Marion Florence Lansing

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Sixteen astonishing tales from European history, each dealing with a great clash between two mighty forces, described by the other either as barbarians or nobles.Originally written for younger readers, this work tells the story of, among others, the Roman advance into Germany under General Drusus, the sack of Rome by the "barbarian" Goths under Alaric, the attack upon Europe by Attila the Hun, the inter-Gothic wars and Theodoric, the emergence of the Franks under Clovis, the wars against the Moors ("Saracens") under Roderick, the Viking invasions, St. Winfred's death at the hands of German tribes he was trying to convert to Christianity, and the great Crusade against the Muslim invasion of Palestine, led by England's Richard I.At the end of the book, the author inserted guide notes for teachers, suggesting themes for educating the young, and further reading suggestions.This work contains all the original text and its accompanying beautiful woodcut illustrations, and has been complete reset and digitally restored to better than original quality."In this volume are grouped stories of that early period of the Middle Ages when Europe was the meeting place of many races and tribes which were later to make up the nations of the modern world. In its broad lines the historical epic of the wandering of the nations, and of the formation of Christendom out of a chaos of tribes and peoples and tongues, is as stirring as any saga; in its details there are many bits of epic prose, many quaint scenes from the life of the time, and many pictures of well-known heroes. It is, moreover, with all its tragedy of the fall of the Roman Empire, a tale of hope; for there runs through it a single line of progress, -that the barbarian of one age appears as the noble of the next, taking his turn in defending his world against the onrush of new barbarians. Barbarian becoming noble unconsciously, uncivilized becoming civilized, that is the tale of the early Middle Ages in relation to the world of today; and it is a tale fascinating beyond one's most hopeful anticipations."-from the Preface.Cover image: "Germania Stays the Romans."ContentsBarbarian and NobleThe Story of DrususA Roman and a BarbarianThe Coming of the Witch PeopleAlaric the GothAttila the Scourge of GodTheodoricGoth against GothClovis, King of the FranksRoderick and the SaracensCharlemagneThe School of the PalaceVikings from the NorthAlfred and the DanesRollo the VikingSaint WinfredRichard the CrusaderNotes

Fifteen exciting stories from the Medieval era of Knights, Courtly Love, and Chivalry, selected, arranged, and retold by Marion Florence Lansing.Beginning with the immortal story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the book also covers Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Arthur's passing, before moving on to the era of Charlemagne.Here, drawing upon real life events of such magnitude that they quickly passed into legend, the reader will find the stories of Roland and his death, Godfrey and the Crusades, the origin of the story of St. George and the Dragon, and Chevalier Bayard, among many others.Originally aimed at younger readers, the author inserted guide notes for teachers, suggesting themes for educating the young, and further reading suggestions at the end of the book.This work contains all the original text and its accompanying beautiful illustrations, and has been complete reset and digitally restored to better than original quality."It sets forth in simple story form the development and progress of knighthood from the time of St. George, who won his spurs by killing the dragon, to the founding, a thousand years later, of the order which bore his name and embodied in its ritual the highest ceremonial of chivalry."With its explanation of the meaning of the degrees of knighthood, its description of quests and tourneys, and its outline of the great events of chivalry, this volume will serve as a good introduction to the later reading of the child in Arthurian and other romance, and in the history of Charlemagne's wars and the crusades."Chivalry ceased to be of practical value only when the conditions of civilization called for men of peace rather than war, and the perfect knight was replaced by the perfect gentleman."-from the Preface.CONTENTSPrefacePage, Esquire, and KnightTales of King Arthur's Court (5th and 6th centuries)The Drawing of the SwordThe Founding of the Round TablePercevalSir Gawain and the Green KnightThe Passing of ArthurTales of Charlemagne and His Peers (9th century)Roland, a Knight of FranceThe Battle of RoncevalGodfrey, A Knight of the Crusades (11th century)The Order of St. George (2d and 14th centuries)Chevalier Bayard (15th and 16th centuries)Songs of ChivalryA Steed A Steed The TroubadourNotes