nies were observed as on the first occasion, and we diverted ourselves very much; this day it was not the eldest son of Attila who was seated on the same couch with the chief, but his uncle Oebar, whom Attila regarded in the light of a father. Throughout the banquet Attila conversed with us in the kindest manner; he ordered Maximin to induce the emperor to give to his secretary Constantius the wife he had promised him. This Constantius had gone to Constantinople with the deputies of Attila, and had offered his services in maintaining peace between the Romans and the Huns, in consideration of a rich wife being given him; the emperor had consented to this, and had promised him the daughter of Saturnillus, a man of noble family and large fortune; but Athenais, or Eudoxia (the empress went by both these names), put Saturnillus to death, and Zen, a consular personage, prevented the emperor from fulfilling his promise. This Zen, at the head of a numerous body of Isaurians, was at that time guarding the city of Constantinople, menaced by war, and had, besides, the general command of the armies of the east; he withdrew the young girl from the prison in which she had been placed, and gave her to one Rufus, a relative of his. Thus disappointed in his marriage, Constantius had earnestly entreated Attila not to suffer the affront which had been put upon him, to pass, but to insist upon a wife being given him; either the one just snatched from him, or some other woman with a rich dowry: accordingly, during supper, the barbarian desired Maximin to tell the emperor that Constantius was not to be disappointed of his hopes, and that it was contrary to the dignity of an emperor to be a liar; Attila took this interest in the matter because Constantius had promised him a large sum of money in the event of his obtaining by the barbarian's influence a rich Roman wife. On the approach of night we withdrew from the banquet. Three days afterwards we were dismissed, after having received a present each of us. Attila sent with us, as his ambassador, Berich, one of the leading Scythian chiefs, lord of many villages in that country, and who, at the banquet, had been placed on the same side of the table with us, and, indeed, above us. Berich had before this been received as ambassador at Constantinople. On our way, as we were entering a certain village, the barbarians who accompanied us part of the road, took prisoner a Scythian who was acting as spy for the Romans. Attila ordered him to be crucified. Next day, again, as we were passing through another village, there were brought to us, their hands tied behind their backs, two slaves, who had killed those whom the fortune of war had rendered masters of their life and death; their heads were fastened between two pieces of wood, and they were then crucified. Berich, so long as we journeyed in Scythia, travelled with us, and treated us with kindness; but no sooner had we passed the Danube, than he became an enemy, upon some miserable pretexts furnished by our servants. He began by taking from Maximin the horse he had given him; Attila had required all the Scythian chiefs who accompanied him to make presents to Maximin, and they had all offered him horses, Berich among the rest: but Maximin, wishing to show his moderation, had refused most of these offers, accepting only two or three horses. Berich now took the one he had given hira, and moreover, would no longer converse with us, nor even follow the same route. Thus, this pledge of a hospitality contracted in the country of the barbarians themselves, was withdrawn. We proceeded to Adrianopolis through Philippolis, and stopped for awhile to repose ourselves; while there, we addressed Berich, who had also reached the city, and asked why he so pertinaciously observed silence towards men who had given him no offence. He was pacified by our words, accepted an invitation to supper, and we departed the next day from Adrianopolis in company together. On our way, we met Vigilius, who was returning to Scythia, and after informing him of the manner in which Attila had received us, continued our journey. On arriving at Constantinople, we thought that Berich had altogether forgotten his anger, but our kindness and courtesy had not overcome his naturally fierce and vindictive disposition; he accused Maximin of having said that the generals Areobindus and Aspar enjoyed no credit with the emperor, and that since he had become acquainted with the frivolous and unstable character of the barbarians, he had no faith whatever in their alleged exploits. IV. Chronological Table of the Principal Events of the Political History of Gaul, from the Fifth to the Tenth Century. A.D. 406-412 General invasion of the Germans into the empire of the west, and especially into Gaul. 411-413 Establishment of the Burgundians in eastern Gaul. 412-419 Establishment of the Visigoths in southern Gaul. 418-430 Establishment of the Franks in Belgium and northern Gaul. 451 476 Invasion of Attila into Gaul. His defeat in the plains of Châlons in Champagne. Definitive fall of the empire of the west. 481-511 Reign of Clovis. Establishment of the kingdom of the Franks. Their conquests in eastern, western and southern Gaul. 27 Nov., 511 Death of Clovis. Division of his domains and states between his four sons. 523-534 Wars between the Franks and the Burgundians. Fall of the kingdom of the latter. 558-561 Clotaire I., fourth son of Clovis, sole king of the Franks. 587 Treaty of Andélot, between Gontran, king of Burgundy, and Childebert II,, king of Metz. 613-628 Clotaire II., son of Chilperic I., and of Fredegonde, sole king of the Franks. 628-714 Progressive elevation of the family of the Pepins among the Austrasian Franks. 656-687 Struggle between the Franks of Neustria and the Franks of Austrasia. 687 Battle of Testry. Triumph of the Austrasian Franks. 715-741 Government of the Franks by Charles Martel. 714-732 Invasion and progress of the Arabs in southern and western Gaul. A.D Oct., 732 They are defeated near Tours, by Charles Martel. 1st Oct., 741 Death of Charles Martel. Division of Gaul between his sons, Pepin and Carloman. 747 752 754 Carloman enters a monastery. Pepin sole chief of the Childeric III., last of the Merovingian kings, is deposed. Pope Stephen II., who visits France, again crowns Pe- 754, 755 Pepin makes war in Italy against the Lombards. His alliance with the popes. 750-759 The wars of Pepin in southern Gaul against the Saracens. He makes himself master of Septimania. 745-768 The wars of Pepin in the south-west of Gaul against the Aquitani. He seizes upon Aquitaine. Sept., 768 Death of Pepin. Division of his states between his two sons, Charles and Carloman. 771 Death of Carloman. Charlemagne sole king of the Expedition of Charlemagne against the Aquitani. 769 772 774-776 778-780 782-785 794-796 Expeditions of Charlemagne against the Saxons. 797-798 802 804 773-774 Expeditions of Charlemagne against the Lombards. 776 He defeats their kings, and possesses himself of their 787 801 778 796-797 801 806, 807 809, 810 states. Expeditions of Charlemagne against the Lombards of Expeditions of Charlemagne against the Arabs of Spain, 812 788, 789 791 796 805 812 Expeditions of Charlemagne against the Slaves and the Relations of Charlemagne with the emperors of the east. 24 Oct., 800 Charlemagne enters Rome. 25 Dec., 800 801 He is proclaimed emperor of the west. Embassy of Haroun-al-Raschid to Charlemagne. Charlemagne divides his states between his three sons, 808-814 The Normans begin to ravage the coasts of Frankish Gaul. 21 Jan., 814 Death of Charlemagne. A.D. 816 817 Coronation of Louis le Debonnaire, at Reims, by Pope Louis associates with himself his son Lothaire, and gives 828-833 Intrigues and revolts of the sons of Louis le Debonnaire against their father. 1 Oct., 833 The assembly of Compiegne meet to degrade Louis. 2 Nov., 833 Public penance and degradation of Louis at Soissons. The assembly of Thionville annuls the acts of that of Compiegne. 835 838 The assembly of Kiersy-sur-Ouise, when Louis deprives his eldest sons, Lothaire and Louis, in favor of the youngest, Charles le Chauve. 30 May, 839 Louis le Debonnaire is reconciled with his son Lothaire. New division of the empire between Lothaire and Charles le Chauve. 20 June, 840 Death of Louis le Debonnaire. 840-843 War between the sons of Louis le Debonnaire. 29 June, 841 Battle of Fontenay. 843 Treaty of Verdun. Definitive division of the empire. 862-877 Charles le Chauve reunites successfully a great part of the states of Charlemagne. 25 Dec., 875 He is crowned emperor at Rome. 877 He acknowledges in the assembly of Kiersy-sur Oise, the right to the hereditary possession of fees and royal offices. 6 Oct., 877 Death of Charles le Chauve. 836-877 Continued and augmenting visions of the Saracens, and of the Normans, in Frankish Gaul. 877-879 Reign of Louis le Begue, son of Charles le Chauve. 10 April,879 Reign of Louis le Begue. 879-882 Reigns of Louis III. and Carloman, sons of Louis le Begue. 5 Aug., 882 Death of Louis III. 852-884 Reign of Carloman. 6 Dec., 884 Death of Carloman.. 884-888 Reign of Charles le Gros. 885-886 The Normans besiege Paris during one year. 12 Jan., 888 Death of Charles le Gros. S87-898 Reign of Eudes, count of Paris, son of Robert le Fort, elected king during the life of Charles. 877-888 Formation of a number of independent lordships. 28 Jan., 893 Coronation of Charles le Simple, son of Louis le Begue. 1 Jan., 898 Death of king Eudes. 893-929 Reign of Charles le Simple. 911 922 By the treaty of Clair-sur-Esste, he gives to Rollo, a Norman chief, that part of Neustria which has since taken the name of Normandy. Robert, duke of France, brother to king Eudes, is elected king. 15 June, 923 He is killed near Soissons in a battle with Charles le 923 Simple. Raoul, or Rodolph, duke of Burgundy, is elected king of A.D 923-929 Captivity of Charles le Simple in the hands of Herbert, count of Vermandois. He is set at liberty for a time, but soon imprisoned again. Death of Charles le Simple. Death of king Raoul. 7 Oct., 929 15 Jan., 936 936-954 Reign of Louis IV., surnamed d'Outre-Mer, son of Charles le Simple. He is sometimes friendly, sometimes hostile; on one hand with the emperor Otho I., master of eastern France, on the other with the independent lords of central and western France. 10 Sept., 954 Death of Louis d'Outre Mer. 954-986 Reign of Lothaire, son of Louis. His wars with Otho II. 2 Mar., 986 Death of Lothaire. 986, 987 Reign of Louis V., son of Lothaire. 21 May, 987 Death of Louis V. 3 July, 987 Hugh Capet, count of Paris, is crowned king of France. at Reims. V. Chronological Table of the Principal Events of the Religious History of Gaul from the Fifth to the Tenth Century. A.D. 11 Nov., 400 Death of St. Martin, archbishop of Tours. 400-407 Writings of Vigilantius, priest, against the relics of the martyrs, and some other practices of the church. Answered by St. Jerome. 400-420 Foundation of monasteries in southern Gaul; amongst others, those of St. Victor, at Marseilles, and of Le 418 420 423 428 429 441 450 452 455 rens. St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre. The Burgundians embrace arianism. Birth of semi-Pelagianism in southern Gaul. St. Augus tin combats it. St. Loup, bishop of Troyes. A numerous council. Place uncertain.1 St. Hilary, bishop of Arles. Council of Orange. Contest between the bishops of Arles and Vienna, upon the extent of their metropolitan jurisdiction. Council of Arles. Council of Arles. Faust, bishop of Riez; his discussion with Claudienus Mamertius, upon the nature of the soul; he is accused of semi-Pelagianism; he writes against the predestina rians. 1 I only indicate in this table the principal councils, without mentioning their object. The seventh table is especially devoted to the history of the councils and canonical legislation of Gaul at this period. |