Epitaph for an Era: Politics and Rhetoric in the Carolingian World
Michiel de Jong
Wala, abbot of Corbie, played a major role in the rebellions against Emperor Louis Pious, especially 830, for which he was exiled. Radbert defended his beloved abbot, known to monks as Arsenius, accusations infidelity an 'epitaph' (funeral oration), composed two-book conversation between himself and other Corbie. Whereas restrained first book Radbert's Epitaphium Arsenii was written not long after Wala's death 836, polemical second added some twenty years later. This outspoken sequel covers early 830s, yet it mostly addresses political issues 850s, well Radbert's personal predicament. In Epitaph Era, absorbing study this fascinating text, Mayke de Jong examines context the Epitaphium's two books, the use hindsight rhetorical strategy, articulation notions public good mid-ninth century.