The (Medieval Texts in Translation) complete works of Liudprand of Cremona

Book Three

   liudprand of cremona BookThree here begins the third book 1. About the title of this book, and why it is called RETRIBUTION. 2.That the Hungarians mangled Italy once Berengar was dead and Rudolf was leaving Italy. 3. A poetic description of the lamentable burning of Pavia. 4.That the sword of God did not utterly destroy Pavia, but his mercy wonderfully freed it from the Hungarians. 5.That it was freed by the merits of Saint Syrus, patron of the city. 6.That the same Saint Syrus, coming to Pavia, by prophetic intuition predicted its affluence and Aquileia’s demise. 7.Why Ermengard remained so powerful after the murder of her husband Adalbert. 8. Once King Rudolf had returned from Burgundy, after a little while Ermengard rose in rebellion against him and, along with the Italians, held Pavia. 9. King Rudolf besieges Pavia with an army. 10.That Ermengard, through her craftiness, arranged it so that Rudolf deserted his troops by night and ran away to her. 11.That, having discovered this thing, the morning after, Rudolf’s soldiers fled to Milan. 12.The Italians send for Hugh. 13. Rudolf again goes to Burgundy and leads back his father-in-law Burchard to help him. 14. For what reason Burchard set out for Milan, and why, though lavishly received there, his death was agreed upon. 15. Returning from Milan, Burchard reaches Novara, where he is killed by the Italians together with all his men. 16. After Burchard’s killing, Rudolf escapes to Burgundy, and Hugh comes to Italy across theTyrrhenian sea. 17. Several Italians hasten to meet him at Pisa, where also the messengers of Pope John come, by whose encouragement he is made king upon coming to Pavia. 18. AboutWido, brother of King Hugh, who then heldTuscany and who had the Roman harlot Marozia as his wife. 19. About the many virtues of King Hugh that lust undermined. 20.That this same King Hugh had two sons. 21. About how King Hugh made King Henry his friend. 22.What messenger the king sent to Emperor Romanos in Constantinople . 23. About two dogs sent to the emperor that wanted to maul him. 24.Why the messenger of King Hugh was lavishly received by the emperor . 25. About the extremely ferocious lion that Romanos killed. 26. How Romanos was first appointed commander and then junior emperor . 27.The chamberlain Phocas, fighting with King Symeon of the Bulgarians , spontaneously fled when he heard Romanos was made junior emperor. 28. How Phocas, coming to Constantinople, was taken and blinded by Romanos. 29. About Symeon, king of the Bulgarians, who first became a monk and afterwards king. 30. About Romanos, who gave his daughter Helena to the emperor Constantine as a spouse. 31.Why the emperors are called porphyrogeniti. 32. How Basil, having killed his lord, Emperor Michael, was made emperor. 33. Concerning the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ terrified Basil through a vision about the death of Michael. 34. About Basil’s penance and the church built with wondrous craftsmanship on account of his guilt. 35. How Romanos addressed the aristocrats and, from junior emperor, was made emperor. 36.That Romanos was born in a lowly family. 37. Romanos makes his son Christopher emperor and unjustly gives him precedence over his lord Constantine. 38.What peace was established between emperor Romanos and Symeon. 39. AboutWalpert and Gezo, the Pavians who caused sedition against King Hugh. 40.That they were deceived by a humble message from the king. 41. After a little whileWalpert’s head is cut off; Gezo is deprived of sight. 42. About Hilduin the bishop and Rather the monk, of whom Hilduin retribution iii      liudprand of cremona was appointed archbishop of Milan and Rather bishop of Verona by King Hugh. 43. How Pope John was captured, taken into custody, and died there, and who was ordained after him; and thatWido died and Lambert was appointed margrave. 44. Marozia invites King Hugh into her bed. 45. About the fortification placed at the entrance of the Roman city, in which King Hugh was received, and from which just a little afterwards he was foully cast by Alberic. 46.That this was done by divine ordination. 47. How and why King Hugh seized his brother Lambert and, following the advice of his brother Boso, to whom he also gave a march, blinded him. 48. King Hugh accepts an oath from...