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Die Tage der Sintflut - Roman über die Belagerung Aachens 1248
1248: Papsttreue Reichsfürsten haben Graf Wilhelm von Holland zum König gewählt, denn der Stauferkaiser Friedrich steht unter dem Kirchenbann. In Aachen will sich Wilhelm traditionsgemäß krönen und salben lassen. Doch die kaisertreuen Aachener weigern sich, ihm die Tore zu öffnen. Wilhelm sieht sich gezwungen, einen Belagerungsring um die Stadt zu ziehen. Gewaltig unterschätzt er dabei die Zähigkeit der Verteidiger. Friesisches Kriegsvolk soll letztlich die Entscheidung bringen: Ein rasch errichteter Damm hemmt den Abfluss der Aachener Bäche und droht die Stadt zu überschwemmen ...
Inmitten dieser sich anbahnenden Katastrophe feiern Beatrix, die Frau eines Aachener Sattlers, und der Ritter Reimar von Jülich ein unverhofftes Wiedersehen. Früher waren die beiden ein Liebespaar, bis das Schicksal sie trennte. Und auch diesmal steht ihre Begegnung unter einem ungünstigen Stern, denn Reimar gehört dem Heer der Belagerer an ...
Inmitten dieser sich anbahnenden Katastrophe feiern Beatrix, die Frau eines Aachener Sattlers, und der Ritter Reimar von Jülich ein unverhofftes Wiedersehen. Früher waren die beiden ein Liebespaar, bis das Schicksal sie trennte. Und auch diesmal steht ihre Begegnung unter einem ungünstigen Stern, denn Reimar gehört dem Heer der Belagerer an ...
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
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December 28, 2017
Historical fiction about the Siege of Aachen, Germany, in 1248. This is Mr Krieger's third book about Aachen (after Flammen über Aachen and Das Untier von Aachen), all stand-alone.
The author used this historical event to tell how people must have lived through the hardship and what not. How religion played a big role in daily life and politics. The imperial princes of the time were sided with the Church and tbe pope, Gregory IX, who wanted to get rid of Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The people of Aachen refused to let this happen and certainly were not eager to let Count William (Willem) II of Holland, who was and wanted to be crowned king in the Dom in Aachen, take control of the city. This led to a 6-months lasting war, in which there wasn't much fighting, apparently. William II was assisted by Cardinal Pietro Capocci, the papal legate.
The city of Aachen had plenty of resources and supplies, they could survive for a very long time, even if all trade was blocked because of the siege. Until help from The Netherlands arrived, help for William II, of course. Some wanted to take the city by force, in addition to the bombardments, but the external help (from Frisians) came with a proposition that would avoid (more) casualties: building a dam. The city of Aachen was provided with water on various sides, but a dam would, soon enough flood it. Consequences would be: diseases, death, rapidly decreasing stocks, and so on. That way, the city would have no choice but to surrender.
Before all that, one of the tactics of Aachen was to burn down the houses farthest removed from the city centre. This then meant that those inhabitants would have to find shelter with fellow civilians higher-up. A bit like in 'Lord of the Rings' with the city of Minas Tirith.
Anyway, one of those people who had to find new shelter was Beatrix and her family (husband and leather-worker Norbert, and their two children, Beppo and Anna). They could live with Norbert's brother Brun, who was widowed, but has a son, Walther. Walther was a rather big-mouthed boy and had one precious possession: his pocket knife. He and Beppo would twice make bets for it, for which Beppo was to undertake a dangerous mission to the camp of the besieger: William II of Holland. He would never succeed 100%, but the second time he wouldn't return at all. Until uncle Brun decided to bring him back ().
Beatrix found a friend in maid Elsa, who helped in Brun's household. Brun also lived with his (and Norbert's) mother, whom he feared. But she wouldn't live that long any more, as her health was rapidly deteriorating.
Norbert is only very shortly present in the story. He mysteriously disappears one day. Beatrix goes out to seek clues and answers, but finds none that help her find solace, even if Brun wants to console her (for his own reasons). (Major spoiler! )
However, the marriage between Norbert and Beatrix wasn't that happy. Beatrix still loved/loves her former boyfriend, Reimar, a knight from Jülich, who now served William II... also for his own reasons. One thing leads to another, via Beppo's imprisoning (in a cloister nearby).
The city of Aachen eventually surrenders, but William II promised to, at first, not change too many things. Right and privileges were maintained and he would help the city recover from the siege. Despite the losses and damages, all's well that ends well. Otherwise it wouldn't be a good story, would it?
Mr Krieger added some background information on the siege, on the story and the dam. The myth was confirmed as true story, as excavations showed the remains of the dam.
This was my first encounter with this author's works, despite him having reworked Die Bockreiter by Josef Ponten, of which you can read my review here. Mr Krieger has a very fluent, accessible style. The story in Die Tage der Sintflut - Roman über die Belagerung Aachens 1248 was both entertaining and informative, yet focused on the characters and their experiences and emotions. Personally, I prefer the more informative side in historical fiction, but all in all, it's well-balanced here.
In short: Recommended!
--------------------
You can read more about the Siege of Aachen on various websites:
Wikipedia
Deutschland im Mittelalter
Andrea Cefalo
Aachener Geschichtsverein e.V.
The author used this historical event to tell how people must have lived through the hardship and what not. How religion played a big role in daily life and politics. The imperial princes of the time were sided with the Church and tbe pope, Gregory IX, who wanted to get rid of Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The people of Aachen refused to let this happen and certainly were not eager to let Count William (Willem) II of Holland, who was and wanted to be crowned king in the Dom in Aachen, take control of the city. This led to a 6-months lasting war, in which there wasn't much fighting, apparently. William II was assisted by Cardinal Pietro Capocci, the papal legate.
The city of Aachen had plenty of resources and supplies, they could survive for a very long time, even if all trade was blocked because of the siege. Until help from The Netherlands arrived, help for William II, of course. Some wanted to take the city by force, in addition to the bombardments, but the external help (from Frisians) came with a proposition that would avoid (more) casualties: building a dam. The city of Aachen was provided with water on various sides, but a dam would, soon enough flood it. Consequences would be: diseases, death, rapidly decreasing stocks, and so on. That way, the city would have no choice but to surrender.
Before all that, one of the tactics of Aachen was to burn down the houses farthest removed from the city centre. This then meant that those inhabitants would have to find shelter with fellow civilians higher-up. A bit like in 'Lord of the Rings' with the city of Minas Tirith.
Anyway, one of those people who had to find new shelter was Beatrix and her family (husband and leather-worker Norbert, and their two children, Beppo and Anna). They could live with Norbert's brother Brun, who was widowed, but has a son, Walther. Walther was a rather big-mouthed boy and had one precious possession: his pocket knife. He and Beppo would twice make bets for it, for which Beppo was to undertake a dangerous mission to the camp of the besieger: William II of Holland. He would never succeed 100%, but the second time he wouldn't return at all. Until uncle Brun decided to bring him back ().
Beatrix found a friend in maid Elsa, who helped in Brun's household. Brun also lived with his (and Norbert's) mother, whom he feared. But she wouldn't live that long any more, as her health was rapidly deteriorating.
Norbert is only very shortly present in the story. He mysteriously disappears one day. Beatrix goes out to seek clues and answers, but finds none that help her find solace, even if Brun wants to console her (for his own reasons). (Major spoiler! )
However, the marriage between Norbert and Beatrix wasn't that happy. Beatrix still loved/loves her former boyfriend, Reimar, a knight from Jülich, who now served William II... also for his own reasons. One thing leads to another, via Beppo's imprisoning (in a cloister nearby).
The city of Aachen eventually surrenders, but William II promised to, at first, not change too many things. Right and privileges were maintained and he would help the city recover from the siege. Despite the losses and damages, all's well that ends well. Otherwise it wouldn't be a good story, would it?
Mr Krieger added some background information on the siege, on the story and the dam. The myth was confirmed as true story, as excavations showed the remains of the dam.
This was my first encounter with this author's works, despite him having reworked Die Bockreiter by Josef Ponten, of which you can read my review here. Mr Krieger has a very fluent, accessible style. The story in Die Tage der Sintflut - Roman über die Belagerung Aachens 1248 was both entertaining and informative, yet focused on the characters and their experiences and emotions. Personally, I prefer the more informative side in historical fiction, but all in all, it's well-balanced here.
In short: Recommended!
--------------------
You can read more about the Siege of Aachen on various websites:
Wikipedia
Deutschland im Mittelalter
Andrea Cefalo
Aachener Geschichtsverein e.V.
Displaying 1 of 1 review