Son of Charlemagne: A Contemporary Life of Louis the Pious

Born in Aquitaine, Louis I was the third son of Charlemagne. Sons of famous fathers generally lead difficult lives and the son of Charlemagne, Louis I of France, better known as Louis the Pious, was not exception to the rule. Not only was his reign from 814 to 840 marked by incessant strife, but also the achievements of the troubled reign have been overlooked by most historians in comparison with the almost legendary exploits of the illustrious Charles the Great. This biography of Louis by an anonymous contemporary, in the first English Translation from Carolingian Latin, provides a source for a fresh evaluation of Louis. Out of this broad and scholarly knowledge of the early Middle Ages, the translator, Dr. Allen Cabaniss, has provided a comprehensive introduction to the text in which he reassesses Louis' reign. Evidence of Louis' stature in the eyes of his contemporaries, Dr. Cabaniss asserts, is the fact that in the ninth century, Charlemagne was the subject of only one important biography, while his son was the subject of four... Translated, With Introd. And Notes, By Allen Cabaniss. Translation Based On The Mgh (monumenta Germaniae Historica) And Mpl (migne's Patrologiae Cursus Completus ... Series Latina) Editions Of Vita Hludowici Imperatoris, Ascribed To The So-called Astronomus, A Member Of The Court. Cf. M. Manitius. Geschichte Der Latein. Lit. Des Mittelalters. München, 1911. T. 1, P. 655-657. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Introduction The Text Prologue Part I (Chapters 1-20): A.D. 778-814 Part II (Chapters 21-43): A.D. 814-29 Part III (Chapters 44-64): A.D. 830-40 Notes INTRODUCTION PROLOGUE PART I PART II PART III Index of Proper Thames in the Text