Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse) divided his kingdom in three parts according to the number of his sons.
After his sons had died, in 911 Duke Conrad of Frankonia was elected to rule over the eastern part, which contained the essential parts of nowadays Germany. He did not succeed to consolidate his empire and to protect it against external enemies. Some historians say that the greatest act committed by Conrad was on his deathbed: He instructed his brother to deliver the royal insignia to his worst enemy, Saxon Duke Heinrich.
According to the legend, the messengers met Heinrich at the foot of his castle mountain in Quedlinburg during a bird hunting session. Since then and until today the place is called "Finkenherd".
In reality Heinrich was elected 919 at the town of Fritzlar by the Franks and Saxons to be the new king.
In the following years, Heinrich convinced the other lords, that he was the right man to rule the country, some with benefits and some with force.
Then he made his empire defensible by setting up a standing army and building castles.
After this work was done, in 929 he invited all the lords of his empire to a ceremony in Quedlinburg. All had to take a loyalty oath again to him and even to his son Otto, whom he had announced to be his successor. And so he ensured that his kingdom would succeed even beyond his death.
Germany was born, the cradle was Quedlinburg. |
