antagonism against Rufus; and fomented in Ger- 936-942 many-the example now before us-a virulent civil war. 936-940 936 auguration Aix-la Otho, however, commenced his reign without 8th Aug. encountering any immediate opposition or objection. Aix-la-Chapelle witnessed the inaugu- Solemn inration, celebrated with unprecedented solemnity. of Otho at -Unable, like Cologne, or Metz, or Treves, to Chapelle. trace her municipal ancestry to the Roman age,not dignified by an Episcopal chair,-neither remarkable for strength, nor distinguished by opulence,-Aix-la-Chapelle was, nevertheless, honoured as the Capital of Lotharingia. Much celebrity was given to the City by the perennial thermal springs; and some local pride resulted from the legendary traditions of King Granus; but Aix-la-Chapelle's highest consecration was imparted by Charlemagne's memory. Charlemagne's columned Hall,-the Hall adjoining the Sanctuary,-conducting to the Catacomb,-exhibited the most affecting and solemn combination of grandeur-holiness-and death.In this Hall, the Prelates and Nobles assembled. Homage was performed by the Lieges, who placed their hands between the hands of Henry the Fowler's Son. Otho then proceeded into the orbicular Temple, of which the model had been sought in Byzantine Ravenna: the encircling galleries were crowded by the Clerisy and Laity, to whom he was presented, and who, raising high 936-942 their opened palms, declared their assent by act and voice, the shouts resounding beneath the 936-940 shadowy Dome. 936-940 Transac tions be tween and France. The imperial diadem of Charlemagne, which Henry dared not wear, was placed upon the brow of Otho by Hildebert, Archbishop of Mayence. The two great Lotharingian Prelates, Robert of Treves, and Wicfried of Cologne, contested,—and the last exercised-the privilege of conferring the Sacramental unction.-Then ensued the gorgeous Coronation-banquet; Otho the King, seated at the table of marble-stone, his lovely and pious Queen, the English Editha, by his side. As Duke of Lotharingia and Reichs-marschall, Gilbert, the King's brother-in-law, Gerberga's husband, received the Sovereign in the Palace. Everhard, Duke of Franconia, exercised the functions of Truchsess, or High Steward, afterwards appertaining unto the Pfaltzgraff of the Rhine; Herman, Duke of Franconia, acted in the capacity of Reichs-schenk, or Chief Butler; Arnolph, Lord Harbinger. Gifts were most liberally bestowed on all the guests; and the reverend festival was concluded amidst exuberant hilarity. § 11. Germany exercised a powerful influence within the sphere of France; and the accession of Germany this Sovereign was a very important event to Louis, and also to the yet unborn son of Louis after him. Editha, the Queen Consort, was the younger, perhaps the youngest, sister of Ogiva, daughter of 936-940 Edward the Elder, sister of glorious Athelstane. 936-942 The three great royal families, of England, France and Germany, were therefore, so far as intermarriage can tend to constitute affinity, one family. Otho, the compeer of Louis could, like Athelstane, or Hugh-le-Grand, call himself the Uncle of Louis, and become a troublesome intermeddler, or a powerful friend. During the preceding reigns, the political relations subsisting between France and Germany had been frigid, and often hostile. Gentler sentitiments now succeeded. Louis, the legitimate sovereign, and Otho the son of Henry the Fowler, seemed, until the excitement resulting from the fresh enjoyment of royalty subsided, to rejoice in mutually acknowledging each other as brothers. The Coronation brought Otho to the confines of France. Courtesy required that the young and kindred Monarchs should exchange congratulations; and the Court of Laôn reciprocated with Aix-la-Chapelle. Yet a silent, though not the less intelligible jealousy, really alienated the lineal representative of imperial Charlemagne from the Saxon occupant of Charlemagne's imperial throne. Louis, even when his direct dominion was restricted to the Rock of Laôn, even when he lost the Rock of Laôn, never abated one jot of his pretensions. Otho, on his part, aspired to all the glories of the Great Em- Grand and peror-Charlemagne's majestic form beckoned tented Otho courts Hugh-le the discon party. 936-942 him onwards to the distant Capitol: the Eagle was soaring before him. 937-938 The apparently cordial glow of affection, rapidly cooled, and, during the troubles which enveloped Louis, after he had liberated himself from the Protectorate of Hugh-le-Grand, Otho scarcely observed the decorum of neutrality. Cultivating the acquaintance of the French nobles generally, Otho extended his graciousness peculiarly amongst the discontented, or revolting party. With Guillaume Longue-épée, he contracted a firm intimacy: and the Normans, always anxious to obtain any recognition of their Duke's pre-eminence, boasted that there was not a soul amongst the French nobles who stood so high in Otho's favour as Guillaume. Arnoul of Flanders and Herbert of Vermandois became the adherents of Otho; but the most emphatic enunciation of Otho's sentiments was afforded by his conduct towards Hugh-le-Grand. As soon as Hugh-le-Grand had been ejected from the Protectorate, he immediately sought to counterbalance such weight as Louis might possess in the councils of Otho by reason of family connexion; and, for this purpose, he adopted a course wisely calculated to increase his consequence and political stability. Imperfect is the ideal of power unless accompanied by the element of perpetuation. It is not good, in any sense, for man to be alone,-and Hugh-le-Grand was desti 937-938 marries Hadwisa, tute of the political support which the child im- 936-942 parts to the father. The Widower of two wives solicited the hand of Hadwisa, or Hadwina, King Hugh le Otho's sister, the late King Henry's daughter, and G Grand the royal Brother gladly assented. The fertile daughter Beauty presented her Consort with the Heir he Henry the needed, Hugh Capet being the first-fruit of their marriage. of King Fowler. attending cession. Abstractedly from any project, more or less Difficulties definitely entertained by Otho, for conquering the Otho's acsupremacy of Gallia Romana-as the Germans called the Kingdom ruled by Louis,-it was a felicitous contingency that he should be able to support himself towards the Rhine, by the French nobles, whose alliance he had thus gained. Otho was sorely pressed by barbarian hostility, as well as by domestic dissensions. Germany sustained a large proportion of the stripes inflicted by the Magyars, whilst Sclaves and Wends shouted their fierce war-cry. These troubles were serious, yet external, and very bearable when compared with the complicated and annoying afflictions and dangers arising out of the fratricidal wars in which Otho was engaged. The sturdy Thankmar, availing himself of the discontents amongst the Franconians, and supported by the Duke Everhard, he who had presented the golden beaker to King Otho at the Coronation-feast,-asserted his rights as the Saxon Fowler's first and eldest son. But his Brother's |