Two Reforms of Charlemagne? Weights and Measures in the Middle Ages
Harry A. Miskimin
W l rITHIN a few generations of the death Charlemagne organizational and political structure his 'empire was destroyed. The geographical ties which had held together empire, always patchwork conquests, were dissolved in fratricidal struggles among successors great Charles. His era relative peace, intellectual consolidation, economic prosperity, however modest, remained for centuries memory better times, golden age, to European populations constantly harassed by Saracen, Norman, Hungarian invaders. Hard however, could not eradicate those features Carolingian empire whose preservation assured their utility. court hand, minuscule, survived manuscripts scriptoria centuries; system weights measures decreed influence standards even into modern times. What metrological reforms introduced Europe ? There is at present no consensus historians regarding this, one two most lasting vestiges empire. We know that monetary account pound fixed 20 shillings 240 pence; we weight divided i2 ounces; also often measured so 2o equalled an ounce pence. Such archetypal numerical relationships are clear proper sphere useful, but unfortunately they do reveal basic unit divisions themselves apply, without knowledge these weights, history mute, condemned statistical silence. It purpose this paper attempt provide new method solving problem, first I must apologize reader inflicting upon him highly abstract perhaps, tedious argument, offering nothing more than importance subject as my excuse. In interest clarity, precis argument may be helpful: documentation will presented subsequently. First, shall make investigation numismatic frequency tables coin determine range possible pound, given evidence surviving coins. Secondly, on bases historical convenience, logic, internal consistency, postulate grain, smallest subdivision once same France, Flanders, England, subsequently altered. Then, employing slight variant English grain weight, content heavy Flemish gold mark' rendered grams; produces
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