Hello and welcome to the history of the Germans.

Episode 27, Peace in our time.

Last week we saw the young Emperor Henry III taking a gold medal in the imperial sport of subjugating the East.

After the campaigns of 1040, 1043 and 1044, he finally had the Dukes of Poland and Bohemia

and the King of Hungary swearing fealty to him and all his successes.

The last emperor may have got there was Otto III, but that is very much disputed.

Henry III's position is clear, mainly because the blood

on his sword was still fresh. As a medieval emperor, Henry's job is not only to expand the reach

of Christianity, but also to bring peace and justice to his lands. The monarch's obligation to bring

peace is one of the distinguishing features between the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages.

A Dark Ages king was expected to provide opportunities for plunder and tribute.

Whilst in the Middle Ages the population has settled down and cares more about safety and security than about raping and pillaging.

In the 11th century the call for peace gets louder and louder, in particular in France. security than about raping and pillaging.

In the 11th century the call for peace gets louder and louder, in particular in France.

Peace is not so much the absence of large international war.

What the population suffered most from were the incessant feuds between rival lords.

When two rival lords had a disagreement, they rarely went into trial by combat to see who

was the stronger one.

No, no, no, that was actually dangerous.

The better solution was to burn down the rivals fields and murder his peasants.

Unarmed peasants could not inflict much harm on an armored rider, and when the rival lord

comes with his equally

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