4/8/2024 0 Comments Subversive kingdom![]() Charlemagne's campaign led all the way to the Weser River and destroyed several major Saxon strongholds. Irminsul may have been a hollow tree trunk, presumably representing the pillar supporting the skies - similar to the Nordic tree Yggdrasil and apparently a common belief among the Germanic peoples. ![]() It began with a Frankish invasion of Saxon territory and the subjugation of the Engrians and destruction of their sacred symbol Irminsul near Paderborn in 772 or 773 at Eresburg. In mid-January 772, the sacking and burning of the church of Deventer by a Saxon expedition was the casus belli for the first war waged by Charlemagne against the Saxons. Their main leader, Widukind, was a resilient and resourceful opponent, but eventually was defeated and baptized (in 785). Despite repeated setbacks, the Saxons resisted steadfastly, returning to raid Charlemagne's domains as soon as he turned his attention elsewhere. In between the two kingdoms was that of Engria (or Engern), and north of the three, at the base of the Jutland peninsula, was Nordalbingia. Nearest to the ancient Frankish kingdom of Austrasia was Westphalia, and farthest was Eastphalia. The Saxons were divided into four subgroups in four regions. They resulted in the incorporation of Saxony into the Frankish realm and their forcible conversion from Germanic paganism to Christianity. In all, 18 campaigns were fought, primarily in what is now northern Germany. The Saxon Wars were the campaigns and insurrections of the thirty-three years from 772, when Charlemagne first entered Saxony with the intent to conquer, to 804, when the last rebellion of tribesmen was defeated.
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