I am Saxon
I Am Saxon is a deeply felt tribute to a people whose story shaped centuries yet now stands on the edge of memory. Tracing the Transylvanian Saxons from their 12th‑century settlement in the basin of the Carpathian Mountains, the book blends sweeping history with personal recollections to illuminate a culture defined by resilience, craftsmanship, and belonging.
Both elegy and celebration, I Am Saxon honors a heritage nearly lost and affirms the enduring spirit of a community determined not to be forgotten.
Karl Gagesch, I am Saxon – the History of the Transylvanian Saxons (Friesen Press, May 2025)
Themes and Focus
I Am Saxon explores the history of the Transylvanian Saxons through a narrative that blends documented events with lived memory. At its core, the book examines several interwoven themes that define the Saxon experience across centuries:
1. Migration and Settlement
The story begins with the origins of the Germanic Saxons, then describes their 12th‑century migration into the Carpathian Basin in a region belonging to the Kingdom of Hungary, known as Transylvania (land beyond the forest) and traces the motivations, challenges, and opportunities that shaped their early communities. Their settlement is presented not only as a historical movement but as the foundation of a distinct cultural identity.
2. Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Across invasions, political upheavals, and shifting empires, the Saxons repeatedly adapted to survive. The book highlights how resilience—expressed through communal organization of civic defense, fortified architecture, and astute political organisation—became a defining trait of the people.
3. Craftsmanship and Civic Life
From guild traditions to the construction of fortified towns and villages, I Am Saxon emphasizes the Saxons’ contributions as builders, artisans, merchants, and organizers. Their civic structures, legal customs, and cooperative ethos reveal a society deeply invested in order, skill, and mutual responsibility.
4. Faith, Tradition, and Cultural Continuity
The book explores the rituals, beliefs, and customs that sustained Saxon identity across generations. These traditions—rooted in both faith and community—form the emotional backbone of the narrative, illustrating how culture is preserved through everyday practice.
5. Loss, Memory, and the Fragility of Heritage
As the 20th century brought displacement and diaspora, the Saxon world began to fade. I Am Saxon reflects on this loss with honesty and care, showing how memory becomes both a refuge and a responsibility when a culture stands on the brink of disappearance.
6. Personal History as Collective History
By weaving family stories into the broader historical arc, the book underscores how individual lives illuminate the larger forces that shape a people. This blend of personal and historical narrative gives the work its emotional depth and authenticity.
Together, these themes form a portrait of a community that built, endured, and ultimately dispersed—yet left behind a legacy that continues to resonate. I Am Saxon invites readers to understand not only what the Saxons accomplished, but what it means to carry a heritage forward when so much of it has been lost.
About the Author
Karl Gagesch is a writer and researcher focused on the history and cultural memory of the Transylvanian Saxons. Drawing on family archives, community narratives, and years of independent study, his work blends historical analysis with personal storytelling to illuminate a heritage that has long been underrepresented in mainstream history.
Based in Niagara Falls, Canada, he is committed to preserving the traditions, experiences, and architectural legacy of the Saxon communities of Transylvania. I Am Saxon is his first book, written as both a historical narrative and a tribute to a culture shaped by resilience, distinct cultural traditions, and centuries of economic and political innovation, all of which allowed its culture to flourish for over 800 years.
Learn more about the Transylvanian Saxons in issue 21 of Medieval World: Culture & Conflict.
