741-987 openly testified their contrition for their sins; and, the burthen removed, he rebounded into activity, resuming the duties and trials of royalty with renewed vigour and energy. 819-830 817-829. § 40. Upon the accession of Louis-le-débonLouis-le- naire, we have seen how cordially the authority Era of debon outward naire's of Charlemagne's son had been accepted. The prosperity. nations rejoiced in his Empire. His marriage with Judith gave a new impulse to his apparent prosperity. Even when the penitent of Attigny had been most sorrowful, the Empire presented an aspect of cheerful dignity:-whilst the Master of the Feast knows the bitterness of his own heart, the world does not care to be disturbed in the banquet's enjoyment by knowing the sorrow; and an era of six or seven years ensued, characterized by activity, excitement, success and splendour. Louis now principally resorted to the towering palaces in the Rhine-land, monuments of paternal magnificence. Ingelheim and Frankfort, when the Diets were assembled there, exhibited the temporal Head of the Western Commonwealth,-Ludovicus divinâ propitiante clementiâ, Imperator Augustus,-surrounded by every Splendour attribute of majesty and honour. Prelates, nobles perial Di- and people all convened-Austrasia and Neutume of the stria, Alemannia, Suabia, Bavaria, Burgundy, of the Im ets-Cos Counts. represented by their Bishops and their Abbots, the Dukes and the Counts wearing their golden 819-830 coronals and clad in the Roman chlamys, which 741-987 modern fashion only prevents us from discerning in the Parliamentary robes of our Peers. In this gorgeous senate Louis sat enthroned, Judith by his side. Had Charlemagne ever thus presented a Consort with such imperial honour? 823. July 15. Charles-le In the year subsequent to the Council of Attigny, an event ensued at which the people mar- Birth of velled and discussed; imparting the utmost joy to Chauve. Louis, and filling Lothair, Pepin and Louis-leGermanique, with spite and vexation-an unexpected event-Judith presented her husband with his fourth son. The infant was named Charles, after his Grandsire; and as he became older, his fine lofty forehead exaggerating the absence of the flowing locks which usually adorned the Frankish noble, caused him to receive the name of Charles-le-Chauve, by which he is universally designated in French history. The Borderers had given most trouble to Charlemagne his apprehension of the resulting dangers instigated him to take more efficient measures for restraining these semi-domestic enemies. Louis continued the same policy with extraordinary success, obtaining great influence all around his varied empire. The Wends and 819-825 other Sclavonian tribes, so obstinately contending submit to against Teutonic ascendency,-that stubborn débonbattle of twelve centuries, still undecided,-accepted the protection which the imperial Crown Sclavonians Louis-le naire ; 741-987 bestowed. Their mutual hostilities induced them to claim the intervention of Louis-le-débonnaire ; 819-830 Sorabians, Obotrites, Bohemians, Wilzians, Moravians, Avars, obeyed his behests, and submitted to his decisions. Meligast and Celeadragus, rival brethren, sons of Liubi, implored his arbitration upon their claims-Ceadragus, the son of Thrasco, humbly testified his repentance for his insubordination, if not rebellion. also the Bulgarians. Complimentary embassy from the Emperor Michael the Stammerer. Then appeared a legation from a Barbarian Chieftain, whose very name had hitherto been unknown-never hitherto subjected to the Carlovingian Crown-Omortag, King of the Bulgarians, imploring the friendship of Charlemagne's son. The Bulgarians were a people crushed between Greek and Teuton, and they therefore courted the guarantee of the Frankish Empire. Michael, the treacherous friend and successor of Leo the Armenian, that Leo who, like Charlemagne, might glory in the epithet "Iconoclast," was fain to acknowledge a brother Emperor. A stately and solemn embassy appeared from the Blachernæ, the Ambassadors bearing with them as a grateful gift the works ascribed to the Athenian convert who believed upon the preaching of Saint Paul. Louis caused the manuscripts to be deposited in the Abbey of Saint Denis, where they were accepted as an inestimable treasure. Some years afterwards, Hilduin, imploring the pardon of Louis-le-débonnaire for his ingra 819-830 titude, received from him the command to com- 741-987 pose the life of the Saint. An opinion had prevailed that Dionysius the Areopagite, probably Dionysius the first Bishop of Athens, and Dionysius, or Denis, certainly the first Bishop of Paris, were not to be distinguished from each other; and the affectionate though uncritical labours of Hilduin, confounding hagiology and apocryphal fable, completed the delusion. Submission pal See to débon From Rome Louis-le-débonnaire received due 817-824 homage. Upon the death of Pope Stephen, of the PaPascal, called to the Papal throne by the Roman Louis-leclergy and people, had sought the confirmation naire. of his election from the Emperor.-So also Pascal's successor Eugenius; and the Diets of the Empire were repeatedly graced by Pontifical Legates Benedict the Archdeacon, Quirinus the Primicerius and Theophylact the Nomenclator; Leo, the Magister Militum, and Sergius the Bibliothecary, reverently performing their obeisance, acknowledged, on behalf of the Pontiff, the temporal supremacy possessed by the representative of the Cæsars. of Mount The Abbot of Mount Olivet comes from the The Abbot Holy Land, attracted by the munificence and Olivet. kindness of Charlemagne's son. George the The Republic of Venice, cautiously steering between Byzantium and Rome, permits her acute representative, George the Presbyter, to follow Venetian as an attendant in the train of the Count of retainer of becomes a the Court. 741-987 Friuli. The individual in question was curiously distinguished by his skill. Equally versed 819-830 in music and mechanics, he was able to construct "that delightful instrument called the Organ, producing the sound," as the Monk of Saint Gall carefully explains, "by the wind blown through pipes of brass." This George was employed to build the first Organ which ever pealed along the vaulting of Aix-la-Chapelle. Occasional exertions of military power were needed to sustain this Imperial dignity. The ineffectual revolts of the distant March-lands gave Louis the gratification of success; just enough peril to dispel the monotony of opulent and pleasurable prosperity: thus the Sclavonians made a show of resistance, but were put down. Other campaigns added still more to his reputation. Charlemagne himself had only reduced the Bretons into an impatient subjection. Morvan, the Celtic chieftain, refused his tribute: Louis818-822. le-débonnaire advanced into the country. Morexpeditions van was slain, and his head brought to the Military conducted by Louis- Emperor. He was succeeded by Judicael, a naire Prince or Mactiern, also known-his name bar le-débon against the Bretons. barised or corrupted by the Franks-as Uidemaculus or Wiomarch. Louis-le-débonnaire determined to break the strength of the Celts. Associating to himself his sons Pepin and Louis, he led his Imperial host into Armorica: Rennes |