Vita Hludovici or Vita Hludovici Imperatoris (The Life of Louis or the Life of the Emperor Louis) is an anonymous biography of Louis the Pious, Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Franks from AD 814 to 840.
The work was written in Latin in or soon after AD 840 by an anonymous author who is conventionally called Astronomus, the Astronomer or sometimes the Limousin Astronomer. This is due to his many detailed comments on astronomical matters in the work upon which he describes himself as "one credited with having knowledge of this subject."[1] He held office at the court of Louis the Pious, and his cultural and religious references suggest that he was not a churchman.[2] It has been conjectured, based on evidence within the text, that the author was born around AD 800 and that his nationality was not Gothic or Frankish.[3]
The author's attitude to his subject is clearly subordinate and one of admiration, yet he does not idealise Louis in the same way as, for example, Einhard does in his Life of Charlemagne. It has been suggested that the author exhibits a degree of disapproval towards clerics and the workings of the Frankish Church, lending weight to the view that he was not formally connected to the Church.[4] Nevertheless, the most popular recent ideas (see below) do identify him as a cleric.
Identification
Denier of Louis (20mm, 1.65 g, 1h). Uncertain mint. Struck 822-840 AD. Obverse: HLVDOVVICVS IMP, cross; pellet in each quarter. Reverse: XPISTIANA RELIGIO, temple; cross within.
Various attempts have been made to identify the author with a particular individual. In 1729, Von Eckhart thought he was a notary attached to Louis' court between 816 and 839. Von Simson in 1909 attempted to identify him as Archdeacon Gerolt, a cleric at court.[5] Max Buchner, the author of one of the most influential modern studies of the Astronomer's work in 1940, identified him as Hilduin, the chancellor of Pippin II of Aquitaine and Charles the Bald.[6]
Ernst Tremp supports this view in his important 1995 study, although Buchner and Tremp differ by about a decade in their dating of the work.[6]
Tischler has most recently tried to make a case that the Astronomer was Jonas of Orleans but the Hilduin theory remains more popular amongst historians.[7] Recently, Courtney Booker suggested Walafrid Strabo was the Astronomer.[8]
^Yitzak Hen and Matthew Innes, ed. (2000). The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-63998-0.
^ abGanz, David (1997). "Review: Ernst Tremp "Thegan, Die Taten Kaiser Ludwigs (Gesta Hludowici imeratoris). Astronomus, Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs (Vita Hludowici imperatoris) "". Francia. 24 (1): 208. from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
^Ganz, David (2003). "Review: M. Tischler "Einharts 'Vita Karoli'. Studien zur Entstehung"". Francia. 30 (1): 314. from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
Tischler, M. (2001). Einharts Vita Karoli. Studien zur Entstehung, Überlieferung und Rezeption (in German). Hanover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung. ISBN978-3-7752-5448-9.
Tremp, Ernst (1995). Thegan, Die Taten Kaiser Ludwigs/Astronomus, Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs (in German). Hannover: Hahnsche Buchhandlung. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
External links
Full text in Latin from Tremp's 1995 edition.
on the siege of Barcelona from P.D. King's 1989 edition.
December 29, 2022
vita, hludovici, confused, with, gesta, hludowici, imperatoris, imperatoris, life, louis, life, emperor, louis, anonymous, biography, louis, pious, holy, roman, emperor, king, franks, from, charlemagne, crowns, louis, pious, contents, author, identification, a. Not to be confused with Gesta Hludowici imperatoris Vita Hludovici or Vita Hludovici Imperatoris The Life of Louis or the Life of the Emperor Louis is an anonymous biography of Louis the Pious Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Franks from AD 814 to 840 Charlemagne crowns Louis the Pious Contents 1 Author 1 1 Identification 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksAuthor EditThe work was written in Latin in or soon after AD 840 by an anonymous author who is conventionally called Astronomus the Astronomer or sometimes the Limousin Astronomer This is due to his many detailed comments on astronomical matters in the work upon which he describes himself as one credited with having knowledge of this subject 1 He held office at the court of Louis the Pious and his cultural and religious references suggest that he was not a churchman 2 It has been conjectured based on evidence within the text that the author was born around AD 800 and that his nationality was not Gothic or Frankish 3 The author s attitude to his subject is clearly subordinate and one of admiration yet he does not idealise Louis in the same way as for example Einhard does in his Life of Charlemagne It has been suggested that the author exhibits a degree of disapproval towards clerics and the workings of the Frankish Church lending weight to the view that he was not formally connected to the Church 4 Nevertheless the most popular recent ideas see below do identify him as a cleric Identification Edit Denier of Louis 20mm 1 65 g 1h Uncertain mint Struck 822 840 AD Obverse HLVDOVVICVS IMP cross pellet in each quarter Reverse XPISTIANA RELIGIO temple cross within Various attempts have been made to identify the author with a particular individual In 1729 Von Eckhart thought he was a notary attached to Louis court between 816 and 839 Von Simson in 1909 attempted to identify him as Archdeacon Gerolt a cleric at court 5 Max Buchner the author of one of the most influential modern studies of the Astronomer s work in 1940 identified him as Hilduin the chancellor of Pippin II of Aquitaine and Charles the Bald 6 Ernst Tremp supports this view in his important 1995 study although Buchner and Tremp differ by about a decade in their dating of the work 6 Tischler has most recently tried to make a case that the Astronomer was Jonas of Orleans but the Hilduin theory remains more popular amongst historians 7 Recently Courtney Booker suggested Walafrid Strabo was the Astronomer 8 See also EditGesta Hludowici Imperatoris by Thegan of TrierReferences Edit The Astronomer Vita Hludovici p 58 1 The Astronomer Vita Hludovici pp Prologue 1 Cabaniss 1961 pp 1 2 Cabaniss 1961 p 4 Yitzak Hen and Matthew Innes ed 2000 The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 63998 0 a b Ganz David 1997 Review Ernst Tremp Thegan Die Taten Kaiser Ludwigs Gesta Hludowici imeratoris Astronomus Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs Vita Hludowici imperatoris Francia 24 1 208 Archived from the original on 2015 05 12 Retrieved 2009 03 27 Ganz David 2003 Review M Tischler Einharts Vita Karoli Studien zur Entstehung Francia 30 1 314 Archived from the original on 2015 05 12 Retrieved 2009 03 27 Booker C 2009 Past Convictions The Penance of Louis the Pious and the Decline of the Carolingians Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press p 293 n 129 ISBN 978 0 8122 4168 6 Bibliography EditBuchner Max 1940 Entstehungszeit und Verfasser der Vita Hludowici des Astronomus Historisches Jahrbuch in German 60 14 45 Cabaniss A 1961 Son of Charlemagne A Contemporary Life of Louis the Pious Syracuse Syracuse University Press ISBN 978 0 8156 2031 0 King P D 1987 Charlemagne Translated Sources Kendal P D King ISBN 978 0 9511503 0 6 Tischler M 2001 Einharts Vita Karoli Studien zur Entstehung Uberlieferung und Rezeption in German Hanover Hahnsche Buchhandlung ISBN 978 3 7752 5448 9 Tremp Ernst 1995 Thegan Die Taten Kaiser Ludwigs Astronomus Das Leben Kaiser Ludwigs in German Hannover Hahnsche Buchhandlung Retrieved 2009 03 26 External links EditFull text in Latin from Tremp s 1995 edition Selected text in English on the siege of Barcelona from P D King s 1989 edition Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vita Hludovici amp oldid 1113716468, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
