Song in Old Saxon - Otto the Great | The Skaldic Bard

Here’s another original song from me, this time in the Old Saxon language, otherwise known as Old Low German. Music, lyrics and performance by yours truly. This one is about Otto I the Great’s victory against the heathen Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld in 955.

I’ve tried to make the lyrics a little more traditional this time by using Germanic alliterative verse in the verses. Let me know what you think!

Upon his father's death in 936, Otto inherited the Duchy of Saxony and kingship of the Germans. He carried on his father's mission to unite all of the German tribes into a single kingdom. The pagan Magyars were marauding and threatening the realm, a problem which Otto responded to strongly, beating them at the Battle of Lechfeld. The German victory secured the Kingdom of Germany and ended nomadic invasions into Western Europe. Following this triumph, Otto I was hailed as emperor and father of the fatherland, and he used his strengthened position as Defender of Christendom after the battle to pave the way for his coronation as Holy Roman Emperor in 962.

My intention is exclusively to teach history and languages through song. I do not condone, endorse or seek to glorify violence

I hope you enjoy the song. Please like and share the video and leave a comment - I love reading them!

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Lyrics:
An land lioƀarô liudiô
was ên Sahso gisendid.
Sprâkono spâhi was he,
sô wildi wulf an giwinne.

Is folk wunsama
the was is werkô wân,
was wiðar wamskaðon war:
thea unhêlagon hêðinon.

Thô Odo samnon hêt
sô hwat sô an themu lande
allorô strangoston
thiudiskarô thegnô wârun.

Sûðar Sahson sigun
hebbiandie harm wið hertun,
hwand quam manag hêðin man
the haƀda hardan hugi.

Hêl wis thu, Odo miklo!
Heritogo, Kuning, Kêser!
Fan Sahslande oƀar al waldand
was he helið sînarô liudiô.

Elithioda quam themu lande
ja blôd ja sigi sôkiandia.
He im slôg kraftô swerdô –
thiudiska liudi ne sueltad neo!

“Lât ûs nu ûs gisônian
wið ûsa gadulingmâgos
endi fehta fargetan
that wi drohtin mârean môtin!”

Thô ridun te giwinne
hrossô hôfslaga hôriandie
wið hêðin eoridfolk
the brinnandie bogun bârun.

“Gibâriad gi baldlîko,
ne sî nu iu forht hugi,
hwand wlanke weros sind
thes rîkies thiudisken.

Ên aftar ôðrumu
fîund fellun im tô fuoton
Hêl wis thu, Odo mîn,
wirthis ja kuning ja kêser!

Hêl wis thu, Odo miklo!
Heritogo, Kuning, Kêser!
Fan Sahslande oƀar all waldand
was he helið sînarô liudiô.

Elithioda quam themu lande
ja blôd ja sigi sôkiandia.
He im slôg kraftô swerdô,
Thiudiska liudi ne sueltad neo!

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