Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/283

 Germany and Italy 247 end was near, and exhorted them as a father that there should be no discord in the realm over the choice of a king to follow him. He commanded them to choose Henry, duke of Sax- ony, a man of energy and a strong friend of peace. More- over since he, Conrad, had been unable to find any other person so well fitted for the position, he sent to Henry the scepter and crown and other decorations associated with the kingly dignity, on condition that he should shield and protect the realm. He himself passed from this life and was honorably buried in the monastery of Fulda. He was worn out during the few years of his reign by the Bavarians and Alemannians and Saxons, for they rose against him in many a battle ; but with God's help before his death he got the better of them. In the year 920 of the Incarnation Duke Henry was chosen king by agreement of the Franconians, Alemannians, Bava- rians, Thuringians, and Saxons. 1 He began his reign by strictly enforcing the peace ; for many, even among the nobles, had turned their attention in those days to robbery. 2 . . . In the year 928 of the Incarnation Henry made a hostile expedition into the land of the Bohemians, and won the vic- tory over them with God's aid. At this time a son, William, was born to Otto, the king's son. The winter was uncom- monly cold. Ruodger, archbishop of Treves, died. Ruod- bert succeeded him. In the year. 929 of the Incarnation Duke Gisalbert took to wife Gerburga, the daughter of King Henry. In the year 930 of the Incarnation Otto, the son of King Henry, took to wife Edith, the daughter of the king of the Angles. 1 The fact that the peoples of the several duchies were viewed as subnations is clear in this and other references to them. 2 In his account of the years here omitted, our chronicler tells of Hungarian raids, and of trouble between King Charles of France and Henry I over Lorraine, and of its ultimate cession to Henry.