SOURCE: Strabo, Walahfrid. “Walahfrid Strabo, His ‘Prologue’ to the Life of Charlemagne.” In Charlemagne's Courtier: The Complete Einhard, edited and translated by Paul Edward Dutton, np. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 1998.

In the following excerpt, originally written some time after the deaths of Louis the Pious and Einhard in 840, Strabo briefly sketches Einhard's biography and his purpose in writing his account of Charlemagne.

Einhard is known to have sketched the account of the life and deeds of the most glorious Emperor Charles that is found below. Among all the courtiers of the palace at that time, this man received surpassing praise not only for his knowledge, but also for the complete integrity of his character. It is also known, since he was present at most of these events, that he made his account even stronger by [his personal] attestation to the simple truth [of things].

He was born in...