* The brutalization of the Saxons by the Franks – especially under the monstrous Charlemagne -may have contributed to their subsequent brutalization of the Slavs – no doubt psychologists might have something to say about this.

“A well-known export from al-Andalus is slaves, boys and girls captured in France and Galicia, as well as eunuchs from the Saqaliba. All the Saqaliba eunuchs in the world come from al-Andalus. They are castrated near this country. The [cutting] operation is performed by Jewish merchants. The Saqaliba are descended from Japheth. Their country is vast and extend over a very great length. Raiders from Khurasan [or Khorassan] reach them through the territory of the Bulghars. They are led in captivity to that province., their manhood left intact, their bodies unmutilated. The territories of the Saqaliba are immense. The arm of the sea which extend from the Ocean into the lands of Gog and Magog crosses their territory all the way to a point west of Trebizond [Trabzon, east of Paphlagonia on the Black Sea in today’s Turkey] then to Constantinople, thus dividing it into two halves. One of these, throughout all its length is raided by the warriors of Khurasan, who live on its borders, while the northern regions are invaded by

“The boy Bolesuav was born on the feast of Saint Stephen the king’s; but his mother subsequently fell ill and on the night of our Lord’s birth she passed away, She was a woman who had always performed acts of charity towards the poor and those in captivity, especially preceding the day of her death,* and she had redeemed many Christians with her resources from the servitude of the Jews…”