Oaths of Strasbourg

[Ludovicus]

Today, I watched President Obama's town hall meeting in Strasbourg, France. I was very pleased at the erudition that he displayed along with his considerable oratorical skills. In fact,

it's a pleasure to know that we again have a leader who can speak English! In his opening statements the President referenced the long historical record of Strasbourg and mentioned that the city was the site of the 9th Century Oaths of Strasbourg. Those of us with an interest in how Latin morphed into the various Romance languages will find the transcription of what was pledged in proto-French an amazing document.

 

"The Oaths of Strasbourg were several historical documents which included mutual pledges of allegiance between Louis the German, ruler of East Francia, and his (half) brother Charles the Bald, ruler of West Francia. The several pledges were spoken at a strategic meeting in 842 at Strasbourg --with the brothers' assembled armies in attendance and participating in the the ceremonies. In addition to their promised allegiance to the other, Louis and Charles pledged their solidarity to oppose their eldest brother Lothair, ruler of Middle Francia and, nominally, emperor of all the Frankish kingdoms as well as Holy Roman Emperor. (The "Oaths" are also known as, in Modern French, les serments de Strasbourg; in Modern German, die Stra

[guy]

Today, I watched President Obama's town hall meeting in Strasbourg, France. I was very pleased at the erudition that he displayed along with his considerable oratorical skills.

 

Obama is a brilliant speaker. A great intellect? We will see. Although I wish him success with his efforts to improve the economy, I will reserve deification till I see some concrete results.

 

Nevertheless, the mention of Strasbourg always makes me think of the powerful passage by Ammianus Marcellinus describing the conflict between the Romans led by the future Emperor Julian and the Alemanni led by their king Chnodomar at the battle of Strasbourg in AD 357:

 

 

46. But the Allemanni, still charging forward impetuously, strove more and more vigorously, hoping to bear down all opposition by the violence of their fury. Darts, spears, and javelins never ceased; arrows pointed with iron were shot; while at the same time, in hand-to-hand conflict, sword struck sword, breastplates were cloven, and even the wounded, if not quite exhausted with loss of blood, rose up still to deeds of greater daring.

 

47. In some sense it may be said that the combatants were equal. The Allemanni were the stronger and the taller men; our soldiers by great practice were the more skilful. The one were fierce and savage, the others composed and wary; the one trusted to their courage, the others to their physical strength.

 

48. Often, indeed, the Roman soldier was beaten down by the weight of his enemy's arms, but he constantly rose again; and then, on the other hand, the barbarian, finding his knees fail under him with fatigue, would rest his left knee on the ground, and even in that position attack his enemy, an act of extreme obstinacy.

 

49. Presently there sprang forward with sudden vigour a fiery band of nobles, among whom also were the princes of the petty tribes, and, as the common soldiers followed them in great numbers, they burst through our lines, and forced a path for themselves up to the principal legion of the reserve, which was stationed in the centre, in a position called the praetorian camp; and there the soldiery, being in closer array, and in densely serried ranks, stood firm as so many towers, and renewed the battle with increased spirit. And intent upon parrying the blows of the enemy, and covering themselves with their shields as the Mirmillos do, with their drawn swords wounded their antagonists in the sides, which their too vehement impetuosity left unprotected.

 

50. And thus the barbarians threw away their lives in their struggles for victory, while toiling to break the compact array of our battalions. But still, in spite of the ceaseless slaughter made among them by the Romans, whose courage rose with their success, fresh barbarians succeeded those who fell; and as the frequent groans of the dying were heard, many became panic-stricken, and lost all strength.

 

51. At last, exhausted by their losses, and having no strength for anything but flight, they sought to escape with all speed by different roads, like as sailors and traders, when the sea rages in a storm, are glad to flee wherever the wind carries them. But any one then present will confess that escape was a matter rather to be wished than hoped for.

 

52. And the merciful protection of a favourable deity was present on our side, so that our soldiers, now slashing at the backs of the fugitives, and finding their swords so battered that they were insufficient to wound, used the enemy's own javelins, and so slew them. Nor could any one of the pursuers satiate himself enough with their blood, nor allow his hand to weary with slaughter, nor did any one spare a suppliant out of pity.

 

53. Numbers, therefore, lay on the ground, mortally wounded, imploring instant death as a relief; others, half dead, with failing breath turned their dying eyes to the last enjoyment of the light. Of some the heads were almost cut off by the huge weapons, and merely hung by small strips to their necks; others, again, who had fallen because the ground had been rendered slippery by the blood of their comrades, without themselves receiving any wound, were killed by being smothered in the mass of those who fell over them.

 

 

Grisly, but powerful stuff.

 

guy also known as gaius

Edited April 4, 2009 by guy

[Emperor Goblinus]

Yeah, the Oaths are pretty fascinating, a good look at proto-French and proto-German. One thing that's always bugged me about the early Middle Ages is the lack of large bodies of vernacular Romance texts. I think it would be fascinating to trace the development of any of the Romance languages through primary sources, but people were often just too concerned with writing things in Latin at the expense of the vernacular (with the exception of Alfred's England).

 

Does anyone know which Gallo-Romance language the Oaths were in?