Charlemagne’s Legacy and Anglo-Norman Imperium in Henry of Huntingdon’s Historia Anglorum
Wendy Marie Hoofnagle
To say that the imperial figure of Charlemagne loomed large in consciousness post-Carolingian peoples on both sides Channel risks stating obvious. In centuries after his death, persona took a foundational value is difficult to surpass, and many studies have shown lasting impact Carolingian policy reform tenth- eleventh-century art, government, religion.1 There remains, however, gap our understanding multifaceted inheritance legendary culture policies twelfth century, especially among Anglo-Normans, for whom practices were an ideal, civilized approach practical world governing disparate peoples, notion reinforced by their as Norman dukes before Conquest. The legend epitome kingship, politically morally, reflected examples from vast corpus literature, including law codes histories, which Anglo-Normans produced century. It interpretation this context viae regiae (the royal roads) merits attention because its unique evolution political model, symbol Charlemagne’s sacral tangible manifestation Anglo-Norman imperium throughout British Isles. Consequently, goals ideals dominion, represented physically roads, are legitimized echoing leadership unifier, lawgiver, peacemaker.
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