailing the boat, desiring above everything the bishop’s blood.”

“But the people of Szczecin/Stettin and our men who were with the bishop seized their arms and jumped from the boat, and standing some on the land and some in the water bravely repelled force by force. When the fight had gone on for some time, those who had taken part in the ambuscade began to be recognized by the people of Szczecin/Stettin and fled in confusion from the scene of their crime.”

Ebbo XXI

[Otto Returns to Wolin]

“Thus, by divine providence, was the wicked design of the idol priest frustrated, whilst the servant of God drew near to the town of Julin [Wolin] which had formerly been initiated by him into the sacraments of the faith.”

Herbordus XXV

[Otto Returns to Wolin – Herbordus Version]

“When, by the help of God, the bishop arrived at Julin [Wolin] he met there with no opposition. For the people bore with patience all his remonstrances in reference to their apostasy, and other offences, and were ready to purge and improve their unworthy and evil actions and to amend their conduct in accordance with his teaching.”

Ebbo XXIII

[On the Rugians’ War on Pomerania]

“[T]he Ruthenians [Rugians], who were still bound in heathen error, when they heard of the conversion of the people of Stettin/Szczecin, were exceedingly angry because they had renounced their idols and submitted to the Christian law without reference to, or consultation with them, and they feared not to make war upon them.  When they had brought together their large army they occupied the river banks and stationed there one line of their men, who were equipped with noise-producing arms and who, with meaningless clamour, sought to find out where their God was and if he was able to succour those who called upon him.  The others, however, carried in front of them the standard of the Lord’s cross and put their opponents to flight at their first onslaught. On the following day they came back like dogs and again threatened war upon the Christians, but they were overcome in the same way and thrown into confusion and again turned to flight. On the third day, having been well nigh exterminated, they exclaimed that the God of the Christians was unconquerable, and that if He would spare them they would never again attempt any rash action. The Christians forbore and they speedily dispersed and returned one by one with great fear and confusion to their own homes. But the bishop, who thought it right to return good for evil, desired to teach the Christian laws to these Ruthenians, who had not feared to harass by war a newly converted people. They, however, hardened themselves against him and on several occasions declared by their messengers that if any of his companions should presume to approach the borders of Ruthenia (Rugia), for the sake of preaching the gospel, their heads would be cut off forthwith and they should be exposed to be torn by wild beasts.”

Herbordus 

[On the Rugians & the Danish Archbishop – Herbordus Version]

“This people (the Ruthenians [Rugians]), although on many occasions they were invited by different preachers to accept the faith, were never willing to do so as a body, but, whilst some believed, others did not believe. For the most part they lived according to pagan rites, and by choking like thorns the seeds of faith they did not suffer them to develop. Ruthenia is adjacent to the country of the Danes, and ought to be subject to the Danish archbishop. But when a people is engaged in spreading the catholic faith it is unnecessary for priests to quarrel over parish boundaries. As their hatred gradually increased the Ruthenians began to offer open opposition to the people of Stettin/Szczecin. First of all they kept their ships from their own shores, and later on by a unanimous decision they resolved that they should be regarded as enemies, and, as they had heard that Bishop Otto was to come to them for the purpose of preaching, they commanded him that he should never approach their territory. For, they said that he would find  with them nothing but bitter punishment and certain death. When Otto received this message he silently rejoiced and prepared himself for martyrdom, and he thought out and arranged everything and debated anxiously with himself whether he ought to go alone or accompanied by others to this feast.  Now there were at Julin [Wolin] amongst the followers of the bishop some good and prudent men from Stettin/Szczecin who knew the several districts and the customs of this race.  The bishop questioned these for some time, as he desired to learn whether they would be willing to conduct him thither.  They, however, told him much concerning the origin of the Ruthenian race, the fierceness of their dispositions, the instability of their faith, and their bestial conversation: they told him also that they ought to be subject to the Danish archbishop.  The bishop trusted that their conversion, if it could be secured, would be pleasing to the archbishop, and at the same time he considered that it was fitting that he should obtain his licence and permission before going to preach in his jurisdiction. Accordingly he sent from where he was the venerable priest Iwanus and some other messengers in a boat with letters and gifts to ask for his permission to preach.”

“The archbishop received them with the greatest joy and respect and treated them with the utmost kindness, asking them many questions concerning the position, the teaching and the work of the blessed Otto.  He was a good and honest man and loved to hear of things that were good: he was also learned and devout, though externally he possessed the rustic manners of the Slavonians [this is a Dane].  For it was the case with all the men of that country that, whilst living in prosperity and wealth, they seemed harsh, uncultivated and rustic. Their towns and camps had no walls or towers and were defended with woodwork and ditches. The churches too and the houses of the chief men were humble and poorly designed. The men’s pursuits were hunting, fishing, or the tending of cattle, and their whole wealth consisted of these last, for there was but little cultivation of the fields. In regard to food and dress they were by no means luxurious or elegant. Even our middle-class people were ostentatious when compared with them, and the priest Iwanus appeared to be a more important person than the archbishop himself.  And as he was a man of good speech and answered all inquiries in a careful  manner, he pleased the archbishop much, and he could not hear enough concerning Otto. For he had been known to him by report for many years and he was now glad and proud that he had present with him the worthy and distinguished messengers of the bishop, whose great and noble deeds he had heard spoken of in all directions.  Regarding the message sent to him he said that he could make no reply till, after a certain delay, he had consulted the chiefs and principal men amongst the Danes.  Iwanus and the messengers, thinking that this would occupy a long time, asked that they might be sent away, as they feared that the bishop might be distressed at their delay.  He very kindly agreed and he sent to the bishop letters, gifts and a fairly large boat filled with butter as a sign of affection and friendship, and said that he would consult with the chiefs as quickly as possible, and send a reply by his own messengers to his statement.  Whether he spoke falsely or candidly we did not discover, for, whilst we were spending several days awaiting his messengers, additional messengers from the district of Alamania and from the house at Bamberg arrived, who desired the return of the bishop [Otto] for great and urgent reasons.”

[Of course, it was the Danes that, in the end converted the people of Rugia.  For more on that see here]

Herbordus XXXI

[On the Rugians’ War on Pomerania – Herbordus Version]

“On many occasions the Ruthenians [Rugians] had reviled the men of Stettin/Szczecin and had assailed their territory with armed ships.  After they had been once again repulsed and would not abandon their attacks, the men of Stettin/Szczecin began with one accord to arm themselves and to meet those who came against them with united forces.  Why say more?  The Ruthenians were scattered with so great a slaughter and so many of them were taken away as slaves that those who were able to escape made no further attack upon the victors.  The men of Stettin/Szczecin, elated by this victory, rendered honour to the Lord Jesus Christ and to His servant Otto.  They no longer feared the Ruthenians, but having taken them as captives they forced upon them a humiliating and unworthy compact.”

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