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What did Einhard aim to achieve?
there is no doubt that Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, or Vita Karoli, has become one of the most
influential Medieval texts written about a ruler
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However, the text is more
ambiguous than one might expect- historians debate over when it was written, usually thought to be
somewhere between 817 and 840, and Einhard's name does not even appear on the early
manuscripts
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There is also evidence to suggest that Einhard was in some ways writing to
legitimize the rule of the Carolingian dynasty over the Merovingians, a dynasty which they
essentially usurped, and in order to ordain the divine rule of Charlemagne instead of his equally
entitled brother, Carloman
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He also states that he
wishes to "hand it down to posterity," implying that he hopes for his Life of Charlemagne to be read
in the future as a historical resource
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This raises questions of
provenance and reliability to the modern historian, as Einhard was certainly biased towards
commemorating Charlemagne in a positive light
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"
In Einhard's first section on the Merovingian family, Einhard is highly dismissive of the Merovingians
and seeks to emasculate and humiliate their memory at every opportunity, which is plainly in order
to make them appear weak and ineffectual in comparison to their Carolingian usurpers
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According to Charlemagne, the
Merovingian dynasty had ''long since been devoid of vital strength,'' and when the Merovingian king
travelled, he supposedly rode in a cart driven "peasant-fashion by a ploughman," whilst all the while
overemphasising the importance and influence of the post of Mayor of the Palace, which
Charlemagne's father Pepin held at the time of Childeric's deposition
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The aim of Einhard in his inclusion of the description of the
Merovingians as feeble and impotent kings was clear: to legitimise for posterity the right of
Charlemagne to rule, as the Carolingian dynasty in effect had no more claim to the Frankish throne
than any other noble family at the time
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Charlemagne is described as

having 'bore his unfriendliness and jealousy most patiently'' and ''could not be provoked to be angry
with him
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Charlemagne is clearly presented
as the more superior and benevolent monarch
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'' Whether this was true in unclear, and some
historians have argued that Charlemagne may have had something to do with the death of his
brother, since soon after Carloman was no longer an issue, Einhard records Charlemagne as being
"unanimously elected King of the Franks
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Einhard wrote to
commemorate, glorify and immortalise the acts and qualities of Charlemagne the Frankish emperor
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Einhard plainly
lists all of Charlemagne's important military conquests, including his victory over King Desiderious of
the Lombards, and his constant struggle with the supposedly vicious and barbarian Saxon tribes
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Einhard also celebrates the outstanding qualities of kingship represented in Charlemagne in order to
honour him and his reign
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" The
significance of Einhard's portrayal of Charlemagne as a ruler both learned and fearsome in equal
measure cannot be negated
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Finally, there is evidence to suggest that Einhard wrote to add a personal and intimate quality to the
lofty Frankish emperor, by including details of his appearance, family life and personal
characteristics
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Charlemagne is depicted as being highly affectionate towards his mother, Berthrada, as he ''passed
her old age with him in great honour; he entertained the greatest veneration for her," and also as
being a doting father and educator towards his many children "both boys and girls instructed in the
liberal arts
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" This shows the great degree of interest and enthusiasm Charlemagne showed
for his children, and reveals a very different side to the ruler than the fierce conqueror that has gone
down in history
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From this, it can be
argued that Einhard was attempting to engender a 'warts and all' image of Charlemagne, and
validate his biography by creating a sense of well-roundedness
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Einhard wrote in order to diminish the memory and reputation of the
previous Merovingian dynasty, and also in order to legitimise the divine right of Charlemagne to rule
instead of his brother
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In any case, it appears as
though Einhard has achieved his goal
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