THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
garment, declaring that God and the spirit of purity had bestowed it on him, and that is why he
desired to wear it.
Charlemagne in Sutri
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At that time Charlemagne, having been chosen emperor after the death of Constantine III,
assembled all his nobles. Among them were the following: Duke Namo of Bavaria, King Solomon
of Brittany, King Gotteboeuf of Frisia, King Druon of Bohemia, Bernard of Clairmont, Morand of
Riviera, Ogier the Dane, Agnentin, the Marquis Berlingher, as well as Huon the Less, Ganelon of
Poitiers, William of Maganza, Guinam of Bayonne, all of whom Charles had pardoned. Charles had
long sought to make peace with Gerard of the Thicket, but without success. They therefore
concluded a five years’ truce between them.
Then Charles, with thirty thousand knights and the abovementioned lords departed and came to
Italy. This was in the year of Our Lord 779. He passed through Lombardy, Romagna, and the
Marches and arrived in Rome. He stayed in Rome for forty days and received the title of Emperor,
although he did not take the crown, for he was of a mind to subjugate Gerard of the Thicket first.
He left Rome to return to France, and on the first day after leaving Rome came to lodge in the city
of Sutri eight leagues distant from Rome. That night King Charles grew ill disposed, wherefore his
physicians desired him to take medicine. He decided to stay at Sutri for six days, and all his gentry
were lodged in or near the city.
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