Historical Tales, Vol 5 | Page 5

The remaining events in the life of this champion of German liberty
were few. While the events described had been taking place in the north
of Germany, there were troubles in the south. Here a chieftain named
Marbodius, who, like Hermann, had passed his youth in the Roman
armies, was the leader of several powerful tribes. He lacked the
patriotism of Hermann, and sought to ally himself with the Romans,
with the hope of attaining to supreme power in Germany.
Hermann sought to rouse patriotic sentiments in his mind, but in vain,

and the movements of Marbodius having revealed his purposes, a
coalition was formed against him, with Hermann at its head. He was
completely defeated, and southern Germany saved from Roman
domination, as the northern districts had already been.
Peace followed, and for several years Hermann remained
general-in-chief of the German people, and the acknowledged bulwark
of their liberties. But envy arose; he was maligned, and accused of
aiming at sovereignty, as Marbodius had done; and at length his own
relations, growing to hate and fear him, conspired against and murdered
him.
Thus ignobly fell the noblest of the ancient Germans, the man whose
patriotism saved the realm of the Teutonic tribes from becoming a
province of the empire of Rome. Had not Hermann lived, the history of
Europe might have pursued a different course, and the final downfall of
the colossus of the south been long averted, Germany acting as its
bulwark of defence instead of becoming the nursery of its foes.

_ALBOIN AND ROSAMOND._
Of the Teutonic invaders of Italy none are invested with more interest
than the Lombards,--the Long Beards, to give them their original title.
Legend yields us the story of their origin, a story of interest enough to
repeat. A famine had been caused in Denmark by a great flood, and the
people, to avoid danger of starvation, had resolved to put all the old
men and women to death, in order to save the food for the young and
strong. This radical proposition was set aside through the advice of a
wise woman, named Gambara, who suggested that lots should be
drawn for the migration of a third of the population. Her counsel was
taken and the migration began, under the leadership of her two sons.
These migrants wore beards of prodigious length, whence their
subsequent name.
They first entered the land of the Vandals, who refused them
permission to settle. This was a question to be decided at sword's point,

and war was declared. Both sides appealed to the gods for aid,
Gambara praying to Freya, while the Vandals invoked Odin, who
answered that he would grant the victory to the party he should first
behold at the dawn of the coming day.
The day came. The sun rose. In front of the Danish host were stationed
their women, who had loosened their long hair, and let it hang down
over their faces. "Who are these with long beards?" demanded Odin, on
seeing these Danish amazons. This settled the question of victory, and
also gave the invaders a new name, that of Longobardi,--due, in this
legend, to the long hair of the women instead of the long beards of the
men. There are other legends, but none worth repeating.
The story of their king Alboin, with whom we have particularly to deal,
begins, however, with a story which may be in part legendary. They
were now in hostile relations with the Gepidæ, the first nation to throw
off the yoke of the Huns. Alboin, son of Audoin, king of the
Longobardi, killed Thurismund, son of Turisend, king of the Gepidæ,
in battle, but forgot to carry away his arms, and thus returned home
without a trophy of his victory. In consequence, his stern father refused
him a seat at his table, as one unworthy of the honor. Such was the
ancient Lombard custom, and it must be obeyed.
The young prince acknowledged the justice of this reproof, and
determined to try and obtain the arms which were his by right of
victory. Selecting forty companions, he boldly visited the court of
Turisend, and openly demanded from him the arms of his son. It was a
daring movement, but proved successful. The old king received him
hospitably, as the custom of the time demanded, though filled with
grief at the loss of his son. He even protected him from the anger of his
subjects, whom some of the Lombards had provoked by their insolence
of speech. The daring youth returned to his father's court with the arms
of his slain foe, and won the seat of honor of which he had been
deprived.
Turisend died, and Cunimund, his son, became king. Audoin died, and
Alboin became king. And now new adventures of interest occurred.