Einhard and Charlemagne's Palace School: A Mechanism for Wealth, Prestige, Power and Success

Einhard was a courtier in Charlemagne's Frankish Kingdom. During Charlemagne's rule/life (768-824), he dedicated a vast amount of time and energy into supporting the notions of classical learning. He went so far as to start a school comprised of many scholars within his palace. Their role was to educate the nobility, the priesthood and the people, as well as hold counsel with the king. This is where Einhard and Charlemagne first encountered each other. Einhard was a small but intelligent man who came to prominence in the PiousCharlemagne's and Charlemagne's son's kingdom. It is often asked how such a small man came to be the heart of the kingdom, and how the court school and the opportunities it provided influenced his success. During the late 8th and early 9th century, Charlemagne came to power. He expanded the kingdom and conceived many reforms during his reign.

Charlemagne ruled the Frankish Kingdom from 768-814. He was one of Pepin the thirds two sons. Charlemagne's brother, Carolman died in 771, and Charlemagne became the sole ruler of the Franks. Almost as soon as Charlemagne assumed the throne he commenced a series of campaigns. From 772-804 Charlemagne was at war with Saxony, from 773-774 Charlemagne was also at war with the Lombards in Italy. In 778, Charlemagne was invited into Northern Italy to extend Christian influence. In 787 Charlemagne invaded and seized Bavaria. Finally, from 788-797, Charlemagne launched a campaign against the tribal horsemen, the Avars. In 789, Charlemagne issued "The General Admonition", the concept of the document was that moral reform requires education. At this time, Charlemagne created the palace school at his court, scholars were brought to this school to reform the Frankish priests and people. Various other reforms took place during this time, such as the new form of writing, Carolingian Minuscule, and the writing down of law codes. On December 25, 800, Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo the third in the St. Peter's cathedral in Rome. Charlemagne died in 814, and was succeeded by his only remaining son, Louis the Pious.

Louis the Pious reigned as Holy Roman Emperor from 814-840. When he assumed the throne he quickly replaced administers within the palace. Louis the Pious had three sons; Lothar, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German. Near the beginning of his reign, Louis already faced conflict. In 818, Louis quashed a rebellion orchestrated by his cousin, Count Bernard of Aquitaine . Louis planned to pass the Kingdom to his eldest son, Lothar, this caused conflict between family members, and from 829 onwards Charles the Bald, and Louis the German were constantly at odds with Louis the Pious and Lothar. Louis died in 840, and the Kingdom passed to his eldest son Lothar.

Lothar ruled the entirety of the Kingdom from 840-843. There was constant civil war between him and his brothers. In 843 the "Partition of Verdum" was issued to end the civil war. It divided the kingdom between the three sons of Louis the Pious. The west portion of the Frankish kingdom was given to Charles the Bald (843-877), the middle portion of the kingdom remained in Lothar's (840-855) power, and the east portion of the kingdom was given to Louis the German (843-876). Einhard lived throughout the reign of Charlemagne and Louis the Pious, as well as throughout the turmoil caused by Charles the Bald and Louis the German.

It is believed that Einhard was born in 770. He was born into a noble family. His father Einhard, and his mother Engilfrit owned property in eastern Francia near the Main River. At a young age, Einhard was sent by his parents to the monastery of Fulda to be educated. Einhard first appeared at the court of Charlemagne sometime during 791-792. By the mid-790's he had risen to the position of Chief Enable of the Rising Building. In 806, Einhard carried the partition, "Division of the Kingdom" to Pope Leo the third on the behalf of Charlemagne. Similarly, in 813, during the Diet of Aachen, on behalf of particular noble interests, Einhard publicly acclaimed the status of Louis the Pious as co-imperial. In 815, Louis the Pious (now Holy Roman Emperor) granted Einhard and his wife Emma the properties of Michelstadt and Seligenstadt. Five years later, during the 820's, Einhard began to separate himself from the court. It is believed that he acquired the remains of the holy martyrs at some point during the 820's. Also, between 825-826 Einhard's work, Life of Charlemagne is speculated to have been written . In 827, the church of Michelstadt (a construction project that Einhard directed and financed) was consecrated. By 830, Einhard had fallen seriously ill, preventing him from attending court; coincidentally, at this time, a rebellion was occurring in the kingdom. Einhard fell ill once more from 833-834, yet again a political crisis was occurring within the kingdom and Louis was overthrown for a time by his sons. In 836, Einhard's wife Emma died. Four years later, on March 14th, 840, Einhard died. His remains were buried at his church in Seligenstadt.

Einhard was a Frank. It was a Germanic Tribal custom for men to become warriors. Einhard was a particularly short man, it is often speculated that he stood not more than five feet. It is most likely that Einhard entered into scholarly studies because his short stature prevented him from becoming an adequate warrior, as most Germanic men would become. Einhard was a product of classical education. He studied a varying amount of topics, from Latin and Bible studies, to Art and Architecture. Einhard was educated at the monastery of Fulda and commenced his career at the court school in Charlemagne's palace.

It is not certain at what age Einhard became a scholar at the monastery of Fulda. Here Einhard learned the foundations of knowledge that would influence him for the remainder of his life. Latin made Einhard literate, something that was rare and valued during the time in which he lived. The Bible cemented the already strong religious beliefs Einhard held. Classics created in Einhard a love of poetry, of art, and of architecture, all areas in which Einhard would excel. During his time at Fulda, Einhard wrote six charters . By the time he was twenty, Einhard was recommended by the abbot of Fulda, Baugulf, to attend the court school at Charlemagne's palace .

Charlemagne's palace school was a collection of scholars within hisin court. Einhard arrived at the school in the '790's, and gradually rose to a role of prominence. Many historical records portray Einhard as a busy administrator within the palace. In A Poem for Charlemagne on the Court, by Theodulf (a fellow courtier), Einhard is described as running too and for, as being always in motion,