The Eighth Tribe, 1975 (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1975-05-01 / 5. szám
MAY, 1975 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page Three receive you in peace, and pledge our loyalty, just as the Szekelys have done.” So right there, on the bank of the River Szamos, in front of a Táltos and in front of a Greek priest, Men Marót and the leader of the Szekelys spoke the sacred words of the oath. The alliance between them and the Magyars was declared. It was celebrated with three days of enjoyment, singing and dancing, fat oxen were roasted for everyone to eat, thus adding to the merriment. The old River Szamos heard the words of the sacred oath, the mountains and the hills around them witnessed the handshakes. The place where this event took place is now caUed the city of DES. LEHEL’S BUGLE The Magyars settled the new land, Arpad divided it between the tribes and the tribal chiefs divided the tribal lands between the clans. The land was rich and fertile, providing ample food for the livestock. The streams were full of fish, the forest full of game. However, the Magyars were accustomed to roam and explore, so before long they became restless on their rich lands. They wanted adventure. They wanted war, where they could practice their skills. In order to give their young warriors opportunity to blow off some steam, the tribal chiefs occasionally organized campaigns into the neighboring countries. They explored the West and the South several times. Magyar horsemen crossed the Alps seven times, and roamed as far as Spain and the Netherlands. They ransacked cities, burned down fortresses, and kidnapped women. In their sudden surprise attacks, they defeated the armies of the German Emperor, the Italian dukes, and the Teutonic knights. These excursions became a menace to all the neighbors, and especially to the German Emperor, Otto. Planning carefully, the Emperor sent one of his vassals, Duke Konrad to the Magyars, pretending to ask their help against some of his revolting dukes. Geza, Arpad’s grandson, decided to build friendly relations with his neighbor, and therefore accepted the offer of alliance. He sent a small army to the aid of the Emperor, under the leadership of Bulcsu and Lehel. Deep in the German principality, at Lechfeld, the unsuspecting Magyars were suddenly surrounded on one side by Duke Konrad’s foot soldiers, on the other side by the Emperor Otto’s armored calvary divisions, and massacred without mercy. The Magyar warriors fought like lions against the overwhelming enemy, killing off more than half of the Emperor’s army, yet one by one they fell, until at the end only the two leaders stood fighting alone. Around them, dead Germans were piled high. Konrad sent for two nets, thus the two Magyar heroes were caught alive, tied up with heavy ropes and dragged into the castle of Augsburg. In the castle, Otto, his dukes and counts sat in trial over the captured Magyars: — the two leaders and seven captured warriors. They sentenced the leaders to death. The seven warriors were sent back to their homeland, with their ears and noses cut off, carrying the message that this would be the fate of every Magyar who dared to set foot on German soil. “What is your last wish?” the Emperor Otto asked the two Magyar leaders. Bulcsu answered with a curse. Lehel’s eyes sparkled and he answered. “Give me my bugle”, he asked. “I wish to blow my favorite call once more!” The Emperor nooded agreement. The guards untied Lehel’s ropes, and handed him his beautiful bugle, a carved ox-horn, plated with silver. Lehel was famous for his bugle. His battle-call made even the dead rise and fight again. His death-call made even the stones cry. Lehel took the bugle and raised it to his mouth. Those sitting in judgment had never before heard such beautiful notes. After the mournful sounds of the death-call, the bugle burst out with the battlecall, over the entire city of Augsburg. It could be heard into the distant valley. Half-dead warriors still lying on the bloody battlefields rose to their elbows, grasping for their swords. The last sound left the bugle, silence fell over the castle. Those around were spell-bound, when suddenly, Lehel made a long step forward, toward the bench where the judges were seated, stopping directly in front of Duke Konrad, he raised the huge bugle with both hands high above his head. “Thou shall go ahead of me, traitor, and be my servant in the other world!” his voice thundered through the silence. Then he brought the bugle down with all his strength upon the skull of the Duke Konrad, killing him instantly. Bulcsu and Lehel were executed. The seven prisoners, their ears and noses cut off, were sent home I
