Otto of Freising: GESTA FRIDERICI IMPERATORIS

Frederick, by the grace of God emperor of the Romans and ever august, to his beloved paternal uncle Otto, bishop of Freising, his grace and every good.

Cronica, quae tua sapientia digessit vel desuetudine inumbrata in luculentam erexit consonantiam, a dilectione tua nobis transmissa cum ingenti gaudio suscepimus, et post bellicos sudores interdum in his delectari et per magnifica gesta imperatorum ad virtutes informari preoptamus. Ea vero, quae ab ingressu regni a nobis gesta sunt, ad peticionem tuam breviter conpilata noticiae tuae libenter commendaremus, nisi quod ad similitudinem priorum gestorum, quae ab excellentissimis viris edita sunt, magis dici possunt umbra quam facta. Tamen, quia tuum preclarum ingenium humilia extollere et de parva materia multa scribere novit, plus confisi tuis laudibus quam nostris meritis tantillum hoc, quod in Romano orbe per quinquennium fecimus, paucis perstringere curamus.

The chronicle, which your wisdom arranged and, though overshadowed by disuse, raised into a lucid concord, transmitted to us by your affection we received with great joy; and after warlike sweats we prefer at times to delight in these things and to be formed unto virtues by the magnificent deeds of emperors. Those things, however, which from the beginning of the reign were done by us, compiled briefly at your petition, we would gladly commend to your knowledge, were it not that, by comparison with the earlier deeds published by most excellent men, they can be called more shadow than deed. Nevertheless, because your splendid genius knows how to exalt humble things and to write much from small material, relying more on your praises than on our merits, we take care to touch very lightly in a few words upon that which we did in the Roman world for five years.

Post primam unctionem Aquisgrani et acceptam coronam Teutonici regni generalem curiam Merseburch in pentecosten celebravimus; ubi rex Danorum Petrus ad curiam nostram vocatus venit et hominio ac fidelitate nobis facta coronam regni de manu nostra suscepit. Deinde Cicensem episcopum Wichmannum ad archiepiscopatum Magdeburgensem transtulimus; et quamquam multae lites et controversiae inter nos et Romanam aecclesiam inde fuissent, ad ultimum tamen quod a nobis laudabiliter factum fuit auctoritas apostolica confirmavit.

After the first anointing at Aachen and having received the crown of the Teutonic kingdom, we held the general court at Merseburg at Pentecost; where Peter, king of the Danes, summoned to our court, came and, having done homage and sworn fealty to us, received the crown of the kingdom from our hand. Then we transferred the Cician bishop Wichmann to the archbishopric of Magdeburg; and although many suits and controversies arose therefrom between us and the Roman Church, nevertheless in the end the apostolic authority confirmed what had been laudably done by us.

Post haec expeditionem Romam movimus et in valida manu Longobardiam intravimus. Haec quia propter longam absentiam imperatorum ad insolentiam declinaverat et suis confisa viribus aliquantum rebellare coeperat, nos animo indignati omnia fere castella eorum furore debito et iusto non militum, sed servientium destruximus. Mediolanenses versuti et superbi verba sine fide nobis dederunt, et ut nostra concessione super Cumas et Laudam dominium habere mererentur, multam pecuniam nobis promiserunt; sed cum nec prece nec precio flectere nos possent, et cum ad terram eorum venissemus, a terra copiosa sua declinantes tres dies in solitudine nos duxerunt, quousque tandem contra voluntatem eorum prope iuxta Mediolanum ad miliare Teutonicum castra metati essemus; ibique dum ab eis mercatum quereremus, et ipsi nobis eum negarent, nobilissimum castrum eorum, Rosatum videlicet, quod quingentos milites armatos habebat, capi et incendio destrui fecimus; ibi milites nostri usque ad portam Mediolanensium iverunt et multos vulneraverunt et multos ceperunt.

After these things we moved our expedition to Rome and entered Lombardy with a strong hand. Because it had, on account of the long absence of the emperors, declined into insolence and, trusting in its own forces, had somewhat begun to rebel, we, indignant in spirit, destroyed almost all their castles with due and just fury, not by soldiers but by servitors. The Milanese, crafty and proud, gave us words without faith, and, that by our concession they might be deemed worthy to hold dominion over Cumas and Lauda, they promised us much money; but when neither entreaty nor price could bend us, and when we had come into their land, abandoning their abundant territory they led us three days into solitude, until at last, against their will, we had encamped near the German milestone by Milan; and there, while we sought a market from them and they denied it to us, we caused their most noble fortress, namely Rosatum, which had 500 armed men, to be taken and destroyed by fire; there our soldiers went as far as the gate of the Milanese and wounded many and captured many.

Hinc inde ortis inimicitiis inter nos et illos, fluvium Ticinum versus Novariam transeuntes pontes duos, quos ipsi armaverant et incastellaverant, violenter occupavimus. Quos post transitum totius exercitus nostri destruximus. Inde tria castra eorum fortissima, Mumma videlicet, Gaila et Trica, destruximus, et natali Domini cum maxima iocunditate celebrato per Vercellas et Taurinum euntes Padum transivimus; inde Cheram, maximam et munitissimam villam, destruximus, civitatem Astam incendio vastavimus.

From enmities arisen here and there between us and them, we crossed the Ticino toward Novara and violently seized two bridges which they themselves had armed and castled. After the passage of our whole army we destroyed those bridges. Thence we destroyed three of their strongest camps, namely Mumma, Gaila, and Trica, and, the Lord’s natal day having been celebrated with the greatest joy, we passed through Vercellae and Taurinum and crossed the Po; thence we destroyed Chera, a very great and most well-fortified villa, and laid waste the city of Asti by fire.

Deinde Terdonam civitatem munitissimam natura et arte obsedimus; et post tres dies burgo capto, ipsam arcem cepissemus, nisi nox et maxima tempestas nos cohibuisset. Tandem post multos assultus, multas cedes et miserabilem stragem illorum et non modicum dampnum nostrorum arcem per deditionem occupavimus et quendam principem Grecorum, qui a marchione Malaspina captus erat, liberavimus. Destructa Terdona, Papienses, ut gloriosum post victoriam triumphum nobis facerent, ad civitatem nos invitaverunt; ibi in corona et maxima laeticia et ingenti servitio civitatis tres dies deduximus.

Then we besieged the city Terdona, most strongly fortified by nature and art; and after three days, the borough having been taken, we would have taken the citadel itself, had not night and a great storm restrained us. At last, after many assaults, many repulses and the miserable slaughter of their men and no small loss of ours, we occupied the citadel by surrender and freed a certain prince of the Greeks, who had been captured by the marquis Malaspina. With Terdona destroyed, the Papienses, that they might make for us a glorious triumph after the victory, invited us to their city; there, with a crown and great rejoicing and the city's immense attendance, we spent three days.

Deinde directo tramite per Longobardiam, Romaniam, Tusciam euntes Sutrium usque pervenimus. Ibi domnus papa cum tota aecclesia Romana gaudenter nobis occurrit et consecrationem nobis paterne obtulit suaque gravamina, quae a Romano populo passus erat, nobis conquestus est. Sic nos cottidie simul euntes et simul hospitantes dulciaque miscentes colloquia Romam usque pervenimus.

Then by a direct thoroughfare through Longobardy, Romagna, and Tuscany we went as far as Sutrium. There the lord Pope, with the whole Roman Church, gladly met us and fatherly offered us consecration and recounted to us his gravamina, which he had suffered from the Roman people. Thus we, daily going together and lodging together and mingling sweet colloquies, came as far as Rome.

Romani nuncios suos ad nos miserunt et maximam pecuniam pro fidelitate eorum ac servitio, tria quoque a nobis iuramenta exquisierunt.

The Romans sent their envoys to us and demanded the greatest sum of money for their fidelity and service, and they also exacted three oaths from us.

Inde cum domno papa et cardinalibus consilio inito, quia imperium emere noluimus et sacramenta vulgo prestare non debuimus, ut omnes dolos et machinamenta eorum declinaremus, Octaviano cardinale conducente maxima pars miliciae nostrae nocte per portam parvulam iuxta Sanctum Petrum intravit et sic monasterium Sancti Petri preoccupavit. Mane facto domnus papa cum tota aecclesia ad basilicam sancti Petri nos precessit et ad gradus cum maxima processione nos suscepit, et missa celebrata ad altare apostolorum Petri et Pauli in honore sanctae Mariae virginis, quia sabbatum erat, benedictionem coronae Romani imperii largiter super caput nostrum effudit. Quo rite peracto, dum omnes nimio labore et estu confecti ad tentoria rediremus et cibum caperemus, Romani de ponte Tyberino prosiluerunt et in monasterio sancti Petri, duobus servis nostris occisis et cardinalibus spoliatis, papam capere intendebant.

Then, with the lord Pope and the cardinals having formed a council, because we did not wish to purchase the empire and ought not to publicly administer the sacraments, so that we might avoid all their deceptions and machinations, with Cardinal Octavian conducting, the greater part of our soldiery entered by night through the small gate beside Saint Peter and thus seized the monastery of Saint Peter beforehand. When morning had come the lord Pope with the whole church went before us to the basilica of Saint Peter and received us at the steps with the greatest procession, and after Mass had been celebrated at the altar of the apostles Peter and Paul in honor of the holy Virgin Mary, because it was the sabbath, he lavishly poured the blessing of the crown of the Roman empire upon our heads. This rite thus accomplished, while all, worn out by too great labour and heat, were returning to their tents and taking food, the Romans leapt forth from the Tiberine bridge and in the monastery of Saint Peter, our two servants having been killed and the cardinals plundered, intended to seize the Pope.

Nos vero deforis strepitum audientes, armati per muros irruimus et tota die cum Romanis conflictum habentes eorum pene mille occidimus et in Tyberi submersimus et captivos deduximus, donec nox nos et illos diremit. Mane facto, quia victualia nobis defecerant, assumpto papa et cardinalibus cum triumpho victoriae laeti recessimus, et omnibus castris et munitionibus, quae circa Urbem erant, in potestatem nostram deditis, usque Albam venimus et per aliquot dies ibi cum papa morati sumus. Inde ivimus Spoletum, et quia rebellis erat et comitem Gwidonem Werram et caeteros nuncios nostros in captivitate tenebant, assultum ad civitatem fecimus.

We, however, hearing the uproar outside, armed ourselves, burst through the walls and, contending with the Romans all day, killed nearly a thousand of them and drowned them in the Tiber and led away captives, until night parted us and them. When morning came, and because our provisions had failed, having taken up the pope and the cardinals we withdrew, glad with the triumph of victory, and with all the camps and fortifications that lay around the City having been surrendered into our power, we came as far as Alba and there remained with the pope for several days. From there we went to Spoleto, and because it was rebellious and held our envoys captive, Count Gwidon Werram and the others, we made an assault upon the city.

Mirabile et inscrutabile iudicium Dei! A tercia usque ad nonam munitissimam civitatem, quae pene centum turres habebat, vi cepimus, igne videlicet et gladio, et infinitis spoliis acceptis, pluribus igne consumptis, funditus eam destruximus. Inde euntes versus Anconam Paliologum nobilissimum principem Grecorum et Maroducam socium eius cum caeteris nunciis Constantinopolitani obvios habuimus.

Wonderful and inscrutable is the judgment of God! From the 3rd up to the 9th, a most strongly fortified city that had nearly a hundred towers, we seized by force—by fire and by sword—and, having taken countless spoils, with many consumed by flame, we utterly destroyed it to its foundations. Thence, going toward Ancona, we met Palaeologus, the most noble prince of the Greeks, and Maroduca his companion, with other envoys of Constantinople.

Qui ut in Apuliam iremus et hostem utriusque imperii Willehelmum potentia virtutis nostrae conterere vellemus, infinitam pecuniam nobis dare spoponderunt.

They promised to give us an infinite sum of money so that we might go into Apulia and, wishing to crush William, the enemy of both empires, by the power of our virtue.

Quia vero milicia nostra propter multos labores et bella nimis attrita fuit, placuit magis principibus redire quam in Apuliam descendere. Sicque nobis redeuntibus et Grecis cum superbia multitudinis suae et copiosa pecunia in Apuliam euntibus, Paliologus post adeptum Barum et munitionem destructam obiit, et Willehelmus congregato exercitu repente in Grecos irruit et paucis captis et caeteris occisis omnem pecuniam asportavit.

Because our militia had been too worn by many labors and wars, the princes preferred to return rather than to descend into Apulia. And so, as we were returning and the Greeks, proud of their multitude and with plentiful money, were going into Apulia, Paliologus, after having taken Barum and with its fortification destroyed, died; and Willehelmus, having gathered his army, suddenly fell upon the Greeks and, with a few captured and the rest slain, carried off all the money.

Nos vero cum maxima victoria a Deo nobis prestita, qualem cum mille octingentis militibus conquisitam prius numquam audivimus, Veronam usque pervenimus. Qualiter illi in precipitio cuiusdam montis nobis insidias posuerint et qualiter a nobis occisi et duodecim suspensi sint, tu audisti. Scis etiam in ordine, quam inter fratrem tuum ducem Austriae et ducem Baioariae concordiam fecerimus et quam gloriose Fridericum in Coloniensi archiepiscopatu sublimaverimus.

We, however, with the greatest victory granted to us by God, a victory won with 1,800 soldiers the like of which we had never before heard, reached Verona. How they set an ambush for us on the precipice of a certain mountain and how they were slain by us and twelve were hanged, you heard. You also know, in order, what concord we made between your brother, the duke of Austria, and the duke of Baioaria, and how gloriously we exalted Frederick in the archiepiscopal see of Cologne.

Haec pauca paucis comprehensa illustri ingenio tuo dilatanda et multiplicanda porrigimus.

These few things, contained in few words, we submit to be expanded and multiplied by your illustrious genius.