Charlemagne Essay Charlemagne Essay Charlemagne Essay Charlemagne Essay examples Essay on Charlemagne Charlemagne Essay

1. Charlemagne Essay
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
traditional, authoritative empire, with vast free–trade and a centralized government. It transformed
into a Europe of economic localism, and filled with a minority of educated people. It was now a
Christian Europe. A very important person during this new Europe was the Frankish king
Charlemagne. His rule was known throughout the world, and Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne
the "Emperor of the Romans." On top of this title, he still held all of his other titles. Charlemagne
made tons of contributions during this time in Europe. He had...show more content...
He loved foreigners, and made sure to provide protection for them. The power of the Franks was of
great proportion. In effect, the Greeks were very jealous of this power. They had this little
saying. "Have the Franks as your friends, but not for your neighbor." He treasured the values of
the Christian religion. He was brought up under these beliefs. He was very generous with the
poor, and provided alms for them. In his older years, he grew old and tired. Before he died, he gave
his crown to his only living son, Louis, King of Aquitania.
We now leave this in–depth description of Charlemagne given by Einhars, and take a look at a
new essay by Fichtenau entitled "A New Portrait of Charlemagne." Instead of describing
Charlemagne as Einhard does, we find that Fichtenau's essay rather rebuilds Charlemagne.
Fichtenau talks about how things like his personality were strung together in the wrong way by
Einhard. He talks about how his personality is predictable, because all Emperors must have the
same values. He talks of how in generosity, as Einhard's description showed as being out of the
kindness of his heart, was actually a result of what actions would follow his generous jesters.
Fichtenau uses his whole essay to rebuild Charlemagne to what kind of ruler he believes he is. He
does say that without the great ruling and personality of Charlemagne, then it would have taken
generations for this empire to reach its peak. "What remains is
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2. Charlemagne Essay
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 reason Einhard wrote his biography of Charlemagne was to explain to the world...show more
content...
Altogether, Charlemagne's rule was a successful one and Charlemagne rarely, if ever, made mistakes
according to Einhard.
In St. Gall's version of "The Life of Charlemagne" the author does not give any background
information at all. The reason St. Gall is writing this version of Charlemagne's life is to blame him
for the attacks going on at present times. He gives no information about Charlemagne's family or
ancestors. The author immediately begins to start his complaining about how Charlemagne
basically did nothing good for the empire he was ruling. "After the omnipotent ruler of the world,
who orders alike the fate of kingdoms and the course of time, had broken the feet of iron and clay in
one noble statue, to wit the Romans, he raised by the hands of the illustrious Charles the golden head
of another, not less admirable, among the Franks". At the beginning of this quote, Einhard is
praising Charlemagne. St. Gall is placing Charlemagne at the same level as the Romans, saying
God has raised up Charlemagne to succeed them. Then, at the end of the quote, it is unclear why St.
Gall says that the bishop falls of his horse. To me, this seems some sort of a negative passage making
the reader think Charlemagne is somewhat incompetent. This being the first entry in this author's
text, it immediately gives off a negative feeling towards Charlemagne. The reader immediately has a
negative bias towards Charlemagne
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3. Charlemagne Essay
Charlemagne
By the Cross and the Sword : Charlemagne's Impact on the West. "He who ordains the fate of
kingdoms in the march of the centuries, the all–powerful Disposer of events, having destroyed one
extraordinary image, that of the Romans, which had, it was true, feet of iron, or even feet of clay,
then raised up, among the Franks, the golden head of a second image, equally remarkable, in the
person of the illustrious Charlemagne. Notker the Stammerer, the monk of St. Gall, wrote these
words in AD 844 to describe the reign of the most influential Frankish king Charlemagne ( Lectures
1). Charlemagne, son of Pepin the Short, ruled the Franks for 47 years (Koeller 1). The Carolingian
Dynasty, of which Charlemagne was a member, was...show more content...
In Charlemagne's palace school at Aachen, one finds the ideals and aims of the Carolingian
renaissance most definitively. Palace schools were not unheard of in the Frankish kingdom. The
Merovingians established a school to train young nobles to fight, and how to conduct themselves at
court. At the time, however, no academic knowledge was being imparted. The only schools that
taught academics were at monasteries and cathedrals. Charlemagne altered the palace school into a
center of learning and knowledge (Carolingian Schools 1). He hired scholars to teach, and
appointed Alcuin to oversee the school. Charlemagne required Alcuin himself to instruct the royal
family in reading and writing. In addition to the palace school, Charlemagne made many decrees
concerning the education of his people (1). His "Charter of Modern Thought" required that the
monasteries be concerned with "the study of letters" (2). In yet another decree Charlemagne
ordered that teachers "who are both willing and able to learn" be hired and "let them apply
themselves to this work with a zeal equal to the earnestness with which we recommend it to them"
(2). Knox argues again on this point saying "Charles' court at Aix–la– Chapelle was a beacon for
men of learning, and the king funded their activities. It was from these, and others, there originated a
burst of activity that would have a strong influence on medieval intellectual life" (Knox 14).
Charlemagne provided not only for the sons of
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4. Charlemagne Essay examples
What makes В‘a' king into В‘the' king and then onto Emperor and Augustus? What made King
Charles, Charles the Great? In Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, a very succinct description of King
Charles' ideals, beliefs, attitudes and traits are depicted along with his life's territorial as well as
mental conquests illustrated. Charlemagne was a man with a vision of a utopian society united under
Christianity in its glorious form in an almost Camelot like kingdom. Einhard's literary work gives
society an insight into King Charles and what made him capable of being Augustus. As indicated by
Einhard, Charlemagne was a man of all talents but few beliefs and traits truly molded him.
Charlemagne ruled over an empire and Christianity ruled over and...show more content...
In addition, Charlemagne was a man devoted to his beliefs who was essentially kind, friendly,
very patriotic and, also, trying to be known for his acts and create a good reputation for himself.
Over the course of his life Charlemagne was able to create great ties with fellow leaders around
the world and through various empires, and although he was also trying to aid Christians who
needed help in foreign lands, he seemed to have this need to have good relations with everyone.
According to Einhard, he had great friendships all around the world and always welcomed
foreigners in his kingdom and palace for only one simple thing in return. "For he felt that he
would be rewarded for his troubles if they [foreigners] praised his generosity and gave him a good
reputation" (Einhard 2004, 212). He was a great king who wanted to go down in history. As per
Einhard, that seems to be Charlemagne's only selfish trait. He apparently only wore the national
dress of the Frankish with few exceptions, which can only imply his great patriotism. Although he
appreciated foreign customs, he seems to be very patriotic towards the Franks. Overall, Charlemagne
embodied traits that came together to form this great Emperor who was admired by many.
In The Life of Charlemagne one notices that Frankish society must have formulated certain
characteristics through the reign of King Charles. Through the king's beliefs a society forms to follow
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5. Essay on Charlemagne
Charlemagne 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...show more
content...
During that time he practically doubled the land given to him by his father. He successfully waged
war against many including the Bretons, Bavaria, the Slavs, Esthonians, Danes and an especially
long thirty–year war against the Saxons. He was a respected and feared by many of the rulers of
other lands.
He is also remembered because of the Carolingian Renaissance which took place under his direction
and leadership. Although he was not a learned man, he revered and respected knowledge. He
attracted many scholars to his palace. Theology and the literary
Skills became a part of the everyday life in the palace for nobles and common people of talent as
well. Many building projects were also undertaken during this time of renaissance including two
magnificent palaces the cathedral of the church of the Holy Mother of God at Aachen, the bridge
over the Rhine at Mainz, the restoration of many sacred buildings which had fallen into disrepair,
and the building of a naval and coastguard fleet to protect the ports and mouths of rivers from enemy
attack.
Charlemagne died at the age of 72 and designed his only surviving son Lewis as heir to his
kingship. He was interred at his beloved cathedral in 814 A.D. In his will, he provided for the
church, the cities in the kingdom, all of his children, grandchildren, palace workers, servants and the
poor.
Einhard's historical view outlined above gives a historical view
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6. Charlemagne Essay
Charlemagne Charles the Great Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, was born in 742 to Pepin the
Short and Bertrada of Laon. The oldest of four children, Charlemagne rose to great power and
significance. He rebuilt the crumbling society of Medieval Europe by introducing numerous social,
political and cultural reforms in what we now call the Carolingian Renaissance. He became the
King of the Franks, and gained the title of Holy Roman Emperor. Through many military
campaigns, he unified northern Europe and established a flourishing society. Charlemagne was
born two years before his parents married; this resulted in him being born out of wedlock. His
father was declared the King of the Franks in 751 after the Merovingian King was...show more
content...
He initiated Trial by Ordeal, and introduced a Jury. Admired by many, he made laws to protect the
peasants, and even lowered the power the nobles held. He recorded events and incidents, and
encouraged education, arts, and culture. He led Western Europe out of the dark and into a better
way of life. In January 814, Charlemagne died in Aachen, Germany, due to a lung infection. He
was 72 years old at the time. Charlemagne had been a leading thinker and ruler during the
Carolingian Renaissance. He was respected, feared, and loved. Louie the Pious, Holy Roman
Emperor and heir to the Frankish throne, gained kingship. Unfortunatly, after Charlemagne's death,
his empire collapsed, as no leader could match his magnificence. Charlemagne changed the way
people lived in his kingdom. The reforms he brought are used in everyday life; and although some
of these ideas did not stick at the time, they were later reintroduced and widely accepted. He began
recording significant events, and this is how we know so much about our past. He ensured
Christianity be the main religion in Europe, and united scattered countries and impoverished
territories. He also encouraged equality through education and the distribution of power.
Charlemagne is model leader, and his achievements should be recognized as they influence society
even
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