The Works of William Robertson, D. D...: To which is Prefixed an Account of His Life and Writings, Volume 4T. Cadell, 1821 - History |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquired allodial ancient appears Aragon arms army assembly authority barbarous nations barons became Cange canon law century cerning Charlemagne Charles Charles VII charters church cities civil combat commerce concerning conquests considerable constitution Cortes court crown customs dominions Du Cange ecclesiastics effects Emperors Empire established Europe extensive favourable feudal fiefs France Fueros genius German granted Hist historians honour Ibid Imperial inhabitants institutions Italy judges judicial combat jurisdiction justice Justiza King kingdom Kings of France lands laws liberty lord Louis Louis XI magistrate manners manumission Marculfus ment military monarchs Murat narchs nobility nobles NOTE obliged observed occasioned Ordon person political Popes possessed prerogative princes privileges provinces provinces of France regulations reign rendered respect Roman royal S E C SECT slaves society sovereign Spain spirit States-General subjects Tacitus territories throne tion trial by combat vassals vigour Zurita
Popular passages
Page xii - The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. ; with a View of the Progress of Society in Europe, from the Subversion of the Roman Empire to the Beginning of the Sixteenth Century.
Page 11 - If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.
Page 22 - Charlemagne in France, and Alfred the Great in England, endeavoured to dispel this darkness, and gave their subjects a short glimpse of light and knowledge. But the ignorance of the age was too powerful for their efforts and institutions. The darkness returned, and settled over Europe more thick and heavy than before.
Page 78 - Infidels put an end to these foreign expeditions, the latter was the only employment left for the activity and courage of adventurers. To check the insolence of overgrown oppressors; to rescue the helpless from captivity; to protect, or to avenge women, orphans, and ecclesiastics, who could not bear arms in their own defence ; to redress wrongs, and to remove grievances ; were deemed acts of the highest prowess and merit.
Page 36 - These privileges were called charters of community, by which he enfranchised the inhabitants, abolished all marks of servitude, and formed them into corporations or bodies politic, to be governed by a council and magistrates of their own nomination.
Page 25 - A general consternation seized mankind ; many relinquished their possessions, and, abandoning their friends and families, hurried with precipitation to the Holy Land, where they imagined that Christ would quickly appear to judge the world...
Page 24 - Almighty had selected as the inheritance of his favorite people, and in which the Son of God had accomplished the redemption of mankind. As this distant pilgrimage could not be performed without considerable expense, fatigue, and danger, it appeared the more meritorious, and came to be considered as an expiation for almost every crime.
Page 15 - General, who fed them to conquest, continuing still to be the head of the colony, had, of course, the largest portion allotted to him. Having thus acquired the means of rewarding past services, as well as of gaining new adherents, he parcelled out his lands with this view, binding those on whom they were bestowed, to...
Page 70 - In ages of ignorance and credulity, the ministers of religion are the objects of superstitious veneration. When the barbarians who overran the Roman empire first embraced the Christian faith, they found the clergy in possession of considerable power; and they naturally transferred to those new guides the profound submission and reverence which they were accustomed to yield to the priests of that religion which they had forsaken. They deemed their persons to be equally sacred with their fraction;...
Page 12 - Very faint vestiges of the Roman policy, jurisprudence, arts, or literature remained. New forms of government, new laws, new manners, new dresses, new languages, and new names of men and countries, were everywhere introduced.