CHARLEMAGNE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 3

CHARLEMAGNE

Charlemagne, Richard Winston. Eyre and Spottiswoode. 346 p.p. Index.

This new life of Charlemagne, a restlessly energetic and essentially “popular” king, is capably written by Richard Winston. It presents not the remote bearded patriach of legend, but the strong forceful figure of the Frankish monarchy and a review, of his foresighted policies. Largely because he himself so nobly encouraged arts and letters and reanimated a torpid culture, we are able to follow the intricacies of Charlemagne’s diplomatic and military activities, to study the development oL his thought, his legislation and religious views, and to piece together the social and economic life of the lands he governed. We see, too, the man himself in the midst of his numerous family, with his entourage of warriors, philosophers and men of letters.

Einhard's biography of Charlemagne, written 15 years after his death, begat an immense literature, some of it perhaps unhistorical, but counterbalanced by a mass of authentic correspondence and records. Winston has drawn on documents and original sources some of which have not been previously used, to compose a picture of Charlemagne, his court and his kingdom as vivid as any story of current events.

We meet Charlemagne, the intellectual, the theologian, the staunch friend and indefatigable correspondent of Alcuin and Einhard; the founder of schools who laid down stringent rules for teachers and scholars alike; the mighty hunter who did not let the tall stag his peasants; the enthusiastic husband of some five wives; the indulgent father who so doted on his daughters that he could not bear them to marry, though he did not mind if they made irregular arrangements. Legends, as well, are reexamined. but not thoroughly demolished by Winston.

Charlemagne, a son of Pepin the Short, and a grandson of Charles Martel, in the year 768 succeeded to the realm of the Franks and the Duchy of Aquitaine, which his father had conquered. On Christmas Day, in the year 800, he was crowned Emperor in Rome by Pope Leo 111, reviving the old concept of the Roman imperium, an idea which did not entirely disappear, as some have thought, in that institution, which was neither holy. Roman nor an empire. Charlemagne died in the year 814, “having reigned prosperously for 46 years.” He was “canonised” irregularly in the twelfth century at the insistence of Frederick Barbarossa, who wanted to bolster himself up on the dead Emperor’s still living prestige. If upon Charlemagne’s death expansion was followed by contraction and order by disorder, the other accomplishments of his reign survived far longer. He changed the face of Europe inwardly as well as outwardly. As well as waging almost continuous war, he created centres for the arts of peace to flourish. Building, manu-script-copying, book-binding, gold and silversmith’s work, and the allied arts all flourished in the institutions Charlemagne founded for them. By his energy and vision he was responsible for the resurgence of learning and culture in the dark ages which succeeded the fall of Rome and. for this, Europe is for ever in his debt.