Journal Article

Louis the Pious and the Hunt

Goldberg, Eric J.

2013

Overview

History remembers Charlemagne not only as a great conqueror but also as a mighty hunter. It is largely thanks to Einhard that we have this image of Charlemagne as a second Nimrod, the “robustus venator” of Genesis 10.8–9. In the Life of Charlemagne (Vita Karoli), Einhard mentioned hunting on no fewer than five occasions, making it a notable leitmotif that distinguishes the work from Einhard's literary model, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesars. In Einhard's eyes, Charlemagne's frequent hunting embodied the essence of Frankish manhood; he wrote, “He often exercised himself with riding and hunting, which came naturally to him, since there can hardly be found another people in the world that can equal the Franks in this art.” Einhard's emphasis on Charlemagne as a royal hunter was something new in early-medieval historiography, since earlier chroniclers, like Gregory of Tours and Bede, had mentioned hunting kings infrequently and only in passing. But the Vita Karoli was to cast a long shadow, and a number of subsequent early-medieval writers were to adopt Einhard's motif of the king as huntsman.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press,Medieval Academy of America
• Subject: Astronomy / Christianity / Deer hunting / Emperors / Heirs / History / History and sciences of religions / Hunting / Hunting dogs / Kings / Lion hunting / Mediaeval church / Overall studies / Poetry / Summer / Writers