Annales Vedastini: ANNALES VEDASTINI

Anno Domini DCCCLXXIIII. Karolus rex Andegavis civitate Nortmannos obsedit, sed pessimorum consilio acceptis obsidibus inlesos abire permisit. In illis etiam diebus plaga locustarum facta.

In the year of Our Lord 874. King Charles besieged the Normans at the city of Andegavis, but, having accepted the counsel of the worst men, he permitted the hostages to go away unharmed. In those same days likewise a plague of locusts occurred.

Anno DCCCLXXV.

Year 875.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXV. Hludowicus imperator obiit, Karolusque rex Italiam perrexit, et pars maxima multitudo eiusdem provintiae eum cum pace excepit. Sed Karlomannus nepos eius cum exercitu veniens iter illius inquietare conatus est, sed nuntiis intercurrentibus ad colloquium mutuum devenerunt, et pace inter eos acta Karlomannus reversus est in terram suam, Karolus iter, quod arripuerat, pertendere studuit, donec Romam ad limina beati Petri pervenit, ibique ab Iohanne papa honorifice susceptus.

Anno Domini 875. Hludowicus imperator died, and Karolus the king proceeded into Italy, and the greater part of the multitude of that province received him with peace. But Karlomannus, his nephew, coming with an army, endeavoured to disturb that journey; yet, messengers passing between them, they came to a mutual conference, and with peace made between them Karlomannus returned to his land. Karolus strove to pursue the journey which he had undertaken, until he reached Rome to the thresholds of Blessed Peter, and there was honorably received by Pope John.

Anno DCCCLXXVI.

Year 876.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXVI. Karolus rex die nativitatis Domini nostri a praedicto Iohanne papa accepit benedictionem imperialem multisque muneribus honoravit sanctum Petrum et praedictum papam, atque dehinc benedictione apostolica percepta remeavit in Franciam. Mortuo dehinc Hludowico fratre suo, pessimo usus consilio regnum ipsius, quod suis filiis pater reliquit, invasit, Aquisgrani palatium cum multitudine venit, sed non ita ut debuit.

Anno Domini 876. King Karolus on the day of our Lord’s nativity received the imperial blessing from the aforesaid Pope John and, with many gifts, honored Saint Peter and the aforesaid pope, and then, the apostolic blessing having been received, returned to Francia. Then, after his brother Hludowicus had died, he, having followed very bad counsel, invaded that kingdom which the father had left to his sons; he came to the palace at Aix (Aquisgranum) with a multitude, but not as he ought.

Inde Coloniam perrexit; et Hludowicus nepos eius ad eum legatos misit pacis gratia, sed quod petiere non impetrantes ad eum, a quo missi sunt, rediere. Unde instinctu diabolico utrique, Karolus imperator et Hludowicus rex, bellum inter se mandavere Andranacumque devenerunt, et iudicio Dei cessit victoria Hludowico, multique Franci nobiles ibi capti atque interempti sunt, et Karolus imperator inde fugiendo rediit in regnum suum. Actum est hoc proelium Nonis Octobr.

Thence he went on to Cologne; and his nephew Hludowicus sent envoys to him for the sake of peace, but, not obtaining what they sought, they returned to him who had sent them. Wherefore, by diabolic instigation, both Charles the Emperor and King Hludowicus waged war upon one another and came to Andernach, and by the judgment of God the victory fell to Hludowicus; many Frankish nobles there were captured and killed, and Emperor Charles thereupon fled back to his kingdom. This battle was fought on the Nones of October.

indictione X. Interim, dum haec aguntur, Dani seu Nortmanni, piraticam exercentes, Sequanam ingressi incendiis et occisione regnum Francorum crudeliter devastant. Contra quos Karolus exercitum dirigit, sed nil utiliter egere. Unde de redemptione regni cogitare coepit.

indictione 10. Meanwhile, while these things were being done, the Danes or Northmen, practising piracy, entered the region of the Seine (Sequanam) and cruelly laid waste the kingdom of the Franks with burnings and slaughter. Against them Karolus sent an army, but it wrought nothing of use. Whereupon he began to consider the ransom/redemption of the kingdom.

Anno DCCCLXXVII.

In the year 877.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXVII. Misitque legatos, qui cum Nortmannis tractarent, ut munerati e regno eius abirent. Et facta pactione spoliantur aecclesiae, et omne regnum ad hoc tributum dat, ut ab hac liberarentur clade.

In the year of Our Lord 877. And he sent legates to treat with the Northmen, that those bribed from his kingdom might depart. And, the pact made, the ecclesiae were despoiled, and the whole kingdom pays this tribute, so that they might be freed from this ravage.

Et dum in his principes regni occupantur, Karolus imperator ad hoc negotium perficiendum Hludowicum filium suum delegit in regno cum suis primoribus relinquendum et iterum iter parat, quo Italiam pergeret et inde ad limina apostolorum. Contra voluntatem denique suorum cum coniuge iterum Italiam ingressus est, Papiaeque civitati Iohannes papa ei occurrit, ibique se mutuo salutaverunt. At hi qui in Francia remanserant dato tributo Danos e regno abire coegerunt.

And while the princes of the kingdom were occupied in these affairs, Emperor Charles chose his son Ludwig to be left in the kingdom with his principal men to perfect this business and again prepared a journey by which he would go into Italy and thence to the thresholds of the Apostles. Contrary to the will of his own, having entered Italy again with his wife, Pope John met him at Pavia, and there they mutually saluted one another. But those who had remained in Francia, having paid the tribute, compelled the Danes to depart from the kingdom.

Et dum domnus apostolicus et imperator Papiae civitati essent, subito eis nuntiatur Karlomannum imperatori cum manu valida superveniri. Unde commotus imperator, videns non habere unde ei resistere, praedicto papae munera, quae sancto deportabat Petro, dedit, inter quae crucifixum aureum, quale non fuit ab ullis regibus factum. Ipse vero per Alpes Provintiae in Franciam repedare voluit, sed, ut dicitur, a quodam Sedechia Iudaeo potionatus in loco qui dicitur Nantua intra Alpes posito II. Non.

And while the apostolic lord and the emperor were in the city of Pavia, suddenly it was reported to them that Karloman was coming with a strong force. Whereupon the emperor, moved and seeing that he had no means to resist him, gave to the aforesaid pope the gifts which he was conveying to Saint Peter, among which a golden crucifix, such as had not been made by any kings. He himself wished to retreat through the Alps of Provence into France, but, as is said, was potioned by a certain Sedechias the Jew at a place called Nantua, situated within the Alps, on the 2nd of the Nones.

Octobr. indictione XI, anno aetatis suae LIIII, regni vero XXXVII, imperii autem II. vitam finivit praesentem. Corpus vero eius in eodem regno in loculo *reposuerunt, donec transferretur in Franciam, quod postea per diversa loca translatum est.

In October, in the indiction 11, in the 54th year of his age, in the 37th year of his reign, and in the 2nd of the empire, he ended his present life. His body, however, they *laid in a little tomb in that same kingdom, until it was transferred into France, which afterward was carried through diverse places.

Franci vero mense Decembrio Compendio palatio adunati Hludowicum filium eius in regnum statuunt.

The Franks, moreover, in the month of December, having assembled at the palace Compendio, appoint Hludowicum, his son, to the kingdom.

Anno DCCCLXXVIII.

In the year 878.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXVIII. Iohannes papa ab Lantberto duce Spolitanorum iniuriatus Franciam venit, eiusque adventus Hludowico regi nuntiatur, qui tunc morabatur circa Ligerem propter Nortmannos. Qui festinanter Trecas civitati ei occurrit, mutuoque se salutaverunt.

In the year of Our Lord 878. Pope John, having been wronged by Lantbert, duke of Spoleto, came into Francia, and his arrival was announced to King Hludowic, who then was staying near the Loire on account of the Northmen. He hastened to the city of Tours to meet him, and they mutually greeted one another.

Tunc ibi Incmarus Laudunensium episcopus, qui ab Bosone fuerat excaecatus, coram ipso papa atque omnibus Gallicanorum episcopis [se] de omnibus, quibus olim fuerat dampnatus, inculpabilem reddidit atque iubente apostolico missas celebravit. Ibi etiam Bernardus dux Augustudunensium de infidelitate convincitur. Rex etiam atque omnes principes multis honoribus honoraverunt domnum apostolicum et socium itineris eius Bosonem delegerunt usque Italiam.

Then there Incmarus, bishop of Laudunenses, who had been blinded by Boson, before the pope himself and all the Gallican bishops vindicated himself as blameless of all the things for which he had formerly been condemned, and, at the apostolic command, celebrated Masses. There also Bernard, duke of Augustudunenses, was convicted of infidelity. The king and all the princes moreover honored the apostolic lord with many honors and chose Boson as companion of his journey as far as Italy.

Hludowicus etiam rex, filius Hludowici, legatos misit ad Hludowicum regem, ut sibi Aristallio occurreret pacis gratia. Qui festine ad locum nominatum veniens, mutuo se salutaverunt pacemque firmissimam inter se fecerunt. Actum est hoc mense Octobrio, ipsoque mense fere mediante eclypsis solis facta est hora diei VIII.

Hludowicus also the king, son of Hludowicus, sent legates to King Hludowicus, that he should meet Aristallius for the sake of peace. Who, hastening to the place named and coming, greeted one another mutually and made a most firm peace between themselves. This was done in the month of October, and in that same month, about the middle, an eclipse of the sun occurred at the eighth hour of the day.

indictione XII.

in the indiction 12.

Anno DCCCLXXVIIII.

In the year 879.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXVIIII. Balduinus comes moritur sepeliturque in Sithiu monasterio. Hludowicus etiam rex graviter infirmatur et die sancto parasceuen anno aetatis suae circiter XXXIII, indictione XII, diem clausit extremum, sepeliturque in aecclesia beatae Dei genitricis Mariae, quam eius pater regio culto Compendio suo in palatio construxerat.

In the year of the Lord 879. Count Baldwin dies and is buried in the monastery of Sithiu. King Hludowicus also falls gravely ill and on the holy day Parasceve, in about the thirty-third year of his age, indiction 12, closed his last day, and was buried in the church of the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, which his father had built in the palace with royal devotion for his own compendium.

Post vero eius obitum miserabilis et excidiosa inter Francos orta est dissensio. Nam Hugo abba memor fidelitatis, quam promisit Hludowico regi, suo videlicet consobrino, filios eius Hludowicum et Karlomannum in paterno regno cum sibi consentientibus statuere volebat, Gozlinus vero abba et Chuonradus comes multique alii eis consentientes supradictum regem Hludowicum in regno advocarunt.

After his death, however, a miserable and ruinous dissension arose among the Franks. For Hugo the abbot, mindful of the fidelity which he had promised to King Hludowic, namely his cousin, wished to set up his sons Hludowic and Karlomann in the paternal realm with those consenting to him; Gozlinus the abbot, however, and Count Chuonrad and many others consenting to them summoned the aforesaid King Hludowic into the kingdom.

His denique inter se discordantibus Nortmanni ultra mare positi, eorum audientes discordiam, navali evectione cum infinita multitudine mare transito Taruennam urbem Morinorum mediante mense Iulio igne et gladio vastaverunt, nemine sibi resistente. Videntesque initia suorum prospere accidisse omnem terram Menapiorum perambulando ferro et igne vastant. Post haec Scaldum fluvium intrant et omnem Bracbantisiorum terram incendio et ferro delent.

Finally, while they were disputing among themselves, the Northmen, settled beyond the sea, hearing of their discord, by a naval expedition and having crossed the sea with an endless multitude, in the middle of the month of July laid waste the town of Taruennam of the Morini with fire and sword, no one resisting them. And, seeing that the beginnings of their enterprise had prospered, they went through all the land of the Menapians, devastating it with iron and fire. After these things they enter the river Scaldus and wipe out all the land of the Brabantians with fire and iron.

Contra quos Hugo filius Hlotharii regis arma sumens inconsulte non mediocrem eis intulit audatiam. Nam nil prospere egit et utile, verum et turpiter inde aufugit, interfectis atque captis quam plurimis e suis sociis; inter quos etiam Abbas filius Adalardi captus est. Et dum haec aguntur, Hugo abba Waltherum Aurelianensium episcopum misit, obsecrans Hludowico regi, ut partem regni Hlotharii, quam suus genitor Karolo inter se dividendo regnum consensit, acciperet et abiret in regnum suum et pacem suis sineret habere consobrinis.

Against them Hugo, son of King Hlotharius, taking up arms rashly, showed them no small audacity. For he achieved nothing prosperously and usefully, but rather fled thence shamefully, many of his companions being slain and captured; among whom also the abbot, son of Adalard, was taken. And while these things were being done, Hugo the abbot sent Walther, bishop of Aurelianum, beseeching King Hludowicus that he would accept the part of Hlotharius’s kingdom which his father Karolus had agreed to in dividing the realm, and withdraw into his own kingdom and permit his cousins to have peace.

Quod ille audiens, recepta parte regni, abiit in terram suam. Hugo vero Hludowicum et Karlomannum per manus Ansegisi archiepiscopi benedici fecit in reges. Per idem tempus mense Septembrio natus est Karolus frater illorum.

When he heard this, having received his part of the kingdom, he went away to his land. But Hugo had Hludowicum and Karlomannum made kings by the hands of Archbishop Ansegisus. At the same time, in the month of September, Karolus, their brother, was born.

Nortmanni vero non cessant devastari aecclesiam populumque Christianum interfici captivarique. Boso etiam dux provinciae per tirannidem nomen regis sibi vindicat partemque Burgundiae occupat. Sed Nortmanni incendiis et devastationibus inhiantes sanguinemque humanum sitientes ad interitum et perditionem regni mense Novembrio in Gandao monasterio sedem sibi ad hiemandum statuunt et mense Decembrio corpus sancti Vedasti Vallis supra Sumnam in villa sua defertur.

The Northmen, however, do not cease to devastate the church and the Christian people, to slaughter and take captive. Boso likewise, duke of the province, by tyranny lays claim to the name of king for himself and seizes part of Burgundy. But the Northmen, craving fires and devastations and thirsting for human blood, for the ruin and perdition of the realm, in the month of November at the monastery of Ghent set up a seat for themselves to winter in, and in the month of December the body of Saint Vedast of the Valley above the Sumnam is borne off to their villa.

Ragnelmus Tornacensium episcopus moritur per indictionem XIII.

Ragnelmus, bishop of Tournai, dies in the 13th indiction.

Anno DCCCLXXX.

In the year 880.

Anno Domini *DCCCLXXX. Nortmanni vero Tornacam civitatem et omnia monasteria supra Scaldum ferro et igne devastant, interfectis accolis terrae atque captivatis. Gozlinus vero et Chuonradus eorumque complices aegre ferentes de amicitia Hugonis abbatis suorumque dominorum cum Hludowico iterum eum faciunt venire in Franciam.

Anno Domini *880. The Northmen, however, devastate the city of Tornaca and all the monasteries above the Scaldus with iron and fire, the inhabitants of the land being slain and taken captive. Gozlinus and Chuonrad and their accomplices, bitterly resenting the friendship of Hugh the abbot with their lords, again cause him to come into Francia with Hludowico (Louis).

Contra quem Hugo abba cum sociis ac dominis et copioso exercitu venire non distulit, apudque monasterium sancti Quintini resederunt, Hludowicus vero rex et eius exercitus supra fluvium Hisam, et nuntiis intercurrentibus praedicti reges in unum conveniunt et pacis foedera inter se procurante Hugone abbate firmant, regratiatis his qui a se disciverant. Actum est hoc mense Februario.

Against whom Abbot Hugo, with companions and lords and a copious army, did not delay to come, and they took up residence at the monastery of Saint Quintin; King Hludowicus, however, and his army above the river Hisam, and, with messengers passing between, the aforesaid kings met together and, Abbot Hugo procuring bonds of peace between them, they confirmed treaties of peace among themselves, those who had withdrawn from them being reconciled. This was done in the month of February.

Post haec Hludowicus parat redire in regnum suum, occurritque Nortmannis a praeda revertentibus. Et facta congressione apud Timiomum nobiliter eos vicisset, nisi contigisset Hugonem filium suum ibi ruere. Nam Godefridus rex Danorum illum interfecit.

After this Hludowicus prepared to return to his kingdom, and he encountered the Northmen returning with plunder. And, had an engagement been made at Timiomum, he would have nobly defeated them, if it had not happened that his son Hugo fell there. For Godefridus, king of the Danes, slew him.

Quo mortuo omisit rex illos insequi. Multi quoque nobiles illius gentis ibi corruerunt, caeteri, qui evasere, rediere ad castra sua. Hugo quoque abbas fuit in illo proelio.

When he died, the king ceased to pursue them. Many nobles of that people likewise fell there; the others who escaped returned to their camps. Hugo the abbot was also present in that battle.

Hoc modo Hludowico ad sua reverso, Hludowicus et Karlomannus reges Ambianis cum suis fidelibus veniunt, ibique Franci inter eos dividunt, dataque est pars Franciae et omnis Neustria Hludowico, Karlomanno vero Aquitania atque pars Burgundiae necnon et Gothtia; et inde unusquisque ivit in sua.

In this manner, Hludowicus having returned to his own, Hludowicus and Karlomannus, kings, came to the Ambiani with their faithful men, and there the Franks divided between them; a part of Francia and all Neustria was given to Hludowicus, to Karlomannus Aquitaine and part of Burgundy and also Gothia; and from there each went to his own.

Post haec Hludowicus rex dirigit Heinricum quendam e suis principibus, qui pergeret cum Hludowico et Karlomanno contra Bosonem tyrannum. In ipso etiam itinere Heinricus Teutbaldum filium Hucberti gravi devicit proelio. Hludowicus vero Gauzlinum cum aliis multis ad tuitionem regni contra Nortmannos dirigit.

After these things King Hludowicus sends forth a certain Heinricus from among his princes, who was to proceed with Hludowicus and Karlomannus against Boson the tyrant. On that very march Heinricus also severely routed in battle Teutbaldus, son of Hucbert. Hludowicus, however, entrusts Gauzlinus with many others to the defense of the kingdom against the Northmen.

Ipse vero et frater eius cum reliquo exercitu Burgundiam petentes civitates, quas tyrannus invaserat, receperunt. Sociatoque sibi Karolo rege, fratre Hludowici, Bosonem in Vienna civitate incluserunt, pacemque ei obtulerunt, quam ille rennuit suscipere. Circumdata itaque urbe ille se firmissime intus munivit.

He himself and his brother, with the remainder of the army making for Burgundy, recovered the towns which the tyrant had invaded. And with King Karolus, brother of Hludowicus, having joined them, they shut Boson up in the city of Vienna and offered him peace, which he refused to accept. Thus, the city being surrounded, he fortified himself most strongly within.

Unde episcopi cum consilio regum et principum eum perpetuo damnavere anathemate. Karolus vero rex de nocte consurgens, ignorantibus Hludowico et Karlomanno, igne sua castra concremavit, atque ita revertitur in sua. Hoc etiam tempore obiit Karlomannus rex, frater Karoli et Hludowici.

Whence the bishops, with the counsel of the kings and princes, condemned him forever with an anathema. But King Karolus, rising by night, with Hludowicus and Karlomannus unaware, set the camp on fire with his own fire, and so returned to his own. At that same time King Karlomannus died, brother of Karolus and Hludowicus.

Hi vero qui Viennam obsederant videntes nil inimicis posse . ., accepto consilio, rediere in sua.

But those indeed who had besieged Vienna, seeing that they could do nothing against the enemies, having taken counsel, returned to their own.

Gozlinus vero abba et exercitus qui cum eo erat statuunt Nortmannos bellum inferre. Mittuntque ad eos qui trans Scaldum erant, ut die statuta venientes, hi ex una parte fluminis hique ex alia eosque delerent. Sed non provenit ita ut voluerunt.

Gozlinus, moreover, abbot, and the army that was with him resolved to make war on the Northmen. And they sent to those who were beyond the Scheldt, that coming on the appointed day, these from one side of the river and those from the other might destroy them. But it did not turn out as they wished.

Nam non solum nil prospere egerunt, verum turpiter fugiendo vix evasere, captis suorum plurimis atque occisis. Timor quoque et tremor eorum cecidit super inhabitantes terram, et hac elati victoria die noctuque non cessant aecclesias igne cremari populumque Christianum iugulari. Tunc omnes intra Scaldum et Sumnam atque trans Scaldum monachi, canonici, sanctimoniales cum corporibus sanctorum et omnis aetas et conditio fugam ineunt.

For not only did they achieve nothing successfully, but shamefully, by fleeing, they scarcely escaped, many of their own being captured and killed. Fear and trembling likewise fell upon the inhabitants of the land, and, elated by this victory, day and night they do not cease to burn churches with fire and to slaughter the Christian people. Then all — within the Scaldum and the Sumnam and across the Scaldum — monks, canons, sanctimoniales, with the bodies of saints and every age and condition, take to flight.

Ipsi enim Dani nemini nec etiam aetati parcebant, sed omnia ferro et igne devastant. Gozlinus vero et hi qui cum eo erant videntes non posse eos resistere, mense Octobrio intrante dimisso exercitu, rediit unusquisque in sua. Nortmanni vero seu Dani sedem sibi mutaverunt et mense Novembris Curtriaco sibi castrum ad hiemandum construunt.

The Danes themselves spared no one, not even age, but laid waste all with sword and fire. Gozlinus, and those who were with him, seeing that they could not resist them, with October beginning, after dismissing the army, each returned to his own. The Northmen, or Danes, however, changed their seat for themselves and in November at Curtriaco built a camp for wintering.

Indeque Menapios atque Suevos usque ad internitionem delevere, quia valde illis infesti erant. Omnemque terram vorax flamma consumpsit. Hludowicus vero rex rediit in Franciam diemque nativitatis Domini egit celebrem in Compendio palatio.

And thence they destroyed the Menapii and the Suevi to the point of annihilation, because they were exceedingly hostile to them. And a voracious flame consumed all the land. But King Hludowicus returned into Francia and kept the celebrated day of the Lord’s Nativity in the palace at Compendium.

Anno DCCCLXXXI.

In the year 881.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXI. Nortmanni vero cum infinita multitudine monasterium nostrum ingressi VII. Kal.

In the year of Our Lord 881. But the Northmen, having entered our monastery with an infinite multitude, on the 7th day before the Kalends.

Ianuarii ipsum monasterium et civitatem, exceptis aecclesiis, et vicum monasterii et omnes villas in circuitu V. Kal. Ianuarii, interfectis omnibus quos invenire poterant, *igne cremaverunt omnemque terram usque Sumnam pervagati sunt, capta praeda infinita hominum, pecudum et iumentorum. Indeque eisdem V. Kal.

On the 5. Kal. of January they burned with *fire the monastery itself and the city, churches excepted, and the monastery’s hamlet and all the villas in the circuit, having slain all whom they could find, and they ranged over the whole land as far as Sumnam, infinite booty of men, of cattle and of beasts of burden having been taken. And thence to them on the same 5. Kal.

Ianuarii Camaracum ingressi incendiis et occisionibus tam civitatem quam monasterium sancti Gaugerici vastantes atque cum infinita praeda ad castra sua reversi omnia monasteria supra Hisscar fluvium devastant, fugatis ac interfectis habitatoribus. Et circa purificationem sanctae Mariae iterum, moventes, per Taruennam iter arripientes usque Centula monasterium sancti Richarii et sancti Walerici, omnia loca circa mare, monasteria et vicos indeque Ambianis civitatem atque Corbeiam monasterium petentes multisque honusti praedis, sani et sine inpedimento ad propria repedavere castra. Iberum circa sollempnitatem sancti Petri Atrebatis venerunt omnesque quos ibi repperere interfecere et circuita omni terra, ferro et igne cuncta vastantes, sani revertuntur ad castra.

In January they entered Cambrai, laying waste by fires and slaughters both the city and the monastery of Saint Gaugeric, and, with infinite prey, returning to their camps; they devastated all the monasteries above the Scarpe river, the inhabitants driven off and slain. And again around the Purification of Saint Mary, moving forth, seizing the road through Thérouanne as far as Centula, the monastery of Saint Richard and of Saint Walric, all places by the sea, monasteries and villages, thence aiming at the city of the Ambiani (Amiens) and the monastery of Corbie, and, having been stripped of many valuable spoils, sound and without impediment they retreated to their own camps. They came to Ypres around the solemnity of Saint Peter at Arras and put to death all whom they found there, and, laying waste the whole surrounding land with sword and fire, returned to camp safe.

Interim Hludowicus rex gravi dolore contristatus, videns regnum deleri, convocato exercitu praeparat se ad proelium. At Nortmanni omnia prospera agentes cum magno exercitu fluvium Sumnam mense Iulio transeunt, cuncta vastantes more solito usque prope civitatem Belvagorum. Hludowicus vero rex cum exercitu transiens Hisam fluvium Latverum tendere coepit, quo credebat Nortmannos redire.

Meanwhile King Hludowicus, smitten with grievous sorrow, seeing the kingdom being destroyed, having summoned the army prepares himself for battle. But the Northmen, successful in all things, with a great host cross the river Sumna in the month of July, laying waste everything in their accustomed manner up to near the city of the Belgae. King Hludowicus, however, crossing the river Hisa, began to make for Latverum, whither he believed the Northmen were returning.

Missis itaque exploratoribus, nuntiant redire eos honustos a praeda. Contra quos rex ire perrexit obviavitque eos in pago Witmau, in villa quae dicebatur Sathulcurtis, et commissum est proelium. Moxque Nortmanni fugam ineunt atque dictam villam deveniunt; quos rex insecutus est gloriosissimeque de eis triumphavit.

Having therefore sent scouts, they report that those plunderers are returning laden with spoil. Against whom the king proceeded to go and met them in the pagus Witmau, in the villa called Sathulcurtis, and a battle was joined. Soon the Northmen took to flight and reached the said villa; whom the king pursued and gloriously triumphed over them.

Et patrata victoria ex parte coeperunt gloriari suis hoc actum viribus et non dederunt gloriam Deo. Paucique Nortmanni ex dicta villa egressi, omnem exercitum vertit in fugam, pluresque ex eis, videlicet usque ad centum homines, interfecerunt; et nisi rex citius equo descendens locum resistendi et audaciam suis donaret, omnes turpiter ex eodem loco fugiendo abirent. Hac vero patrata victoria, quia multos contigit ibi ruere Nortmannos, rex ovans repedavit trans Hisam, perpauci vero Dani, qui evasere, interitum suorum nuntiavere in castra, indeque Nortmanni Hludowicum regem adolescentem timere coeperunt.

And with the victory achieved they began in part to glory in their own strength and did not give glory to God. A few Northmen having sallied forth from the said villa turned the whole army to flight, and they slew many of them, namely up to a hundred men; and had not the king, quickly dismounting from his horse, given his men a place of resistance and boldness, all would have shamefully departed that very place in flight. Now, because by that victory many Northmen there happened to be routed, the king, exulting, retired across the Hisam; very few Danes who escaped reported the destruction of their men to the camp, and from there the Northmen began to fear King Hludowicus the young.

Rex quoque adunato exercitu in pago Camaracensium venit castrumque sibi statuit in loco qui dicitur Strum ad debellationem Danorum. Nortmanni hoc cognoscentes Gandavum rediere suisque reparatis navibus terra marique iter facientes Mosam ingressi sunt et in Haslao sibi sedem firmant ad hiemandum.

The king also, with his army assembled, came into the pagus of the Camaracenses and set up a camp for himself in the place called Strum for the debellation of the Danes. The Northmen, learning this, returned to Gandavum and, their ships repaired, making journey by land and by sea, entered the Mosa (Meuse) and fixed for themselves a seat at Haslao for wintering.

Hac etiam tempestate Hludowicus rex senior obiit. Karlus vero frater eius Romam perrexit imperiique dignitatem adeptus est.

At this same time Hludowicus the Elder died. Karlus, however, his brother, went to Rome and obtained the dignity of the empire.

Anno DCCCLXXXII.

In the year 882.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXII. At australes Franci congregant exercitum contra Nortmannos, sed statim terga vertunt, ibique Walo Mettensis episcopus corruit. Dani vero famosissimum Aquisgrani palatium igne cremant et monasteria, civitates Treveris nobilissimam et Coloniam Agrippinam, palatia quoque regum et villas cum habitatoribus terrae interfectis igne cremaverunt.

In the year of Our Lord 882. But the southern Franks gathered an army against the Northmen, yet straightaway turned their backs, and there Walo, bishop of Metz, fell. The Danes, however, burned with fire the very famous palace at Aquisgrani (Aachen) and monasteries; they burned the cities of Treveris (Trier), most noble, and Colonia Agrippina (Cologne), and likewise the kings’ palaces and villas, the inhabitants of the land being slain, they consumed with fire.

Contra quos Karolus imperator exercitum infinitum congregat eosque Haslao obsedit. Godefridus vero rex ad eum exiit, cui imperator regnum Fresonum, quod olim Roricus Danus tenuerat, dedit. Coniugemque ei dedit Gislam filiam Hlotharii regis Nortmannosque e suo regno abire fecit.

Against whom Emperor Karolus gathered a countless army and besieged them at Haslao. King Godefridus, however, went out to him, to whom the emperor gave the kingdom of the Frisians, which Roricus the Dane had once held. He also gave him a wife, Gislam, daughter of King Hlotharius, and made the Northmen depart from his realm.

Hludowicus vero rex Ligerem petiit Nortmannos volens e regno suo eicere atque Alstingum in amicitiam recipere, quod et fecit. Sed quia iuvenis erat, quandam puellam, filiam cuiusdam Germundi, insecutus est; illa in domo paterno fugiens, rex equo sedens iocando eam insecutus scapulas superliminare et pectus sella equi attrivit eumque valide confregit. Unde egrotare coepit et delatus apud Sanctum Dionisium, Nonis Augusti defunctus maximum dolorem Francis reliquit, sepultusque est in aecclesia sancti Dionisii.

Hludowicus, however, the king, sought the Liger and, wishing to expel the Nortmanns from his kingdom and to receive Alstingus into friendship, did so. But because he was a youth, he pursued a certain maiden, the daughter of a certain Germund; she, fleeing to her father’s house, while the king sat on horseback and in jest chased her, rubbed his shoulders and chest against the saddle of the horse and grievously broke (them). Whence he began to fall ill and, carried to Saint Denis, died on the Nones of August, leaving the Franks in the greatest sorrow, and was buried in the church of Saint Denis.

Miseruntque et vocaverunt fratrem eius Karlomannum, qui festine venit in Franciam. Berardus quoque quidam ab Italia veniens Bosonem tyrannum non sinebat quietum esse.

And they sent for and called his brother Karlomann, who hastened into Francia. Likewise a certain Berardus, coming from Italy, would not permit Boson the tyrant to be at rest.

Nortmanni vero mense Octobrio in Condato sibi sedem firmant regnumque Karlomanni acriter devastant. Karlomannus vero rex eiusque exercitus supra Sumnam in Barlous resederunt. Sed Nortmanni non cessant a rapinis, fugatis omnibus *accolis, qui relicti fuerant trans Sumnam.

The Northmen, however, in the month of October fixed a seat for themselves at Condat and fiercely devastated the kingdom of Karlomannus. Karlomannus the king and his army lodged above the Sumna at Barlous. But the Northmen did not cease from plunder; all the inhabitants (accolis) who had been left across the Sumna having been put to flight.

Unde cum exercitu per Terasciam iter agentes Hisam transierunt. Quos Karlomannus rex insecutus est eosque in Avallis comprehendit, commissoque proelio superiores Franci extiterunt cecideruntque ibi Nortmanni circiter mille, sed nil eos haec pugna perdomuit. Karlomannus Compendio palatio petiit, et Nortmanni Condato ad naves reversi.

From there, when they, making their march with the army along Terascia, crossed the Hisa. King Karlomannus pursued them and seized them in Avallis, and with the battle having been joined the Franks proved superior, and about one thousand Northmen fell there, but this fight subdued them not at all. Karlomannus made for the palace at Compendio, and the Northmen, returned to Condat, went back to their ships.

Indeque omne regnum usque Hisam ferro et igne devastant, subversis moeniis et monasteriis atque aecclesiis usque ad solum dirutis servitoribusque divini cultus aut gladio aut fame peremptis aut ultra mare venditis et accolis terrae deletis, nemine sibi resistente.

And from there they laid waste the whole kingdom as far as Hisam with iron and fire, overturning walls and monasteries and churches down to the ground, and with the attendants of divine worship either slain by the sword or by famine, or sold beyond the sea, and the inhabitants of the land wiped out, no one resisting them.

Tunc Hugo abba haec audiens adunato suo exercitu venit ad regem et Nortmannis a praeda ex pago Belvacensi revertentibus simul cum rege in Vitconia silva insecutus, illi huc illucque dispersi, paucis suorum amissis, rediere ad naves. His etiam diebus Hincmarus Remorum archiepiscopus, vir merito a cunctis praedicandus, ex hac vita discessit.

Then Abbot Hugo, hearing this, with his army assembled came to the king, and, having pursued the Northmen who were returning from plunder from the district of Belvacenum together with the king into the Vitconian wood, they, scattered here and there, with few of their men lost, returned to the ships. In these same days Hincmarus, Archbishop of Reims, a man deservedly to be praised by all, departed from this life.

Anno DCCCLXXXIII.

In the year 883.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXIII. Cui in sede pontificali Folcho, vir admirabilis per omnia, successit. Post haec Nortmanni monasterium et aecclesiam sancti Quintini incendunt; simul etiam et aecclesiam Dei genitricis in Atrebatis civitate.

In the year of our Lord 883. To that pontifical seat Folcho, a man admirable in all things, succeeded. After these things the Northmen set fire to the monastery and the church of Saint Quintin; at the same time also the church of the Mother of God in the city of the Atrebates was burned.

Iterum Karlomannus rex Nortmannos insecutus nil prospere vel utile fecit. Moritur etiam his diebus Hrotgarius Belvagorum episcopus; cui successit Honoratus. Verno vero tempore a Condato egressi maritima petivere loca, ibique aestivo remorati tempore Flamingos e terra sua fugere compulerunt et undique saevientes omnia ferro et igne depopulantur.

Again King Karlomannus, having pursued the Nortmannos, effected nothing prosperous or useful. In these days too Hrotgarius, bishop of the Belvagorum, dies; to whom Honoratus succeeded. In the spring, having departed from Condato, they sought maritime places, and there, detained through the summer season, they forced the Flemings to flee from their land and, raging on all sides, despoiled everything with sword and fire.

Circa autumni vero tempora Karlomannus rex in pago Vithmau villa Melnaco contra Latverum cum exercitu ad custodiam regni resedit, Northmanni vero Octobrio mense finiente Latverum cum equitibus et peditibus atque omni suppellectili veniunt. Naves quoque per mare Sumnam fluvium ingressae regem cunctumque exercitum eius fugere compulerunt atque Hisam fluvium transire fecerunt. Tunc Ambianis civitatem ad hiemandum sibi sedem parant.

About the time of autumn, King Karlomann, in the pagus Vithmau at the villa Melnaco, took his place with an army against Latverum for the custody of the kingdom; the Northmen, October drawing to a close, came to Latverum with horsemen and footmen and with all their equipment. Ships likewise, having entered the Sumnam river from the sea, forced the king and his whole army to flee and made them cross the Hisa river. Then the Ambiani prepare the city as a seat for themselves for wintering.

Dehinc usque Sequanam et circa fluenta Hisae omnem terram devastant incensis monasteriis et aecclesiis Christi, nemine eis resistente. Tunc Franci, videntes Nortmannorum res prospere in omnibus accrescere, quendam Danum Christianum [Sigefridum] nomine mittunt ad eos, qui caute cum . . . de redemptione regni ageret. Ille vero Bellovagum venit, et ita Ambianis perrexit ad exercendum sibi iniunctum negotium.

Thence forward they lay waste all the land as far as the Sequana and around the streams of the Hisa, monasteries and churches of Christ having been set on fire, no one resisting them. Then the Franks, seeing the affairs of the Northmen prospering in everything, sent to them a certain Dane, a Christian by name [Sigefridus], who cautiously with . . . would treat concerning the redemption of the kingdom. He, however, came to Bellovagum, and so proceeded to the Ambiani to execute the business imposed upon him.

Anno DCCCLXXXIIII.

In the year 884.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXIIII. Per idem tempus mortuo Engelwino Parisiorum episcopo Gauzilinus abba subrogatur in sedem eius. Nortmanni vero non cessant captivari atque interfici populum Christianum atque aecclesias subrui, destructis moeniis et villis igne crematis.

Anno Domini 884. At the same time, on the death of Engelwinus, bishop of Paris, Gauzilinus the abbot was set in his seat. But the Northmen do not cease to seize and to slaughter the Christian people and to overthrow churches, the walls having been destroyed and the villages consumed by fire.

Per omnes enim plateas iacebant cadavera clericorum, laicorum nobilium atque aliorum, mulierum, iuvenum et lactentium. Non enim erat via vel locus, quo non iacerent mortui, et erat tribulatio omnibus et dolor, videntes populum Christianum usque ad internitionem devastari.

For throughout all the streets lay the corpses of clerics, laymen, nobles and others, of women, youths, and nursing infants. For there was no road nor place in which the dead did not lie, and there was tribulation to all and sorrow, seeing the Christian people devastated even to utter destruction.

Interim, quia rex iuvenis erat, omnes principes Compendio palatio conveniunt tractaturi, quid illis esset agendum. Initoque consilio Sigefridum Danum Christianum regique fidelem, qui nepos fuerat Heorici Dani, [mittunt], ut cum principibus suae gentis tractaret, ut tributum acciperent et e regno abirent. At ille quod sibi iniunctum fuit opere implere studuit, Ambianis ivit, primores gentis quae sibi fuerant dicta enuntiat, et post longam et diuturnam contionem in eundo et redeundo, renuntiando nunc his, nunc illis, ad ultimum XII milia pondera argenti cum suo pondere imposuerunt regi et Francis in tributum, et datis obsidibus ad invicem, coeperunt hi qui trans Hisam erant aliquatenus securi esse.

Meanwhile, because the king was young, all the princes met at the compact palace to deliberate quickly what should be done. Having taken counsel, they send Sigefridus the Dane, a Christian and faithful to the king, who had been the nephew of Heoricus the Dane, [they send him] to treat with the chiefs of his people that they receive tribute and depart from the kingdom. And he strove to accomplish what had been enjoined him: he went to the Ambiani, announced the leading men of the nation who had been named to him, and after a long and protracted assembly, in coming and going, reporting now this, now that, at last they imposed upon the king and the Franks for tribute 12,000 pounds of silver, with their full weight, and, hostages having been given to one another, those who were beyond the Hisam began to be somewhat secure.

A die itaque purificationis sanctae Mariae usque mense Octobrio inter eos haec securitas data est.

Therefore from the day of the Purification of Saint Mary until the month of October this securitas (security/safe-conduct) was given among them.

Sed Nortmanni trans Scaldum agentes praedas more sibi solito ferro et igne cuncta devastant, aecclesias, monasteria, civitates, vicos, habitatores usque ad internitionem *deletis. Post sanctum itaque pascha inchoatur tributum persolvi. Spoliantur aecclesiae et aecclesiastica mancipia; tandem soluto tributo, mense Octobrio finiente adunantur Franci, ut, si Nortmanni inmutari fidem vellent, eis resisterent.

But the Northmen, operating beyond the Scheldt, plunder and, in their accustomed manner, devastate all things with sword and fire — churches, monasteries, cities, villages, inhabitants even unto destruction, *destroyed. Therefore, after holy Easter the payment of the tribute begins. Churches and ecclesiastical mancipia are despoiled; finally, the tribute having been paid, with the month of October drawing to an end the Franks gather together, that, if the Northmen wished to change their fidelity, they might resist them.

Nortmanni vero sua castra incendunt atque ab Ambianis recedunt. Rex vero et Franci transito Hisa lento itinere eos insequuntur. Praedicti vero Dani iter agentes Bononiam veniunt ibique agentes consilium, quid sibi faciendum esset, pars illorum mare transiit, atque pars Luvanium in regno quondam Hlotharii, ibique sibi castra statuunt ad hiemandum.

The Northmen, however, burn their own camp and withdraw from the Ambiani. The king and the Franks, having crossed the Hisa by a slow march, pursue them. The aforesaid Danes, on their journey, come to Bononia, and there, deliberating what should be done, part of them crossed the sea, and part went into Luvanium in the kingdom formerly of Hlothar, and there they set up camps for wintering.

Franci vero qui cum Karlomanno fuerant redierunt ad sua loca; pauci iuvenes cum eo remanserunt venandi causa in Basiu silva. Et dum rex aprum vellet percutere, quidam e suis Bertoldus nomine, cum ei iuvare vellet, casu regem in tibia vulneravit, et accepto vulnere supervixit plus VII diebus atque in eodem loco defunctus est . . . . . Decembris, anno aetatis suae circiter XVIII. Delatum est corpus eius in monasterium sancti Dyonisii ibique humatum.

The Franks who had been with Carloman returned to their homes; a few young men remained with him for the purpose of hunting in the Basiu wood. And while the king wished to strike the boar, one of his men, named Bertoldus, intending to help him, by mischance wounded the king in the tibia, and the king, having received the wound, scarcely survived more than 7 days and died in that same place . . . . . in December, at about the age of 18. His body was carried to the monastery of Saint Dionysius and buried there.

Franci capiunt consilium et Theodericum comitem Italiae dirigunt ad imperatorem Karolum, uti veniat in Franciam.

The Franks take counsel and dispatch Theoderic, count of Italy, to Emperor Charles, requesting that he come into Francia.

Anno DCCCLXXXV.

In the year 885.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXV. Karolus imperator nuntio percepto acceleravit iter et venit usque Pontionum, ibique omnes qui fuerant in regno Karlomanni ad eum venerunt eiusque se subdidere imperio; atque ita Karolus imperator rediit in terram suam, praecipiens eos qui erant ex regno quondam Hlotharii et regno Karlomanni pergere Luvanio contra Nortmannos. Condicto itaque uterque exercitus placiti die advenerunt ad dictum locum, praeter Hugonem abbatem, qui dolore pedum ab hac profectione se abstinuit, sed nil ibi prospere egerunt, verum cum magno dedecore rediere ad sua.

In the year of our Lord 885. Emperor Charles, having received a messenger, hastened his journey and came as far as Pontionum, and there all who had been in the kingdom of Carloman came to him and submitted themselves to his rule; and so Emperor Charles returned to his land, commanding those who had been from the kingdom formerly of Lothair and from the kingdom of Carloman to proceed to Luvanio against the Northmen. The two armies thus constituted came to the said place on the appointed day, except Abbot Hugh, who, because of pain in his feet, abstained from this departure; but they effected nothing prosperously there, and indeed returned to their own with great dishonor.

Francosque qui venerant ex regno Karlomanni irrisere Dani: 'Ut quid ad nos venistis? Non fuit necesse. Nos scimus, qui estis, et vultis, ut ad vos redeamus; quod faciemus'.

And the Franks who had come from the kingdom of Karloman the Danes mocked: 'Why have you come to us? It was not necessary. We know who you are, and that you wish that we return to you; which we will do.'

His etiam diebus Godefridus Danus, quia disponebat suam inmutare fidem, astu Gerulfi sui fidelis ab Heinrico duce interficitur. Hugo etiam filius Hlotharii regis iubente imperatore per consilium dicti ducis excaecatus est. Mense itaque Iulio VIII.

In these days Godefridus the Dane, because he was planning to change his allegiance, by the craft of his own faithful Gerulf was put to death by Duke Henry. Hugo also, son of King Hlothar, by the emperor’s command, at the counsel of the said duke, was blinded. Thus, on the 8th of July.

Kal. Augusti Rotomagum civitatem ingressi cum omni exercitu, Francique eos usque in dictum locum insecuti sunt. Et quia necdum eorum naves advenerant, cum navibus in Sequana repertis fluvium transierunt et sedem sibi firmare non desistunt.

On the Kalends of August they entered the city Rotomagum with the entire army, and the Franks pursued them as far as the said place. And because their ships had not yet come, when ships were found on the Sequana they crossed the river and did not cease to make a strong seat/foothold for themselves.

Inter haec omnes qui morabantur Neustria atque Burgundia adunantur et collecto exercitu adveniunt quasi debellaturi Nortmannos. Sed ut congredi debuerunt, contigit ruere Ragnoldum ducem Cinomannicum cum paucis, et hinc rediere omnes ad loca sua cum magna tristitia, nil actum utile. Tunc Nortmanni sevire coeperunt incendiis, occisionibus sitientes, populumque Christianum necant, captivant, aecclesias subruunt, nullo resistente.

Meanwhile all who dwelt in Neustria and Burgundy were gathered together and, the army having been assembled, they came as if to defeat the Northmen. But when they ought to have engaged, it happened that Duke Ragnold, called Cinomannicus, charged with a few, and thereafter all returned to their homes with great sorrow, nothing usefully accomplished. Then the Northmen began to rage with burnings, thirsting for slaughter; they slaughter the Christian people, take captives, overturn churches, no one resisting.

Iterum Franci parant se ad resistendum, non in bello, sed munitiones construunt, quo illis navale iter interdicant. Castrum quoque statuunt super fluvium Hisam in loco qui dicitur Ad pontem Hiserae, quod Aletramno committunt ad custodiendum. Parisius civitatem Gauzlinus episcopus munit.

Again the Franks prepare themselves to resist—not by battle, but by building fortifications, whereby they forbid the enemy the naval route. They also set up a fortress on the river Hisa in a place called Ad pontem Hiserae, which they commit to Aletramnus to guard. Gauzlinus the bishop fortifies the city of Paris.

Nortmanni vero mense Novembri Hisam ingressi praedictum castrum obsidione cingunt aquamque eis qui in castro erant inclusi haurire ex flumine, quia aliam non habebant, prohibent. Hi vero qui in castro erant coeperunt laborare pro penuria aquae. Quid multa?

But the Nortmanni, having entered the Hisa in the month of November, encompassed the aforesaid castle with a siege and prohibited those who were shut up in the castle from drawing water from the river, because they had no other. Those, however, who were in the castle began to toil from the scarcity of water. What more?

Pacem petunt et vivos se abire petunt, et datis ad invicem obsidibus, Aletramnus cum suis Belvacum petiit. Nortmanni vero dictum igne cremaverunt castrum, diripientes omnia inibi reperta. Nam hi qui castrum reliquerant omnia sua inibi dimiserunt praeter arma et equos; sub hac etiam conditione abire illis permissum est.

They seek peace and beg to depart alive, and, after hostages were exchanged, Aletramnus with his men went to Belvacum. But the Northmen burned the aforesaid castle with fire, plundering everything found there. For those who had left the castle had left all their goods there except arms and horses; under this same condition they were permitted to go.

Hac Nortmanni patrata victoria valde elati Parisius adeunt turremque statim aggressi valide obpugnant, et quia necdum perfecte firmata fuerat, eam se capi sine mora existimant. At Christiani viriliter eam defendunt, et factum est proelium a mane usque ad vesperum, noxque dirimit proelium; atque ita Nortmanni ea nocte regressi ad naves. Gauzlinus vero episcopus et Odo comes tota nocte cum suis *laboravere, suam obfirmantes turrim ad praeparationem pugnae.

With this victory achieved the Nortmanni, greatly elated, approach Paris and immediately assail the tower and vigorously assault it, and because it had not yet been perfectly secured they judge that they will take it without delay. But the Christians defend it manfully, and a battle was fought from morning until evening, and night broke off the combat; and so the Nortmanni that night returned to their ships. Gauzlinus the bishop and Count Odo, however, *labored the whole night with their men, fortifying their tower in preparation for the fight.

Sequenti die iterum Nortmanni accurrunt ad ipsam turrim ad proelium, fitque gravis pugna usque ad solis occasum. Sed Dani multis suorum amissis rediere ad naves; indeque sibi castrum statuunt adversus civitatem eamque obsidione vallant, machinas construunt, ignem supponunt et omne ingenium suum apponunt ad captionem civitatis. Sed Christiani adversus eos fortiter dimicando in omnibus extitere superiores.

On the following day the Northmen again run to the very tower for battle, and a fierce fight is made until the setting of the sun. But the Danes, many of their men having been lost, returned to the ships; and from there they set up a fortress for themselves against the city and hem it in with a siege-work, they construct siege engines, they apply fire beneath, and they bring all their ingenuity to the capture of the city. Yet the Christians, by fighting bravely against them, proved superior in all things.

Anno DCCCLXXXVI.

In the year 886.

[Anno Domini DCCCLXXXVI.] VIII. Idus Februarii contigit grave discrimen infra civitatem habitantibus. Nam ex gravissima inundatione fluminis minor pons disruptus est.

[Anno Domini 886.] On the eighth day before the Ides of February there befell a grave disaster to those dwelling within the city. For by a very severe inundation of the river the smaller bridge was broken apart.

Quo cognito episcopus delegit nocte illa ex suis viros nobiles et strenuos ad custodiam turris, ut mane facto pons restauraretur; quod Nortmannis minime latuit. Anteque auroram surgentes cum omni multitudine ad ipsam accurrerunt turrim eamque vallantes, ne adiutorium e civitate illis superveniret, obpugnare coeperunt. Illis vero qui intra turrim erant acriter resistentibus, fit clamor multitudinis usque in caelum, episcopo desuper muro civitatis cum omnibus qui in civitate erant nimis flentibus, eo quod suis subvenire non possent, et quia nil aliud agere poterat, Christo eos commendabat.

When this was learned the bishop chose that very night from among his men noble and valiant men to guard the tower, so that with morning made the bridge might be restored; which did not at all escape the Northmen. And before dawn, rising with their whole multitude, they ran to the very tower and, surrounding it so that aid from the city would not come upon them, began to assault it. To those, however, who were inside the tower, resisting fiercely, a clamor of the multitude rose up unto heaven; the bishop from above on the city wall, with all who were in the city weeping excessively because they could not relieve their own, and because he could do nothing else, committed them to Christ.

At Nortmanni cum impetu portam ipsius turris adeunt ignemque subponunt, et hi qui infra erant fracti vulneribus et incendio capiuntur atque ad obprobrium Christianorum diversis interficiuntur modis atque in flumine praecipitantur. Indeque ipsam turrim destruunt. Post haec non cessant obpugnare civitatem.

When the Nortmanni, with assault, approached the gate of the tower itself and set fire beneath it, and those who were within, shattered by wounds and seized by the blaze, were taken and put to death in diverse modes to the obloquy of Christians and hurled into the river. Thence they destroyed the tower itself. After these things they did not cease to assault the city.

Episcopus vero corde confractus ex gravi damno Herkengero comiti litteras misit mandans, ut quantotius Germaniam peteret et Heinrico duci Austrasiorum expeteret, quo ei et populo Christiano subveniret. Herkengerus vero quae sibi mandaverat statim adimplevit et Heinricum cum exercitu Parisius venire fecit, sed nil ibi profecit atque in suam rediit regionem. Gauzlinus vero, dum omnibus modis populo Christiano iuvare studeret, cum Sigefrido rege Danorum amicitiam fecit, ut per hoc civitas ab obsidione liberaretur.

The bishop, however, with his heart shattered by the heavy loss, sent letters to Count Herkenger, commanding that he as soon as possible seek out Germany and solicit Heinrich, duke of the Austrasians, so that he might come to the aid of him and the Christian people. Herkenger, however, immediately fulfilled what had been commanded and caused Heinrich to come to Paris with an army, but nothing was gained there and he returned to his own region. Gauzlinus, meanwhile, while endeavoring by every means to help the Christian people, made a friendship with Sigefrid, king of the Danes, so that by this the city might be freed from the siege.

Dum haec aguntur, episcopus gravi corruit infirmitate, diem clausit extremum in loculoque positus est in ipsa civitate. Cuius obitus Nortmannis non latuit; et antequam civibus eius obitus nuntiaretur, a Nortmannis deforis praedicatur episcopum esse mortuum. Dehinc vulgus pertesi una cum morte patris obsidione inremediabiliter contristantur.

While these things were being done, the bishop collapsed with a serious infirmity, closed his final day, and was laid in a small tomb in the very city. His death did not escape the Normans; and before his death was announced to his citizens, it was proclaimed by the Normans outside the gates that the bishop was dead. Thereafter the populace, terrified, were irreparably cast down by the siege together with the death of their father.

Quos Odo illustris comes suis adhortationibus roborabat. Nortmanni tamen cotidie, non cessant obpugnare civitatem, et ex utraque parte multi interficiuntur, pluresque vulneribus debilitantur, escae etiam coeperunt minui in civitate.

Whom Odo, the illustrious count, strengthened with his exhortations. The Northmen, however, did not cease daily to besiege the city, and on both sides many were slain, and more were debilitated by wounds; food too began to diminish within the city.

His diebus, id est ....., Hugo venerabilis abba ex hac vita decessit sepeliturque in monasterio sancti Germani Autisiodoro Odo vero, videns affligi populum, clam exiit de civitate, a principibus regni requirens auxilium et, ut imperatori innotescerent velocius perituram civitatem, nisi auxilium ei daretur. Dehinc regressus ipsam civitatem de eius absentia nimis repperit merentem; non tamen in ea sine admiratione introiit. Nortmanni eius reditum praescientes occurrerunt ei ante portam turris.

These days, that is ....., Hugo, the venerable abbot, departed from this life and was buried in the monastery of Saint Germani Autisiodoro. Odo, however, seeing the people afflicted, secretly went out of the city, imploring aid from the princes of the realm and, that the emperor might be made aware more quickly of the city about to perish unless assistance were given to it. Thereafter, having returned, he found the city, on his absence, excessively deserving; nevertheless he entered it not without amazement. The Northmen, foreknowing his return, met him before the gate of the tower.

Sed ille, amisso equo a dextris et a sinistris adversarios caedens, civitatem ingressus tristem populum reddidit laetum. Nemo tamen mortalium enumerare potest, qualia pericula ibi pertulerint, vel quot milia hominum in diversis praeliis ibi corruerint ex utraque parte; nam sine intermissione cum diverso apparatu armorum et machinarum arietumque ipsam concutiebant civitatem. Sed omnibus magna instantia ad Deum clamantibus semper liberati sunt.

But he, his horse having been lost, cutting down adversaries on his right and on his left, entered the city and restored the sad people to joy. No mortal, however, can reckon what perils they endured there, or how many thousands of men in diverse battles there fell on either side; for without intermission, with a varied array of arms and siege-machines and battering-rams, they attacked the city itself. Yet by a great clamoring to God they were always delivered.

Nam ferme octo mensibus, antequam imperator eis subveniret, diversis modis proeliatum est.

For nearly eight months, before the emperor could come to their aid, fighting took place in various ways.

Circa autumni vero tempora Carisiacum veniens cum ingenti exercitu praemisit Heinricum dictum ducem Austrasiorum Parisius. Qui dum advenisset illuc cum exercitu prope civitatem, cum paucis inconsulte coepit equitare circa castra Danorum volens invisere, qualiter exercitus castra eorum possent adtingere, vel quo ipsi castra figere deberent: et ecce equus eius subito corruens inter fossas, quas Nortmanni fecerant, illum deiecit ad terram. Statimque de latibulis Dani pauci surgentes *illum interemerunt, magnumque dolorem et terrorem Christianis fecit, Danis vero gaudium.

About the time of autumn, having come to Carisiacum with a great army he sent forward Heinricum, called duke of the Austrasians, to Paris. Who, when he had arrived there with the army near the city, rashly began to ride around the Danes’ camp with a few men wishing to see how the army might reach their camp, or where they themselves ought to pitch camp; and behold his horse suddenly falling among the ditches which the Northmen had made, threw him to the ground. And immediately from their lairs a few Danes rising up *killed him, and this caused great sorrow and terror to the Christians, but joy to the Danes.

Cumque nudassent illum armis suis, supervenit quidam e Francis Ragnerus nomine comes eiusque corpus non absque vulneribus illis tulit. Quod statim imperatori nuntiatum est. Ille vero audito multum doluit, accepto tamen consilio Parisius venit cum manu valida.

When they had stripped him of his arms, there arrived a certain Frank called Ragnerus, a count, and he carried his body, not without those wounds. This was at once reported to the emperor. He, however, on hearing it grieved greatly; yet, counsel having been taken, he came to Paris with a powerful force.

Sed quia dux periit, ipse nil utile gessit.

But because the duke perished, he himself accomplished nothing useful.

His diebus, id est XV. Kal. Octobris, Bellovagus civitas igne ex parte crematur. In quo incendio omnis ornatus monasterii sancti Vedasti in thesauro et sacris vestibus et libris et kartis deperiit.

On those days, that is, the 15th day before the Kalends of October, the city Bellovagus was partly consumed by fire. In that conflagration all the ornament of the monastery of Saint Vedast, in the treasury, and the sacred vestments, and the books and charters perished.

Imperator vero cum exercitu ad castra Nortmannorum veniens, quia ex utraque parte fluminis castra fixerant, eis unam fecit deserere fluviumque transire atque in unum castra ponere. Deinde misit custodes in civitatem et exercitum misit trans flumen. Indeque coeperunt, quia hiems imminebat, missi ad invicem discurrere, ut imperator pacem cum Danis faceret.

But when the emperor came with his army to the Norsemen’s camp, because they had established camps on both sides of the river, he made them abandon one and cross the river and set the camps together. Then he sent guards into the city and sent the army across the river. And since winter was imminent, they began, sending messengers to and fro to one another, so that the emperor might make peace with the Danes.

Et factum est vere consilium nimis miserum. Nam utrumque, et civitatis redemptio illis promissa est et data et via sine impedimento attributa, ut Burgundiam hieme depraedarent. Episcopo quoque in ipsa civitate delegato, Askricho nomine, et terram patris sui Rothberti Odoni comiti concessam, imperator castra movit inde et quo venerat redire festinavit.

And truly a most miserable plan was made. For both the ransom of the city was promised to them and given, and a way without impediment assigned, so that they might pillage Burgundy in winter. Also, with a bishop in the city itself appointed, named Askricho, and the land of his father Rothbert granted to Count Odo, the emperor broke camp from there and hastened to return to the place from which he had come.

Nam Suessionis apud Sanctum Medardum terram inter Francos dispertiit; necdumque se de eo moverat loco, et ecce Sigefridus rex, cuius supra meminimus, Hisam fluvium ingressus, terra et aqua iter faciens post eum cum suis, omnia ferro vastabat et igne. Quod cum imperator agnovisset - nam ignis eum certum nuntium deferebat -, festine rediit in terram suam. Post haec Sigefridus famosissimam aecclesiam beati Medardi igne cremavit, monasteria, vicos, palatia regia, interfectis et captivatis accolis terrae.

For he devastated the land of the Suessiones at Saint Medard among the Franks; and he had not yet moved from that place, when behold King Sigefridus, of whom we mentioned above, having entered the river Hisam, making a march by land and by water after him with his men, laid waste all things with sword (iron) and fire. When the emperor had learned this — for the fire bore him certain tidings — he hastened back into his own territory. After these things Sigefridus burned with fire the most famous church of Blessed Medard, monasteries, villages, and royal palaces, the inhabitants of the land being slain and taken captive.

Nortmanni vero, qui per Sequanam ascenderant a Parisius, cum omni exercitu et suppellectili et navibus Hionam fluvium ingressi Senonas civitatem obsederunt. Sed Evrardus archiepiscopus ipsius civitatis statim cum eis de redemptione civitatis agi coepit et obtinuit quod voluit.

The Northmen, who had ascended by the Sequana from Paris, having entered the Hiona river with their whole army and baggage and with ships, besieged the city of Senonas. But Evrardus, archbishop of that very city, at once began to treat with them about the redemption (ransom) of the city and obtained what he wished.

Anno DCCCLXXXVII.

Year 887.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXVII. Nortmanni vero [usque] Segonnam et Ligerem more solito pervagati sunt. His etiam diebus moritur Evrardus Senonensis episcopus, cui succedit Waltherus iuvenis.

In the year of Our Lord 887. The Northmen, moreover, [as far as] Segonna and the Loire, wandered about in the usual way. In these same days Evrard, bishop of Sens, died; Walther, a youth, succeeded him.

Usque aestivo tempore ibi residerunt, incendiis et occisionibus terram in solitudinem redigerunt. Sigefridus vero cum suis verno finiente in Sequanam rediit agens solita et circa autumni tempora Frexiam petiit, ibique interfectus est. Dani vero Parisius regressi propter tributum ab imperatore promissum, pro qua re Askrichus ad imperatorem abiit et pro quo ierat rediens secum detulit; datoque tributo, quia nullus erat qui eis resisteret, iterum per Sequanam Maternam fluvium ingressi Gaziaco sibi castra statuunt.

They remained there until the summer season, and by burnings and killings reduced the land to desolation. Sigefridus, however, with his men as spring was ending returned into the Sequana, conducting his customary affairs, and about the time of autumn made for Frexia, where he was slain. The Danes, meanwhile, having gone back to Paris because of the tribute promised by the emperor — for which matter Askrichus went to the emperor and, returning, brought with him the sum for which he had gone — and the tribute having been paid, because there was none to resist them, again entering by the Sequana, the Materna river, they established their camp at Gaziacum.

Franci vero australes videntes imperatoris vires ad regendum imperium invalidas, eiecto eo de regno, Arnulfum filium Karlomanni, qui eius erat nepos, in regni solio ponunt. Ast inferiores Franci inter se divisi, quidam Widonem ab Italia, quidam Odonem in regno statuere volunt. Berengarius etiam regnum Italiae usurpat.

But the southern Franks, seeing the emperor’s forces weak for ruling the empire, after he was expelled from the kingdom, set Arnulf, son of Karloman, who was his nephew, upon the royal throne. Yet the lower Franks, divided among themselves, some wished to place Widon from Italy, others Odo in the kingdom. Berengarius likewise usurped the kingdom of Italy.

Hroderardus Camaracensium episcopus his diebus obiit. Karolus vero post amissum imperium fertur a suis strangulatus; tamen in brevi finivit vitam praesentem, possessurus caelestem, ut credimus. Nortmanni vero omnia loca usque Mosam more solito et partem Burgundiae devastant.

Hroderardus, bishop of Camaracensium, died in these days. Karolus, however, after the loss of the empire is said by his own to have been strangled; nevertheless he shortly ended his present life, to possess the heavenly realm, as we believe. The Nortmanni, however, devastate all places as far as the Mosam in their usual manner and part of Burgundy.

Anno DCCCLXXXVIII.

In the year 888.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXVIII. Verum, ut diximus, Franci divisi, aliqui Widonem, qui partibus Fulchonis archiepiscopi favebant, alii Odonem, inter quos Theodericus comes eminebat, in regno statuere contendebant. Convenerunt itaque qui Odonem advocarunt Compendio palatio atque cum consensu eorum qui sibi consentiebant per manus Waltheri archiepiscopi benedicisibi in regnum fecerunt.

Anno Domini 888. But, as we have said, the Franks being divided, some supported Widonem, who favored the party of Archbishop Fulchon, others Odonem, among whom Count Theoderic stood prominent, strove to set him on the kingdom. Therefore those who had summoned Odo assembled at the palace Compendio, and with the consent of those who agreed with him, through the hands of Archbishop Walther they blessed him and made him king.

Pauci vero ex Burgundia Widonem Lingonis civitate per Geilonem eiusdem civitatis episcopum regem sibi creaverunt. Interim, dum haec aguntur, ordinatur Dodilo Camaracensium vel Atrebatensium ecclesiae episcopus *XVI. Kal.

But a few men from Burgundy made Widon king for themselves at the city of Langres by Geilo, bishop of that same city. Meanwhile, while these things were being done, Dodilo was ordained bishop of the church of Cambrai or of Arras on the *16th day before the Kalends.

Aprilis. At hi qui ultra Iurum atque circa Alpes consistunt, Tullo adunati Hrodulfum nepotem Hugonis abbatis per episcopum dictae civitatis benedici in regem petierunt; qui et ita egit.

April. But those who dwell beyond the Jura and around the Alps, gathered to Tullo, requested that Hrodulf, the nephew of Abbot Hugo, be blessed as king by the bishop of that city; and he so acted.

Wido vero rex factus, audiens Odonem in Francia creatum regem, cum his qui se sequi deliberaverant rediit Italiam. Ibique cum Berengero rege non modica gessit bella semperque victor extitit. Cumque Berengerum e regno fugere compulisset, Romam ivit, imperator efficitur.

Wido, however, made king, hearing that Odo had been created king in Francia, returned to Italy with those who had resolved to follow him. There he carried on not insignificant wars with King Berengar and was always victorious. And when he had driven Berengar to flee from the kingdom, he went to Rome and was made emperor.

Odo vero rex Francos, qui suo nolebant se subdi dominationi, partim blanditiis, partim terroribus sibi sociari festinabat. Sed cum ei fidem dedissent, quo eius dominatui se subderent, contulerunt se ad Arnulfum regem, ut veniret in Franciam et regnum sibi debitum reciperet. Inter quos erant primi huius discordiae Fulcho archiepiscopus et Hrodulfus abba necnon et Balduinus comes.

Odo, however, hurried to attach to himself the Franks who did not wish to submit to his dominion, partly by blandishments, partly by terrors. But when they had given him their faith, in order that they might subject themselves to his rule, they betook themselves to King Arnulf, that he should come into Francia and recover for them the kingdom due to them. Among whom first in this discord were Fulcho the archbishop and Hrodulf the abbot and also Baldwin the count.

Sed dum illi haec agerent, contigit Odoni regi per Dei misericordiam inopinata victoria. Nam die nativitatis sancti Iohannis baptistae cum parvo exercitu Danorum exercitum obviavit super Axonam fluvium commissoque proelio mox victor extitit. Quae victoria non modicam illi contulit gloriam.

But while they pursued these matters, an unexpected victory befell King Odo by God's mercy. For on the day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, with a small host of Danes he encountered the army upon the river Axona, and, a battle having been joined, he soon proved victorious. This victory brought him no small glory.

Post haec ab Arnulfo convocatur ad placitum. Qui sibi et regno suisque consulens, sumptis primoribus e suis, ad regem ire non distulit, praemisitque ante se Theodericum cum aliis, qui ei suum nuntiarent adventum et cum eo de his quae necessaria erant tractarent. Qui, ut sibi imperatum fuerat, peregerunt, ei renuntiant, quo die ad condictum placitum devenirent.

After these things he was summoned by Arnulf to the placitum. He, consulting for himself and his kingdom and his own affairs, taking with him some of his leading men, did not delay to go to the king, and sent before him Theoderic with others, who should announce his arrival to him and treat with him about those things which were necessary. These men, as they had been commanded, completed their task and reported to him on which day they would come to the appointed placitum.

Interim, dum missi inter illos discurrerent, Balduinus relictis sociis ivit ad regem Odonem et promisit se de reliquo fidelem illi fore. At ille benigne suscepit eum et cum honore hortatusque est, ut in sua promissione maneret, iussitque, ut secum iret ad condictum placitum. Statuto itaque die Odo rex fretus auxilio suorum Wormaciam venit, honorificeque ab Arnulfo rege susceptus, et facti amici, remisit eum cum honore in regnum suum petens, ut indulgentiam eis daret qui se ad eum contulerant.

Meanwhile, while messengers were running about among them, Baldwin, leaving his companions behind, went to King Odo and promised that he would be faithful to him for the future. But he received him kindly and, exhorting him to abide by his promise, commanded that he go with him to the assembled placitum. Therefore on the appointed day King Odo, relying on the aid of his men, came to Worms, and being honorably received by King Arnulf, and becoming friends, sent him back with honor into his kingdom, seeking that clemency be shown to those who had attached themselves to him.

Interim Nortmanni Meldis civitatem obsidione vallant, machinas instruunt, aggerem conportant ad capiendam urbem. Quibus viriliter resistit Teutbertus comes, donec interiit cum omnibus prope bellatoribus. Mortuo itaque comite, episcopus Sigemundus timore perculsus iussit lapidibus obfirmari portas civitatis.

Meanwhile the Northmen invested the city of Meldis with a siege, erected engines, and brought up an earthwork to seize the town. To them Count Teutbertus resisted manfully, until he perished with nearly all his warriors. Therefore, the count dead, Bishop Sigemundus, struck with fear, ordered the gates of the city to be fastened with stones.

Cumque hi qui infra civitatem erant inclusi, obsidione pertesi, fame attenuati, mortibus etiam suorum nimis afflicti, cernerent ex nulla parte sibi auxilium adfuturum, cum Nortmannis sibi notos agere coeperunt, ut data civitate vivi sinerentur abire. Quid plura? Refertur ad multitudinem, et sub spetie pacis obsides dant.

And when those who were shut up within the city, pressed by the siege, attenuated by famine, and too sorely afflicted by the deaths of their own, perceived that help would not be forthcoming from any quarter, they began to deal with the Northmen as if they were known to them, that, the city having been given, they might be allowed to depart alive. What more? The matter is carried to the multitude, and under the semblance of peace they give hostages.

Reserantur portae, fit via Christianis, ut egrediantur, delegatis his qui eos quo vellent ducerent. Cumque amnem Maternam transissent et longius a civitate processissent, Nortmanni eos omnes insecuti comprehenderunt ipsum episcopum cum omni populo. Indeque reversi civitatem igne combusserunt murosque quantum placuit destruxerunt; atque inibi morati sunt usque . mense prope Novembrio.

The gates were opened; a way was made for the Christians to go out, and those who were to lead them were appointed. When they had crossed the river Materna and had gone some distance from the city, the Northmen, having pursued them all, seized them — the bishop himself with all the people. Thence they returned, set the city on fire and tore down the walls as much as pleased them; and there they remained for about one month, near November.

Circa autumni vero tempora Odo rex adunato exercitu Parisius venit, ibique castra metati sunt prope civitatem, ne iterum ipsa obsideretur. Nortmanni vero per Maternam in Sequanam regressi indeque navigantes et iter per terram facientes, Luvam fluvium ingressi, circa eius littora sedem sibi firmant. Odo vero rex Remis civitatem contra missos Arnulfi perrexit, qui ei coronam, ut ferunt, misit, quam in aecclesia Dei genitricis in natale sancti Brictii capiti impositam, ab omni populo rex adclamatur.

About the time of autumn King Odo, with his army gathered, came to Paris, and there camps were pitched near the city, lest it be besieged again. The Northmen, however, having returned by the Materna into the Sequana and thence sailing and travelling by land, entered the river Luva, and about its shores made a seat for themselves. King Odo meanwhile proceeded to the city of Remis against Arnulf’s envoys, who, as they say, sent him a crown, which, placed upon his head in the church of God the Mother on the nativity of Saint Brictius, was proclaimed king by all the people.

Ibique eis qui se spreverant delicta pie indulsit atque in societatem recepit et, ut de reliquo sibi fideles forent, admonuit. Odo rex nativitatem Domini in monasterio sancti Vedasti celebrem egit.

And there he piously pardoned those who had scorned him their offenses and received them into fellowship, and, that thereafter they might be faithful to him, admonished them. King Odo celebrated the Nativity of the Lord in the monastery of Saint Vedast.

Anno DCCCLXXXVIIII.

Year 889.

Anno Domini DCCCLXXXVIIII. Post nativitatem vero Domini cum paucis Francis Aquitaniam perrexit, ut sibi eos sociaret. Quo audito Ramnulfus dux maximae partis Aquitaniae cum sibi faventibus venit ad eum, adducens secum Karolum puerum, filium Hludowici regis, et iuravit illi quae digna fuerunt, simul et de ipso puerulo, ne quid mali de eo suspicaretur.

Anno Domini 889. After the nativity of the Lord, however, with a few Franks he passed through Aquitaine, that he might join them to his company. Whereupon Ramnulf, duke of the greater part of Aquitaine, with those favouring him, came to him, bringing with him Karol, a boy, son of King Hludowic, and swore to him those things which were fitting, and likewise concerning the little boy himself, so that no harm might be suspected of him.

*Aquitanios itaque rex ex parte receptos, festinavit propter Nortmannos redire in Franciam. Dani vero more suo Burgundiam, Neustriam atque partem Aquitaniae, nullo resistente, igne et ferro devastant. Circa autumni vero tempora Parisius regressi, contra quos Odo rex venit; et nuntiis intercurrentibus munerati ab eo, regressi a Parisius relictoque Sequanam, per mare navale iter atque per terram pedestre et equestre agentes, in territorio Constantiae civitatis circa castrum Sancti Lauti sedem sibi faciunt ipsumque castrum oppugnare non cessant.

*So the king therefore, having in part received the Aquitanians, hastened to return to Francia on account of the Northmen. The Danes, however, in their custom devastated Burgundy, Neustria and part of Aquitaine with no one resisting, by fire and iron. About the time of autumn, having returned to Paris, against whom King Odo came; and, having been entertained by him with passing gifts, they returned from Paris, and, leaving the Sequana, making a voyage by sea and travelling by land on foot and on horseback, in the territory of the city of Constantia about the castle of Saint Lautus they make a seat for themselves, and they do not cease to besiege that very castle.

Anno DCCCXC.

In the year 890.

Anno Domini DCCCXC. In ipsa etiam obsidione positus Lista praedictae civitatis [episcopus] diem clausit extremum; gladio etiam nobilioribus praedicti castri deletis, ad ultimum capta est munitio dicti castri, interfectis eius habitatoribus, ipsumque castrum funditus terrae coaequatum. Brittanni vero viriliter suum defensavere regnum atque afflictos Danos Sequanam redire compulerunt.

In the year of Our Lord 890. In that very siege Lista, bishop of the aforesaid city, closed his final day; and with the more noble men of the said fortress likewise slain by the sword, at last the fortification of the said castle was taken, its inhabitants killed, and the castle itself utterly leveled to the earth. The Britons, however, manfully defended their kingdom and compelled the afflicted Danes to return to Sequanam.

Imminente vero festa omnium sanctorum Dani per Sequanam Hisam ingressi Noviomagum petunt ad statuenda sibi castra hiemalia. Illis vero qui per terram iter agebant occurrit rex Odo circa Germaniacum; sed propter loci incommoditatem nil eis damni intulit. Nortmanni vero coeptum iter peragentes castra sibi adversus civitatem statuunt.

With the feast of All Saints imminent, the Danes, having entered Hisa by the Sequana, made for Noviomagus to establish winter camps for themselves. To those, however, who were journeying through the land King Odo encountered them near Germaniacum; but on account of the inconvenience of the place he inflicted no damage upon them. The Northmen, meanwhile, carrying out the journey they had begun, pitched camps opposite the city.

Alstingus autem cum suis Argova super Sumnam sedem sibi firmavit. Odo vero rex adunato exercitu super littora Hisae fluminis resedit, ne regnum libere devastarent.

Alstingus, however, with his men made firm a seat for himself at Argova on the Sumnam. Odo, the king, however, having mustered his army, took his station upon the shores of the Hisa river, lest they freely devastate the kingdom.

Alstingus vero per dolum pacem fecit cum Hrodulfo abbate, ut libere posset ire quo vellet. Praedictus vero Alstingus die sollempnitatis sancti Iohannis ewangelistae venit adversus castrum sive monasterium sancti Vedasti. Hrodulfus vero abbas timens, ne multitudo qui Noviomum erat cum eis adveniret, et insidias timens - quod etiam Alstingus mandaverat - populum retinuit, sed cognita veritate post eorum discessum multum doluit.

Alstingus, however, by a dolus made peace with Abbot Hrodulf, so that he might go freely whither he wished. The aforesaid Alstingus on the day of the solemnity of Saint John the Evangelist came against the castrum or monastery of Saint Vedast. But Abbot Hrodulf, fearing that the multitude which was at Noviomagus might arrive with them, and fearing ambushes — which Alstingus had also commanded — detained the people; but, the truth having been learned after their departure, he grieved greatly.

Frequentibus vero incursionibus exterruit eos, nec ausi sunt postea ita adversus praedictum venire castrum.

By frequent incursions he terrified them, and they thereafter did not dare to come so against the aforesaid castle.

Anno DCCCXCI.

In the year 891.

Anno DCCCXCI. Hi vero qui Noviomo erant moventes exercitum usque Mosam omnem terram pervagati sunt; indeque per Bracbantum rediere transeuntesque Scaldum per invia loca parant redire ad castra. Insecutusque eos Odo rex comprehendit eos super Galtheram, sed non ita ut voluit.

Year 891. Those, however, who were at Noviomo, moving the army as far as the Mosam (Meuse), traversed the whole country; and thence they returned through Brabant, and, crossing the Scaldum (Scheldt) by trackless places, prepared to return to the camp. And Odo the king, having pursued them, seized them above Galtheram, but not in the manner he wished.

Nam amissa praeda per silvas dispersi evasere atque ita ad castra reversi sunt.

For the booty having been lost, dispersed through the woods, they escaped and thus returned to the camp.

Circa autumni vero tempora relicto Noviomo maritima petivere loca ibique toto aestivo tempore morati sunt, indeque iterum moventes iter usque Mosam. Quod audiens Arnulfus rex velociter accurrit eosque usque trans Scaldum et prope Atrebatis insecutus, sed eos non comprehendit, indeque rediit in regnum suum. Nortmanni vero qui Noviomo hiemaverant decreverunt Luvanio sibi sedem firmare ad hiemandum, illucque mense Novembrio petunt iter; qui vero Argobio, Ambianis sedem [sibi ] firmant.

About the time of autumn, having left Noviomo they sought maritime places and there remained for the whole summer season, and from there moving again they made a journey as far as the Meuse. Hearing this, King Arnulf swiftly ran up and pursued them even across the Scaldus and near the Atrebates, but he did not seize them, and thence returned to his kingdom. The Northmen, however, who had wintered at Noviomo decided to fix for themselves a seat at Luvanium for wintering, and in the month of November they make their way thither; those at Argobium and at Ambianis (Amiens) established a seat for themselves.

Arnulfus vero rex adunato exercitu venit adversum Nortmannos et Deo se protegente ipsum cepit castrum, interfecta non modica multitudine Danorum; atque hac patrata victoria ita rediit in regnum suum. Nortmanni vero, qui huc illucque dispersi erant, adunati in eodem loco iterum sibi sedem firmant. Odo vero rex adunato exercitu Ambianis pergit, sed nil ibi prospere gessit.

King Arnulf, however, with his army gathered, came against the Northmen and, God protecting him, captured the camp itself, a not insignificant multitude of Danes having been slain; and with this victory accomplished he returned to his kingdom. The Northmen, who had been scattered here and there, being gathered again in the same place, established a seat for themselves. King Odo likewise, with his army assembled, marched to the Ambiani, but achieved nothing there prosperously.

Verum post haec in pago Virmandinse ob neglectum custodum illi inprovise superveniunt Dani eumque fugere coegerunt.

But after these things, in the pagus Virmandinse, because of the neglect of his custodians, the Danes unexpectedly came upon him there and forced him to flee.

Anno DCCCXCII.

In the year 892.

Anno Domini DCCCXCII. Rodulfus abba et levita obiit Nonis Ianuarii sepultusque in aecclesia beati Petri, in sinistra parte altaris, in monasterio sancti Vedasti. Tertio vero die post eius obitum, postquam castellani Egfridum comitem miserunt eius obitum regi nuntiantes et, ut illis iuxta suum velle, quid agerent, remandaret, Balduinum a Flandris advocantes per consilium Evreberti, qui nimis fuerat *versutissimus, contra voluntatem regis receperunt, pro nichilo habentes quod regi mandaverunt vel quod Egfrido comiti promiserant.

In the year of the Lord 892. Rodulfus, abbot and levite, died on the Nones of January and was buried in the church of blessed Peter, on the left side of the altar, in the monastery of Saint Vedast. On the third day after his death, after the castellans sent Count Egfrid to announce his death to the king and to have him send back to them, according to his will, what they should do, they, by the counsel of Evrebert—who had been excessively crafty—summoned Baldwin from Flanders and received him against the king’s will, holding as nothing what they had commanded to the king or what they had promised to Count Egfrid.

Per hoc itaque, quod Evrebertus consiliatus est, Balduinus itaque comes legatos dirigit ad Odonem regem, mandans cum sua gratia velle tenere abbatias sui consobrini. Odo vero rex respondit, ut sineret illum prius esse potestativum de suo, quod Deus illi concessit, et veniret ad se, fidens benignum erga illum se inventurum fore. Balduinus vero ad hoc non praebuit assensum.

Therefore by this, since Evrebert had been consulted, Count Balduinus sent envoys to King Odo, commanding that, with his goodwill, he wished to hold the abbeys of his consobrinus (his cousin). King Odo, however, answered that he would allow him first to be in the potestative authority over his own, that which God had granted him, and to come to him, trusting that he would find him benign toward him. Balduinus, however, did not give assent to this.

Iterum rex alios atque alios missos misit, sed nil profecerunt. Exhinc Balduinus regi coepit esse infestus. Relicto itaque fratre Atrebatis, ipse in Flandras ante quadragesimam perrexit.

Again the king sent other and yet other men, but they accomplished nothing. Henceforth Baldwin began to be hostile to the king. Having left his brother among the Atrebates, therefore he himself went into Flanders before Quadragesima (Lent).

Sed die lunae ante pascha contigit nobis malum tale, quod inrecuperabile est. Nam casu hora diei sexta ipsum castrum igne accensum combussit aecclesias inibi sancti Vedasti, sancti Petri et sanctae Mariae. In ipso etiam incendio omnia patrocinia sanctorum, quae habuimus, furto nobis ablata sunt, omne etiam castrum consumptum est.

But on the Monday before Easter there befell us such an evil, which is irrecoverable. For by chance at the sixth hour of the day the castle itself, having been set on fire, burned the churches there of Saint Vedast, Saint Peter, and Saint Mary. In that same conflagration all the patronages of the saints that we possessed were stolen from us, and the whole castle was consumed as well.

Indeque fames valida et sterilitas terrae nobis invasit, ita ut accolae terrae prae magnitudine famis sua relinquerent loca.

And thence a strong famine and the sterility of the land fell upon us, so that the inhabitants of the land, on account of the greatness of the hunger, forsook their places.

Post haec Balduinus castrum refirmat et parat se ad resistendum. Episcopi vero illum excommunicaverunt. Exhinc Odo rex adunato exercitu iter arripuit quasi Atrebatis venturus, re autem vera Flandris petiturus.

After this Baldwin refortified the castle and prepared himself to resist. But the bishops excommunicated him. Thence King Odo, his army having been mustered, took up the march as if about to come to the Atrebates, but in truth intending to seek Flanders.

Balduinus Atrebatis iter arripiens per aliam viam antecessit regem venitque in Bruociam, atque ita rex sine aliquo effectu rediit ad loca sua. Nam antea Walkerus eius consobrinus castrum Ludunensium, quod a rege perceperat, per tirannidem obtinuit, sed rex castellum obsedit ipsamque civitatem mox cepit. Et post paucos dies diiudicatus, sed rex non sibi praevidit, capite eum iussit truncari.

Baldwin, taking the route of the Atrebates, advanced by another road and outstripped the king and came into Bruocia, and thus the king returned to his places without any effect. For previously Walker, his cousin, had held the castle of the Ludunenses, which he had received from the king, and had kept it by tyranny; but the king besieged the castle and soon took the city itself. And after a few days he was condemned, yet the king, not foreseeing for himself, ordered him to be beheaded.

Hocque actum est, antequam rex Flandras pergeret. Nam Balduinus per Evrebertum inter se et Walkerum pacem fecit, quae pax illi abstulit vitam.

And this was done before the king set out for Flanders. For Baldwin, through Evrebert, made peace between himself and Walker, a peace which deprived him of life.

Nortmanni vero a Luvanio regressi, videntes omne regnum fame atteri, relicta Francia tempore autumni mare transierunt. Franci vero, qui dudum Odoni regi infesti fuerant, sociatis sibi aliis, ut possent compleri quae volebant, suaserunt regi, ut relicta Francia hiemandi gratia peteret Aquitaniam, ut Francia, quae tot annis afflicta erat, aliquatenus recuperare posset; et quia Ramnulfus obierat, et quia Ebulus et Gotbertus ab illo disciverant, eos aut sibi resociaret aut de regno suo pelleret aut vita privaret. Ille credulus factus consilium adquievit eorum, nescius, quae mala sibi parabant.

But the Northmen, having returned from Luvanius, seeing the whole kingdom wasted by famine, left France in the autumn and crossed the sea. The Franks, who for a long time had been hostile to King Odo, having allied others to themselves so that they might accomplish what they desired, persuaded the king that, France being abandoned, he should seek Aquitaine for the sake of wintering, so that France, which had been afflicted for so many years, might in some measure recover; and because Ramnulfus had died, and because Ebulus and Gotbertus had separated from him, that he should either reconcile them to himself or drive them from his kingdom or deprive them of life. He, made credulous, assented to their counsel, unaware of the evils they were preparing for him.

At ubi fines attigit Aquitaniae, Ebulus, eius adventum praesciens, in fugam versus interfectus est iuxta quoddam castellum lapide; frater quoque eius Gozbertus post haec obsessus atque in brevi vitam finivit.

But when he reached the borders of Aquitaine, Ebulus, foreknowing his coming, as he turned to flight was killed by a stone near a certain castle; his brother likewise, Gozbert, after these events besieged, and in a short time ended his life.

Anno DCCCXCIII.

In the year 893.

Anno Domini DCCCXCIII. Franci qui in Francia remanserant, ut inimicitias et odium, quod habebant contra Odonem regem, panderent, Remis adunati consilium inierunt adversus eum, ut die purificationis sanctae Mariae in eodem, iterum convenirent loco et quod invicem firmaverant manifestis indiciis demonstrarent. Mittunt itaque et Karolum regis Hludowici filium, adhuc puerulum, ad dictum placitum venire fecerunt et die supra dicto Remis adunati eum in paterno solio benedictum in regem collocant, omnesque coniurant adversus Odonem regem.

In the year of Our Lord 893. The Franks who had remained in Francia, so that they might spread the enmities and hatred which they held against King Odo, gathered at Rheims and took counsel against him, that on the day of the Purification of Saint Mary in that same place they should meet again and with manifest proofs show what they had mutually affirmed. They therefore also sent and caused Charles, son of King Hludowicus, still a little boy, to come to the said assembly, and there, gathered at Rheims, they placed him, blessed, upon the paternal throne as king, and all conspired against King Odo.

Fama itaque citius volans quod factum est Odoni regi innotuit. Ipse vero, ut tunc conveniens fuerat, Aquitaniam degens ad eos qui sibi fideles erant in Francia mandavit, ut constantes essent, in suaque poscit permanere fide. Post pascha Domini Fulcho archiepiscopus et Heribertus comes assumentes Karolum regem cum omni exercitu disponunt [ire] contra Odonem regem, veneruntque contra eos Richardus, Willelmus et Hadamarus, habueruntque exercitum copiosum.

Rumor therefore, flying swiftly, made known what had been done to King Odo. He himself, however, as was then fitting, dwelling in Aquitaine, committed to those who were faithful to him in Francia that they be steadfast, and demanded that they remain in their fidelity to him. After the Lord’s Easter, Fulco the archbishop and Heribert the count, having taken up King Charles, with the whole army prepared to march against King Odo; and Richard, William, and Hadamar came against them, and they had a plentiful army.

Contra quos rex Odo venire non distulit. Misitque ad eos qui cum Karolo erant mandans, ut quicquid in eis deliquissent per suum eis vadium emendarent et memores essent sacramenti quae sibi iuraverant. Atque ita actum est, ut sine aliquo effectu unusquisque rediret in sua.

Against whom King Odo did not delay to come. And he sent to those who were with Karolus, commanding that whatever wrongs they had committed against them they should make amends for by his pledge, and be mindful of the sacrament which they had sworn to him. And thus it was done, that each returned to his own without any result.

Karolus cum suis reversus in Francia; Odo vero remansit in Aquitania. Messivo tempore Odo rex subito Franciam veniens Karolum cum suis e regno abire coegit. Septembrio vero mense Karolus cum suis redit in Francia inprovise, atque intercurrentibus nuntiis invicem pacem faciunt usque in pascha.

Charles, having returned with his men into France; Odo, however, remained in Aquitaine. In the time of Messivo King Odo, suddenly coming into France, compelled Charles with his followers to depart from the kingdom. In the month of September, however, Charles with his men returned unexpectedly into France, and with dispatches passing back and forth they made peace with one another until Easter.

Atque ita Odo rex Compendio ivit. *Karolus vero cum Fulcone Remis repedavit.

And so King Odo went by a shortcut. *Charles, however, with Fulco returned to Reims.

Anno DCCCXCIIII.

In the year 894.

Anno Domini DCCCXCIIII. Denique post pascha adunato exercitu Odo rex disponit ire Remis contra Karolum eiusque fidelibus. Hi vero qui ab eo disciverant Remis cum suo adunantur rege.

In the year of our Lord 894. Finally, after Easter, with the army assembled King Odo resolved to go to Reims against Charles and his faithful men. But those who had broken away from him were gathered at Reims with their king.

Odo vero rex veniens castra adversus eos posuit. Cumque hi qui cum Karolo erant viderent se non habere unde ei resistere, civitate munita custodibusque delegatis, sub obtentu pacis acceptis a Rothberto obsidibus, noctu civitatem egressi cum suo rege ad Arnulfi regis auxilium cum suo rege se contulerunt. Arnulfus vero rex benigne suum excepit consobrinum eique regnum paternum concessit adiutoresque ei delegavit hos qui erant ex superiori Francia.

King Odo, however, coming, pitched camp against them. And when those who were with Karolus saw that they had no means to resist him, the city being fortified and guards having been assigned, under the pretext of peace they accepted hostages from Rothbert; by night, having left the city, they with their king betook themselves to King Arnulf for aid with their king. King Arnulf, however, received his cousin kindly, granted him the paternal kingdom, and appointed helpers for him, those who were from Upper Francia.

Qui reversi ab Arnulfo Odonem in regno inveniunt eos cum suo expectantes exercitu supra Axonam fluvium. Sed hi qui erant cum Karolo ex parte Arnulfi cum Odone rege amicitiam habebant. Resederuntque et illi ex alia parte dicti fluminis, nulloque peracto negotio unusquisque rediit in sua.

Those who, returned from Arnulf, found Odo in the kingdom awaiting them with his army above the Axona river. But those who were with Charles, on Arnulf’s part, had friendship with King Odo. And they likewise sat down on the other side of the said river, and with no business having been concluded each one returned to his own.

Odo vero rex remansit in Francia, Karolus vero contulit se ad Richardum; quem insecutus Odo rex, volens determinare bello finem discordiae. Verum pietas Dei non concessit sanguinem finem litis finiri. Per idem tempus Teutboldus Lingonicae urbis episcopus excecatus est a Manasse Richardi dilecto.

King Odo, however, remained in France, while Charles betook himself to Richard; whom King Odo, pursuing, wished to determine by war an end to the discord. But the piety of God did not permit blood to finish the end of the lawsuit. At the same time Teutbold, bishop of the city of Lingonica, was blinded by Manasse, Richard’s beloved.

Odo rex iterum rediit in Franciam, Karolus vero cum suis in Burgundiam quo poterant morabantur.

King Odo again returned into France, while Charles, with his men, tarried in Burgundy as long as they could.

Anno DCCCXCV.

In the year 895.

Anno Domini DCCCXCV. Constricti vero hi qui sequebantur Karolum - nam Odo rex eis quicquid in Francia habuerant tulerat - Burgundiam acriter depopulati sunt. Venitque clamor eorum ad aures Arnulfi regis.

In the year of our Lord 895. But those who followed Charles, being hard-pressed — for King Odo had carried off whatever they had possessed in Francia — fiercely laid waste Burgundy. And their clamor came to the ears of King Arnulf.

Qui missos in Franciam mittens iussit, ut Odo et Karolus ad eum venirent, quatinus tantae calamitatis malum inter eos finiret. Verum hi qui Karoli partibus favebant ab ipsa profectione suum retinuere regem missosque suos ad regem dirigunt Arnulfum. Odo vero rex strenuis secum assumptis viris ire ad regem perrexit Arnulfum multisque honoribus eum honoravit.

He ordered those sent into Francia to be dispatched, so that Odo and Karolus would come to him, in order that he might end the evil of so great a calamity between them. But those who favored Karolus’s faction kept their king back from the very departure and sent their own men to direct themselves to King Arnulf. King Odo, however, having taken with him stalwart men, proceeded to go to King Arnulf and honored him with many honors.

Rex vero illum cum honore excoepit atque cum laetitia ad sua remisit, filiumque suum rex Arnulfus in praesentia Odoni regis nomine Zuendebolchum benedici in regem fecit eique concessit regnum quondam Hlotharii.

The king, however, received him with honor and sent him back to his own with rejoicing, and King Arnulf caused his son to be blessed in the name Zuendebolchum as king in the presence of King Odo, and granted to him the kingdom formerly of Hlotharius.

Cumque Odo rex rediret ab Arnulfo, Fulchonem archiepiscopum, qui pergebat ad Arnulfum, in itinere obviant; qui vix fuga lapsus est, interfecto Adalungo comite, qui cum eo erat. At hi qui cum Karolo erant conferunt se ad Zuendebolchum eique partem regni consentiunt, uti veniat et iuvet Karolo suo consobrino. Quod audiens Odo rex, quia sui fatigati erant, quasi ignorans hoc Sequanam transiit.

And when King Odo was returning from Arnulf, they met on the road Fulchon the archbishop, who was proceeding to Arnulf; who scarcely escaped by flight, Adalung the count who was with him having been slain. But those who were with Karol brought themselves to Zuendebolchus and granted him a part of the kingdom, that he should come and help his cousin Karol. Hearing this, King Odo, because his men were fatigued, as if ignorant of it, crossed the Sequana (the Seine).

Zuendebolchus vero rex et Karolus cum exercitu veniunt Laudunumque obsidione cingunt. Balduinus vero comes et Hrodulfus frater eius necnon et Ragnerus non bono consilio accepto Karolum reliquerunt et se ad Zuendebolchum contulerunt. Hi vero qui cum Karolo erant videntes se inminui et, ut ferunt, quia Zuendebolchus cum suis Karolum privari vitam cogitabant, ab ipsa obsidione legatos [ad] Odonem mittunt, ut partem regni, qualemcumque ei placuerit, Karolo et eis consentiat atque eos in pace recipiat.

Zuendebolchus indeed and Karolus came with an army and encompassed Laudunum with a siege. Balduinus the count and Hrodulf his brother and also Ragnerus, having adopted a not-good counsel, abandoned Karolus and betook themselves to Zuendebolchus. Those, however, who were with Karolus, seeing themselves diminished and, as they report, because Zuendebolchus with his men were plotting to deprive Karolus of life, sent envoys from the very siege to Odo, that he should consent to Karolus and them a part of the kingdom, whatever part may please him, and receive them in peace.

Quod rex libentissime annuit, indeque adunato exercitu in Franciam repedavit. Ut Zuendebolcho nuntiatum est, qui iam a Lauduno recesserat, episcopo Didone indutias sub spetie pacis petendo, et quia primores Karoli videbat non ita esse erga se ut fuerant, velociter reversus est in regnum suum.

The king assented most willingly, and thereupon, his army having been gathered, he marched back into Francia. When it was reported to Zuendebolchus—who had already withdrawn from Laudunum—that the bishop Didon was seeking a truce under the guise of peace, and that, because he perceived the chief men of Charles were not toward him as they had been, he swiftly returned to his kingdom.

Odo vero rex Corbeiam venit indeque Atrebatis castrumque seu monasterium sancti Vedasti obsidione vallavit. Sed miseratus Christianitati noluit eum bellando capere. Homines vero Balduini, videntes ei non posse resistere, pacem petunt, obsides regi dant, ad sauum dirigunt seniorem, ut, quid illis agendum sit, insinuet.

Odo indeed, king, came to Corbeia and thence to the Atrebates’ territory and invested with siegeworks the castrum, or monastery, of Saint Vedast. But, having pity on the Christianity, he would not take it by fighting. The men of Baldwin, seeing that they could not resist him, sue for peace, give hostages to the king, and send an elder to him, to intimate what they ought to do.

Et dum moram facit his qui missus fuerat, rex iussit sibi aperiri portas, ingressusque monasterium seu castellum ad limina perrexit sancti Vedasti coramque eius sepulchro humi prostratus devotissime oravit ac uberrime flevit, inibi etiam missam audivit, gratias agens Deo. Venerunt etiam a parte Karoli et primorum eius Heribertus et Herkengerus et Hekfridus propter dictam rationem. Missi vero Balduini regressi *cum Rotberto egerunt ea quae senior illorum iussit.

And while delay was being made for those who had been sent, the king ordered the gates to be opened to him, and having entered he proceeded to the threshold of the monastery or castle of Saint Vedast, and before his tomb, prostrate on the ground, he prayed most devoutly and wept abundantly; there also he heard mass, giving thanks to God. From Charles’ side also came Heribert and Herkenger and Hekfridus on account of the said matter. The envoys of Baldwin, having returned, *with Robert did those things which their elder had ordered.

Statimque rex iussit illis reddi claves castelli omnesque suos iussit exire, et ita homines Balduini recipere ipsum castrum. Rex vero ab Atrebatis disponit ire ad Sanctum Quintinum et Perronam. Nam Sancti Quintini castrum, per noctem tradendo eum abintus, tulerat Rodulfus filio Theoderici.

And immediately the king ordered that the keys of the castle be returned to them and commanded all his men to leave, and so to receive Baldwin’s men he himself took the castle. The king, however, from the Atrebates resolved to go to Saint Quentin and Perrona. For the castle of Saint Quentin, by delivering it over from within during the night, Rodulfus, son of Theoderic, had carried off.

Sed intercurrentibus nuntiis distulit rex profectionem et Karoli fidelibus indixit placitum usque post pascha, ut hieme sine discordiis agerent.

But, with dispatches intervening, the king put off the departure and proclaimed to Charles’s faithful a placitum until after Easter, so that in winter they might transact affairs without discords.

Anno DCCCXCVI.

In the year 896.

Anno Domini DCCCXCVI. Odo rex in Francia hiemavit, Karolus vero rex supra Mosellam. Exhinc hi qui cum Karolo erant Balduinum infestum habuere, et ubique depraedationes agebantur ab eis.

In the year of Our Lord 896. Odo the king wintered in Francia, but Charles the king above the Moselle. Thence those who were with Charles held Baldwin hostile, and everywhere depredations were carried out by them.

Nam omnia castella tulerat eis Odo rex, excepto Remis. Igitur per varia placita totus hic annus pertransiit. Odo rex placitum cum suis fidelibus habuit, volens partem regni, quam eius fideles tenuerant, Karolo concedere.

For King Odo had taken from them all the castella, except Remis. Therefore through various placita this whole year passed. King Odo held a placitum with his faithful, willing to concede to Karolus a part of the kingdom which his men had held.

Sed Rodulfus comes omne illud placitum disrupit; unde Heribertus et Herkengerus, omnibus iam perditis, contulerunt se ad regem Odonem, paucique relicti sunt cum Karolo. Post haec Odo rex castrum Sancti Quintini et Perronam obsedit hominesque Rodulfi inde eiecit. Fulcho vero archiepiscopus, qui adhuc favebat partibus Karoli, circumventus a fidelibus Odonis et, licet invitus, venit ad regem et de omnibus quae ei rex iussit satis illi fecit.

But Count Rodulf broke up that entire placitum; whence Heribert and Herkenger, all things now lost, betook themselves to King Odo, and few were left with Charles. After this King Odo besieged the castle of Saint Quintin and Perrona and drove out thence the men of Rodulf. Fulcho, however, the archbishop, who still favoured the party of Charles, being surrounded by the faithful of Odo and, although unwilling, coming to the king, did for him sufficiently in all things which the king commanded him.

Karolus vero hoc audito secessit in regnum Zuendebolchi.

Karolus, however, on hearing this, retired to the kingdom of Zuendebolch.

Ac per idem tempus iterum Nortmanni cum duce Hundeo nomine et quinque barchis iterum Sequanam ingressi; et dum rex ad alia intendit, magnum sibi et regno malum accrescere fecit. Rodulfus vero in ira commotus propter castella perdita, dum depraedari non cessat abbatiam sancti Quintini, ab Heriberto in bello occiditur. Nortmanni vero iam multiplicati paucis ante nativitatem Domini diebus Hisam ingressi Cauciaco sedem sibi nullo resistente firmant.

And at the same time the Northmen again, with a leader called Hundeo and five barges, entered the Seine; and while the king was intent on other matters, he caused great harm to grow upon himself and the kingdom. Rodulfus, however, moved with anger over the lost castles, and, while he ceased not from plundering the abbey of Saint Quintin, was slain in battle by Heribertus. The Northmen, meanwhile, now multiplied, entered Hisam a few days before the Nativity of the Lord and made firm for themselves the seat at Cauciaco with no one resisting.

Anno DCCCXCVII.

In the year 897.

Anno Domini DCCCXCVII. Post haec usque Mosam in praeda exierunt, nullo sibi resistente. A praeda vero illis revertentibus occurrit regis exercitus, sed nil profecerunt.

In the year of Our Lord 897. After these events they went forth to the Meuse for plunder, with no one resisting them. And as they were returning from the plunder the king’s army met them, but accomplished nothing.

Verum Nortmanni ad naves reversi, timentes multitudinem exercitus, ne obsiderentur, in Sequanam redierunt, ibique toto demorantes aestate praedas agebant, nullo sibi resistente. Karolus vero Hundeum ad se deductum Duninio monasterio in pascha eum de sacro fonte suscepit.

But the Northmen, having returned to their ships, fearing the multitude of the army lest they be besieged, went back into the Sequana, and there, remaining through the whole summer, carried off plunder, no one resisting them. Charles, however, received Hundeus — led to him to the monastery of Duninio — at Easter at the sacred font.

Verum post haec hi qui cum Karolo erant, videntes suam paucitatem et nullum tutum habere locum refugii, iterum ad Odonem regem dirigunt, quatinus ad memoriam reduceret, quod senior eorum filius esset sui quondam senioris, et partem aliquam ei ex paterno regno concederet. At vero rex cum consilio suorum respondit se illi velle misereri, si sibi liceret; et intercurrentibus nuntiis venit Karolus ad eum; quem ille benigne suscepit, deditque ei tantum e regno, quantum sibi visum fuit, promisitque maiora et remisit eum ad locum suum, pacificato Heriberto cum eo. Balduinus etiam Rothberto faciente venit ad regem; quem rex honorifice suscepit, et de omnibus quae iusserat illi rex satis illi fecit, et ita remisit eum rex ad sua. Nortmanni vero iam in multitudine fidentes omnes reliquias regni ferro et igne devastant.

But after these things those who were with Karolus, seeing their paucity and that they had no safe place of refuge, once more directed themselves to King Odo, that he might bring back to mind that the son of their elder was once his elder’s, and might concede to him some portion from the paternal kingdom. But the king, with the counsel of his men, answered that he wished to pity him, if it were permitted to him; and with messengers passing between them Karolus came to him; whom he received kindly, and gave him from the kingdom as much as seemed good to him, and promised greater things, and sent him back to his place, Heribert being reconciled with him. Baldwin also, with Rothbert acting, came to the king; whom the king received honorably, and with regard to all which he had commanded the king did enough for him, and thus the king sent him back to his own. The Northmen, however, trusting now in their multitude, devastated all the remainder of the kingdom with sword and fire.

Unde rex misit ad eos, regnum redimere volens; et facto placito super Ligerem hiemandi gratia pergunt. Odo vero rex venit ad quoddam castrum super fluvium Isam, quod Fera dicitur, ibique graviter infirmari coepit. Qui dum languor per dies singulos incresceret, onmibus rogare coepit, ut Karolo servarent fidem.

Whereupon the king sent to them, desiring to redeem the kingdom; and with a pact made upon the Liger for the sake of wintering they proceeded. Odo the king, however, came to a certain castrum upon the river Isam, which is called Fera, and there began to be grievously infirm. And as his languor increased day by day, he began to beg all that they would preserve faith to Karolo.

Anno DCCCXCVIII.

Year 898.

Anno Domini DCCCXCVIII. Obiit ipse in eodem loco Kalendis Ianuarii, corpusque eius apud Sanctum Dionisium delatum ibique honorifice humatum. Franci vero rege mortuo die . . . Remis conveniunt Karolumque in sede paterna restituunt.

In the year of Our Lord 898. He himself died in the same place on the Kalends of January, and his body was conveyed to Saint Denis and honorably interred there. But with the Frankish king dead on the day . . . they assemble at Reims and restore Charles to the paternal seat.

Balduinus vero propter Heribertum venire distulit, attamen missos dirigit, qui regi innotescerent se illi fidelem esse, sicut dignum erat.

Baldwin, however, delayed coming on account of Heribert; nevertheless he dispatched messengers to make known to the king that they were faithful to him, as was fitting.

Nortmanni vero verno tempore rediere ad naves, vastatam Aquitaniae partem atque Neustriam, insuper plurima eversa castra, interfectis habitatoribus. Post haec Rothbertus comes, frater regis Odoni, venit ad regem; quem rex honorifice suscepit, eiusque fidelis effectus rediit ad sua. Similiter fecit et Richardus, [insuper et Willelmus]. Post haec rex Karolus cum exercitu parvo Nortmannis a praeda revertentibus in pago Vitmau iuxta quandam . . . insecutus, aliquibus suorum interfectis plurimisque vulneratis, Nortmanni more solito loca inoportuna tenentes rediere ad naves.

The Northmen, however, in the springtime returned to their ships, having laid waste a part of Aquitaine and Neustria, and moreover many camps overturned, with the inhabitants slain. After these things Count Rothbert, brother of King Odo, came to the king; whom the king received honorably, and, having made him faithful, he returned to his own. Similarly did Richard, [and moreover William]. After these things King Charles, with a small army, pursued the Northmen returning from plunder in the pagus Vitmau near a certain . . . ; some of his men having been killed and very many wounded, the Northmen, holding the inhospitable places according to their custom, returned to their ships.

Hiemis vero tempore Burgundiam petierunt ibique sedem sibi statuunt ad hiemandum. Sed Richardus comes noctu in natale sanctorum Innocentium commisit cum eis proelium et victor existens compulit eos redire in Sequanam. Ragnerus vero comes venit ad regem Karolum et fidem ei promittens suasit illi atque suis fidelibus invadere regnum Zuendebolchi.

In the winter season they made for Burgundy and there set up a seat for wintering. But Count Richard by night on the feast of the Holy Innocents engaged them in battle, and being victorious compelled them to withdraw to the Sequana. And Count Ragnerus came to King Karolus and, promising fealty to him, urged him and his faithful men to invade the kingdom of Zuendebolch.

Sed ille suis adunatis fidelibus venit contra Karolum, nuntiisque discurrentibus inter eos, Karolus nullo peracto negotio rediit in regnum suum.

But he, having mustered his faithful followers, came against Karolus, and with messengers running back and forth between them, Karolus, no business having been accomplished, returned to his kingdom.

Anno DCCCXCVIIII.

In the year 899.

Anno Domini DCCCXCVIIII. Balduinus vero contra regis voluntatem Perronam invasit, sed sub celeritate amisit. Post haec mense Novembrio Nortmanni quasi sedem sibi firmandam super Hisam iter arripientes omnem terram pervagati sunt usque Mosam, insecutusque est eos Zuendebolchus rex, sed non comprehendit eos.

In the Year of Our Lord 899. But Baldwin, contrary to the king’s will, invaded Perronam, yet lost it through haste. After these things, in the month of November the Northmen, as it were seizing a seat to make firm for themselves and taking up a march upon the Hisa, ranged through all the land as far as the Meuse; and King Zuendebolchus pursued them, but did not overtake them.

Karolus rex obsedit castrum Sancti Vedasti, et habitatoribus excommunicatis omnibus, hi qui ipsum castrum tenebant missos dirigunt ad Balduinum et, quamvis non voluntarie, obsides regi dederunt, dato spatio ad sua exportanda. Ad dictum vero placitum rediit rex, venitque ad eum Balduinus in pago Camaracense; et primitus pacificati sunt Karolus rex atque Zuendebolchus, et reddidit Balduinus regi castrum et suos exinde fecit exire; quem rex dedit Altmaro comiti. In ipso etiam placito debuerunt se pacificari Heribertus et Balduinus, atque redierunt unusquisque ad sua loca.

King Karolus besieged the castle of Saint Vedast, and with all the inhabitants excommunicated, those who held the castle sent envoys to Balduinus and, though not willingly, gave hostages to the king, after time was granted to carry off their belongings. The king then returned to the said placitum, and Balduinus came to him in the pagus of Camaracense; and first King Karolus and Zuendebolchus were pacified, and Balduinus restored the castle to the king and caused his men to withdraw thence; which the king gave to Count Altmaro. At that same placitum Heribert and Balduinus were also to make peace between themselves, and each returned to his own places.

Anno CM. Karolus vero rex aestivo tempore super Hisam adunato exercitu resedit tractaturus, quid agerent de suis inimicis. Balduinus vero perrexit ad ipsum placitum, volens sibi regem reblandiri, ut terram, quam ei tulerat, redderet. Cumque hoc contradiceret Fulcho atque Heribertus, Winetmarus inprovise superveniens Fulchoni archiepiscopo cum suis complicibus, quod dictum nefas est, multis perfossum vulneribus interfecerunt XVI.

In the year 900. But King Charles, in the summer season, having mustered his army upon the Hisa, sat in council to consider what should be done about his enemies. Baldwin, however, went to that same assembly, desiring the king to be won over to him, so that he would restore the land which he had taken from him. And when Fulcho and Heribert opposed this, Winetmar, arriving suddenly upon Archbishop Fulcho with his accomplices, because it was deemed an impious act, struck him through with many wounds and killed him. 16.

Kal. Iulii, corpusque eius Remis delatum atque in aecclesia beati Remigii positum. Post haec ordinato episcopo Hereveo Remis synodoque facto, omnes interfectores episcopi damnaverunt et a liminibus sanctae matris aecclesiae extorres reddiderunt.

On the Kalends of July, his body was brought to Reims and placed in the church of Blessed Remigius. After this, Hereveus having been ordained bishop and a synod held at Reims, they condemned all the bishop’s murderers and delivered them up as outlaws from the thresholds of the holy mother church.

Rex vero cum Rothberto et Richardo atque Heriberto coepit sermocinari de Nortmannis, quid agerent. Unde contigit quadam die, ut Manasses, quidam ex fidelibus Richardi, cum rege loquens quae illi non conveniebat de Rothberto locutus est. Quod ubi Rothberto nuntiatum est, ascenso equo rediit in sua, atque ita omnes discordantes sine ullo effectu reversi sunt [unusquisque in sua].

The king, however, began to debate with Rothbert and Richard and Herbert about the Nortmanni, what they should do. Whence it happened one day that Manasses, a certain one of Richard’s fideles, speaking with the king, said things to him about Rothbert that were not agreeable. When this was reported to Rothbert, he mounted his horse and returned to his own, and so all the dissenters returned without any effect, [each to his own].