Neo Medieval Music with History Chapters. - Charlesmagne and The Saxon Wars.

• Report rights infringement
• published: 20 Nov 2014
• views: 896

The Saxons were a germanic people, that became one of the best well known ones in European History. They were the most relevant group of invaders, and, subsequently, settlers, who occupied the territories that today we call England. - The Angles being, however, the other germanic tribe that gave origin to the name. Interestingly enough, while the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms of Britain were already converted to Christianity, Saxons who didn't leave their homeland, in continental Europe, were still faithful to their old heathen traditions, religion, and way of life. In the last decades of the 8th century, Charlesmagne was a powerful king, that was even granted the title of Emperor. He ruled, even if just theoretically, over a great part of what is today's France, Germany and even Italy. Charlesmagne was Christian, and was determined to conquer the most possible amount of land, and, of course, to convert, and christianize, even by force, if necessary, all those who were still part of the ancient pagan belief system. Charlesmagne and the Saxons experienced a generous number of conflicts, The Saxon Wars. The Christian Emperor intended to conquer Saxony, and incorporate it into his Frankish Kingdom, turned into a medieval Empire. The conflicts between Charlesmagne's forces and the Saxons, who were led, mostly, by their chief, Widukind (means Child of the Forest), endured for nearly 30 years. Not of constant war, but during which there were uprisings, rebellions and located battles. Charlesmagne assumed a hardline position, that today we would call religious fanaticism, and, in a sadly well known massacre, he ordered the beheading of more than four thousand Saxons, who were caught practising their heathen rituals, after converting to Christianity. Widukind had a little support from the Danes, and would seek refuge within their neighbours from the North, now and then. Church pillaging was one of the Saxon's ways of rebelling, and counter-attacking. Christian buildings and manifestations were seen by the Saxons as both a sign of foreign occupation, and attempt to erase their own culture. On the Saxon's side, their sacred tree, Irminsul, was burned, by order of Charlesmagne. The symbolism of Irminsul has a notorious similarity with the cosmic tree Yggdrasil, from Norse Mythology. In the end, Charlesmagne finally won. The rebellions ceased, and Saxony was solidly integrated in the Frankish Christian Kingdom. Who would be divided, after Charlesmagne's death. From this division, later on, emerged what is today's France, and Germany. As well as a lot of territorial unsolved problems, which, until very recently, originated dispute and war between both countries. Three federal states of today's Germany have "Saxony" as part of their name. You can listen to some more of my music in the following websites: www.reverbnation.com/weapon12 www.reverbnation.com/weapon1143 Downloads available. Also, if you are interested in Norse Mythology, do visit: thecompleteguidetonorsemythology.blogspot.pt Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, doubts or both. Comments and suggestions are also very welcome. Regards.