Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-24
HISTORICAL LETTERS.
To aaE EDI4oa OF THE YiRcISIA .AacUs.
LETTER XIV.
Formation 3fthe Kingdoms Of Modern En-
robe, after the fell Of the Roman Emffre.

Formation 6fthe Kingdoms Of Modern En-
robe, after the fell Of the Roman Emline.
GERMANY.
The origin of the various tribes of Barba-
rians that inhabited the country anciently
denominated Germany, is nearly lost in the
mists of antiquity. Of the enlightened men
who have treated of their early history and
manners, Tacitus stands the most distin-
guished. Interesting and authentic traits of
their spirit aud character may also be CLEAN
ed from the writings of julius Cesar, who
was personally acquainted with their Gus
toms, and had frequently experienced the
| effects of their feroCiouS valor. It's univcr-
| sally agreed by historians and commeuta-
| tors, that the ancient Germans were addict
ed to war, influenced by masculine ideas OF
| independence, and were the Intrepid asser-
| tors of public liberty. The courage of their
chiefs has often made the Roman ca
| gle droop the wing, and the ablest generals
of the imperial mistress of the world seek
| for safety in flight. But whilst they were
| thus remarkable for the virtues, they were
| likewise conspicuous for the vices, of Barba-
rians Gaming and drunkenness were car
ried to excess; and there was very little
to admire III their private morals. or their
| predominant manners, if we except the pa
the undaunted herosm of their women. The
love of freedom was their ruling passion
and Iontesquleu, with no small degree OF
probability, concludes that the most liberal
principles of modern government originated
| Ill the woods of GERMANY.
The Roman empire of the West, which
| ended with Augustulus, was succeeded by
the agitations of those warlik tribes, which,
/ from the north of Europe and the interior
OF Asa, sought for a milder climate, for bet
ter habitations, and perhaps for revenge of
| the wrongs inflicted by Rome. Their mi
| grations and their battles changed the con
| dition of society, alleged civilization with
| barbarian policy, and for considerable du
| ration of time kept Italy, Gaul, and Germa-
| ny, in a state of Commotion. These maui
etudes had not yet subsidized, when Charlie
| magne, in the year 500, was crowned at
Rome by Pope Leo III. and revived the west
| ern empire, with the consent of Nicephones,
! who then reigned in the east. This empire
| was afterwards divided between The four
sons of Lewis-le- Debonnaire, who was the
son and successor of Charlemagne. From
| the division of the dominions of the latter.
until the election of Rodolph, of Hapsbourg,
comprehendng an interval of upwards of
| three hundred years, German history en-
braces four distinct periods, distinguished by
| the Houses of Saxony, of FranConia, of Sua
| bia, and by an anarchy of long continuance.
| During the contest of ambitious rivals for
| power and precedence, independent COM
| munities, bordering on Germany, prone to
I plumber and fond of spoil, did not fail to take
advantage of prevailing troubles; the Hun
| garians, the Bohemians, the Sclavonians, the
| Venedians, the Danes, and other banditti,
| each according to their genius and situation,
broke in upon the Germans and rayaged
their territory. From these predatory in
vasions Germany was in great measure
| freed by the princes of the house of Saxony,
| among whom Henry the Fowler was much
distinguished by his abilities as a warrior and
statesman, and who enlarged and fortified
his country, improving the morals of the peo-
pie and ameliorating the state of sOcety.
| But his son Ohio the Great, who reigned A.
u. $50, obtained more splendid success i'll
| the north and in the south of Europe: BY
| marriage and by conquest he extended his
| authority into Italy, wrested the imperial di-
adem from every competitor, compelled the
Pope to acknowledge his power, and attach
ed the dignity of emperor to the sovereign
of the German States. The superior capa-
| city of Ohio the Great, IS best described by
the fortunes of his successors, Ohio III. and
| III. and Henry ii. who, from the year 973,
till the beginning OF the eleventh century,
reigned i'll the midst of political and religi-
Gus troubles, unequal TO the task of retaining
i'll steady subsection discordant population
excited by restless spirits to rebellion and
independence.
The imperial sovereignty of the house oi
5aXony became extinct on the death of Hen
ny III. and in the year 1924 it was transfer
red to the House OF Frarconia, in the person
of Conrad H. who, by the female line was
descended from Ohio the Great. He wa:
solemnly elected to the throne in the pre-
sence of all the high dignitaries of the EN-
pire, and of the freemen assembled for thai
purpose There were five emperors of the
House of Saxony in the space of los years
The House of FranConia also produced FIVE
in the course of 100 years The princes o
this latter family were, in general, remark
able for their misfOrtunes Henry III. whC
reigncd A. ID. 1859, was the most illustriOus
distinguished for justice, humanity, and lOv,
of literature. Henry ". who came to TN,
throne in the year 1856, at tender age, i
celebrated by he vicissitudes of his life. In
volved in a quarrel with the ablest of the
Popcs, whose cause was we'll supported b,
the Normans who established themselves il
Italy under Henry III. he was compelled e
mingle the most ser,ilc dcgradatiuns witt
the spcndor OF royalty; and finally, Cypress
cd by the usurpation Of his son, and the con
trivances Of the head Of the church, he be
came wandering outcast, a stranger to tht
Othccs of friendship, and contemptuousll
! spurned from the meancst cmployments
Under tue house Of Franconia the empir,
went 20 decay, and in every quarter petit,
princes started up, rendered important b,
! the turbalence Of the times, and laying claim
| fo md ev-p rciqinc- vi hin tbf,it. reeucet ~,