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Summary: Provocative Analysis of the Reign of Charles the Great
Review: The reign of Charles the Great is conventionally described as a brief flash of light in a dark age, one whose embers made succeeding periods less gloomy and laid the foundation for the eventual rise of Europe. In his text titled The Carolingian Empire Heinrich Fichtenau argues that historians have been bedazzled by the legendary Charles the Great and that a richer, truer understanding will emerge if more attention is focused on the disappointing aspects of the Carolingian period. Fichtenau further states that it is a mistake to attribute the rapid unraveling of the Frankish empire primarily to the incompetence of Charles' successor, Louis the Pious. During his reign, Charles the Great repeatedly addressed the disruptive internal forces within his hastily created empire through temporary measures of political expediency. Likewise, although Charles the Great was able to compel his subject to observe the formalities of Christianity, the ruling class, and even the clergy itself, was only marginally influenced by the spiritual and ethical aspects of Christianity. Throughout his reign the ruling class was characterized by excessive self-interest, greed, and ruthlessness. Fichtenau refines Einhard's famous depiction of Charlemagne by incorporating the writings of the palace scholar Alcuin as well as a more controversial source, the monk of St. Gall. The translator, Peter Munz, explains that while some might consider Professor Fichtenau's approach to be less precise and less cautious than typical academic studies of the Carolingian period, it is precisely for Fichtenau's thoughtful and provocative analysis that this work was selected as a Medieval Academy Reprint for Teaching. Professor Fichtenau has created a fascinating overview of the social, economic, political, and religious problems that faced Charles the Great. The Carolingian Empire should appeal to all readers with an interest in the Medieval period.
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