The Life of Emperor Charlemagne, Article Review Example

Emperor Charlemagne’s physical appearance, clothing, and education were all considered to be excellent, which contributed to his status as an excellent ruler. These factors possibly reflect his leadership abilities as well due to his rule of a vast empire in Western Europe and the fact that he had been awarded the title of Roman Emperor. Certainly, his stature and wealth of knowledge contributed to his ability to become successful to this extent.

Emperor Charlemagne is described as physically strong and tall, and despite the sickness he fell into during his last few years, he was strong in character and walked on his own despite injury. The clothing that he wore demonstrated loyalty and respect to only his home country. While some dignitaries would adorn themselves in foreign clothing to gain bargaining rights with others, Charlemagne refused to do so. Rather, he would wear the “national”, which was comprised of fine linens and a blue cloak. Furthermore, to emphasize his status and likely as a measure of protection, he would carry a sword with him, of which he had several for different occasions.

The description of Charlemagne’s education allows us to understand why he was a great ruler that was able to fairly control so many European lands during his time. The first mark of a great Roman leader was one who excelled at rhetoric, and this article reports that the emperor’s communication skills were very strong. Therefore, he had the ability to fluently convey his commands in a manner that allowed his people to both understand and agree with his statements. Furthermore Charlemagne’s obsession with foreign languages contributed to success in his ruling. While many foreign kings are secretly despised by their people, the emperor was able to win them over by demonstrating that he had interest in communicating with them in their own language. This possibly makes up for the fact that Charlemagne refused to wear their local garments and is a more honest as useful assessment of the relationship that he held with these captured nations. Although the Renaissance had not yet begun during Charlemagne’s rule, one could describe him as one of the first “Renaissance men” due to the fact that he was so multi-talented. He was reportedly skilled in the liberal arts, grammar, languages, astronomy, and writing.

Charlemagne’s obsession with education was not self-contained, as he ensured the proper education of both his sons and daughters. This demonstrated that the emperor was concerned with both his children to ensure that they would be as intelligent as he and that they would receive training that would one day allow them to be effective rulers. Charlemagne was so dedicated to this cause that he would regularly have his meals with his children to ensure that their lessons were going well.

Charlemagne was a devout Christian and honored the Church of St. Peter the Apostle in Rome, providing the church with both monetary gifts and physical protection. During the Middle Ages, societies held pride in their devotion to religion. This exemplified by this act by Charlemagne, who promoted the Christian religion simply by showing his own support for his favorite church. As a consequence, many of his citizens followed his example.

In conclusion, Emperor Charlemagne was a great ruler who emphasized this in every aspect of his stature, dress, and action. His influence extended far from his home, and he was able to ensure the loyalty of his people due to the intelligence and communication skills he exhibited.

Works Cited

Einhard, Life of Charlemagne, S. E. Turner, trans. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1880), pp. 56-62, 51-54,64-66; in Medieval Sourcebook:   http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/einhard1.asp