| Keywords |
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| ID |
5064 |
| Text |
Chronicon (Thietmarus Merseburgensis) (1012 - 1018) Thietmar of Merseburg |
| Quotation |
Audivi sepius numero Anglos, ab angelica facie, id est pulchra, sive quod in angulo istius terrae siti sunt, dictos, ineffabilem miseriam a Sueino Haraldi filio, immiti Danorum rege, perpessos esse et ad id coactos, ut, qui prius tributarii erant principis apostolorum Petri ac sancti patris eorum Gregorii spirituales filii, immundis canibus impositum sibi censum quotannis solverent et maximam regni suimet partem, capto ac interempto habitatore, tunc hosti fiducialiter inhabitandam inviti relinquerent.
Consentiente hoc Domino et ob castigandas quorundam suimet infidelium culpas hostes predictos ad hoc instigante, tantum insevit persecutor, qui nec suis parcere umquam didicit.
Ille, inquam, supra memoratus, non rector sed destructor, post mortem patris sui a Northmannis insurgentibus captus, cum a populo sibi tunc subdito cum ingenti precio solveretur, quia ab occulta pessimorum susurracione se ob hoc servum nominari comperiret, quod salubriter in paucis ulcisci potuit, hoc impaciens communi dampno et, si voluisset scire, sibi maxime nocenti meditatur vindicare.
Potestatem namque suam hostibus extraneis tunc relinquens securitatem vagatione, pacem bello, regnum exilio, Deum caeli et terrae diabolo mutavit et habitata quaeque vastando sic se suorum non empticium neque volentem dominum, sed spontaneum crebro se iactavit inimicum late, pro dolor! regnantem. |
| Translation |
I have often heard that the Angles, so called because of their beautiful angelic faces or because they are located in an angle of this earth, endured unspeakable suffering at the hands of Sven the son of Harald; and were compelled to pay an annual census imposed upon them by this filthy dog although they were previously tributaries of the prince of the Apostles, St Peter, and spiritual sons of their holy father Gregory. Then, they reluctantly handed over the greatest part of their kingdom to the enemy, as a permanent place of residence, its inhabitants having been captured or killed. The Lord agreed to this and compelled the enemy to do it in order to punish the sins of certain non-believers. So much did the persecutor rage who did not even know to spare his own people. Sven, whom I have mentioned above, not a ruler but a destroyer, was captured by invading Northmen and redeemed by the people subject to him, at great cost. He then learned that, because of this, rumours spread by the worst of people were secretly referring to him as a slave. The revenge which could profitably have been exacted from a few, he rashly inflicted on all. Had he wished to consider this, he might have realized that he inflicted the greatest damage on himself. For by giving over his power to foreign enemies, he traded security for constant wandering, peace for war, a kingdom for exile, the God of heaven and earth for the Devil. He wasted a populous land and often boasted that he was not a lord who could be bought or influenced by his people, but rather one who, according to his whim, could rule far and wide as an enemy. (Trans. Warner, pp. 332-3) |
| Quotation source |
vii.36 (pp. 442-444). |
| Temporal Coverage |
1013 - 1014 |
| Associated use case(s) |
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| Comment |
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