DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.63447#0244
228
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
The message and the answer are both admirably cha-
racteristic of the age. But the Senate and people of
Rome were more spirited than their ridiculous harangue
might have led one to suppose ; and as they persisted in
refusing to admit Frederick inside their gates, it was
necessary to procure his clandestine entrance into the
Leonine city. The prefect then under the Pontifical
rule privately admitted a thousand men-at-arms by a
postern gate at night, and on the following day Adrian
IV. and his clergy received Frederick, “ King of the
Romans,” in state on the high balcony of St. Peter’s, in
which church the Imperial crown was bestowed on him,
June 18, 1155, whilst the bell of the capitol tolled to
call the inhabitants to arms by command of the Senate.
A wild rush followed on the barrier of the bridge of
Saint Angelo, which separated Republican from Papal
Rome. All obstacles were overthrown; such of the
Imperialists as remained in the city were overpowered.
The property of the cardinals was mercilessly sacked, and
the Pope himself wTould not have escaped outrage had
he not with his party effected a timely retreat. ’ An en-
gagement followed, however, at the gates of Rome, between
the Imperial troops, led by Frederick in person, and the
Romans, in which the latter were defeated, and above a
thousand were slain. “ This,” exultingly writes the
Imperial chronicler, “ is the coin with which the Emperor
repays the Romans for the price which they insolently
set on his crown.”
Notwithstanding this victory, the Pope did not venture
to return within Rome, and the want of provisions com-
pelled Frederick to retire on Tivoli, with the intention of
fulfilling his promise of relieving the southern provinces
from the tyranny of William the Bad. But a violent
dysentery broke out amongst his troops, and he was com-
pelled to make a hurried march back to Germany, not
without, however, leaving bloody traces of his passage at
Spoleto, and of his vengeance in the northern provinces,
where he caused all captives found in arms against him
to be hanged or mutilated.
THE HISTORICAL PAST OF ITALY.
The message and the answer are both admirably cha-
racteristic of the age. But the Senate and people of
Rome were more spirited than their ridiculous harangue
might have led one to suppose ; and as they persisted in
refusing to admit Frederick inside their gates, it was
necessary to procure his clandestine entrance into the
Leonine city. The prefect then under the Pontifical
rule privately admitted a thousand men-at-arms by a
postern gate at night, and on the following day Adrian
IV. and his clergy received Frederick, “ King of the
Romans,” in state on the high balcony of St. Peter’s, in
which church the Imperial crown was bestowed on him,
June 18, 1155, whilst the bell of the capitol tolled to
call the inhabitants to arms by command of the Senate.
A wild rush followed on the barrier of the bridge of
Saint Angelo, which separated Republican from Papal
Rome. All obstacles were overthrown; such of the
Imperialists as remained in the city were overpowered.
The property of the cardinals was mercilessly sacked, and
the Pope himself wTould not have escaped outrage had
he not with his party effected a timely retreat. ’ An en-
gagement followed, however, at the gates of Rome, between
the Imperial troops, led by Frederick in person, and the
Romans, in which the latter were defeated, and above a
thousand were slain. “ This,” exultingly writes the
Imperial chronicler, “ is the coin with which the Emperor
repays the Romans for the price which they insolently
set on his crown.”
Notwithstanding this victory, the Pope did not venture
to return within Rome, and the want of provisions com-
pelled Frederick to retire on Tivoli, with the intention of
fulfilling his promise of relieving the southern provinces
from the tyranny of William the Bad. But a violent
dysentery broke out amongst his troops, and he was com-
pelled to make a hurried march back to Germany, not
without, however, leaving bloody traces of his passage at
Spoleto, and of his vengeance in the northern provinces,
where he caused all captives found in arms against him
to be hanged or mutilated.