Inventing the Carolingian empire: politics and government, 800–840
Marios Costambeys|Matthew Innes|Simon MacLean
Very early in the year 814, having endured a winter of fevers and pains his side, Charlemagne took to deathbed. Abstaining from food, as he was accustomed do when sick, sixty-five-year-old ruler tried fight off illness armed with ‘nothing more than an occasional drink’. A week later, on 28 January at 9 o'clock morning, died. Charlemagne's friend biographer Einhard tells us that without delay, emperor's body washed prepared for burial. Later same day placed late antique imperial sarcophagus obtained Italy interred under west entrance church principal palace Aachen while all present wept. To judge by lavish lament written shortly afterwards monk Italian monastery Bobbio, their tears were shared mourners across empire: ‘Francia has awful wounds / But never suffered such great sorrow now Alas miserable me.’
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