Insular Sources for a Carolingian Debate
Samuel W. Collins
Although Charlemagne’s son Louis came to be known “the Pious” only many years after his death, it is not perhaps an unreasonable way for him remembered.1 The reform movement over which and advisors presided dominates the sources early part of reign.2 Care monasteries realm took center stage in reform, monastic ideal Thomas Noble’s well-known formulation, served as guide model how new Christian society was imagined.3 hope that prayer would guarantee salvation citizens kingdom, but life itself could provide a template structure realm.4 In aspirations king reformers monastery could, through careful stewardship ecclesiastical councils, flow into world correct purify all subjects. logic right conduct and, process, reshape empire its image. This sweeping agenda correctio reformatio, continuation (but just imitation) project begun under Charlemagne, sought nothing less than building solely on precepts. this vein Notker cast David necessarily succeeded by Louis’s Solomon: warrior God followed peaceful builder God’s Temple.5
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