Jan-Maat’s Reviews > King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne > Status Update

Charles liked being married. One wife would be barely cold in her grave before he married the next. However he didn't arrange marriages for any of his 7 daughters, nor his sons. Some made their own arrangements, one daughter became a nun, several others had illegitimate children- they had to become monks. Was he scared of creating political rivals if his childrem started to create dynasties?

Charlemagne orders that boundary disputes between the realms of his sons are to be resolbed by "the judgement of the cross" and not by trial by battle or duel.
Judgement of the cross the two parties stood with their arms streched out horizontally. First one to lower their arms loses the case.

'Franci quieverunt'. This is the shortest annal in the mainsteam annalistive record of the 8th century. The non event for 790 was recorded because fir the Franks a year without a campaign was highly unusual.

- at first blush this seems telling. But on second thoughts thinking about for example the UK, the USA, or France in the 20th c. perhaps it is equally difficult to identify a year with no military activity?

Like many abbeys, Mettlach was the foundation of an aristocratic family, with, in this case, close associations to the bishopric of Trier. The bishops were chosen from the founder's dynasty, & the descenants of the founder did the choosing.

- churches were family property

Now perhaps for the first time, Charles grasped the power of poetry to influence politics. It was a portent of further experiments in the creation of a courtly society.

- oh no, the kinetic power of verse 😢

"In Charles's mind, the religious & the political were inextricably entwined."
...
"A strong emphasis on 'the spiritual nature of [charles's] visit [to Rome]' is surely correct".

If the 1st is true then the visit to Rome and swearing on the relics of St.Peter would also have been for Charles a political act, & one can't sensibly seperate the religious and the political.

Moving into northern Italy in 774 AD, Charles adopts a cunning strategy of having two armies and advancing over two passes over the Alps at once. His opponants, the Lombards, were completely outwitted by this clever move and have to retreat.

End of the text.
A super book, but probably best not the first one to reach for to learn about the emperor Charles & the Franks.

That no-one is to abandon his lots after he has accepted the value of one solidus from him unless the Lord seeks to kill him, or to assault him with a stave, or to debauch his wife or daughter, or take away his inheritance.
- capitulary of 829 , but assumed to be a product of Charles' years

The imperial years marked a very distinct & significant phase in a long life & a long reign. 2 of the scholars best qualified to assess the nature of the imperial years - F.L. Ganshof & Heinrich Fichtenau ... were both pessimistic...I shall explain why I can't share that view...
- still as a reader the imperial years read as less optimistic than the earlier chunk of the book!