Questions for Friday, November 3, 2005

 

Einhard Life of Charlemagne; Annals of Xantan

 

I’m going to ask you to look at all of these sources together.  Note that two of the online sources, plus the selection from Lim, are from one work (Einhard), which is the most famous biography we have of an early medieval king. 

 

Topic I: Look at both of these questions together:

• Based this account, what do you think are the qualities that contributed to Charlemagne’s success?
• Looking at the Annals of Xantan, what factors contributed to a loss of leadership on the part of Charlemagne’s heir?

 

Topic II (answer both questions):

• How do Roman and Frankish elements combine in Charlemagne’s identity as a ruler?  With which group does he chiefly identify, and how can we tell?
• What is Charlemagne’s attitude toward the church? How does he feel about his coronation, and why?