I
About a hundred years had passed since the death of Charlemagne,
and his great empire had fallen to pieces. Seven kings ruled where
he had once been sole emperor.
West of the Rhine, where the Germans lived, the last descendant
of Charlemagne died when he was a mere boy. The German nobles were
not willing for any foreign prince to govern them, and yet they saw
that they must unite to defend their country against the invasions
of the barbarians called Magyars (_ma-järz'_). So they met and
elected Conrad, duke of Franconia, to be their king.
However, although he became king in name, Conrad never had much
power over his nobles. Some of them refused to recognize him as
king and his reign was disturbed by quarrels and wars. He died
in 919, and on his death-bed he said to his brother, "Henry, Duke
of Saxony, is the ablest ruler in the empire. Elect him king, and
Germany will have peace."
A few months after Conrad's death, the nobles met at Aix-la-Chapelle
and elected Henry to be their king.
At this time it was the custom in Europe to hunt various birds,
such as the wild duck and partridge, with falcons. The falcons
were long-winged birds of prey, resembling hawks. They were trained
to perch on their master's wrist and wait patiently until they
were told to fly. Then they would swiftly dart at their prey and
bear it to the ground. Henry was very fond of falconry and hence
was known as Henry the Fowler, or Falconer.
As soon as the other dukes had elected him king a messenger was
sent to Saxony to inform him of the honor done him. After a search
of some days he was at last found, far up in the Hartz Mountains,
hunting with his falcons. Kneeling at his feet, the messenger said:
"God save you, Henry of Saxony. I come to announce the death of
King Conrad and to tell you that the nobles have elected you to
succeed him as king of the Germans."
For a moment the duke was speechless with amazement. Then he exclaimed:
"Elected me king? I cannot believe it. I am a Saxon, and King Conrad
was a Frank and a bitter enemy to me."
[Illustration: THE CROWN OF GERMANY IS OFFERED TO HENRY THE FOWLER]
"It is true," replied the messenger. "Conrad, when dying, advised
that the nobles should choose you as his successor."
Henry was silent for while and then he said, "King Conrad was a
good man. I know it now; and I am sorry that I did not understand
him better when he was alive. I accept the position offered to me
and I pray that I may be guided by Heaven in ruling his people."
So Henry the Fowler left the chase to take up his duties as king
of the Germans.