Rose Garden

[Franconicus]

Maybe this question is not really historical, but someone might know:

If you read the Nordic / Germanian Sagas there sometimes appears the Rosegarden, an allegory for the law / power. But if memory serves, roses were known in Europe only after the crusades. So where does this name come from? An different flower?

[Gealai]

The "Rosengarten" or "garden of the roses" is a splendid mountainrange which shines beautiful in light red in the last hours of the day..

http://www.rosengarten-latemar.com/index.html


It features prominantly in a Germanic/Ladin Saga. King Laurin, lord of the dwarfes in the breathtaking dolomites possesed once a grand garden of roses which he loved more than everything else. He loved also Similde, a beautiful germanic maiden, but he was laughed out and insulted. With help of his stealth-cap he kidnapped her as revenge.

King Dietrich of Bern (Verona) was called for help, and with great difficulties he defeated Laurin, luring him out by destroying the roses.

http://www.laurin.at/en-hotel-laurinsaga.shtml

Note that later on this Saga was considered to be offensive to the Ladin minority of Southtyrol, as it seems to describe the aggressive landtaking of the various Germanic tribes, with the Bajuvarians as main offenders.

http://www.dolomiti.it/eng/zone/siusisciliar/leggende.htm