64 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



with great fury. Charles at length became convinced of the impractica- 

 bility of their permanent subjugation, and finally consented to leave them 

 their own freedom and laws, in hopes thus to secure to himself their 

 allegiance, and to induce them to adopt the Christian religion. A great 

 number of the Saxons received the rite of baptism, and recognised Charles 

 as their liege lord, 777 A.D. 



This submission, however, was not universal. Wittekind, a noble 

 Westphalian, and a glorious leader of the Saxons, did not yield, but fled to 

 the king of Denmark. Among the subdued Saxons rebellion broke out 

 twice, and was quelled by Charles, who, exasperated at their unruliness, 

 put 4,500 of his prisoners to death in one day, at Yerdin, on the Aller, 

 and devastated all the territory up to the banks of the Elbe. The 

 gallant Wittekind, who was again at the head of his party, touched 

 with the sad fortunes of his compatriots, at length began to relent in 

 his hostility to the Franks. At the same time distrust arose in his mind in 

 regard to the power of his own gods. Despairing of final success, he 

 listened to the oft repeated proposals of his great enemy, professed his 

 belief in Christ, and was baptized at Attigny in France, 804 A.D., Charles 

 standing as his godfather. Charles felt satisfied that by Wittekind's 

 conversion the only obstacle to a lasting peace with the Saxons was 

 removed. Wittekind remained faithful to the Christian cause, and 

 became zealous for its promotion. Yast numbers of his countrymen 

 followed his example, and submitted to the ceremony of baptism ; and 

 under the benign infiuences of the new religion the fair fields of Saxony 

 once more yielded the means of wealth and happiness. 



Charles had convened a council or diet at Paderborn, in 777 A.D., at 

 which appeared, among others, delegates from two Spanish emirs, in order 

 to implore his protection against their oppressor, the Caliph Abderrhaman. 

 With the hope of planting the cross firmly in Mahomedan Spain, Charles 

 complied with their solicitations, proceeded in the year 778 with a powerful 

 force across the Pyrenees, and in a short time captured Pampeluna and 

 Saragossa, and conquered the whole country to the Ebro, which, under the 

 title of the Spanish Mark, was joined to his dominions. But on his home- 

 ward march he was furiously attacked by the mountaineers, and sustained 

 great losses ; and it was in this engagement the noble Poland fell, who is 

 so heroically and beautifully sung by Ariosto. 



Not long after the conclusion of peace in Saxony, new troubles arose 

 by the rebellion of Tassilo, duke of Bavaria, and son-in-law of Desiderius, 

 king of Lombardy. Charles suppressed the insurrection (788) ; but the 

 treachery of Tassilo, who soon after induced the Hungarian Avari to 

 march into Franconia, did not permit him to remain long quiet. Irritated 

 by this conduct, Charles had him arrested at Ingelheim, and he was 

 imprisoned in a convent. In retaliation upon the Avari, Charles con- 

 quered their territory and annexed it to his kingdom under the title of the 

 East Mark, 799 A.D. 



Pope Leo III., the successor of Hadrian, being furiously attacked by his 

 enemies, sought the assistance of Charles. The latter repaired at once to 

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