From the barbarian king to the erudite emperor: the representation of the wisdom of Charlemagne in the Vita Karoli
Eginhard, Charlemagne, Vita Karoli, De Vita Caesarum, Seven Liberal Arts, representation.
The present research aims to identify how Eginhard, the biographer of Charlemagne, portrayed the emperor as a scholarly man. The Vita Karoli was written between the years 817 and 829, drawing inspiration from the work De Vita Caesarum by the Roman author Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Eginhard portrayed Charlemagne in a more intimate manner, seeking not to limit himself to the emperor's military achievements. Beyond conquests and wars, we find in the Life of Charlemagne a depiction of a monarch endowed with knowledge, with various virtues described, such as dedication to the Seven Liberal Arts, their promotion, his proximity to illustrious masters, and his appreciation for Saint Augustine. The Vita Karoli diverges from the common portrayals of monarchs in the Early Middle Ages, focusing on portraying uncommon characteristics of Charlemagne during that period. It is of our interest to comprehend how this representation was constructed, which will require presenting the entire context of a cultural revival in the Carolingian court, with a focus on antiquity, particularly the Latin world. Finally, I believe it is crucial to identify the individuals affected by a portrayal of an erudite emperor, in order to understand Eginhard's purposes in creating a narrative that emphasizes the wisdom of his emperor.