Historia ALBUM I - Part 2

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ALBUM I – Part 2 

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Charlemagne - The Crusades

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Charlemagne

Pepin the Short was succeeded by his son, Charlemagne or Charles I the Great. He well earned his nickname. He conquered the whole of Western Europe and was crowned Emperor in Rome, in 800.

 Saint Amandus, apostle of Belgium

The Carolingian era is the time of the great missionaries in Belgium. By the 7th century many monasteries were build. The first was in Ghent founded by the great apostle of Belgium, Saint Amandus or Saint Amand.

The Abbey of Lobbes

 

The 7th and 8th centuries were a golden time for monasteries and abbeys. The Abbey of Lobbes (the most important of all), as well as that of Stavelot, Aulnes and Fosses. Today witnesses of that flourishing period.

The monks in the 7th century

The monks of the Carolingian era played a large role in the civilization of our country. They spent their time to study, prayer and mining of the country. They were at the same time, educators and missionaries.

 

Saint Gertrude

But there were also abbeys for women. Some Carolingian princesses founded monasteries for women. The most famous is the abbey founded by Saint Gertrude at Nivelles.

God's Judgment

 

At the same time, in the Carolingian period many barbaric ways were comman. On law for example, the “God's judgment” was a recognized procedure. When two opponents disagreed, they met each other in single combat: the victor got right.

The Fire Test

In the beginning of the Middle Ages the ordeal of the “fire test” was also widespread. The accused had to take a glowing iron in his hand. If he was not burned, he was acquitted.

 

Carolingian Warrior

Charlemagne buildet a vast Christian empire. To defend it, he raised a powerful army of free men. They were heavily equipped with a large helmet and a soldier's outfit of mainly steal.

Displaced

Saxons

During his campaigns in Germany, which lasted more than 30 years, Charlemagne kidnapped and displaced Saxon tribes; which he placed along the current Belgian coast. Where they settled.

 

Missi Dominici

Charlemagne divided his vast Empire in counties. To keep an eye on the conduct of those at the head of these counties, he sent missi dominici (those who were sent by the Lord). Consisting of a spiritual man and a nobleman and who had the right to punish the negligent counts or rulers.

Eginhard

The biography of Charlemagne was written by Eginhard. The latter belonged to a group of scholars and writers that Charlemagne had surrounded himself with. Charlemagne life and work was summed up with these words: "great in the war, but greater in peace".

The Dom in Aachen

  

Charlemagne died in 814 in Aachen, where he was buried in that cathedral. Only the central part of the building, which is located under the dome, dates from the time of the great emperor.

 

Lothair

By the Treaty of Verdun in 843, the Empire of Charlemagne was divided among his three grandsons. Our country came to the oldest of the three princes: Lothair or Lotharius. It henceforth would be called Lorraine (Lotharingen) and serve as a buffer state between France and Germany.

The Normans

 

At the end of the 9th century Normans attacked our country. They came from Scandinavia on long sailing ships,” often emblazoned with a dragon head. They were called Vikings or "Kings of the sea".

The flight with the relics

The Normans were terrible looters. They destroyed the monasteries and abbeys. The monks runned for them with the relic cabinets to save guard them for sacrilege.

Arnulf of Carinthia at Leuven

At the end of the 9th century the Normans finally stopt “visiting” our country. But it was not after Arnulf of Carinthia, king of Germany, defeated them on the banks of the River Dyle in the battle of Leuven.

Feudal estates and Investiture

In the 9th century Feudalism became the foundation whereupon society was build in Europe. The country was divided in feudal estates or fiefs and at the head of a fief was a lord who swore loyalty to the king, his liege, and thus became his vassal. In return the king granted him the government of that fief, that was called Investiture. It was ceremonially symbolized by a clod of soil on top of forest branches.

The guardsman

The knights lived in large castles and were often at war with each other. On the donjon a sentinel guarded the castle day and night and he alerted the castle as soon as danger threatened.

Bouillon

 

The castle of Bouillon is one of the most beautiful Medieval castles that still exist. It belonged to the House of Ardennes that prevailed over the Duchy of Lorraine, who was a vassal of the Germanic emperors.

The Gravenkasteel in Ghent

West of the Scheldt River was the County of Flanders that was a fief of the French kings. The Gravenkasteel or Counts Castle in Ghent is the only castle of the former counts of Flanders that still exists.

Serfs

On the domain around the castle the serfs toiled. Their life was hard, they had to cede part of their crop to the lord. And spend time for the maintenance of the castle and surroundings.

In the castle

Castle life was rather monotonous. The ladies were elated by minstrels, troubadours and itinerant poets. They recited hero songs, such as the Chanson or Song de Roland, or naive novels.

Hunting

The medieval lords were rarely on their castle. They went hunting and doing so enriched their daily meals with the killed game. The woods were full of deer and wild boars.

Tournament

The tournaments were the biggest pastime of the castle lords. It came on to put in single combat on horseback, the opponent out of the saddle. Sometimes the vanquished had to pay a ransom.

Death of Roland

The feudal era is the time of the chivalric spirit: sense of honor, courage and righteousness were held in high regard. The ideal knight was Roland, nephew of Charlemagne who, it was alleged, in the pass of Roncesvalles was killed by the Spanish Arabs. He was the main figure of many stories and legends.

Gilbert and

Baldwin with

the Iron Arm

The first count of Flanders who we know by name was Baldwin with the Iron Arm. He lived in the 9th century and gave evidence of great independence opposite his feudal lord king Charles the Bald of France.

About Lorraine ruled, in the next century, Duke Gilbert who his whole life through was on dispute and war with his lord, emperor Otto I of Germany.

Notker

Emperor Otto I founded in Lorraine several dioceses, the most important was that of Liège. Notker, the first Prince Bishop, was a German. He made good laws, founded schools and built churches.

Bruno of Cologne

and Otto I

Emperor Otto I of Germany defeated Duke Giselbert. To keep the Duchy of Lorraine in his power, he appointed his brother Bruno, who was already Archbishop of Cologne, as Duke.

Godfrey of Bouillon

In the late 11th century Godfrey of Bouillon, was Duke of Lorraine. He was born in Baisy-Thy, a town of the county of Brabant. He spoke both our national languages. He took charge of the First Crusade.

The Council of Clermont

The First Crusade was preached in 1095 by Pope Urbanus II at the Council of Clermont in Auvergne. Urbanus II called on all Christian knights to fight for the release of the tomb of Christ in Jerusalem, held by the Moslem Turks who maltreated the pilgrims visiting the Holy places.

Crusaders

That call was answered in most countries of Europe. The knights went on the road to Jerusalem. They stitched a cross on their clothing and were therefore called Crusaders. Numerous Belgians took part. (Crusades)

Peter the Hermit

The First Crusade was preached in our country by Peter the Hermit. He was from the region of Amiens, in France. He was poor, small person, but eloquent. He travelled by donkey in our regions. He was regarded as a Saint.

The journey through the desert

Thousands of people left for the Holy Land, knights but also poor farmers. Most died from misery halfway the journey. They were severely tried, especially with the passage of the desert of Asia Minor. The whole journey to Jerusalem took three years.

The conquest of Jerusalem

On 15 July 1099 the Crusaders succeeded to overpower Jerusalem. They were only forty thousand, while at their departure they were ten times more numerous. Godfrey of Bouillon was one of the first to enter  in the city.

Baldwin of Lille

In the 11th century, a mighty monarch ruled the County of Flanders, Baldwin V of Lille. His Lord, king Philip I of France was just a young boy and Baldwin became its guardian. Baldwin V took care of the education of his liege without ever abusing his power.

(Counts of Flanders)

Queen Mathilde

Baldwin V had a daughter, Mathilde, who married the Duke of Normany, William the Conqueror. He conquered England in 1066. The story of this conquest is depicted on a large tapestry, stored and on exhibition at Bayeux, in France. It is long believed that Mathilde would have embroidered this carpet herself.  

Robert of Jerusalem

Robert II was count of Flanders when the First Crusade was preached. He joined that crusade. Godfrey of Bouillon gave him the title “of Jerusalem”. After the conquest of the Holy City, he returned back to Flanders, while Godfrey remained in the East. Godfrey rejected the title of "King of Jerusalem" for “Defender the Holy Sepulcher”.

Baldwin

with the Axe

 

The son of Robert of Jerusalem, was Baldwin VII with the Axe. He ruled with a inexorably law. Once he condemned a Flemish knight who had stolen the cow of a poor woman, to be thrown in boiling water. Baldwin was feared by the powerful but liked by the simple people.

Death of

Charles the Good

Baldwin with the Axe was succeeded by his nephew Charles the Good. He maintained justice and defended the poor. Thus he made powerful enemies who killed him while he was praying in a chapel in Bruges. The people revered him as a saint and a martyr.

Thierry of Alsace

After the death of Charles the Good, Thierry of Alsace was count of Flanders. He took part in the Second Crusade. He brought the relic of the Holy Blood to Flanders. This is the origin of the famous Procession of the Holy Blood at Bruges which still can be seen every year.



Philip

of Alsace

Philip of Alsace, son of Thierry, was a hero of the Third Crusade. He lead siege to the city of Akko at the same time as his lord, king Philip August of France and with his brother-in-law, count Baldwin of Hainaut.

Philip of Alsace was killed during the siege and Baldwin of Hainaut became count of Flanders under the name of Baldwin VIII.

(To part 1 of ALBUM II)