Final
submission
of the North .
Cambridge Medieval History - v3 - Germany and the Western Empire
PAGE
viii
CHAPTER I.
LOUIS THE PIOUS.
OOT HA CON
3
4
5
6
.
By RéNÉ POUPARDIN, Professor in the Ecole pratique des
hautes études of Paris.
Accession of Louis the Pious
First measures
Division of territory
Empire and Papacy
Constitutio Romana
Neighbours of the Empire
Eastern frontiers
The Saracens
The Bretons
Divisio Imperii
Revolt of Bernard of Italy
Penance of Attigny
Judith
Family disunion ; Pepin's revolt
Disloyalty of Lothar
Revolt of Louis the German
Provisions for Charles the Bald
The Field of Lies .
Restoration of Louis the Pious
Submission of Lothar
Death of Pepin of Aquitaine
Death of Louis the Pious
8
ib.
9
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
CHAPTER II.
23
THE CAROLINGIAN KINGDOMS (840–877).
By Professor Réné POUPARDIN.
Accession of Lothar
Battle of Fontenoy
Oath of Strasbourg
Treaty of Verdun .
The Empire breaking up
The System of Concord
Conflicts and invasions
24
25
26
28
30
31
## p. xxiv (#30) ############################################
xxiv
Contents
PAGE
32
ib.
34
.
35
36
38
40
41
42
44
阳办旺的昭昭如H归
Weakness of the Concord
Affairs of Aquitaine and Brittany
Death of the Emperor Lothar
Growing disorder in the Western Kingdom
Fraternal quarrels
The divorce of Lothar II
Charles the Bald and his ambitions
Death of Charles of Provence
Triumph of Pope Nicholas I .
Death of Lothar II
Contest for Lorraine
Partition of Meersen
Reign of the Emperor Louis II in Italy
:
Italian vassals
The Saracens sack St Peter's .
Pope John VIII
Imperial coronation of Charles the Bald
Death of Louis the German
Assembly of Quierzy
Death of Charles the Bald
45
.
ib.
46
47
49
50
51
ib.
53
54
CHAPTER III.
THE CAROLINGIAN KINGDOMS (877—918).
By Professor RÉNÉ POUPARDIN.
.
Louis the Stammerer King of the West-Franks
Boso King of Provence .
Charles the Fat in Rome
The Northmen
Union under Charles the Fat
Siege of Paris
Deposition of Charles the Fat
Final division of the Empire .
Arnulf .
Italian rivals.
The Formosan troubles at Rome
Death of Arnulf
Death of Louis the Child
Conrad I of Germany; the great Duchies
55
57
58
59
ib.
61
62
ib,
64
ib
66
68
69
ib.
.
## p. xxv (#31) #############################################
Contents
XXV
CHAPTER IV.
FRANCE, THE LAST CAROLINGIANS AND THE ACCESSION
OF HUGH CAPET (888—987).
By Louis HALPHEN, Professor in the University of Bordeaux.
PAGE
71
៩៨៨៩ ៨៩៨
.
80
81
Accession of Odo.
Carolingian Restoration
Charles the Simple in Lorraine
Raoul's usurpation
Hugh the Great
Louis d'Outremer .
Feudal rebellions .
Death of Louis d'Outremer
Lothair and Otto II
The last Carolingian
Theories of kingship
Hugh Capet.
The king defends order and liberty
Royal impotence against the Northmen
Royal impotence against the Hungarians
The provinces provide their own defence
Rise of the great duchies
The March of Spain and Gothia
The Duchy of Aquitaine
Neustria and Flanders
The Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Normandy
Break-up of the duchies
Neustria.
Burgundy
Disintegration
Influence of the bishops
.
ib.
82
85
ib.
87
88
89
90
91
ib.
93
94
95
ib.
96
97
ib.
CHAPTER V.
FRANCÉ IN THE ELEVENTH CENTURY.
By Professor Louis HALPHEN.
Accession of Hugh Capet
Elimination of the Carolingians
Struggle with the Papacy
Weakness of the Capetian monarchy
Death of Hugh Capet
Consolidation of the dynasty .
Energetic policy of Robert the Pious
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
.
C. MED. HIST. VOL. III
c
## p. xxvi (#32) ############################################
xxvi
Contents
Crisis at the death of Robert the Pious .
Growing independence of vassals
Growth of Anjou
Philip I
Philip and Normandy
Church policy of Philip
Philip's last years .
Precarious position of the first Capetians
Moral preponderance of the monarchy
Feudal disintegration in Anjou
Feudal anarchy in Normandy
The great fiefs: Flanders
Champagne and Blois
Burgundy
Anjou
A type of the great baron
Normandy
Brittany.
Aquitaine and Gascony
Languedoc
Moral preponderance of the higher clergy
Fulbert of Chartres
Ivo of Chartres
PAGE
107
108
ib.
110
111
113
114
115
116
118
120
121
123
ib.
125
o
ib.
127
128
ib.
130
131
ib.
132
CHAPTER VI.
THE KINGDOM OF BURGUNDY.
By Professor Louis HALPHEN.
A. THE KINGDOM OF BURGUNDY DOWN TO THE ANNEXATION OF THE
KINGDOM OF PROVENCE.
Rodolph I
Rodolph II
134
135
B. THE KINGDOM OF PROVENCE DOWN TO ITS ANNEXATION TO THE
KINGDOM OF BURGUNDY.
Boso of Provence .
Louis the Blind
Union of Provence with Burgundy
137
138
139
.
C. THE KINGDOM OF BURGUNDY AND ITS ANNEXATION TO THE EMPIRE.
The German Protectorate
140
The Count Otto-William
141
German intervention
142
The succession to Rodolph III
143
The rival claimants
ib.
Success of the Emperor Conrad II
145
Independence of great vassals
146
Later history
147
## p. xxvii (#33) ###########################################
Contents
xxvii
CHAPTER VII.
ITALY IN THE TENTH CENTURY.
By C. W. Previté-Orton, M. A. , Librarian and sometime
Fellow of St John's College.
PAGE
Hungarian victory at the Brenta
148
Berengar I and Louis III
149
South Italy and the Saracens
ib.
Victory of the Garigliano
151
Anarchy of North Italy
152
Rodolph II and Hugh of Provence
ib.
Alberic of Rome
154
Hugh's alliance with Byzantium
155
Relations with Burgundy and Germany
156
Fall of King Hugh
157
Berengar II .
158
First invasion of Otto the Great
159
The chronicler Liudprand
160
Pope John XII
161
Otto's second invasion
ib.
His imperial coronation
162
Subjugation of Rome and the Papacy
163
The Romano-Germanic Empire
164
The government of Italy
165
Otto's attempt to annex South Italy
166
Significance of Otto's reign
167
Otto II's failure in South Italy
168
Growth and danger of Venice
170
Rome and Italy during Otto III's minority
ib.
Otto III reduces Rome.
172
Schemes of Otto III
173
Social changes and troubles
174
Revolt of Ardoin of Ivrea
175
Revolt of the Romans
176
Death of Otto IIJ .
177
Revival and permanent division of Italy
ib.
.
.
.
CHAPTER VIII.
GERMANY: HENRY I AND OTTO THE GREAT.
By Austin LANE POOLE, M. A. , Fellow of St John's College, Oxford ;
Late Lecturer at Selwyn College, Cambridge.
Election of Henry I
179
Submission of Swabia and Bavaria .
180
Conquest of Lorraine
181
Hungarian invasion of Saxony
182
Defensive measures
183
Campaigns against the Wends
184
c2
## p. xxviii (#34) ##########################################
xxviii
Contents
.
O
Defeat of the Hungarians
Death of Henry I.
Coronation of Otto the Great
Bavarian revolt; risings in Franconia and Saxony.
The Rebellion of the Dukes in 939
Changes in the administration of the Duchies
War on the eastern frontier .
Otto's intervention in French affairs
Situation in Italy in 950
Liudolf's disaffection and rebellion
Hungarian invasion
Defeat of the Hungarians in the Lechfeld
Peace restored in Germany
Otto the Great as Emperor
Spread of Christianity in the North
Death of Otto the Great
PAGE
185
186
187
188
189
191
ib.
192
194
195
198
199
200
201
202
203
.
CHAPTER IX.
GERMANY: OTTO II AND OTTO III.
By Austin LANE POOLE, M. A.
Accession of Otto II
Bavarian revolts
The War of the Three Henries
Otto II and Lorraine
Revolt of the Slavs
Accession of Otto III
The Regency
War on the eastern frontier
Ambitions of Otto III
His failure and death
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
214
CHAPTER X.
THE EMPEROR HENRY II.
By Edwin H. HOLTHOUSE, M. A. , late of Trinity College, Cambridge.
Rival candidates
215
Recognition of Henry II
217
His earlier life and character
218
Revolt of Lombardy
220
Boleslav of Poland
222
Bohemia; the Babenbergs
223
Henry's first expedition to Italy
224
Recovery of Bohemia
225
Polish hostilities
226
## p. xxix (#35) ############################################
Contents
xxix
.
.
.
O
Troubles on the West
Loss of Lausitz
Crystallisation of fiefs
Lessening resources of the Crown .
The Church as an instrument of order
The Bishops.
Protectorship of the Church
Reform of monasteries.
Foundation of the see of Bamberg .
War with the Luxemourgers
Fresh war with Poland .
Civil wars in Lombardy
Henry's second expedition to Italy
His coronation as Emperor
Pacification of Lombardy
Peace with Poland
Expedition to Burgundy
Turmoil in Lorraine
Wendish and Saxon troubles.
Benedict VIII in Germany
Henry's third expedition to Italy
Death of Henry
PAGE
227
228
229
230
231
232
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
243
246
247
248
ib.
249
250
251
252
CHAPTER XI.
THE EMPEROR CONRAD II.
By Austin LANE POOLE, M. A.
.
Choice of Conrad II
His formal election and coronation
The royal progress
The Burgundian question
Rebellion of Duke Ernest
Acquisition of Burgundy
The Eastern Frontier
Italy under Conrad II
Imperial coronation
The feudal edict of 1037
Proceedings against Archbishop Aribert
Affairs of South Italy
Conrad's death
Hereditary fiefs
Relations with the Church
253
254
255
256
257
258
260
263
264
266
267
268
269
270
271
## p. xxx (#36) #############################################
XXX
Contents
CHAPTER XII.
THE EMPEROR HENRY III.
By CAROLINE M. RYLEY, Newnham College, Cambridge.
PAGE
Henry III's parents
272
His boyhood.
273
His accession
275
The royal progress
ib.
Defeat in Bohemia
277
Submission of Bohemia .
278
Burgundy
279
Hungary
280
The Day of Indulgence.
281
Peace and Truce of God
282
Empress Agnes of Poitou
283
Godfrey of Lorraine
284
Submission of Hungary.
285
Rebellion of Godfrey of Lorraine
286
Otto of Swabia
287
Germany at peace.
288
Attempt at settlement in the West
289
Adalbert of Bremen
290
Henry, Emperor and Patrician
291
Germany and France
292
Fresh troubles in Lorraine
294
Birth of Henry IV
295
Hungary; Bavaria
296
Bremen and the North .
ib.
Death of Leo IX
298
End of the reign
299
Břatislav of Bohemia
ib.
Casimir of Poland.
302
Kings of Hungary
303
The Wends
304
Duke Godescalc
305
Henry's aims
306
CHAPTER XIII.
THE VIKINGS.
By Allen Mawer, M. A. , Baines Professor of English Language and
Philology at the University of Liverpool ; late Fellow of
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
Early Scandinavia.
309
Causes of Viking activity
310
Early raids on England and Ireland
311
The Danish kingdom
312
Preaching of Christianity
313
St Anskar
314
Viking raids on Frankish territory
315
Olaf the White
317
## p. xxxi (#37) ############################################
Contents
xxxi
.
Ragnarr Loðbrók .
Settlement of the Danelaw
The Vikings in France, Spain, Italy and England .
The Siege of Paris
Founding of Normandy
Scandinavian kings in Northumbria
The Battles of Clontarf and Maldon
King Svein and King Knut
The Orkneys, Shetlands, Western Islands, and Man
The Jómsvikings
The Swedes in Russia
Viking civilisation
Christianity and heathendom .
Ideals of life and material civilisation
Ships
Trade and Social organisation
Influence in Ireland
Influence in Scotland, Man, and the Isles
Influence in Northumbria and the Five Boroughs
Influence in East Anglia
Law and Society
The Northmen in Europe generally
PAGE
318
ib,
319
321
322
323
324
325
ib.
326
327
328
329
330
332
ib.
334
ib.
336
337
ib.
338
.
CHAPTER XIV.
.
THE FOUNDATION OF THE KINGDOM OF ENGLAND.
By William John CORBETT, M. A. , Fellow and Bursar of
King's College, Cambridge.
Death of Offa. Beorhtric of Wessex
340
Anarchy in Northumbria. Coenwulf of Mercia
341
Wales in the eighth century. Nennius.
ib.
Coenwulf and Archbishop Wulfred. Beornwulf
343
Ecgbert of Wessex. Conquest of Cornwall
344
Battle of Ellandun. Ecgbert conquers Kent.
345
Ecgbert overthrows Mercia. Wiglaf restored
346
Ecgbert and the Danes. Accession of Aethelwulf .
347
Character of the struggle with the Vikings
348
Aethelwulf's Donation. The Danes winter in England .
349
Wales under Rhodri. Scotland under Kenneth
ib,
Ingwar conquers Northumbria and East Anglia
350
Halfdene attacks Wessex. Accession of Alfred
352
Collapse of Mercia
353
Danes settle in Northumbria and the Five Boroughs
354
Guthrum renews the attack on Wessex.
355
Battle of Edington. West Mercia submits to Alfred
356
Alfred's reforms. The Boroughs of Wessex
357
Alfred's laws and literary activity.
358
Alfred and Guthrum's Peace. Hasting's raids
359
Death of Alfred. Edward the Elder
360
Edward attacks the Danelaw.
361
Edward's reforms. Battle of Tettenhall
362
Aethelfleda, the Lady of the Mercians
363
## p. xxxii (#38) ###########################################
Xxxii
Contents
East Anglia and East Mercia submit to Edward
Edward and the Danes of Yorkshire
Reign of Aethelstan. Battle of Brunanburh .
Aethelstan organises the midland shires -
Reign of Edmund. Archbishop Oda
Reorganisation of the dukedoms. The shire-reeves
Reign of Eadred.
Final submission of the North .
PAGE
364
365
366
ib.
368
369
370
CHAPTER XV.
ENGLAND FROM a. ), 954 TO THE DEATH OF
EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.
371
372
ib.
375
ib.
376
377
378
379
380
382
ib.
384
By WILLIAM JOHN CORBETT, M. A.
Death of Eadred and accession of Eadwig
Accession of Edgar
Monastic Reform
Oswald's Land Loans
Drift towards feudalism
Edgar's administrative measures
Rise of ecclesiastical franchises
Reign of Edward the Martyr.
Minority of Aethelred the Unready
Renewal of Scandinavian invasions
The Massacre of St Brice's Day
Svein of Denmark.
Restoration of Aethelred
Edmund Ironside .
Accession of Knut
His domestic policy
His foreign policy
Harold Harefoot
Harthacnut.
Accession of Edward the Confessor
Edward's character
Predominance of Godwin of Wessex
Edward's foreign advisers
Exile of Godwin .
Return of Godwin.
Flight of the foreigners
Death of Godwin.
War with Scotland
Rivalry of Harold and Aelfgar
The succession problem
War with the Welsh
Captivity of Harold
Northumbrian revolt. Fall of Tostig
Death of Edward the Confessor
Economic conditions under Edward
Contrast between East and West.
The Rectitudines Singularum Personarum
The Tidenham evidence
The growth of seignorial courts; sake and soke
St Edmund's Liberty
ib.
386
ib.
387
389
ib.
390
ib.
391
392
393
394
ib.
395
ib.
396
397
ib.
398
ib.
399
ib.
400
401
404
405
408
## p. xxxiii (#39) ##########################################
Contents
xxxiii
.
.
.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE WESTERN CALIPHATE.
By Dr RAFAEL ALTAMIRA, late Director-General of Primary Instruction
(Ministry of Public Instruction); Professor of American Institutions
in the University of Madrid; Senator.
PAGE
Asturias and Navarre
409
‘Abd-ar-Raḥmān I
411
The Umayyad Emirate .
412
Muslim factions
414
'Abd-ar-Raḥmān JI
415
Christians and Muslims .
416
Mahomet I
417
Muslim civil wars
418
'Abd-ar-Raḥmān III
420
The Caliphate of Cordova
421
Rise of Castile
422
Almanzor
424
Fall of the Caliphate
427
The Christian kingdoms
428
Muslim Spain
(1) races and classes
428
(2) administration and justice
429
(3) army and religion
431
(4) wealth and industry :
432
(5) language and education
433
(6) literature and science
434
(7) books and libraries
435
(8) the Arts.
436
Contact of civilisations
437
The Mozarabs
438
Government and classes in Leon and Castile .
ib.
Aragon and Navarre, Catalonia
441
.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE CHURCH FROM CHARLEMAGNE TO SYLVESTER II.
By Professor Louis HALPHEN.
Louis the Pious and the Bishops
443
Aims of the Episcopate .
445
Hincmar in the State
447
The Forged Decretals
448
Pope Nicholas I
449
Divorce of Lothar II
ib.
Photius
450
Pope, King, and Prelate
451
Decline of the Papacy
453
Ecclesiastical anarchy
455
Legend of the year 1000 A. D.
456
Cluny and reform.
ib.
The Peace of God.
457
.
.
## p. xxxiv (#40) ###########################################
xxxiv
Contents
CHAPTER XVIII.
FEUDALISM.
By Sir PAUL VINOGRADOFF, Hon. LL. D. , F. B. A. , Corpus Professor
of Jurisprudence in the University of Oxford.
PAGE
The feudal contract
458
Feudal reciprocity
460
Duties of vassals
461
Ministeriales; dominium
462
Subinfeudation; reliefs .
463
The feudal nexus in politics
464
Private war and its remedies .
465
Growth of franchises and immunities
466
Ecclesiastical advocates .
467
Counsel and aid
468
Fendal Courts
469
Appeal of judgment
470
Feudal legislation.
ib.
The manor
472
The village community
473
Common fields
474
The demesne
475
Week work and boonwork
476
The villeins
477
Freeholders
479
Officers of the lord
481
Local administration
482
Survey of Europe .
483
Precedence of England .
484
.
CHAPTER XIX.
LEARNING AND LITERATURE TILL THE DEATH OF BEDE.
By MONTAGUE RHODES JAMEs, Litt. D. , F. B. A. , Provost of Eton
College, late Provost of King's College, Cambridge.
Boethius
485
Cassiodorus
ib.
St Gregory the Great
487
Africa
488
Spain
489
Martin of Bracara.
ib.
Isidore of Seville
490
Julian of Toledo
493
St Valerius.
494
Venantius Fortunatus
495
.
.
## p. xxxv (#41) ############################################
Contents
XXXV
Gregory of Tours and the decay of Latin
Virgilius Maro Grammaticus .
Irish learning
Greek in Ireland
Adamnan
Early British learning
Theodore of Tarsus; Hadrian
Benedict Biscop
Bede
Wanderings of manuscripts
Virgilius of Salzburg
PAGE
495
497
501
502
507
508
510
ib.
511
512
ib.
.
CHAPTER XX.
LEARNING AND LITERATURE TILL POPE SYLVESTER II.
.
By MONTAGUE RHODES JAMEs, Litt. D. , F. B. A.
Destruction of English learning
Paul the Deacon
Alcuin.
The Carolingian minuscule
Einhard
Theodulf
Angilbert
Agobard; Raban Maur.
Monastic libraries .
Walafrid Strabo
Classical knowledge; Spain
John the Scot
Sedulius Scottus
Glossaries
The Irish circle; mythographers
Anastasius the Librarian
Gottschalk
Notker; School of St Gall
Ekkehard; Gesta Berengarii; Hrotsvitha
Theology; Libri Carolini
Radbert and Ratramn; Hagiography
History
Geography and science
Gerbert (Sylvester II)
Books in vernacular
Destruction of libraries .
514
ib.
515
517
ib.
518
519
520
521
ib.
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
ib.
537
538
## p. xxxvi (#42) ###########################################
xxxvi
Contents
CHAPTER XXI.
BYZANTINE AND ROMANESQUE ARTS.
By W. R. LETHABY, Professor of Design, Royal College of Art.
Early building
Domes :
Early churches
St Sophia
Other churches of the period
Italian Byzantesque
Early art in books; mosaics and paintings
Roman art and its influence .
The Barbaric element
The English crosses
Irish art
Beginnings of Romanesque
Sta Maria Antiqua
Romanesque among the Teutons
Architecture after Charlemagne
Beginnings of Gothic
Glass
Imagery and colour
Mosaics and painting
PAGE
539
540
542
544
546
548
549
551
554
555
556
ib.
558
559
560
564
565
566
567
.
.
.
## p. xxxvii (#43) ##########################################
xxxyii
LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIES.
CHAPS.
PAGES
Abbreviations
569_571
572-582
.
583—586
587-588
589_591
592-593
594603
604-606
607-608
609-611
General Bibliography for Volume III
I, II, III. Louis the Pious and the Carolingian Kingdoms
IV. France, the last Carolingians and the accession
of Hugh Capet .
V. France in the eleventh century
VI. The Kingdom of Burgundy
VII. Italy in the tenth century
VIII. Germany: Henry I and Otto the Great.
IX. Germany: Otto II and Otto III
X.
The Emperor Henry II.
XI. The Emperor Conrad II
XII. The Emperor Henry III
XIII. The Vikings
XIV, XV. England from a. d. 796 to the death of Edward
the Confessor
XVI. The Western Caliphate
XVII. The Church from Charlemagne to Sylvester II
XVIII. Feudalism
XIX, XX. Learning and Literature
XXI. Byzantine and Romanesque Arts
612-614
615–617
618-624
625-630
631-635
636-638
639—641
.
642643
644645
.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF LEADING EVENTS
646—650
INDEX
651–700
## p. xxxviii (#44) #########################################
Xxxviii
LIST OF MAPS.
VOLUME III.
(See separate portfolio. )
28 a. The Western Empire 843.
28 b. The Western Empire 870.
29. France in 987.
30. North-Western France in the eleventh century.
Inset: Environs of Paris.
31. Burgundy at the beginning of the eleventh century.
32. Italy at close of the tenth century.
Inset: Rome, approximate plan before A. D. 1084.
33. Germany in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
34. Eastern neighbours of Germany in the eleventh century.
35. The Vikings.
Inset: Ireland.
36. England circa A. D. 900.
37. Spain to illustrate the era of the Umayyads.
Inset: Spain at the death of Alfonso I.
## p. xxxix (#45) ###########################################
xxxix
CORRECTIONS IN MAPS
As the maps were partly executed before the war, some changes are required ;
these, with a few others, are given in the following list.
MAP 28 a. THE WESTERN EMPIRE 843
For Aachen read Aix-la-Chapelle
For Trier read Trèves
The shading of the dominions of Lothar should be extended over and be-
yond the Papal Lands so as to include the whole of the name ITALIA
MAP 28 B. THE WESTERN EMPIRE 870
For Aachen read Aix-la-Chapelle
For Trier read Trèves
MAP 29. FRANCE in 987
For DUCHY OF FRANCE [between Brittany and R. Seine) read MARCH OF
NEUSTRIA
For Ribagoree read Ribagorza
MAP 31. BURGUNDY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ELEVENTH CENTURY
For Bellay read Belley
MAP 32. ITALY AT CLOSE OF THE TENTA CENTURY
For Aquilea read Aquileia
For Caesena read Cesena
The shading of Apulia should be extended so as to include the coastland
of Lucania and the whole of Calabria.
Map 33. GERMANY IN THE TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES
For Aachen read Aix-la-Chapelle
For Lyutizi read Lyutitzi
For Mainz read Mayence
For MISNIA read MEISSEN
For Regensburg read Ratisbon
For Strasburg read Strasbourg
For Trier read Trèves
MAP 34. EASTERN NEIGHBOURS OF GERMANY
For Lyutizi read Lyutitzi
MAP 35. THE VIKINGS
For Durstede read Dorestad
MAP 37. SPAIN
For Cerdagne read Cerdaña
For Ribagorze read Ribagorza
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5
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CHAPTER I.
LOUIS THE PIOUS.
It was at his winter home at Doué, early in February 814, that Louis
of Aquitaine received the news of his father's death, which had been
immediately sent to him by his sisters and the magnates who had
espoused his cause. It is a difficult matter to discern through the
self-interested encomiums of biographers and the calumnies set afloat by
political opponents, the real character of the man who had now taken
over the burdensome heritage left by the Emperor Charles. Louis, who
was at this time thirty-six years old, was, in form and manners, a tall,
handsome man, broad-shouldered, with a strong voice, skilled in bodily
exercises, fond, as his ancestors were, of the chase, but less easily led
away by the seductions of passion and good cheer. With regard to his
mental qualities, he was a learned man, well acquainted with Latin, and
able even to compose verses in that language, having some knowledge of
Greek, and in particular, well versed in moral theology. He was modest
and unassuming, of a usually gentle temper, and he constantly shewed
himself capable of generosity and compassion even towards his enemies.
