THE SCENE: Behold the chaotic world of dark ages Germany, where the sting of an emotional betrayal is only augmented by dirty tricks involving pigs and then bees.
THE TEXT: But [Immo], being most astute and quite willing to give himself to the best and highest bidder, took up arms against the duke; this the duke bore very grievously and it was a source of great sorrow to him for now he had to sustain as an adversary one on whose advice and loyalty he had hitherto placed great trust.
What greatly increased the indignation of the duke was the clever capture by Immo of a herd of swine. For as the swineherds of the duke were passing right opposite the gates of the city, Immo brought it about that one little pig was driven in the direction of the gate, and he thus got the whole herd through the open gates into the city.
This insult the duke could scarcely endure, and gathering his forces he besieged Immo. But the latter is said to have had at hand many hives of bees, which he broke open and let loose against the duke’s horsemen. The bees tormented the horses with their sings, and made them mad, so that their riders began to be imperiled.
When Immo saw this he threatened to burst forth with his forces. The duke, often deceived by Immo with such tricks, then raised the siege. On leaving he is said to have exclaimed: “When Immo was on my side I easily held all Lotharingians under my sway, but even with all the Lotharingians, he is the only one whom I cannot capture.”
– The Deeds of the Saxons, Widukind of Corvey, 10th Century AD
