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XLIII. Arnulf
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343 being coated with wax]. There was singing and reading aloud. Everyone there wished that God would show her his grace. They ignited the tunic in front and back, right and left, even at her hands and feet, and within a short period of time the tunic completely burned off her and melted wax ran down onto the floor stones. The lady was completely innocent, and everyone there said, “Deo gracias! [Thanks be to God!]” Then the bishops excused themselves, and the king ordered the liars seized. They were all hanged from a gallows. Joyfully the queen departed. She abdicated her imperial position and served God eagerly ever afterwards as a nun. Charles did not rule after that either. He had ruled for a year and a half. XLIII Arnulf Arnulf (Roman emperor 895–899) was the illegitimate son of Carloman, king of Bavaria and Italy, who saw to it that Arnulf became margrave of Carynthia in southeastern Austria. In 882, Arnulf did homage to Charles the Fat as Roman emperor and led numerous expeditions against Slavs and Normans. In 887, sharing the disgust at the incompetence and cowardice of Charles the Fat, he took a leading role in the assembly that achieved his abdication. The following year, Arnulf was chosen King of the Germans. Pope Formosus asked him to come to Italy and free him from the domination of Guido III, duke of Spoleto, who had had himself crowned emperor. Arnulf invaded Italy in 894, although so many of his men deserted that he was unsuccessful in helping Formosus . The pope was then forced to consecrate Lambert, Duke Guido ’s son, as emperor. Guido died the following year, however, and 344 Chapter Forty-three Arnulf led another invasion of Italy. Formosus consecrated him as Roman emperor, and Arnulf spent his few remaining years attempting to expand his authority in Italy. During the course of one campaign he was stricken by paralysis and returned home to Bavaria , where he died in 899. He was buried in Regensburg. t the time there was a widely praised prince named Arnulf, son of Carloman. The other princes were devoted to him and most willing to serve him. They agreed that they could make no better choice. In his very first year, so the Book tells us truly, there was a bishop of Würzburg named Arn who was frequently at the king’s court. Knowing well the evil among the Saxons, Arnulf sent this bishop to their land. He spoke God’s true Word to them, which did not suit the people there. As he was speaking the concluding blessing at a service, he was slain over the altar. Hai! What a costly vengeance the king exacted for that crime! The king subdued the Normans and did the same with the people of Italy. As a result, their country has been eager to serve the Roman Empire ever since. In King Arnulf’s time, hunger spread far and wide. The earth was so barren that people were sorely tempted to eat each other. The Hungarians invaded the land until the king dealt them a resounding defeat with God’s help. So many Huns were slain that they had to depart from there in shame. The king went from there to Rome, where Pope Formosus consecrated him with the imperial crown. The Romans agreed that since he forced the Huns to flight he would make a good judge for them. The Romans were very mindful of his great victory. The emperor returned to Germany, where he found very bad tidings circulating. There was a bishop in Regensburg by the name of Emmeram, who, after overcoming great difficulties, was winning the people over to God. The duke of the Bavarians was then one Diete, who had a beautiful daughter. She was accused of scandalous behavior. Without guilt and without recourse to law, Emmeram was murdered by Lambert, the duke [of Spoleto]’s son. He was to suffer great injury as the [34.237.245.80] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 07:23 GMT) 345 result of this crime. Emperor Arnulf destroyed him with everything that belonged to him. His relatives are scattered far and wide. When Emperor Arnulf learned what a true stalwart of God the good Saint Emmeran was, he loved him more and more. He built him the best cathedral that he could in the city of Regensburg and willed money from his own inheritance to it. The Book tells us truly that...