Paul the Deacon’s Liber de episcopis Mettensibus and the role of Metz in the Carolingian realm
Damien Kempf
Circa 784, the Lombard Paul Deacon wrote a history of bishopric Metz, commonly known as Liber de episcopis Mettensibus, at request Angilram, bishop whom Charlemagne had newly appointed head royal chapel. As has often been observed, differs in significant ways from other episcopal gesta: does not seem interested recounting comprehensive bishopric; rather, he lingers primarily on four bishops, to each dedicates full entry. This article proposes new reading and examines how combination interrelated entries, by making Metz birthplace Carolingian family asserting important contributions Austrasian city reform Frankish church, enhances central role within Charlemagne’s realm.
Journal of Medieval History