Charlemagne
CHARLEMAGNE (c. 742–814), also known as Charles the Great and Carolus Magnus; king of the Franks (768–800) and first emperor of a revived Empire in the West (800–814)....
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Charlemagne (Also Known as Charles I)
742-814
European ruler who conquered and united most of Europe, creating an entity reminiscent of the Roman Empire. He was proclaimed the first emperor of the Hol...
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Charlemagne (742-814), or Charles the Great, was king of the Franks, 768-814, and emperor of the West, 800-814. He founded the Holy Roman Empire, stimulated European economic and political life, and f...
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In the following excerpt, Cutts explores Charlemagne’s encouragement of learning and examines his religious policy, edicts, and controversial theological decisions.
The Revival of Learning
The ...
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In the following essay, Susskind explores the various types of comedy employed in the chansons de geste, considers the butts of the jokes and ridicule, and speculates that one of humor’s functi...
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In the following excerpt, Bullough discusses how Charlemagne’s legendary status has, at times, threatened to overshadow the reality of his accomplishments.
Sometime during the reign of the Empe...
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In the following excerpt, Boussard describes the state of culture at the time Charlemagne began his reign and the educational program he ordered as a remedy. He discusses the results—evident in...
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In the following essay Scholz describes and discusses the importance of two Carolingian works: the Royal Frankish Annals (740-829), which reflects the King’s interest in keeping a record for po...
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In the following essay, Eisner contends that inconsistencies in the characterization of Charlemagne in the Song of Roland reflect the change of values which occurred between the century of Charlemagne...
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In the following essay, Niles argues that Charlemagne, not Roland, is the chief hero of La Chanson de Roland and that Charlemagne’s seeming passivity actually “represents power in the pu...
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In the following essay, Caulkins contends that properly interpreting the Pèlerinage de Charlemagne requires understanding the interventions of the narrator and recognizing the juxtaposition of ...
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In the following essay Kay investigates the interaction of character and plot in various chansons de geste, particularly in Raoul de Cambrai, and argues that neither aspect holds a simple priority ove...
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In the following excerpt, Barron considers the relationship between the French and the English romance through the exploration of key works including the Chanson de Roland,Otuel and Roland, The Sege ...
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In the following essay, Cobby discusses The Pilgrimage of Charlemagne, including arguments regarding the date of the text; difficulties in classifying the work; its artistic merit and use of humor; an...
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In the following excerpt, Mombert profiles noteworthy men in Charlemagne’s circle and discusses Charlemagne’s interest in astronomy and architecture, particularly the Rhine bridge at May...
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In the following essay, Garrison considers factors that enabled the creation and survival of Carolingian verse. She also contrasts the perspectives of genteel coterie poetry, written by the court elit...
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In the following excerpt, originally published in 1897, Hodgkin summarizes Charlemagne’s accomplishments in the fields of the Church, literature, science, law, and the state-system of Europe.
N...
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In the following excerpt, Davis describes the missi, Charlemagne’s agents in many matters of law; Alcuin and his Palatine school; and Charlemagne’s own scholarly interests and achievemen...
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In the following essay Weston describes how the Arthur and Charlemagne cycles differ in their characteristics and asserts that the Charlemagne stories, while superior in content, are stylistically inf...
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In the following essay Webster compares and contrasts certain aspects of the ballad of King Arthur and King Cornwall with the Pilgrimage of Charlemagne.
In the following sketch1, after a few suggestio...
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In the following essay, first published in French in 1951, Ganshof describes some of the types of written documents that Charlemagne caused to be used—including agendas, minutes, instructions, ...
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In the following excerpt, Winston examines the accomplishments of two of Charlemagne’s greatest scholars: Alcuin, who was charged with improving literacy and who initiated a teacher-training pr...
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In the following excerpt, Lamb narrates the final months of the aged and ailing Charlemagne through his death and its aftermath, and explains how and why his legend grew even while his kingdom was bei...
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War and Conversion under Charlemagne
The leaders and tyrants that manage to be remembered throughout the ages as conquerors of lands and peoples, whether they conquered with purpose or wild abandon ...
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The two lives of Charlemagne as told by Einhard and Notker are two medieval sources about the accounts of the life Charlemagne. Modern sources by Matthew Innes and Rosamond Mckitterick dis...
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During the years of St. Augustine, the Roman Empire fell in the west. It was being replaced by regional barbarian kingdoms, and was entering what some historians call the dark ages. It was a traditi...
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Any time of great change requires a great leader. In the Middle Ages, Charlemagne, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire was a legend in his own time. His amazing war record, his significant impact o...
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The latter part of the eighth century AD through the beginning of the ninth century AD was dominated by the reign of Emperor Charles the Great, also known as Charlemagne. His reign marked a medieval ...
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Over history, there have been some great conquerors like Alexander the great, Genghis khan, and Osman of the Ottoman Empire. Along with these class of conquerors is Charlemagne. Charlemagne (Charles t...
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Charlemagne
Charlemagne (Also Known as Charles I)
Charlemagne
