Vita Karoli Magni

The Vita Karoli Magni is the main source of the Frankish scholars Einhard in the 9th century vita of the Frankish king and emperor Charlemagne. It is a literary masterpiece of medieval Latin literature of the Carolingian Renaissance of high rank and programmatic importance. Lupus of Ferrieres expressed in a letter to Einhard in accordance with admiration for the elegant style of language.

Overview

In the preface Einhard describes the purpose of the company and justifies its claim to act as an author, with the commitment to Karl and his Memoria ( Memory ). The following is a brief description of the transition of the Frankish kingdom of the Merovingians to the house Meier Pippin. Then in the first main part of this work, he describes the deeds of Charles, in particular the wars led by him and his buildings. The second main part contains information about Karl's appearance, his habits, his education and his family. Charles' measures for the maintenance of culture, religion and law are described. Only in this context, as it were as a footnote to the reasons for his last journey to Rome, there is a brief reference to the imperial coronation. Supposedly Charles have expressed, he would not enter in spite of Christmas, the Church, if he had known the Pope's plan. The point ( c. 28) plays a key role in the discussion of the imperial coronation of Charlemagne. At the end of the work there is a report about the death of Charlemagne and his will.

In structure and style of the work is greatly influenced by the ancient imperial biographies Suetonius, which is also the rubrizierende methods ( thematic schemes following) declared instead of a chronological narrative. But the work clearly shows panegyrical trends: Charlemagne is represented exclusively positive and glorified. At the same time, the example of Charles should be a reminder to his sons, especially for Ludwig. Whether the work is to be read as a criticism of Louis the Pious, what a late date implies, is in the research as controversial as the dating question. The approaches range from 817 to 836

Controversial is also the question of the ruler image that conveys Einhard. Against the widely held view that shutting dubbing the coronation, the imperial title and the imperial vestments and ceremony as well as the importance of the Pope was to be regarded as a commitment Einhards the tradition of the Frankish kingdom and thus to be regarded as proof of his dislike of the Roman Empire, was last invoked that there is a distinction between the imperial dignity and their forms of representation. The devaluation of the latter only serves the purpose of a coming in outstanding power and virtue to express true empire of Charles, which did not in need of such forms of representation to face a Scheinkaisertum the Eastern Roman Emperor, which could be based for lack of substantiation by power and virtue alone to external forms. The paradigm for his view of things have demonstrated Einhard in Merowingerexkurs and leave it to the reader to decide on the basis of the evaluation criteria developed there the question of the true emperor.

Due to the bias of the author of the source value of the Vita is sometimes problematic. However, the Vita is an important complement to other sources of Carolingian period and also contains information that are found nowhere else survived.

Editions and translations

• Hermann of Neuenahr (ed.): Vita Karoli Magni Et Gesta descripta by Eginhartum. John Soter, Cologne 1521 ( editio princeps)
• Oswald Holder -Egger ( Ed. ): Vita Karoli Magni Einhardi. ( Monumenta Historica Germaniae, Scriptores rerum Germanicarum in usum scholarum separatim editi 25). Hahn, sixth ed Hannover 1911 (online) ( authoritative critical edition )
• Einhard: Vita Karoli Magni. Lat. / Dt. Translator, note and afterword by Evelyn Scherabon Firchow. Reclam Verlag, Ditzingen 1986 ( and NDe ), ISBN 3-15-001996-6
• Einhard: Life of Charlemagne ( in Latin and German ). In: Selected sources on German history of the Middle Ages ( Freiherr- vom-Stein Memorial Edition), Vol 5, Darmstadt 1955, pp. 157-211.