Original subtitles

[Music]

forty years had passed since the Battle

of Portilla in the year of our Lord 732

where Charles Martel mayor of the palace

of the court of the king of the Franks

Pepin of hairstyle and blocked Islamic

expansion into Western Europe north of

the Iberian Peninsula following the

death of the king the throne passed to

Charles Martel he was succeeded by

childerik the last Merovingian King who

was in turn succeeded by Martel son hip

and the short in 751 after reigning for

over 16 years

Pepin died twice he had marched his army

down to Italy to help the Pope against

the Lombard and the Byzantines and he

had pushed the pagan saxon tribes back

within their own borders the Frankish

Kingdom was to be divided between

Pepin's two sons Charles and Carlo my

father all the able-bodied men are about

to leave the village to go to the Kings

funeral they are off to pay homage to

their King Pepin this way it would be

easier for us to overpower the few men

left to guard the village and make off

with their wealth

I'll keep watch Father and give you the

signal may the god of victory be with us

go my son quickly

[Music]

my sudden make this long journey so at

least you can kiss his coffin for the

rest of us fear not I'll get there in

time to do that

the funeral isn't for two days yet now

his two sons will reign no I hope

Charles can take over I prefer him to

Carl oh man he's more audacious which is

why carlomon is better fit to lead the

franks well father i believe instead

that our people need a courageous

innovative King I only hope he's wiser

than you

the Franks don't deserve to live in

peace for long they always grow too

powerful now that King Pepin is finally

a prisoner of the demons of death the

Franks will be able to put together an

army right away it's the right moment we

have the favor of the gods they're with

us the Saxon tribes will attack

everywhere it's time at last

all clear they've gone all clear today

the world will feel the terrible winds

of Saxon wrath

[Music]

the Saxons times

I better go for my sword why aren't you

giving the order to attack I thought you

wanted to take them by surprise indeed

we have my son

we've surprised them I like to swoop

down on the enemy while he's screaming

and fleeing in terror to them where the

grim reaper arriving on horseback father

are not afraid of death you say that

only because you've never looked it in

the face today is our day of vengeance

for the thousands of Saxons that killed

and for the land they've taken from us

by the immortal gods of the forest to

the Franks

[Music]

in the name of God we'll take a load of

them with us to help

[Music]

what do you think of the god of the

Franks here were stripping and parodies

not doing a thing you're right what

everybody says he's very powerful

obviously not so powerful as our guard

now we'll see who's powerful you see

who's more powerful

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you're still pretty fit for an old man

I've killed at least some thousand of

your kind with in fair combat instead

you attack us but our able-bodied men

are all absent you may kill me now but

you'll never scare me dance action I've

faced death too many times before but I

won't give you the pleasure of abrasive

death old man I want you alive so you

can born your people I want you to be

able to report your Frankish Lords that

Saxon might is still alive and

invincible because you've never been

able to crush it farewell father why did

you let him live

did you get annoyed his eyes that man

has no fear of death

but those to whom you report what has

happened here today will fear us trust

me my son

[Applause]

[Music]

it looks deserted it's all going up in

smoke but where's everyone gone

father what happened all they left me

with this shape of being alive my son

they've killed everyone the Saxons will

pay dearly for this outrage because we

finally have a king to lead us again

King Charles will see to it they're

justly punished

[Music]

but if we've beaten those Franks can you

tell me why we're running away yes I can

we beat them just now and I'm sure we'll

beat them again but we have to avoid

facing them in open battle until we can

put together a large trained army like

theirs for now we're still too

vulnerable when the day comes I will be

fighting in the front line with my son

you shouldn't be so impulsive war is a

serious affair not a children's game

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we have got to attack them before they

can reach the forest across the river

that's the only chance we have shall we

pursue them on the other side as well

no for now we'll stick to this side of

the Elbe then we'll prepare for a long

campaign which will take us into their

forests and allow us to destroy them for

good

[Music]

forward my brave men in the name of

Christ to the attack will win for the

glory of the Franks

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[Applause]

[Music]

albe endo promise me you'll do things

well I'll make you proud father and I'll

die before I betray our blood

off you go my son

it'll be many years before you see your

father again by this necessary you were

chosen because you have courage I've

seen combat my father insisted on

teaching me to fight so I'd be able to

handle myself in battle with

self-confidence

can you tell me where we're headed

you're going to join up with Nordahl

being the fur trader he'll take you into

Frankish territory to his home with his

sons

you'll learn to write and speak their

language why do I have to learn it what

else am I in for because you'll be using

the 3rd traders wagons to take your

father whatever news you receive from

the court of the King and when it comes

time to do battle can I fight too

that's not important you'll fight every

day go

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in the king

[Music]

lots of kites in the sky today and

beautiful they're circling over their

prey yes what marvelous birds kites are

truly exceptional hunters

once they've spotted a prey they can

dive straight down like an arrow and

carry it off before it even realizes I'd

only wish our men could wage war like

that that they too could study their

prey and then strike in a flash I think

you were a kite too with your

extraordinary ability to observe and

strike the enemy

there it is

a hermitage of the Virgin Mary blessed

is the man who loves the law of God and

meditates upon it day and night that man

will be like a tree growing beside a

river it would bear fruit when its time

comes its leaves will never fall and its

works will be fulfilled but it will not

be for the godless like chaff they will

be scattered by the wind the Lord

watches over the righteous while the

paths of the wicked lead to ruin

[Music]

let us pray with the words that our Lord

Jesus taught us our Father who art in

heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom

come thy will be done on earth as it is

in heaven give us this day our daily

bread and forgive us our trespasses as

we forgive those who trespass against us

and lead us not into temptation but

deliver us from evil

may our prayer which our Lord Jesus and

where are you off to now the time has

come to join the battle going off to

kill me I must keep the people of the

Franks United I promised it to my father

on his deathbed I must defend the faith

in Christ

the pagans the Saxons they're ours

they're all threatening it

I must prevent the flag of Islam from

winning again over the banners of Christ

I must stop the advance of the sons of

Muhammad who are not the only enemies of

the Holy Roman Church

we cannot hang back or it will be too

late I must also protect the faith from

Lombok

treachery and Byzantine heresy you feel

that's too little perhaps according to

you I could accomplish all that without

fighting but there's a problem

we franks are too few while the others

are too numerous what do i do tell me

you must fight without hatred my king

remember no hatred be merciful to the

vanquished because they are your

brothers may God watch over you and

enlighten your heart with his love

father it's not that easy whatever you

do do it in the name of Jesus I have

always fought in his name and I always

will

if what you propose to do cannot be done

in his name then don't do it

remember that is the rule that'll be

impossible sometimes nevertheless I'm

sure you will do your best to stick to

it

and now I will give you my blessing

Charles in the name of the Father the

Son and the Holy Spirit god bless you

we shall fight in the name of King

Charles victory

in the name of King Charles we shall

fight to the death

[Applause]

[Music]

I called upon you when you have answered

my call together we shall struggle to

bring the kingdom of the Franks to

greatness I've known your loyalty since

we played together in the fields as boys

but the time for games is over God is

calling upon us to live as heroes for it

is the heroes who must carry the banners

of the Frankish Kingdom in his name it

is the heroes who'll have to fight for

the kingdom of Christ against the pagans

and the infidels who are threatening it

under the flag of Islam United we shall

succeed in defeating the Byzantine

heresy and the lombards who seek to bend

the Church of Rome to their will the

time for Heroes has come I Roland count

Palantine in the name of Jesus and upon

the holy gospel swear loyalty until

death to charles king of the franks my

sword Durandal is his sword my life is

his life I solemnly swear this in the

name of God and now all of you swear

together with me

[Music]

Charles knew he was alone with his

counts Palatine and facing all the

enemies of the kingdom in fact the

accord with his brother carlomon was

failing to secure the Frankish Kingdom

the support of a powerful ally his

mother Queen Beth Radha convinced her

two sons to Wed two sisters the

daughters of lumbered King desert areas

ermengarde unmarried Charles who already

had a son from him intrude a woman he

was forced to abandon and gerberg a

married Carla man but marriage to the

two sisters only drove the two heirs to

the Frankish throne further apart when

ermengarde have produced no children

Charles asked the Pope for an annulment

Carla means marriage was happy and his

wife became the young rulers most

trusted advisor

his kingdom bordered that of his lombard

father-in-law but charles considered

their chumminess of betrayal because

desert areas could now put pressure on

the Church of Rome without fear of being

stabbed in the back by hostile Franks

ah the river your brothers territory

starts here we keep going my lord

crossing his border with an army in

battle dress I fear could be construed

as a declaration of war but it's not

that at all I just need to have a long

talk with him let's go

but you're taking a 16 thousand man army

with you let's go ahead and maybe we'll

reach an understanding

but a few days later on the icy night of

December the 4th 771 Carla Mons Aquarius

found their King dead in his bed

we must go inform Queen gerberg of the

King's death immediately and also the

Queen Mother but Radha and let's not

forget someone has to tell his brother

carlomon had been ill for several days

but some wondered if the rivalry between

the two brothers might have had

something to do with his demise the king

is dead pull up the bridge

[Applause]

where are you off to my queen

didn't you hear Karla man's dead I know

I wept for him all night but where are

you thinking of going I'm in danger here

I'm going to my father in Italy

immediately I have to get my son Pepin

to safety don't leave my queen

you heard the mother of the heir to the

throne as for your son Pepin he has to

remain the air and you must act as

regent until he comes of age I want to

know who had my husband carlomon killed

he was 20 years old only 20 years old I

don't want to fall into Charles's hands

he's a Frankish king and I'm a Lombard

woman Charles hates the Lombards he's

already repudiated my sister what do you

think he'll do to me now but if you

leave my queen who will be left to

defend your sons right to the throne I

have to leave the only one left now to

protect the rights of my children is my

father desert Darius and his sword you

want ger Berger and her two sons to

become King Charles as hostages do you

want that to happen wait till his

funeral is over you loved him let's get

going before it's too late we have a

long journey ahead

I'm not afraid so long as I have my

lombard escort with me I'll feel safe

your Lombards are ready to defend and

fight for you and your sons to their

last breath my queen

King carlomon is now in the presence of

the Lord who has called him to eternal

life carlomon was a good King and loved

by his people but he was also a good

father a good husband and a good

Christian may he now rest in the peace

of the Lord

[Music]

hmm saya you come in the night like the

Angel of Death you scared me go on tell

me what you've just finished grade him

I've recounted the death of my king and

the escape of the lombard Queen to Italy

with her two sons who according to

Frankish law are the legitimate heirs to

this kingdom and did you write that his

brother Charles is innocent of his death

I limit myself to writing the truth my

lord no one can blame me for that anyway

it's no secret the two brothers didn't

love each other at all what actual facts

did you include that King Charles was on

his way to his brother carlomon with a

combat-ready army to confront him in

battle and establish his supremacy but

everyone who thought that has been

proven wrong by events because carlomon

died before the battle could take place

and now you're insinuating in your

Chronicle that King Charles was

responsible for his brother's death well

who do you think killed him but it

wasn't his brother's hand carlomon was

very ill did he write that in your

account

he wasn't ill as far as I know you must

write that Charles had no part in his

brother's death

you can hardly neglect to proclaim his

innocence in court chronicles destined

to go down in history this is true I

only wrote down what I was actually

witness to my lord if you let me live

I'll write something else I'll write

anything you want

of course Charles's innocence of his

brother's death it's true why not write

it Bravo you must write only the truth

I'll read you what I've written in the

core chronicles on the night of December

the fourth in the year of our Lord 771

King column and son of Pepin the short

already ill died in the peace of our

Lord is that all right what else should

I write why is it that you want to kill

me because you could change it back and

I want to avoid that

take him away to his bed it's right he

should rest

in the name of the Father of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit i anoint you king of

the franks there are only a sovereign

I'll reign in the name of God it's the

crown of my father King Pepin in the

name of God today it is mine for the

glory of the Frankish Kingdom and my

children will inherit my realm and his

person will become a single King for

single people

long live charles king of the franks

[Music]

watch let's have my father you must tell

him that the king is dead and Queen

Deborah has fled she's gone back to her

father King Desiderius Carla means

throne is now occupied by Charles am an

extremely unbending with the enemy they

say Carla man was killed by his brother

is that really true

who knows al bender the royal court is

full of mysteries

however Queen gerbera had to run away

with her sentence I'll tell my father

everything he'll certainly know what to

do well it's time for me to go do you

know where he's waiting for me of course

your father will be waiting at the edge

of the forest he'll sell the pelts in

Equus Grantham and give the money to

osseous I can't wait to get back to my

people and see my father again I can

imagine have a safe trip

King Carl Amon is dead does it tarries

his daughters and all the Lombards were

with them have quit the Frankish realm

charles has won the Frankish internal

struggles are over and Pepin the

Schwartz older son has been consecrated

the worn king of all the Franks and the

first thing he's promised his people is

to defeat us Saxons once and for all

have you finished telling us everything

that's happened I'll Bend oh yes Father

it was a real tragedy you're perfectly

right but you see my son for us nothing

has changed before there was Pepin and

now this chance we fought and beat the

Romans and now we'll fight and beat the

Franks because our gods are stronger

than a God nailed to a cross

[Music]

if the wind keeps up we'll be in

Marseille by tomorrow evening and in

five days we'll be in thigh reveal to

talk to the king of the Franks I pray

God the king will come to our aid they

all speak highly of King Charles I'm

sure he will agree to help us well we're

going to talk to him on behalf of Pope

Adrian and in the name of God I can't

believe he wouldn't help the church in

the name of the Father of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit blessed is he who comes in

the name of the Lord blessed is he who

receives the servant of the Lord Rome is

under siege by the lombard king and his

dukes

Pope Adrian is in danger to get his

appeal to you His Holiness had to pay

mercenary ships to bring us to Marseille

because all the roads of Italy my king

are in Lombard hands what is it that has

made King Desiderius become so arrogant

and rash his demand that Pope Adrian

recognized his grandson Pepin as Carla

man's heir and that he immediately

crowned him sovereign of his portion of

the Frankish realm I alone am the king

the king of all the Franks instead of

sending an army to conquer Frankish

lands and wealth the Lombard King saw

fit to send his daughters now do you all

understand whom we're dealing with

Desiderius will pay dearly for his

arrogance the holy father doesn't want

Christian blood spilled he just asks for

your ambassadors to convince the lumbar

King to negotiate perhaps perhaps

perhaps if you could compensate him

somehow since his daughters are no

longer queens I bow to a dreams paternal

wisdom I'll send my ambassadors

you've come to tell me that your King

Charles will give me all of 14 thousand

pieces of pure gold

just for my forgetting how he offended

my daughter and God by repudiating her

and for dropping the claim of my

grandson Pepin's right to the Frankish

throne Pepin the son of my daughter ger

Burger King Carla man's wife and not

only that I should also yield to the

demands of the Roman Church which has no

respect for my authority but if you

accept the offer I've brought you you'd

also earn the friendship of the king of

the Franks and your lens would enjoy

true peace

just one thing ambassador would your

King Charles finding himself in my shoes

accept what you've come to propose to me

I'm sure not so you know my answer as

you wish and that is the answer I will

take to my sovereign my humble respects

King desert areas

another 10,000 stirrups but why do you

need them all of a sudden they're needed

because we're going to war master Joseph

another war yes we're going to be

fighting far away and how many horsemen

does King Charles have to equip this

time there'll be 20,000 that's what King

Charles has ordered and to equip twenty

thousand horsemen you'll have to work

without let-up for days and days twenty

thousand horsemen to face the Lombard

troops in Italy but with your stirrups

on their feet our cavalry is invincible

the king of the Lombards Desiderius has

challenged the Frankish nation and we

accept that challenge

we shall liberate Italy from the armies

of his Dukes who are nothing but

scavengers in the service of a king

without honor

with the help of God we shall restore

all of Pope Adrian's prerogatives and he

will finally be free of the Lombard yoke

we shall fight because only force will

induce the lombard king and his Dukes to

respect the Church of Rome and the will

of the Franks we shall fight in the name

of Christ and His Church allegiance to

King Charles my life is his life my

sword his sword

we shall fight for blood we shall move

against Tessa Darius with an army of

100,000 men will invade the Po Valley

from the north and from the west one

column of the Frankish army will enter

through the Susa Valley they say that

Valley is fortified with castles and

massive walls and that is protected by a

strong Lombard force will amaze them

with our cunning because another column

will enter through the Swiss valleys and

attack them from behind for King Charles

victory

[Music]

trumpeter sound the charge go on we

can't let up for an instant

[Music]

beyond that wall lies the lombard king's

palace I promise you we'll take the city

and remove King Desiderius from his

throne it'll be a long siege but he will

have no way out even if we have to spend

all next winter here

[Music]

why King Charles and his army battled

the Lombard King Desiderius in Italy the

Frankish cities were left with no

defense against the attacks and the

Saxons

[Music]

the sections are coming like this we'd

never see

[Music]

Saxons don't know that this time they'll

pay dearly in the name of King Charles

[Music]

the Frank there they are father you see

them Frankish cavalry we won't make it

easy for that the cards are with us

[Music]

and why are you taking care of a section

why don't you know he's the son of God

- they are to receive no mercy none

whatsoever

we've come back with expressed orders to

kill all survivors and who had the

courage to give you such cruel orders

they come from Charles king of the

Franks I can't believe your words when I

see the king I'll ask him if what you

say is true and if the King confirms my

words what will you do

I shall rebuke him you're very arrogant

monk on whose authority do you do that

he's the king I'll do it in the name of

Jesus he's the only authority I

recognize because I'm a minister of his

love one another as I have loved you

forgive and you shall be forgiven do you

know the commandments of the King of

Kings or is it just a case that you

don't remember them brother

[Music]

on one side the power of the sword on

the other and stronger Christian love

[Music]

while waiting for the right moment to

launch the final attack

King Charles went to Rome to pray at the

tombs of the holy Christian martyrs and

to visit Pope Adrian of whom he declared

himself to be an extremely devoted son

King Charles then returned to his

soldiers and in the spring launched a

decisive assault on pavia capital of the

lombard kingdom king desert areas forced

to surrender

Charles whom everyone had taken to

calling Charlemagne or Charles the great

spared his life and sent him off for

prisoner under heavy escort to Kobe in

Frankish territory where he ended his

days on July the 10th 774 Charlemagne

domed the iron crown of X King desert

areas

[Music]

[Applause]

char's proclaimed himself by the grace

of God king of the Franks and Lum birds

and patrician of the Romans thus

becoming the master of Italy will have

ten thousand horsemen and just a few

infantry King Charles prefers the fast

moving an agile army he just wants to go

to Sarah Cousteau leave a garrison and

go home back to his castle in herstal

[Music]

always afraid not just for his you know

mother I also suffer for my love Roland

were his sword ever to fail I would die

with him all we can do is appeal to up

Lord's mercy then mother let's hope our

prayers are heard and that divine

protection be ever with them a dangerous

journey are pure ten thousand horsemen

will they be enough to beat the Saracens

will it of course they'll be enough to

beat the Saracens because we'll be there

with them we in our swords brothers why

are you so sure because King Charles has

already bought his victory with a chest

of gold for my dearest love ever shall I

fight

[Music]

greetings brother may the Lord's peace

be with you peace be with you stranger

I've never seen you here before

are you a novice no I wear this tunic

because I have no other clothes I'm just

a guest I'm a Saxon and who are you I've

never seen you before either I'm not

from here I'm a guest at the retreat

just like you I heard you before when

you were leaning against that tree

playing your flute I was playing in

honor of the gods of the forest because

I'm not Christian like you you soon will

be I'm sure it's true the god of the

Christian saved my life but I must honor

the gods of my father who died in battle

and I believe he hears me

of course he hears you and you do well

brother but you see there aren't a lot

of gods there's only one the Almighty

Creator of heaven and earth but how do

you know that's true you hear the bell

that's the monastry bell it's calling us

you go on ahead I have to walk slowly

don't worry there's room on my horse for

you also what are you talking about

there's no horse around here my horse is

always around let's go I suspect that

they have been waiting for us a while

already when all goes dark around me and

I feel as though I've gone blind

I come to the monks to pray and the

light returns what do you mean the light

returns believe me that's how it is hey

those are Frankish horsemen then who are

you really my lord

whoa you can climb down now son I have

to go

may God bless you sire and be with you

always

that's what I'm always hoping brother

that God is with me whoa

play your flute for your father again

and he'll hear you

see you soon son Charlemagne now march

on Sarah Cousteau modern day Zaragoza

since 713 the capital of an Arab

principality from which the Saracens

frequently launched raids on Frankish

lands he was sure a victory because he

had paid his enemy Salomon been al arabi

the Muslim governor of the region a fat

bribe to betrayed the Caliph of Cordova

who's subject he was by handing the city

over to the Franks but Sharla mang was

in for a nasty surprise they are my lord

lies Sara Costa

but those horsemen are not ours and

they're coming from Sara Costa in a big

hurry they're writing so fast they'll

make their horses give out they're not

alone behind them I can see thousands

more dark horsemen Ubaldo what news do

you bring the king your ally governor

Solomon been a lobby has been removed

and his successor his same van Bahia

who's loyal to the Caliph of Cordova

he's chasing us with twenty thousand

horsemen that's too many have the column

retreat toward the mountains the cavalry

comes with me will attack their vanguard

Oliver cover the right flank

Ansem take the left flank Roland stay

here to block the enemy in the middle

[Music]

my sword will give you the justice you

deserve take me on if you have the

courage we'll win God is with us

[Music]

my stole words we have to withdraw and

defend the column the mountain tribes

will cut them off and stop them from

slipping through there in our hands now

let's give thanks to Allah blessed be

his name

all men are invincible on this terrain

we'll attack them by surprise at dawn

without cavalry we'll give them no

quarter and we will return to the great

caliph in Cordova with the king of the

Franks in Chains just like a slave and

the triumph will be yours hissing Ben

Mejia you deserve it it's the proper

reward for an overwhelming victory over

a great enemy in the name of the kind

and merciful Allah will vanquish the

enemy of our faith

[Music]

whoa if we manage to block this scourge

our enemies could no longer get to us

I'll close the pass my king with my

archers I'll wait for our rear guard and

the wagons to get through then I'll send

those boulders up there crashing on to

the Moors below I believe you have a

good idea there my brave Roland I only

hope it won't be too difficult to task I

wish you good luck brother

this evening at sunset we'll be together

again my lord

right now I need Oliver Ganis and Anselm

to fight by my side

[Music]

let's send a thousand infantry for to

test their defenses

I have hundred are enough for our

nervous

[Music]

this is the right moment to plunder

their wagons it's better to wait till

they move away before going into action

the infantry and horsemen still have to

enter the gorge

[Music]

it's the men they have to save the

wagons will have to go chopped up that's

right awakens our slow the French who

have closed the pass by now to get

around the mountains it would take days

for us to hit them on their flanks it's

important that the bass graders do what

they promised us

[Music]

[Applause]

we'll take the wagons the bass traders

are coming

[Music]

for king charles oh yeah

[Music]

damn there won't be hard to take them by

surprise

there's only a few left right but the

rest of the cavalry isn't with them

now they spotted us impossible but even

if they have we can beat them easily are

all the men to stand by to attack

fall at horsemen we've got to block that

[Music]

Roman tell your man to sell the horn

King Charles will hear the call and come

to our aid Tao I will not draw my King

into an ambush I would sort of die some

the horn I tell you or we'll all end our

days on this rock pile do it no goddess

I'm not going to have it sounded

I'm gonna go warn the king myself

[Music]

he's a brave man leave him be he has the

right to die with his sword in hand

[Music]

we've made a good haul let's get it to

safety

we've got what we came for

what are you doing Roman why are you

trying to break your faithful sword

no one must get a hold of it and use it

against the Franks because my Turin doll

is sacred and must never be used by the

infidels you Bardo my brother but they

have all gone every one of them now we

can warn the king we prepared our oath

to the last drop of blood

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did you hear that

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it's coming from down there it's the

horn blowing

it's Roland calling for help we've got

to get to him right away

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the lord have mercy on the christian

souls that in this place have separated

from their earthly bodies may the Lord

open the gates of paradise to them that

they may return to that land where there

is no death but joy everlasting and they

may rise again where they hear the call

of the trumpets of the righteous one

Charlemagne Charles the great by now

here was acclaimed as the great

everywhere in Europe but also as the

glorious the illustrious the victorious

the wise and the Pais

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by now Dominator of the kingdoms and

Lords of Europe

Charles carried within him the seeds of

ancient roots transmitted to him from

the tradition of the Merovingian kings

and above all that of the Carolingians

the roots of an ancient and civil past

long shared by the franks forced with

the romans and then with the monks above

all the Benedictines and with the

missionary bishops whom the Pope's had

sent out from Rome to evangelize those

regions from those monks the Franks had

received their Christian baptism sire

I've been waiting for you I was hoping

my lord that you could come back once

more to pray with us here in our

retreats I recognize you

you were the frightened pagan playing

his flute for the gods of the forest a

lot of years have passed sire now on the

Christian I'm a priest of Almighty God

you haven't told me yet why you've been

waiting for me because I wanted to ask

your permission to return to my people

you remember don't you that I'm a Saxon

King Charles I've already talked to the

abbot and he's in favor but he told me

that only you have the authority to

allow me to go back to my people but why

do you want to return to your people

aren't you happy here yes of course but

I want to announce to everyone the love

of Jesus for all mankind

but your people were defeated by us

Frank's monk and by now they've already

submitted themselves to Christ and

joined the church through baptism

there's no need for you to go back to

your own but the Saxons and made it only

out of fear and that's not what Christ

wanted it's the trusting abandonment of

oneself to God's love that he holds

dearest and it's his love that I want to

bring to my people let me go you've

remained a rebel at heart monk but I

certainly can't deny that what you say

is right

do you recognize the way I must have

taken this route hundreds of times with

my father when I was a young boy don't

you hear any sound I don't see anybody

I'm sure I heard something someone is

following us and I think he's not alone

I heard a rustling behind us who could

it be

maybe it's one of my people you see that

Swamp down there beyond the great oak

that's where the trail begins

we'll get on the trail back there I

don't see anything at all

only because you don't know how to read

the signs of the forest

even though years have passed since I

last came this way with my father it

seems like time has Stood Still

absolutely nothing has changed here do

you think someone is still following us

as long as we're in the forest their

eyes will never leave us then why didn't

you want us to bring weapons along

because we don't need them we come in

the name of Jesus he'll defend as if he

wants to you brought me here to die

you're crazy

you walk in the forest as though you

know the way but the way doesn't exist

there's no one to convert here except

bears and boars

you must have faith we'll find the

Saxons now let's get ready for the night

King Charles defeated and exterminated

them whoever was left has been baptized

they're all Christians now no one

becomes Christian unless he wants

baptism unless he has chosen to take the

cross of Jesus in his hands and

followers you don't become Christian by

being forced into it

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who sent you your spies I'll question

you in your language and if you don't

tell the truth the executioner will cut

you to pieces who are you and how is it

that you were able to find us in our

sacred forest there's no need for you to

speak to us in Latin with our co because

I to speak Saxon I'm a Bindo the son of

barangay why should I believe that then

you prove what you say you want to know

who sent us it wasn't the king of the

franks who sent us here nor one of his

counts we come in the name of Jesus the

Savior the Redeemer of all mankind the

liberator from slavery to sin the Saint

Urho Bindo I saw you die in battle

against the Franks 10 years ago who

brought you back to life but I never

died and I met Jesus of Nazareth whom I

now announce to you what Jesus Oh is

this Jesus why have you returned I'm a

son of the forest

I discovered a great treasure and I've

come back to share it with you what

treasure are you talking about when I

was wounded a compassionate hand healed

me and I encountered the love of Jesus

he arrived among us to bring us the

gospel during those years al Bindo went

among the Saxons to announce the gospel

and with other monks succeeded in

leading many of them to baptism the

years passed but the Saxons hostility

towards the Franks didn't soften and the

Franks didn't cease their ruthless

repression one day count all Pierce and

his infantry entered a saxon city

already savoring triumphs but the

incredible happened in the name of Jesus

spare the Christians of this city you're

a liar monk there are no Christians here

no Saxon has become Christian who are

you anyway and where you from the men

and women of this city are as Christian

as you are brother and you and your

infantry will not touch so much as a

hair of their heads how dare a simple

monk like you give such orders to a

Frankish Lord like me

I command you with the authority

conferred on me by our king if you read

this you'll see I'm not deceiving you

I promise the King to convert my people

without violence

just read this scroll it has the Kings

seal yes

so it has reader for me Squire you know

how to read in the name of the Most Holy

Trinity

we Charles by the grace of God king of

the Franks and Lombards and the

patrician of the Romans give permission

to our dear subject the monk Alban doe

to roam the Saxon lands and forests in

order to proclaim the gospel to those

pagans and we grant our royal protection

to all those who through brother al

bindas work receive the Word of God and

are baptized in the name of the Father

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit let

this be known to all bishops Abbot's

counts Vai counts vicars and judges who

will extend to the monk our window their

protection in my name

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[Applause]

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[Applause]

it wasn't only with the sword and good

government that Charlemagne administered

his realms he wanted his subjects

everywhere to learn to read and write

Latin the kingdoms official language and

to learn arithmetic a disciple of the

Benedictine tradition like his

forefathers he was convinced that this

was an indispensable step towards

strengthening the new civilization that

would continue after him with a letter

the king rebuked the clergy for both

their own ignorance and that of the

populace and he urged them to set up

free schooling for all with no

distinction between the sons of servants

and those of free citizens he protected

the monasteries and encouraged the

opening of new ones so that they would

become not only model examples of

Christian life but also centers for

spreading culture among the populace

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Charlemagne decreed the promotion of

medical science until then held back by

magical practices and superstition and

also the cultivation of music and

Gregorian chant

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but the move that contributed most to

the development of arts and sciences in

his realm was to gather together at the

court of Aquos Granum scholars from all

over Europe with them he founded the

Palatine Academy which he himself

frequented whenever time permitted

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Charles Augustus crowned by God great

and peaceful emperor long life and

victory

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may the blessing of the Lord descend

upon us all

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long live the Emperor

the palaces and walls of the capital of

the Empire I wanted you Louis to see the

ruins with me look wars devastation no

glory lasts for long that's what I

wanted you to understand that I know

father I've ruled and fought for 32

years in the name of Christ I've led

nations of people to baptism

I've United the Christian population in

the name of God indeed I thought I could

boast of having built the kingdom of

Christ the truth is another the kingdom

of God lives only in the hearts of men

it doesn't live in the power of the

rulers of the earth it rains in the

hearts of the men who love it and obey

its commandments to the young rich man

who asked what he should do to get to

heaven and have eternal life

jesus said sell all you have give it to

the poor come and follow me I who have

fought and won countless battles have

not had this courage

God didn't want you a monk but a king

that's true Louie God wanted me to be a

king

a young Saxon monk sent me a little

scroll and during these days of glory

I've read it over and over he writes for

your salvation August sire I remind you

of what the holy Bishop of Hippo the

monk Augustine wrote for us all

nature spoiled by sin begets the

citizens of the earthly City only the

grace of the Lord which frees nature

from sin begets citizens of the City of

God the former are the descendants of

Cain they age like the earthly

belongings to which they are bound and

die the latter are the descendants of

Abel they are bound for the glory of

heaven the eternal kingdom of God

earthly cities like all the kingdoms of

the earth will die only the City of God

is and will forever be in its glory I

remind you of this my beloved King

father and brother in the name of Jesus

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[Applause]

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