Einhard 's The Life Of Charlemagne

The Life of Charlemagne is an edited version from the original book Two Lives of Charlemagne. The author of the original biography is Einhard, who was his close friend and younger contemporary. He wrote this biography, after his death in 814 CE to honor Charlemagne and his contributions to the Frankish dynasty. In the historical context Charlemagne is believed to have contributed largely in flourishing the Carolingian Empire. In the book, The Life of Charlemagne, Einhard describes Charlemagne’s personal life rather than the actual historical legacies. The biography seems to have many personal bias opinions which makes the source hard to trust. One example from the text itself is when he describes King Charlemagne’s physical appearance, “His neck was short and rather thick, and his stomach a trifle too heavy, but the proportions of the rest of the body prevented from noticing these blemishes (Brophy, 250).” Even Though, the author describes the king with great details, he is positive throughout each text and avoids giving any flawed comments.

While this was all going, vikings were raiding from the North. Their homeland in Scandinavia was cold and barren and they needed to supplement their food storage, so they would travel South along the maze of rivers and invade villages in Medieval Europe, adding to the poverty of the area. Art, much like education, also became an item that only religious institutions possessed. Art was deemed nonessential by most people in the area and was not made by most people. After a period of inorder, a new civilization emerged for a short period of time, the Carolingian Empire. Charlemagne, the second ruler of the empire, was the most ambitious ruler and the most well-known. His political changes that he made caused many cultural changes to be made. Charlemagne established control over what modern day France, Italy, and Germany would be today. He was a genius military leader and conquered a lot of land. However, at the end of his reign, the Treaty of Verdun was made, splitting the empire into three sections: a Western region, a ‘middle’ region, and the Eastern region thus dividing their cultures further. This would later have a more profound difference on their cultures as they develop separately from each other.

During the late 700s and early 800s, Emperor Charlemagne decreed that those hospitals which had been well conducted well before his time and had fallen into decay should be restored in accordance with the needs of the time.[8] He further ordered that a hospital should be attached to each cathedral and monastery. During the tenth century the monasteries became as a dominant factor in hospital work. The famous Benedictine Abbey of Cluny, founded in 910, set the example which was widely imitated throughout France and Germany.

After having read both versions of the life of Charlemagne there is no doubt that they differ greatly in the sense of style, audience, and emotion. By reading these two descriptions of Charlemagne's life we are able to decipher somewhat of the life he led as a shaper of early medieval European history. However, both of these versions possess the admiration of a noble man who they believe is worthy enough to be noted in history to some degree.

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 discuss how history was recorded during the medieval period and how it was suppose to be viewed in the early ages. Observing each of these sources helps get an understanding of how the writing of history is important in recorded history and how it affected how the history of Charlemagne was recorded.

Charlemagne is described by Janet Nelson as being a role model for Einhard. Einhard himself writes in the first paragraph of The Life of Charlemagne, “After I decided to write about the life, character and no small part of the accomplishments of my lord and foster father, Charles, that most excellent and deservedly famous king, I determined to do so with as much brevity as I could.” I feel that these are sincere words about the man who cared for Einhard. I feel that Einhard’s purpose for writing The Life of Charlemagne is to praise the works of his “foster-father” and create a historical document that would describe the great deeds of Charlemagne so that he would not be forgotten throughout time as a great leader and man.

Charlemagne is seen as one of the greatest Roman Emperors throughout history and has numerous accolades to show for it. But for this essay I am only going to speak about his work on the educational advances during his reign as emperor. Stated by Cunningham and Reich, “Charlemagne opened his famous palace school at Aachen—an institution that was a prime factor in initiating what has been called the Carolingian Renaissance” (p. 278). In his school he brought in numerous teachers and scholars for several different reasons. Charlemagne wanted to make sure that the youth of the kingdom were well educated, and his main reason for this was due to the fact that he himself could not

One might ask how do you differentiate between two Kings? what makes a “good” King? As historians it is important to note that values today do not have the same connotation as a great leader. Qualities of a superior medieval King include being successful in warfare; loyalty to ones followers; being religious and trying to convert others to Christianity; and 1have charisma. Einhard and Asser wrote very informative biographies about their chosen King describing their great attributes.

The two lives of Charlemagne as told by Einhard and Notker the Stammerer are very different accounts of the life of the great Emperor. Einhard gives us a historical overview of the life of Charlemagne who lived from 742 to 814 A.D. Charlemagne was also known as Charles the Great and the King of the Franks.Charles was one of four children born to Pepin the Short, A Mayor of the Palace of the Carolingian Empire. He had one brother, Carloman and two sisters, Gisela and Pepin.Since women at the time didn’t inherit power, when Pepin the Short died, the kingship of the Carolingian Empire was divided and shared by Charlemagne and his brother, Carloman. Unfortunately, Carloman died early and unexpectedly as a young man and

The Life of Charlemagne, written by the Frankish scholar Einhard, is a biography on the personal life and achievements of Charlemagne, a ruler of the Franks and the king of Italy. He ruled from 774-800. Einhard, a male Frankish scholar, was born to noble parents in the Main Valley, around 770 A.D. He was educated in the monastery of Fulda, and shortly after sent to the palace school of Charlemagne in Aachen. Eventually becoming a personal adviser and a close friend to the king of the Franks, he influenced the king in all the ways of higher thinking and even inspired the king to desire a higher education for himself. The king even tried his hand at learning to write, however to no avail. Einhard was able to give deeper insight into the life of Charlemagne, as he was present during many of the events that took place. He also had the advantage of hearing firsthand accounts from the king. The Life of Charlemagne is thought to have been written between 829 to 836, composed by Einhard while living in Seligenstadt. Einhard wrote the accounts of Charlemagne so that there would be a historical account describing the emperor’s day to day life. “His two immediate reasons for writing were the personal knowledge which he possessed of Charlemagne, and the debt of gratitude which he owed to this remarkable king and emperor.” He was a man that possessed a drive for knowledge and insight into the future. By working under Charlemagne, he was able to grow in that knowledge and even

The Life of Charlemagne was written by Einhard in order to give the history of Charlemagne’s life. As a close friend to the great Frankish King, Einhard used personal observations that he collected for more than two decades to describe the habits of Charlemagne. “The care that King Charles bestowed upon me in my childhood, and my constant friendship with himself and his children after I took up my abode at court. In this way he strongly endeared me to himself.” He argued that there was more to his story than just

After reading two versions of “The Life of Charlemagne”, one written by a person who lived with Charlemagne, and one who didn’t, it is evident that Charlemagne is portrayed in a negative way by the author, the Monk of St. Gall, and in a positive way by Einhard. Einhard was very close to Charlemagne. He lived at the same time and with Charlemagne himself. His version of “The Life of Charlemagne” was writing right after his death. The Monk of St. Gall wrote his version more than 70 years after Charlemagne’s death. He did not live with or even at the same time as Charlemagne. This is probably one of the reasons the view on the ruler are completely different.

The next work comes from the minds of Edward Peters and William McDermott in their book, Monks, Bishops, and Pagans, written in 1949. Although mainly primary sources that McDermott translated, they also write important introductions to works such as a significant portion of Gregory of Tours works, as well as important selections from Jonas’ Life of Saint Columbanus. These introductions give important glimpses into the lives of these men, their culture, and the writings themselves. Written in 1957, Heinrich Fichtenau’s work, The Carolingian Empire, offers a very cynical look compared to other medieval narratives concerning Charlemagne’s reign. He attempted to demythologize Charlemagne and show many of the contradictions and fundamental flaws that the Carolingian Empire possessed from the start. He further argues in the anti-Louis the Pious trend in another chapter. This book contributes greatly to the historiography of the era because it shows a more “human” Charlemagne and his people.

The first source, titled “Life of Charlemagne”, many innocent lives are destroyed. Charles demands hostages in return for the Bretons’ disobedience. Hostage life is not likely to be a good experience. The life of the hostages’ families also would be destroyed by not knowing if or when they would be able to see their family member again. Death and destruction because of conflict befalls both sides in the second source. The “pagans die in their hundreds and thousands… they meet their end” (117). This destruction of life is not limited to the pagans though. The Franks also “lose their best defenders; they will not see their kinsman again” (117). All

The Song of Roland tells the story of King Charlemagne’s nephew, Roland, and the attack of the French rearguard caused by Ganelon’s betrayal. An epic hero is someone who is braver, stronger, and smarter than an ordinary person that a society admires and wishes to emulate. An epic hero also fights for a noble cause, for their King or for those who cannot defend themselves. Roland is a perfect example of an epic hero. Along with being an epic hero, Roland is also a true knight, and lives his life according to the Knight’s Code of Chivalry. An epic hero and a knight, Roland exemplifies chivalry by being brave, honest, and loyal to King Charlemagne.