DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0151
CONTEST BETWEEN THE TIARA AND THE CROWN. 135
every art to aggravate this fear, and to incite to a hope
of future plunder. The Abbot of Fulda and the Arch-
bishop of Mentz appeared in his ranks, with crucifixes
borne before them. Guelph of Bavaria and Godfrey of
Lorraine were also on his side, Godfrey on this occasion
deserting the alliance, conjugal and political, that bound
him to the house of Tuscany. The King of Hungary
came as an ally, allured by the hopes of new fiefs to be
assigned to him on the dismemberment of Saxony, and
Rudolf of Swabia, now the loyal vassal of the monarch he
had hoped to supersede.
The two rival armies, encamped on the opposite banks
of the Unstrut, were in a fog so dense that neither were at
first aware of the presence of the other. Indeed, Henry had
retired to rest, when Rudolf, made aware of the vicinity of
the foe, gave him instant warning. Henry threw himself
at his feet, in a transport of gratitude, leaped on his
horse, and led forward his troops, promising them
victory.
Surprised as they were, the Saxons fought unflinchingly;
but the odds were too great against them. The entire
mailed chivalry of the West bore down on them. The
Emperor, whatever were the crimes of his policy and the
views of his life, was the prince of soldiers; and, after an
awful slaughter, his victory was complete. The cost,
however, was equally great, for most of the nobles of the
West perished on that fatal day. With the aid of Godfrey
of Lorraine, the victory was improved. Otho of Nord-
heim and the principal Saxon chiefs were placed in
Henry’s power, and he returned to Worms, where a solemn
“ Te Deum ” celebrated his sanguinary revenge.
Whilst Henry was at war in Germany, Gregory had
convened a council in the Lateran. This council will
ever be celebrated, as it sent forth the celebrated decree
of the “ Papal supremacy above all earthly monarchs.”
The most august ceremonies of the Church were celebrated
to give the more honour to this decree; it prohibited to
all monarchs and rulers the exercise of the rights of
investiture of any spiritual dignity, and transferred to the
every art to aggravate this fear, and to incite to a hope
of future plunder. The Abbot of Fulda and the Arch-
bishop of Mentz appeared in his ranks, with crucifixes
borne before them. Guelph of Bavaria and Godfrey of
Lorraine were also on his side, Godfrey on this occasion
deserting the alliance, conjugal and political, that bound
him to the house of Tuscany. The King of Hungary
came as an ally, allured by the hopes of new fiefs to be
assigned to him on the dismemberment of Saxony, and
Rudolf of Swabia, now the loyal vassal of the monarch he
had hoped to supersede.
The two rival armies, encamped on the opposite banks
of the Unstrut, were in a fog so dense that neither were at
first aware of the presence of the other. Indeed, Henry had
retired to rest, when Rudolf, made aware of the vicinity of
the foe, gave him instant warning. Henry threw himself
at his feet, in a transport of gratitude, leaped on his
horse, and led forward his troops, promising them
victory.
Surprised as they were, the Saxons fought unflinchingly;
but the odds were too great against them. The entire
mailed chivalry of the West bore down on them. The
Emperor, whatever were the crimes of his policy and the
views of his life, was the prince of soldiers; and, after an
awful slaughter, his victory was complete. The cost,
however, was equally great, for most of the nobles of the
West perished on that fatal day. With the aid of Godfrey
of Lorraine, the victory was improved. Otho of Nord-
heim and the principal Saxon chiefs were placed in
Henry’s power, and he returned to Worms, where a solemn
“ Te Deum ” celebrated his sanguinary revenge.
Whilst Henry was at war in Germany, Gregory had
convened a council in the Lateran. This council will
ever be celebrated, as it sent forth the celebrated decree
of the “ Papal supremacy above all earthly monarchs.”
The most august ceremonies of the Church were celebrated
to give the more honour to this decree; it prohibited to
all monarchs and rulers the exercise of the rights of
investiture of any spiritual dignity, and transferred to the