Charlemagne and Rome
Joanna Story
Abstract This book is a wide-ranging exploration of cultural politics in the age Charlemagne. It focuses on remarkable inscription commemorating Pope Hadrian I who died Rome at Christmas 795. Commissioned by Charlemagne, composed Alcuin York, and cut from black stone quarried close to king’s new capital Aachen heart Frankish kingdom, it was carried set over tomb pope south transept St Peter’s basilica not long before Charlemagne’s imperial coronation Day 800. A masterpiece Carolingian art, Hadrian’s epitaph also manifesto empire demanding perpetual commemoration for king amid cult. In script, stone, verse, proclaimed mastery art power written word claimed inheritance papal Rome, recast contemporary, early medieval audience. treasured through time one only few decorative objects translated late antique into structure, construction which dominated defined modern Renaissance. Understood then as precious evidence antiquity affection papacy, preserved old destroyed carefully redisplayed portico church, where can be seen today.
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