Paul the Deacon's ‘Gesta Episcoporum Mettensium’ and the Early Design of Charlemagne's Succession
If Charlemagne had plans for his succession prior to 806, little has yet been said about them; equally little has been written about the Gesta episcoporum Mettensium, a minor work of Paul the Deacon's. But lack of interest by posterity is only an incidental reason for associating the Metz Gesta...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
1986
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| In: |
Traditio
Year: 1986, Volume: 42, Pages: 59-93 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | If Charlemagne had plans for his succession prior to 806, little has yet been said about them; equally little has been written about the Gesta episcoporum Mettensium, a minor work of Paul the Deacon's. But lack of interest by posterity is only an incidental reason for associating the Metz Gesta with Charles's early dynastic planning. In 781, Charles visited Rome for the second time; important decisions about the Carolingian heritage were taken in connection with this journey. Soon afterwards, probably in 783, Paul was commissioned by a royal courtier to compose a history of the bishops of Metz. A careful analysis of Paul's narrative suggests that its purpose was not so much to celebrate the bishops of one diocese as to commemorate, however discreetly, certain events vitally concerning the entire Frankish church and kingdom. The Gesta may shed unexpected light on Charlemagne's designs for the transmission of his regna, as well as on the ideas inspiring his decision. |
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| ISSN: | 2166-5508 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Traditio
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0362152900004049 |