Widukind, Saxon thorn

Widukind is one of those odd characters from history whose historical personae is much larger than his own achievements probably merited. Regular readers may remember mentions of him here and here, when he led various rebellions against the Franks during their decades-long conquest and Christianization of the Saxon people. He was a fearsomely effective military leader, as we shall see, and must have been a powerful force in Saxon society. In the end, however, even he submitted to Charlemagne, and then faded from view. More than a thousand years later, in a bizarre twist of fate, he became a hero to the nascent Nazi regime. A tangled path indeed.

Widukind first appears in history in 777, at the fateful spring assembly at Paderborn that launched King Charles on his path to Roncevalles. “All the Franks gathered there and, from every part of Saxony whatsover, the Saxons too, with the exception of Widukind, who, with a few others, was in rebellion and took refuge in Nordmannia with his companions.”^1.Royal Annals, year 777, King, p. 79. “For they all came to him with the exception of Widukind, one of the primores of the Westphalians, who, conscious of his numerous crimes, had fled to Sigfred, king of the Danes.”^2.Revised Royal Annals, year 777, King, p. 113.

Bachrach thinks Widukind’s mention in the annals indicate that he was a noble of some type, and the revised annals tell us he was from Westphalia. Other than that we don’t know anything about his background. The “companions” were probably his military household, and the “numerous crimes” implies that he had been part of the Saxon resistance. On the other hand, maybe the annalist was merely mentioning him due to his later escapades.^3.Bachrach, Charlemagne’s Early Campaigns, p. 627. But why was Widukind the one to flee to Denmark? Was he the only noble who rebelled, or the only one who wanted to keep the rebellion going? We don’t know.

And why Denmark? Don’t know that either. There are claims that Widukind was married to Sigfred’s daughter or sister, but there’s no evidence for that. King Sigfred himself is a somewhat mysterious figure, known only through the Frankish sources. There’s a derogatory reference to him in a poem by Paul the Deacon, in which he is described as crude and barbaric.^4.Wikipedia, Sigfred, accessed Oct 18, 2018. Unfortunately there’s no English translation of the poem. Any volunteers? King Charles asked Paul to be his emissary to the Danish king, but Paul declined. “He had no wish, he said, to contemplate that ferocious northern visage. Besides, king Sigfred was a bumpkin who knew no Latin.”^5.Jones, History of the Vikings, p. 98.

Widukind’s flight to the north was probably of no account to the Franks. “There was no doubt, either at the Carolingian court or in Rome, during the summer of 777, that the Saxons not only had been conquered but that they had been pacified and converted to Christianity.”^6.Bachrach, Charlemagne’s Early Campaigns, p. 628. Charles was wrong. “And when the Saxons heard that the lord king Charles and the Franks were so far away, in Spain, they followed their evil custom and again rebelled, at the instigation of the above-said Widukind and his companions.”^7.Royal Annals, year 778, King, p. 79. Charles’ answering riposte was characteristically brutal.

A few years later (782) Charles convened an assembly deep in Saxon territory, “at the source of the Lippe,” near Widukind’s homeland of Westphalia. Saxons as well as legates from King Sigfred attended. Widukind, however, again “had taken refuge with the Northmen” and was not present. Rather he waited until Charles had returned to Francia and then “returned to his homeland and stirred up the passions of the Saxons with vain hopes so that they rebelled.” What followed was a battle in which several notable Franks were killed, and a subsequent massacre of 4500 Saxons by an enraged Charles. Widukind was not among those killed, for “he had taken himself off to the Northmen once the deed had been done.”^8.Revised Royal Annals, year 782, King, p. 116.

This relationship between young King Charles, Widukind, and the Danish King Sigfred fascinates and frustrates me. Widukind apparently came and went to the northern kingdom freely. Obviously there was something between Widukind and Sigfred, but as noted above, we know nothing about it. On the other side Charles must have seen something to gain from friendly relations with Sigfred. Remember that Charles entertained ambassadors from Sigfred while Widukind, who had already led several revolts, was given safe harbor by their king! And after instigating a revolt that led to the death of thousands, Widukind returned to the king who had just sent emissaries to Charles! There is plainly more to this story than the sources reveal.

Personally I also think that there is more to Charles’ relationship with Widukind than simple antagonism between enemies. Let’s look at the year 785. By that point Charles clearly believed the war to be over. He was taking a victory lap of sorts through Saxony, and took along his wife and children. At one point “he sent word to Widukind and Abbio [another Saxon noble], had them both brought to his presence.” What did the great Frankish king do with this rebel who had so vexed him for so long? Torture him to death? Put him on trial and execute him? No.

First Charles extracted a promise that the Saxons would not leave until he returned to Francia. In return Widukind made Charles promise, backed with hostages, that they would not be harmed if they traveled to Francia. Charles agreed to these terms and returned to his villa at Attigny. From there he sent a palace official named Amalwin back to Widukind and Abbio, along with hostages guaranteeing their safe passage. Suitably reassured, the Saxons then traveled to Attigny. So now were they thrown into a dark dungeon? No.

“Widukind, author of so many evils and inciter of perfidy, came with his companions to the palace of Attigny and was there baptised.”^9.Moselle Annals, year 785, King, Translated Sources, p. 134. Not only was Widukind baptized, but “the lord king received him from the font and honoured him with magnificent gifts.”^10.Lorsch Annals, year 785, King, Translated Sources, p. 137.

Frankly I just don’t understand Charles’ leniency in this situation. His grandfather, Charles Martel, had been known to ship enemies off to a monastery rather than killing them, but they were more “in the family” than a Saxon rebel. Was Charles simply demonstrating that anyone who accepted baptism would be welcomed into the fold? Was he making up for his unfortunate temper tantrum in 782? Was he paying his respects to a wily and tenacious foe upon his withdrawal from the field? All of the above? In any case, with his baptism the historical Widukind of Westphalia disappears from view.

The legendary Widukind began to emerge several centuries later.

Evidently he became part of the fabric of European medieval heroes, but I can’t find any source that says more than that, and I certainly can’t find any of the stories that mention him. He also became known “as a great builder of churches and a saint,”^11.Kampers, F. (1912). Widukind. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved October 22, 2018 from New Advent. with a feast day on January 7,^12.Major, Tom, Feast of Blessed Widukind. Retrieved October 22, 2018 from Saint of the Day. but I can’t find anything more specific than that. If anyone out there has any more details, please drop a note in the comments.

Finally Widukind makes a bizarre 20th century appearance. During the late 1930s the Nazis were looking for heroes to bolster their image of Germanic nationalism. They chose Widukind and the 4500 Saxons as victims of the French. This version bore particular fruit as French medieval historians were simultaneously debating a sanitized version the event. Some said “that the verb decollare (to decapitate) was a copyist’s error in place of delocare (to relocate), so the prisoners were simply deported.” The argument “reached its climax [in] the 1930s”, when Nazi historians accused their French colleagues of “degenerate historiography” in trying to whitewash the incident.^13.Barbero, Charlemagne, Father of a Continent, p. 46.

The massacre itself was given a prominent place in Nazi version of German history. In 1935 a monument was built at the alleged site of the massacre, and became a spot to be visited by members of the SS. “The memorial was inscribed to ‘Baptism-Resistant Germans Massacred by Karl, the Slaughterer of the Saxons’.” Widukind was proclaimed as a resistor to Charles, the butcher of France. In 1934 two plays extolling Widukind were performed. However by 1940 the party had reversed itself and “rehabilitated” Charles.^14.Wikipedia contributors. (2018, September 22). Massacre of Verden. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:02, October 23, 2018.

Widukind must have been an extraordinary person. Not merely because his legend lived on through the 20th century, but because of the way an even greater man treated him. Even by the evidence of his enemies Widukind came and went at the courts of kings, inspired near-fanatical loyalty in his followers, and garnered praise from even his bitterest foe at his surrender. I wish we knew more.