Gero, Gifu

Gero (下呂市, Gero-shi) is a city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The city is famous for its hot springs. The Hida River runs throughout the city.

As of July 2011, the city has an estimated population of 35,906 and a population density of 42 persons per km². The total area is 851.06 km².

History

The modern city of Gero was established on March 1, 2004, from the merger of the former town of Gero, absorbing the towns of Hagiwara, Kanayama and Osaka, and the village of Maze (all from Mashita District).

Industry

Gero's major industry is tourism. It is known throughout Japan for its hot springs known as Onsen, leading many tourists to visit the area each year. Forestry and agriculture also play significant roles in the local economy. Gero has many hotels that can be visited by guests that are looking for accommodations near the hot springs. Large tubs are located in some hotels allowing couples to bathe together. Some hotels lend yukatas to the couples. It's not unusual to see people wearing yukatas on the streets of Gero and even in some stores. Besides those in hotels, there are many inexpensive and convenient onsens located near railway stations, residential areas, and commercial centers up and down the valley.

Gero

Gero I (c. 900 – 20 May 965), called the Great (Latin magnus), ruled an initially modest march centred on Merseburg, which he expanded into a vast territory named after him: the marca Geronis. During the mid-10th century, he was the leader of the Saxon Drang nach Osten.

Succession and early conflicts

Gero was the son of Count Thietmar, tutor of Henry I. He was appointed by King Otto I to succeed his brother, Siegfried, as count and margrave in the district fronting the Wends on the lower Saale in 937. His appointment frustrated Thankmar, the king's half-brother and Siegfried's cousin, and together with Eberhard of Franconia and Wichmann the Elder, he revolted against the king (938). Thankmar was dead within a year and his accomplices came to terms with Otto. Gero was kept in his march.

During the insurrection of his opponents, Gero had been prosecuting a losing war against the Slavs in 937–938. The losses his troops sustained could not be made up for by the produce of the land nor by tribute, since the Slavs refused to pay. As an important marcher lord, Gero's command included milites ad manum Geronis presidis conscripti, that is, a "military following," "warband of vassals or companions," or "specially chosen group of fighters" differentiated from the rest of the army (exercitus). These men formed the elite of Gero's troops.

Gero (archbishop of Cologne)

Gero (c. 900 – 29 June 976) was Archbishop of Cologne from 969 until his death.

Gero originated from Saxony, probably a son of the Billung count Christian (d. 950), who ruled in the Eastphalian Nordthüringgau and Schwabengau as well as over the adjacent lands of Serimunt in the Marca Geronis. He and his brother Margrave Thietmar of Meissen were the sons of Christian's marriage with Hidda, sister of Margrave Gero the Great.

In 969, Gero was elected Archbishop of Cologne by the cathedral chapter. According to the medieval chronicler Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, he at first met with opposition from the Emperor Otto the Great. In late 971, he was an ambassador to the Byzantine court in Constantinople, in order to arrange the marriage of Otto's heir, Otto II, to the Byzantine princess Theophanu in April 972 in Rome. On that journey he also brought back some relics of Saint Pantaleon for the dedication of the new St. Pantaleon's Church in Cologne. In 972 he attended a synod at Ingelheim, and the next year was present at the emperor's funeral.

Gero (book)

Gero (meaning 'later', Guero in contemporary spelling) is a 16th century ascetic book in Basque composed by Pedro Agerre (also spelled Pedro D'Aguerre), better known as Axular. It is considered one of the masterpieces of classic Basque prose and literature altogether. It was published at Bordeaux in 1643 under the patronage of Bertrand D'Etchauz, Basque archbishop of Tours (1617-1641). The book was written after the period of the harrowing witch persecution (Pierre de Lancre's intervention in Labourd).

The book, written in an instructive tone, dwells on the idea of the harm and misfortunes issued from putting off one's religious duties, on the grounds that men need to turn to Christ with no delay. While the title's tagline reads «divided into two parts», only the existence of one book has been attested. Basque scholar Piarres Lafitte claimed that both parts had been merged into one. By contrast, former president of the Basque Language Academy Luis Villasante held that the second part had been actually lost for ever. Gero shows no mysticism, but the book intends to explain and prove an ascetic idea, arranged as if it was to be addressed from the pulpit to the parishioners.