File:The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century - a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and (14591761109).jpg

Identifier: greatestnations03elli (find matches)
Title: The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century : a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and a pronouncing vocabulary of each nation
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : F.R. Niglutsch
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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han they, he hadmarked out his course, and, secure of himself, pursued it with the inflexibleresolution of true greatness. The nine-year respite which he had obtained, was spent in careful and thor-ough preparation. The fiery spirits who chafed in peace, were sent on an expe-dition against the Wends, a Sclavic race who were threatening Germany fromthe northeast. These Wends were heathens and had joined the Hungarians inprevious raids. Unsupported, they proved no match for the Germans and werecompletely crushed. One by one their leaders were captured and given thechoice of Christianity or death. The race was ground to dust. The Saxonsgradually moved east and occupied their lands. The surviving Wends becamelittle better than slaves to the conquerors. Indeed, it was here that our mod-ern word slave originated; it is only another form of Sclav. Meanwhile, all along the Hungariao frontier Henry was building strong-walled cities, so many of them that his people began to drop that misleading
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Germany—Henry the City-Builder 551 title, the Fowler, and call him by what seems to us a far more appropriateand honorable name. He became known as Henry the City-Builder. He trained his people, too, in martial exercises. He instituted the tour-naments which afterward became so popular, and of which we read so muchto-day. They were friendly combats with sword or lance. The play was dan-gerous, and sometimes a man was slain; but the combatants grew thoroughlyfamiliar with their weapons, accustomed to blows, and ready to meet unflinch-ingly the fiercest foe. Nor were these exercises confined to the nobility. Aregular militia was formed from the common people. Every ninth man through-out the land was clothed and fed by his fellows, and compelled to give hiswhole time to the practise of arms. A very different set of soldiers, and evena very different Germany, slowly emerged from under Henrys skilful hand. The nine years of the truce slipped by. Each year a Hungarian embassycame in haugh

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