Section 1 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sonja. The World Story. A history of the world in story, song and art. Volume 7. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva Marge-Tappen. Section 1. Tusnelda in the triumphal procession of Germanicus, by Carl Theodor von Piloti. Born at Munich, October 1st, 1826. Died there, July 21st, 1886. Painting, frontispiece. The following description is by the artist himself. The Emperor Tiberius, surrounded by his courtiers, favorites, counselors, Lictus, Senators and Roman women, has taken his place upon a tribune under a spread canopy, in order that the triumphal procession of Germanicus, the Emperor's nephew who has just returned from a successful campaign in Germany, may pass before him. Germanicus appears in the background upon a triumphal car, accompanied by his five sons, surrounded by trophies of victory, and is greeted by the applause and declamations of the people, who are to be seen at the Arch of Triumph. In front of the car, reaching from the middle distance to the foreground of the picture, are the German captives being led in chains. As principal figure in this group end of the picture, walks Tusnelda, in the costume of the Germans, with her son, Tumelicus, a child of three years, accompanied by a nurse and an attendant. Before her is the priest, Leibes, coupled, chained together with warriors, as escorted by Roman soldiers. Behind Tusnelda are to be seen her brothers, leaders of the Keroski, chained together, with bears, etc. The foreground to the left is occupied by the populace of Rome, who mock and insult Tusnelda. Tusnelda having been forcibly carried away from her husband Arminius, a German prince, by her father Sigestis, was, from reasons which appear to him advantageous for his own personal interests and the conditions of the Germans, betrayed and delivered into the hands of the Romans. In the picture Tiberius has selected Sigestis to stand before the steps of his throne, and has forced him to witness the shame of his own daughter. He is mocked by the senators sitting near him, as they point to the prisoners below. CHEF ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY GERMANS AND THEIR CUSTOMS WAS WITTEN BY THE LATIN HISTORIAN TACITUS. He pictures them as a rude people of course, but as brave and hospitable. During the Caesar's conquest of Gaul, several German tribes became allies of the Romans. They were in great degree under Roman rule, but by the famous battle of the Teutoborga Forest, the German leader Hermann overcame the Roman forces and so freed his people. Rome did not push her revenge to any great degree, and the Germans were left to manage their own affairs. Between the 3rd and the 6th centuries there was a general wandering about of the German peoples. Gradually they formed themselves into little groups or confederations. The most important of these groups was that of the Franks, and it was they who laid the foundations of Germany and France. Missionaries came to the land. Ernest's teachers from Ireland and England, chief among whom was St. Boniface, tried their best to bring light to the country. They were so successful that ten years after the death of Boniface, all Germany, except Saxony, was nominally Christian. End of Section 2 This recording is in a public domain. Section 3 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sonja. The World Story Vol. 7 Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva Marstappen. Section 3 How the Early Germans Lived By Kajas Cornelius Tacitus The Germans, it is well known, have no regular cities, nor do they allow a continuity of houses. They dwell in separated habitations, dispersed up and down, as a grove, a meadow or fountain happens to invite. They have villages, but not in our fashion, with a series of connected buildings. Every tenement stands detached, with a vacant piece of ground around it, either to prevent accidents by fire, or for want of skill in the art of building. They neither know the use of mortar nor of tiles. They build with root materials, regardless of beauty, order and proportion. Particular parts are covered over with a kind of earth so smooth and shining, that the natural veins have some resemblance to the lights and shades of painting. Besides these habitations, they have a number of subterranean caves, dug by their own labour. In winter they retreat from cold, and the repository of their corn. In those recesses they not only find a shelter from the rigor of the season, but in times of foreign invasion their effects are safely concealed. The enemy lays waste the open country, but the hidden treasure escapes to general ravage, safe in its obscurity, or because the search would be attended with too much trouble. The clothing in use is a loose mantle, made fast with a clasp, or when that cannot be had, with a thorn. Naked in other respects they loiter away whole days by the fireside. Each wear garment, not indeed displayed and flowing like the Parsons or the people of Sarmatia, but drawn so tight that the form of the limbs is palpably expressed. The skins of wild animals are also much in use. Near the frontier, on the borders of the Rhine, the inhabitants wear them, but with an air of neglect that shows them altogether indifferent about the choice. People who live more remote, near the northern seas, and have not acquired by commerce a taste for new-fashioned apparel, are more curious in the selection. They choose particular beasts, and having stripped off the first, close themselves with the spoil, decorated with party-coloured spots, or fragments taken from the skins of fish that swim the ocean as yet unexplored by the Romans. In point of dress there is no distinction between the sexes, except that the garment of the woman is frequently made of linen, adorned with purple stains, but without sleeves, leaving the arms and part of the bosom uncovered. Hospitality and convivial pleasure are nowhere so liberally enjoyed. To refuse admittance to a guest were an outrage against humanity. The master of the house welcomes every stranger, and regales him to the best of his ability. If his stock falls short, he becomes a visitor to his neighbour, and conducts his new acquaintance to a more plentiful table. They do not wait to be invited, nor is it of any consequence, since accordial reception is always certain. Between an intimate and an entire stranger no distinction is made. The departing guest receives as a present whatever he desires, and the host retaliates by asking with the same freedom. A German delights in the gifts which he receives, yet by bestowing he imputes nothing to you as a favour, and for what he receives he acknowledges no obligation. There public spectacles boast of no variety, they have but one sword, and that they repeat at all their meetings. A band of young men make it their pastime to dance entirely naked amidst pointed swords and javelins. By constant exercise this kind of exhibition is become an art, and art has taught them to perform with grace and elegance. Their talents, however, are not let out for hire. Though some danger attends the practice, the pleasure of the spectator is their only recompense. In the character of a German there is nothing so remarkable as his passion for play. Without the excuse of liquor, strange as it may seem, in their cool and sober moments they have recourse to dice, as to a serious and regular business, with the most desperate spirit committing their whole substance to chance, and when they have lost their all, putting their liberty and even their persons upon the last hazard of the die. The loser yields himself to slavery. Young, robust and valiant, he submits to be chained, and even exposed to sale. Such is the effect of a ruinous and inveterate habit. They are victims to folly, and they call themselves men of honour. The winner is always in a hurry to barter away the slaves acquired by success at play. He is ashamed of his victory, and therefore puts away the remembrance of it as soon as possible. In cultivating the soil they do not settle on one spot, but shift from place to place. The state or community takes possession of a certain tract proportioned to its number of hands. Allotments are afterwards made to individuals, according to their rank and dignity. In so extensive a country, where there is no want of land, the partition is easily made. The ground tilled in one year lies fallow the next, and the sufficient quantity always remains, the labour of the people being by no means adequate to the extent or goodness of the soil. Nor have they the skill to make orchard plantations, to enclose the meadow grounds, or to lay out and water gardens. From the earth they demand nothing but corn. Hence their year is not, as with the Romans, divided into four seasons. They have distinct ideas of winter, spring and summer, and their language has terms for each, but they neither know the blessings nor the name of autumn. Their funerals have neither pomp nor vain ambition. When the bodies of illustrious men are to be burned, they choose a particular kind of wood for the purpose, and have no other attention. The funeral pile is neither strewed with garments, nor enriched with fragrant spices. The arms of the deceased are committed to the flames, and sometimes his horse. A mound of turf is raised to his memory, and this, in their opinion, is a better sepulchre than those structures of laboured grandeur which display the weakness of human vanity and are at best a burden to the dead. Tears and lamentations are soon at an end, but their regret does not so easily wear away. To grieve for the departed is calmly in the softer sex, the women weep for their friends, the men remember them. End of Section 3 This recording is in a public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The World Story, Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, edited by Eva March-Tappen. Section 4, an appeal to Caesar, 58 BC, by T. Rice Holmes. The Halvations of Switzerland left their homes for the wider and more fertile fields of Gaul, but were overcome and driven back by Julius Caesar. Many of the Gaulic chiefs came to congratulate the conqueror. Among them were certain leaders of the Eduans who now appeal to him for aid. The Sequani, they said, had asked the German tribes called Swayvi to come and help them against the Eduans. The Swayvi, or Swayvi, had come and had conquered both Eduans and Sequani. Mario Vistas, the Swayvi leader, was a bloodthirsty tyrant and was treating them with the utmost cruelty. Would not the great commander Julius Caesar free them from his abuse? Caesar was more than ready to grant their request. The Eduans were allies of the Romans and therefore he was bound to give help. Moreover, if the Germans should overrun Gaul, their next step would be into Italy. It was absolutely necessary for him to suppress Ariovistus, the editor. Peaceful methods, however, might be tried first. The Roman army was comparatively weak. Ariovistus was master of a formidable host and it would be foolhardy to attack him without absolute need. He had been treated with distinction by the Senate and there was just a chance that he might listen to reason. Besides, it would be impolitic for the proconsul to levy war against the king and friend upon whom those titles had been conferred with his sanction, without preliminary diplomacy, which he must so conduct as to justify himself before his countrymen. Ariovistus was then probably in the plane of Upper Alsace and Caesar sent ambassadors to ask him to name some intermediate spot for a conference.  He could not risk his safety by moving outside his own territory without his army, and to move and feed his army would involve an amount of exertion which he did not care to undergo. Meanwhile, he should like to know what business Caesar had in a country which the Germans had won by their own swords. Caesar now assumed a more peremptory tone. Ariovistus had rejected his invitation very good, then these were his terms. Not another man must set foot across the Rhine. The hostages of the Edui must be restored and Ariovistus must positively cease to molest that people or their allies. If he obeyed, Caesar would be his friend. If not, he should know how to avenge the wrongs of the Edui. The Senate had decreed three years before that the Governor of Gaul for the time being should protect the Edui and the other allies of the Republic, and he intended to obey his instructions. Ariovistus hardly replied that he was a conqueror, and as a conqueror he had a right to treat his subjects as he pleased. The Romans invariably acted on the same principle, he did not interfere with them, what right then had they to interfere with him. He would not molest the Edui so long as they paid their tribute, but most certainly he would not give up the hostages, and if the Edui did not pay much good with their alliance with the Romans do them, for Caesar's threats he cared nothing. No man had ever withstood Ariovistus and escaped destruction, but Caesar chose his own time for fighting, he would soon find out what medal there was in the unbeaten warriors of Germany. With this message came the alarming news that a host of Suibi had appeared on the eastern bank of the Rhine, and that the Harutus were actually herring the lands of the Edui. Caesar, the most reticent of writers, has told us that he was seriously alarmed. The Gauls were waiting to see whether he or Ariovistus was to be master. If he suffered any reverse they would probably rise in his rear and between them and the Germans his army might perish. Not a moment was to be lost if the formidable Suibi were to be prevented from reinforcing the army of Ariovistus. With all possible speed Caesar made arrangements with the Edui, the Suquani and the Mengones for the forwarding of supplies and immediately put his army in motion. Three days later he heard that Ariovistus was hurrying to seize Vesantio, now Besantson, the chief town of the Suquani, a strong place well stored with all munitions of war. Marching night and day at his utmost speed to anticipate him he encamped on the outskirts and threw a strong garrison into the town. Besantio, which now became Caesar's base, was an ideal Gallic stronghold. The town stood on a sloping peninsula, round which the dubs swept in a curve that nearly formed a circle, while the isthmus, little more than 500 yards wide, rose from either bank into a steep and lofty hill, girded by a wall which gave it the strength of a citadel and connected it with the town. During the short time that Caesar stayed there to collect supplies, his soldiers had plenty of opportunity for gossiping. The people of the place and especially the traders whose business had brought them into contact with the Germans told marvelous stories of their great strength and superhuman valor. One could not bear even to look them in the face, so terrible was the glare of their piercing eyes. The Roman soldiers were brave, but they remembered their desperate struggle with the Helvetia. They were liable to fit a panic, and they were very credulous. The idle chatter of their new acquaintances completely demoralized them. The mischief began with the tribunes, the officers of the auxiliary corps, and others who formed the personal following of the general. Many of them were soldiers only in name, like every other Roman governor. Caesar had been obliged for political reasons to find places in his army for fashionable idlers and disappointed professional men who had had no experience of war and simply wanted to mend their fortunes by looting. Now that there was a prospect of real stern fighting, they began to tremble. They whispered that the campaign was not authorized by the Senate, but undertaken simply to gratify Caesar's ambition. Some indented excuses for asking leave of absence, others felt bound for it very shame to stay, but they could not command their accountants as enough to look as if they were not afraid. Sometimes indeed in spite of themselves they gave way to tears. Gradually even centurions and seasoned veterans were infected by the general alarm. Some of them indeed made an effort to disguise their fears. They told each other that it was not the enemy, but only the forests between them and the enemy, and the probable failure of supplies that they dreaded. All over the camp men were making their wills, and Caesar was actually told that when he gave the order to march, the men would refuse to obey. He immediately sent for the tribunes and centurions and gave them a severe lecture. What business had they to ask where he intended to march? It was most unlikely that Ariovistus would be mad enough to fight, but supposing that he did what was there to be afraid of, had they lost all confidence in themselves, all faith in their general? What had these terrible Germans ever really done? The crushing defeats which Marius had inflicted upon the Simbri and Tutoni, the defeats which had been inflicted upon the gladiators trained though they were in Roman discipline in the recent servile war, gave the real measure of their prowess. Even the Helvetia had often beaten them, and the Helvetia had gone down before the legions. No doubt Ariovistus had defeated the Gauls, but what of that? He had tired them out by avoiding a battle for months, and then attacked them when they had dispersed and were off their guard. This did not mean that Germans were braver than Gauls, and Ariovistus himself must know that Roman armies were not to be trapped by such transparent devices. To talk about the difficulty of the country or the difficulty of getting supplies was downright impertinence. It was as much as to assume that the general did not know his own business. Supplies were coming up to the front from the friendly tribes, and the croakers would soon see that their alarm about the forests was absurd. As for the story that the army was going to mutiny, he did not believe it. Armies did not mutiny unless generals were incapable or dishonest. His integrity had never been called in question, and the late campaign proved that he could command. Anyhow, on the very next night he intended to march, and if nobody else would follow him, he would go on with the 10th legion alone, for it at all events was faithful to its commander.  From despair, their spirits bounded to the highest pitch of confidence, and they were only impatient to cross swords with the enemy. The men of the 10th flattered by Caesar's trust in them sent him a message of thanks through their officers, while the other legions asked theirs to tell him that they were sorry for what had occurred. At the hour which he had fixed Caesar struck his camp. He left a detachment to hold Bassantier before him, all was unknown, but he had full faith, and did as Siakus undertook to be his guide. To avoid the broken wooded country between Bassant and Mont-Baillard, he made a circuit northward and eastward of about 50 miles, and then, threading the pass of Belfort, debouched into the plain of the Rhine, and pushed on rapidly past the eastern slopes of the Vaskas till he reached a point within 22 miles of the German encampment. He has not told us where he formed his own camp. Probably it was on the river fetched between Aston and Gamar. Ariovistus, who was on the north, sent messengers to say that as Caesar had come nearer, he had no objection to meeting him. Caesar accepted his proposal and the conference was fixed for the fifth day following. Ariovistus, who knew that Caesar's cavalry were weak, pretended to be afraid of treachery from the legions, and insisted that they should each bring with them a cavalry escort only. Caesar was unwilling to raise difficulties, but as all his cavalry were galls, and he did not care to trust his safety to them, he mounted the tent on their horses. The place of meeting was a knoll rising above the plain, nearly equidistant from the Roman and the German camp. Caesar stationed the bulk of his escort about 300 yards off. Ariovistus did likewise, and each rode up with 10 horsemen to the knoll. Ariovistus had stipulated that they should hold the conference without dismounting. Caesar began by reminding Ariovistus of the honors which the Senate had conferred upon him, and afterwards repeated the demands which he had already made through his envoys on behalf of the Edui. Ariovistus replied that he had only crossed the Rhine in response to Gallic appeals. The country which he occupied in Gall had been formally ceded to him by galls, and it was not he who had attacked them, but they who had attacked him. He had overthrown their entire host and battle, and if they cared to repeat the experiment, he was ready to fight them again. As for the friendship of the Romans, it was only fair that he should get some solid advantage out of it. And if he could only retain it by giving up the tribute which he received from his subjects, he would fling it aside as readily as he had asked for it. He had entered Gall before the Romans. Caesar was the first Roman governor who had ever passed beyond the frontier of the province. What did he mean by invading his dominions? That part of the country belonged to him just as much as the province belonged to Rome. Caesar talked a great deal of the titles which the Senate had bestowed upon the Edui, but he knew too much of the world to be imposed upon by such shams. The Edui had not helped the Romans in the war with the Aloe Brogas, and the Romans had not stirred a finger to help their brethren against himself. He had good grounds for suspecting that the friendship which Caesar professed for him was another sham, a mere blind undercover of which Caesar was plotting his ruin. He happened to know what was going on in Rome, and there were prominent men there who would be glad to hear of Caesar's death. If Caesar did not withdraw from his country, he would expel him by force of arms. But if he would only go away and leave him in peace, he would show his gratitude. Caesar quietly answered that it was impossible for him to go back from his word or to forsake the allies of his country, and he added if history were to be appealed to, the claim of the Romans to supremacy in Gaul was better founded than that of the Germans. He was still speaking when a soldier wrote up and warned him that a number of Germans were edging up towards the knoll and stoning his escort. Writing back to his men, he withdrew them without attempting to retaliate, for though he was confident that his funded legion could easily beat the Germans, he was determined not to give them any pretext for accusing him of foul play. Exasperated by this outrage, the Romans became more than ever impatient for battle. Two days later, Ariovistus requested Caesar to meet him again, or else send one of his generals. Caesar saw no reason for further discussion and did not care to expose his lieutenants to the tender mercies of our treacherous barbarian. But he sent his interpreter, Trusillus, and a man called Medius, whom, as he believed, Ariovistus could have no motive for injuring. They were instructed to hear what Ariovistus had to say and bring back word. The moment he saw them, Ariovistus flew into a passion.  On the same day, he made a long march southward and halted about six miles north of Caesar's camp at the very foot of the Vaskas. He had conceived a daring plan. Next morning, his column ascended the lower slopes, marched securely along them past the Roman army, and took up a position two miles south of Caesar's camp. As he looked up at the huge column winding leisurely by, Caesar saw that he was being outmaneuvered. To send the legions up the hillside would be to court destruction, and he could only wait a passive spectator while Ariovistus was cutting his communications and barring up the road by which he expected his supplies. Next day, Caesar formed up his army immediately in front of the camp under the protection of his artillery. Ariovistus might attack if he liked, but if he attacked, it would be at his peril. If he declined the challenge, the legionaries would be assured that the Germans were not invincible. Ariovistus remained where he was. On each of the four following days, Caesar offered battle, but the enemy would not be provoked into leaving their camp. Cavalry skirmishes indeed took place daily, but without any decisive results. The Germans headlight armed active footmen who accompanied the cavalry into action, each one of them selected by the rider whom he attended. They were trained to run by the horses' sides, holding onto their mains, and if the troopers were forced to retreat, they supported them and protected the wounded. As the infantry remained obstinately in their camp, and it was necessary for Caesar to win back communications with his convoys, he resolved to take the initiative. Forming his legions in three parallel columns, prepared at a moment's notice to face into line of battle, he marched back to a point about a thousand yards south of Ariovistus' position, and there marked out a site for a camp. One column fell to work with their spades while the other two formed in two lines to protect them. Ariovistus sent a detachment to stop the work, but it was too late. The fighting legions kept their assailants at bay and the camp was made. Two legions with a core of auxiliaries were left to hold it, and the other four returned to the larger camp. On the next day Caesar let his men into the open, but not far from his camp, and again offered battle. Ariovistus again declined the challenge, but as soon as the legions had returned to their entrenchments, he made a determined effort to storm the smaller camp, and only drew off his forces at sunset. The legions had suffered as heavily as the Germans, but Caesar now learned from prisoners that the enemy had been warned by their wise women, whose divinations they accepted with superstitious awe that they could not gain the victory unless they postponed the battle until after the new moon. Caesar saw his opportunity. He waited till the following morning and then leaving detachments to guard his two camps. He formed his six legions as usual in three lines and marched against the enemy. They had no choice but to defend themselves. Their wagon stood in a huge semi-circle closing their flanks and rear, and as they tramped out, their women stretched out their hands and piteously begged them not to suffer their wives to be made slaves. The host was formed in seven distinct groups, each composed of the warriors of a single tribe. As the Romans were numerically weaker than their opponents, the auxiliaries were drawn up in front of the smaller camp to make a show of strength. Each of the legati was placed at the head of a legion in order that everyone might feel that his courage and action would not be overlooked. Caesar commanded the right wing in person and noticing that the enemy's left was comparatively weak, directed against it his principal attack in the hope of overwhelming it speedily and thus disconcerting the rest of the force. But before the Romans in the front ranks could poise their javelins, the Germans were upon them and they had barely a moment to draw their swords. Quickly stiffening into compact masses, the Germans locked their shields to receive the thrusts. But some of the Romans flung themselves right onto the phralanxes. They tore the shields from the grasp of their foes and dug their swords down into them, and after a close struggle they broke the formation and their weapons got free of play. The unwieldy masses unable to maneuver or to deploy reeled backward, dissolved and fled. But the Romans left overpowered by numbers was giving ground. Young, publius crassus, son of the celebrated triumvir, who was stationed in command of the cavalry outside the battle, saw the crisis and promptly sent the third line to the rescue. The victory was won and the whole beaten multitude fled towards the Rhine, but the Rhine was some fifteen miles away. The eel had first to be crossed and in that weary flight many fell under the lances of the cavalry. Only a few among whom was Aerio Vistas were lucky enough to swim the river or find boats. Caesar, in the course of the pursuit, came upon his interpreter who was being dragged along in chains by his captors and had only escaped death by the accident that on drawing lots, they had decided to postpone his execution. There is nothing in Caesar's memoirs more full of human interest than the passage in which, breaking his habitual reserve, he tells us of the joy he felt on seeing this man, for whom he had the greatest respect in regard, alive and unhurt. He gave him, he tells us, a pleasure as great as he had felt in gaining the victory. In the section four, this recording is in the public domain. Section five of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sonja. The world's story, volume seven. Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Edited by Eva Marge Tappen. Section five. Hermann who freed the Germans from Rome, nine A.D., by Kate Freilichrad Krocker. Gaul had become a province of Rome, and it began to look as if Germany would follow its example, for several German tribes had become allies of the Empire. This might have been the case, had it not been for the unwise rule of Varus, commander-in-chief of the Roman forces in northwestern Germany. The editem. This Roman governor, Varus, introduced a whole hateful array of Roman law and Roman raids in Texas, together with Roman tax-gatherers to the Germans, who up to now had known nothing of these things. All litigation was settled according to Roman laws and in a foreign tongue. Disobedience was punished by death, while according to the old Germanic law, capital questions lay in the hands of the popular assemblies only. In dealing thus despotically, Varus thought to break the stubbornness of these people, whereas he simply exasperated them beyond endurance, and only strengthened that feeling of nationality which had been so marked the characteristic trait of the Germans from the earliest times. Determined to free themselves from the oppressor's yoke, all the tribes between the Rhine and the Visor now united under Hermann, Prince of the Keroski. In his youth, Hermann had learned Roman warfare in Italy, but far from having succumbed to the seductions of the Romans, he despised their indulgence and luxury, and while daring and courageous, he was yet cool and wary. The Roman army, under Varus, was at this time encamped on the banks of the Visor, when the general was called away to a distant revolt. This was the signal for the conspiracy and succeeded in drawing Varus away to march against the insurgents, although he was warned not to do so. Varus, however, would not listen and chose the nearest way through the Teutoburga Forest, which was destined to become his death-trap. For no sooner had he entered that region of forest, swamp, and mountain defile with his army than he was attacked on all sides by the Germans, who arrest him unceasingly for three days and nights. At the end of that time the Romans, weakened by want of food and rest, succumbed, and Varus killed himself by falling on his sword, his example being followed by many of his officers. The entire Roman army was thus destroyed, and Germany freed from the hateful foreign yoke. When the Emperor Augustus heard of the disaster, he rent his garments and exclaimed, full of grief, O Varus, give back to me, my legions! Thus the might of the Romans in Germany was broken forever in the great battle of the Teutoburga Forest, although the chances of war still fluctuated for some time afterwards when Germanicus, the son of Drusus, determined to conquer Germany anew and to avenge the Teutoburga disaster. But with the exception of some successful raids, and an encounter with Herman, which was left undecided, his final attempt to conquer Germany met with so desperate a resistance that Germanicus had to give up all idea of doing so for the present. It was in one of his raids on the Chati in 15 AD that Germanicus carried off to Snelda, the wife of Herman, into captivity, where she gave birth to her son Tumelius. Nothing certain is known of their subsequent fate, except that the Caruscan princes figured with her little son in the triumph given to Germanicus in honour of his prowess in Germany. We may imagine her led in the Roman procession, sad-eyed, her long fair tresses flowing, and thinking of her husband and fatherland she was never to see again. Before Germanicus could resume hostilities, he was sent by Tiberius, who was jealous of his nephew's great popularity, to Syria, where he suddenly died. It is believed of poison. Tiberius now declared that enough blood had been wasted, that Rome was sufficiently avenged, and that the stubborn German races might be safely left to their own descendants. Unfortunately this proved to be true enough, for no sooner had the danger subsided from without than internal quarrels and broils arose. It was owing to such dissensions that Herman, whose high position was the cause of much envy, found his death at the hands of his relations. He died by treachery in the year 21 AD, and Tacitus nobly says of him. Undoubtedly he was the liberator of Germany, for not like other kings and chieftains did he meet the Roman people in his infancy, but at the time of its greatest power. Not always victorious in battle, he remained unconquered in war. Throughout the many sad and terrible centuries that followed, the memory of Herman the Caruscan has faithfully remained with the German people, and in 1875, after the great Franco-German war, a monument was erected to him in the heart of his own Teutoburger Forest, in honour of Germany's patriot and liberator, and as a symbol of German unity. From the heights of the Grottenburg, the colossal figure of Herman looks down on the waving forests and beautiful silent mountains, which today are still very much what they were in the times of the Romans. End of Section 5. This recording is in the public domain. The World Story, Volume 7, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, edited by Evermarch Tappen. Section 6. Boniface and the Oak of Thor, about 723, by the right reverend W. Pachenhem Welch. Among these efforts and conflicts, the struggle to teach Christianity on the continent, the name of Boniface stands preeminent. He has won from himself the illustrious titles of the Apostle of Germany and the father of German civilization. His original name was Winifred. He belonged to a family of distinction and was born at Kyrton and Devonshire about the year 8680. He was destined by his parents for a secular profession, but a visit played by some of the clergy to his father's house for the purpose, according to a good old English custom, of instructing the family in religious truth, fire the heart of the youth with the desire for the monastic life. His father was at first much opposed to the project, but influenced partly by a verse of fortune and partly by a dangerous illness. He acceded to the boy's solicitations and placed him under Abbot Wolford at Exeter and eventually at Newtchill in Hampshire where he received his clerical education. He was early distinguished by his deep acquaintance with the Word of God and by his skill in preaching. He was possessed moreover of such tact and prudence and was of so practical a turn of mind that he was frequently employed by the community to which he belonged in difficult negotiations with the nations, was even favoured with the confidence of his king, seemed as if honour and distinction awaited the young ecclesiastic in his native land, but loftier aspirations had taken hold of him and the mantle of the missionary, rather than the mitre of the prelate, became the one object of his desire. It happened in this way. Willow Broad, an earthumbrian who had been educated in Ireland, had gone with twelve missionary companions to Friesland. His efforts there had been fiercely opposed by a powerful heathen prince named Radbod, with the tales of heroic endurance and patient faith on the part of the devoted band, which from time to time reached the angles, sacks and monasteries, stirred many a heart to its profoundest depths, and amongst the rest, that of the youthful Boniface. He communicated to his superior his ardent desire to go to the aid of the missionary Pardee in Friesia. The Abbot tried to dissuade him from the dangerous enterprise, but in vain. With three of the community whom he had inspired with his own missionary zeal, he sailed for Friesland. The time of his arrival, however, was unperpetuous. Radbod was engaged in war with Charles Martel, a fierce persecution against the Christians had ensued, and Boniface was reluctantly obliged to return to his cloister. It was the winter of AD 716, and soon after his return the Abbot Winnbergt died. The brethren unanimously wished him to take the vacant place, but his missionary ardour revived. He declined the proffered honour, and was soon on his way to Rome to obtain the sanction of the Pope for a repetition of his arduous enterprise. The following spring he was crossing the Alps with a commission from Gregory II to preach the Gospel in Germany, and upon his arrival he commenced his labour in Thuringia. The death of Radbod and the victories of Charles Martel had opened a door for the wider preaching of the Gospel in Friesland, and for three years Boniface associated himself with Bishop Rilla Brod at Utrecht, and gained successes which surpassed their expectations. Christian churches rose on every side, even temples were destroyed, a vast multitude became obedient to the faith. And now honour and distinction came to tempt him in a new form. Rilla Brod, advanced in age, was anxious that Boniface should succeed him in the bishopric, but the ardent missionary, feeling himself impelled by an inward call, and strengthened in his resolutions by a remarkable dream, declined the honour and plunged into the forests of Hesse. Here, amidst dangers and hardships, with wars resounding amongst the bordering Saxon tribes, and with the scantiest of supplies for himself and his companions, he pursued his labours, founded his first religious establishment, baptized two native princes, and with their protection and his own thorough knowledge of the native tongue, gained his way to the people's hearts, and won multitudes to the faith of Christ. As an illustration of his boldness and success, we may notice his conduct at Gismar in Upper Hesse. There stood there a gigantic and venerable oak, sacred to Thor the God of Thunder. It had been regarded from age to age with superstitious awe and veneration by the people, and beneath its gloomy shade their most solemn rites had for centuries been performed. In vain had Boniface declared against idolatry the presence of that sacred tree counteracted in the minds of his hearers every impression that he made, and even drew back some of his neo-fights into heathenism.  With axe in hand and accompanied by his clergy, he advanced, in presence of the multitude, towards the object of their awe and worship. The pagans looked on with mingled feelings of wonder, rage and terror, expecting every moment that the sacrilegious assailants would be struck dead by the avenging deity, and the controversy between the old faith and the new settled forever in their favour. But as the stalwart missionary applied his axe, it was apparent that Thor could not protect his own. A crashing was soon heard in the topmost bows, the helpless idol thundered to the ground and lay rent and broken by its fall. Their faith in the dreaded deity had fallen with it, and, as on a like occasion long before, a cry resounded from the multitude, The Lord, he is God. In order to make the impression lasting, Boniface gave directions that the timber should be used in constructing an oratory wherein the true God might be worshipped. So the work of Boniface went on until he was nearly seventy years of age. He planned to leave his field in the hands of his successor and retire to the convent of Fulda, which he had founded that his last days might be spent in peace and quiet. But once again the missionary fire blazed up in the old man's bosom. He must visit Friesland yet again to revive the work, which, since the death of Willa Brod had been suffered to decay, and to redeem it from remaining paganism. He was now seventy and five years old, and from that missionary journey he felt that he never would return. He gave his last solemn charge to his successor, Bishop Lowell, and then directed that in the book-chest, which he invariably took with him on his journeys, there should be placed the famous treatise of Saint Ambrose on the Advantage of Death, and along with it a shroud in which his body was to be carried back to Fulda. With a retinue of about fifty clergy and laymen, he sailed down the Rhine and was joined by Eobann at Utrecht and then proceeded toward the eastern part of Friesia. By many the missionaries were received with joy. Multitudes were baptized, and having received further instruction, were directed to meet Boniface upon the eve of Witzentide in order to receive the rite of confirmation. The Witzent morning dawned. It was the fifth of June, A.D. 755, and on the banks of the Buddha, not far from Dakinien, he went forth to meet his children in the faith. The clash of arms and the shout of an angry multitude soon told that the heathens were at hand. Maddened by the success of the missionaries, they had resolved to dedicate this day to slaughter and to take vengeance on behalf of their gods. Some of the archbishops retinue advised resistance and would have defended him with their lives. But he stepped forward and commanded them to forbear and to await with patience the crown of Marderdom. The long-expected day said he has come, it is time of our departures at hand. Strengthen yourselves in the Lord, and he will redeem your souls. Fear not them that can kill the body, but cast the anchor of your hope on God, who will soon give you an everlasting reward and admission to his heavenly kingdom. It is said that he himself, as the Pagans rushed upon him, took a volume of the Gospels, and, placing it beneath his head for a pillow, calmly awaited the fatal blow which was to number him with those who sleep in the Lord. And many of his companions that day shared with him that blessed sleep, and for many a year might be seen in his beloved home at Fulda, the shroud which he had carried with him to the scene of his first baffled labours, and the advantage of death, which had been sprinkled with his victorious Marder blood. His spirit, indeed, lived after him in many of his disciples, who, like Gregory of Utrecht and Sturm of Fulda, carried on the peaceful work which he had loved, but sterner and less Christian characters were soon permitted to appear upon the scene, and terribly was the death of Boniface of Enged. It was only after many a bloody baptism on many a fierce battlefield at the hands of the resistless Charlemagne that the ferocious Saxons were subdued, and after thirty years of strife during which carnal, rather than spiritual weapons were freely used, the Saxons were brought, at least nominally, within the pale of Christendom. End of section 6 This recording is in the public domain. Recording by Christina Kloss. Section 7 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland Read for LibriVox.org Germany, Part 2 Empires of Medieval Germany Historical Note Under the vigorous sway of Charlemagne a mighty empire was formed which extended from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and from the Bay of Biscay to the coast of Illyria. When Charlemagne was crowned by the Pope in 800 he was regarded as the successor of the Roman emperors and this theory continued throughout the Middle Ages. Frederick Barbarossa added Holy to the title of Roman Emperor probably with the idea that the emperor was the special protector of the church. Under Henry the Fowler, 919 to 1931 Germany was for the first time united under one rule. During the reign of his son, also the first, Italy was conquered and added to the empire. This union was for centuries a source of weakness to each nation for two countries so unlike as Germany and Italy could not be controlled in those troubled times by one ruler and the emperors were perpetually neglecting one country at the expense of the other. The result was that whereas in other countries the power of the nobles was gradually usurped by the crown the German emperors could never quite accomplish this but were forced to see both Germany and Italy divided into many small and practically independent states. In 1138 the imperial crown passed to the house of Hohenstofen. The most famous monarch of this dynasty was Frederick Barbarossa. He joined the third crusade famous for the exploits of Richard the Lionhearted of England and even before reaching the field of warfare he came to his death with the reign of Frederick II, 1250 to 1250. The splendor of the Holy Roman Empire came to an end. This prince was one of the most remarkable characters of the Middle Ages but his splendid abilities were wasted in fruitless struggles with the Pope and with the wealthy and liberty loving cities of northern Italy. His son was the last of the Hohenstofen emperors and after his death Germany passed through a period of strife and confusion that was ended in 1273 by the election of Rudolph of Habsburg to the imperial throne. End of section 7 In all parts of Germany the Saxons in the time of Charles were considered the wild Saxons. They passed for being more savage and cruel than any other foe and as crafty and artful barbarians they passed through a period of strife and confusion that was ended in 1273 and after that they passed through a period of strife and confusion that was ended in 1273 and after that they passed through a period of strife and artful barbarians. From early time down to the late Middle Ages they bore a character of being not fit to be trusted the sequel will show that oath and treaties were held as nothing by the Saxons when Franks were concerned and that they differ in this respect from the Suévi and Alemanni a proof that their morals were less elevated than those of these German brethren. The Cheruski in the days of Charles were undeniably lower in the scale of morals than the old Cheruski of the days of Arminius, Hermann. They had become savages. So much the more had the time come to make them Christians and thus instill moral principles. But this was for various grounds a heavier task with the Saxons than with other Germans. The Saxons saw that wherever Charles and his father had carried Christianity three things came into the country a numerous priesthood, a frank voidal mobility a swarm of tax-gatherers they regarded baptism as a mark of servitude under their old gods the Saxon, man or woman was free, quite free the power of the priest or of the noble was nothing unknown on Saxon soil. They had hitherto paid no tithes or taxes either to a priesthood or to a foreign or native court the soldiers and tax-gatherers of no court had touched the house and home of the free Saxon they had no priestly class for a whole population we find only one priest and two assistants usually each head of household was the priest of his family and offered sacrifice they had no temples but only hain or holy places cleared in the forest with places for sacrifice and thousand-year-old oaks with seats placed around for solemn feasts or popular festivities here they celebrated their cheerful feasts of nature to greet the spring and the winter and other feasts between for the feasts of the Saxons like those of the heathen Germans in general were of a cheerful character with banquets, dances and songs the summer sacrifice was offered for the harvest with fires kindled by night in the plains and on the hills maidens adorned the altars with the fruits of the year and hung wreaths on the trees that surrounded the holy space here too their assemblies were held the meetings of the canton or goal the great national meetings at the consecrated meadow where three or seven holy oaks stood together and where a holy stream rushed by the cantonal meetings consisted of the free men of the several divisions the great meeting of the nation, the land dog consisted of elected deputies from each canton in it the Saxons discussed the affairs of the nation and decided on peace or war and when war was resolved on and the Saxon army had to march against the enemy here they elected their dukes or leaders for the campaign the general was elected without any regard to nobility he could be chosen from any of the three classes Valor and distinguished service in war decided the election the judge of the canton, the alderman was always chosen from the nobles while the head of the mark or district could be chosen as they liked from any one of the three classes of free men the weakness of the Saxon military power as compared with the Franks lay in the fact that in war as in peace they had no collective head no supreme ruler for the whole of the nation while the Franks had in the king or his lieutenant a commander for the collective Franks such an officer had not existed for centuries amongst the Saxons but each tribe elected for the campaign it's own separate leader the east valians had their own duke so had the west valians so the engern and the others there was a thorough want of unity in command of a strong connection of military forces which in themselves were formidable from this cause the Saxons on the whole in spite of some victories would have remained during the 33 years war inferior to the Franks and must necessarily be at a greater disadvantage when opposed to Charles the powerful head of the Frank kingdom especially as the Franks who had long been Christians had been excited by a fanatical priestly class against the Saxons by priests who told them that the religion of the Saxons was a devil worship their deities were fiends of hell and that war against them was a war against the worshippers of evil spirits Charles took into the field with him the relics of the saints a host of priests followed his army between the mounted men and the infantry abbots, priests, clergy of every rank not as chaplains of the Frank army but as missionaries men who settling on the territory of the Saxons would convert them to Christianity and found for themselves churches, abbeys, bishoprics before the Saxons expected it Charles in person was on Saxon soil in the year 772 and as he found no Saxon army collected he ravaged Westphalia with fire and sword by a stratagem the Frank accounts allow this he got possession of the Eresburg the stronghold of the Saxons on the right bank of the Demo where now Stuttburg lies in the circle of Paderborn the Eresburg was named after Er or Er the god whose wisdom directs a battle another name for him amongst the Saxons was Saxnot that is Odin's brother in arms as indication that as in the religion of the Greeks so among the old Germans the gods were only personifications of qualities of the one god Odin or Wodan the Saxons also called him Tiu and after him the third day of the week is named in German Dienstag in English Tuesday the Eresburg was therefore dedicated to the god who directed the battle and not far from it in the consecrated district in the Aegei mountain range was the great national sanctuary of the Saxons in which stood the Irmenzul an ancient mighty tree holy to all the Saxons it is supposed that this tree was to the Saxons an emblem of the tree of life and time of which their poets sang whose roots penetrated the world whose top overshadowed heaven was both extended over the universe at whose feet the gods sat in judgment that the Irmenzul Sul, Zeule in old German a straight tree trunk was such an emblem is confirmed by their holding beneath the Irmenzul, their national diet their law proceedings their popular festivities it may be that near the Irmenzul was a memorial of the old Cheruscan prince Arminius we read indeed that a statue of Arminius was found the hero was in armor on a marble pillar 11 feet high the base of the pillar was too else thick and made of rough calciary of stone rings of copper and in part of gold surrounded the pillar the size of the Saxon sanctuary was large beside the holy spring at the foot of the Irmenzul in whose sweet waters the weary army of Charles quenched its thirst in the hot days much gold and silver was found stored up and spoils of early and late date hung up as offerings the Franks took three days to destroy everything belonging to this sacred precinct in the Egegeberg Charles then laid waste with fire and sword the land up to the weasel the Saxons had no forces collected they durst not venture to meet the Franks in the open field the latter easily penetrated deeper into the country the foremost cantons promised submission on terms which Charles offered them 12 hostages children of important men they gave them Charles then withdrew to Thionville on the Moselle taking with him the hostages and the gold and silver offerings found in the Saxon sanctuary the progress of the Lombards in Italy the appeal for aid made by the Pope and Charles hoped that Christianity as it had favoured him elsewhere would open among the Saxons a peaceful path to Frank Dominion and bring this race too into a union with the other German races under the god and one head all these reasons induced Charles to conclude peace with the Saxons and cross the Alps Charles had stipulated and the Saxons had admitted in the treaty that the preaching of Christianity was to meet with no opposition the Saxon chiefs who gave their children as hostages did not accept the treaty as implying that the children were to be made Christians at once but the zeal of Charles to make everything Christian and his politic eye interpreted it otherwise he placed the hostages the children of free Saxons in convents and had them educated as Christians these convents it is true were the educational establishments of the period and Charles had his own son Louis educated in one the education was a careful one and bore good fruit but of course these Saxon youth with their instruction in ancient Roman culture received also instruction in Christianity nay were expressly prepared to propagate it in their native country an evident breach of faith towards the heathen parents of the children Charles zeal and policy worked successfully for the national and religious unity of all Germans the noble Saxon hostages contributed much in both respects afterwards many of them returned to the land of their birth to proclaim the religion of Christ one of them was Ebb who became Archbishop of Rome and preached Christianity to the Danes this partial breach of faith on the part of Charles this Christianizing of heathen youth by placing them in Christian convents had the result of making the Saxons feel themselves less bound by such hostages they now had no cause for fear least Charles might kill their children if their fathers and kindred violated the treaty as far as concerned Saxon interests these noble youth who were made into Frank Christians were in the eyes of every good Saxon regarded as lost Charles put none of these hostages to death when the Saxons again revolted this was only the beginning of Charlemagne's wars with the Saxons while he was in the country they submitted but as soon as he had left it they revolted a brave chief called Widokind became the leader more than 30 years passed and their freedom were subdued when this had once come to pass however and they had submitted to baptism Charlemagne recognized their excellent qualities they became an important part of the kingdom soon as there were the strengths of all the German races and not long after the days of their conqueror had passed a Saxon sovereign wore the crown of the empire the editor section 9 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland read for LibriVox.org by Sonja the Margrave Gero and the Vandals by Theodor van Hayden German artist 1827 painting page 36 the death of Charlemagne was followed by some years of dissension and warfare the vast kingdom was then divided among his grandsons but it was more than a century after his death before his successor was found at all worthy of the title which he had borne as head of the Roman Empire this was Otto I who came to the throne in 936 his father known as Henry the Fowler had left the federated state and he set to work to make it a strong and united kingdom one of his chief troubles arose from the encroachments of the Slavs who lived between the Order and the Elbe the work of suppressing them was put into the hands of the Margrave Gero a bold and loyal vessel Gero's energy brought about the submission of the tribes north of Bohemia between the Order and the Middle Elbe and won him a place as a fabulous hero in the Nibelungen lead in the illustration the conquered peoples are coming before the Margrave and in accordance with the missionary enterprise of the day he is offering them their choice between baptism and death end of section 9 this recording is in the public domain section 10 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by phone the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva Marge Tappen section 10 the election of Frederick Barbarossa to red bearded 1152 by Cyrus Townsend Brady early in the 10th century the ruler was elected by the great nobles gradually this ride fell into the hands of the seven who were most powerful these were known as electors in 1438 Albert Duke of Austria was made emperor and from that time although the form of an election was kept up it was understood that some member of the house of Austria the Habsburg family should be chosen the editor there was a sudden tumult in the anti-chamber confused noises trembling of feet and clattering of steel clad men on the stone floor the three knights in the room paused listening the election burst from the lips of the Saxon the three sword points dropped as if stricken down the hanging eras across the opening was torn violently aside a man panting with excitement burst into the room long live the king long live the king he cried in an instant the chamber was filled with nobles and courtiers knights and guards crowding after him from the doorway in the other end of the long apartment the women of the castle who had awaited the decision of the electors with scarcely less interest than the men poured into the room filling their end of the chamber with beauty to match the brave display of force on the other side foremost among them like a star of the first magnitude in a nebula of lesser beauties shown to Countess Matilda having stood nearest the door she had heard the knights disputing for her person she had taken a high resolve and a colour of it flushed her cheek and sparkled in her eyes my lords cried the messenger sinking upon his knee before the two dukes who happened to stand close together in the centre of the room while he extended a rolled parchment with dangling seals to them the session of the diet is over the election is completed and the choice had fallen upon me by heaven this Saxon burst out impetuously nay my lord upon the Duke of Swabia the Hohenstaufen how! cried the Saxon his face red with anger and disappointment it cannot be my lord his princely highness the Archbishop of Mainz had declared that Frederick of Hohenstaufen has carried the day the traitorous dog cried the Saxon tis not true he's promised to me thou liest sirre he made his step toward him menacing him with his point the messenger sprang to his feet tis so writ in this parchment he cried shaking open the scroll and look you sir tis sealed with the Archbishop's seal sire my king he added to the newly elected Kaiser protect me from the wrath of thy man thou shall be safe under our protection and so shall all in Germany who seek it returned the new king promptly my lord of Saxony hold off your sword we swear to deal justice to dispense mercy to all our subjects high and low great and small and to protect and defend this ancient realm of Germany I and the domains which will fall to us when we do put on the imperial crown with our life's blood long live king Frederick cried the messenger a shield a shield here shouted old Altenborn the captain of Frederick's guard let us do it in the ancient way comrades up with the king of Germany in a moment one of the great war shields was brought forth and the noble figure of the king was lifted high above the crown in the ancient hole by his 30 minute arms out blades cried Altenborn as they raised the monarch and cry with me long live the king long live the king long live Frederick Barbarossa first fourth in a wild roar which rang through the vaulted hole long live the Kaiser again and again the glad acclaim rose over a wilderness of shining up tossed weapons waved frantically by knights and soldiers even the women joined in the shouting and their voices swelled the chorus which rose and fell echoing and re-echoing the chamber homage and feel to now gentles cried the captain of the guard dropping to his knee and lifting up the cross-like hilt of his sword above him let us swear on the cross fidelity to our Kaiser his example was followed by everyone in the room saved the Duke of Saxony and Count Hohenzollern the former standing sternly erect his glove from his right hand and when the tumult stilled hurled it crashing to the feet of the up-bearers of the king among the kneeling knights I yield no homage he cried furiously I swear no oath I defy thee and all thy bread there lies my glove my gauge of defiance a traitor his lordship of mains was pledged to me place thee where thou art an honest man myself shall hurl thee down beware our next meeting Duke of Swabia rise, gentles all and let me descend said Barbarossa calmly ignoring both challenge and threat nay, touch not the glove it is not given to subject to defy his leech lord let it lie we shall know how to enforce thy obedience in good time he spurned it contemptuously with his foot thou dirst not lifted thou art afraid and well thou mayest be remember our next meeting marked the end of thy kingship cried the Saxon turning and making his way swiftly toward the door seize him, seize him cried one night after another rising and crowding threateningly toward the Duke as he roughly forced his way through the throne nay, said the king promptly, let him go free for the present we would not stain this happy day by armed quarrel we shall welcome the day we meet him again too now, hath no one here a request for us his glance fell upon the frowning herons alone thou hast not knelt, sir Count hast nothing to seek we could forgive thee much all hath thou with enough to abandon thy purpose, thou couldst ask anything, thy county, thy castles those possessions which late were thine thou shouldst be restored to our royal favour there was a note almost of eagerness in the king's words sire said the Count stepping forward boldly these are nothing there is but one thing I would have of thee hear me, gentles all I love the Countess Matilda and hear me as well cried the Countess stepping forward I love the Count it was a frank declaration suited to a free bold age but the woman had shrewdly determined upon the public avowal which would, in a measure commit king and court to a suit which bade fair to encounter many difficulties you hear, sire grant me this lady to my wife and all thy honours are cheap beside the Kaiser's face clouded at the continued intimacy of the Count and at the frank avowal of the Countess it appeared that he was no more prosperous in his wooing as a king than he had been as a duke we have other plans in view for the Lady Matilda, sir he replied coldly we look higher for her than a simple Count and nay, sire I desire to go no higher than the Count's heart broke out the maiden peace, Lady said the King recovering himself with difficulty you know not what you say you are too great a match for a landless and prescribed man nay, not another word he cried turning toward the Count out of my sight Hohenzollan I have spared thy life twice what was my lord of Saxony's word beware the time I see thee again look to it, sir the King hesitated as he turned to Matilda should he declare his purpose why not he was king Kaiser the monarch could do no wrong the bold way was ever the way nearest his heart sweeping the room therefore with imperious glance he delivered himself of these weighty words in the deep silence which had fallen upon the assemblage lords and ladies, gentles all the Duchess Adelaide goes to a nunnery it is known to all of the court how ill we have accorded in our married life if I am to have peace in Germany I must have it at home first that lady and I cannot live together longer in wedlock or in any other way Eckhart a veteran captain stepped from the crowding circle and knelt before the king department that we have prepared last night our secretary will give it thee take it to his holiness at room know all that in it we crave a writ of divorcement from Dame Adelaide our Duchess and word of when we are to be invested by him with our imperial crown success attendee captain write hard and fast spare nothing supplement our writing with thy cunning tongue a barony await thee if thou bringest us to release the hours drag till you return you madam said the king turning toward Matilda will retire at once to your castle at Woelberg and there await our royal pleasure silencing the woman's protest with a wave of the hand the king's glance swept the room falling at last on the mutinous Hohenzollern who had not stirred what count still here he roared has thou not gone yet a fool now to thy sorrow we do exercise the royal right of changing our mind hold him in wardship Altenborn but with gentle usance till our further pleasure be declared thy sword sir cried to captain of the guard advancing toward the young man but Hohenzollern bent the blade across his knee snapped it in two and threw the pieces at the feet of the king thou beginnest thy reign badly sire with injustice and oppression look to the end and mark this thou canst prison me he cried and sent me to my castle and thou wilt interrupted Matilda but thou canst not make me false to the love I bear this lady and I too shall be faithful to his love sire I am resolved upon it it is not within the power of man to enforce a woman's heart to claim the countess we shall see said the king smiling grimly what time, separation, absence the king soared for the count and the king's crown for the countess will do away with them knights we have parlayed too long already I bid ye to ex-la-chappelle for we will assume our royal crown cried with me all long live this our ancient German state end of section 10 this recording is in the public domain recording by phone section 11 of Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joseph Barbacea at www.paradisestudio.com the world's story volume 7 Germany the Netherlands and Switzerland edited by Eva March Tappan section 11 Frederick of the Redbeard and the Pope 1177 from the old chronicles in 1152 Frederick Barbarossa or Frederick of the Redbeard became king of the Germans in order to be recognized as emperor he must be crowned by the pope and therefore he started for Rome before he was fairly within the city walls the two men had a disagreement and this had to be settled before the pope would crown the independent young king and therefore long this pope died and another Alexander III was chosen Frederick refused to recognize him and set up the pope of his own the editor and he published an edict that none in Italy should receive Alexander on pain of death or aid him with food or shelter and the cities that received him he would destroy having no safe place in the rest of Italy he, Alexander passed from Appula to Monte Gargano and thence in a ship of Scalabonia to Zara and from Dalmatia he came in disguise to Venice as the only refuge of liberty neither did he feel very secure here for he had never made proof of the faith of the Venetians therefore concealing his dignity and his thought best for his safety he hid himself in the humble garments in the church della Carita until he was discovered by one named Comodo who had known him before some say that to hide himself better he worked as a cook but it is more credible that he concealed his dignity in that habit of a poor friar then the doge Gianni knowing who he was he received him kindly and launched him in the church of San Pedro di Castello hoping to make peace between him and Frederick and re-estate him in his dignity therefore he sent ambassadors to Frederick to pray him to make peace with Alexander it is said that the Pope seeing him seal the letters with wax gave command that hence forward the duke letters should be sealed which custom is observed to this day then the ambassadors being come to Frederick were received by him at first graciously but when they made mention of peace with Alexander his wrath was kindled go he said and tell your prince and your people that Frederick the Roman Emperor demands from them his enemy and fugitive and if they do not send him quickly to the chains let them know that the Venetians are the enemies of the Empire neither shall any treaty or law avail them for to avenge himself for such an injury he is ready to overthrow all rights human and divine and he will come against them by land and by sea and he will plant his victorious eagles before the gates of Saint Mark so the messengers will arrive to Venice the fierce menaces of the Emperor and the city was much moved for the war that threatened them seemed to them more fraught with danger than any that had befallen them to that day therefore they made haste to prepare a fleet that should be able to keep the command of the sea for they knew that if they ruled the sea they had little need to fear the enemy and while the fleet was making ready and the city on the alert in the expectation of war came the tidings that Otho the son of Frederick was approaching with 75 galleys whereupon Ziani made ready to depart in the ships that were prepared and the Holy Pontiff offered the sacrifice praying that a prosperous voyage in victory might be given to the Doge and the Venetians and he armed Ziani with a sword of gold and gave him gold trapping for his horse so he passing out of the harbor with 30 galleys went in search of the enemy and on the Istrian shores near Cape Salborio he found him and gave battle and they fought together for many hours but at length the enemy were put to flight and 48 of his ships were taken and the royal ship among them and two were sunk thus they returned rulers of the sea to Venice bringing with them Otho their prisoner and the fame of so great a victory filled the city with astonishment and they could scarce believe it for joy then when the ships came to land great multitudes came out to see Otho the son of Frederick and the other great men led prisoners into the city and the pope came out to meet Ziani and to congratulate him on his victory and he gave him a ring of gold saying take this Oziani for by my authority I make the sea subject to thee with this token and thou and thy successors shall hence forward observe this day and all posterity may know that the sea is your possession and as the wife is subject to her husband so the sea is subject to your rule then Otho prayed the Venetians to let him go to his father that he might make peace between him and Alexander promising himself to return and the Venetians letting him go he came to his father who received him with great joy having feared greatly for his safety and having embraced him with tears Otho recounted the story of his defeat in few words bearing it wholly to divine will for that he had failed in none of the duties of a captain and all had been favorable for victory and it could not be by human strength that so powerful a fleet going boldly into battle should be overthrown by an enemy who was scarce half as many as they were therefore he prayed him to fight no more against Alexander but laying aside his hatred to the Pope to go to Venice to make his peace with him and the words of Otho prevailed with his father and laying aside his arms he began to treat for peace with Alexander and the Venetians so having a safe conduct from the Venetians he came to their city Pietro, Ziani's son being sent to Ravenna with six galleys to meet him going to Georgia to salute his coming and the Pope seated in great state before the Church of Saint Mark awaited the coming of the Emperor and he when he was come near taking off his purple cloak prostrated himself on the ground and kissed the feet of Alexander but the Pope raising him from the ground kissed him on the forehead then they went together where there was a table ornamented with precious stones which is still seen among the public treasures there the people saw the two princes of Christendom talking together there are some who say that the pontiff put his foot on the neck of the Emperor as he laid prostrate before him saying in the words of David thou shalt tread on the lion and the adder shalt thou trample under foot and Frederick moved to anger answered I yield not to thee but to Peter and he like a man in a passion pressing his foot down harder cried both to me and to Peter some say that these things were done on ascension day but others that that was the day when the victory was won and in memory of it I mean that all who should confess in that church on that day should have plenary indulgence after these things Frederick and Alexander with the Doze Gianni went to Encona and all the city having run to see them there were brought in the public name two umbrellas one for Pope Alexander and the other for Emperor Frederick but the Pope commanded that a third should be brought to the Doge of Venice giving to him and to his successors forever the right to use it and still in our times we see it born with the other instance of authority in times of solemn pomp and the Pope having come to Rome was received with great joy and preceding the silver trumpets whose Blair resounded all around he turned to those who bore them and commanded that eight of them should be given to the Doge of Venice in memory of the victory to be used forever by the Chief Magistrate of Venice so the Doze Gianni with the Pope's blessing came again to Venice and the sailors of Povia whose duty it was received him in Nebuo Centoro and the Bishop of Castello and great part of the city came out to receive him with honor and he with white tapers which had been one of the first of Alexander's gifts beneath the umbrella with the trumpets and standards going before him entered the city end of section 11 this recording is in the public domain recording by Joseph Barbaccia at www.paradisestudio.com section 12 of Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland read for LibriVox.org by Alan Mapstone Frederick Barbarossa at the feet of the Pope by Albert Mania France 1844 to 1908 painting page 48 the long struggle between the Popes and the medieval emperors of Germany as to which should be supreme the church or the state was at its height during the reign of Frederick Barbarossa at the election that placed Alexander III upon the papal throne the emperor supported a rival candidate whom he later set up as Pope by force of arms Alexander answered by excommunicating the emperor and by throwing all his influence to the aid of the cities of northern Italy which had revolted against Frederick's authority after a struggle of 16 years Frederick was completely defeated at the great battle of Lugano 1176 and was forced to acknowledge Alexander as Pope in 1177 took place this famous interview with Alexander Frederick, Holy Roman Emperor knelt at the feet of the Pope and the Pope besowed upon him the promise of peace and reconciliation at this the Germans raised the shout Lord God we praise thee of this incident James Bryce in his history of the Holy Roman Empire says it was the renunciation by the mightiest prince of his time of the project to which his life had been devoted it was the abandonment by the secular power of a contest in which it had twice been vanquished and which it could not renew under more favourable conditions end of section 12 this recording is in the public domain the editor the ancient Barbarossa by magic spell is bound old Frederick the Kaiser in castle underground the Kaiser hath not perished he sleeps an iron sleep for in the castle hidden he sunk in slumber deep with him the chiefest treasures of empire hath he tain wherewith in fitting season he shall appear again the Kaiser he is sitting upon an ivory throne of marble is the table his head he resteth on his beard it is not flaxen like living fire it shines and groweth through the table whereon his chin reclines as in a dream he nodded then wakes he heavy eyed and calls with lifted finger a stripling to his side dwarf get thee to the gateway and tidings bring if still their course the ancient ravens are wheeling round the hill for if the ancient ravens are flying still around a hundred years to slumber by magic spell I'm bound end of section 13 this recording is in the public domain stories of the middle ages historical note German literature in the middle ages is rich in the poetry of shivery legends too have been handed down from every city and village and almost every cliff or castle on the famous rivers most interesting of all the literary productions of the time however are the epic poems of these the nibelungen lead or song of the nibelungs an ancient race of burgundy focused in design and most beautiful in execution in its present form it dates from the first part of the 13th century although the legends upon which it is based are much older its hero the gallant knight's secret becomes owner of a vast horde of gold which once belonged to a nation of dwarves called nibelungs after many adventures he is slain by treachery his gentle lovable wife creamhilt becomes a very fury in her vengeance upon his enemies the treasure is finally dropped into the Rhine in Germany the counterpart of the troubadour was the minnesinger who flourished at the feudal courts during the 12th and 13th centuries usually of noble birth the minnesinger passed his life roving from court to court chanting his songs of love and adventure and composing verses in honor of his lady end of section 14 this recording is in the public domain


Welcome into the Original Gangster's podcast. I'm Scott Bernstein. Quick hitter edition. I want to talk about some cross-pollination, if you will, in the East Coast mafia between the New York Gambino crime family and the guys in Philly, the Bruno Scarfield plan, and some subtext from both the Gambino's racketeering bust out of New York last week as well as another indictment out of Philadelphia early this year. It deals with the Laforte brothers, Joe Laforte and his brother Jimmy Laforte. They're both in jail right now, awaiting trial. Jimmy Laforte was taken down in the Gambino bust, one of 10 Gambino's that were arrested on racketeering charges last week, and then Joe Laforte's been in prison since the spring. Joe Laforte was the CEO, Chief Operating Officer of PAR funding, and PAR funding was, for lack of a better description, legalized loan sharky. They found some loopholes and got into a space of the lending business that's called merchant cash advances. If you're a business that is having trouble to make payroll or what was happening during the COVID pandemic where there was all this downsizing and gushing, hemorrhaging capital, these were the type of places that some people had to go to and these are the type of places that are charging up to 40% interest on these loans that are legal loans and they are dispatching mafia-like tactics in collecting. If you're a fall behind on your payments, PAR funding was sending a goon squad literally around the country to physically attack, intimidate, and threaten people that had taken money out. It's alleged in this fraud case that came down, targeting PAR funding recently, earlier in 2023. It's a case out of Pennsylvania and both Joe and Jimmy LaForte are tied into that case and then Jimmy LaForte just got brought in to the case, just as strictly the Gambino case, but they have a very interesting mafia lineage. Their grandfather was Joe the Cat LaForte who was a staple in the Carlo Gambino and then the John Gotti regime. He was very, very close to Neil De La Croce who was a mentor to John Gotti. He was a huge earner, one of the biggest earners in the Gambinos of that era, owned a lot of real estate. A lot of the real estate was in Manhattan, Mulberry Street. He owned a big chunks of what was Little Italy or still is Little Italy, but it was a bigger version of the back then, owned the property that housed the Ravenite Social Club, which was Mr. Neil's for a long time, and then transitioned to one of Gotti's headquarters when he was on top of the mafia in New York. Joe the Cat was a very respected guy who, I need to do a little bit more research on this in reporting, but I've heard that once Neil died, he didn't get along with Gotti as much as he had did when he had Neil as a buffer that him and Gotti sometimes butted has. Nonetheless, he was a capital regime in the Gambinos for decades. These two, Joe and Jimmy LaForte are his son, Buddy LaForte, who was also a maid guy, not a capo, but these are Buddy's sons. And Joe lives in Philadelphia. Jimmy, I believe, lives in New York, but comes to Philadelphia quite often. And they're both charged with some real nasty, nasty offenses when it comes to, again, intimidation tactics and just overall fluggish behavior. Jimmy LaForte is allegedly a maid guy. We know that from court filings. He is making ceremony, according to this most recent indictment, took place in October of 2019. Joe LaForte was named as an associate of the Gambino crime family in his most recent bust. I'm told he's a maid guy. So I guess the government right now doesn't feel comfortable enough to say that, but I'm told that they're both maid guys in the Gambino crime family. So what I kind of want to discuss for a very brief, brief period of time here and just, you know, give some food for thought, but, you know, the subtext of this, in my mind at least, and it's been subtext that I've been talking to people about and pondering and researching since the PAR funding fraud indictment that came down. And then it popped back up in my mind last week when the Gambino case landed. How was this or how could this ricochet on the Joe Merlino, Joe Lagambi, Georgie Borgesi group, the leaders of the Bruno Scarfield crime family. This PAR funding is operating in the middle of Philadelphia. I know that there are some very high ranking members of the Philadelphia mafia who had relatives that were working there at certain points. I know that there are members of the Philadelphia mafia that have been seen coming and going out of PAR funding over the last handful of years. And I would be remissed if I didn't ask some questions. And what I answer myself, which is how could the Gambino's be operating in Philadelphia without sharing a part of those operation profits with the Philadelphia mafia. And according to the government, the PAR funding people collected half billion dollars in fraudulent profits. They're in the process of trying to pay back at least a quarter of a billion to people that were defrauded. But that's a lot of money. And I just don't find it possible that they could be making that much money in the middle of Philadelphia and not sharing with the Bruno Scarfield crime family. So it leads me to extrapolate that even further that the Laforti brothers not only have the potential to harm the Gambino's, they also potentially have the ability to harm the guys in Philly. And I want to say that I have no inclination whatsoever. I've never, I haven't heard, I have no reporting or haven't been told by anybody that the Laforti brothers are considering flipping. They're known as standup guys, tough guys and true to the code. I'm just saying they're looking right now, if convicted of that, at a nice chunk of time. And now you got people in New York City looking for bodies. Again, I'm not connecting the Laforti to those bodies, but you can connect the bodies that the potential bodies that the FBI is looking for in New York to the Gambino bus that Jimmy Laforti is right in the middle of. I don't know what kind of ammunition the Feds would have to jam up the Laforti brothers, but just like if I'm in New York right now, and if I'm Lorenzo Monino or Italian Dom Sheffalu, I ain't sleeping well tonight because they're digging for bodies up in the Hudson Valley. Over the last couple of months in Philadelphia, I just, I don't, again, I don't know, I don't have, I haven't heard this. I don't know if they're thinking this, but if it was me, and I was Uncle Joe Lagambi or George Warburg Gacy, Joey Merlino out in Florida who claims he has nothing to do with the Philadelphia mob anymore, despite what the government claims. I might be a little bit worried about what's going on over at Par Funding and the fact that one of the principles in the Par Funding case just got roped into another case regarding racketeering and acts of violence. Someone told me that Joe the cat wasn't a guy that was known as a tough guy, wasn't known for violence, he was an earner. They said Jimmy, his grandson, someone said to me, they called Joe the cat, they called Jimmy the leopard. He's a much more dangerous cat than his grandpa was and Joe Laforte, who was the lead defendant in the Par Funding case, they call him Joe Mack, not to be confused with his dad, buddy or his grandpa Joe the cat, but and Joe Mack is another guy that can hold his own and can be quite imposing. And I think there were a lot of people according to the government that felt threatened. So we should see but it's just kind of an interesting subplot I think to what's been going on with the Par Funding case and the case and the Gambino's. Keep an eye on what's going on with the Laforte brothers. I will always be updating you on the most pressing breaking news in the organized crime landscape around the country. This is a quick evolving story. It's fluid, things are changing every day, but I will keep you updated. I'm the OG pod, I'm gangsterreport.com, everything that's going on in New York City with the Gambino's right now, as well as the Par Funding case out of Philadelphia. OG pod, I'm Scott Bernstein.