Carolingian Christianity Week 1, Lecture 4

The Carolingian Synthesis What was the relationship between the first Carolingians and the Roman Catholic Church? For the Car.s, what was the relationship between the classical Roman Empire (c. 27 BCE) and the Holy Roman Empire (c. 800 CE)? What was the relationship with the contemporaneous Byzantine Empire? What do historians mean by the phrase “Carolingian Renaissance”?

Red = Donation of Pepin

Charles the Great (b. c. 747-d. 814) Image: Coin of Charles from after 800. Inscription: KAROLUS IMP AUG (Karolus Imperator Augustus) Inherited the title King of the Franks from Pepin in 768. Shared rule at first with his brother Carloman (768-71)

Conversion of the Saxons “Holy war” 785, submission of Widukind. –Capitulary of Paderborn lists consequences for misbehavior. Charles’ goals: conversion and integration –Capitulary of 797 shows progress

Relations with the East Early 780s: Possible marriage alliance: Frankish princess Rotrude with teenage Byzantine emperor Constantine VI Empress Irene (regent ) Patriarch Tarasios (r ) 787: Second Council of Nicaea –Rehabilitated icons

Effects of Nicaea II in the West Bad translation causes issues –Greek latreia: worship and love; proper attitude toward one’s God –Greek timetike: respect; proper attitude toward sacred icons –Latin adoratio: pretty close in meaning to latreia, but used inaccurately to translate BOTH terms above

Responses, cont. Theodulf, Libri Carolini 794: Synod/Council of Frankfurt –Adoptionism –Refutation of 2 nd Council of Nicaea Popes: Hadrian I (r ); Leo III (r )

Images: Mosaics in Lateran Palace, Rome. Commissioned by Pope Leo III, c. 799 CE. Left: Christ enthroned offers keys to St. Peter and a banner to Constantine. Right: Peter enthroned offers a sacred garment to Leo and a banner to Charlemagne.

Coronation: Rebirth of Empire Charles protects Leo, 799 Empress Irene (solo rule, ) –But a WOMAN can’t be Roman Emperor, right? Charles seems expectant, and then… Christmas Day, 800

The Carolingian Synthesis

The fate of Irene

The Filioque Controversy Theological dispute concerning nature of the Trinity –The Eastern position held that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father. –The Western position held that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father “and from the Son” (filioque in Latin). Semantic dispute: Should the Nicene Creed include the words “and from the Son” in it? 809, Council of Aachen

The “Carolingian Renaissance”

Renaissance People Missi, capitularies Monastery schools: Rule of Benedict Alcuin of York Theodulf Paul the Deacon Einhard Classical liberal arts education—but in Latin, no Greek

Christianity under the Later Carolingians Louis the Pious (r ) Treaty of Verdun, 843 Benedict of Aniane, 817 Cities slowly increasing again, after long decline