'Charlemagne, The Formation of a European Identity' is a major new study of the rule of Charlemagne, using both contemporary and secondary sources.

Charlemagne is often described as the greatest ruler in Europe before Napoleon. This book, by Rosamond McKitterick, professor of medieval history at the University of Cambridge in the UK, is a detailed analysis of the rule of Charlemagne and the society in which he lived.

Representations of Charlemagne

In her opening chapter, the author looks at the wide variety of material already produced on the rule of Charlemagne and explains that she will reassess many of these sources. She leads the reader through several of the major texts and explains what she feels to be the strengths and weaknesses of each.

The works assessed include the Annales Regni Francorum and the St Denis letter collection.

The Family of Charlemagne

Chapter two looks at the ancestors of Charlemagne and the members of his immediate family. McKitterick looks at how Charlemagne rose to such prominence and examines the balance of power between the future emperor and his siblings. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between Charlemagne and his brother and their attempts at parallel rule.

Tables displaying the children and grandchildren are particularly helpful in placing various events in context.

The Royal Court of Charlemagne

In the third chapter, the author looks at what it was like to live in the royal court of Charlemagne. Written documents from the court are examined, including proclamations which came from the royal palaces and administrative documents relating to court life.

The role of the royal court and the extent to which it moved around the emperor’s territories are discussed in this section, together with a look at the prominence of Aachen, where Charlemagne was buried.

Throughout the books, maps, tables and family trees clarify the written narrative, making the material more accessible and understandable. This is a huge and still contentious topic and the author treads a balanced and clear-headed path through the wealth of written material which is examined.

Communications in the Kingdom of Charlemagne

Chapter four concentrates on the forms of communications in the emperor’s kingdom and Charlemagne’s insistence on being informed of affairs within his territories. The author examines various royal charters and highlights the complaints which were made by the emperor’s subjects during his reign.

The assemblies of the lay and ecclesiastical magnates are examined and the author discusses the characteristics of Carolingian rule.

The Reign of Charlemagne

The final chapter, titled ‘Correctio, Knowledge and Power’ looks at the kingdom as a whole. The Frankish bishops, religion and the royal library are all examined, in order to try to understand Charlemagne’s view of his own power and the power of the ecclesiastical officers around him.

McKitterick sums up by stating that culture, religion, law and written texts were all intrinsic to the emperor’s rule and were his most lasting legacies.

Summary

The reign of Charlemagne is a huge and complicated subject, with thousands of primary and secondary sources on which to draw. The book’s extensive bibliography reflects the author’s deep understanding of the topic.

Although the subject material is complex, this book is written in an interesting and accessible way. Maps, tables and family trees help the reader to keep abreast of all the information. Each chapter is broken into manageable sub-sections, making it easy to find particular subjects of interest.

A fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in the early medieval world.

Publication Details

McKitterick, Rosamond, Charlemagne, The Formation of a European Identity [Cambridge University Press, 2008] 478 pages

ISBN 9780521886727 (hardback)

ISBN 9780521716451 (paperback)