The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

British Empire/Commonwealth Fae

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Arjan:

--- Quote from: Con on January 05, 2021, 04:13:35 PM ---Still find that one a little troubling for ethical reasons, but that can be a trigger subject.

--- End quote ---
You don’t have to look far to find a lot of dirt but I find the idea of charlemagne as knight of the cross equally disturbing.

Con:

--- Quote from: Arjan on January 05, 2021, 05:40:12 PM ---You don’t have to look far to find a lot of dirt but I find the idea of charlemagne as knight of the cross equally disturbing.

--- End quote ---

I mean yeah even Salahadin had his slaughteey moments. But Charlemagne doesn't bother me as much cause in verse it can be explained by Charlemagne launching campaigns against supernatural creatures and nations. Inverse Dark Ages were caused by Nicodemus releasing the black plague, OG Merlin establishing the Catholic Church to preserve knowledge and Vikings fighting a Bigfoot army. I can sort of write off Charlemagne of being a uniting force for christianity against those threats.

Arjan:

--- Quote from: Con on January 06, 2021, 03:51:39 AM ---I mean yeah even Salahadin had his slaughteey moments. But Charlemagne doesn't bother me as much cause in verse it can be explained by Charlemagne launching campaigns against supernatural creatures and nations. Inverse Dark Ages were caused by Nicodemus releasing the black plague, OG Merlin establishing the Catholic Church to preserve knowledge and Vikings fighting a Bigfoot army. I can sort of write off Charlemagne of being a uniting force for christianity against those threats.

--- End quote ---
https://www.medievalists.net/2014/02/was-charlemagne-a-mass-murderer/

There are also accounts of blinding prisoners and so on. He was a bloody mass murderer who’s favorite conversion tool was the sword.

But he was a devout Christian, bible inspired even:


--- Quote --- the most likely inspiration for the mass execution of Verden was the Bible. Exasperated by the continual rebellions, Charlemagne wanted to act like a true king of Israel. The Amalekites had dared raise their hand to betray God’s people, and it was therefore right that every last one of them should be exterminated. Jericho was taken and all those inside had to be put to the sword, including men, women, old people, and children, even the oxen, sheep, and donkeys, so that no trace would be left of them. After defeating the Moabites, David, with whom Charles liked to compare himself, had the prisoners stretch out on the ground, and two out of three were killed. This, too, was part of the Old Testament from which the king drew inspiration, and it is difficult not to discern a practical and cruelly coherent application of that model in the massacre of Verden.
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Why all those rebellions?

Usually “pagan” populations rebelled against Christian monarchs in early medieval western Europe. The Saxon rebellions were followed by the rebellions of the western Slavs and the balts needed a centuries long crusade to get “converted”.

Christianity was a tool and a justification for the power of the monarchy. Especially in places without a tradition of strong centralized power.

People did not want to be told what to believe and who to pay taxes to. Local leaders who wanted to rebel had no lack of support. Local monarchs sometimes embraced Christianity to expand their power. Norway and Poland are good examples. They also had to face internal opposition.

Charlemagne was inspired into Old Testament cruelty.

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