Charlemagne: The Formation of a European Identity

by Rosamond McKitterick

Charlemagne is often claimed as the greatest ruler in Europe before Napoleon. This magisterial study re-examines Charlemagne the ruler and his reputation. It analyses the narrative representations of Charlemagne produced after his death, and thereafter focuses on the evidence from Charlemagne's lifetime concerning the creation of the Carolingian dynasty and the growth of the kingdom, the court and the royal household, communications and identities in the Frankish realm in the context of government, and Charlemagne's religious and cultural strategies.

This book offers a critical examination of the contemporary sources—and in so doing transforms our understanding of the development of the Carolingian empire, the formation of Carolingian political identity, and the astonishing changes effected throughout Charlemagne's forty-six year period of rule.

This is a major contribution to Carolingian history which will be essential reading for anyone interested in the medieval past.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, European History, France

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Rosamond Deborah McKitterick is one of Britain's foremost medieval historians. Since 1999, she has been Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge where she is a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College. Much of her work focuses on the Frankish kingdoms in the 8th and 9th centuries and uses palaeographical and manuscript studies to illuminate aspects of the political, cultural, intellectual, religious and social history of the early Middle Ages.

From 1951 to 1956 McKitterick lived in Cambridge, England, where her father had a position at Magdalene College. In 1956 she moved with her family to Western Australia where she completed primary and secondary school and completed an honours degree at the University of Western Australia. She holds the degrees of M.A., Ph.D., and Litt.D.

In 1971 she returned to Cambridge University to pursue her career. She was a Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge and then became a Professorial Fellow of Sidney Sussex. She is also on the Editorial Board of the journal 'Networks and Neighbours'.

She married David John McKitterick, Librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge, and they have one daughter.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really admirable book. Rosamund McKitterick is exceptionally methodical and thorough in the way she uses her sources and she does a nice job recasting popular perceptions of Charlemagne. She makes the point that Charlemagne's image - the learned warrior - was one that was consciously constructed by his contemporaries and successors, consequently rendering narrative sources problematic for the historian. She then proceeds to give a thorough, critical analysis of these sources (and others) that allows her to paint a more nuanced picture. She focuses particularly on the itinerancy (or lack thereof) of the court, the role of Aachen, and the way missi and Christianity allowed Charlemagne to control and reform space. There's a continual thread throughout the argument that focuses on the way Charlemagne and his contemporaries used Roman, Christian and Merovingian history, especially texts, to define themselves and those around them culturally. It's the most interesting part of McKitterick's book.

That said, it can be rough reading. It's not that it's poorly written, or that it's boring - I think the problem comes down to the fact that it meanders quite a bit and that McKitterick is often a bit unclear in conveying precisely what she's trying to say. Overall though, certainly worth reading if you're interested in Charlemagne or the Carolingians.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

For serious historians only. This is not a biography; instead it looks at how Charlemagne ruled his empire and how that changed over time. In a way it's the history of his bureaucracy.

Upper graduate level.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the Carolingian reign. McKitterick examines the evidence in excruciating detail to determine is the story that has been passed on about him based on fact or myth. By examining the primary sources contemporary to Charlemagne, rather than simply taking the word of Einhard, we get a much more complete picture. Itinerant kingship is examined, and she smashes the belief that all action in the Carolingian Empire happened solely based on the presence of the king in a place. Based on the distance that separated the locations, it becomes clear that far from relying entirely on the person of the king, Charlemagne established a bureaucracy that extended throughout his realm. Far from Aachen being the be all end all of the arts in his realm, it was one of many in the kingdom. On examination, it would seem obvious, especially given how many military campaigns he fought, but very little scholarship that I've read up to this point has challenged this view. It's also interestingly proven that he probably was able to read and write, contrary to previous scholarship.

The one piece that I didn't agree with was the section examining his piety, what was private and what was public. In modern times we're used to examining how much of a person's piety is genuine and how much is for show, especially from politicians. I think, however, that it's hard to overestimate piety in this age. Given how central Christian piety was to Charlemagne's rule, both from the point of view of how he standardized worship, and the forcefulness with which he converted the Saxons to Christianity.

Overall, one of the best pieces of current scholarship on Charlemagne.

[Jimi'O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book: very in-depth and certainly covers the holes in the points that have been made, with plenty of suggested reading afterwards. The reasoning of the Author was deeply welcome and gave great insight. I enjoyed reading the book.

When I picked this up I did not really know who Charlemagne was or who the Franks were. I certainly learnt a lot about what IS known and is emphasised by the Author, that has been doctored by Charlemagne's Scribes. That is probably the best aspect of this writing, is that not only that it is so transparent with where the information was acquired, but also that it pointed out discrepancies in what is known and how that information could only show one side of the story.

The extent to his Wars were both Grande and Obscene and certainly gives a great insight into how he changed Europe into a Devout Empire .

Other aspects, such as how the Empire existed, how it differed and changed the world (if not via their Battle Campaigns) and because of that , how they are different to other Dominions. As well as Diplomacy and documentation on Charlemagne himself and his family.

[Christian S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uff - this book was a real drag. It’s simply way too academic and narrow for my flavor - though in no way would I dare to doubt the scholarship and extraordinary meticulousness of the author. What I did take away though is just how difficult it is to interpret the many sources of evidence of so long ago. It’s truly like very granular detective work.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before a trip to Aachen for personal reading and not academics. I enjoyed the format and structure, although many who pick it up may long for an chronological story with a plot. This breaks down the different areas that make up what was the world that existed around Charlemagne and does a rather thorough job revealing the context around him. There is not much emotion or insight necessarily into the thoughts or ideas of Charlemagne, but this is to be expected since there isn't enough information to do so. Overall the author did a good job compiling everything from multiple sources and presenting it in a way that leaves you informed without many gaps.

[Ryan Pitchford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is a one of scholarship that certainly demands some effort on the part of its reader. It presents no narrative as there is no narrative to present, so she argues. The primary source material that we have from the early Carolingian reign is scarce, and RM attempts to clean up some of the fantasy woven by subsequent historians, beginning immediately upon his death.

I very much enjoyed this work.

[Josef Šorm · Rating 2 out of 5]

As extensive study as it, it fails to build a cohesive narrative - simply it doesn’t see the wood for the trees. I wanted to learn about Charlemagne and it was about particular aspects of his reign explained on different resources and comparing them at the same time. Great academical study, tough reading for general public.

[Sverre Georg Moe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry, but my rating is low. Ecstremely detailed with houndreds of notes , but lacking on perspective and synthesis. You have to know a lot about Charlemagne before reading this.

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible and fine-grained biography that only a long-seasoned expert could pull off.

[Ian Beckett]

Grad School

[Robert Monk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book on the recommendation of the author (a nice lady, a Cambridge professor who was willing to correspond with a random American dude looking for good things to read on early Medieval history). What I wanted to know at the time was: how much did Charlemagne actually try to rule his empire, as opposed to being the figurehead hegemon over a bunch of barbarian hordes? To what extent was his empire a state? you might say. The answer found here is: he did indeed try to rule, though the Carolingian empire did not end up forming the nucleus for a unified state. Rather the opposite, actually. But the effort had lingering effects. Very solid.

[Abe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Foucauldean analysis

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlemagne is often claimed as the greatest ruler in Europe before Napoleon. This magisterial 2008 study re-examines Charlemagne the ruler and his reputation, it was a scholarly piece.