Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-10-21
THE WORLDS
GREAT EVENTS
ALBERT PAYsoE TERHUEE
d by Dodd naad q Company
Rarbarossa


magne HIS model IN life. and resolved
to duplicate the French kings feats
and win the same power and glory.
Like many another historical celebri-
~. the German youth was red-haired,
From this fact his Italian enemies
later nicknamed him .Barbarossa'
(Red-Beard). His Christian name
was Frederick and he was nephew Of
Conrad. emperor Of Germany.
Charlemagne had one early advan-
tage over Barbarossa. for he was d.
rect heir to the throne, while Conrad
had a son or his own. Yet so cleverly
did the young f8arbarossa arrange
matters that he, and not this rightful
heir, was chosen by Conrad rs his sue
cessor The people ratified the choice,
and on Conrad's death in 1852 Barba-
rossa. then Twenty-Five years old,
came to the throne.
He found Germany In no enviable
condition. Disputes had arisen among
the petty princlpallties OF the country,
and. under Conrad's easy rule, the
ties OF allegiance had weakened More
over Germany,s claims to snzeralnty
In Italy and other lands had been al
lowed 70 lapse. Altogether, Barba-
rossa had a very poor start in his plan
of rivaling Charlemagne's greatness.
In no way discouraged at the gloomy
prospect, the young king set to work
at once reconciling the differences
among the home principallties and
making decidedly advantageous al
llances and treaties for himself at
home and abroad. Unlike most me
dieval heroes, he was more than
mere warrior. He was also shrewd
politician and an adept In the art OF
cajollng when coercion failed. In this
way he proceeded to strengthen and
, consolidate Germany into a compact,
contented nation. He then made mu-
niclpal and civic reforms, promoted
the cause OF education and culture
and started Germany once more upon
the path OF progress.
Having accomplished these tremen.
d0us tasks, Barbarossn turned his att
tention to the Italians who had shaken
on Germany's yoke. The Milanese,
who ruled much OF the northern part
OF Italy, had maltreated German sub
tects. Bnrbarosstt, # the head ef aii /
army. marched against these rebels.
conquered them snd laid waste north
ern Italy. Having thus avenged his
subjects real or fancied wrongs. he /
marched over the Apennlnes upon |
Rome, and there, on June 10, 1885, he
was crowned "Holy Roman Emperor"
The resemblance TO Charlemagne be-
Ing thus far carried out. he hurried /
back 10 Germany. whence tidings had
come OF robber knights and barons
who. taking advantage of their EN-
peror's absence, had set out on "a high
handed course Of misrule.
Barbarossa wnsted little time IN
crushing these oppressors. He then
resumed hlsl plans OF conquest. BY
diplomacy more than by force he won
the allegiance Of Poland. OF Hungary,
OF Bohemia and the powerful French
province Of Burgundy He then went
back. to Italy and besieged and cup.
tured Milan.
The pope. noting this rapid acqul.
sitlon Of power. demanded that Bar
barossa become n papal vassal. Bar.
barossa calmly refused and showed
himself able and ready to enforce his
refusal. The pope for the time with
drew his demands. But II WAS soon
after this that Barbarossa scandallzed
by practically declaring
var on the Vatican.
The dispute was purely political
md cast no reflection on the EN-
,eror's religious faith. Alexander III
was pope. Barbarossa favored an
lntl-popes claims. Alexander prompt
y accommodated him. Barbarossa.
n retaliation, stormed Rome and took
Of the Vatican. Italy held .
Is breath at such sacrilege. But even
while the world looked on, speIIbound
pestllence swept the German army =
Il Rome (sent. az Alexander declared.
n punishment for Barbarossa's bias.
,hemous eonduct), and Of all that
asst host only a scattered remnant re-
1rned alive 10 Germany.
At sight Of this weakening OF their
readed masters forces the cities Of
Italy formed a confedera-
on against Barbarossa. utterly rout-
* him In battle nj Llgnano. The
nperor was crushed under HIS falling
orse and left on the field for dead.
at within three days he Fe8ppeared
-mlraculously. II was thought-at the
FAD Of his surviving troops at Pavla.
His plans we're defeated. his great
,wer apparently gone. Another man
ould have despaIred. But Barba
ssa merely exchanged war once more
diplomacy acknowledged
exander as the true pope and by -
rlous crafty maneuvers Of wire-pull- e
z and craftsmanship regained pO- ~
icaI control OF italy. Not content
IN this. he set forth to capture the
bly, Land from the Turks He won
% decisive victories in Asia Minor. re
4 before ne could reach Palestine an
elf he was drowned. in 100, while sc sc