Much of the information concerning Ulrich/Udalrich is derived from the Life of St Ulrich written by Gerhard of Augsburg sometime between 982 and 993. Ulrich was born in 890 at Kyburg, Zurich in present-day Switzerland. He was the son of Hupald, Count of Dillingen (d. 909) and Dietpirch of Swabia (also known as Theoberga). His maternal grandfather was Burchard I, Duke of Swabia. Burchard was reportedly the second husband of Liutgard, who was the widow of Louis the Younger. The siblings of Dietpirch included Burchard II, Duke of Swabia. His family was connected with the dukes of Alamannia and the Ottonian dynasty. An unnamed sister served as a nun in Buchau. Ulrich had been bishop of Augsburg from 923 till 973.
Here are the Suavic mentions in Gerhard of Augsburg’s “The Life of Udalrich, the Bishop of Augsburg.” The manuscript photos are courtesy of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.
Book I
Chapter 28
[year 977 A.D.] “…One time Emperor Otto [II] wanted to attack the Suavic people with his army; Otto [of Swabia], who – after Henry [II of Bavaria] had been deposed – the duke of the Alemmani and the Bavarians, prepared himself to come to Bavaria with his Alemanni and Bavarians to help [the Emperor]. Bishop Henry [I of Augsburg] who had promised to go with him, waited [instead] with his knights until the army had moved on and occupied, as had previously been arranged, many towns and himself too over Neuburg. But Henry [II of Bavaria], the prior duke, took over Passau with the goal, to take over the province with the help of his nephew the bishop [of Augsburg], after the departure of Otto [of Swabia] and his army.”
“As Duke Otto [of Swabia] became aware of this plan, he returned with the armies of both provinces [Alemannia and Bavaria] and besieged Henry [II of Bavaria] in the previously[-named] town of Passau. The Emperor Otto, who by the clemency of God, had been free of the Suavs, followed him to the siege of the same town…”
Quodam tempore cum imperator otto gentem sclavorum cum execitu invadere voluisset, et otto, qui tunc dux erat alamannorum et bauuuariorum, heinrico deposito, in adiutorium eius venire cum alamannis et noricis ad bauuuariam paratus esset, heinricusque episcopus ire se cum illo promitteret, expectavit cum suis militibus donec recederet exercitus, et, sicut antea consiliati sunt, occupavit cum militibus suis civitates quas potuit, et ipse in nuuvinburc intravit. Heinricus autem, qui antea dux fuit, pazouuam civitatem intravit, ea ratione ut Ottone cum exercitu recedente, provinciam sibi cum adiutorio nepotis sui episcopi subiugaret.
Hoc itaque consilium cum ottoni duci notum factum fuisset, reversus est cum exercitu ambarum provinciarum, et obsedit eum in praefata civitate, pazouua. Imperator autem otto, cum dei clementia liberatus a sclavis, venit post eum ad eandam civitatem in obsidionem eius…
Book II
Chapter 21
“In the land of the Suavs the son of the Duke Bolesuav* fell into such a sickness that his father, mother and other present friends began to doubt whether his life in this world could be preserved. As the father suffered this distress, he was told by the mother of the boy and by others to whom this was known, how many [people] had been freed in many ways from different sufferings on account of the achievements of Saint Ulrich. He immediately made a vow that he would have his envoys visit the grave of Saint Ulrich with gifts, if his son would return to life. Even on the same day the life ghost retuned to the duke’s son which greatly comforted the father. He saw God’s compassion in his son’s [recovery] and he took care immediately to send his envoys to fulfill his vow. They came to the gave bringing five pounds of silver, many gold pieces and as much wax as a strong packhorse could carry. The mother of the boy sent, from her side, a large amount of gold denarii for the sake of her son. The envoys also paid a visit to the altar of Holy Mary [in the cathedral] with gold and other pious gifts, just as they had been commanded; similarly too, the altar of Saint Afra**, telling why they had been sent and describing how before their departure from their lands they had left the son of their ruler alive and healthy.”
* Bolesuav II the Pious of Bohemia
** Along with Ulrich also a patron of Augsburg
In regione Sclavorum filius Volizlauui* ducis valitudinem incidit, et in tantam infirmitatem deductus est, ut pater eius et mater caeterique praesentes amici praesentem vitam eum ulterius habere posse desperarent. Cumque pater in his angustiis versaretur, ammonitus est de matre pueri et de aliis quibus notum fuit, quam multipliciter multi per merita sancti Oudalrici de diversis angustiis liberati essent. Continuo votum vovit, si filius eius ad vitam rediret, ut missis legatis sepulchrum sancti Oudalrici cum oblatio nibus visitaret. Eodem vero die filius ducis conversus ad vitam, consolationem patri non minimam obtulit. Qui cognoscens misericordiam Dei in filio, nuntios statim mittere et votum eius implere studuit. Qui venientes ad sepulchrum, obtulerunt 5 libras argenti et aureos quam plurimos et de cerae quantum unus fortis soumarius portare potuit; mater etiam pueri seorsum denariorum aureorum bonam partem pro filio misit. Legati etiam altare sanctae Mariae cum auro et aliis oblatio nibus, sicut eis praeceptum est, devote visita verunt, similiter et altare sanctae Afrae; et narraverunt pro qua re missi sunt, dicentes, ante quam ipsi exirent de sua provincia, ut filium domini sui ambulantem et sanum dimitterent.
* Volizlauuai also wolizlaii
Book II
Chapter 22
“Another time, a certain duke of the Vandals [Wends] by the name of Misico was wounded in the arm by a poisoned arrow. As he felt that he had been struck by a harmful poison and worried that within the hour doom and death stood before him, he made a vow full of faith and steadfastness that he will send as soon as possible a silver arm with a hand for the Saint [Udalrich]. As soon as he made the vow, he was freed from the danger. He went home and commanded to make an arm that would fulfill the vow. As soon as the smiths began to make the arm, the duke rose up immediately, was freed from the threatening danger, praised the God, who had freed him from the danger of death on account of the achievements of his holy bishop, fulfilled his vow and sent the harm with the hand to the grave of the holy man.”
Alio quoque tempore quidam dux Wandalorum, Misico nomine, cum sagitta toxicata in brachium vulneratus est. Qui cum sentiret, sese veneno nocivo esse percussum, et sibi inminere mortis interitum eadem hora putaret, cum magna fide et constantia votum vovit, ut brachium argenteum cum manu quam cicius potuisset ad sanctum Oudalricum mittere non differret. Qui statim post votum relevatus a periculo, ad domum suam rediit, et brachium secundum suum votum componere praecepit. Cumque fabri brachium fabricare coepissent, et manum in eo fingerent, dux continuo de inminenti periculo liberatus surrexit, Deum laudans, qui eum per merita sui sancti episcopi de mortis periculo liberavit.
Copyright ©2020 jassa.org All Rights Reserved