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Analyze Charlemagne in his own context and in a broader, global context
The Impact of Charlemagne and the spread of Christianity
Charlemagne saxon war
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At the height of Charlemagne’s reign in the late 700’s, there was constant warfare between the Franks and other nations in order to gain power and wealth. As warfare increased, a persisting problem had arisen to the occasion: the means of identification. As soldiers battled sword on sword there was no way for a fellow army man to know if he was killing his friend or foe. Adding on, conflict and bloodshed increased between the neighboring provinces and developed the forms and arts of heraldry in order to ensure the safety of the armies.
The history of heraldry dates back to the late 700’s and continued for almost nine hundred years. When the great and once powerful Roman Empire collapsed; all structure of society, language, and trade vanished
The most famous work about Charlemagne is a book entitled The Two Lives of Charlemagne which consists of two separate biographies published into one book and tells the story of Charlemagne's life as two different people experienced it. Apart from this, there are many other places you can turn to learn more about the life of the king of the Franks, including letters, capitularies, inventories, annals, and more. However, each of these sources seem to paint a different picture of Charlemagne. In one, he seems to be a very average guy; in another, a mythical being, almost god-like; and a strong and firm political leader in yet another. It is because of this of this that we will never really know exactly who Charlemagne was or what he was like, but we do have an idea of what he did and how he lived thanks to those who decided to preserve it.
The two lives of Charlemagne as told by Einhard and Notker are two medieval sources about the accounts of the life Charlemagne. Modern sources by Matthew Innes and Rosamond Mckitterick discuss how history was recorded during the medieval period and how it was suppose to be viewed in the early ages. Observing each of these sources helps get an understanding of how the writing of history is important in recorded history and how it affected how the history of Charlemagne was recorded.
Every historian interprets the past differently and with distinctive perspectives, resulting in many sides to one story. Often the reader must decide which perspective is more logical, likely, or coherent. Recounting one war took a lot of time and effort because of the necessity to include all sides of the story. Becher, Barbero, Collins and Backman have approached the life of Charlemagne with different points of view; however, Barbero seems to have the strongest argument for the cause of the Saxon War. The other historians were less willing to see the Saxon war as a religious war. The life of Charlemagne was interesting to historians because it was filled with many vigorous wars that he fought including the infamous Saxon War. From the beginning of his life, Charlemagne was destined to rule a nation and lead his people into war, achieving both triumphant victories and devastating defeats. He died of sickness in old age, thus leaving the kingdom in the hands of his son. The Saxon war was the most persistent, yet hostile war he fought because of the determination and severity of the enemy. However, the questions remain: “What actually caused the Saxon war? What gave it life? What are all the different events that occurred during this war? What are some of the strategies used during this war?” The wars he fought resulted in his success as a ruler and as a historical figure to reflect on when considering the greatness of kings.
Symbols during the middle ages changed with the attitudes of the people. Over time, the Virtues were represented so plainly that they could be distinguished only by name, and again so ridiculously convoluted that again interpretation was difficult. In fifteenth-century cathedrals the virtues bore nothing more than a shield with emblem (1) . At roughly the same time they were also being illustrated as everyday characterizations, for example: Prudence was depicted as a woman sitting in a chair, with book in hand being read to disciples at her feet (2) . Slightly more obscure was Temperance, as a woman at a table motioning with her hands an inquiry at another woman, also at the table, for permission to speak. Under this table kneels a poor man who drinks from a goblet (3) . Here the Virtues are not singular entities which personify the attributes, but rather the attributes themselves. More typical were Virtues as maidens bearing symbols representing some aspect of their nature: Justice weighing the scales with sword in hand to execute a punishment, Faith a woman with a cross, Hope a winged woman with hands upraised towards the Lord (4) . Yet these depictions also could get out of hand. Faith came to grasp a book (the testaments) and a candle (with which to illuminate man's dark world) and wea...
Charlemagne is a known for his success to try to maintain his empire. This new empire will embrace the unity of Christian faith. Under Charlemagne, new lands are conquered and a Renaissance is embraced. He even tries to revive the Christian faith. Charlemagne is a man that hopes to be an inspiration to the next generation. These deeds of Charlemagne is seen in the Two Lives of Charlemagne. In the Two lives of Charlemagne, both Notker’s and Einhard’s goal is to portray Charlemagne as a man of good character, a man that accomplishes many deeds and a man that hopes to provide an outlet for the next generation.
Boardman, Phillip C. "Margery Kempe (c. 1373-1439)." Enduring Legacies: Ancient and Medieval Cultures. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson Custom Pub., 2000. 455-62. Print.
5. Howe, Helen, and Robert T. Howe. From the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. N.p.: Longman, 1992. Print.
Howe, Helen, and Robert T. Howe. A World History: Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Volume 1. White Plains, NY: Longman, 1992. 533.
The collection Two Lives of Charlemagne contains two different biographies of Charlemagne who was a king of the Franks and a christian emperor of the West in the 8th century. The first biographical account was written by his courtier Einhard who knew him personally and well. On the other hand, the second account was penned by Notker the Stammerer was born twenty-five years after the king’s death. Even though these two versions indicate the same king’s life, there were many differences between the two. Einhard’s writing focused on the emperor’s official life and his military campaign. However, Notker provided more of a perspective about the king’s legacy and seemed more hyperbolic as well as mythical. This paper will compare and contrast the
In looking back at the time of chivalry and the knight it is not common that one forgets the existence of the spur and the true value it poses. The spur was one of the essential tools that a knight possessed as an equestrian. The spur was first introduced for its purpose in encouraging the horse on, but as medieval times approached the spur gained its decorative aspects and held more of a romantic value to people. The spur became elaborate with beads and embroidery, fancy brass, and gold metals. The spur was essentially an emblem of Knighthood; “to win his spurs” ceremonies put spurs at the investiture of a knight, and were cut off at occasions of degradation (Lacy).
The Relationship of Political and Religious Societies in the Age of Charlemagne, Based of Einhard's The life of Charlemagne sections 15-33
In particular, this essay will focus on a particular war: the Hundred Years War. It was a war between England and France and was the longest war in Medieval Europe. One can see the incredible hostility between England and France as expressed in the text Joan of Arc where she demands the “King of England, if you do not do these things… I shall find your men in France and I will make them flee the country” (1.1). The hostility between England and France during the Hundred Years War would result in a major social change in both countries. Before the Hundred Years War, both countries maintained a system of feudalism where the land was divided into separate domains and each domain had a ruler. However, during the Hundred Years War, people now began to feel a great sense of citizenship and duty to their country. For instance, in England, the King and Parliament developed a closer relationship and which ultimately helped to unify England. Once again, one can observe how the Hundred Years War encouraged a social change in 14th Europe because individuals of each country became more unified in helping their country defeat their
Most people believe a coat of arms to be a shield of some sort that knights used in the middle ages to protect themselves in battle. In reality, a coat of arms consists of more than just a shield. There are actually five elements in a coat of arms: the shield, the crest, the helm, the wreath and the mantle or mantling. Each of these elements creates what is know as a coat of arms. While it is true that knights did indeed wear coats of arms during battle, the emblem was not only found on the armor used for protection in battle but also appeared on flags and clothing.
The concept of a warrior has changed little in history; one who fights to defend his or her ideals or society. Yet the methods and tools of a warrior have evolved into something more complex and dynamic today. From the three novels—The Nibelungenlied, Njal’s Saga, and Beowolf—readers are exposed to the concept of a warrior in vastly different contexts. First, the philosophy of the warrior in the novels and modern day will be examined in the essay, such as the goals and code of conduct. Furthermore, who is a warrior today as opposed to warriors then? And lastly, the key difference lies in the technology and the battlefield. Knights fought for honor and idealized death in battle in order to gain admission to Valhalla, the Hall of the Fallen. Knights of legend used weapons from the familiar swords and spears to phenomenal ones such as an invisibility cloak. Furthermore, knights and warriors seldom worried about legal disputes or the law; they were more concerned with alliances, honor, and love. Women were also forbidden from engaging in battle since it was deeply looked down upon and even deemed wretched. However in modern society, the concept of the warrior remains the same but has grown several layers of complexity. Technology has taken weapons to a whole new height from rifles to unmanned predator drones. Battles are fought not only on land and sea, but also in the air and the cyber domain. In fact, honor has taken a smaller role in modern society and replaced with the concept of patriotism, pride, and family tradition. Furthermore, it is now common for women to be in the military. There ...
Rice, Eugene E. and Anthony Grafton. The Foundations of Early Modern Europe, 1460-1559. 2nd. ed. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1994.