The Greatness of Charlemagne

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the greatness of the Emperor Charlemagne and examines ways in which the Carolingian empire was governed. The writer discusses that one of the reasons that the Emperor Charlemagne was so beloved by the Carolingian people he ruled, was that he showed compassion towards the peoples he conquered, seldom manifest during the era. The writer also notes that Emperor Charlemagne demonstrated an administrative balance between the needs of the governing state and the demands of the powerful Christian church. Using references to works on medieval literature, the writer discusses how Emperor Charlemagne was said to embody the perfect balance between Christian and secular demands in ruling an empire.

From the Paper:

"However, despite the general respect for Charlemagne, controversies were still rife during this era. The ninth century eventually became a pivotal epoch in terms of the influence of religion upon government and the development of Medieval Christendom, only tenuously resolved by Charlemagne. The collapse of Charlemagne's Empire, the onset of the Viking invasions proved politically divisive in terms of governance and there were also were the many doctrinal controversies inherent to Christianity of the period to further tear apart Christians. The Archbishop of Rheims, Hincmar took a very strong stand against the absolutist stance of papal monarchy or kingly rule--like Charlemagne, he attempted to strike a balance between the two authorial needs of Rome and kings."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Alfred the Great." The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Online Medieval Classical Library Release. Maintained 1996. [5 Dec 2005] http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Anglo/
• Einhard's "Life of Charlemagne." Internet Medieval Sourcebook. Fordham University. Last updated 1999. [5 Dec 2005] http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/einhard.html#Reforms
• Hincmar of Rheims. "On the Governance of the Palace." (485-99) From Paul Edward Dutton, ed. Carolingian Civilization: A Reader. Peterborough, Ontario, 1993.
• "Medieval Sourcebook: Charlemagne--Capitulary for Saxony 775-790." Internet Medieval Sourcebook. [5 Dec 2005] http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-saxony.html

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