Einhards erste Leser: Zu Kontext und Darstellungsabsicht der “Vita Karoli”

Abstract

The article proposes to read the “Vita Karoli” as an “egodocument” of its author Einhard. It argues that Einhard wrote his biography of Charlemagne during the winter of 828/29. His aim, however, was neither to criticize the emperor Louis the Pious nor to admonish him to alter his policy. Rather, Einhard intended to redefine his own position as a member of the political elites. By writing his “Vita Karoli” Einhard demonstrated not only his Ciceronian eloquence and wisdom, but drew parallels between himself and the aged Cicero. Henceforth, Einhard would give up his life as a courtier and live in leisure (otium) near his martyrs Marcellinus and Petrus at Seligenstadt. Nevertheless, he intended to be useful and salutary for his comtemporaries. Einhard’s first readers—the librarian Gerward and the young monk Lupus of Ferrières—interpreted the “Vita Karoli” in this way: They read the text as a monument of Einhard’s eloquency, wisdom, and greatness.

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