andoneoftheirboldestwarriorspresumedtostrikeabattle—axeintothegoldengate。TheartsandtreasuresoftheGreeksdivertedtheassault；buttheHungariansmightboast，intheirretreat，thattheyhadimposedatributeonthespiritofBulgariaandthemajestyoftheCaesars。^34TheremoteandrapidoperationsofthesamecampaignappeartomagnifythepowerandnumbersoftheTurks；buttheircourageismostdeservingofpraise，sincealighttroopofthreeorfourhundredhorsewouldoftenattemptandexecutethemostdaringinroadstothegatesofThessalonicaandConstantinople。Atthisdisastrousaeraoftheninthandtenthcenturies，EuropewasafflictedbyatriplescourgefromtheNorth，theEast，andtheSouth:theNorman，theHungarian，andtheSaracen，sometimestrodthesamegroundofdesolation；andthesesavagefoesmighthavebeencomparedbyHomertothetwolionsgrowlingoverthecarcassofamangledstag。^35[Footnote30:SeeKatona，Hist。DucumHungar。p。321—
352。]
[Footnote31:Hungarorumgens，cujusomnesferenationesexpertaesaevitium&c。，istheprefaceofLiutprand，l。i。c。2，whofrequentlyexpatiatedonthecalamitiesofhisowntimes。Seel。
i。c。5，l。ii。c。1，2，4，5，6，7；l。iii。c。1，&c。，l。v。c。
8，15，inLegat。p。485。HiscolorsareglaringbuthischronologymustberectifiedbyPagiandMuratori。]
[Footnote32:ThethreebloodyreignsofArpad，Zoltan，andToxus，arecriticallyillustratedbyKatona，Hist。Ducum，&c。p。
107—499。Hisdiligencehassearchedbothnativesandforeigners；yettothedeedsofmischief，orglory，IhavebeenabletoaddthedestructionofBremen，AdamBremensis，i。43。]
[Footnote33:MuratorihasconsideredwithpatrioticcarethedangerandresourcesofModena。ThecitizensbesoughtSt。
Geminianus，theirpatron，toavert，byhisintercession，therabies，flagellum，&c。
Nuncterogamus，licetservipessimi，AbUngerorumnosdefendasjaculis。
Thebishoperectedwallsforthepublicdefence，notcontradominosserenos，Antiquitat。Ital。Med。Aevi，tom。i。dissertat。
i。p。21，22，andthesongofthenightlywatchisnotwithouteleganceoruse，tom。iii。dis。xl。p。709。TheItalianannalisthasaccuratelytracedtheseriesoftheirinroads，Annalid\'Italia，tom。vii。p。365，367，398，401，437，440，tom。viii。p。19，41，52，&c。]
[Footnote34:BoththeHungarianandRussianannalssuppose，thattheybesieged，orattacked，orinsultedConstantinople，Pray，dissertat。x。p。239。Katona，Hist。Ducum，p。354—360；andthefactisalmostconfessedbytheByzantinehistorians，LeoGrammaticus，p。506。Cedrenus，tom。ii。p。629:yet，howeverglorioustothenation，itisdeniedordoubtedbythecriticalhistorian，andevenbythenotaryofBela。Theirscepticismismeritorious；theycouldnotsafelytranscribeorbelievetherusticorumfabulas:butKatonamighthavegivendueattentiontotheevidenceofLiutprand，Bulgarorumgentematquedaecorumtributariamfecerant，Hist。l。ii。c。4，p。435。]
[Footnote35:—Iliad，xvi。756。]
ThedeliveranceofGermanyandChristendomwasachievedbytheSaxonprinces，HenrytheFowlerandOthotheGreat，who，intwomemorablebattles，foreverbrokethepoweroftheHungarians。
^36ThevaliantHenrywasrousedfromabedofsicknessbytheinvasionofhiscountry；buthismindwasvigorousandhisprudencesuccessful。\"Mycompanions，\"saidhe，onthemorningofthecombat，\"maintainyourranks，receiveonyourbucklersthefirstarrowsofthePagans，andpreventtheirseconddischargebytheequalandrapidcareerofyourlances。\"Theyobeyedandconquered:andthehistoricalpictureofthecastleofMerseburghexpressedthefeatures，oratleastthecharacter，ofHenry，who，inanageofignorance，intrustedtothefinerartstheperpetuityofhisname。^37Attheendoftwentyyears，thechildrenoftheTurkswhohadfallenbyhisswordinvadedtheempireofhisson；andtheirforceisdefined，inthelowestestimate，atonehundredthousandhorse。Theywereinvitedbydomesticfaction；thegatesofGermanyweretreacherouslyunlocked；andtheyspread，farbeyondtheRhineandtheMeuse，intotheheartofFlanders。ButthevigorandprudenceofOthodispelledtheconspiracy；theprincesweremadesensiblethatunlesstheyweretruetoeachother，theirreligionandcountrywereirrecoverablylost；andthenationalpowerswerereviewedintheplainsofAugsburgh。Theymarchedandfoughtineightlegions，accordingtothedivisionofprovincesandtribes；thefirst，second，andthird，werecomposedofBavarians；thefourth，ofFranconians；thefifth，ofSaxons，undertheimmediatecommandofthemonarch；thesixthandseventhconsistedofSwabians；andtheeighthlegion，ofathousandBohemians，closedtherearofthehost。Theresourcesofdisciplineandvalorwerefortifiedbytheartsofsuperstition，which，onthisoccasion，maydeservetheepithetsofgenerousandsalutary。Thesoldierswerepurifiedwithafast；thecampwasblessedwiththerelicsofsaintsandmartyrs；andtheChristianherogirdedonhissidetheswordofConstantine，graspedtheinvinciblespearofCharlemagne，andwavedthebannerofSt。Maurice，thepraefectoftheThebaeanlegion。Buthisfirmestconfidencewasplacedintheholylance，^38whosepointwasfashionedofthenailsofthecross，andwhichhisfatherhadextortedfromthekingofBurgundy，bythethreatsofwar，andthegiftofaprovince。TheHungarianswereexpectedinthefront；theysecretlypassedtheLech，ariverofBavariathatfallsintotheDanube；turnedtherearoftheChristianarmy；plunderedthebaggage，anddisorderedthelegionofBohemiaandSwabia。ThebattlewasrestoredbytheFranconians，whoseduke，thevaliantConrad，waspiercedwithanarrowasherestedfromhisfatigues:theSaxonsfoughtundertheeyesoftheirking；andhisvictorysurpassed，inmeritandimportance，thetriumphsofthelasttwohundredyears。ThelossoftheHungarianswasstillgreaterintheflightthanintheaction；theywereencompassedbytheriversofBavaria；andtheirpastcrueltiesexcludedthemfromthehopeofmercy。ThreecaptiveprinceswerehangedatRatisbon，themultitudeofprisonerswasslainormutilated，andthefugitives，whopresumedtoappearinthefaceoftheircountry，werecondemnedtoeverlastingpovertyanddisgrace。^39Yetthespiritofthenationwashumbled，andthemostaccessiblepassesofHungarywerefortifiedwithaditchandrampart。Adversitysuggestedthecounselsofmoderationandpeace:therobbersoftheWestacquiescedinasedentarylife；andthenextgenerationwastaught，byadiscerningprince，thatfarmoremightbegainedbymultiplyingandexchangingtheproduceofafruitfulsoil。Thenativerace，theTurkishorFennicblood，wasmingledwithnewcoloniesofScythianorSclavonianorigin；^40manythousandsofrobustandindustriouscaptiveshadbeenimportedfromallthecountriesofEurope；^41andafterthemarriageofGeisawithaBavarianprincess，hebestowedhonorsandestatesonthenoblesofGermany。^42ThesonofGeisawasinvestedwiththeregaltitle，andthehouseofArpadreignedthreehundredyearsinthekingdomofHungary。ButthefreebornBarbarianswerenotdazzledbythelustreofthediadem，andthepeopleassertedtheirindefeasiblerightofchoosing，deposing，andpunishingthehereditaryservantofthestate。
[Footnote36:TheyareamplyandcriticallydiscussedbyKatona，Hist。Dacum，p。360—368，427—470。Liutprandl。ii。c。8，9isthebestevidencefortheformer，andWitichindAnnal。
Saxon。l。iii。ofthelatter；butthecriticalhistorianwillnotevenoverlookthehornofawarrior，whichissaidtobepreservedatJaz—berid。]
[Footnote37:Huncverotriumphum，tamlaudequammemoriadignum，adMeresburgumrexinsuperioricoenaculodomusperZeus，idest，picturam，notaripraecepit，adeoutremverampotiusquamverisimilemvideas:ahighencomium，Liutprand，l。ii。c。9。
AnotherpalaceinGermanyhadbeenpaintedwithholysubjectsbytheorderofCharlemagne；andMuratorimayjustlyaffirm，nullasaeculafuereinquibuspictoresdesideratifuerint，Antiquitat。
Ital。MediiAevi，tom。ii。dissert。xxiv。p。360，361。OurdomesticclaimstoantiquityofignoranceandoriginalimperfectionMr。Walpole\'slivelywordsareofamuchmorerecentdate，AnecdotesofPainting，vol。i。p。2，&c。]
[Footnote38:SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。929，No。2—5。
ThelanceofChrististakenfromthebestevidence，Liutprand，l。iv。c。12，Sigebert，andtheActsofSt。Gerard:buttheothermilitaryrelicsdependonthefaithoftheGestaAnglorumpostBedam，l。ii。c。8。]
[Footnote39:Katona，Hist。DucumHungariae，p。500，&c。]
[Footnote40:Amongthesecolonieswemaydistinguish，1。TheChazars，orCabari，whojoinedtheHungariansontheirmarch，Constant。deAdmin。Imp。c。39，40，p。108，109。2。TheJazyges，Moravians，andSiculi，whomtheyfoundintheland；thelastwereperhapsaremnantoftheHunsofAttila，andwereintrustedwiththeguardoftheborders。3。TheRussians，who，liketheSwissinFrance，impartedageneralnametotheroyalporters。4。TheBulgarians，whosechiefsA。D。956wereinvited，cummagnamultitudineHismahelitarum。HadanyofthoseSclavoniansembracedtheMahometanreligion?5。TheBisseniandCumans，amixedmultitudeofPatzinacites，Uzi，Chazars，&c。，whohadspreadtotheLowerDanube。Thelastcolonyof40，000
Cumans，A。D。1239，wasreceivedandconvertedbythekingsofHungary，whoderivedfromthattribeanewregalappellation，Pray，Dissert。vi。vii。p。109—173。Katona，Hist。Ducum，p。
95—99，259—264，476，479—483，&c。]
[Footnote41:Christianiautem，quorumparsmajorpopuliest，quiexomnipartemundiilluctractisuntcaptivi，&c。SuchwasthelanguageofPiligrinus，thefirstmissionarywhoenteredHungary，A。D。973。Parsmajorisstrong。Hist。Ducum，p。517。]
[Footnote42:ThefidelesTeutoniciofGeisaareauthenticatedinoldcharters:andKatona，withhisusualindustry，hasmadeafairestimateofthesecolonies，whichhadbeensolooselymagnifiedbytheItalianRanzanus，Hist。Critic。Ducum。p，667—
681。]
III。ThenameofRussians^43wasfirstdivulged，intheninthcentury，byanembassyofTheophilus，emperoroftheEast，totheemperoroftheWest，Lewis，thesonofCharlemagne。TheGreekswereaccompaniedbytheenvoysofthegreatduke，orchagan，orczar，oftheRussians。IntheirjourneytoConstantinople，theyhadtraversedmanyhostilenations；andtheyhopedtoescapethedangersoftheirreturn，byrequestingtheFrenchmonarchtotransportthembyseatotheirnativecountry。
Acloserexaminationdetectedtheirorigin:theywerethebrethrenoftheSwedesandNormans，whosenamewasalreadyodiousandformidableinFrance；anditmightjustlybeapprehended，thattheseRussianstrangerswerenotthemessengersofpeace，buttheemissariesofwar。Theyweredetained，whiletheGreeksweredismissed；andLewisexpectedamoresatisfactoryaccount，thathemightobeythelawsofhospitalityorprudence，accordingtotheinterestofbothempires。^44ThisScandinavianoriginofthepeople，oratleasttheprinces，ofRussia，maybeconfirmedandillustratedbythenationalannals^45andthegeneralhistoryoftheNorth。TheNormans，whohadsolongbeenconcealedbyaveilofimpenetrabledarkness，suddenlyburstforthinthespiritofnavalandmilitaryenterprise。Thevast，and，asitissaid，thepopulousregionsofDenmark，Sweden，andNorway，werecrowdedwithindependentchieftainsanddesperateadventurers，whosighedinthelazinessofpeace，andsmiledintheagoniesofdeath。Piracywastheexercise，thetrade，theglory，andthevirtue，oftheScandinavianyouth。Impatientofableakclimateandnarrowlimits，theystartedfromthebanquet，graspedtheirarms，soundedtheirhorn，ascendedtheirvessels，andexploredeverycoastthatpromisedeitherspoilorsettlement。TheBalticwasthefirstsceneoftheirnavalachievementstheyvisitedtheeasternshores，thesilentresidenceofFennicandSclavonictribes，andtheprimitiveRussiansoftheLakeLadogapaidatribute，theskinsofwhitesquirrels，tothesestrangers，whomtheysalutedwiththetitleofVarangians^46orCorsairs。Theirsuperiorityinarms，discipline，andrenown，commandedthefearandreverenceofthenatives。Intheirwarsagainstthemoreinlandsavages，theVarangianscondescendedtoserveasfriendsandauxiliaries，andgradually，bychoiceorconquest，obtainedthedominionofapeoplewhomtheywerequalifiedtoprotect。Theirtyrannywasexpelled，theirvalorwasagainrecalled，tillatlengthRuric，aScandinavianchief，becamethefatherofadynastywhichreignedabovesevenhundredyears。Hisbrothersextendedhisinfluence:
theexampleofserviceandusurpationwasimitatedbyhiscompanionsinthesouthernprovincesofRussia；andtheirestablishments，bytheusualmethodsofwarandassassination，werecementedintothefabricofapowerfulmonarchy。
[Footnote43:AmongtheGreeks，thisnationalappellationhasasingularform，asanundeclinableword，ofwhichmanyfancifuletymologieshavebeensuggested。Ihaveperused，withpleasureandprofit，adissertationdeOrigineRussorumComment。Academ。
Petropolitanae，tom。viii。p。388—436byTheophilusSigefridBayer，alearnedGerman，whospenthislifeandlaborsintheserviceofRussia。AgeographicaltractofD\'Anville，del\'EmpiredeRussie，sonOrigine，etsesAccroissemens，Paris，1772，in12mo。，haslikewisebeenofuse。
Note:ThelaterantiquariansofRussiaandGermanyappeartoaquiesceintheauthorityofthemonkNestor，theearliestannalistofRussia，whoderivestheRussians，orVareques，fromScandinavia。ThenamesofthefirstfoundersoftheRussianmonarchyareScandinavianorNorman。TheirlanguageaccordingtoConst。Porphyrog。deAdministrat。Imper。c。9differedessentiallyfromtheSclavonian。TheauthoroftheAnnalsofSt。
Bertin，whofirstnamestheRussiansRhosintheyear839ofhisAnnals，assignsthemSwedenfortheircountry。SoLiutprandcallstheRussiansthesamepeopleastheNormans。TheFins，Laplanders，andEsthonians，calltheSwedes，tothepresentday，Roots，Rootsi，Ruotzi，Rootslaue。SeeThunman，UntersuchungenuberderGeschichtedesEstlichenEuropaischenVolker，p。374。
Gatterer，Comm。Societ。Regbcient。Gotting。xiii。p。126。
Schlozer，inhisNestor。Koch。Revolut。de\'Europe，vol。i。p。
60。Malte—Brun，Geograph。vol。vi。p。378。—M。]
[Footnote44:Seetheentirepassagedignum，saysBayer，utaureisintabulisrigaturintheAnnalesBertinianiFrancorum，inScript。Ital。Muratori，tom。ii。parsi。p。525，A。D。839，twenty—twoyearsbeforetheaeraofRuric。Inthexthcentury，LiutprandHist。l。v。c。6speaksoftheRussiansandNormansasthesameAquilonareshominesofaredcomplexion。]
[Footnote45:MyknowledgeoftheseannalsisdrawnfromM。
Leveque，HistoiredeRussie。Nestor，thefirstandbestoftheseancientannalists，wasamonkofKiow，whodiedinthebeginningofthexiithcentury；buthisChroniclewasobscure，tillitwaspublishedatPetersburgh，1767，in4to。Leveque，Hist。deRussie，tom。i。p。xvi。Coxe\'sTravels，vol。ii。p。184。
Note:ThelateM。SchlozerhastranslatedandaddedacommentarytotheAnnalsofNestor；\"andhisworkistheminefromwhichhenceforththehistoryoftheNorthmustbedrawn。—
G。]
[Footnote46:Theophil。Sig。BayerdeVaragis，forthenameisdifferentlyspelt，inComment。Academ。Petropolitanae，tom。iv。
p。275—311。]
AslongasthedescendantsofRuricwereconsideredasaliensandconquerors，theyruledbytheswordoftheVarangians，distributedestatesandsubjectstotheirfaithfulcaptains，andsuppliedtheirnumberswithfreshstreamsofadventurersfromtheBalticcoast。^47ButwhentheScandinavianchiefshadstruckadeepandpermanentrootintothesoil，theymingledwiththeRussiansinblood，religion，andlanguage，andthefirstWaladimirhadthemeritofdeliveringhiscountryfromtheseforeignmercenaries。Theyhadseatedhimonthethrone；hisricheswereinsufficienttosatisfytheirdemands；buttheylistenedtohispleasingadvice，thattheyshouldseek，notamoregrateful，butamorewealthy，master；thattheyshouldembarkforGreece，where，insteadoftheskinsofsquirrels，silkandgoldwouldbetherecompenseoftheirservice。Atthesametime，theRussianprinceadmonishedhisByzantineallytodisperseandemploy，torecompenseandrestrain，theseimpetuouschildrenoftheNorth。Contemporarywritershaverecordedtheintroduction，name，andcharacter，oftheVarangians:eachdaytheyroseinconfidenceandesteem；thewholebodywasassembledatConstantinopletoperformthedutyofguards；andtheirstrengthwasrecruitedbyanumerousbandoftheircountrymenfromtheIslandofThule。Onthisoccasion，thevagueappellationofThuleisappliedtoEngland；andthenewVarangianswereacolonyofEnglishandDaneswhofledfromtheyokeoftheNormanconqueror。Thehabitsofpilgrimageandpiracyhadapproximatedthecountriesoftheearth；theseexileswereentertainedintheByzantinecourt；andtheypreserved，tillthelastageoftheempire，theinheritanceofspotlessloyalty，andtheuseoftheDanishorEnglishtongue。Withtheirbroadanddouble—edgedbattle—axesontheirshoulders，theyattendedtheGreekemperortothetemple，thesenate，andthehippodrome；hesleptandfeastedundertheirtrustyguard；andthekeysofthepalace，thetreasury，andthecapital，wereheldbythefirmandfaithfulhandsoftheVarangians。^48
[Footnote47:Yet，aslateastheyear1018，KiowandRussiawerestillguardedexfugitivorumservorumrobore，confluentiumetmaximeDanorum。Bayer，whoquotesp。292theChronicleofDithmarofMerseburgh，observes，thatitwasunusualfortheGermanstoenlistinaforeignservice。]