Were the world all mine,
From the sea to the Rhine,
I'd give it all
If so be the King of England
lay in my arms.
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Entries in the Ildhafn journal of On this day
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Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Sep 8th, 2015
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on May 19th, 2015
Here, I beg thee, pause for a while, traveler,
And ponder my words in thy heart,
That thou mayest understand thy fate in my shadow:
The form of thy body will be changed as was mine.
Alcuin was born in Northumbria sometime around around 735 and about the only thing known about his family is that his father's name also started with an "A". He was educated at York by Ecgbert who had been a student of Bede; and Alcuin eventually became a deacon.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Apr 13th, 2015
On this day in 1011, Henry V was crowned Emperor.
The young Henry (Heinrich) gained papal support in the traditional manner: by rebelling against the Emperor (in this case, his father, Henry IV). But once his father was dead, he decided -- in the traditional manner -- that perhaps papal support wasn't that important.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Mar 18th, 2015
On this day in 1229, Emperor Frederick II showed the crown in Jerusalem.
The city of Jerusalem had been won for Latin Christendom by Godfrey of Bouillon and the crusading army in 1099. Until its capture by Saladin in 1187, it had been the capital of a new, Latin kingdom in the Levant. Whilst the Third Crusade had shored up the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Richard the Lionheart did not even attempt to re-take the city. Thus the Kingdom of Jerusalem struggled on, a thin strip of land clinging to the east coast of the Mediterranean, perpetually in search of a king.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Mar 14th, 2015
On this day in 840 died Einhard.
You, O reader, being wise will know that magnificent Einhard
Wrote this account of the deeds of Charles the Great1
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Feb 2nd, 2015
On this day in 962, Otto the Great was crowned Roman Emperor.
Born on the 23rd of November 912, Otto was the eldest son of King Heinrich the Fowler (remember him?). Heinrich was keen to improve his standing, so he had Otto married to Eadgyth, daughter of Aethelstan of England. Otto earned his spurs at a young age, and on Heinrich's death was made King of Germany.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Dec 13th, 2014
Pope Celestine V abdicated on this Day in 1294.
Normally, Popes only give up the triple crown when it's pried from their cold, dead hands; but every few centuries one gives it up voluntarily.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Nov 27th, 2014
On this day in 511 died Clovis, King of the Franks.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Nov 12th, 2014
On this day in 1035 died Cnut the Great.
In some ways Cnut had it easy, as far as conquerors go. His father, the awesomely named Sweyn Forkbeard, had already conquered England for him. However, when Sweyn died, Cnut's brother, Harald, got Denmark; and England south of the Danelaw rebelled. Aethelred Unraed returned from exile in
Normandy and Cnut fled.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Nov 11th, 2014
Today is Martinmas.
Martinmas was one of the most important days in the medieval calendar, effectively being the start of Advent.
St Martin was born in Pannonia in 316. Following family tradition he joined the army, which sent him to Gaul. There he performed his most famous act: seeing a beggar freezing in the street, Martin sliced his own cloak in two, giving one half to the beggar. Whilst some laughed to see Martin in his ruined cloak, others were shamed by their own failure to act. That night, in a dream, Martin saw Jesus wearing the half
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Oct 6th, 2014
And now for one of my very favourite stories. Pope Formosus was elected on this day in 891. Formosus' ecclesiastical career had enjoyed mixed fortune. Made Cardinal Bishop of Portus in 864 he was denounced for treachery in 872 and excommunicated. Nevertheless, Formosus is connected to today's other story, for it was he who persuaded Karl the Bald to be crowned as emperor by John VIII in 875.
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Oct 6th, 2014
On this day in 877 died Karl the Bald. Karl (Charles) was a grandson of Charlemagne (Big Charles), the son of Ludwig the Pious and his second wife Judith of Bavaria. As the youngest son, his arrival caused some trouble regarding inheritance. After some fighting and premature death, Ludwig's empire was divided amongst Karl, who got (more or less) France, Ludwig the German, who got (more or less) Germany (der!) and the Emperor Lothar, who got the bit in between: the land between the Rhone and the Rhine (Lotharingia = Lorraine).
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Sep 25th, 2014
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066). Harold Godwinson was king of England, and Harald Hardrada was king of Norway (seriously, check out this guy's biography: he went everywhere and fought everyone!). So on one side was Harold, and on the other side Harald. Clear?
Posted by Ludwig von Regensburg to the On this day journal on Sep 24th, 2014
Pippin the Short died on this day in 768. Son of Charles "the Hammer", he inherited his father's job as Neustrian Majordomo. In 743, Pippin and his brother, Carloman, installed Childeric III as King of the Franks (it's hard to be Mayor of the Palace when there's no king to "serve") only to later have Childeric deposed. Pippin obtained permission from the Pope to have himself crowned instead (Carloman having retired into a monastery).