Einhard's Life of Charlemagne

Here is King Charles of the Franks, Charlemagne, the Father of Europe, Holy Roman Emperor (748-814 CE). His biography is from one of his closest advisors and confidantes, the scholar Einhard (775-840 CE), with an introduction by the medieval scholar abbot Walafridus Strabo (808-849 CE). Both Strabo and Einhard make efforts to convince their readers and listeners that this account is absolutely historically perfect because Einhard was there. As such, we are supposed to receive it as uncritically as we would a sermon from the Bible. Such ideas of objective impartiality were well-accepted in this age. But finding Einhard's oblique opinions hidden in the reportage makes for fascinating research. For example, Queen Fastrada seems to represent all that was ever wrong about the reign of Charles to Einhard, and the concubine who followed her is so little loved that he omits her name from the historical record entirely, pretending that he doesn't recall the name of the mother of one of the children of the King.
Einhard speaks on the 47 years of war and conquest, but also on the domestic and personal sides of Charles. He covers something of the history of the French royal houses and discusses the religion, law, and culture of the 8th - 9th century Franks. But as with any story of Charlemagne, this account encompasses the known world, from Persia to Denmark, from Scotland to Beneventum. What is so fascinating about this account is that it is such a clear and extended look at an individual who lived over 1200 years ago--and not just any individual but one of the most extraordinary figures in the historical record. Einhard works quite hard to try to communicate the grandeur and force of Charlemagne as a person, hoping to convey to us how a single man was able to build such a great empire.
This is a new adaptation I've written from public-domain versions of the text which attempts to make it as accessible and clear to a modern audience as possible. As such, it is not a word-perfect translation. Certain flourishes have been edited out and other concepts and passages have been expanded so that the audience might understand them better. Apologies for the French accent.
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[@FalkZad]

RIP Nick, forever in our hearts

[@cmc2550]

Thank you for the RIP, I didn't know Nick the creator of this wonderful channel has passed away, apparently two years ago. Very sad to hear about a thirty year old leaving this world. I thought he was a damn professor, very smart.

[@josephglaeser9674]

I didn’t know he passed I’m so sad. RIP Nick thank you for this channel you have touched more lives than you can imagine

[@ToTheeOBlessedJoseph]

THIS. IS. AMAZING. I've been looking for something like this on Charlemagne for a while now. Excellent job. 🙏

[@kaarlimakela3413]

Thanks for carrying on Nick's legacy.
I can't think of any other voice on the channel now.

[@Davlavi]

Great video Nick would be proud.

[@bgaona]

This is a fantastic upload. Nothing like primary sources!

[@dragonheart4041]

Thank you for this beautiful video. Not sure it's the right niche but if anyone's very much into the Carolingian courtly ideology and lifestyle I strongly recommend Schwerpunkt's content on the topic. I'd love to see a coop. Keep up with the great work

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Amazing work on this one. Thank you so much for the hard work. ❤

[@postamericanpureblood60]

Thank you, for this most excellent account.

[@troydodson9641]

Wonderful, a learned man given voice. History ought to be preserved. Accurate or not, he gives a good idea of what many thought of the past king (I think).
You have my gratitude!

[@FalkZad]

Will watch it as soon as I get back home!

[@cleof1503]

Once again a most wonderful documentary.

[@twonumber22]

good stuff

[@Unknown31212]

Comment for the algorithm, RIP Nate

[@tamaryifhar]

Thank you 🙂

[@youngimperialistmkii]

Great vid! I had not heard an account of Charlemagne from his own time, thanks.

[@Bpaynee]

Thank you ❤

[@soulabear9146]

Thank you.

[@johnberry1107]

Good content with usual western bias. ‘Ever known’ seems bold statement to me. Thank you. Stay safe & warm.

[@kaloarepo288]

Eginhardt and similar writers often used classical models and this went as far as bending the facts to suit the previous imperial models.

[@saammahakala]

Charlemagne was King David in a former life.
Cicero took credit for the wisdom of one of his slave's just as thomas edison and steve jobs took credit for their subordinates' inventions.

[@o.wildfarmer8023]

Black spots on the Sun's surface, remarkable before telescopes 🔭 ...

[@bryanharris5754]

The amount of commercials on this video is ridiculous.

[@xavisanchez7522]

No need to apologize for your french language, we know by the fact that in carlemany times, two languages were the mist important, germanic and old occitan/ proto catalan, nothing french as french language was made up much later

[@Tanargue0]

This is wrong and insane. The langues d'oïl, of which French is part of, started to differenciate itself from vulgar latin in during the Carolingian era, like the langues d'oc

[@jamesruscheinski8602]

Christ / divine central authority unity ordering substantive human rights choice is emperor

[@tlatoanimachi]

Dodge the hijack.