HISTORY, POLITICS AND THE END OF THE EMPIRE IN NOTKER'S <i>DEEDS OF CHARLEMAGNE</i>
Simon MacLean
The events of the mid to late 880s were, as we have seen, crucial for understanding nature crisis Charles Fat's reign in particular and Carolingian political hegemony more generally. In order find some further reflection how contemporaries, members imperial court, understood these events, at our disposal a text which stands among major historical works whole period, namely Deeds Charlemagne (Gesta Karoli – title is not contemporary) by Notker Stammerer, monk St-Gall. Earlier generations historians looked unfavourably upon Notker's anecdotal, humorous, moralising and, positivist standards, historically inaccurate approach, dismissing it laughably gauche imitation stately biographies penned Einhard, Thegan Astronomer. Louis Halphen summed up this evaluation when he colourfully pronounced that was useful source Dumas's Three Musketeers XIII. Recent commentators been sympathetic, coming from different angles. particular, David Ganz has shown very mangling sources saw most reprehensible aspect fact its central structural element.
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