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emperor; who at the end of twelve years was crowned by Pope Stephen

VIII。 Henry and his wife Simeonda were persons of very holy life; as

is seen by the many temples built and endowed by them; of which the

church of St。 Miniato; near Florence; is one。 Henry died in 1024; and

was succeeded by Conrad of Suabia; and the latter by Henry II。; who

came to Rome; and as there was a schism in the church of three popes;

he set them all aside; and caused the election of Clement II。; by whom

he was crowned emperor。







CHAPTER IV



  Nicholas II。 commits the election of the pope to the cardinals

  First example of a prince deprived of his dominions by the pope

  Guelphs and GhibellinesEstablishment of the kingdom of Naples

  Pope Urban II。 goes to FranceThe first crusadeNew orders of

  knighthoodSaladin takes from the Christians their possessions in

  the eastDeath of the Countess MatildaCharacter of Frederick

  BarbarossaSchismFrederick creates an anti…popeBuilding of

  Alexandria in PugliaDisgraceful conditions imposed by the pope

  upon Henry; king of EnglandReconciliation of Frederick with the

  popeThe kingdom of Naples passes to the GermansOrders of St。

  Dominic and St。 Francis。



Italy was at this time governed partly by the people; some districts

by their own princes; and others by the deputies of the emperor。 The

highest in authority; and to whom the others referred; was called the

chancellor。 Of the princes; the most powerful were Godfred and the

Countess Matilda his wife; who was daughter of Beatrice; the sister of

Henry II。 She and her husband possessed Lucca; Parma; Reggio; Mantua;

and the whole of what is now called THE PATRIMONY OF THE CHURCH。 The

ambition of the Roman people caused many wars between them and the

pontiffs; whose authority had previously been used to free them from

the emperors; but when they had taken the government of the city to

themselves; and regulated it according to their own pleasure; they at

once became at enmity with the popes; who received far more injuries

from them than from any Christian potentate。 And while the popes

caused all the west to tremble with their censures; the people of Rome

were in open rebellion against them; nor had they or the popes any

other purpose; but to deprive each other of reputation and authority。



Nicholas II。 now attained the papacy; and as Gregory V。 had taken from

the Romans the right to create an emperor; he in the same manner

determined to deprive them of their share in the election of the pope;

and confined the creation to the cardinals alone。 Nor did this satisfy

him; for; having agreed with the princes who governed Calabria and

Puglia; with methods which we shall presently relate; he compelled the

officers whom the Romans appointed to their different jurisdictions;

to render obedience to him; and some of them he even deprived of their

offices。 After the death of Nicholas; there was a schism in the

church; the clergy of Lombardy refused obedience to Alexander II。;

created at Rome; and elected Cadolo of Parma anti…pope; and Henry; who

hated the power of the pontiffs; gave Alexander to understand that he

must renounce the pontificate; and ordered the cardinals to go into

Germany to appoint a new pope。 He was the first who felt the

importance of spiritual weapons; for the pope called a council at

Rome; and deprived Henry of both the empire and the kingdom。 Some of

the people of Italy took the part of the pope; others of Henry; and

hence arose the factions of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines; that

Italy; relieved from the inundations of barbarians; might be

distracted with intestine strife。 Henry; being excommunicated; was

compelled by his people to come into Italy; and fall barefooted upon

his knees before the pope; and ask his pardon。 This occurred in the

year 1082。 Nevertheless; there shortly afterward arose new discords

between the pope and Henry; upon which the pope again excommunicated

him; and the emperor sent his son; also named Henry; with an army to

Rome; and he; with the assistance of the Romans; who hated the pope;

besieged him in the fortress。 Robert Guiscard them came from Puglia to

his relief; but Henry had left before his arrival; and returned to

Germany。 The Romans stood out alone; and the city was sacked by

Robert; and reduced to ruins。 As from this Robert sprung the

establishment of the kingdom of Naples; it seems not superfluous to

relate particularly his actions and origin。



Disunion having arisen among the descendants of Charlemagne; occasion

was given to another northern people; called Normans; to assail France

and occupy that portion of the country which is now named Normandy。 A

part of these people came into Italy at the time when the province was

infested with the Berengarii; the Saracans; and the Huns; and occupied

some places in Romagna; where; during the wars of that period; they

conducted themselves valiantly。 Tancred; one of these Norman princes;

had many children; among the rest were William; surnamed Ferabac; and

Robert; called Guiscard。 When the principality was governed by

William; the troubles of Italy were in some measure abated; but the

Saracens still held Sicily; and plundered the coasts of Italy daily。

On this account William arranged with the princes of Capua and

Salerno; and with Melorco; a Greek; who governed Puglia and Calabria

for the Greek emperor; to attack Sicily; and it was agreed that; if

they were victorious; each should have a fourth part of the booty and

the territory。 They were fortunate in their enterprise; expelled the

Saracens; and took possession of the island; but; after the victory;

Melorco secretly caused forces to be brought from Greece; seized

Sicily in the name of the emperor; and appropriated the booty to

himself and his followers。 William was much dissatisfied with this;

but reserved the exhibition of his displeasure for a suitable

opportunity; and left Sicily with the princes of Salerno and Capua。

But when they had parted from him to return to their homes; instead of

proceeding to Romagna he led his people towards Puglia; and took

Melfi; and from thence; in a short time; recovered from the Greek

emperor almost the whole of Puglia and Calabria; over which provinces;

in the time of pope Nicholas II。 his brother Robert Guiscard was

sovereign。 Robert having had many disputes with his nephews for the

inheritance of these states; requested the influence of the pope to

settle them; which his holiness was very willing to afford; being

anxious to make a friend of Robert; to defend himself against the

emperor of Germany and the insolence of the Roman people; which indeed

shortly followed; when; at the instance of Gregory; he drove Henry

from Rome; and subdued the people。 Robert was succeeded by his sons

Roger and William; to whose dominion not only was Naples added; but

all the places interjacent as far as Rome; and afterward Sicily; of

which Roger became sovereign; but; upon William going to

Constantinople; to marry the daughter of the emperor; his dominions

were wrested from him by his brother Roger。 Inflated with so great an

acquisition; Roger first took the title of king of Italy; but

afterward contented himself with that of king of Puglia and Sicily。 He

was the first who established and gave that name to this kingdom;

which still retains its ancient boundaries; although its sovereigns

have been of many families and countries。 Upon the failure of the

Normans; it came to the Germans; after these to the French; then to

the Aragonese; and it is now held by the Flemish。



About this time Urban II。 became pope and excited the hatred of the

Romans。 As he did not think himself safe even in Italy; on account of

the disunion which prevailed; he directed his thoughts to a generous

enterprise。 With his whole clergy he went into France; and at Anvers;

having drawn together a vast multitude of people; delivered an oration

against the infidels; which so excited the minds of his audience; that

they determined to undertake the conquest of Asia from the Saracens;

which enterprise; with all those of a similar nature; were afterward

called crusades; because the people who joined in them bore upon their

armor and apparel the figure of a cross。 The leaders were Godfrey;

Eustace; and Baldwin of Bouillon; counts of Boulogne; and Peter; a

hermit celebrated for his prudence and sagacity。 Many kings and people

joined them; and contributed money; and many private persons fought

under them at their own expense; so great was the influence of

religion in those days upon the minds of men; excited by the example

of those who were its principal ministers。 The proudest successes

attended the beginning of this enterprise; for the whole of Asia

Minor; Syria; and part of Egypt; fell under the power of the

Christians。 To commemorate these events the order of the Knights of

Jerusalem was created; which still continues; and holds the island of

Rhodesthe only obstacle to the power of the Mohammedans。 The same

events gave rise to the order of the Knights Templars; which; after a

short time; on account of their shameless practices; was dissolved。

Various fortunes attended the crusaders in the course of their

enterprises; and many nations and individuals became celebrated

accordingly。 The kings of France and England joined them; and; with

the Venetians; Pisans; and Genoese; acquired great reputation; till

the time of Saladin; when; by whose talents; and the disagreement of

the Christians among themselves; the crusaders were robbed of all that

glory which they had at first acquired; and; after ninety years; were

driven from those places which they had so honorably and happily

recovered。



After the death of Urban; Pascal II。 became pope; and the empire was


under the dominion of Henry IV。 who came to Rome pretending friendship

for the pontiff but afterward put his holiness and all his clergy in

prison; n

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