Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/80

68 Illustrious, who was casting about for a wife for his son Henry.

Otho was the richest and most powerful man in Saxony. He was descended on his father's side from Eckbert, on his mother's from Charlemagne. His son Henry the Fowler was distinguished by unusual gifts of mind and beauty of person. He seems to have been on active service nearly all the days of his youth and to have won and worn his laurels nobly. He refused to join with his brothers in robbing the church at Gandersheim, richly endowed by his father. He made a pilgrimage for his sins to Rome, mostly on foot, at the age of twenty. Returning victorious from his wars, he fell in love with Hatheburg, a young and beautiful widow, who had taken the veil at Altenburg, and without waiting for his father's consent or the advice of his counsellors, married her. The Church declared the marriage null and they agreed to separate in 909.

In the opinion of the Court it was imperative that Henry should marry again. Duke Otho, moved by the fame of Matilda's beauty, talent and virtue, sent Count Thietmar, who had been Henry's tutor, to the abbey to see her. Thietmar brought a favourable report, and Henry went himself to Herford, accompanied by a stately band of young nobles. They encamped in the fields, and Henry, with a few of his companions, in disguise, gained admission into the church and saw Matilda reading the psalms with deep devotion. Struck with her beauty and dignity, he went after service to speak with the Abbess, who conducted him to her own room and remained there long with him in conversation. At last Matilda was sent for. When Henry saw her and heard her sweet voice, he begged that she might be betrothed to him at once. Her grandmother demurred, hesitating to dispose of the lady without the consent of her parents, but was at length talked over by the charming young man, whose noble lineage weighed much with her in his favour. The next day Henry set out with his bride for Saxony. All the way they were welcomed with great demonstrations of respect, and soon afterwards the wedding feast was held with royal splendour at Wallhausen. For three blissful years he rested from his wars and for Matilda the cares of maternity began. Their happiness was almost perfect.

In 912 Henry succeeded his father as Duke of the Saxons, and on the death of Conrad, in 918, he was chosen King of Germany. Herbert, bishop of Mainz, demanded to be allowed to anoint and crown the new king. Henry declined: "It is enough," said he, "that I have been chosen king and bear that title; no Saxon before me has attained so much. I thank God's grace and your love. Let anointing and crowning be kept for a better man."

In the sixth year of his reign he completed the great work of uniting all the German lands into one kingdom: he had succeeded in that for which his predecessor Conrad had so long and vainly striven. Ruotger, who wrote the life of Henry's youngest son Bruno, says the day would not be long enough to tell how Henry caused "die schönste und herrlichste Friede" to bloom in the kingdom which he found in the most deplorable state, constantly attacked on all sides by hostile neighbours and torn by the most savage internal feuds between blood relations.

Matilda lived as queen the self-denying life of the convent. Her hand was always open to the poor and her lips to plead for the oppressed and the unfortunate. Often did she rise in the dead of the night and pour out her soul in prayer, to "renew her friendship with God." The king believed that whatever she did was right, and lent her his aid in all her undertakings. She had several children, who were distinguished by their beauty, ability and good qualities. On account of his extreme likeness to his father, Matilda loved her second son Henry better than her other children, and earnestly desired that he should succeed to the throne.

In 928, Bruno was born, and in the following year her eldest son married, daughter of Edward the Elder, king of England.