Karlsschrein

The Shrine of Charlemagne in Aachen Cathedral was commissioned by King Frederick II commissioned and completed in 1215 from Aachen goldsmiths, after the grandfather of Frederick II, Frederick Barbarossa, where in 1165 the remains of Charlemagne from his grave in the Palatine Chapel in Aachen had.

Frederick II took personally the translation of the relics and the closing of the shrine on July 27, 1215 the first anniversary of the Battle of Bouvines that brought the decision on the German throne dispute. Two days earlier he had been crowned again and finally in Aachen Roman-German king.

Construction

The shrine is in the cry tradition of the late 12th century. It has the form of a single nave without transepts. The more than two meters long oak box is covered with gilded silver, copper gilt, filigree, gemstones, enamels and brown varnish plates. The double profile of the base decorate enamel plates, engraving, filigree and silver dancing with floral decor. The two long sides show eight resting on enameled double arcades, under which enthroned emperors and kings of the kingdom.

The front gable end is enthroned Charlemagne, on his right, standing Pope Leo III. , The left Archbishop Turpin of Rheims. About Karl is set in a medallion the half-length figure of Christ.

On the rear gable end of the Madonna enthroned with Christ between the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. In set three half figures, the personifications of faith, hope and love dar.

The two roof surfaces show four reliefs with scenes from the legend Karl, the legendary story of the emperor who is guided by divine calling on his life. The literary source for these reliefs forms the so-called Pseudo- Turpin, a manuscript of the 12th century. A contemporary copy of the same can be found in the archive of the Aachen cathedral, the original, however, as the third book in the Codex calisetinus in Santiago de Compostela. Driven combs made ​​of gilded copper and five nodes adorn the roof ridge and gable.

On the two side faces eight enthroned emperor. On the right side as seen from the Charles longitudinal side enthroned left to right: Henry II, Otto III, Otto I, Otto II, Charles the Fat, a nameless ruler, Henry VI. . and Frederick II on the other long side we find Henry III. , Zwentibold, Henry V, Henry IV, Otto IV, Henry I, Lothar I and Louis the Pious.

Iconographic concept

The picture program is characterized by Hohenstaufen, imperial thought. Charlemagne perched on the front side between the representatives of the church at a place that is reserved for all other shrines Christ alone. He himself, Emperor Charlemagne, is the Vicar of Christ, the Pope and Archbishop enthroned surmounted. On the two long sides of the shrine, otherwise the prophets and apostles reserved, enthroned sixteen German emperors and kings, the roof reliefs lead the imperial character of the image program on. They show the legendary life of Charles, based on the Historia Karoli Magni et Rothalandi which allegedly was written by Archbishop Turpin of Rheims (about 748-749 ). Recent research has, however, shown that the Historia Karoli only probably originated around 1130-1140 in France.

Classification

The shrine is in the tradition of the Meuse and shrines, with the exception of the dedication reliefs on the roof stylistically uniform. His masterpiece is probably from the workshop of the Maastricht Servatius shrine, while a second master, who said dedication relief created, began work on Marie Shrine in 1220.

Anthropological investigation

1874 was the Aachen pin chapter a scientific study of the remains of Charlemagne by the Bonn anthropologist Hermann Schaaffhausen ( 1816-1893 ) perform. Schaaffhausen determined by the bones of a body height of 2.04 meters. The rare especially in the Middle Ages body size was narrated by Einhard: " because its length was, as we know, seven of his feet " (nam septem suorum pedum proceritatem ejus constat habuisse mensuram ). The right collarbone was broken and healed. From this injury reported no historian. The skull shows a dolichocephale shape ( dolichocephalic ), the seams were closed without a trace, as befits the old age. The finding is considered proof of authenticity of Karl relic.

Inventory and backup 1983-88

On 30 January 1983, the sealed zinc loading were removed and opened the shrine containing the remains of Charles during a Vespers. On the evening of the same day you sealed the charge again and brought them under a temporary wooden shrine. The Shrine of Charlemagne himself was brought in the same night in a goldsmith's workshop in the dome. In this goldsmith Gerhard Thewis and Peter Bolg were working under the scientific direction of Herta Lepie five years in the conservation of the artwork. Here, we made ​​sure not, as is often done in the past for the repair of works of art, a restoration or even renovation was made so that the shrine would not irreversibly altered and damaged in its originality. The medieval gilding could be exposed again. The age determination of the oak used for the oak box revealed that it had been like 1182.

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