of the emperor and his son". He wrote these letters in a style that imitates Ovid and therefore attempts to reproduce the "literary atmosphere of early Carolingian courts" that was associated with "patronage and favour". This approach would have helped to dignify his plea for recall at court. In honorem Hludowici Nigellus' most famous work, Carmina in honorem Hludowici Caesaris, was written some time between 826 and February of 828 while Nigellus was in exile at Strasbourg. It is about 2650 lines of verse and has been divided into four books. Its primary purposes were to praise the successful exploits of Emperor Louis and also to persuade Louis to allow Nigellus to return to King Pippin's court. Ermoldus also explains that In honorem Hludowici should be used by King Pippin as a guide on how to rule a kingdom as Nigellus describes Emperor Louis as the perfect role model for kingship. This poem is often called into question for its historical reliability as it is intended to win Emperor Louis' favour, not report history. In honorem Hludowici is blatantly panegyric and is completely narrative. Other works Scholars assume that these three pieces of literature were not the only pieces that Ermoldus wrote as he does mention in his works that he often amused King Pippin with his poetry during the Breton campaign in 824 and he also seems to be a very skilled writer. Unfortunately, none of these works survive today. Some scholars have argued Nigellus' authorship of a poem about Walter of Aquitaine, Waltharius, as there are similarities between it and In honorem Hludowici. But other scholars like Godman remain firm in their belief that Ermoldus did not write Waltharius as its poetic style is poorer than Ermoldus' is in his odes to Pippin and Louis. Notes His Carmina in honorem Hludovici, edited by Ernst Dümmler, and other writings are published in the Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Scriptores, vol. 2 (Hanover, 1826 fol.); by J. P. Migne in the Patrologia Latina, vol. 105 (Paris, 1844); and by Dümmler in the Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, vol. 2 (Berlin, 1881–1884). References Authorities W. O. Henkel, Über den historischen Werth der Gedichte des Ermoldus Nigellus (Eilenburg, 1876) Wilhelm Wattenbach, Deutschlands Geschichtsquellen, Band I (Berlin, 1904) August Potthast, Bibliotheca historica, pp. 430–431 (Berlin, 1896) External links Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Latina with analytical indexes Writers from the Carolingian Empire 8th-century births 9th-century deaths