The Czech Campaign to Lombardy I Lore Books

Description

The first part of the glorious deeds that the Czech warriors distinguished themselves with at Milan.

Text

On the Campaign to Lombardy

The mighty Emperor Frederick, known as Barbarossa, decided to invade the country of Lombardy, for the elders and burghers there were ignoring the Imperial charter, dishonouring it and disregarding Imperial power. And also because the treacherous Lombards wanted to agree a pact with the Pope against the Emperor and to usurp his power.

Knowing well the courage and skill of the Bohemian warriors, the Emperor asked the Czech Prince Vladislav of the House of Premislide for the support of his troops in the campaign. In return for his aid, the Emperor let the Bohemian Prince be crowned and issue a royal edict, so that the Czechs would have a king of their own. So the Emperor did in January of the year MCLVIII.

In the year thereafter the Emperor and his forces marched on Lombardy to bring order to the country and especially to humble the rich and glorious City of Milan, where the greatest insurrection was underway. Here, too, the Czechs were of great help, bravely fighting the Lombards wherever they encountered them. They built a bridge across the River Adda where the Milanese had torn down the old bridge to halt the Emperor’s advance. The Czechs held off the Lombardian troops, so that the Emperor and his army could cross the river and besiege the town. And so it came about that in the month of August the city was besieged and the Czechs were given the task of guarding the Gate of St. Dionysius.

For a month the Imperial army laid siege, engaging more than once with the Milanese, and every time, the Czechs fought bravely and powerfully, for which they subsequently earned great recognition from both the Imperial soldiers and the Milanese. The Czechs thought up all manner of ruses and tricks to frighten the enemy, such as making life-size figurines of bread dough, which within sight of the battlements they roasted on a fire and ate, to spread fear among the Milanese that they ate children. Or blackening their faces with charcoal and fighting wildly, so the enemy would think it was not men, but devils who were attacking them. But it is also said that the Czechs shot poisoned arrows at the foe and all manner of other unrighteous deeds.