THE CAROLINGIANS
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As the
empire of Charlemagne was still thought to be a part of the Roman Empire
consequently the symbol of the Realm should have been a multi-petalled figure
of the shape of some suns as on the dress of Areobindus of 506 AD and on the
suns from the Baptistry of Poitiers from a century later.
Sun on the sarcophage of St. Andoche Paleochristian
Sun on the Baptistery of St. Jean de Poitiers Visigoth/Merovingian
Sun on the sarcophage of St. Chalan Merovingian
Crucified Christ between Sun and Moon Chapel of Quiricus and
Julitta in the Santa Maria Antiqua, Rome However thee suns were replaced in the 8th
century by suns of other forms
consisting of a disc charged with a mans’
bust crowned with a pointed diadem. called SOL and another disc charged
with a lady with a crescent on her head called LUNA. These symbols of the sun
and the moon, derived from roman examples from the 2nd century AD, came also
on both sides of a crucifix, a latin
cross with the crucified Christ. This configuration signifies the empire, the
state and the ruler of the Chistian society.
Prayer book of Charles the Bald. Treasury, München fol 39r Carolingian
Sun of St.Foy abbey, Conques ~1107
Rose-window of St. Denis, ~ 1140 |
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The
emblem of the state was on the tunica of Charlemagne as the head of state. It
consists of a yellow disc surrounded by seven smaller discs and can be a
configuration of the earth surrounded by seven planets or stars
As there
were only six planets known in the time of Charlemagne, including a seventh
being the moon, the seven discs may be seven planaets That number was
borrowed from oriental symbolism, the discs
representing the seven vassals of Assyria: Assyria, Babylon, Elam,
Hatti, Israel, Mitanni, and Phoenicia making together the constellation of
the Pleiades.
Fragment of a marble arch, beginning 9th cent.. Cortona
(Umbria), Academia Etrusca. Arc of former San Vincenzo Cathedral, MAEC museum Cortona In the top a square cross, between two trees (?) supported
by two peacocks and two fleurs de lys. On thge arch ...IPORIBVS DN CARVLO IMPERATOR IBO P & B FI ERI FECIPRO AMORE DIE. These symbols are for administrative authority,
the territory, the rank of prefect and armed authority. Last but not least the
Charles of the inscription may be Charlemagne. We can see here that the supporterd of the emblems
of the empire were peacocks. They are also acting as supporters of a latin
cross which has to be associated with the holy see. The supporters of the symbols of the Eastern
Empire are angels |
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Charles I (Charlemagne) |
*742- † 814 King of Francia 768 - 814 King of Lombardia
774-814 Emperor 800 – 814 |
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Initially
the empire of Charlemagne comprised the (former) roman dioceses Galliæ and
Viennensis and some territory on the right bank of the Rhine. Later the
diocese of Italia Annonaria was added and in the north Saxony. In fact his
empire had about the size of a
Prefecture. The badge of rank of a præfectus
prætorio was a peacock. In the Notitia Dignitatum from aboot 400 AD. The
other insignia of a præfectus prætorio were an ivory
plaque decorated with three golden bands and the imago of the Emperor, and four candles exposed on a table of
credence with a blue cloth. Next to the table of credence was a theca a standard symbolizing the
supreme judicial authority Also the prefect had the right to use a quadriga, a chariot pulled by four
horses.
The insignia of a
prætorian prefect From the Notitia Dignitatum
fol.178r. King From Charlemagne there are some contemporary portraits preserved on a fresco, on a
mosaic and in some manuscripts. These are
to be compared with the busts on his coins and seals. In 777
his title was: karolus dei gra rex francorum &
longobardorum ac patricius romanorum His dress
was described by Eginhard in his “Vita Karoli Magni” (The Life of Charlemagne, 814). 23 He wore the national, that is to say the
Frankish dress. His shirts and drawers were of linen, then came a tunic with
a silken fringe, and hose. His legs were cross-gartered and his feet enclosed
in shoes. In winter-time he defended his shoulders and chest with a jerkin
made of the skins of otters and ermine. He was clad in a blue cloak and always
wore a sword, with the hilt and belt of either gold or silver. Occasionally,
too, he used a jewelled sword but this was only on the great festivals or
when he received ambassadors from foreign nations. He disliked foreign
garments however beautiful, and would never consent to wear them, exept in
Rome at the request of Pope Hadrian, and once again upon the entreaty of his
successor, Pope Leo, when he whore a long tunic and cloak, and put on shoes
made after the Roman fashion. On festal days he walked in processiosn in a garment of gold cloth,
with jewelled boots and a golden girdle to his cloak and distinhguished
further by a diadem of gold and
precious stones. But on other days his dress differed little from that of the
common people. [1] |
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Fresco in the Cimetero di S. Ermete, Rome [2]
Photo:
Andrea Jemolo Represented is a woman in Byzantine imperial dress
with a child on her lap. She wears a crown with pendilia of strings of pearls. By her side two angels. To her
right a warrior and a woman and to her left a prelate in monk’s habit. According to Matthiae the fresco dates from the
last years of the pontificate of Hadrian I (772-795) who also restored the
catacomb. He ruled in the time that Empress Irene was a
regent for her son Constantine VI. The fresco most probably dates from the
period around the coronation of mother and son in 776, taking into account
that the boy is still on his mother’s lap. For the warrior Charlemagne, King
of the Franks from 768, may qualify. About Charlemagne is said for this period: “Charlemagne and his
uncle Bernard crossed the Alps in 773 and chased the Lombards back to Pavia,
which they then besieged. Charlemagne temporarily left the siege to deal with
Adelchis, son of Desiderius, who was raising an army at Verona. The young
prince was chased to the Adriatic littoral and he fled to Constantinople to
plead for assistance from Constantine V Copronymus, who was waging war with
the Bulgars. The
siege lasted until the spring of 774, when Charlemagne visited the pope in
Rome. There he confirmed his father's grants of land, with some later
chronicles claiming - falsely - that he also expanded them, granting Tuscany,
Emilia, Venice, and Corsica. The pope granted him the title patrician.
He then returned to Pavia, where the Lombards were on the verge of
surrendering.” The correct dating is after 774 in any case, the
year that Charlemagne visited Rome during his siege of Pavia. The persons
represented in that case are Irene (between angels), Constantine, then of the
age of three, on her lap, Charlemage, his wife Hildegard (†783) and pope
Hadrian. Charlemage, born between 742 and 747, is of the age of between 27
and 32 here. On the other hand the missing of a cross on the
crown indicates that the empress was crowned but still had no executive
power. This dates the fresco between 776-780. |
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Prince on a fresco in the Cimetero di S. Ermete,
Rome For the
warrior Charlemagne, King of the Franks from 768 and king of Lombardia from
774 qualifies. In 780 he was 38 years of age
Charlemagne on the Triclinio Leoniniano, Rome (betw.
795 &797) 796 ca.
Mosaic on the wall of the apse of the S. Giovanni in Laterano. The
southern side represents the partition
of the religious and the secular power between Pope Leo III (795-816) and
Charlemagne. In the middle St. Peter
with the legend scs petrvs. On his right Pope
Leo III (795-816) receiving the pallium
and the inscription XSCISSIMVS DN LEO PP. On his left Charlemage with the inscription X dn carvlo regi. On his
head a crown of a Byzantine model of a diadem set with pearls with a large
gem in the middle. A banner, consisting of a green cloth, strewn with
yellow stars and six roundels red-black and yellow is handed over by Christ
to the king. Its staff crested with a fleur de lys. In a cartouche below: beate
petre donas vita leon pp e bictoria carvlo regi donas The
mosaic was restored by Pope Pius XI (1922-1939). Another inscription says: Leo Papa Tertivs fecit in patriarchio
lateranensi triclinivm (etc.)..
796 ....
In the Annales regni Francorum ad annum 796 it is written that the
bishop of Rome send the “claves confessionis sancti Petri ac
vexillum Romanæ urbis” (keys of St. Peter and the banner of the city of
Rome) by a delegation. No description of the banner is given but it could
have been the green banner on the Triclinium Leoniniano.
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The Frankish Empire 800-924 |
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He was
described by Eginhard in his “Vita Karoli Magni” (The Life of Charlemagne). in
Ch.. xxvii: 27 He was
most devout in relieving te poor and in those free gifts which the Greek call
alms. For he gave it his attention not only in his own country and his own
kingdom but also used to send money across the sea to Syria, to Egypt, to
Africa, to Jerusalem Alexandria to Carthago in compassion for the poverty of
any Christians whose miserable conditions in those countries came to his
ears. It was for these reason chiefly that he cultivated te friendship of
kings beyond the sea hoping thereby to win for the Chtistians living beneath
their sway some succour and relief. Beyond
all other sacred and venerable places he loved the church of the Holy Apostle
Peter at Rome and he poured into its treasury great wealth in silver and gold
and precious stones. He send innumerable gifts to the Pope; and during the
whole course of his reign he strove with all is might (and, indeed no other
object was nearer to his heart than this) to restore to the city of Rome her
ancient authority and not merely to defend the church of Saint Peter but to
decorate and enrich it out of his resources above all other churches. But
although he valued Rome so much, still, during all the seven fourty-years
that he reigned he only went there four times to pay his vows and offer up
his prayers.[3]
Portrait of
Charlemagne Seated
crowned ruler with lily-sceptre and orb charged with cross Psalter
of Charles the Bald, Paris B.N. ms lat 1152 fol 3 v . Between 843-869. Legend: CVM SEDEAT KAROLVS MAGNO CORONATVS HONORI EST IOSIAE SIMILES PAR QUE
THEODOSVS The legend can
be translated as: The seated crowned Charlemagne honours Josiah (= Jesus) and resembles Theodosius Meant is Theodosius I, Eastern Roman Emperor (379-394) and Roman
Emperor (394-395). He made
an effort to end paganism. The king
is dressed in a yellow or golden imperial mantle and a blue tunica strewn
with golden earth-globes, surrounded by seven planets.
This
emblem may be qualified as the emblem of the state, symbolizing the ruler and
his courtiers. The person displaying the emblem may be qualified as Head of
State. An early representaion is on he helmet of Emperor Constantine the
Great. The
psalter is dated between the accession of Charles the Bald in 843 and the
death of his wife Ermesinde, whose name occurs in the litany, in 869. The text
shoul have been written by a certain Liuthard.
Portrait of
Charlemagne, crowned and kneeling Prayer
book of Charles the Bald Treasury,
München, f 38v. The
inscription reads: IN CRUCE QUI MUNDI /
SOLUISTI CRIMINA XPI / ORLANDO MIHI
MET TU UNI / NERA CUNCTA PI SOLUE His
tunica white (or blue?) strewn with moons surrounded by stars and
constellations of eight stars, and red trousers on his legs. Here the
emblem of state occurs again, now surrounded by constellations of stars
symbolizing the princes. Emperor (Imperator Augustus) On 23 December 800, Pope Leo swore an oath of
innocence. At Mass, on Christmas Day (25 December), when Charlemagne
knelt at the altar to pray, the Pope crowned him Imperator Romanorum ("Emperor
of the Romans") in Saint Peter's Basilica. In so doing, the Pope
effectively nullified the legitimacy of Empress
Irene of Constantinople.
Seal of Charlemagne H. 43 mm . Paris, Arcives
Natioales K 14, n° 12 Bust of
Charlemagne. Legend: KAROLUS MISERICORDIA DEI IMPERATOR AUGUSTUS Also
attributed to Charles the Bald but has to be compared with the portraits of
Charlemagne. Title:
Charles, exalted Augustus crowned by God, great and peaceful emperor, ruling
the Roman Empire In 807
Charlemagne signed an agreement with the Court in Byzantium (i.e with
Nicephorus I (802-811) in which he was recognized as emperor of the Western
Roman Empire. As a
result he adopted the roman imperial style crowning himself with a roman
(imperial) crown of laurel.
Silver coin of Charlemagne, ~ 812 Bust with crown of laurel.
L.: KAROLVS IMP AVG From this
coin, together with the purple quadriga cloth, it appears that Charlemagne
then assumed a prefectural style, taken directly from that of Emperor
Constantine, who was depicted on a medal from the beginning of his reign with
a laurel crown and a shield on his arm bearing a four-in-front, before which,
like the Triclinium of S. Giovanni in Laterano, apparently, still regarded
himself as a co-emperor, so he had a pointed crown on it, like Licinius on
the aforementioned Constantine medal. From the
other roman insignia of dignity the quadriga
was adopted but no examples of the candles, the theca and the ivory plaque are known from the reign of
Charlemagne
Silk cloth with motif of a quadriga. Possibly viii century
AD. Paris, Cluny Museum. after his death is of Byzantine workmanship Purple coloured dark blue cloth, ornaments and figures brownish
yellow. Byzantium, end of 8th century.
Silk. H. 76; B. 75.. A piece of the same cloth of almost the same size today in the Aachen treasury. In this very fine silk the body of the Emperor Charlemagne was wrapped A quadriga, a four-in-front was a
prerogative of a ruler and victor. In the Roman Empire it was a badge of rank
of a prefect and in the late 4th early 5th century Notitia Dignitatum
examples are given of quadriga’s of the prefects of Rome, Illyricum and
Italy. The
quadriga’s on the shroud of Charlemagne means that he had the rank of
(Prætorian-) Prefect which is also confirmed by the peacocks from his rule. |
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Louis
the Pious |
*778- † 840 Imperator Augustus
813 - 833 / 834 - 840 King of Francia 814
- 840 Co-emperor 817 - 840 |
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Lothair I |
Co-emperor |
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Vassals paying homage to a
king Stuttgarter Psalter
Imperial cross in the Trésor de Saint Denis by Felibien, 1790
Triumphal arch of Louis the Pious The
triumphal arch served as a socle of the imperial cross preserved in the royal
treasury until the french revolution.
Drawing of a triumphal arch, 17th cent Bibliotèque Nationale, Paris
10444. fol 45 Drawing
from the 17th century of a reliquary shrine in the shape of a triumphal arch,
made in Maasland around 820. The reliquary shrine that is only known from
this copy (Fulda, Landesbibliothek. Domschatz cod Bonif., II). was made by
Egingardus, lay abbot of St. Servaas in Maastricht. It is the oldest work
richly decorated with figures what we know of the Carolingian goldsmith's
art.) The
drawing shows the sides of the triumphal arch. The facades are divided into
three levels. On the top level are Christ and his disciples and also the
mission of the arch: AD TROPAEVM AETERNAE VICTORIAE SVSTINENDVM EINHARDVS
PECCATOR HVNC ARCVM PONERE AC DEO DEDICARE CVRAVIT between the two archangels. On the second level
are the evangelists with their symbols and two biblical scenes. Above the
gate is on one side a square cross within a circle and on the other side the
Chrismon XP, within a wreath. Finally,
four warriors are depicted on the lower level. They are, when we assume that
royal persons are depicted, Louis the Pious himself, Lotharius (*795), co-emperor
since 817, Pippin (*803 ca. 838), Louis the German (*804 ca.) This makes the
year of manufacturing around 820. Louis the German was just of age at the
time. The
emperor and his sons wear shields: Louis the Pious a shield with a carved
edge with in the field two square lily crosses between four besants (the
national symbol). Lothair a shield with a carved edge and in the field four five-pointed
stars . Pippin a shield with a carved edge with four five-pointed stars between
four rosettes and Louis the German has a shield with an unprocessed border
and four five-pointed stars in saltire between four rosettes. The four
ensigns are on the short sides of the gate. The banners consist of a stick
with a transverse wood to which a rectangular cloth is attached, finished at
the bottom with beads, coins or frills. In the passage of the gate are two
horsemen with spear and shield that pierce a snake (not a dragon). |
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Empress Judith of Bavaria *805-†843 Title: Plaque with the Virgin Mary as a Personification of the Church.
Date: carved 800–875. Carolingian Ivory; Overall measures 22 x 14.5 x 0.8 cm.
MMA. Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.49) For the
person represented on the plaque Empress Judith of Bavaria qualifies. In her
right hand she has a cross-staff resembling the cross-staff of Louis the
Pious. This is the badge of administrative authority. In her right hand she
has a sceptre of the model of the sceptre of Charlemagne on his portrait in
the Cimetero di S. Ermete (but also a distaff). Her rank or function is
represented by the two peacocks, badges of a prefect, in the upper corners. Also
compare with the representations of Louis II the German We may
assume that the plaque is one of a pair, the other representing Louis I the
Pious. |
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Lothair I |
*795-† 855 Co-emperor 817-831 Recrowned 823 Emperor 840-855 King of Francia 840-843 |
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Louis II |
Co-emperor 850 - 855 |
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Lothair
as a defender of the faith with ducal hat and halo. standing upright, in his
right hand a cross staff, his left hand supporting a red shield (Hrabanus
Maurus: The Holy Cross. Fulda, ca. 831. Österr. N.B. Wien, Ms. 652, fol. 3.
Seal of rock-chrystal of
King Lothair 817-831 On
the cross of Lothair II, Vienna (Reversed) Figure: Bust of Lothair Legend: X XPE
ADIVVA HLOTHARIVM REG
Emperor Lothair I between Louis the German and
Charles the Bald at the Treaty of Verdun, 843. Bible de Vivien, dite
Première Bible de Charles le Chauve Présentation du livre à
l'empereur Saint-Martin de Tours, 845 BnF, Manuscrits, Latin 1
fol. 423 The Emperor in a yellow mantle
crowned with a closed crown and with a long staff. On his sides his sons
Louis II in a green mantle and Lothair II in a red mantle. They are
accompanied by two warriors, the left one with a red cloak, a spear and a red
shield , the one on the right with a sword. (Probably the Magister Peditum and the Magister
Equitum). The mantle of Lothair I has the color of the temporal power and
qualifies him a caesar. |
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Louis II the German |
*804 ca-†876 King of Bavaria 817-843 King of East Francia 843-876 Co-emperor 850 - 855 Emperor 855-876 |
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Son of Louis the Pious
Equestrian statue
of Charlemagne, ca. 860. Bronze, originally gilded. H. 25 cm. Formerly Ancien Trésor de
la cathédrale de Metz. Paris, Louvre, Département des Objets d’art The king
with crown mounted with four pieces. In his right hand a sword and in his
left a sphere. Because
of its time of creation the sculpture must represent King Louis the German |
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Equestrian statue of Charlemagne, with sword
His crown resembles the crown of Charlemagne but the
attachments are changed into leaf-shape ornaments. The circlet is set with
precious stones instead of pearls. |
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Charles
II, the Bald |
*823-† 877 King of Francia 840-843 King of West-Francia
843-877 King of Italy
875-877 Emperor 875-877 |
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Son of Louis the Pious
Charles the Bald
ca 870 As in Codex Aureus of St.
Emmeram, fol. 5v°. München, Bayr. Staatsbibl. Clm 14000 Charles
seated on his throne vested in a blue tunica strewn with groups of golden
stars and a purple or red mantle and crowned with a crown of three fleurs de
lis. 870 ca. Portrait of Charles the Bald, King of West
Francië. Greek crosses on the throne rug. Two warriors with spear, sword and
shield on his right hand. Illustrated Bible from the San Paolo Fuori le Mura
Monastery, Rome. (Edited by Ingobertus. Northern France, Reims?). Last page. Charles the Bald on his throne in blue tunic and purple
cloak. He is wearing a crown with three fleurons. On both sides two warriors,
the one on the right with a sword, the one on the left with a spear and a
golden shield. (Munich, Bayr. Staatsbibl. Clm 14000 Codex Aureus v. St.
Emmeram, fol. 5v °. |
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Charles the Bald in the Bible of San Paolo fuori le
mura Illuminated manuscript (Rome, S Paolo fuori le Mura), probably made at
Reims c. 870. It is the most extensively illustrated of all extant
Carolingian Bibles. A dedicatory poem by
Ingobertus referens et scriba fidelis and the verses accompanying an
image of a ruler establish that it was made for a King Charles, now
identified as Charles the Bald, who, when he was crowned Emperor in Rome in
875, probably gave it to Pope John VIII. Charles dressed in a blue tunica strewn with white
square crosses with golden borders, a red mantle crowned with a crown of a circlet
mounted with four leaves and a golden globe with a red inscription in his
left hand. Sitting on a golden throne with a ciborium with white throne clothes strewn with red square crosses
with the letters I(ησο)C Χ(ριστo)C in the four corners. The red square cross is the symbol of Christian
administrative authority.
Seal of Charles
the Bald |
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Référence |
MA000001
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Fonds |
SCEAUX.
serie: sceaux ; collection Bourgogne |
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Analyse |
Moulage du sceau de Charles II le Chauve,
roi de France. Légende
en latin restituée : "KAROLUS GRATIA DEI REX", traduction :
Charles, roi par la grâce de Dieu. |
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Dates |
0847-08-25
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Accès |
moulage
consultable au service des sceaux |
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Reproduction |
reproduction
du moulage possible par le service des sceaux; photographie ou impression
d'image numérique |
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Support |
plâtre
pris sur cire originale |
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Forme |
ovale
hauteur 40 x largeur 32 mm |
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Technique |
moulage
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Identification |
Charles
II le Chauve (roi de France) |
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Noms de lieux |
FRANCE
-- IXe siècle ; FRANCE |
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Notes |
Le
document portant le sceau original est conservé aux Archives départementales
de Saône-et-Loire. Voir l'Inventaire des sceaux de Bourgogne par A. Coulon,
publié en 1912 par la direction des Archives de France |
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Interregnum 877 – 881 |
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Charles
III, the Fat |
† 888 King of East-Francia
876 - 887 Emperor 881 - 887 King of West-Francia 885 – 888 |
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Co-rulers |
Carloman
876–880 Louis III 876–882 |
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Son of Louis II
Carolingian King, probably Charles the Fat, with crown, sword, lance
with vexillum and shield From: Traité des Vices et
des Vertus. BNF
Charles the Fat on his throne with courtiers alias King Salomon Bible of San Paolo fuori le Mura, Frontispiece to Proverbs with scenes from
the life of Salomon (Detail) Portrait of Charles the Fat. Crown of three leaves, lily-sceptre orb and cross. (Psalmboek van Karel de Dikke, Parijs B.N. Ms Lat. 1152, fol 3 v°.) (usually ascribed to Charles the Bald) collection of capitularia of
Seated king, probably Charles the Fat (alias DAVITI) Artist: French
School (10th
century) Art style: Non-classified
art Title: Plaque depicting
King David enthroned, from Reims (9th-10th c) Location: Florence,
Museo Nazionale del Bargello Picture number: XIR79982 EAN-Number: 4050356484685 picture: bridgeman
berlin
883 Seal The
emperor with crown of laurel, spear and shield with umbo Legend.:
X karolVs imperator. (ASV, Atti
diplomatici e privati, b. S1, n. 4.) Fig.2–Charles III
Seal of Charles III, the Fat Figure according to M.Dalas, Corpus des
sceaux…, op cit. [St 7982]; cf. O.Posse, Die Siegel der deutschen
Kaiser und Könige von 751 bis 1806, t.1 (751-1347. Von Pippin bis Ludwig den Bayern), Dresden,
1909, table 3, fig.5 [4] Silver
Bull of Charles the Fat (BayHStA, Kaiserselekt 55) |
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R°: Imperial bust with crown of laurel Legend: KAROLVS
MAGS |
V° : Legend: renovatio regni fran within a garland of laurel |
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NB. The
ascriptions are because of the similarities of fysionomy (moustache, beard
and small chin). In the first three cases Charles is repersented as a king
and in the last three as an emperor. |
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Guy of Spoleto |
King of Italy 889-894 Emperor 891-894 |
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Crowned bust of Guy with spear and shield. Legend: VVIDO
IMPERATOR AGV |
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Lambert
II of Spoleto |
King of Italy 894-898 Emperor 892-898 |
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Arnulf of Carinthia |
King of Germany 887
- 899 Crowned an Emperor 896 |
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Seal of Arnulf of Carinthia Bust of Arnulf with crown of laurel, spear and small
shield Legend: ARNOLFVS REX |
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Lothair Psalter BL Add MS 37768" |
Medallion of the Lothair Psalter |
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On the cover a portrait of Arnulf of Carinthia as on
his seal with a crown of a diadem and a hoop |
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Artist |
Unspecified |
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Title |
Gallican Psalter with
canticles (the 'Lothar Psalter' or 'Lothaire Psalter') |
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Description |
Style: Treasure
binding|Religious miscellaneous|Pictorial; Caption: Upper Cover; Colour: Red;
Edge: Unspecified |
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Date |
Binding: 13c |
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Medium |
Decorative Technique:
Onlaid; Cover Material: Metal|Silk|Leather (unspecified)|Silve |
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Accession
number |
Shelfmark: Add ms 37768 |
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place
of creation |
Binding: Germany |
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Object
history |
Text: 9c; Germany/France?;
Unspecified |
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Notes |
Origin: Germany, Aachen or
Northern France, Tours. Provenance: |
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References |
Unspecified |
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Seal of Arnulf of Carinthia Bust of Arnulf with diadem with hoop, spear and
small shield Legend: ARNOLFVS IMPR AVG |
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Louis III (IV), the Child |
*893-†24.09.911 King of East--Francia
900-911 Emperor (?) 900-911 |
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Louis
III, the Child was a son of King
Arnulf of Carinthia and was made the heir of East Francia at the age
of four in 897. and the last ruler of the Carolingian dynasty in East
Francia. He was crowned in Forchheim on 4 January at the age of six. It is
not clear if this coronation included an imperial coronation Louis
also inherited the crown of Lotharingia with the death of his elder
illegitimate half-brother Zwentibold in 900.
905 Bust of
Louis with spear and shield, wearing a crown with seven points set wit pearls Legend: HLVDOVVICVS REX
911 Bust of Louis with spear and shield Legend: HLVDOVICS REX |
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Louis III the Blind |
*880-†928 King of Provence
887-905 King of Italy
900-905 Emperor 901-905 |
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Louis the
Blind (c.880 – 5 June 928) was the king of Provence from 11 January 887, King
of Italy from 12 October 900, and briefly an Emperor, as Louis III, between
901 and 905. He was the son of Boso, the usurper king of Provence, and
Ermengard, a daughter of the Emperor Louis II. Through his father, he was a Bosonid,
but through his mother, a Carolingian. He was blinded after a failed invasion
of Italy in 905.
903 Legend: X
XPE -
PROTEGE HLVDOICVM REGEM |
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End of Carolingian House, 911 |
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Berengar
of Friuli |
King of Italy 888-924 Emperor 915-924 |
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..only
after the dying out of the italian branch of the Carolingians the elected
italian king became to be crowned, perhaps to legitimize their rule. The
first was Berengarius I of Friuli who was crowned in 888. Therefore the quote
in the “Gesta Berengarii” stating
that the ruler Berengarius was crowned in Pavia - “sustulit hic (in Pavia) postquam
regalis insigne coronam”, may be true. 889
Sigillo de cera vergine, ovale (mm 40 x 35, di cui mm. 24 x 20 di impronta), aderente
incassato. Su
fondo concavo si erge testa dai tratti giovanile, di profilo, volta a destra;
sulla spalla, leggero drappegio. L.: X
berengarius : rex. (ASVr, Orfanotrofio Femminile, Abazia S. Zeno, dipl. n. 5. Sigilli n°
32) Emperor
915-924
Figure: Bust of Berengarius with crown of laurel, spear
and shield Legend: BERENGARIVS IMP AVG The Iron crown of Lombardy
The iron crown of Lombardy Monza Cathedral, Treasury In 1993,
the crown was subjected to extensive scientific analysis performed by the University
of Milan using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and radiocarbon dating. Three
of the twenty-four vitreous enamel plates are visually different from the
others in colour and construction, and were traditionally considered to be
later restorations. The XRF analysis confirmed that they were made
with a different technique, with their glass being made of potassium salt,
while the others are made of sodium salt (sodium is not directly detectable
by the XRF analysis). Radiocarbon dating of fragments of beeswax used to fix the
enamel plates to the gold foils of the crown showed that the wax under the
"strange" plates was from around 500 AD, while the ones under the "normal" plates came
from around 800 AD. This is
consistent with the tradition of a more antique crown, further decorated
during the reign of Theoderic (*~451-†526) (with the addition of the
enamels), and then extensively restored during the reign of Charlemagne. As the
rim of the crown is pierced with little holes for hanging pendilia, the crown may have been a
lady’s crown. This makes it possible to ascribe him to the spouse of
Theodoric by name of Audofleda. Audofleda was
a Gothic queen. She was the sister of Clovis I, King of the Franks.
She married Theoderic the Great, King of the Ostrogoths (471–526),
around 493 AD (exact date unknown). Theoderic
sent an embassy to Clovis to request the marriage.This political move allied
Theoderic with the Franks, and by marrying his daughters off to the
kings of the Burgundians, the Vandals, and the Visigoths, he
allied himself with every major 'Barbarian' kingdom in the West. Audofleda
was a pagan prior to her marriage, and was baptised at the time of her
wedding by an Arian bishopTheoderic and Audofleda had one daughter, Amalasuntha,
who was married to Eutharic and had one daughter and one son;
Amalasuntha then ruled as Regent/Queen of the Ostrogoths from
526-34.
Sant’Agnese wearig a cilindrical crown. This crown is on a mosaic in the chapel of
Sant’ Agnese Fuori le Mura in Rome. The chapel was built by order of Pope
Honorius I (625-638). It is of the
model of the Crown of Lombardy. Cross of King Berengarius I. – the “Crux
Regni” Monza
Cathedral, Treasury
A square cross,
23.5 cm high and 23 cm wide; the upper vertical arm is a little longer than
the lower one. A profusion of precious and semiprecious stones covers
the front. In the middle
sits a large sapphire stone in triangular eaves. In a similar version
sit the larger gems, grenades, emeralds, amethysts and hyacinths. The tradition that attributes this cross to King
Berengarius has not been doubted with any serious argument. It probably originated at the end of the 9th
or at the beginning of the 10th century in a northern Italian workshop in
which Germanic decorative forms mingled with Byzantine traditions. [5] -0-0-0- On
Berengars death the powerful Roman family of the Crescentii, determined to
keep authority in its own hands, stepped in and suppressed the imperial
title. Thus the empire created in 800 disappeared, ineffective and unmourned. |
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House
of Franconia |
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Conrad I |
*881-†918 Duke of Franconia
906-918 King of East Francia
911-918 |
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Conrad I called
the Younger, was the king of East Francia from 911 to 918. He was the first
king not of the Carolingian dynasty, the first to be elected by the nobility
and the first to be anointed. He was elected a king by the rulers of the East
Frankish stem duchies after the death of young king Louis the Child.
Ethnically Frankish, prior to this election he had ruled the Duchy of
Franconia from 906.
Seal of Conrad I [6] Crowned warrior
with spear with pennon and shield. L.: CHVONRADVS REX According
to the Res gestae saxonicae by
chronicler Widukind of Corvey, Conrad on his deathbed persuaded his younger
brother Eberhard of Franconia to offer the royal crown to Henry the Fowler,
the duke of Saxony and one of his principal opponents, since he considered
Henry to be the only duke capable of holding the kingdom together in the face
of internal rivalries among the dukes and the continuous Magyar raids. It was
not until May 919, when Eberhard and the other Frankish nobles accepted
Conrad's advice, and Henry was elected king as Henry I at the Diet of Fritzlar.
Kingship now changed from Franks to Saxons, who had suffered greatly
during the conquests of Charlemagne and were proud of their identity. |
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To: Ottones To: France |
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© Hubert de Vries 2019-05-19