Stelle Illae autem insulae, quae Sclavis a...; (Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum (1075 - 1076), IV.18 (pp. 244-247)) [4878]

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ID 4878
Text Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum (1075 - 1076) Adam of Bremen
Quotation Illae autem insulae, quae Sclavis adiacent, insigniores accepimus esse tres. Quarum prima Fembre vocatur. Haec opposita est Wagris, ita ut videri possit ab Aldinburg, sicut illa, quae Laland dicitur. Altera est contra Wilzos posita, quam Rani [vel Runi] possident, [Schol. 121: Reune insula est Runorum, vicina Iumne civitati, qui soli habent regem.] gens fortissima Sclavorum, extra quorum sentenciam de publicis rebus nihil agi lex est, ita [illi] metuuntur propter familiaritatem deorum vel potius demonum, quos maiori cultu venerantur quam ceteri. Ambae igitur hae insulae pyratis et cruentissimis latronibus plenae sunt, et qui nemini parcant ex transeuntibus. Omnes enim, quos alii vendere solent, illi occidunt. Tercia est illa, quae Semland dicitur, contigua Ruzzis vel Polanis; hanc inhabitant Sembi vel Pruzzi, homines humanissimi, qui obviam tendunt his ad auxiliandum, qui periclitantur in mari vel qui a pyratis infestantur. Aurum et argentum pro minimo ducunt, pellibus abundant peregrinis, quarum odor letiferum nostro orbi superbiae venenum propinavit. Et illi quidem uti stercora haec habent ad nostram, credo, dampnationem, qui per fas et nefas ad marturinam vestem anhelamus quasi ad summam beatitudinem. Itaque pro laneis indumentis, quae nos dicimus faldones, illi offerunt tam preciosos martures. Multa possent dici ex illis populis laudabilia in moribus, si haberent solam fidem Christi, cuius predicatores immaniter persecuntur. Apud illos martyrio coronatus est illustris Boemiorum episcopus Adalbertus. Usque hodie profecto inter illos, cum cetera omnia sint communia nostris, solus prohibetur accessus lucorum et fontium, quos autumant pollui christianorum accessu. Carnes iumentorum pro cibo sumunt, quorum lacte vel cruore utuntur in potu, ita ut inebriari dicantur. Homines cerulei, facie rubea, et criniti. Preterea inaccessi paludibus nullum inter se dominum pati volunt.
Translation Of the islands that lie near the Slavs, we understand that three are of considerable importance. The first of them is called Fehmarn. It is opposite the Wagri, so it can be seen from Oldenburg, like the one named Laaland. The second, opposite the Wilzi, is possessed by the Rani or Runi [Schol. 121: Rügen, in the vicinity of the city of Jumne, is the island of the Runi who alone have a king.], the most powerful of the Slavic peoples, without whose consent nothing may lawfully be done in matters of public concern; so much are they feared on account of their familiarity with the gods, or rather demons, whom this people holds in greater veneration than do the others. Both these islands, too, are infested by pirates and by very bloodthirsty robbers who spare no one that passes that way. For they kill all those whom other are accustomed to sell. The third island, that called Samland, is close to the Russians and the Poles. It is inhabited by the Sembi or Prussians, a most humane people, who go out to help those who are in peril at sea or who are attacked by pirates. Gold and silver they hold in very slight esteem. They have an abundance of strange furs, the odor of which has inoculated our world with the deadly poison of pride. But these furs they regard, indeed, as dung, to our shame, I believe, for right or wrong we hanker after a martenskin robe as much as for supreme happiness. Therefore, they offer their very precious marten furs for the woolen garments called faldones. Many praiseworthy things could be said about these peoples with respect to their morals, if only they had the faith of Christ whose missionaries they cruelly persecute. At their hands Adalbert, the illustrious bishop of the Bohemians, was crowned with martyrdom. Although they share everything else with out people, they prohibit only, to this very day indeed, access to their groves and springs which, they aver, are polluted by the entry of Christians. They take the meat of their draft animals for food and use their milk and blood so freely that they are said to become intoxicated. These men are blue of color, ruddy of face, and long-haired. Living, moreover, in inaccessible swamps, they will not endure a master over them. (Trans. Tschan, 198-9)
Quotation source IV.18 (pp. 244-247)
Temporal Coverage 1072 - 1076
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Spatial Coverage Objects
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