Annex 24 (Book XXXI, chapter 20)

, par Stewart

At a time when the world is in tears over the death of his father, in that moment of surprise when everyone is asking for Charles, and finding him no longer ; at a time when he hastens his steps to go fill his place, he sends some faithful men before him to arrest those who had contributed to the disorder of his sisters’ conduct. This caused some bloody tragedies. These were instances of overhasty imprudence. He began to avenge domestic crimes before he reached the palace, and to revolt the minds before being the master.

He put out the eyes of Bernard, king of Italy, his nephew, who had come to plead for his clemency, and who died a few days later ; that multiplied his enemies. His fear of them led him to have his brothers shorn [1] : that further increased the number. He was vehemently reproached for these last two items ; they did not fail to say that he had violated his oath and the solemn promises he had made to his father the day of his coronation.

After the death of the empress Hirmengarde, by whom he had three children, he married Judith : he had a son by her, and soon, combining accommodations […].

Notes

[1[Faire tondre ses frères : “[...] c’était autrefois une ignominie en France que de tondre les cheveux ; et cette peine était mise au même rang que la fustigation par les loix de Charlemagne” (Trévoux).]