Hildegarde was the daughter of Imma who was the daughter of Nebi. "Qui cum in iuventute erat, supradictus imperator desponsavit sibi nobilissimi generis Suavorum puellam, nomine Hildigardam, quae erat de cognatione Gotefridi ducis Alamannorum. Gotefridus dux genuit Huochingum, Huochingus genuit Nebi; Nebe genuit Immam, Imma vero genuit Hiltigardam beatissimum reginam." [1] [2] A Google translation yields the following:
THEGANI LIFE OF HLVDOVICI EMPEROR
(9th century AD)1. In the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ forever. In the eighty-thirteenth year of his incarnation, which is the forty-fifth year of the reign of the glorious and orthodox emperor Charles, that Charles who sprang from the lineage of St. Arnulf, the pontiff of Christ, as we have learned from the paternal account, and many histories testify.
Saint Arnulfus, when he was a leader in his youth, begat the leader Ansgis; Ansgisus the duke begat Pippinus the elder and leader: Pippinus the elder and the duke begot Charles the elder and duke: Charles the elder and the duke begot Pippinus, whom Stephen the Roman pontiff consecrated and anointed king: Pippin the elder and the king begot Charles, whom Leo the Roman pontiff consecrated and anointed to emperor in the church where the most blessed body of the apostles Prince Peter rests, on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. When he was a youth, the aforesaid emperor betrothed to himself a girl of the most noble race of the Suavi, named Hildigard, who was related to Gotefrid, leader of the Alamanni. Duke Gotefrid begat Huochingus, Huochingus begat Nebi; Nebe begat Imma; But Imma gave birth to Hiltigard, the most blessed queen. And after the aforesaid emperor had taken her in marriage, he had by her three sons, one of whom was called after his father Charles, the second Pippin, who was king over Italy, and the third was called Louis, who was king over Aquitaine. Their father lived happily with them for a long time, and usefully instructed them in liberal teachings and worldly laws.
3. But he who was younger had always learned from his childhood to fear and love God, and whatever he had he distributed to the poor for the sake of the name of the Lord. For he was the best of his sons, just as from the beginning of the world the younger brother frequently preceded the elder brother in merit. In the sons of the first parent of the human race it was first revealed, whom the Lord calls Abel the righteous in his gospel. Abraham had two sons, but the younger was better than the older. Isaac had two sons, but the younger was chosen. Jesse had many sons, but the youngest, who was a shepherd of sheep, was chosen and anointed to be king over all Israel at the command of God. Of whose seed Christ, once promised, deigned to be incarnated. It is too long to enumerate such and the like.
4. The aforesaid Hludowicus, after he had come of age, betrothed to himself the daughter of the most noble duke Ingoramma, who was the son of the brother of Hruotgang, the holy pontiff. The aforesaid virgin was called Irmingarda, whom he made queen with the advice and consent of his father, and by her he had three sons while his father was still living, one of whom was called Hlutharius, the other Pippinus, and the third his equal, Hludowicus.
5. But the emperor Charles the Great ruled well and profitably and loved his kingdom. In the forty-second year of his reign, his son Pippin died, in the thirty-third year of his age. But in the following year Charles, his eldest son by the aforesaid Queen Hiltigard, died. Only Louis remained at the helm of the kingdom.
6. The aforesaid emperor, when he already understood that the day of his death was drawing near to him - for he was very old - called his son Hludovicus to him with all his army, bishops, abbots, leaders, counts, and governors. admonishing them to show their loyalty to their son, asking all, from the greatest to the least, if it pleased them that he should give his name, that is, that of emperor, to his son Hludovicus. They all answered with exultation, that it was God's warning of that thing. This having been done, on the next Sunday he adorned himself with the royal dress, and placed a crown on his head; he walked brightly decorated and adorned, as befitted him. He went to the church, which he himself had built from the foundation, and arrived before the altar, which was built in a higher place than the other altars. and consecrated in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ; upon which he ordered a golden crown, another one which he wore on his head, to be placed. After he and his son had prayed for a long time, he spoke to his son in the presence of all the multitude of his pontiffs and nobles, reminding him above all to love and fear Almighty God, to keep his commandments in all things, to govern and defend the churches of God from wicked men. To his sisters and brothers who were younger in age, and to his nephews and to all his relatives, he commanded him to always show unfailing mercy. Then, to honor the priests as fathers, to love the people as children, to direct the proud and the most wicked men into the way of salvation, he would have been a comforter of the clergy and a father of the poor. He would appoint faithful and God-fearing ministers who would hate unjust gifts. He would have thrown no one from his honor without a reason of discretion, and he would show himself at all times blameless before God and all the people. After he had spoken these words and many other things to his son before the multitude, he asked him if he was willing to be obedient to his commands. But he answered that he would gladly obey, and with the help of God, keep all the precepts which his father had commanded him. Then his father ordered him to lift up with his own hands the crown that was on the altar and put it on his head in remembrance of all the precepts that his father had commanded him. But he fulfilled his father's command. When this was done, they went to the palace after hearing the solemn mass. For the son supported his father by going and returning as long as the son was with him. Not many days after, his father honored him with great and innumerable gifts, and sent him away to Aquitaine. Before they had parted, for embracing and kissing each other, they began to weep for the joy of love. He went into Aquitaine, and the lord emperor held his kingdom and name with honor, as he deserved.
7. After they had been divided, the emperor began to do nothing else, except to occupy himself with prayers and alms, and correcting his books. And the four gospels of Christ, which are pre-titled with the name of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in the last one before his death he had very well corrected the day with the Greeks and Syrians.
In the following year, which is the 46th year of his reign, in January he received the Lord Emperor after a bath of fever. And when every day his languor grew worse, eating and drinking nothing, except a little water to refresh his body, on the seventh day after he had begun to labor too much with him, he ordered his most familiar pontiff, Hildibald, to come to him, to give him the Sunday sacraments of body and blood, in order to confirm his departure. This being done, he labored in sickness that day and the following night. But on the morrow, when the light came, knowing what he was about to do, he stretched out his right hand, with all the strength he could, making the sign of the holy cross on his forehead, and placed it upon his breast and his whole body. Finally, gathering his feet together, extending his arms and hands over his body, he closed his eyes, singing this line gently: Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Immediately after this, in a good old age, he passed away in peace, full of days: on the same day, his body was buried in the church, which he had built in the palace of Aquis Grani, in the 72nd year of his age, in the seventh indictment.
8. After the death of the most illustrious emperor, Charles, his son Louis went from the parts of Aquitaine, came to the palace of Aquis Grani, and received all the kingdoms which God had delivered to his father without any contradiction. Which is the eighty-fourth year of the Lord's incarnation, which is the first year of his reign. He sat behind his father in the aforesaid palace, and above all, with the greatest haste, ordered to show him all his father's treasures in gold, silver, precious gems, and all furniture. He gave to his sisters a lawful portion of them, and whatever remained he gave for the soul of his father. He sent the greatest part of the treasure to Rome in the time of the blessed Pope Leo, and whatever remained over this, he distributed it all to the priests and the poor, to strangers, widows, and orphans, reserving nothing for himself except one silver table, which is three-fold. in the manner of three clips joined together in one; He kept her for himself because of his father's love, and yet he redeemed her at another price, which he delivered up for his father.
9. When this had been done, ambassadors came to him from all the kingdoms and provinces, foreign nations, and all who were under the control of his father, announcing that they would observe peace and faith towards him, and offered voluntary submission without being forced. Among them came the ambassadors of the Greeks, with Amalharius, bishop of Treveren, who was the ambassador of the pious memory of Charles to the prince of Constantinople, whose name does not appear in memory. When they came, they found Lord Hludowicus placed on his father's throne, because the Lord had so ordered. He received them kindly, and received their gifts with thanksgiving, and had a familiar conversation in the meantime, how long they had been with him. Not many days later he decorated them with great honors, and sent them away to go to their own homes, and sent his messengers ahead of them to prepare for them whatever they wanted for their work, as long as they were in his kingdom.
10. In the same year the aforesaid prince ordered to renew all the precepts which had been made in the time of his fathers for the churches of God, and he confirmed them with his own hand with his signature.
11. In the meantime, the ambassadors of the Beneventos arrived, who surrendered all the land of the Beneventos to their power, and promised to hand over many thousands of gold to the census every year: which they have done to this day.
12. At the same time Bernhardus, the son of his brother Pippin, came and delivered himself to the nobleman, and promised fidelity with an oath. Lord Hludowicus gladly received him, and honored him with great gifts and honours; allowed him to go again in safety to Italy.
13. At the same time the aforesaid prince sent his ambassadors over all his kingdoms to inquire and inquire whether any injustice had been done to any one, and if they found any one who wished to say these things, and was able to prove this with the most truthful witnesses, he ordered them to come at once into his presence. Those who went out found an innumerable multitude oppressed, either by the taking away of their property, or by the plundering of their liberty; which the unjust officers, counts, and governors exercised through evil character. All these things the aforesaid prince commanded to be destroyed, which had been impiously done in the days of his father by the hands of unrighteous ministers. He restored the patrimony of the oppressed, absolved those who were unjustly inclined to serve, and ordered all to follow the rules, and confirmed with his own hand the conscription. For he did this for a long time.
14. In another year of his reign the general had his plea in the parts of Saxony, and there he established many goods, and an embassy of the Danaans came to him asking for peace; and all who were around the heathen nations came to him; and the aforesaid Bernhard came to him there, whom he dismissed to go again to Italy. Lord Hludowicus, after he had confirmed the borders of his kingdom in those parts, returned to his seat in the palace of Aquis Grani, and there passed the winter.
15. In the following year he directed his army against the Slavs, who were stationed in the east; who greatly oppressed them, and emerged as victors giving thanks to God. When this was done, each one returned to his own.
16. In the same year Leo the Roman pope died, and Stephen succeeded him. He, immediately after receiving the pontificate, ordered all the Roman people to promise fidelity with an oath to Louis; and directing his ambassadors to the aforesaid prince, telling him that he was pleased to see him in any place that pleased him. Hearing this, he began to be filled with great joy, and immediately ordered his messengers to meet the holy pontiff with great greetings, and to prepare services. Lord Hludowicus went after the messengers to meet the aforesaid pontiff, and meeting him in the great field of Remens, each dismounted from his horse, and the prince prostrating himself with his whole body on the ground three times before the feet of the great pontiff, and standing up the third time saluted the pontiff with these words, saying: Blessed who He comes in the name of the Lord. God is the Lord, and he has enlightened us. And the pontiff answered: Blessed be the Lord our God, who granteth our eyes to see according to King David. For embracing each other and kissing peacefully, they proceeded to the church; and when they had been praying for a long time, the pontiff raised himself up, and with a loud voice, together with his clergy, gave him royal praises.
17. Afterwards the pontiff honored him with great honors and many things, and Queen Irmingarda, and all his nobles and ministers. And on the next Sunday in the church, before the mass, in the presence of the clergy and all the people, he consecrated him, and anointed him emperor, and placed on his head a golden crown of wonderful beauty, adorned with the most precious gems, which he had brought with him. And Irmingard called the queen Augusta, and placed a golden crown upon her head. As long as the most blessed pope was there, they had a daily conversation about the welfare of God's holy church. After the lord emperor had honored him with great and innumerable gifts, three times and more than he had received from him, as he was always wont to do, to give more than to receive, he let him go to Rome with his ambassadors, whom he commanded to render honorable service everywhere on his journey.
18. After he came to Rome, not many days later the aforesaid pope died. Afterwards it became clear by the manifestation of God in some miracles, that he was a living true worshiper of God. After him succeeded Pope Paschal.
19. Returning from thence, the lord emperor came to the palace of Aquis Grani for his seat. For he flourished day by day in sacred virtues, which it would be too long to enumerate. For he was of medium stature, with large and clear eyes, a bright face, a long and straight nose, lips neither too thick nor too thin, a strong chest, broad shoulders, and very strong arms, so that no one could match him in archery or spear shooting: with long hands, straight fingers, long pipes and slender to measure, long feet, a manly voice. He was very learned in Greek and Latin, but he could understand Greek better than he could speak it; but he could speak Latin as well as naturally. But he knew very well the spiritual and moral meaning in all the scriptures, as well as the anagogical. He rejected the poetic songs of the Gentiles which he had learned in his youth, and would neither read nor listen to them, nor teach them. He was strong in his limbs, agile and vigorous, slow to anger and easy to pity. Whenever he went to the church in the morning every day for the purpose of prayer, he bent his knees and touched the floor with his forehead, humbly praying for a long time, sometimes with tears; and always adorned with all good manners. He was so generous, as was never heard of in ancient books or in modern times, that he handed over the royal estates of his father, grandfather, and grandfather to his faithful as a perpetual possession, and established precepts, and strengthened his ring with the signature of his own hand. . For he had done this for a long time. For he was sober in food and drink, and moderate in his clothing. He never shone in a golden garment, except only at the highest festivals, as his fathers were wont to do. Then in those days he clothed himself in nothing but a shirt and breeches, except a gold-woven shirt, a golden sash, a golden belt girded with a golden sword, golden boots, and a cloak woven with gold, and wearing a golden crown on his head, and holding a golden staff in his hand. He never raised his voice to laughter, nor when, at the highest festivals, to the joy of the people, clowns, clowns and mimes with choirs and guitar players came to the table before him, then the people laughed in proportion before him, he never even showed his white teeth in laughter. Every day before the meal he gave alms to the poor, and wherever he was, he had his lodgings with him. But in the month of August, when the stags are fattest, he spent his time hunting, until the time of the wild boars arrived. girded with a golden girdle, and a sword shining with gold, golden boots and a cloak woven with gold, and wearing a golden crown on his head, and holding a golden staff in his hand. He never raised his voice to laughter, nor when, at the highest festivals, to the joy of the people, clowns, clowns and mimes with choirs and guitar players came to the table before him, then the people laughed in proportion before him, he never even showed his white teeth in laughter. Every day before the meal he gave alms to the poor, and wherever he was, he had his lodgings with him. But in the month of August, when the stags are fattest, he spent his time hunting, until the time of the wild boars arrived. girded with a golden girdle, and a sword shining with gold, golden boots and a cloak woven with gold, and wearing a golden crown on his head, and holding a golden staff in his hand. He never raised his voice to laughter, nor when, at the highest festivals, to the joy of the people, clowns, clowns and mimes with choirs and guitar players came to the table before him, then the people laughed in proportion before him, he never even showed his white teeth in laughter. Every day before the meal he gave alms to the poor, and wherever he was, he had his lodgings with him. But in the month of August, when the stags are fattest, he spent his time hunting, until the time of the wild boars arrived. and when, at the highest festivals, to the joy of the people, clowns, clowns, and mimes, with choirs and guitar players, proceeded to the table before him, then the people laughed in proportion before him, he never even showed his white teeth in laughter. Every day before the meal he gave alms to the poor, and wherever he was, he had his lodgings with him. But in the month of August, when the stags are fattest, he spent his time hunting, until the time of the wild boars arrived. and when, at the highest festivals, to the joy of the people, clowns, clowns, and mimes, with choirs and guitar players, proceeded to the table before him, then the people laughed in proportion before him, he never even showed his white teeth in laughter. Every day before the meal he gave alms to the poor, and wherever he was, he had his lodgings with him. But in the month of August, when the stags are fattest, he spent his time hunting, until the time of the wild boars arrived.
20. Doing everything prudently and cautiously, doing nothing indiscreetly except that he trusted his advisers more than was necessary; which caused him to occupy himself with psalmody and assiduous reading, and something else, which he did not begin. Because it had long been that worst custom, that high pontiffs were made of the lowest servants: this did not prevent it; yet the greatest evil is in the Christian people, as the history of the Kings testifies to Jeroboam son of Nabad, who was the servant of King Solomon, and after him had the leadership over the ten tribes of the children of Israel. For the scripture says about him: After these words, Jeroboam did not return from his worst way, but on the contrary, he made high priests among the last of the people. Whoever wanted, filled his hand, and became a priest of the high ones. And for this cause the house of Jeroboam sinned, and was overthrown, and were destroyed from the face of the earth. After such persons seize the summit of government, they are never before so tame and so domestic that they do not immediately begin to be angry, quarrelsome, abusive, obstinate, insulting, and promising threats to all subjects, and by means of such affairs they desire to be feared and praised by all. They are endeavoring to free their wretched kindred from the yoke of their due servitude, and to impose their liberty. Then they instruct some of them in liberal studies, they unite others with noble women, and force their relatives to take in marriage the sons of nobles. For no one can live with them equanimously, except only those who have such a union with them; but others pass their days with the greatest sadness, groaning and weeping. But the relatives of the aforesaid, after they understand something, mock and despise the old nobles, are exalted, unstable, incontinent, impudent, shameless: yet to each one a little good remains. But after they cast from themselves the holy shame of their Lord, they refuse to understand the canonical writing, which is called the council of the apostles; for there he commanded, saying: If a bishop has poor parents, he must give to them as if they were poor, so that the ecclesiastical property does not perish. They refuse to accept the book of St. Gregory, which is entitled Pastoral. For no one can believe how they restrain themselves, except only those who suffer this evil without any intermission. But their relatives, after they understand something which is the greatest danger to the givers and receivers, are drawn to the sacred order. And although they are somewhat expert, yet the multitude of crimes surpasses their learning. It usually happens as a pastor in the church, it is not canonical justice to dare to challenge some negligent and harmful ones because of the crimes of relatives; that sacred service is generally greatly despised by some, because it is presented by such. And therefore Almighty God, together with kings and princes, is deigned to eradicate and suffocate this wretched practice in a manner and henceforth, so that it may no longer occur among the Christian people. Amen.
21. The aforesaid emperor, however, named his son Hlutharius, so that after his death he would receive all the kingdoms which God had delivered to him by the hand of his father, and he would have the name and dominion of his father. the other sons were indignant because of this.
22. In the same year Bernhardus, the son of Pippinus, born of a concubine, by the exhortation of evil men, exalting himself against his cousin, wished to expel him from the kingdom. For he had ungodly advisers from one side to the other. Hearing this, the lord emperor went from the palace of Aquis Grani to the city of Cavillon, where Bernhard came to meet him with his impious counsellors, and they represented themselves and were commended. The emperor celebrated the Lord's birthday there.
Returning thence, he came to his seat at Aquis Grani, and after the Passover he held a great meeting of the people, and he investigated all the wicked conspiracies of the infidels in this matter. And it was found that in this sedition some had fallen from both the Franks and the Lombards, who were all condemned to death, except the bishops, who afterwards became deposed in their confession. This was Anshelmus of Milan, and Thedulphus of Aurelian, and Wolvoldus of Cremona. The emperor refused to execute that mortal judgment which had been inflicted on the others; but the councilors deprived Bernhard of the light, and likewise his exhorters Egittheus, Reginhard, and Reginharius, who was the son of Hardrade's daughter, who was the most unfaithful leader of Austria, who for some time now wanted to rise up against lord Charles and reduce his kingdom to him, who himself was appointed to the same execution.
23. On the third day after the loss of the lights, Bernhard died. When the emperor heard this, he wept many times with great pain, and made a confession before all his bishops, and at their judgment accepted penance for this reason alone, because he did not prevent his advisers from acting on this weakness. For this reason he gave much to the poor for the purification of his soul.
24. At the same time he ordered his brothers, Druogon, Hugh, and Theodoric, to be shaved, in order to mitigate the discord, and he ordered them to be instructed in liberal disciplines, whom he afterwards appointed with honor, gave Druogon the episcopate, and Hugh many bishoprics.
25. Then the lord emperor went to the parts of Britain with an army, and there Murcomanus, their leader, was killed, and he brought all that land under his control. Returning thence, he found Queen Irmingard suffering from a fever, who died peacefully not many days later.
26. But in the following year he took the daughter of Hwelfi, his leader, who was of the noblest lineage of the Bavarians, and the maiden's name was Judith, who was from his mother's side, whose name was Eigilwi, of the noblest race of the Saxons, and he made her queen. For she was very beautiful. In the same year Ingilenheim had his general plea in the royal villa there.
27. In the following year he sent his army against the Eastern Slavs, whose leader was named Lyduit, whom they turned in flight and laid waste that land. Then they returned home.
28. In the following year he held his general meeting, and there Hlutharius, his eldest son by Queen Irmingarda, took in marriage the daughter of Count Hugh, who was of the race of a certain leader named Etih, who was timid above all men. For so much did his household sing to him, that sometimes he did not dare to set foot outside often. Already at that time he was threatened with infidelity, which he showed to his father through the suggestion of his father-in-law, mentioned above, and of many other unrighteous men. Returning thence, Hlutharius came to Wormacia with his wife.
29. In the following year he had his general plea in the palace of Attiniacus. From there he sent his son Hlutharius with his wife Irmingarda to Italy. But the Lord Emperor went from there, came to Franchonovurt, and there celebrated the Lord's birthday.
30. Afterwards he sent his ambassadors, Adalungus, the venerable abbot and priest, and Hunfrid, who was in charge of the Redicus in the parts of Rome, because of a certain insolence which the Roman people had spoken against the Roman pontiff Pascal, imputing to him that he had been the murderer of some. The aforesaid pontiff purified himself with an oath in the Lateran patriarchate in the presence of the aforesaid legates and the Roman people, together with 34 bishops, and five priests and deacons. When these messengers had departed, the aforesaid pope immediately died, whose burial the Roman people refused to hold in the church of the blessed Peter the Apostle, until Pope Eugene succeeded him, and he ordered his body to be buried in the place which he himself had built while alive.
31. In the following year the emperor went another time into Britain, and ravaged all that land by a great plague because of their infidelity.
32. Another year there was a palace of Aquis with a great army, and the ambassadors of the Bulgars came there bearing gifts: receiving them kindly, he dismissed them to go to their own homes.
33. But in the following year he was in the royal palace of Ingilenheim, and there came to him Heriolt de Danais, whom the Lord Emperor raised from the sacred font of baptism, and his wife, the lady Judith Augusta, raised from the fountain. Then the Lord Emperor gave him a great part of the Fresons, and adorned him with honorable gifts, and sent him away with his ambassadors to go in peace.
34. Another year he led his army to meet the Muslims. In the following year he departed from Ingilenheim, and after the general's request he arrived at Commarcia.
35. In another year he came to Wormatia, where, in the presence of his sons Hlutharius and his equal, he gave to his son Charles, who had been born of Judith the Augusta, the land of Alamanni, and Redica, and some part of Burgundy; and they were therefore indignant, together with their brother Pippinus.
36. But in another year the lord emperor went from the palace of Aquis Grani, arrived at the Compendium, and there his son Pippin came to meet him with the first magnates of his father, Hilduvinus the archchaplain, and Jesse the bishop of Ambiane, Hug and Matfrid, Elisachar the abbot, Gotefrid, and many others perfidious, and wished to expel the lord emperor from the kingdom; which his beloved equivocal son forbade. The aforesaid impious people objected to him with many objections, that it is impious to do or to believe. They said that Queen Judith had been raped by a certain duke Bernhard, who was of royal stock, and the son of the lord emperor by the holy font of baptism, lying all; taking Queen Judith, veiling her by force and throwing her into a monastery, and cutting off her brothers Chuonrad and Rudolphus and throwing them into a monastery.
37. In that same year the lord emperor arrived at the castle of Niwimagun, which is situated on the river called Walum: and a multitude of men from all his kingdoms came to him, among whom came his aforesaid adversaries, and the lord emperor had overcome them, and divided them and commended them . And Hlutharius his son promised fidelity with an oath, so that after this he should never commit such things. And there Jesse was deposed by the just judgment of the bishops. There was his equal son, who was his father's helper in all his labors. From there the Lord Emperor Aquis came to his seat, and the aforesaid spouse came there to meet him, whom he received honorably, at the command of Gregory the Roman Pontiff, with the just judgment of the other bishops.
38. But in the following year the emperor was in the palace of Theodon with his sons Hlutharius and Hludovicus: and there the aforesaid leader Bernhardus came and cleansed himself of the aforesaid defilement, after no one was found who had dared to impose the aforesaid thing on him with arms.
39. But in another year after Easter, it was heard that his equivocal son, with the counsel of Hlutharius, had wished to visit his father in the enemy, and he came as far as the monastery of St. Nazarius, and a short time abode there, until his father came to Magontia, and followed him with a gathered army . But his son, aforesaid, returning home, waited for his father's arrival, and wanted to defend himself. But the father coming, commanded him to come to him; receiving him kindly, they had a peaceful conversation, and not after many days parted with great affection. The son sat at home, and the father returned to France.
40. When he therefore came to the palace of Franchonovurt, his son Hlutharius came to meet him there, asking his father to allow him to purify himself, because neither by his will nor by his exhortation had his brother done any trouble to his father: and how true this is, it is to some known
41. Meanwhile, while the king remained there, it was heard that Pippinus, his son, had wanted to confess to his father his distress. He hastily went to the city of Limodia to meet him, and ordered his son to go with his wife and children to France. At first hearing his father's command, he began to go as far as the palace of Theotua; returning thence, he went into Aquitaine: the emperor returning thence, came to Aquis to his seat, and was there not a long time. Returning thence, he came to the city of Wormacia before the holy season of Lent.
42. After Easter he heard that his sons wished to come to him again, not peacefully: he assembled an army and went to meet them as far as the great field which is between Argentoria and Basil, which is still called the Field of Lying, where the loyalty of most was extinguished. And his sons went to meet him with Gregory, the Roman pope; and whatever they demanded, the father consented to nothing. Not many days later the emperor and the aforesaid pontiff came to the conference; who, not having spoken long, the pontiff honored him above all with great and innumerable gifts. After each had returned to the tabernacle, the emperor sent royal gifts through Adalungus to the abbot and priest aforesaid. Then some counseled to leave the emperor and go to his sons, especially those who had previously offended him; and the rest following One night the greater part sent him away, and leaving their tents they came to the children. On the morrow some who remained came to the emperor, whom he commanded, saying: Go, he said, to my sons. I do not want anyone to lose life or limb for my sake. But they, filled with tears, withdrew from him. Already at that time they had separated their wife from him, confirming with an oath that they did not wish to have her either to death or to infirmity. They immediately sent to the parts of Italy to the city of Tartun, having her there. Not long after, they received their father, and took him with them; which being done, they divided themselves there; Pippin went into Aquitaine, Louis into Bavaria. to my children I do not want anyone to lose life or limb for my sake. But they, filled with tears, withdrew from him. Already at that time they had separated their wife from him, confirming with an oath that they did not wish to have her either to death or to infirmity. They immediately sent to the parts of Italy to the city of Tartun, having her there. Not long after, they received their father, and took him with them; which being done, they divided themselves there; Pippin went into Aquitaine, Louis into Bavaria. to my children I do not want anyone to lose life or limb for my sake. But they, filled with tears, withdrew from him. Already at that time they had separated their wife from him, confirming with an oath that they did not wish to have her either to death or to infirmity. They immediately sent to the parts of Italy to the city of Tartun, having her there. Not long after, they received their father, and took him with them; which being done, they divided themselves there; Pippin went into Aquitaine, Louis into Bavaria. and they took him with them; which being done, they divided themselves there; Pippin went into Aquitaine, Louis into Bavaria. and they took him with them; which being done, they divided themselves there; Pippin went into Aquitaine, Louis into Bavaria.
43. But Hlutharius took his father with him to the Compendium palace, and there he greatly afflicted him with the bishops and some others. They ordered him to go to the monastery, and he was there all the days of his life. This he refused, and did not consent to their will. For all the bishops were troublesome to him, and especially those whom he had honored from the lowest position of servitude, together with those who had been brought to this height from barbarous nations.
44. Then they chose one most impudent and cruel, who was called Ebo, the bishop of Rem, who was of the race of the original slaves, to afflict him cruelly with the confiscations of the rest. They spoke unheard of things, did unheard of things, reviling him every day. They took the sword from his thigh, and by the judgment of their servants put him in a shirt. Then the epilogue of the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, saying: Our servants have been ruled. Oh, what a reward you gave him! He made you free, not noble, which is impossible. After freedom he clothed you in purple and a mantle; you put him in a shirt. He dragged you undeservedly to the pontifical summit; you wanted to drive him from the throne of his fathers by a false judgment. Cruel, why did you not understand the commandments of the Lord: The servant is not above the master. Wherefore thou hast despised his apostolic precepts, who was caught up to the third heaven, that he might learn among the angels what he should command men? He commanded thus, saying: Be subject to all superior powers. For there is no power except from the Lord. And again another says: Fear God, honor the king. Let servants be subject to their masters in all fear, not only to the good and modest, but also to the disciples: for this is grace. But you did not fear God, nor did you honor the king. If every one can obtain the grace of God by doing such things, he will certainly incur the wrath of God by despising such things. Cruel, who was your counselor, or your guide? Is he not the one who is king over all the sons of pride? who said to God his creator: I will give you all these things, if you fall down and worship me! O Lord Jesus Christ, where was your angel; who easily destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt in one night? and he who, in the camp of the Assyrians under Sennacherib, the unjust king, exterminated one hundred and eighty-five thousand traitors in one night, as the prophet Isaiah testifies? Or the one who struck Herod the Younger in the assembly, so that he immediately began to swarm with worms? And you, the earth, which bore him up at that time, why did you not open your mouth to devour him, as you did Dathan and Abiron long ago? You did not understand your threefold law which says: Food and a staff and a donkey's burden, bread and training and the work of servants. The prophet Zechariah prophesied to you, saying: You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord. God revealed your wickedness and preserved his kingdom and glory for him. Because of greed and lies you lost yourself in great impiety. Run now to the oppressor all the days of your life. Through the precipice of covetousness and falsehood, let your infamy increase day by day, as a small number rises to a great one by the art of arithmetic. Cruel, your canonical judgment is still incomplete. For it is necessary that the judgment be perfected to your greater disgrace. Your fathers were shepherds of goats, not counselors of princes. You, with the judgment of the others, deposed Jesse from the priesthood; now you have brought him back to his former degree. Either then, or now, you made a false judgment; you were his imitator, of whom the poet sings in the sixth book of the Aeneid: not counselors of princes. You, with the judgment of the others, deposed Jesse from the priesthood; now you have brought him back to his former degree. Either then, or now, you made a false judgment; you were his imitator, of whom the poet sings in the sixth book of the Aeneid: not counselors of princes. You, with the judgment of the others, deposed Jesse from the priesthood; now you have brought him back to his former degree. Either then, or now, you made a false judgment; you were his imitator, of whom the poet sings in the sixth book of the Aeneid:
Unhappy Theseus, we all pitied Flegia
He warned, and testified with a loud voice through the shadows:
Learn the righteousness of the admonished, and do not fear the gods.
Here he sold his country and his mighty lord for gold
He imposed, fixed the laws at a price, and repaired them.
What more can I tell you? And if I had had a tongue of iron and lips of bronze, I could not have explained or enumerated all your iniquities. But if there had been someone who had wished to rhyme all your exploits with a poetic poem, perhaps he would have been able to overcome the sage of Smyrna, the ancient Homer, and the Mincian Maron with Ovid. But the temptation of the most pious prince, which he endured from the most wicked, is believed to have been for no other reason than to prove his goodness, as also the patience of the blessed Job. But there was a great difference between the persecutors of both. Those who insulted the blessed Job are said to have been kings in the book of the blessed Tobias; but those who afflicted him most were his legal servants and those of their fathers.
45. After the Compendium they led the most pious prince to the palace of Aquis Grani. On hearing this, his son, who was disobedient, retired from Bavaria, driven to great pain by his father's injury. Coming to the palace of Franchonovurt, he immediately sent his ambassadors to Gozbald, the abbot and priest, and Morhard, count palatine, demanding and commanding them to show a more humane attitude towards their father. His brother Hlutharius did not take kindly to this. After those ambassadors had returned, he immediately sent others to his father, who were forbidden to see him.
46. Afterwards, Hlutharius went from the palace of Aquis Grani, reached Magontia, where his brother came to meet him, and they had an unequal conversation there because of this, because all those whom Hlutharius had with him were unjustly adversaries of his father. but those whom Hludowicus had with him were faithful to their father and to himself. Returning from thence, Hlutharius came to the Aquis palace, and celebrated the Nativity of the Lord with his father still shut up.
47. After the holy day of the epiphany, Louis again sent his ambassadors to his father, Grimald the venerable abbot and priest, and Gebaard the most noble and faithful leader. When they came to Aquis, Hlutharius consented to them, that they should see their father with the conspirators, one of whom was called Othgarius the bishop, and the other the treacherous Righard. The ambassadors coming to the presence of the prince, humbly prostrated themselves at his feet. After this he was greeted by his own son. But they refused to tell him the secret words, on account of the conspirators present, but by some movement of signs they made him understand, that his equal would not consent to this execution of his father.
48. When these messengers had departed, Hlutharius immediately compelled his father to go with him again to the Compendium, who agreed with his son and went with him. Hearing this, his equivocal son followed them with a large crowd; and when he was not far from them, Hlutharius dismissed his father, and withdrew from him with his impious counsellors. But his equal son came to him, and received him with honor, and brought him back again to the waters to his seat, and at the command of God restored him to his kingdom and to his place. And there together they celebrated the Lord's holy passover. On hearing this, Ebo immediately took flight; who, having been arrested, was forcibly brought into the presence of the prince, who commended him to guard.
49. In the same year, which is the 21st year of his reign, he granted indulgence to all who had left him under compulsion. And this was not burdensome or burdensome to him, who is the most pious of emperors, because he had previously spared his enemies, fulfilling that evangelical precept where it was said: Forgive, and it will be forgiven you. He prepares a good and great reward for him who establishes this precept: For whom the Lord loves he chastises; but he scourges every son whom he receives; and he who does not willingly accept the Lord's corrections cannot become his son.
50. But it is necessary to take utmost care that it no longer happens that they are slaves to their counselors; for, if they can, they construct this chiefly, in order to oppress the nobles, and endeavor to exalt them with their lowest kinship. This would not befit his holy dignity, for this seldom happened in the times of the holy memory of his parent, that one of such ascended to honor. The greatest discipline restrained him from becoming proud. It is important to practice this pattern now. When in his trial he was the gentlest of princes, these were so troublesome to him, that he showed them all undeserved kindness. No one needs to ask what the subjects are doing.
51. After the emperor had prevailed, he sent his faithful ambassadors to the parts of Italy, to bring back his spouse, who had often been afflicted by lies. Those who came received her with honor, and led her with pleasure and joy to the presence of the prince, who was at that time in the palace of Acquis Grani.
52. Hlutharius, however, residing in the city of Cavillone, where he had committed many evils, by plundering the churches of God, presented the faithful of his father, wherever he could seize them, besides the legates only, as martyrs. In addition, he ordered a saintly woman, who was the sister of Duke Bernhard, named Gerbirch, to be sealed in a wine vessel and thrown into the river Ararim, of which the poet sings:
Either Parthia will drink Ararim, or Germany will drink the Tigris.
There he afflicted her for a long time, until he extinguished her by the judgment of a couple of her impious advisers, fulfilling the psalmistic prophecy: With the holy you will be holy, and with the perverse you will be perverse.
53. After this the emperor sent his ambassadors to him, the venerable abbot Marachwardus, with the rest of his faithful, with letters of exhortation, in which he admonished him first of all to remember Almighty God and his commandments, to turn away from his wrong way, to understand how the district judgment would be to despise the Lord in his commandments. For God says among other precepts: Honor father and mother, and: Whoever curses father or mother, let him be put to death. He did not command this precept through the prophets nor through the apostles, but God himself commanded it to be observed in writing, and how serious it is to overlook this, he shows later in the book of Deuteronomy saying: scorned, let them seize him, and they shall bring him to the elders of that city and to the gate of judgment, and shall say to them: This son of ours is impudent and obstinate, he refuses to listen to our admonitions; the people of the city will stone him, and he will die, so that you may remove the evil from among you. And all Israel hearing it was afraid.
54. After Hlutharius had spoken with the aforesaid envoys, he received their delegation gravely and harshly, and promised them threats, which has not yet been fulfilled, and will not be done afterwards. They returned from him and came to the emperor, telling him all that they had heard. Then his father, groaning, gathered together a great multitude, and went after him whither he had heard that he was. His sons came to meet him, Pippinus from the west, and his equal from the east, each with a great multitude to serve his father. And when they were hastening to the city of the Aurelians, where Hlutharius was near with his impious seducers, of whom mention has been made above, he would not rest at his father's exhortations; but one night she distanced herself from him, as if fleeing. Then the emperor sent his ambassadors after him, Badarad, the Saxon bishop, and Gebehard the most noble and faithful leader, and Berengarius the wise, his relative. Those coming to him, the aforesaid bishop immediately ordered him, with the edict of Almighty God and all his saints, to alienate himself from the company of his impious seducers, that he might allow the faithful of the emperor to show whether it was the will of God, that their discord should continue or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. his relative Those coming to him, the aforesaid bishop immediately ordered him, with the edict of Almighty God and all his saints, to alienate himself from the company of his impious seducers, that he might allow the faithful of the emperor to show whether it was the will of God, that their discord should continue or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. his relative Those coming to him, the aforesaid bishop immediately ordered him, with the edict of Almighty God and all his saints, to alienate himself from the company of his impious seducers, that he might allow the faithful of the emperor to show whether it was the will of God, that their discord should continue or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. immediately the aforesaid bishop ordered him, with the edict of Almighty God and all his saints, to alienate himself from the company of his impious seducers, that he might allow the faithful of the emperor to show whether it was the will of God, that their discord should continue or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. immediately the aforesaid bishop ordered him, with the edict of Almighty God and all his saints, to alienate himself from the company of his impious seducers, that he might allow the faithful of the emperor to show whether it was the will of God, that their discord should continue or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. that their discord should continue, or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. that their discord should continue, or not. After the bishop's legation, the above-mentioned leaders brought forward what had been ordered to them. He immediately asked them to go outside for a little while, and immediately called them back again, begging them to give him advice about all his affairs. But they instructed him to come to his father's mercy with the other seducers, promising peace. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done. And he promised to come with them. The ambassadors returning from thence came to the prince, telling him what had been done.
55. After them came Hlutharius, where was the emperor, his father, sitting in his tent, which was stretched out very high in a great field, where the whole army could behold him, and his faithful sons stood by him. Then Hlutharius, coming, fell at his father's feet, and after him his father-in-law, Hug, in fear. Then Matfridus, and all the others who were the first in that deed, after they arose from the earth, confessed that they had sinned greatly. After this, Hlutharius swore fidelity to his father, that he should obey all his orders, and that he should go to Italy and remain there, and that he should not leave thence except by his father's command. Then they swore and the rest. After this the most pious prince granted them indulgence, if they kept this oath. He let them have their possessions and all that they had, except that which he himself delivered to them with his own hand. They divided themselves there and Hlutharius went into Italy with his worst companions, and immediately Matfrid, who was the greatest instigator of all those evils, died, and some others. But those who remained were seized with fever.
56. But the emperor returning thence, came to the palace of Theodon, and spent the whole winter there. In the second year after the Nativity of the Lord, he had a great meeting of the people, and there came a most ignoble peasant, whom the bishops did not dare to move firmly, fearing that their traitor must have existed. And therefore they urged him to admit that he could not have the priestly office at all; which he did so, and therefore he was thus completely dismissed. This still needs to be completely corrected, because it is better to exercise the just judgment of the holy fathers in it than to show a false piety under the cover of religion.
57. That same year the emperor went to the parts of Lyons, where his sons Pippinus and his equivocal son, who is still the imitator of the above-mentioned sons, who were born younger, came to meet him. There sat the emperor with his sons, until the ambassadors came to Italy to Hlutharius, and on their return they came to him. The emperor returned thence, and Aquis came to his seat: and Pippin returned to Aquitaine, and the emperor's accomplice went to the parts of Austria.
58. In the same year, Berengarius, a faithful and wise leader, whom the emperor and his sons had married for a long time, died on the journey. This is the twenty-second year of the reign of Lord Hludovicus, the most pious emperor, whom he is deigned to preserve and protect for a long time in this world, who lives happily, and after these passing times, may he, who is blessed for ever and ever, allow him to lead to the company of all his saints. Amen.
[Supplement to the Vienna Manuscript]
But in the 23rd year of his reign The emperor held a conference with his faithful in the royal estate of Theodon in the month of May. And there came the ambassadors of Hlutharius from the parts of Italy, Walach who was abbot, and Richard the treacherous, and Ebarhard the faithful with some others, telling him that he would gladly come to his father if he could peacefully. Then some of the bishops and other nobles promised him their faith with an oath, if infirmity had not prevented it. Then the Lord Emperor announced to the general that his council should be held in the city of Wormacia, and he ordered that Hlutharius should come there to meet him in the middle of the month of September. And when on the appointed day the emperor had arrived at Wormacia with a great multitude, and his sons Pippinus and Hludovicus with their army, the ambassadors of Hlutharius came there again, and reported that Hlutharius was in the meantime suffering greatly from a fever, and could not at all come. In the same year the aforesaid Walah died, and some other infidels. In the same year Hetti, the blessed archbishop of Trier, by divine command, removed the body of Saint Castor from the place where he had previously rested, which was called Caradona, to the place called Confluentes, where the Moselle enters the Rhine, to the monastery which the aforesaid archbishop himself had built from the ground up, as he Saint Maternus, who was the third archbishop of Trier, commanded in a vision. And on the feast of St. Martin the holy body came to Confluentes with great honor; and on the morrow, Sunday, the aforesaid pontiff consecrated that church in honor of Saint Castor and of all the saints who had been confessed. And after the consecration he received the holy body, and placed it in the church with honor, as it was worthy. On the eighth day after the consecration which is 14 Cal. December On Sunday, the lord emperor came with his wife and children, and after the solemnities of the masses, he offered there the greatest gifts in gold and silver, and he remained there two days and as many nights. and the aforesaid pontiff honored him with innumerable gifts with his wife and children and all his family. The Lord Emperor returned to his seat at Aquis, and remained there the whole winter.
But in the year 24 The emperor announced that he wanted to go to Rome with his whole army with his sons Pippinus and Hludovicus, and he established seditions in some places against the Danaans. But the Danaans, coming in a ship, to one rebellion, and slew there an innumerable multitude of Christians; and there fell Hemminch, who was of the stock of the Danes, a most Christian leader, and Ecchihardus another leader, and many of the emperor's loyalists; and some were arrested and afterwards redeemed. When the emperor heard this, he left the journey he had foretold, and returning to Gundulf's estate, he came with all his army to the castle of Noviomagus, which is situated on the river Valus.
[1] Stewart Baldwin, Todd A. Farmerie, and Peter Stewart, The Henry Project, The Ancestors of King Henry II of England: An experiment in a cooperative online database for scholarly medieval genealogy (2001-, American Society of Genealogists, 2020-), citing Thegan, Vita Hludowici, c. 2, MGH SS 2:591, [HenryProject].
[2] The Latin Library, citing Thegani Vita Hludowici, Imperatoris, [URL].