A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

^liances.
Eginhard,
Karl the
Great, i6.
Relations
with Persia.
The eastern
emperor.
578 The Prankish Power
were the Welatabi, Sorabi, Abodriti, and Baemanni, for
with these there was fighting; but the rest, who were more
numerous, quietly surrendered.
The renown of his Kingdom was also much increased
by the friendly alliances he cultivated with different kings
and nations. Alfonso, king of Gallicia and Asturias, was
so bound to him by the ties of friendship that, when he
sent him letters or messengers, he used to command that
The Kings
he should be spoken of as being Karl's man.
of the Scots, too, were by his munificence so devoted to
his will, that they ever spoke of him as their Lord, and of
themselves as his lieges and servants. Letters are still
extant from them to him which show that this sort of
relationship existed between them.
Haroun, King of the Persians, who, with the exception
of India, ruled over nearly all the East, was held by the
King in such hearty friendship that he valued Karl's
esteem above all other Kings and princes of the world, and
thought that he alone was worthy to be honored by his
regard and munificence. When the officers sent by King
Karl with offerings to the most sacred sepulchre and place
of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour came to Haroun
and announced the pleasure of their master, he not only
gave them permission to do as they desired, but granted
that
that revered and sacred spot should be considered
as belonging to King Karl. When the ambassadors set
out on their return, he sent with them his own envoys, who
conveyed to the King strange and curious gifts, with
garments and spices and other rich products of the East,
just as he had sent him a few years before, upon his
request, the only elephant he then possessed.
The Emperors at Constantinople, Nicephorus, Michael,
and Leo, of their own accord, also sought his friendship