The Athelstan Gift Story: Its Influence on English Chronicles and Carolingian Romances
Laura Hibbard Loomis
To saints and their relics in the Middle Ages great men did reverence. The mighty Charlemagne zealously collected distributed of Christ saints; so, too, noble King Athelstan England, who was, to his own contemporaries, something “an English Charlemagne.” Certain tales relating these two famous rulers holy acquired by them, are full interest themselves relationship, at special stages, stories each other. Continental Carolingian narratives—the Pèlerinage de , Descriptio qualiter Karolus Magnus clavum et coronam Domini a Constantino poli Aquis Grani detulerit Fierabras tell how Charlemagne, either on fabulous journey East, or warfare Spain, got hoard precious which included some from Crucifixion but never, oldest versions stories, any part Passion Lance. An ancient story, origin, tells received, as gift France, likewise relics. Among gifts was Lance said have belonged Charlemagne; there also vexillum St. Mauricius. For named above is no extant text that antedates latter half twelfth century, conjectured source eleventh century. Gift Story, we shall call it, first set forth an Anglo-Latin poem eulogizing king (d. 939). This panegyric quoted summarized William Malmesbury (1125) now accepted, though it long ignored, authentic tenth century source. It may been this almost unknown inspired Chanson Roland earliest Anglo-Norman copy known Oxford four concepts connected with Charlemagne's reported possession bit Our concern here, however, not Latin poem, version its Story Malmesbury. he gave new life, currency; influence can be traced various chronicles certain romances. throws light development relationships. Strangely enough, sources analogues idea had once possessed took root flourished.
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