The Model Emperor: Einhard’s Charlemagne in Widukind and Rahewin

Abstract

The article discusses the use of Einhard’s portrait of Charlemagne in two later sources, Widukind’s characterization of Otto the Great and Rahewin’s of Frederick Barbarossa. Einhard’s portrait is in turn influenced by Suetonius, notably his portrait of Augustus. Although aiming at presenting Charles in Roman glory, Einhard also gives a detailed and largely matter-of-fact picture of his hero. His two successors handle this material in very different ways. Widukind develops it into a picture of Otto as a charismatic warrior hero, whereas Rahewin consistently alludes to Einhard, without making Frederick very similar to Charles. The reason for this use of Charles is Rahewin’s wish to depict Frederick as the restorer of the Roman Empire, a crucial theme in the narrative of Rahewin’s as well as Otto’s part of the Gesta Frederici. Here Rahewin differs from Widukind, who omits most of Einhard’s references to Rome. Finally, the article discusses the relationship between the portraits and the narrative of the three texts and between model and personal observation.

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