Sometime between 888 and 891 an anonymous Saxon poet (aka Poeta Saxo) penned a poem about the Life of Charlemaigne (this Poeta Saxo is different from the later Annalista Saxo or the Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus, each of whom also writes about Suavs). Mind you this was years after the death of his subject (in 814) and, in fact, we know that the poem was written during the days of Arnulf of Carinthia – Charlemagne’s great-great-grandson. The poet used both the Frankish Annals and the Life of Charlemagne by Einhard but he also seems to have had access to some other sources. It seems the poet was a Saxon so that the whole exercise praising the King of the Franks is a good example of medieval Stockholm syndrome. On the other hand, as of the end of the 9th century, the Suavs mentioned in the text were still pagan and mostly, de facto, independent from the Franks.
The poem written as annals or “Annals of the Deeds of Emperor Charlemagne in Five Books” (Annales de gestis Caroli magni imperatoris libri quince) mention Suavic tribes in several instances. Here we list of those times following the 1956 translation by Mary McKinney (which is based on the Jaffe edition). The manuscript is in the Wolfenbüttel Herzog August Library (Cod. Guelf. 553). Curiously, the Annales is followed in the manuscript by John Canaparius’ “Life of St. Adalbert of Prague” (aka Saint Wojciech/Voytech) (Vita sancti Adalberti episcopi Pragensis) written in 999 with its mentions of the Prussians and Gdansk.
Book I
772
… King Charles summoned the nobles of the Franks to a general assembly at Worms. With the approval of those present, he decided to wage aggressive war upon the Saxons. The country of the Saxons is adjacent to the Franks on the north and the territories of these two nations are contiguous with no fixed frontier. However code these nations were in their geographical situation, discord made them just that far removed from each other in their mutual feeling. Continuous murders, arson, plundering, were wont to be carried on by both parties in their neighbor’s land. The Saxons were fierce by nature and hard of heart. They had not yet learned to bear the pleasant yoke of Christ, but were greatly swayed by the snare of demons, whereas the Franks now for a long time had been Christians and had kept the Catholic faith, and were at present ruling over many nations of the earth. Relying upon these peoples, but more particularly upon God, whom they duly worshipped, they were certainly able to conquer this nation whose people were not combined together under the rule of one king for equal defense in the practice of war, but were so variously divide that they had almost as many leaders as they had districts; they were like unto a body the members of which have been torn away here and there separately. But there are three general divisions of the Saxon people under which Saxony once flourished. Their names still remain, but their ancient valor has vanished: those living in the west with their boundary line not far from the Rhone river are called Westphalians; those dwelling in the eastern portion are called Osterliudi or Ostphalians; and their territory where it borders on that of the Slavs is subject to invasions by that perfidious nation; the third people of the Saxons, called Angarians, dwell in the middle ground between the other two mentioned above. Their country joins the Franks on the south and is bordered by the ocean on the north.
Charles decided to subdue this nation. He did not delay, but with the whole strength of the Franks he advanced against it, and wrought devastation far and wide with fire and sword. He took by force a castle strongly fortified by nature and by the hand of man which the barbarians called Eresburg.* This nation worshipped a sacred image, known to them as Irminsul. It was fashioned in the form of a huge column and contained a corresponding wealth of adornment. The king pitched camp near this object of worship and spent three days in destroying it. At that time there had been long-continued heat and no rain; the fields were parched, and there was not even any water in the springs; the rivers were dry and dusty; thirst augmented by the heat soon began to fatigue the royal camp. But the power of the Omnipotent Oe who was pleased with the destruction of the profane shire, brought the following to pass: suddenly about noon, in the bed of a dry torrent which was near the camp, there burst forth water sufficient for the army.
After the destruction of Irminsul [actually: these deeds being done], the king went to the river Weser, where he received twelve hostages from this nation and then he returned successfully to this own country.
* note: The poet mentions that Eresburg is taken again by the Franks in 775.
775
…Meanwhile a portion of the king’s army had been detached and stationed near the Weser at a place called Lubbecke*…
note: though this sounds like Lubeck which may of Suavic provenance, the name actually mentioned here (and in the RFA?) is hlidbek. Maybe it has something to do with the river Lippe.
780
When suitable weather came he moved camp from Worms and again hastened into the territory of the Saxons. First he went to Eresburg, and then he is said to have remained in camp several days near the source of the river Lippe for the purpose of arranging many matters. Taking his way westward he came to the river Ocker. Here a great company of this tribe met him, obeying his command, and feigning to believe in Christ, received baptism. Moving on quickly Charles pitched camp at the confluence of the large Elbe and the Ohre rivers.
He wished to arrange the affairs of the Saxons and of the Slavs; these two nations are separated by the Elbe river; the Saxons live on the hither side, and the pagan race of the Slavs dwells on the further side. All matters having been arranged for the time being, he was eager to return to his own home…
Book II
782
…Meanwhile Witikind, who formerly as a fugitive from his own country had sought aid of the Northmen, now returned and aroused the Saxons in the vain hope of attempting to break the existing treaty with the Franks. He summoned many men to his standards and he caused the outbreak of a fresh war.
At this time, also, a tribe of Slavs, the Sorbs, took up arms and sudden invaded that portion of the Saxon territory which adjoins their own, devastating both these lands and the fruitful fields of the Thuringians. The Sorbs dwell in the lands and plains situated between two rivers: the Saale flows on this side and the wider Elbe on the further side. As soon as Charles learned of the movements of the Slavs he decided their bold daring should be checked and they should be kept from his kingdom. He called to his presence three officers of the palace one of whom was Adalgis the king’s chamberlain; another one was Geilo, the constable; he commanded them to lead the armies. He instructed troops collected from the Oriental Franks to go against the Slavs, and likewise commissioned the Saxons who were his subjects to form auxiliary forces for these commanders.
But when the legates began to lead the army through the territory of the Saxons – for they were to invade the Slavs by this direct route – they became aware of a revolt of the Saxons. The legates changed their march hoping by reason of their large force first to defeat the Saxons. The legates undertook this war rather incautiously and haughty , and it was finished with great slaughter of the Franks. When the legates learned that Witikind accompanied by a great multitude had prepared battle and encamped near Mount Suntal*, they hastened thither with hostile standards…
* note: perhaps connected with Irminsul.
784
…He [Charlemaigne] went to the Weser, to a place called Uculbi*; thence he marched through the land of the Thuringians…
…Meanwhile the king’s son, who was equal to his father in the native quality of his mind and who had his father’s name, being now in command of his father’s army in a district of the Westphalians, inhabited by the Dreini*, made an offensive drive against a great horde of this tribe that were prepared for war, and very quickly the young prince defeated them in a cavalry battle…
* note: These names bear an uncanny resemblance to the Suavic Huculi and Dreviani. See below in blue for Derve (Dreini? having to do with Dervan of the Sorbs?) and Drevani further East. Other interesting Suavic sounding names are underlined below as well.
789
There is a nation of Slavs, called Wiltzi, which possesses the territory along the farthest shores of the sea which forms a boundary for Germany. This people had been an enemy to the Franks for a long time, and pursued with hatred the neighboring Slavic tribes that were subjects of allies of the Franks, and often oppressed them in war. The great ruler was not able to endure this any longer; taking a strong legion composed of various nations, he marched against this insolent tribe. When he was marching through Saxony he had to cross the very wide Elbe river. He pitched camp on the shore of the river and began a huge undertaking, which was speedily accomplished. He built a double bridge across the very wide river, and fortified with a rampart either extremity where it touched shore, and placed a garrison there, in order that no one might break the frail structure of the timbers and thus prevent him upon his return from recrossing the river by this bridge.
Then he passed over the bridge and invaded the lands of the Wiltzi, which he devastated with fire and sword, and with sudden terror he subdued the barbarian commotion. For when the Wiltzi, although they were very brave and strong in numbers, saw the Frankish camp filled with many people, they wholly avoided the contest of arms, and surrendered to the king; especially King Dragowit whom noble birth and maturer age made more illustrious than the others When King Charles was approaching Dragowit‘s city Dragowit and all his people came out to meet Charles and gave themselves up to him in complete surrender. In like manner that whole nation with their leaders and chieftains promised upon sacred oath to serve faithfully the rulers of the Franks. The king received the hostages that he demanded, and having subdued the people in this manner, he returned with a safe march back to the river, by his former route. He led all his legions across the bridge and then he went to Worms where he passed the winter.
Book III
795
Since this much suspected nation of Saxons had so often become rebellious, frequently broken treaties, and been unwilling to rein quiet under the king’s sway, that brave ruler thought no time should be given them for recovery and for rebelling anew. He again ravaged their land in hostile invasion and placed his camp almost at their extreme frontier in a beautiful district called Bardenwich whither he ordered his allied leaders of the Slavs to assemble. While he was waiting their arrival he learned that one of them had been killed, namely, Wiltzan, king of the Abotrites. While Wiltzan was making his way to the king, as he had been ordered he fell into the ambushes which the Saxons had prepared for him because they knew that hew as loyal to the king. Charles, deeply stirred by theses bitter causes for anger, ordered the fields and towns of this whole region to be pillaged with ruthless sword and fire.
798
…But the Nordalbingians, perceiving they had seized ambassadors with impunity – for the king’s camp had not crossed the river – planned to add new deeds of great daring. They began with all their force to make war upon the Abotrites, who were then subject to the Franks and bound to them by a treaty. But Thrasicon, the duke of the Abotrites, learned of this invasion and bore arms against them The forces joined battle at a place which the natives call Suentana. Thrasicon‘s army killed 4,000 of the enemy’s amy, and caused the rest to return home utterly defeated with great slaughter…
799
…THe king, nevertheless, continued his march, as he had previously decided, going into the land of the Saxons. There with a large army he encamped at Paderborn, and awaited for some time the arrival of the Pope. Charles, the king’s son, was sent by his father into the territory of the Saxons and advanced to the place where the broad Elbe flows. He remained there until certain negotiations should be arranged with the Wiltzi and the Abotrites and until some Saxons from this section who chose to commit themselves to the protection of the king, were received.
Book IV
805
A nation of the Slavs, very cruel in the practice of war, whom they call Bohemians, had by their untimely fickleness irritated the Franks and roused the anger of Charles. The king’s son, the one that was named for his father, was sent against this nation with many soldiers. He committed battle with prudent courage, and quickly brought it to a victorious close.
808
There is a tribe of Slavs called Linones, whom the young Charles set out to invade at his father’s orders. The broad Elbe did not stop his progress, but he led his Frankish legions across it, and with favorable omen advanced against the enemy, and brought back the standards of victory to his delighted father.
Book V
Charles first increased his kingdom by conquering the Aquitanians and subduing the Gascons. He crossed the Pyrenees and subjected to this control all the land as far as the Ebro river. Next he subdued all the Italian regions, and who can say how many they were? Italy, so they say, extends a thousand miles and more, in length. Then Charles added to his realm the Saxons to whom a large part of Germany had been surrendered; they held a part of Germany that was almost equal to the territory of the Franks in length, and was twice as wide.
Charles also victoriously subjected the two Pannonias, the land and innumerable cities of neighboring Liburnia, and also those regions which are named from the Danube river, Dalmatia and Dacia. He forced more tribes of the Slavs than anyone can enumerate to pay tax to him. The four previous books of annals have narrated with specific designation by what wars Charles accomplished those things.
Now I shall tell about the interests, character, domestic life and personal appearance of Charles…
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