De tyrannorum ohitu et fine cruento

De tyrannorum ohitu et fine cruento

Since they come from tyrants and their various kinds. ,,. . ^ T. ^. . And bloody deeds lead to a violent end. Tyrants. We have discussed that a fitting order requires us now to address the death of tyrants and their bloody end, so that we may declare through examples what we previously taught doctrinally through precepts. The journey is long, as Jerome says, through precepts, but it's easier and more concise through examples. First, we will consider examples from both the Jewish leaders and the Roman emperors. First, we will present examples from Israel and then from the Roman emperors, so that, upon hearing about the wrongful actions of others and their similar ends, as well as their unworthy merits, we can clearly see, like from some very bright mirrors, what both private individuals and leaders should avoid and flee from. . . . We will now consider the examples of tyrants from Israel and the Roman emperors, so that by hearing about the wicked actions of others and their similarly disgraceful ends, we can clearly see what should be avoided and fled from, both by private individuals and by leaders or those in authority. In this way, we can learn from the mistakes of others. The examples of their lives serve as warnings for us. Let us reflect on these lessons and strive to live rightly. Only by doing so can we hope to avoid their fate. After the tyrannical deaths of the ancient people of the Old Testament and the irreverent Israelites, their wicked ends are recorded. We'll turn to the tyrannical deaths of the Roman princes. Leaving aside the kings, first because of the tyranny they exercised, and also considering the similar faults of both the consuls and the dictators who later struggled with the same vices, among whom some even thirsted for gold and drank it, we will begin with the emperors; however, setting aside the four most famous princes, Alexander the Great and Antiochus Epiphanes, as well as Pompey the dictator and Herod the first Ascalonite, namely the son of Antipater, in a brief discussion, and also adding about Herod the third, the son of Aristobulus, who similarly met an ignominious end, so that, having recognized their vices and faults, we may avoid the deadly destruction of the same. Alexander, therefore, besides the flaw of ambition, which rarely allows princes to reign without tyranny, struggled with the vice of drunkenness, especially in his dealings with his household and close associates. Thus, it happened that once, while drunk, as often happens, he burst out with a voice of appeal when he was bringing a judgment at night concerning a certain very familiar person and the chief of the palace. But since it is customary to appeal from a lesser to a greater authority, the tyrant, spurred on by wine, says in his madness, "But from whom and to whom should I appeal?" And he said, "From Alexander," he remarked, "when drunk, to sober Alexander." And since, as Salonion says, it is so. xv. "A gentle response calms anger," and a philosopher should cultivate obedience not by provoking authority with words, but rather by softening it with a measured reply; thus, the prince, somewhat appeased, decided to postpone the execution until tomorrow. And then, after drinking wine that had been prepared, he himself, while acknowledging his fault and detesting the deadly sentence, was not only joyful but also exhilarated, and he revoked it in vain. And since we see that in this very kind of wrongdoing, which causes them to suffer more and more, a man so great, having subdued the entire eastern world, gathered his princes for a public feast, filled with joy and intoxicated by wine, finally fell into the traps set by his own people, having been given wine beyond moderation, poisoned, as was said above in the chapter on Providence. Herod the Ascalonite, having seized the Jewish kingdom, was not satisfied with just one or a few things, even though he was a foreigner. But the tyrant exercised complete control over his subjects; and not only over the people he violently dominated, but also over his own family and those closest to him by natural ties, so much so that, after committing enormous and countless atrocities, he ultimately did not escape divine retribution even after killing his own relatives and wife. He was seized and tormented by the pain of his intestines, so much so that he was in such a severe and intense state of discomfort that he often cried out in a frenzy, wishing for death more than anything else. He often sought relief, but his belly and entire body were so swollen and decayed that he was finally abandoned and left destitute by all who could not approach him because of the overwhelming stench. Struck and punished with great and severe suffering, while his body was still alive, like a dead corpse, indeed exquisite and intolerable was Antiochus Epiphanes. Machab. Herod Agrippa. Apost. Pompcy. The punishment on earth is truly the beginning of hell, where worms are everywhere, causing decay and stench. Antiochus Epiphanes was considered the greatest among the successors of Alexander the Great and was the most powerful in the occupations of the lands. Here, indeed, after Judea had been subdued and all of Syria, he finally captured the holy city of Jerusalem by force and, standing amidst the most bloody carnage, he attempted to profane the temple itself and to plunder the sacred vessels and ornaments of gold and silver, taking them without restraint. But not long after, since the heart will be exalted before ruin, is there anger against Jud? He was consumed by a greater fury, raging as he pressed on to Jerusalem, as is also recorded in the book of the Maccabees, a heap of the tomb of Jud? He said he would do it, but he was struck by an incurable and invisible plague from the Lord. "For he will be seized by a dreadful pain in his innards." . . . And, as he had dealt with others, he himself died a miserable death in foreign lands. Here, however, we will discuss Herod the third, the son of Aristobulus, in an appropriate context. Regarding this, Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles: "On the appointed day, Herod, dressed in royal robes, sat on his throne."^✦ . . . " and consumed by worms, he breathed his last." About this, Josephus writes: "While he did not recoil from the impiety of illicit flattery, he looked up and saw an angel standing by his head, and he felt him as the messenger of his doom, whom he had previously known as the steward of his goods." He violently took his life after suffering from stomach pain for five continuous days. Pompey Komanus, a consul multiple times and dictator, a citizen for a long time who was the greatest and most fortunate, after many victories and almost everywhere successful outcomes, as noted by Peter Comestor in his History. Scholast. Act. Apostles. , head. Ixiv. (Migne, cxcviii. Finally, after Judea was subdued, they invaded Jerusalem, and Faustus Cornelius, son of SilljB, was the first to enter; then the Romans, rushing in, profaned the sacred place and even set up their horses in the temple walls. Therefore, either as a divine retribution given, not long after the outbreak of civil war, fortune changed, and Caesar was defeated; while fleeing to King Ptolemy, he experienced both the youthful inconstancy and the treachery of the Egyptians, and he was beheaded by the same man out of fear of Caesar, to whom he had destined his head and ring. It's worth noting here that although Pompey desecrated the temple, he allowed nothing to be taken or removed from it; rather, the next day, upon entering the temple, he admired its location, beauty, and the religious significance of the temple, but took nothing from it, instead instructing that the sacred place be cleansed of impurities. It's worth noting that, although God sometimes uses people as instruments to carry out punishment against the wicked, He also punishes those who act as avengers for their irreverence and lack of devotion, just as He does in both cases of wrongdoing. Now, regarding the Roman leaders, we will first discuss Julius Caesar, the first monarch, as we begin to examine the series of tyrants, considering each one and their respective ends in an appropriate order. Thus, Julius Caesar, whose power was so great that the world was constrained by it, after defeating Pompey and the Senate and all their leaders from every side, having held the consulship and dictatorships multiple times, because he distributed the world's monarchy and all dignities according to his own will, was a master of history. SchoL, Machab. This was likely added by a later hand. Flower. , p. . Suet. , Jul, cap. . Mark Antony. After he had ruled for three years and six months, a secret conspiracy was formed against him, led by Brutus and Cassius, with the Senate's support and encouragement, by two hundred soldiers. And he was thirty-three years old. He was killed. He died, pierced by wounds in the Capitol. The Roman people were stirred to intense grief over the fall of their great leader, so much so that they prepared to set the Capitol on fire with the blood of those responsible; among them, he became so memorable that all the emperors after him were called Caesars. But are his ashes at the top of a solid column? They placed them in a golden urn made from a remarkable Numidian stone of great size and height. Just as today, near the Basilica of Saint Peter, it is still seen with admiration by pilgrims; and what was once called Julia is now commonly known as Acus of Saint Peter. It was inscribed there: "You were as great as Caesar and the world, " but now you are confined to a small space among the two greatest and most distinguished leaders of the world, namely Alexander and Julius, whose fates we have described here, both of whom were drawn away from the studies of literature by the cares of the world — about these, I say, and their praises and titles, the signs of their deaths, and the wonders above, in the works of Prudence and Providence, a diligent reader will be able to find more fully. However, Marcus Antonius, who had been a Roman consul, and a supporter and avenger of Julius Caesar, after defeating and eliminating Brutus and Cassius, the authors of such great treachery and crime, divided the empire with Octavian; we have decided not to discuss this here. Marcus Antonius, having gained power in the East, was led by excessive arrogance and, having rejected Octavian's sister, took Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, as his wife. The deeds of the second are recorded. The city of Lyon is known for its topography. In addition, it has a rich history. In the midst of chaos, because the heart will be exalted through the instinct of a wife, a great civil war has now erupted in the city due to the broken treaty. From Octavian Caesar, who was called Augustus after this victory and took on the monarchy in full, he was defeated in the famous naval battle at Actium. But after fleeing, he returned to Egypt, where, seeing that all hope was lost and everyone was crossing over to Caesar, he took his own life; meanwhile, Cleopatra, adorned with various ornaments, came to Caesar, hoping that he would be swayed by her beauty, just as the others were, but he was not moved by her lustful desire, and soon ordered her to be guarded; she, less cautious, escaped and, placing herself in a precious tomb next to her Antony, allowed a snake to bite her and was killed by its poison. And so it was added to the Roman Empire under Octavian Augustus. Tiberius, the stepson of Augustus, but also in the role of son and Tiberius. He was adopted as a successor and elevated, first with the people. ! With great modesty, he served the public good to such an extent that, with some advising him, he increased the taxes in the provinces, responding that it was the duty of a good shepherd to care for the flock, not to devour it. ^' Indeed, Suetonius, Tiberius. , during the course of time, on the occasion of the letters which Pilate had sent to the Senate regarding the passion and resurrection of Christ, which he had destined to be made under him, Caesar wanted Christ to be regarded as God, with the Senate opposing due to the aforementioned indignation, such a conflict arose among them. . The heart, however, began to change from that day, when Caesar's previously most admirable modesty turned into punishment for the contradicting Senate. For he did not wait many days before he proscribed many senators and forced them to death. He would add to himself noble men, and he would increase his power. Bloom. ^ it will respond, Hug. Flower. ; regarding the removal of the skin, Suet. , Hug. Flor. He had chosen the cause of the council, of which he left hardly two unharmed. Sejanus also killed his own favorite, who was plotting new schemes; he poisoned Drusus and Germanicus, his sons, of whom Drusus was his natural son, while Germanicus was adopted; and he also murdered Germanicus's sons. And so it happened that those who had scorned salvation through Christ were punished by their own Caesar; however, the fact that the Senate rejected the consecration of Christ was brought about by divine providence, so that Christ would not be thought to need human flatterers. He was indeed referred to as Claudius Tiberius, elegantly by the jesters. Suet. , Claudius Biberius was named for his violent nature; he was quite skilled in arms and fortunate enough to have assumed power under Augustus Caesar, so much so that it was not without reason that he was entrusted with the governance of the republic. He had a wealth of literary knowledge; he was more eloquent, but had a very poor character—cruel, greedy, treacherous, pretending to want what he actually didn't, appearing hostile to those whose counsel he desired, while seeming friendly to those he actually hated, and better in sudden responses or plans than in thoughtful ones. He never fought himself; he waged wars through his envoys, and he never released certain kings whom he had lured to himself with flattery. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Augustus, when the world was enjoying a great peace, the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin and conceived by the Holy Spirit; this marked the beginning of His preaching. In the eighth and tenth years of the same reign, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, offered Himself to death and was crucified for us. This is the testimony of Josephus regarding Vespasian and Titus. An exceptional historian, in his books on antiquities, could not remain silent about the truth, even though he might not have believed it to be true. He speaks of calamities and those things that he would narrate to the Jewish people under each ruler, saying that during the time of Tiberius Caesar, for the flatterers, that is, the supporters, he would assert. Flower. While Pontius Pilate was in charge, a true prophet arose in Judea, saying, "It happened that..." In those times, Jesus, a wise man, if he was indeed a man, said... He said. "It's right to name him." For it was a wonder of works. xxlx. "He is the one who acts and teaches men, those who willingly listen to what is true, and he has joined many of the Jews and many from the nations to himself." Christ was here. "This man, on the accusation of the leading men of our nation, when Pilate had decided that he should be put to death on the cross, did not abandon those who loved him from the beginning." He appeared to them again on the third day, alive, according to what the divinely inspired prophets had foretold about him, whether these or other countless future miracles. But there is hatred against Christians, who are called by Him, and the name endures along with the race. Moreover, it is now evident and clear how great the malice of the Jews is, and how much their obstinate and hardened treachery leads to their own destruction; even their own historians, and those of great renown, who have the book written in Hebrew and consider it authentic, do not accept any testimony about Christ. Indeed, when this testimony from their own author is presented to them, they claim and lie in their Hebrew books that it was never found or added. But the prior of St. Frideswide in Oxford, Master Kobertus, whom we saw and who was an ancient and authentic man, whose note is also noteworthy. Robert, our times have occupied us before. When he was a learned man, well-versed in the Scriptures and not ignorant of the Hebrew language, he sent to various cities and towns in England where the Jews had their residences, from whom Josephus collected many writings in Hebrew, which were granted to him precariously, because they were more familiar with him due to the Hebrew language he knew. In the two testimonies, this was found to be written about Christ, both consistently and thoroughly; indeed, it seemed almost recently erased; while in all the others, it appeared to have been removed long ago and as if it had never been placed there. When the Jews of Oxon were gathered for this purpose, they were shown to be not only guilty but also confused by their deceitful malice and their envy against the faith of Christ. From this, it is clear that what Jerome says is true: the Jews in the early Church, when they saw the emperors, kings of the earth, and princes already subjected to the yoke of Christ, and the faith of Christ spreading throughout the world, acted as if there was a secret agreement among them, yet in a clandestine and hidden manner, corrupting or entirely removing all authorities in their writings, which the Christian faith relies on and supports. Therefore, since the Hebrew books were once corrected, they are now more accurate than the Greek ones. Today, Latin and Greek texts are much more accurate than the Hebrew ones were back then. So Tiberius Caesar, with immense fury, on that day in Hus. Fior. On that day, as the severity increased, he punished both his own and outsiders, and he would punish them, as provinces were plundered from all sides, when ImCali had endured for twenty-two years. Finally, he was killed by the treachery of Gaius Caligula. Tiberius succeeded Gaius Caesar, known as Caligula, the most wicked and disastrous nephew of Tiberius and the stepson of Augustus, who even purged the disgraceful acts of Tiberius. He waged war against the Germans and, upon entering Suevia, accomplished nothing with vigor. He brought shame upon the sisters; from one he even fathered a daughter. I weep. He knew. And because he had been born in the army, he was called Caligula, which means 'little boot.' In the first year of his reign, Herod the tetrarch, that incestuous and cruel man who had beheaded John the Baptist, sent our Lord, dressed in a white robe, back to Pilate, stripped of honor, along with Herodias the adulteress, and the earth swallowed him up forever in the comparison of John the Baptist. Pontius Pilate also did not escape punishment, but was ordered into exile at Vienna in Gaul, where he took his own life by his own hand. During those days, the Jews in Alexandria, stirred by a sedition, were driven out by violence and cast out of the city; they sent a delegation to a certain Jew named Philo, a man most eloquent and deeply insightful, to interpret and explain the subtle meanings of the divine Scriptures. However, Caesar rejected their request because he was most hostile to the Jews. Indeed, the Jews everywhere were condemned for the crime committed against Jesus, the Son of God, by divine vengeance. Then Philo, surrounded by Gaius and others, said, "It is fitting for us to be of good spirit, for Gaius is angry; for it is necessary that divine help be present where human aid is lacking." However, the same CjBsar ordered the temple that was in Jerusalem to be profaned by the sacrifices of the Gentiles, with the statue of Jupiter placed there. He also commanded that he be worshiped and adored with pride, as if he were a god of heaven and earth; but when he became most infamous, he condemned his own sisters to exile for their lustful behavior. Having become detestable to everyone because of his obscenity, he was killed by his own protectors, that is, by the Praetorian soldiers. Regarding Constantius, a truly gentle and kind prince, and Constantius. We will now begin with Constantine, the great prince, who, through the blessed Pope Sylvester, earned the sacrament of baptism for both the inner man and the outer, reserving for himself a place among the worthy leaders. After the death of his father, he immediately took control of the Roman Empire, but he was corrupted by the harmful advice of his Arian family members, who were influenced by the heresy that was then spreading. He turned away from his own people. This is why there was such a great persecution among the clergy at that time, that priests and clerics were killed inside the churches by the Arians. In the midst of intense persecution, the blessed martyr Eusebius suffered in Rome; however, the pope lived privately, removed from his own see. He was buried on his own property along the Portico road, where he also rested in peace. Many Catholic leaders were also driven into exile; among them were Athanasius of Alexandria, Eusebius of Vercelli, and Hilary of Poitiers, distinguished bishops known for their interpretations. That treacherous author of such great evils, Arrius, did not escape unpunished even in this world. For he, the treacherous instigator of so many evils, did not escape punishment even in this world. Moved by a roaring urge to retreat, he not only emitted waste through the lower opening in a shameful manner, but also expelled all his intestines through the upper mouth, a fitting end for his treachery, spilling his life before he could finish his betrayal. Therefore, the just vengeance of God must be noted, since with the same polluted mouth he spewed forth sacrilegious books and a harmful doctrine against the faith of Christ, and he poured out all his insides in a shameful and damnable way, just as Judas, the betrayer of Christ, hung by his own noose and burst open, spilling all his entrails. In this, however, since it was not through the mouth but through the rumbling of the belly that they were poured out, it was spared from the mouth that had kissed the Lord, although with a wicked intention, just a little earlier. Muhammad, too, through whom many evils were devoured, has been a source of much harm. s. They have happened, and still happen today; a fitting divine vengeance was given, because a violent man fell in the street at night, having proclaimed impurity and filth, and was devoured by swine, which are considered unclean animals. Therefore, the followers of Muhammad, because their prophet was devoured by pigs while he was drunk, imposed abstinence on themselves from both wine and pork. Some, however, abstain from pork to follow the Jewish practice; for Muhammad took certain things from the Jews and certain things from the Christians. In this, however, they abstain from wine because of the hot regions where they live, so that they don't endanger themselves from excessive heat; they follow the physical teachings of their masters in this matter, etc. Moreover, during that time, the Saracens, who are also called Turks, were led by a false prophet named Machumet, who provided them with guidance. . They left their homes and began to severely devastate the empire of Heraclius. Moreover, Machumctus, who is so famous among the Saracens and Arabs, is said to be a descendant of Abraham. And since he was established by him to lead so many people astray and completely led them into wickedness, we don't think it's unnecessary or superfluous to explain here more fully his ways, his methods of promotion, his multiple deceptions, and the tricks he used. Here, indeed, when he was in his first state, he frequently traveled as a merchant with his camels in Egypt and Palestine, conversing with Jews and Christians, from whom he learned both the New and the Old Testament, and he became a most accomplished magician. And while he was wandering about here, it happened that he entered the province of Oorozania, which was called the land of Chadita. As she marveled at the various kinds that Muhammad had brought with him, the woman began to speak to him more familiarly. Then Machumetus, through the power of his incantations, began to gradually lead him into error, saying to him that he himself was the Messiah, whom the Jews still expect to come. They were being deceived by his words, both by the tricks of his incantations and by the cleverness of his abundant talents. In this opinion, not only was the woman deceived, but all the Jews to whom her fame could reach were gathering in droves with the Saracens, astonished by such a novelty. She had begun to introduce new laws and to hand them over, presenting testimonies from both Testaments, which these laws are called sna, and they acknowledge him to be their legislator. The aforementioned woman, seeing the man of the Jews and Saracens surrounded by a protective enclosure, believed that a divine majesty was hidden in him; and, since she was a widow, she took him as her husband. Thus, Machumetus obtained the leadership of the entire province. Finally, the Arabs who adhered to him began to invade the kingdom of Persia, and ultimately they attacked the Eastern Empire all the way to Alexandria, beyond Heraclea. Finally, Machumetus began to frequently fall into an epileptic fit. When Oadiga saw this, she was saddened because she had married a man who was both impure and epileptic. He was trying to soothe her, saying, because "I contemplate the archangel Gabriel speaking with me," and not bearing the brightness of his face. Flower. To be allowed, Matthew. Twenty-eight. . Charles Martel. The flower of the earth is fleeting. . "I am a carnal being, I fail and fall." The woman and all the Arabs and Ishmaelites believed that the laws which the archangel Gabriel had given to his disciples were sent from God to the holy men on earth. It's important to note here the remarkable cunning and diabolical art, whose exquisite malice has been at work in everything to deceive. For the law, he established whatever he knew would please people more. Therefore, since the Easterners know how lustful they are, and are driven by the heat of their region, they have been allowed to have as many wives and concubines as they can support according to the law. Just as the ancient enemy, the heretics of our time, use the same craftiness to deceive; for in these cold regions, where the chill constricts and makes the greedy feel poor, they entice people to greed. . They act as if they were establishing by law that tithes should not be given to priests, nor offerings made to churches. Therefore, if they were united in their error and did not separate from each other through various heretical sects, as we learned from a certain prudent cleric in Italy, today the Western Church would undoubtedly have been gravely affected in many places by Isesa, and in the borders of Italy and the provinces, it is believed it would have completely succumbed; but Christ, who at the end of the Gospel of Mark says to the apostles and disciples, "Behold, I am with you all days until the end of the age," allows the ship of Peter to be shaken by frequent storms, but does not let it be crushed, and though it is continually tossed about by the waves, it does not sink, for this healthy remedy has been applied, etc. During those days, Childebert, dying, abandoned the kingdom of the Franks to his son Dagobert; but also Pipin, the Major of the royal household, died, and his son Charles succeeded him, who was called Tudides by the major craftsmen, who were known for their ability to strike and shape metal. He also became the royal major domo under King Dagobert, and he fought fiercely against the Saracens; for at that time, the Saracens had invaded Spain from Africa and had subjugated it to themselves, and during the times of Charles, they burst forth with their wives and children, invading the Aquitaine province of Gaul, and they reached as far as the borders of Septimania and the Viennese province, laying waste to everything in their path. But Charles, the king, was defeated. ;. . . . . . The great Saracens, with one army in Aquitaine near Pictavia, were defeated. In the other battle near Narbonne, he won so decisively that it forced the Spaniards to return. In that war, 365,000 were killed. He killed thousands of Saracens. This is Charles, who, because of his constant engagement in wars, entrusted ecclesiastical matters to laypeople. He fought also against the Saxons and Bavarians, whom he overcame with great difficulty. He often fought against the Aquitanians under their leader Heudone; he expelled Count Eaunfred from the royal palace, but he only managed to take one city from him, which was Andegavum, and other territories. Charles the Bald died in France, leaving behind his son Pepin as the steward of the palace and the major domo of the royal house. At that time, there was a king in France named Hilderic, who was an ineffective and lazy man, doing nothing of significance. . He was a king in France at that time named Hilderic, who, being a useless and lazy man, was content with nothing but his title. Pippin, through his messengers sent to Rome, was asking Pope Zacharias whether he should be called king of the Franks, who was merely a king by name, given to idleness. To whom the pontiff responded that he should be called king, who would govern the public good well; by this response, the Franks, inspired, deposed Hilderic and dressed him in a monk's robe. They appointed Pippin as king, cloaked in a pallium. He, where King Bade was created, subdued all who rebelled against him with great power. He made Griphon, his brother, king of the Austrians, and appointed Cassilon, his nephew by his sister, as duke of the Bavarians, and so on. Meanwhile, the king of the Franks, Pipin, moved a large army from Gaul, intending to offer assistance to the Roman pontiff Stephen; and he invaded Italy, defeating King Asculph and taking hostages from him. He subdues Aquitaine and Bavaria. Pipin. Pranks, Hu. Flower. , p. . He subdues Aquitaine. He would restore everything to the blessed Apostle Peter and to the holy Pope Stephen, and he would never again presume to disturb the Roman Church. But all this was rendered void by Asculphus when Pippin withdrew; yet not long after, while he was out hunting one day, he was suddenly struck down by God's judgment and died. After Asculphus died, Desiderius succeeded him. At that time, King Pippin of the Franks received great gifts from Emperor Constantine, and on his way back from Italy, he went against Waifer, the Duke of Aquitaine, along with his son Charles. He, while bravely invading Aquitaine with three military campaigns, finally subdued it entirely on the third attempt, and within the village of Petrogoricum in Aquitaine, he killed the duke Grauferus. After this, the most warlike King Pippin of the Franks entered Saxony and conquered it; he also claimed Bavaria for himself. Meanwhile, the most wicked Emperor Constantine, while advancing against the Bulgarians, fell into a horrible illness, through which he died, no less than Diocletian, full of the blood of martyrs. Leo Cazarus, his son, succeeded him. Leo Cazarus ruled for five years, during which he died in the last year of his reign, leaving behind few monuments, whether good or bad. During those days, Pippin, who had been appointed king by the authority of the Roman pontiff Zacharias, after serving as the prefect of the palace of the Franks, died in the city of Paris in the fifteenth year of his reign, in the year 600 of the Incarnation of Christ. And Ixix. , with the children of the superstitious, Charles and Charlesmann, to whom the succession of the kingdom belonged. Karolus received the royal crown in the city of Noviomensis, and his brother Karolomannus was from Suessionis. But after two years, during which Karolomannus was elevated to the throne, he passed away, and his wife and children fled to King Desiderius of the Lombards, compelled by force, seeking his protection; thus, with the consent of the men of the entire Frankish kingdom, Charles alone obtained the monarchy. In the first year of his reign, Charles immediately entered Aquitaine and, after defeating its leader Hunold, completely subdued it. Meanwhile, the envoy Komanas reported on the death of Pipin, king of the Franks. Hand. Peter, sent by Pope Adrian, came to glorious King Charles, seeking his help against King Desiderius of the Lombards, who was troubling the Roman Church after the death of his father, Asculph. To whom Charles sent an army, to fight against Desiderius with a great force of troops. . He prepared and entered Italy by the mountain of Cenyscum, and with a strong force, he surrounded the city of Pavia, and he drove out the son of Desiderius, Adalgisus, from his native kingdom and established his own son, Pipinus, as king over the subdued Italy. In Italy, he took up the Saxon war as he was engaged in other matters. The Saxons, however, were ultimately subdued by his power and were made submissive, so that he distributed ten thousand men from them along with children in various divisions. And so, it is necessary to consider the end of tyrants and their bloody deeds. It is clear that war is finite, so that, having cast aside the worship of demons, they may receive the sacraments of the Christian faith and be united as one people in Francis. So, after all these things were successfully completed and arranged throughout the regions, he returned after having received the submission of all the towns and castles he had approached. But as he was returning, he was ambushed in the very Pyrenees mountains by the Guascons; for, with a long army, as the location and narrowness of the terrain allowed, the army was advancing in formation, and the Guascons, positioned in the mountain's hollow, attacked the rear of the army and threw them down into the valley below, and in the ensuing battle, they killed everyone they encountered. In that battle, Egibardus, the royal steward, Anselmus, the count of the palace, and Kollandus, the prefect of the British border, along with many others, were killed; among them, Eollandus was taken to the castle of Blavia and buried. After these things, King Charles, having subdued the Narbonese, returned from the expedition to France; and not long after, there was news about the army of France being assembled in Gascony, and Roland was killed. Bouquet, vol. Flower. buried at Blaje, near Bordeaux. He went to Flor. From there, he traveled all the way to Capua, through Italy, and on his return, he declared war on the Beneventans. The leader of the province, named Aragisus, unable to bear the ferocity of the king, sent his sons Romaldum and Grimaldum as hostages to him to ensure their loyalty; and again after this, Charles went to the Subbavarians; the Danes, however, were allied with the Swabians and the Slavs. Hum! &c. The king, often referred to as such, conquered and crushed all of them in a single campaign, so that they preferred to submit rather than rebel. The same powerful king also attacked the Huns and the Avars, and the war that began in the eighth year was successfully completed. He also subdued all of Frisia and its coastal regions under his rule. Acknowledge the Reffes of the Britons and Scots, and their own. . . . Lord, by these gifts and offerings, as if they were the house of the Scots. Therefore, the emperor Nicepliorus, as has been said above, is cruel and greedy, and in his actions, he is ruthless. He went out to battle against the Bulgars with his son Stauracius. In that battle, when many of his own were killed and his own son was mortally wounded, he was defeated and killed, and his head was hung on a tree for the public display of the people. Therefore, the outcomes of tyrants are such, and they are from the Lord of the desert. Therefore, both this and that of Valerius Maximus should be added here. This is the second. And this is the head. I didn't think about this matter: "A certain king offered it to himself." , and so on. "A crown, held for a long time in hand, was placed on the head; it would have remained there; finally, he said, 'a more noble cloth than a happy one, which, if anyone truly recognizes how full of dangers it is, would not even want to lift it from the ground.' For this reason, around these days, King Charles, the crowned king of the Franks, was blind and from the city. Hug. After being thrown out, he finally returned to his seat through Charles. , p. l. Bavonicuml Bajoariciim, Eginli. ; Bavaricum, Hug. Flower. It is finished. But the key is a burden, Hug. Flower. The Suevi and the Slavs have been conquered, Hug. Flower. The Bulgars, Hug. Flower. The emperor and Augustus is crowned and exalted, having been transferred to the Franks and Germans under the Roman Empire, which is flourishing; the Byzantines are tyrants, claiming a name and not the reality of the empire, frequently blinding themselves with their own deceit, and for the sake of domination, they extinguish each other now with sword, now with poison, alternately and everywhere. They seize the principality not by hereditary right, but rather by tyranny, let us abandon this and turn to the life and end of natural and noble rulers, as we have done before and now let us approach with examples. However, we must note that due to the aforementioned change in the empire, the Greeks have always, although in reality they are more prone to failure and have relied more on poison than on strength, and more on cunning than on force, contended against the Latins and have regarded them as enemies, so much so that they have withdrawn from the subjection and obedience to the Roman Church until in our days they have partially returned to subjection and have been recalled by the Latins who occupy the city and the empire. Therefore, when the Roman pontiffs and emperors write to the Greeks, inviting them to obedience as they usually do and to the unity of the Church, they have been accustomed to write and respond, saying, "You have withdrawn from us, and we withdraw from you." We also add that it should be noted that, since all tyrants are like Boethius, kings of the islands are tyrants of the islands, so that closer examples may be sought, more tyrants and the British island are tyrannical. . . . In our days, those in power either shoot arrows or launch bolts from catapults, or they attack us with hostile violence. . ,. . ,. . . . They are led to death by their own desires. Oppression can lead to death in many ways. According to the poet: "Few kings descend to the kind of Ceres without slaughter and blood, and tyrants die a dry death." "They found no greater torment than that of tyrants." ? j-JgPPFrance die natural deaths. Therefore, that statement from the Eastern heretic Porphyry, introduced by Gildas in his History of the Destruction of the Britons, should be added here. "Britannia," he says, "is a fertile island in the west, the homeland of tyrants." In France, however, since the princes tended to be gentler and milder, we saw or even read of very few who met their end except by natural causes or in a remarkable death. Therefore, we will proceed in order from the chosen princes, who are most worthy of praise, discussing both the Old Testament and the New, presenting examples from the time of the Frankish kings elevated to power in a fitting manner.