The Roman Emperor: Charles The Great By Einhard

Einhard describes in detail, Charles the Great’s life as a Roman Emperor. He talks about Charles’ appearance, clothing, mannerisms, education, coronation etc. According to Einhard, Charles was very large and strong with favorable facial features that was “always stately and dignified, whether he was standing or sitting” and had good health until he died. For his dressing style, he liked to wear his nation’s attire and disliked wearing foreign clothes. From Einhard’s description of Charlemagne, it seems that the Emperor certainly knew how to represent himself as befitting of the title for “over all he flung a blue cloak, and he always had a sword girt about him.” Einhard also mentions that although Charlemagne was not an avid drinker, he loved food.

He was fluent in Greek, Latin and was an excellent orator. Charlemagne knowing about the importance of Education, made sure his children learned a variety of important subjects like liberal arts that were essential then. Einhard describes Charles as a religious man who “cherished the Church of St. Peter above all other Holy and sacred places. ” One of the reasons –described by Einhard- why Charles was a great Emperor, was that he did not see the Pope’s power and authority as a threat to his ruler ship. Einhard’s purpose for writing this document was to exalt his friend and king, Charlemagne the great emperor even though he might have done this mainly on facts and romantic notions about Charlemagne. This document is very significant because it provides us a primary source about Charlemagne and his life. Even though Einhard used most of his personal experience with Charlemagne to write this document, he still consulted the Royal Frankish Annals for opinion about the