Two Lives of Charlemagne

A new translation of two different accounts of the life Charlemagne is accompanied by a introduction explaining how Einhard, a close friend and adviser to Charlemagne, attempted to define his greatness, while Notker transformed and subverted Einhard's work.
Charlemagne (748-814) - often known as the Father of Europe - ruled the Frankish kingdoms, and was crowned Imperator Augustus by Pope Leo III in an attempt to revive the Roman Empire in the West. This volume contains both Einhard's and Notker's biographies of Charlemagne - in the first, Charlemagne's friend and courtier Einhard borrows key language from the classical biographer Suetonius for his study of the ruler, while Notker, a scholar, poet and composer writing around fifty years later, bases his account on surviving stories of the great leader.David Ganz's introductions to this new translation explain how Einhard attempted to define Charlemagne's greatness and how Notker transformed and subverted Einhard's work. This edition also contains a map, suggested further reading, family trees and a chronology.
Two revealingly different accounts of the life of the most important figure of the Roman EmpireCharlemage ?known as the father of Europe?was one of the most powerful and dynamic of all medieval rulers. The biographies brought together here provide a rich and varied portrait of the king from two perspectives: that of Einhard, a close friend and adviser, and of Notker, a monastic scholar and musician writing fifty years after Charlemagne?s death.
Two revealingly different accounts of the life of the most important figure of the Roman EmpireCharlemage ?known as the father of Europe?was one of the most powerful and dynamic of all medieval rulers. The biographies brought together here provide a rich and varied portrait of the king from two perspectives: that of Einhard, a close friend and adviser, and of Notker, a monastic scholar and musician writing fifty years after Charlemagne?s death.